30. Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

MICAI'S POV

W e leave ‘Harpers Heels', the only shoe shop in town, with my small white bag holding my new pair of black heels.

I had gone shopping a few days ago with Ezra and Annex after dropping my necklace into ‘Elles' for fixing, and had picked out a dress to wear for the party tonight. These heels will match it perfectly.

It had been a struggle trying to keep Annex from entering the dressing-room while I was changing. Or to stop Ezra from buying every dress I glanced at. I somehow managed to keep the dress I chose a secret and couldn't wait to show them the little black number I decided on. It fit me like a glove and clung to each dip and curve, accentuating all the best parts of me.

Thankfully I remembered to buy some matching heels this time. Morgan wasn't here to lend me a pair, and I doubt the boys would have any around. They better not, anyway.

The thought of another woman being with them has a knot tightening in my chest before I quickly shake it away.

"…And they'll all start flooding in around nine." Calls Ezra, pulling me from my thoughts as I catch the end of his words.

We had been talking about who was coming to the party, and when they would all arrive tonight as we make our way toward ‘Hales Gelato' shop.

Ezra brought me here a couple of days ago, and we've been frequenting it every day since then. I love their freshly made gelato; the shop having over twenty-three different flavours, and so far, I have only made it up to twelve.

Each one tasted of a rich, creamy heaven I had never had before, not even in my previous life. And Ezra had seemed more than happy to join me each day and grab a couple of scoops as we walked around town.

A small chuckle leaves his lips, and a light moan leaves mine as I dig into number thirteen, a large double serving of their raspberry ripple flavour.

"Enjoying that?" Ezra says, taking a lick of his own marbled chocolate and vanilla gelato. He seemed to favour that flavour.

"Always," I smirk while making my scoop smaller and heading over to a nearby bench.

I take a spot on the wooden bench and watch as a couple of small children run by. They're sporting heavier jackets and small scarves, appropriate for the colder winter weather these days.

I glance around at the abundance of Christmas decorations now covering more of the quaint town's shops. Each window displays some sort of Christmas cheer and is painted with red and white stencils and a giant Christmas tree lining the centre of town.

Shop clerks from the small cake shop hand out small candy canes to people passing by while the vintage music shop blares festive Christmas songs in the distance.

Everyone we see passing by is holding either a large hot cup of takeaway cocoa from Al's Diner or their large special Christmas lattes or coffees. The takeaway drinks were also helping to keep their red fingers warm from the cold weather.

And here was Ezra and I, sitting on a small bench out in the open and eating ice cream. I chuckle at the thought.

In fairness, not even the cold depths of winter could stop me from eating this delicious gelato. Christmas was apparently a time to treat yourself, and after years of not doing that, I think it's time I started.

A cold breeze brushes past me as I finish the last dollop of gelato, devouring the wafer cone a moment later as my hair flutters around me with the gust of wind.

Ezra wraps his arm around me, trying to keep me warm.

I didn't really mind the cold. I had thicker skin than most and had been through far worse than a slight chill on my skin. Although this warm moment with him, and having him next to me, was a precious gift I wouldn't waste.

I lean into him, my head resting on his shoulder as I feel him lean down and place the lightest of kisses on my head.

"It's a little chilly, but I thought we could have more fun and relax here than if we stayed in the abattoir. Creed will take a few more hours to sort out all of the decorations and last-minute details there for the party tonight." Explains Ezra before he finishes off his gelato.

When we woke up this morning, it had been hectic. People were arriving from all sorts of places and immediately setting things up downstairs in the fighting ring area.

The vast space was slowly being transformed, and dozens of people had been moving back and forth, trying to organise the enormous room.

Creed was at the centre of it all, inspecting each and every decoration and sculpture before they went up. Everything was moved using magic: large iridescent crystals and chandeliers, silk fabrics, and carved-ice statues. They were floating from one place to another, with dozens of people casting to put them in their proper place. Large men— probably shifters — were carrying black wooden stage boards, tables, chairs, and bartending equipment into the space.

Creed stood amid it all, a permanent glare set on his face as he barked orders to every person there.

Mr. Sunshine was in full swing bright and early in the morning.

He had sent Annex and Mallyn on an errand to check the food and drinks for tonight. Annex only agreed because he said he knew my taste in food best, which had Ezra scoffing and Mallyn shaking his head.

Ezra pulls back slightly, turning to look at me.

"Creed can get a little tense managing these kinds of things too." A heavy sigh falls from his lips as he drags a weary hand down his face, a tired look marring his beautiful features. "He hasn't been the easiest person lately to be around and is not very accepting of the changes we want now as a group." He peers my way, a softer look in his gaze. "It will take him a little longer to adjust, but he'll eventually come around. Just give him a chance." A conflicted look takes over his gaze as he watches me. "Creed can be…" He pauses, brushing his fingers across his chin, looking for the right words.

"A dick?" I answer, pulling a small chuckle from him and easing his rigid expression.

"That too." He nods, a playful glint in his eyes before his gaze darkens slightly, a more serious look taking over his features. "He has his reasons for being so guarded. We all do. But he's particularly iron-walled. He's been betrayed by those he placed unequivocal trust in, ones that should have had his back unconditionally and instead crushed the trust he placed in them to dust." He brushes a hand down the back of his neck, glancing toward the sky as he continues.

"Creed doesn't open up or let others in easily. He pushes them and tests their boundaries, watching for any crack in their armour and for everything to flood out. He doesn't like not knowing something or being unable to control certain situations. He doesn't like the unknown and doesn't deal with accepting new people into his circle. He's a hard nut to crack, but I promise, if you can weather his storm, he'll be the hurricane that will rip apart everything that darkens your skies." He turns back toward me, a small frown coating his lips as his brows draw downward, his eyes flickering with a slight desperation as he watches me.

"He has a deeper side to him, Micai. One that he's locked away over the years, burying it beneath his stubborn exterior that's made purely of the pain and betrayal he's been dealt. He lashes out and keeps people at a distance, wanting to keep the pieces he has left of himself as safe as he can." He shakes his head, the frown coating his lips growing as he continues.

"He forged a new life for him and Morgan when they were trapped and then abandoned. And then he brought us all together, piecing us like puzzles at our darkest point to form something new—something still broken, but not so shattered anymore. And for that, I'll always be grateful to him." A tender look takes over his eyes as he gazes at me.

"He brought me in when I had no one, no real connection to anyone, and no mission or motivation in life. I was in a bad place when I first met Creed…" His grin returns to his lips as he takes my hand in his. "And his stubborn bullshit somehow managed to pull me out of the hole I was digging for myself and brush me off, showing me that there was more to life than how I had been existing before. He gave me this family, this brotherhood…" He weaves our fingers together, his smile brighter as his eyes find me again. "And that's now brought me to you." He leans down, placing a light kiss on my lips before pulling back slightly.

"Creed was the starting point of all this, so I want to give him the benefit of the doubt with how he's been behaving lately. He thinks he needs to protect us like he protects Morgan at times, forgetting we can do that ourselves." A heavy sigh falls from his lips. "I think he doesn't want us to be hurt by you…he thinks you'll leave us or betray us—"

"I would never." I rush out, cutting him off as my brows pinch together, my chest hurting with just the thought of it.

I would never betray them. They have given me more than I could have ever dreamed of. Leaving them or betraying them …I could never do that.

"I know." Ezra's hand reaches toward my face, gently cupping my cheek with his palm. " He just hasn't realised that yet. He hasn't realised a lot of things…" A slight, unreadable grin tilts his lips before his brows furrow. "I'm just asking— and I hate even having to, with how he's been treating you —to give him some small chance, a bit of time to open up and show you there's more to my stubborn brother than the asshole he's been portraying. There's heavy layers to him—"

"As layered as an onion and just as pungent," I add, cutting his words short as I raise a playful brow.

Ezra chuckles, a slight shake to his head.

"But tasty when cooked and served with other things…like, say, a delicious piece of steak?" He wriggles his brows, and I chuckle, remembering our previous meat discussion.

"Fine. I'll take his hits on the chin for now. But if he pisses me off or pushes me too far…" I give him a playful warning glare. "I'll be throwing him in that fighter's cage myself and ripping the glare from his dark brows."

I'll unload each and every grievance and glare he's given me over the past couple of months with my fists. He can get to know them, and my roundhouse kick really well.

Ezra's expression brightens, a hopeful smile coating his lips before turning into a mischievous grin.

"I'll help referee. And just so you know…" He leans in closer, his lips brushing against mine. "I take bribes in the forms of long kisses and date nights at the Roller-Room."

I laugh as he leans forward, capturing my lips with his, giving me one of those ‘long kisses' before pulling back and tilting his head against mine.

"We're a lucky bunch of men to have met you, Micai Bane."

I thought I was lucky to gain a second chance at life, but now…I realise my luck was spent entirely on meeting them .