Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
Harlow
Thane’s in a weird mood when he returns later.
He didn’t tell us where he was going or why, just left abruptly after Elaine and Charles marked Leo.
Thane has wanted vengeance for his mother’s death for a long time.
He blamed me for years, and he punished me for it, only to learn I was innocent; that Corbin’s pack, Leo specifically, were the ones responsible.
I know it is hard for him to accept Leo and forgive him for what Corbin ordered him to do. Thane swore vengeance on those responsible. Instead, he is choosing to set himself free by forgiving his mother’s murderer and one of the men responsible for framing me.
I want to go home, desperately so, and Thane looks relieved when I ask him if we can go back. We help clean and pack everything before setting up the car seat for Scarlett. I sit in the back with her, and Leon and Raidon follow behind us in Rhen’s car.
Thane remains quiet, watchful, and contemplative. His mood, however, makes me glance at him nervously.
“I have an emergency hearing tomorrow with the council,” he says. His eyes flick to mine in the rearview mirror before going back to the road.
It doesn’t answer the question of where he went earlier, but I can guess after he said that. “Okay,” I tell him.
“I need you to come with me. I need witness statements and will need you to give yours,” Thane tells me.
“For Leo?” I ask, watching the way his hands grip the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles pressing beneath the skin. Rhen glances at him nervously when he finally speaks again.
“Yes, for Leo, but that isn’t why I’m telling you this,” he says, glancing at me again.
“I want you to mark the rest of our mates tonight, please. I know what you went through with Corbin’s pack, and that you might not feel up for it, but I need you to do this, Harlow.
I don’t want you leaving the house unmarked.
I won’t have you vulnerable again,” Thane tells me, and my lips tug up at the corners.
“I can do that,” I chuckle. Rhen looks over at me, giving me a wink. They have been treating me like glass since I got back. It’s annoying because I want things to go back to how they were before.
“That means them remarking you, too. We need to solidify the bond, Harlow,” Thane adds. I suck in a breath. That does frighten me a little, remembering how it felt when Corbin’s pack forced their marks on me, leaving behind so much marred skin. “Low?”
“Yes, I understand,” I tell him.
“Tonight. Promise me! I won’t have you at risk. We can’t lose you again,” Thane growls.
“I promise. Tonight. Just let me settle in first,” I tell him. He nods his head as he pulls onto our long street. Thane doesn’t add anything else, but I can feel he is still in a weird mood, so I don’t press the matter. I trust he will tell us when he wants to talk about it.
I go to the nursery and settle Scarlett in, making use of it for the first time since she was born.
My mates seem a little shocked when I head upstairs instead of to the Den, but I want our bed, and I want Scarlett in hers, knowing they need a decent night’s sleep.
Once she’s settled, I sneak down to the kitchen to look for a snack.
Finding a mud cake, I cut off a slice and head back upstairs.
I hear the shower running and soft murmurs coming from the bathroom.
Shaking my head, I finish the last bite of my cake, deciding to use the shower in Thane’s room.
I don’t want them to fuss over every scratch, and I know they will.
My heart races as I step back into the bedroom with just a towel. All four of them are leaning against the headboard, staring at me. I blink at them. They have such serious expressions on their faces, it makes me wonder if something happened while I was showering.
“What? Is Scarlett alright?” I ask, panicked. I left her for 10 minutes, wanting to shave my damn legs.
I rarely get the chance because we often shower together, and there’s no way of getting it done in the main bathroom while we are jammed in there like sardines in a can. We need a bigger shower, preferably one with a bench, so I don’t have to stand while I shave my legs.
Rhen quirks a brow at me, and I look at Raidon, suddenly uncomfortable with the way they are watching me and not speaking. They’re looking at me as if I’m some piece of art on a pedestal they are examining to see if I’m symmetrical or abstract.
“Scarlett is fine. She is asleep in the nursery. I just checked on her,” Thane finally says. I nod, exhaling with relief as I move toward the walk-in closet. Raidon moves so quickly he makes my eyes hurt as he jumps in front of the door, blocking me.
A devious smile plays on his lips as his eyes flicker black, a deep thrumming purr emanating from his chest. “Are you forgetting something?” he asks, stalking toward me.
“Yeah, my damn pajamas,” I say, trying to sidestep him.
“Anything else?” he questions, making me step back. My brows furrow at his words, and he growls. The noise is extra loud with my newfound hearing, causing me to jump.
“You promised me,” Thane growls behind me, and I glance at him. I’m at a loss for what I promised.
I rack my brain. “The council thingy is not until tomorrow,” I tell him.
“It seems like someone has a case of baby brain,” Rhen chuckles.
“No, Thane said he wanted me to go to the hearing thing and—” I gasp, remembering I promised to mark them tonight.
How could I have forgotten? I must have been too preoccupied with seeing the nursery for the first time and settling Scarlett.
I also may have taken a nap with her in the rocking chair before taking some time to myself to shower alone.
“You’ll be keeping that promise, Low. Now remove the towel,” Thane orders.
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Your command won’t work on me,” I smirk. Thane’s eyes flicker dangerously, and Leon shakes his head.
“Hmm, and here I thought she knew better than to test her Alpha by now,” Leon snickers, nudging Thane. I glare at Leon as his eyes flicker red with bloodlust.
“I have other ways to make you compliant, Low. So, are you going to make me come over there?” he asks.
“No, you can remain where you are, and they can just line up. It’ll be like a drive-thru, take a bite, and scoot to the next,” I tell him with a chuckle. Yep, call me McDonalds.
“We plan on driving through you alright,” Thane warns. My stomach squeezes as lust burns in my belly, yet butterflies quickly dim the feeling.
“I can do it now. Quickly,” I tell him, hopping from one foot to the other.
I want to get this over with. Thane’s right.
It needs to be done, but I’m not looking forward to them biting me.
I want their marks, and I want to remove Corbin’s, but the pain of Corbin’s pack marking me is still too fresh in my mind.
It replays over and over in my head. I kept begging them to stop, only for the next one to take a bite of me.
Hands fall on my hips as Raidon presses his chest against my back. “That’s not what we had in mind,” he purrs, nipping at my shoulder.
My stomach sinks. I want to go to bed, maybe eat the rest of that mud cake. I certainly don’t want to strip naked and be on display for them.
There’s new scars and stretch marks lacing my body, and my skin still doesn’t feel right beneath my hands. I feel squishy and far from desirable. I may have shaved my legs, but that doesn’t mean I shaved anything else. Not that I’m sporting an Amazonian look, but still.
“We want you, not just your mark,” Raidon growls.