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I got changed into one of the dresses Mint had brought—a light blue gingham with ribbons laced up the back, and ribbons for straps. It was absurd and fun and I loved it—especially since I got to wear some silly wedge strappy sandals made of rope—except for the fact my silver scar was front and center on my exposed arm.
My fingers twitched.
It was obvious someone had intentionally carved me. And it wasn’t anything I had consented to.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen it before, but seeing it now, while I was in my guise ofWinter Mortcombe, art lover,that made my fingers dance and twitch, and I saw that wolf with those soft, coffee-colored eyes staring down at me.
“Winter?”
I started as Mint poked his head around the screen.
“I’m done,” I said quickly. Too late. Mint had seen the scar.
“Oh, Winter.” He took my arm and looked at it. “Who—whatisthis?”
I pulled my arm free. He hadn’t seen me since I’d left for Alaska.
“Who did that to you?” he whispered.
I gave him the only answer I had. “My family.”
“You didn’t have that before.”
I swallowed. “My father died. I flew home to deal with his affairs. My extended family is… well… they didn’t approve of my marriage to Sterling. They’re very reclusive off-the-grid survivalists thathateoutside attention, so me ending up with Sterling, on social media and in society pages getting attention… they werenothappy and decided to try to teach me a lesson.”
Mint sighed. “Oh, Winter. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Sorry for what? I showed up thinking I’d only be the least popular person there. Didn’t realize school was in session.”
“And that’s why you’re actually hiding in Virginia.”
“Well, that and the bear.”
“Was it really a bear?”
“Are you suggesting it was atrainedattack bear?”
Mint chuckled. “Okay, okay. I hope you’ve gone no-contact with your family.”
“You know how families are.”
His face descended into a frown. “Yes. I do.”
We shared a mutual sigh before he gave my scar another sad look. “I can suggest some surgeons for cosmetic scar revision, or we can cover that up with theatrical makeup. Or dress around it, although your shoulders are so beautiful, that would be a shame. Or you can wear it. But it does look like what it is.”
“It doesn’t upset me. I just don’t want people to think I was some edgy teenager who decided to give herself a cool scar one night.”
“It looks like someone held you down and did that to you. It looks like it hurt.”
Silver scars had a special sort of aura to them. “They wanted me to grovel.”
“I guess you didn’t.”
“Not a goddamn chance. But itisa distinctive mark, and it reads like a cattle brand to anyone who knows what it is. Not that I’d expect to bump into that in Florida.”
Mint disappeared and re-appeared holding a beautiful silk wrap in a gorgeous cream color. He arranged it around my upper arms. “Do you want me to book you a consultation? There’s a very good cosmetic surgeon for this sort of thing. Kyle Minot.”
I stopped dead. Kyle of GranitePaw.
