Page 48 of Fated to the Hunters
Kurt crumpled, mentally and physically as it all came together into one horrendous and painful truth. She’d met them months ago, had hid them from them, had been in pain and none of them had been able to see past her deceit. Maximilian could see Kurt’s every thought. He blamed himself for not protecting her. He’d always prided himself with her safety and now, she was one of his enemies.
Chapter Eighteen
Ezra
As Mateo sped off, Ezra handed Vince another flask with vampire blood. He gulped it down while Ezra turned up the heating, his eyes fixed on their little princess. Tears poured down her cheeks, mixing with the rain that dripped from her hair and into her face. She was soaked, and Ezra hoped the heat would keep her warm until she could change. She stared out the window, watching the lights of the city give way to the darkness of rural land.
Ezra wondered if she’d ever been out this far. It might be undiscovered territory for her. No one said a word for the next two hours. When they finally arrived, Mateo shut off the engine and Scarlett carefully opened her own door. It was almost as if she were afraid to set foot on the ground. Maybe she was, maybe she regretted saving Vince and turning her back on her family, but Ezra couldn’t help the triumph that built in his chest. She was theirs now. Her pack no longer wanted her. She wastheirs,and the whole world would soon know about the three hunters that had claimed the alpha’s daughter.
Scarlett followed Vince and Mateo inside, curious eyes darting around her new surroundings. She hesitated in the entranceway as Ezra stepped up behind her, inhaling the citrusy scent of her hair and brushing his fingertips along her arms.
“Welcome home, little rogue.”
She shuddered, bolting out of his grasp. He didn’t have to see her face to know that she hated his new pet name for her.
“Let me show you your room,” Mateo offered, moving for the stairs. “You can change into something dry or have a shower to warm up.”
She timidly followed Mateo upstairs, her shoulders hunched, and her arms crossed over her chest. He listened closely as Mateo showed her where everything was, then led her to her own private space. When he offered to grab her some clothes, Ezra made a beeline for his closet.
To his surprise Mateo was already going through it. He cocked his brow at him and leaned against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets.
“What? You’re the smallest out of the three of us. She’ll be more comfortable in your clothes.”
“Better not tell her that.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Mateo grabbed a hoodie, sweatpants, and t-shirt before turning to leave. Then he halted, his eyes glossy with unshed tears as he looked at Ezra. “She’s home.”
Ezra smirked at the boy before him.What a fucking wimp.
“Fuck you too,” Mateo hissed. He shoved past, but not without jamming his shoulder into Ezra’s.
He followed and watched from his doorway how Mateo knocked on hers and gave her the clothes. He gently reached out of Ezra’s view, but judging by Mateo’s adoring gaze, he was cupping her cheek.
“We’re here if you need us.”
The door clicked shut, and Mateo shuffled downstairs to the kitchen. Ezra’s stomach rumbled a reminder that he hadn’t had dinner, but he couldn’t move. He only stood there and stared at her closed door.
She was here.
She was home.
She was finally theirs.
He hummed, resting his head back against the wood frame. He couldn’t help but imagine her in the shower, cleansing her sweet body and then dressing in his clothes.His.
Fuck, this did feel good. And admitting it was somewhat… freeing.
He only moved when Vince stepped out of his room. He’d bathed as well, rinsing the blood from his skin, but dark rings were forming under his eyes. Ezra followed him downstairs and found plates set out and a pot of baked noodles waiting for them. They were happy to help themselves, and joined Mateo, who was already sitting in his favourite spot with his plate in his lap. As they ate, they all hoped their princess would smell the food and come down too, but she never did.
Once dinner was cleared away and their sodas refilled, Mateo asked the question that had been plaguing both their minds. “What happened?”
Vince stretched across the couch, eyes closed and hands gripping the armrest behind his head so tightly that the veins there popped. “Dropped the dresser off and stopped for gas. They knocked me out cold. I woke up in the back of their car. They tied me up and pestered me about her attack. They wanted to know who I was.”
Mateo relaxed into his chair as well and as always, he was the one to lead the conversation. “Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to take the fake plates after all.”
“She came down a little after that. I tried to stop her. I didn’t want her to free me.”
“She texted us. Told us she would bring you out.”
