Page 50 of Fated to the Hunters
Ezra reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Scarlett’s ear and taking in all of her features. Her stormy eyes were a much lighter grey in the light, but the rings below them made Ezra’s smile fade. He wondered if she just had a pale skin type. Maybe she would darken after spending the day out at her new lake. She couldn’t hold his gaze, instead studying the drink in her hands like she’d be tested on it later.
The rumble of an engine echoed through the house, coming to a stop in the driveway. Scarlett stiffened.
“It’s just Vince,” Ezra explained. As he did, Vince stepped into the house, his arms loaded with shopping bags. Ezra crooked a brow. “And he’s clearly been keeping himself busy.”
Vince stumbled into the kitchen, dropping the bags on the counter. He immediately rummaged through them, emerging with a pair of pink fluffy slippers—the kind she’d worn when she’d snuck out to see them the very first time. He rounded the island, ripped off the tags, and slipped them onto her feet.
Reaching into the next bag, he unwrapped a brand new phone and popped in the sim card, plugging it into the charger.
“I brought my own,” Scarlett interrupted.
“Your father will lock it once he remembers.”
His words weren’t harshly spoken, but she flinched as if Vince had slapped her across the face. Ezra reached up to cup her cheek and she briefly tensed before relaxing into his touch.
After a moment, Scarlett pulled away and peeked into one of the bags, smiling to herself. Ezra leaned closer to inspect it himself. Vince had gotten fluffy socks, an orange scented bath bomb, pencils, a sketchbook, and a microwavable heat pack.
“They were the only pencils I could find.”
Scarlett turned grateful eyes onto Vince, her smile relaxing into one that rivalled the sun itself. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”
Scarlett rummaged through the other bags, finding a hairbrush, hair ties, toothpaste, some basic leggings, t-shirts, and toothbrushes.
“We’ll buy you proper clothes whenever you feel ready,” Mateo added, handing her a full plate. “But why don’t we eat first. Then you can start planning ahead.”
Scarlett nodded and took the plate. She immediately looked for the table, only to find it still scattered and overflowing with their work.
“We usually eat at the island, but we can sit on the couch if that’s more comfortable,” Mateo offered, answering her unspoken question.
As they ate, Ezra took notice of how little Scarlett consumed before setting her plate aside. She patiently waited for them to finish, as if she wasn’t allowed to leave until she was dismissed.
The other two took notice, as well as her hesitance to take seconds. She only stood when Mateo did, immediately filling the sink with hot, soapy water.
“Don’t worry, we’ll clean up,” Mateo softly said.
Scarlett only stared at him for a moment as if he’d grown a second head, but then nodded, collected her bags, and took them upstairs.
“Fucking pricks,” Ezra growled once she was out of earshot.
Mateo sighed, sad eyes following her up the stairs. “It wasn’t just me then.”
“They fucked her up.”
“It seems like she’s lost weight. She probably hasn’t eaten properly for a while.”
“She better eat here or I’ll be stuffing it down her fucking throat.”
“You will not, nor will you let on that you noticed. Putting pressure on her might have the opposite effect.”
“So you’d rather let her starve before our eyes.”
“She’s been under a lot of stress. It’s not a surprise that she’s lost her appetite. I’ll take her to the market with me to get some of her favourite things. I’m sure once she’s settled, she’ll start eating again.”
“Whatever. But if she doesn’t gain weight soon, I’ll make sure she does, if she likes it or not.”
Chapter Nineteen
Scarlett
