16. Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MALLYN'S POV

I watch Micai as she sits across from me on the small wooden bench. She glances around at the town from where we sit; white and red Christmas lights hanging from the old metal light poles above us and decorations filling each shops' window display.

Her eyes sparkle with humour as she notices a small child whispering excitedly to an old Santa statue a few feet away, before he gets annoyed with the lack of response and begins to poke his rosy ceramic cheeks.

We had eaten our sandwiches in Ezra's car on the way here. Micai's face instantly lit up when we gave it to her. She devoured it within minutes, grinning from ear to ear with satisfaction when she was finished.

A small smile tilts my lips, happy that I had opted to join them in the car ride over rather than taking my Ducati like usual. I would have missed watching Micai's cute mannerisms when she ate, or being able to listen to her talk.

I glance toward ‘Pages and Pies', seeing Annex and Ezra talking to Daina as a growing queue grows behind them. The people in it keep their distance from my brothers as they place our order, their eyes never turning toward them as they ramble to Daina about ‘popular desserts'.

Annex and Ezra had argued back and forth on the way here about what dessert Micai would like, each trying to persuade her to taste their favourite. She said she would try anything and to surprise her.

They both headed over to get her something, the line there instantly parting and keeping their distance from them as they entered.

My grin widens as I heighten my senses, honing in on Annex and Ezra bickering about ‘What muffin flavour Micai would like most'.

But I'm pretty sure she would be happy with whatever they picked.

She enjoyed her food, always savouring each bite like it's her first or last. She was also easily moved by the small gestures my brothers showed her. Something niggled at me with the thought.

My beast pushes forward, watching her as her eyes take in as much of the newly decorated town as she can.

"Do you…like Christmas?" My beast chuffs in my head with my words. I wasn't used to talking to girls. I wasn't used to talking much in general.

I preferred to avoid people and crowds, the noises irritating both me and my beast with our sensitive senses. Over time, that had become normal for us. I was never a people-person anyway.

"Christmas…I don't really do much for it. But I enjoy all of this," She gestures toward the town's decorations. "I'm not sure what it is about it all, but it just feels…homely."

"Do you not spend the day with your family?" I ask as my brows pinch together. Don't normal families do shit on that day? Like spend time together and have weird little traditions?

Then I kick myself, remembering her blonde half-sister from earlier.

Clearly, there was something there. Something that didn't quite fit together. The look in her sister's eyes as she stared at Micai…it wasn't a look you give someone you care for. There was something darker glinting in her eyes that I just didn't like.

My beast growls lowly in my ears, a sound of agreement ringing out.

A beat of silence passes, and I glance back up toward Micai. A strange look, something dark and reminiscent, forms in her eyes.

"Family? I wouldn't call it that," she murmurs before slightly shaking her head. "The Bane Clan holds a Christmas party every year, but…it's not really my thing." She looks away, a grim expression taking over her face.

As much as I would love to know more, I can feel this isn't the time to push her. Clearly, there was more to this than any of us knew. Maybe it wasn't just her sister that was the problem. Maybe Micai was more like us than any of the others had realised.

For her sake, I hope I was just overthinking things. But if I wasn't…My beast begins his low growling again, thoughts and images of chaos and carnage flashing through our link. And this time, I fully agree. Her pain wouldn't go unpunished.

"You didn't bring your bike today, " she calls, her words more a statement than a question as she tries to change the subject. But there is a genuine curiosity in her gaze.

"Today was an exception."

"An exception?" She calls, her eyes watching me as my beast bristles, enjoying each drop of attention she gives us.

"This time…I wanted to travel together." My eyes meet her gaze, dropping to her soft, plump lips as a beat passes between us. A pink blush creeps into her cheeks as I watch her. Was that for me?

"I usually prefer my bike over any other ride."

Normally, being in a car was like being locked in a metal box—something tight and oppressive that neither I nor my beast liked. But it had been different with Micai there. It was a comfort having her beside us and traveling together with Ezra and Annex.

‘Ours,' my beast growls. ‘Pack.'

A grin graces her lips, pulling my attention back toward her as her gaze softens, remembering something. "It was fun, the Fight Night."

Ah. She seemed to enjoy riding with Annex then. Maybe she would be up for another ride, but with me this time.

The thought has an excitement bubbling up in me until I finally open my mouth, the words falling out with anticipation and hope.

"There's a place I like to ride to…" My eyes meet hers. "It's quiet and peaceful." Her blue eyes watch me, her attention fully mine as I continue. "The ride to it is clear and open and rolls on for miles."

"Sounds…freeing," she adds as her rosy lips form a soft smile.

That one word seems to encompass it perfectly. Freedom.

That's what riding was for me. A break from the world around me, an escape. My own little fragment of peace in this dark world.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I watch her, her blue eyes slightly widening as a small pink shade tints her cheeks. The colour making her look even more beautiful and tantalising.

My hand slightly reaches forward, wanting to feel it on my palm before remembering I don't have that privilege. Yet.

‘Mate,' he growls softly. ‘ Ours.'

I pull my hand back with his voice calling her in my ears, clenching my fists to stop myself from reaching for her again.

A beat of silence passes before I open my mouth again, hoping I didn't mess this up or push her away with how stupidly awkward I am.

"It is. Maybe…I can show you sometime?"

A genuine glint of excitement grows in her eyes as her soft, rosy lips curve upwards. "I'd like that."

Those three words send my heart thrumming to a rhythm I don't think it's ever felt.

Is this how it was to have a Mate? Where even the smallest reply of something makes me feel like my chest is going to burst? Where just her smile can have me feeling the same sense of excitement and happiness she does?

"What's happening here?" Annex says as he plops down beside Micai, a genuine look of interest glinting in his eyes.

"Nothing," Micai responds as she gives me a small, knowing smile, keeping my peaceful place just between us.

My heart warms further with the thought. That we were sharing something between just us.

" Sure ," Annex says, his eyes narrowing playfully at me and Micai before reaching into a large paper bag and pulling out four small dessert boxes. Each is carefully wrapped and contains a different dessert in each one.

Ezra plops down on the other side of Micai and follows Annex's lead, taking out his own paper bag and three medium-sized dessert boxes.

They line them up in front of Micai and open them, the smell instantly wafting up and into our noses. Each one is different and more delicious than the next.

"What's all this?" she calls, her eyes wide as they flicker back and forth from the desserts placed in front of her. She looks like she wants to leap toward the food, her fingers flexing back and forth as my grin widens.

She really loved her food—s omething I happily store away for later.

"They're all yours, Red. We couldn't decide what you'd like. So we got one of every dessert they had." Grins Annex as he watches Micai's excited gaze.

"Daina said you would probably like the apple pie." Adds Ezra, pushing a large slice of Daina's best seller toward Micai. "But her cheesecakes and tarts are really popular too. The strawberry one is my favourite." He calls, pushing that particular tart closer to her, the large and glossy strawberries instantly catching Micai's eyes as Ezra's grin grows. Our second in command had a sweet tooth bigger than even mine.

"Daina can bake like nobody's business. She's this town's best-kept secret. Even Mallyn loves her brownies." Chuckles Annex, glancing my way.

Micai flicks her gaze toward me before looking at the rich chocolate-dipped brownie, a cute smirk lacing her lips as our eyes meet.

"I also got you an eclair, a raspberry and pistachio frangi-something, a huge homemade chocolate chip cookie, and some chocolate mousse-thingy." He holds up the small cylindrical mousse with a spoon before placing it in front of Micai. "Eat up, Red."

She glances back and forth between the table full of desserts, her eyes flickering to each of us and our expressions before a soft laugh bubbles up from her. One so beautiful and hearty it sounds like music to my ears.

"I don't know if I can eat all of this by myself." She glances at each one of us. "I might need a little help?"

We each give her an answering smile before joining her. A warm feeling spreads through me as I join my brothers— and Mate —to eat.

I thought what I had with the boys before was what a family felt like, but this… this was what was missing. Micai.