Page 24 of Shades of Scars

They slip by him, making sure they don’t touch, and head back down the hall to the exit. Once they’re out of sight, Wren turns to me, but he doesn’t release any of the tension still bracketing his broad shoulders.

His gaze flicks to Kate briefly, before returning his focus on me. Good alpha. “Are you alright, Sweetheart?” His tone is deceptively calm and soothing for someone strung as tight as a bow string.

“Why don’t you come inside and she can tell you all about it.” Kate coos at him, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger while she bats her eyelashes at him. I grit my teeth when he smirks, but he wisely doesn’t look over at her.

“I will, as long as it’s OK with your roommate.” He says this to her, all while keeping our gazes locked together.

I really don’t want him to see this side of my life. It isn’t Kate that I’m worried about. Not really.

He offers me a charming smile, one my foolish omega heart can’t deny. Sucking in a deep breath, I grumble, “Would you like to come in?”

I’ll never admit how much I enjoy giving in so easily.

14

Scarlett

If Kate doesn’t stop staring at Wren, I’m going to seriously have to reconsider my decision not to pluck out her fucking eyeballs.

It doesn’t help either when she makes stupid remarks like, “I’m sorry, Scarlett. He’s like every book boyfriend come true. Except this one’s a sexy viking god.” I can tell it amuses Wren, but only because I’m getting so worked up about it. I may not be able to allow myself to have him fully, but that doesn’t mean he’s up for grabs for other omegas.

“Don’t you have a shift at the diner this afternoon?” I grouse where I’m seated on our ratty couch. She’s lounging back on the cushion she’d been sitting on before those Detectives had come, and poor Wren’s managed to squeeze his massive frame into the narrow recliner we have across from us. There’s a whole coffee table between us, and I don’t fucking like it. It’s like my body’s trying to tell me it’s a sin having him so close and not being all up in his business.

“Yes, but it’s ten o’clock in the morning, Scar. Lighten up a little. Don’t you have a client sketch to finish?” She can be just as snide as me sometimes, and that’s annoying as hell.

I narrow my eyes on her, opening my mouth to snap back, but Wren cuts in. “Client sketch? Are you a designer?” I groaninwardly at the question, and Kate turns towards him with glee in her eyes I really don’t like.

“Oh, Scarlett didn’t tell you? She’s really talented. Tell me, Wren, are you an art enthusiast?” She practically purrs the question at him, and it takes all of my will power not to reach out and slap her. It’s like she’s desperate to spill all of my secrets.

“Shut up, Kate. Seriously. That is not something you have the right to divulge.” I’m glaring daggers at the side of her face, but she just waves me off like she’s not concerned about my threatening tone.

Wren’s watching me when he answers her, but I refuse to look directly at him for this conversation. “I enjoy art, but Apollo–my pack brother–is more into that scene than I am.” I perk up at that bit of information, shifting slightly on the couch.

“Scarlett’s made a pretty big name for herself in a lot of online forums and galleries. I’m sure your little Apollo has heard all about her. Well, at least her alias, anyway.” Kate taps a finger against the coffee table where one of my sketch pads sits, closed thankfully, and it snags Wren’s attention like a bear to honey.

“May I?” He dips his chin towards it when I finally meet his eyes, and I only hesitate for a second or two, before I nod with a shrug.

“It’s really nothing special.” I mutter, but I hold my breath as he takes the worn pad in his hands. He falls silent for several minutes, his facial expression doing all sorts of weird things while he looks through it, most of the emotions coming and going too fast for me to read them.

He pauses on one of my favorite sketches, a piece I published on my art blog a few months ago after I first arrived here. “This is… this is the pier.” His voice sounds strange as he stares at it, and when he looks up to meet my eyes, I nod. “You’re Ruby. Ruby Rain. I never made the connection.” His tone makes me wonder what it is about that piece that he connects with somuch. The Parkway pier wasn’t even one of the most popular destinations here in the city, though, admittedly, it was one of my favorites.

“It’s just a hobby.” I shrug again. I don’t usually get uncomfortable with praise for my art, but the way he’s looking at me now makes me shift again on the couch cushion.

“You sold this about six months ago in an online auction after you posted it on your blog. Apollo wouldn’t shut up about it.” He says in disbelief, and I quirk an eyebrow at him.

“Yes. I remember selling it.” Understatement of the fucking century. I got ten grand for that piece during that auction. “How do you know about the auction? From Apollo?”

He shakes his head, looking back down at the sketch again before looking back up. “You came in through the employee entrance atRaven, so you wouldn’t have seen it. I know about that auction because I’m the one that bought the piece. It was meant to be for Apollo’s birthday, but he wanted to hang it up in the entrance lounge of the club.”

Shock ripples through me, and I’m stunned for a solid thirty seconds before Kate bursts out into inappropriate giggles. When my head snaps towards her, it turns into a full on belly laugh. “Holy shit! Your scent matched alpha was your sugar daddy before you even met him!” She howls with laughter, clutching at her abdomen.

My mouth gapes open, and Wren’s deep chuckle brings my attention back to him. “Well?” His eyes sparkle as he shuts my sketchbook and places it back on the coffee table. “I did drop ten grand on that piece.” Somehow, his words make Kate lose her freaking shit until she’s laughing so hard, she’s crying.

“I don’t understand what is so funny.” I grumble, really wishing I could cross my arms over my chest, but I can’t because of this stupid sling.

“It’s not funny so much as ironic, Sweetheart. You’ve been a part of our lives longer than we realized. Hell, Apollo has an entire album full of smaller pieces you’ve published on your blog. You’ll have to ask him about his super-fan subscription to all things Ruby Rain the next time you see him.”

“Holy shit, that’s priceless.” Kate wheezes as her laughter slowly tapers off to hiccuping chuckles.

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