Page 14 of Captive Witch

“Me too,” I say, hugging her back. “So, how are you? You know, here, with them.” I wave my hand in the direction of the window, knowing Mila used to be a part of their pack, under the thumb of that horrible alpha, and that one of them is threatening her.

She sighs, grabbing the glass of wine she set on the island earlier and swirling the red liquid, the dark maroon matching the shade of her floor-length dress. “I’m okay. It’s… weird. I know Moren wasn’t nice to any of us, and I know that really didn’t change after I left, but… there were some helikedmore than others.” Grimacing, she takes a large gulp of wine.

“It must have been horrible,” I whisper, resting my hand on her arm.

Looking up at me, tears swim in her eyes. “It was just really hard. I had to watch everyone around me die until my mom was all I had left. Then, when I thought being with him would keep her safe, he bit me, and I lost my mom in the end anyway. Life with Moren was never easy.” She lets out a breathy half-laugh. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t have it easy, either. Gods, your mother is certifiablyinsane.”

Laughing, I pull Mila in for another hug. “My trauma doesn’t negate yours. Your life was awful. You don’t have anything to apologize to me for. I’m just happy to be able to call you my friend and be here for you now.”

She sniffles, swallowing hard and taking a deep breath. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Addy.”

“Well, that’s just rude.”

We jump, looking over at the kitchen doorway to find Cali standing there with her hands on her hips, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“I feel like I’ve been a pretty damn good friend this whole time, but whatever.” She tosses her dark brown hair over her shoulder, showing off the thin straps of her emerald dress.

Mila laughs, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Whatever is right, you drama queen.”

Cali’s face softens, the humor melting away as she crosses the room and wraps both of us in a group hug. “Girl, you know I’mjoking. I just hate it when you cry.” She sniffles. “Gods, it always makes me cry when you cry.”

“Stop,” Mila whines. “You’re going to make me cry again! My mascara won’t last like this.”

“Am I interrupting?” Gideon’s low voice cuts in.

Glancing up, I see him leaning against the doorframe, his eyebrows raised. I’m hit again with how incredible he looks. His black wavy hair is slicked back, but a few strands hang over his forehead. His button-up shirt is a soft lilac—a color I wouldn’t have picked for him but that looks absolutely perfect, making his sterling gray eyes stand out.

Mila and Cali exchange a glance as we break apart. “See you out there, girl,” Mila says, tossing a wink over her shoulder as they walk outside.

Gideon pushes off the doorframe, striding to stand before me. His hand traces the off-the-shoulder collar of my dress, his eyes following the movement of his fingers. Fire trails behind his touch, and my tongue darts out to lick my lips, stealing his attention to my mouth.

“I’ve never loved and hated a piece of clothing so much before,” he whispers, barely above a whisper.

“You hate my dress?” My voice is breathy in my ears.

He chuckles, dark and low. “I hate that it’s touching you in all the places I want my hands to be.” His finger dips under the hem of my dress, gliding along the curve of my breasts.

My breath hitches as I close my eyes and hook my fingers in the belt loops of his pants.

His mouth finds mine, his kiss light and gentle. “As much as I want to take the place of that velvet, we have guests, and I’ll strangle them before I ever let them hear the sounds you make.”

My eyes snap open. “Gideon, you can’t say things like that. They’re your pack.”

“Mm, and yet, I mean every word.” He smirks, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. “Did you get your water yet?”

Nodding, I reach for the bottle of water on the counter, frowning when I see Mila’s forgotten glass of wine. “I did. I should bring this out to Mila too.”

Lacing our fingers, he grabs the glass of wine and pulls me in for a kiss, then heads for the door, pulling me along behind him.

The minute we step through the doors, I spot Mila standing a few yards away with Cali beside her. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Gideon, taking the wine from him.

“Oh!” Mila says when she spots me, a smile coming over her face as she takes the offered glass. “Thank you.”

“I thought you might want that.” I step beside her, turning to look over the crowd. “Has anyone said anything to you?”

She shakes her head with a frown. “No, thankfully, though I wish someone would at the same time. It’s torture not knowing what they want from me.”

“Yeah,” Cali says, glaring at everyone in front of her, “whoever it is needs a beat down.”

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