Page 60 of Fated to the Hunters
“How do we deserve her? How doIdeserve her?”
Mateo wanted to have the answer so badly, but he could only watch as Vince crumbled before his eyes. Vince was always the quietest, most guarded, of them all. But he was also often the most level-headed, yet even he was at a loss as to how to handle falling for a woman after swearing off relationships entirely.
Before he could find words to help his friend, Vince stood and walked away. Not to his room but back to the workshop. Physical work was always soothing to his soul.
Though Mateo was dead on his feet, he couldn’t move. He desperately wanted to go to bed, but he felt paralysed by what had occurred over the past few hours. It felt as if they’d taken steps in the right direction but at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel defeated. With so many emotions and situations bundled under one roof, it seemed impossible to make everyone happy, especially his sweet, gorgeous Scarlett.
As if she’d sensed him thinking about her, she descended the stairs, clutching her heating pad to her chest.
“If you’re cold I can turn off the air.”
She shook her head and turned on the microwave.
“Just for comfort?”
Scarlett nodded, watching the microwave. “Mmhmm.”
Mateo didn’t care to force a conversation; it was late and she had so much to digest herself—perhaps more than the three of them combined. Halfway back up the stairs she paused and called out for him. “Mateo?”
Mateo swooned on the spot, the simple sound easing his inner turmoil. He loved hearing his name fall from her lips. By waiting so long to learn it, she’d made it special. “Yes, love?”
“Why aren’t you upset about the bond? You seem to be the only one who isn’t.”
“Will you let me hold you while I explain it to you?”
Without hesitation, she crossed the room and waited. Mateo sat against the backrest and made room between his legs for her. Once she sat before him, her back leaning against his chest, he covered her in the blanket, letting his arms close around her.
“You feel good in my arms,” he whispered, nuzzling into her hair.
“I’ve thought about you holding me every day,” she confessed.
Mateo’s heart was fit to bursting. “Oh, love, you are drugging me with your sweet compliments.”
“Will you tell me now?”
“The moment my father told me about the mate bonds, I was intrigued. Although, rather than seeing it as something weak, I found it wonderful. It was something to look forward to. I couldn’t imagine growing up knowing that my goddess had created someone just for me. Humans spend so much time seeking their life partner that it seems like a waste. The more I learned about it, the more jealous I became of the trust that your kind had in meeting their one and only and knowing it at first sight. I grew envious.”
He inhaled her scent, taking in how her chest heaved beneath his hold and how she relaxed into him with every word he spoke.
“Then I saw you. Perfect, gorgeous you. I could’ve fallen to my knees and thanked your goddess for listening to me. Instead of punishing me for my hate towards her, she showed me mercy and gave me what I’ve always craved. She gifted you to me. My mate. My one and only.”
“Mateo,” she breathed.
“I only felt betrayed once I realised that I had to share you. As if she wanted to show me what I could’ve had just long enough to know what it meant to lose it—to loseyou. I wanted you all to myself but just like Vince said, Isis knows us better than we know ourselves.”
He let his lips caress her neck, brushing the spot where a wolf would have marked her. His arms uncrossed over her chest, his hands running from her shoulders down her arms. He took his time feeling her shiver, even under the thickness of the hoodie’s sleeves.
“When I saw them falling for you, I knew why she’d chosen all three of us to be yours. We all need you, little love. Probably more than you need us.”
His fingers had reached her wrists, then threaded through hers while he continued to pepper kisses over her neck and to her ear. Only when she turned her head to face him did he see the tears crawling down her cheeks.
“Oh, Scarlett.” He kissed one away, only to have her melt deeper into his chest. “I know we aren’t what you expected when you pictured a future with your mate, but I promise we will give you anything you ever wish for. We are yours. Forever.”
“I know.” Her voice was soft, barely a hum. “Don’t stop holding me. Please.”
“You couldn’t pay me enough to do so. Does it feel good to be in my arms again?”
“Yes,” she panted.
