Page 13 of Marked By The Filthy-Mouthed Grizzly
Victoria is listening to my every word. I can tell that she’s eavesdropping.
“I feel like I shouldn’t miss them,” I whisper, more to myself than to him. “But I still do.”
“You can miss someone even though they were broken,” he says, voice low, and for a second, I swear I hear something heavy behind it. “The two things don’t cancel each other out.”
I close my eyes, letting that truth settle into my bones.
I wish I could see Magnus’ face, just to read his expression. But I don’t want to make this any weirder than it already is. He’s already being kind by listening to my rambling. Maybe I should just shut up, but it keeps coming out. I haven’t really talked to anyone about this yet. But why the hell is it pouring out now?
“I’ve had a… complicated relationship with my brothers,” I say softly. “It’s been hard.”
He keeps working, but his strokes are now slower. More reverent. Like he’s not just tattooing skin—but he’s honoring a memory. Giving it form.
My heart does this funny flip in my chest, and I suddenly want to cry. Not because of the pain, but because I feel understood. By a stranger.
A very hot stranger.
“Even challenging relationships are still meaningful,” he whispers. “They still change us and make us who we are. We can still love someone even if we don’t agree with their actions.”
My head drops as my eyes fill with tears. “I didn’t think anyone would get that,” I say, my voice small.
He clears his throat. “I get it.”
This time I do glance over my shoulder at him and for a second, our eyes meet. I know he means it. There’s something real and deep in that look. Something that reaches straight into my chest and makes it ache.
Maybe this tattoo is about more than my brothers now.
Maybe it’s the start of something I never expected.
Or, maybe this guy is just being nice and I’m in a weird freaking place.
I have no idea.
Why is life so hard?
CHAPTER FIVE
Magnus
“Victoria,” I say as I head into the back. “Can you help me find the charcoal ink? I’m all out.”
My sister practically leaps out of her chair and races to follow me into the back storage room.
It’s been about an hour since I started work on my mate and I’ve been in awe for every minute of it. I still can’t believe she’s here. That she’s real. That she’s even more perfect than I thought she’d be.
But it’s not so simple.
In fact, I’m totally fucked.
“Dude,” Victoria says, slapping my arm in the back. “She’s here! Congratulations! Your mate. Fuck yeah!”
I drop my head into my hands and groan. “I’m so screwed.”
“Yeah,” she says, cringing as her excitement melts away. “That’s a total bummer.”
“A bummer?” I say, staring at her in shock. “That’s a fucking understatement, now isn’t it? I killed her fucking brother!”
“Keep your voice down,” she says, closing the door. “She’s going to hear.”
