Page 4 of Mate Night Snack
“Don’t start.”
Maeve held up her hands, amused. “Hey, if you want to pretend she doesn’t make your hackles rise, be my guest. Just don’t let her walk into the damn woods.”
Emmett didn’t reply.
She was already halfway to the edge of the trail.
He intercepted her just past the Silver Fang. The trees loomed tall here, thick with shadow and the hum of distant power. Most folks didn’t notice. Most folks didn’t make it this far.
But she wasn’t most folks.
“You lost?” he asked, stepping into her path.
Katniss didn’t flinch. She just stopped and looked him up and down like she was appraising a brick wall she was half-considering punching through.
“Nope. Just walking.”
“This isn’t a good place to wander.”
“Says the guy lurking in the trees like a serial killer.”
He huffed. “You don’t belong out here.”
“Funny. That’s the second time you’ve said that.”
“And you’re still not listening.”
She crossed her arms. “Is this town always this friendly, or am I just special?”
“You’re stirring things.”
“Like what? Tea?”
“Don’t be cute.”
“I’m not. I’m difficult.”
That earned her a sliver of his mouth twitching. Not quite a smile. More like his face forgot it didn’t do those anymore.
Katniss leaned a little closer, like she was trying to read between the lines he hadn't spoken yet. He didn’t like the way his pulse answered her nearness, didn’t like the way her scent curled under his skin—bright citrus and something older,quieter. Something threaded with the woods already. That wasn’t normal.
“You always this charming?” she asked.
“Only for special guests.”
“Well, congrats. You’re killing it.”
Emmett stepped back before he did something stupid. Like smile again.
“You shouldn’t be poking around here. This place runs different. The folks here don’t take kindly to strangers digging up what’s meant to stay put.”
Her expression flickered, just for a second, then snapped right back to cocky.
“Good thing I’m not here for anyone’s kindness,” she said.
He should’ve walked away. Should’ve let Maeve take this one. But he stood there instead, watching her disappear into the café again, watching the way the door swung shut like it didn’t want to close behind her.
That night, he sat on the porch of his cabin with a beer sweating in his hand and the weight of the council’s words still heavy on his shoulders.
