Page 67 of Fated to the Hunters
Why was this moment so heartbreaking? He was giving himself to her, but she could also see how he still struggled to accept the bond. One moment he diminished her, the next he would give himself to her—even if that meant she would hurt him. Clearly whatever he’d agreed to in the past had to have been painful. Her fingers travelled down his neck and over his shoulders to hisbare arms. His skin was riddled with scars, and she hated to feel them beneath her fingers.
“Did they do that to you?”
“Some of them.”
“And you wanted that?”
“I did.”
Scarlett’s fingers danced over his skin, her eyes trailing over the sleeve of tattoos that covered his arm. The edge of a forest preceded a dark, stormy sky. Skeletons laid beneath the roots of the trees.
“I know what you’re thinking, princess.”
“What’s that, Ezra?”
“How to fix me.”
Damn it, he’d caught her. Yes, she wanted to help him. She didn’t like how he was destroying his body and from what she understood, he wasn’t very kind to his mind either. With each new scar she discovered, the need to help him became overwhelming.
“I don’t want to be fixed. I don’t need your help.”
Her thumb rubbed over a healed scar that left a jagged white line through his tattoo.
“I’m fucked up, Scarlett. I’ve tried to fit in, tried to be like everyone else. I caged my feelings, my needs—the things that bring me peace—and cursed every breath I took during that time. I know that people don’t understand—thatyouwon’t understand. Not even the people I share part of my mind with get it. But this is who I am.”
“Do you hate yourself?”
“I used to. But I learned to accept myself and what I need.”
“What if I can’t give you that?”
“I will not force you to do anything you don’t want.”
“I can’t hurt you, Ezra. I can’t give you what you clearly want. Will you seek other women?”
“I can’t.” Tough act be damned, Ezra’s voice cracked. “The moment I laid eyes on you, the bond had me in a chokehold.”
“And you dislike that.”
“I do, but if you are being honest with yourself, you dislike us as your mates too. Wouldn’t your life be much prettier if a handsome alpha had been chosen for you?”
Scarlett choked out a laugh. “Yes.” She’d reached his wrist and took his hand in hers, her thumb running over the skull etched into his knuckles. “You want my acceptance. That I won’t try to change you.”
“Yes,” Ezra breathed, almost a sigh of relief.
Scarlett took a deep breath in, weaving her fingers with his and finally dropping the cuff. That hand came up to trace along his cheek. “I don’t know how well I can do that.”
“You’re not saying no.”
She soaked in his touch, the warmth that trickled past her skin, through her veins, and straight to her heart. “Anything, huh?”
“Yes,” Ezra agreed, voice thick with desire. “Will you tell me what you have on your naughty mind?”
Instead of a verbal response, Scarlett climbed on the bed with him and straddled his lap. Ezra’s arms were around her instantly, her head falling to his shoulder as she returned the embrace. “You used to wear silver jewellery.”
“I did.”
“Thank you.” Scarlett knew she didn’t have to explain what she was thanking him for.
