19
Scarlett
W hen we step outside of the diner, I spot Caito leaning against a shiny metallic green Range Rover that totally suits him well.
He’s like a super jacked up leprechaun, and I struggle to keep a straight face after that thought so he doesn’t ask me why I suddenly start laughing out loud like a lunatic upon seeing him.
Of course his eyes are already on me when we step out of the doors, and Lark groans like he’s being murdered. “Can you just let me have one day with our omega, you fucking jealous jackass.”
Caito scoffs, but he doesn’t take his eyes off of me as he straightens from his position against the fancy SUV.
He watches me like a hunter watches their prey, and it makes a shiver race down my spine when we approach.
“I have a thing to discuss with Scarlett. Besides, Wren has a job for you. He texted you about it.”
Right on cue, Lark’s phone chimes, and he pulls it out to read the text from Wren.
He glowers at Caito as he shoves the device back in his pocket.
He points a finger at the other alpha when he comes to a stop beside us, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans and acting all casual.
“You are an asshole, you know that? Both you and Wren.”
Caito takes one of his hands out of his pockets to give Lark a sarcastic wave. He doesn’t smile, but I can tell he’s amused. “Run along now, deartháir .”
Lark glares at him for a moment longer before he turns to me. Tentatively, he reaches out a hand to me. I’m curious more than anything, so I put my hand in his. Then he brings it up to his mouth, brushing his lips across my knuckles and making me shiver with the contact.
“I’ll get started on that little problem you mentioned over breakfast.” When our eyes collide, there is a deadly promise there, and it makes my breath catch at the intensity of it.
Then he drops my hand and strides away down the block where he’d parked his car without another glance at Caito. I watch until he’s gotten in and pulled away, heading back across the city towards the Parkway, before I turn back to the intense alpha hovering at my back.
“If you have something to say to me, say it. Otherwise I’d like to go home.
” I cross my good arm over my chest, really wishing now I’d worn something that covered more of my skin.
He wasn’t paying any attention to my body, his eyes focused solely on my own, but I still feel too exposed.
Like he’s attempting to look down too deep inside of my soul.
I’m terrified of what he might find if he continues.
“It’s a beautiful day. Would you do me the honor of joining me for a walk through Black Tide Park, mo chroí ?” He holds out a hand to me, and I look at it for a moment. Against my better judgment, I slip mine into his, and the smile he offers me is enough to make angels weep.
God, he’s so damn beautiful. His auburn hair is styled perfectly and blazing beneath the mid-morning sun high above us. He even trimmed up his beard since the last time I’d seen him. He’s like perfectly contained chaos. I shouldn’t like it so much, but I do, dammit.
I allow him to lead me back over to his Range Rover, and he helps me inside before rounding the hood to slip behind the wheel.
The way he moves reminds me of a lithe jaguar stalking through dense jungle undergrowth.
Every time I find myself glancing over at him on the drive over to the park, I feel heat begin to pool low in my belly, and I know I’m in for a world of trouble if I don’t start distancing myself.
I am too damn weak for that, though.
Caito parks the SUV in one of the public parking lots that border the giant park at the center of the city, and he’s out of the door and opening mine before I can even reach for the handle.
I try not to get giddy like a schoolgirl at the chivalrous act.
I take his hand and he doesn’t let go, even as we start walking down the winding pathways all throughout the park.
He finally speaks after about five minutes or so of silence, and it’s not at all what I’d been expecting.
“What problem was Lark talking about before he left earlier?” The question is innocent enough, but there’s an edge to his tone that makes me look over at him while we walk.
His hand is warm in mine, our fingers tangled together, and I force myself to focus on that before I answer.
“Nothing worth repeating. I trust him to take care of it all on his own.” I shrug and he growls under his breath at that.
Caito seems like the type to try to take on all the problems on his own.
I think Lark would be upset if I shared my story again regarding the diner, and then Caito decided to take matters into his own hands.
There is definitely enough of my baggage to go around for everyone to handle.
“I wish you’d let me help you more.” He grumbles, not at all pleased with my response.
I roll my eyes over at him, and he catches it, giving my hand a squeeze as if it’s a warning or something.
I don’t heed it. “I do. But I can also let Lark help me. Same with Wren and Apollo. I don’t just belong to you.
” I don’t know why I say that. I shouldn’t have.
I don’t need him getting any ideas that I might be coming around to this whole courtship thing.
We cannot be a pack. I cannot have these alphas.
Caito cocks a brow at me like he can hear my inner turmoil. “Lark is the love not war type. I think he might need my assistance.” I choose to ignore that, and he’s silent for several more minutes before he speaks up again. “I really do have something I need to talk to you about.”
Instantly, I’m on high alert and already overthinking things.
He doesn’t stop walking as I ask, rather cautiously, “What is it?” I bet it has something to do with what happened the other day with those alphas.
Wren hasn’t been around since the incident in my nest, and I’m not sure if I should be thankful or not.
Mostly not. His scent is already starting to fade from the nest, and it’s making me desperate to find a way to get him back in it again. I also miss the taste of him on my tongue. I’d known it would be a mistake to do what I’d done, but I hadn’t been able to control my urges.
Now, I’ll never be able to stop craving moments like that.
He sighs heavily, reaching up with his free hand to rub at his beard. “I need to take you into our lawyer’s offices on Friday morning to conduct an interview with the police about your attack. I really don’t want you involved in it, but…” He trails off, his body going tense with anger.
When he looks over at me, I come to a halt just by the look in his dark green eyes alone. “Just tell me.” I whisper, and his fingers flex around mine where we are still connected. “Bad secrets only hurt good people.”
His jaw clenches. “I wasn’t going to keep it a secret from you.
” I give him a look that he can interpret however he chooses.
His eyes flash again with an emotion I can’t get a good read on, but then he sighs again.
“I have reason to believe one of the detectives that showed up at your apartment might know who you are. He alluded to knowing you are bonded and hinted that maybe he would notify your alphas of the situation.”
He doesn’t need to go into great detail.
I know exactly what he’s referring to. The way he said the word alphas held so much disdain that it left a bad taste in my mouth.
My heart plummets to the pits of my roiling stomach, and for the first time since I arrived in Black Tide Valley, a real spike of fear rocks me to my very core.
Immediately, my scent sours, causing Caito to curl his lip, but I somehow know it’s not from displeasure. Not in that way. He sure is displeased, alright. Most likely due to the fact that the scent of my fear is now permeating the air around us like noxious gas.
His eyes flick down to the ugly, twisted mark on my shoulder, a fresh spark of fury igniting in the dark depths.
Surprise flickers through me when his hand darts out, gripping me by my chin so I can’t look away from him while he speaks.
“I already told you, mo chroí . No one is ever going to touch you again without your permission. I need you to believe that.”
The soft spoken words are so full of sincerity, it’s hard not to believe him. But I know what the demons of my past are capable of. It’s been a goddamn miracle all on its own that they’ve let me live out here on my own for this long. That he has let me.
I can’t stop the shudder that ripples down my spine as the last words he ever said to me echo through my mind like a horrible mocking bird on repeat.
You are nothing, pet. Used up trash that’s not even worth my time anymore.
Remember what you are always. No matter how far you go, I will always be watching.
I don’t realize I’ve squeezed my eyes shut until I feel Caito’s warm breath wash over my closed lids, and they snap open in response.
He’s so close to me that our lips are a breaths-length apart.
Liquid heat replaces the cold hand of dread that had once been clamped around every vital piece of me, and it happens so suddenly that it makes me feel breathless.
His scent surrounds me, healing so many broken parts of me in a way I never thought would ever be possible.
Crisp winter evergreen and dark chocolate clogs my senses and makes my mouth water.
I’m suddenly desperate for the taste of him.
I need him to erase this nearly overwhelming terror threatening to consume me whole.
“Caito…” I breathe out his name, and my entire body quivers when his nose brushes against mine in response.
“Tell me you believe me, mo chroí . Tell me you believe I will keep you safe. I can’t bear it if you doubt me.” His tone is low and sultry, but I know there is a demand there that requires a legitimate response from me.
“How about I just show you?” I know this is going to come back and bite me in the ass, but I can’t help it. My mouth collides with his in a tangle of tongues and teeth, and when he growls against my lips, I feel slick heat gush from my center between my legs.
My perfume explodes into the air around us just as his fingers delve into my hair.
He forces my head back, angling it just right so he can kiss me deeper.
He fucking consumes me like my lips are the secret to all of his life problems. He presses in closer to me, bringing our bodies flush with one another.
I have the sudden urge to climb this man like a tree right here in the middle of this very public park.
Having him touch me like this is dangerous. I’d never been the best at shielding my true emotions. Being here like this with him, tasting each other with wild passion—it’s going to get us both killed.
It’s with that thought that I pull away. My pussy practically fucking twerks when he growls at the loss of my lips against his, but it has to be this way. I can’t let that happen again. I have to have better control over my instincts and desires.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper, fully releasing his hand so that I can take another step back from him.
He growls again, but I shake my head, lifting a trembling hand to my lips to touch them.
They feel swollen, warm, and moist. I can taste him on my tongue, and it’s nearly enough to drive me mad.
“That shouldn’t have happened. I won’t do it again. ”
I half expect Caito to reach for me and yank me back towards him to prove a point, but he surprises me when he keeps his hands to himself.
He’s quiet for so long that I finally look up at him.
It was the wrong thing to do. My knees quake when he says, voice so soft that I nearly miss the words,“When they come for you, I will be ready. I will end them, and then you will be mine.”
Fuck , that shouldn’t turn me on so damn much.
I’m so fucking screwed.