“Are you sure?” Gwen asks confusedly, to which Delilah nods.
“I think it's our best way forward, Gwen. Like my friends said, it isn't a coincidence that we found you, even if my vision proved your innocence. We have to figure out why we were led to you, and if the warlock is tied to you for some reason, maybe targeting you, you'll be safer here, anyway.”
Gwen nods, while Arianna agrees that this is the best way forward. That's when Delilah glances at me and mouths a sincere, “Thank you,” before she proceeds to show Gwen to the empty cottage with Tyler and Arianna following them back to town.
A sense of pride swells in my chest, and I'm glad I made the right decision by backing Delilah up. Floating on that feeling, I follow my friends and my wife to the cottage behind her house, hoping that this will bring us closer.
***
Being surrounded by the Shadow Fang Pack in the pack center is bittersweet when I find myself becoming drawn to the feeling of belonging.
A flicker of hope passes through me as I set the table for communal lunch, catching myself smiling at the way Gwen mingles with some of the locals, like the owner of the library who'd shown me kindness when I first arrived in Scarborough.I'm greeted by Arthur as he walks through the door, the man who's next in line to be the Shadow Fang Beta, and he comes over to ask about Gwen.
I explain the situation to him, and how Gwen was the witch we caught when we wrongfully believed she was our culprit, and now she's agreed to stay in Scarborough until we can figure out why we were led to her.
“I'll keep my eye on her, just in case,” Arthur assures me as he stares curiously at Gwen, who's approaching us now.
I notice him staring, accustomed to the way Arthur is tense around she-wolves. We've barely spent time together, but the big, burly man has been good to me, and I consider him a friend now.
Chuckling, I lean in and whisper to him, “Lower your shoulders, dude. Too stiff. She won't like it.”
Arthur's ears turn beet-red as Gwen comes over, wearing a pleasant smile I haven't seen on her before. She's clearly enjoying herself mixing with the other pack members, and I know Delilah will appreciate this since she wants to make up for catching the wrong witch.
Gwen takes in the sight of Arthur with a visible gasp, then purses her lips.
“Hey, Hunter. Is Delilah still in the kitchen?” she asks sweetly.
I'm just about to respond when the hinges on the door leading to the kitchen creak to signal movement, and I turn in time to find Delilah coming out with a pot. I rush over to help her, and she smiles sheepishly as she passes me the pot.
“Thanks,” she says before turning her attention toward Gwen. “Hey, how are things going?”
Delilah passes me to head to Gwen, her scent freezing me on the spot as it enters my airways. With its sweetness comes a flicker of dread, a reminder that perhaps I'm getting too comfortable around Shadow Fang.
What's the point, if she won't acknowledge our relationship, dismissing what happened the other night as casual and “just sex?”
Though I've been becoming fond of being in this pack, even going as far as showing Gwen around this morning as if I've been in Scarborough all my life, I can't ignore that there's one place I don't feel welcomed.
Delilah's heart.
After what I did in the past to lose her, I can't blame her for being so cold toward me.
That's why I can't risk getting too comfortable around here. If I can't win Delilah's heart, I'll just resort to my old ways of being a lone wolf, hopping from one pack to another, and counting on my friends to welcome me, as they always have.
Chapter 15 - Delilah
“What's going on?” I ask with a frown, knitting my brows as soon as I enter my parents’ dining room, only to find that they're at their seats, a feast spread out across the table.
They're not alone, and Prince Damion is seated on the left side of my father.
“We thought you'd like to join us for dinner, Delilah,” my father suggests as he gestures to an empty chair next to my mom. His face is as stern as ever, indicating that it's not a request, but an order.
Pursing my lips as I nod tersely, I lower my eyes and reluctantly drag my feet toward the table, inwardly resenting this unexpected dinner invitation.
First, my mother gave Hunter the wrong time to attend the party the other night, and now, they've called me for dinner under the guise of my father wanting to speak to me about pack business.
That's what Arthur told me when he showed up at my cottage just as I was about to prepare a light meal for myself, Hunter, and Gwen. I didn't think my parents would be so sneaky, but everything they've been doing since I announced my marriage to Hunter only shows me how much they disapprove of my choice of a partner.
Glumly taking a seat and laying a napkin on my lap, I pick up my fork with anger winding my fingers around the gold utensil tighter than usual. I only remain quiet and polite for the sake of royalty seated at the dinner table, but inside, my fuses are being blown.
