Page 63 of Fated to the Hunters
“Thank god. I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you.” Mateo fell silent until the first sips of his morning fuel settled in his stomach. “Do you have any plans for the day?”
Scarlett smiled wide. “Vince is going to show me how to drive.”
“Perfect.”
An hour later, Vince stood nearby and watched Scarlett tie her shoes. He’d decided that starting with the truck might be too big, so he took the old Jeep instead. He led her outside and opened the driver’s door. Her legs were much shorter, so he showed her how to adjust the seat to where she’d be comfortable. He then proceeded to show her all the important functions, teaching her what each button and lever was for.
“It always looked so easy,” she said, seeming rather defeated.
“With practice, it will be.”
Slowly, Scarlett repeated everything back to Vince. It took a few tries for some of the functions, but she did it until she remembered the most important ones.
“Okay. I think I got it,” she announced.
“You’re doing well.”
With the engine still off, he explained the part that would probably be the most problematic: the clutch. “Don’t be afraid to stall the engine. You can’t break it. It’ll be easier with time.”
“So, when I release the clutch, I’ll feel when it’s time to accelerate?”
“Yes. I think it would be best for you to test the clutch and intentionally stall the engine a few times so you know what it feels like.”
Scarlett nodded hesitantly, watching him through the windshield as he rounded the hood.
“Start the engine and keep your foot on the clutch.” Scarlett did, the engine roaring to life. “Now shift it into first gear.” Again, she followed his instructions. “Slowly let go of the clutch and don’t worry when it stalls, just feel it.”
The car jumped and fell silent, making Scarlett flinch. “Sorry.”
“The car isn’t going anywhere; the hand breaks are still on. Did you feel what I was talking about?”
She nodded, trying a few more times until she felt comfortable removing the handbrake. As he’d expected, she needed a few tries but then she drove her first meters. She was so surprised with herself that she stopped the car, hitting the breaks but stalling again after forgetting the clutch.
“Oops,” she laughed, restarting the engine and repeating her successful attempt. “I’m driving!” she cheered, coming to a stop without stalling the car.
When she felt confident enough, Vince guided her out of the driveway and up their small dirt road, teaching her to shift gears. Then he let her reverse and turn the car around to go back down the dirt road. Once she’d gone back and forth a few times, she parked the car and turned off the engine.
“You did well,” he praised.
The sparkle in Scarlett’s eyes made his heart skip a beat. “I did?”
“Yes, as I expected.”
The compliment sent a gorgeous blush washing up her cheeks.
Back in the house, Scarlett grabbed a water bottle and proceeded to go to her room only to halt halfway up the stairs. “Are drinks and food allowed upstairs?”
He nodded and with his all clear, she was gone. Vince joined the others in the kitchen, where they were studying a diary he hadn’t gotten to yet.
“I think we’ve narrowed it down,” Mateo explained. “The Black Ridge Mountains northwest of the Howlers Pack.”
Vince looked down at the scribbled handwriting that had taken him ages to get used to, reading a passage that Mateo had highlighted. It confirmed no more than a handful of lycans housing in the caves.
“What do you think?” Mateo asked. “Is five too much of a risk?”
Vince’s immediate answer was no, but then he remembered the very special princess that had made herself at home in their lives. He’d never cared about risk, because there were very few consequences. And even death wasn’t something he’d ever been afraid of. With Scarlett depending on them to return, he hesitated.
Mateo sighed and looked back down at the map. “Yeah, having her here does make a difference, doesn’t it?”
