Page 60 of Unravel Me

"Sometimes you simply know, child," Silvio states, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile. "You already belong to the forest, don't you?"

This time I just gape at him. Veyron is staring too, as oblivious as I am.

My verdict stands. These people are completely insane. It has to be the only explanation. I should get out of here, and quick. Seriously, what the hell have I walked into?

Then, all at once, another possibility crosses my mind.

You already belong to the forest, he said.

Well. Didn't I just have sex with a forest entity?

That's when I notice the old omega's eyes are exactly the same color as Renato's and Mauro's, those deep, mysterious forest shades. And… the same color as the green entity’s.

Silvio keeps studying me with quiet amusement. How can he sound so absolutely certain about everything he says? Where is all of this coming from?

I open my mouth to speak, to voice my indignation, then close it again.

And one more time, I’m just about to let a whole rant out, but somehow it just doesn’t come out.

Nothing appropriate to the situation comes to mind, so in the end I decide not to say anything at all and simply watch how the situation unfolds.

I lower my head over my plate, catching only the puzzled expression on Veyron's face. Mine probably looks much the same. Silence falls over the table as I chew a piece of mozzarella, my thoughts as chaotic as a child's scribbles.

My eyes drift back to the tattoo.

Jared.

Well, more than one person can have the same name, right?

Some mysterious Jared. Who had he been to Mauro?

It's a strangely daunting feeling, knowing my own name is tattooed on his skin.

I find myself staring at it over and over until I finally finish eating. It takes me a while because I keep going back for more. Heat recovery has a way of leaving you far hungrier than usual. My body is rebuilding itself, and it demands fuel.

The moment I'm finally full, Emilio notices immediately.

"If you'd like to lie down and get some rest now, I'll show you to your room."

My room?

Yup, they've already decided I live here. What is going on with these people? Is this some family of eccentrics?

From what I saw, their estate stands completely alone, surrounded by nothing but forest. Perhaps there's a reason they live in such isolation.

I left one tiny cabin hidden in the woods only to end up in its upgraded version. Either way, I'm still staying in a house in the middle of nowhere.

Out of habit, I push myself to my feet too quickly, but another wave of dizziness hits me almost immediately, and I grab the back of the chair to steady myself.

Instinctively, my other hand lands on a broad, muscular shoulder with skin so warm it's almost hot, and somehow, in a way I can't explain, I know Mauro very much approves of the fact that I'm leaning on him. I can see the faint, satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He immediately pushes his plate aside, stands, and wraps an arm around my waist. The motion naturally turns him toward me, and a second later we're standing hip to hip, our bodies brushing, and there's something oddly exciting about that simple shift.

He makes a subtle movement with his wrist, drawing me even closer. Now, pressed against his firm body, I instinctively breathe in, searching for his pheromonal scent, but I can't catch his Allure.

Why is he using blockers?

All I smell are his shower gel and shaving lotion, all the clean fragrances of his toiletries, rich with pine and leaves, somewhat familiar. I try to figure out whether it's the same scent, the same brand I smelled on the green fae, but strangely, I can't be sure. It's similar, but there's a different nuance to it, and I can't quite figure out what the difference is.