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“She’s got a pack.” I say the words with caution, warning. Whatever happens, we must not forget or break that.
“I know. But we can be friends. She’s different.” I hear the silent ‘like me’, that he doesn’t add. “She’s different. She doesn’t feel threatening.”
“We’ll go slow. Do it safely.” I lean down and run my lips over his cheek and into the silky strands of his hair.
“You’ll talk to Gold?” Hope and nervousness.
I close my eyes, already knowing how the conversation is going to go. “I’ll talk to Taylor.”
Barren snuggles closer and lifts his face for a kiss, one he hasn’t asked for in over six months. I feel resolve harden inside me. I don’t care if I have to take on the whole pack. Scarlet Waring is now Pack Knights’ newest, bestest friend, whether she likes it or not.
four
Scarlet
I let out a whole body shudder when I close the door to my cottage and lean against it. Barren. His voice reminds me of satin sheets and sultry nights. I should stay away, keep my distance.
But there was something in his scent, something tangy, almost like shame and fear in his eyes. I didn’t like seeing that, so I spoke before thinking it through. Gold isn’t going to like me invading his territory, even being so far away as the cottage won’t be far enough. Hell, this side of the hemisphere might not be enough.
I let my legs fold until I’m sitting on the floor. Last night, I didn’t let myself think. I just came home and worked, cooked, kept myself busy until I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Now, I see him in my mind, that cold, angry look, and I know that for him nothing has changed.
The whole pack screams danger. The omega is a lure. They all are. But he pulls at me like nothing I’ve ever known. He’s the moon, and I’m just the tide, following his pull. I want him. But there is something very wrong with that pack. An undercurrent of sleepy threats. Like wolves pacing through the forest, surrounding me, I feel the danger in the very air. But I can’t look away from their power. I can’t run to them or from them. I’m helpless in my hypnotic state.
My body stills, catching a faint whiff of something in the air. Has someone been in my house? I go still, alert, and then aggressively track the scent. The scent dissipates, but I've got two cupboards open. Food is missing, as is one of my favourite jumpers. I purse my lips, wondering who would break in and steal a jumper and food.
I bury my face in my hands and push it all from my mind. Luckily, years of training allow me to compartmentalise. I open my laptop, going through my emails and sifting until the sun sets, leaving me sitting in the gloomy dark.
My phone rings, and I check the screen. My ambient mood hits the dirt and turns foul.
Phil’s name is written across the screen with a small photo of him underneath. I took the photo five years ago. He isn’t even looking at the camera, too busy laughing with Rick. I’d just gotten home from working and living at the office for over a week. They hadn’t noticed I’d been gone.
I reach out, my hand hovering over the phone while I weigh the pros and cons of finding out what he wants. Hell, I already know I won’t like it. I snatch it up and answer it.
He doesn’t even let me speak. “Scarlet, thank God, you’re answering. We need you to come back, it’s important.” The familiar whine grates, dumping my in buckets of slimy regret. I can just picture his knuckles white around the phone, peering around the room, making sure no one’s caught him. Why did I answer the phone?
I laugh dryly. “Hi, Phil, I’ve been good. Thanks for asking. How are you?” I wait as he grunts in frustration, but I’m not surprised when he doesn’t accept my sarcasm, and instead, pushes it aside like it’s unimportant.
“Don’t do this to me, Scarlet. Please. We need you. The merger is in a few weeks, and no one here can do what you can.” His voice is carrying that whining sound that always drove me to grind my jaw until I developed headaches. I can’t stand his damned sniveling.
I lean my hip against the table and look out the kitchen window. “Sonya knows what to do.”
He clears his throat.
A sinking, chilly shudder goes through me. “What did you do?” I spit out between clenched teeth.
“Tabby got upset with how casual she was with Rick.”
“Jesus, Phil.”
“I know, I know. Just come back, all right?”
I hesitate for a moment, guilt rushing through me, and then I remember that bullshit morning again. “Not a chance. I’ve got my own life now. I strongly suggest you ring Sonya and see if she will help you.”
He makes a growling noise that makes me smile. He never stopped trying to use that to force me into compliance. It hasn’t worked once.
“Not working. Look, good luck. Have a delightful time. Enjoy your,” I pause, “life.”
“Don’t do this to us! We need you. We helped you out. We saved you.”
