I lightly ran my fingers over Zoey's face as I sang a lullaby, putting her to sleep. "You won't leave with him... will you?"
I smiled softly. "I won't leave you, Ladybug."
She sighed, content. "Maybe if... he stays... with us..."
I frowned. "Is that what you want?"
Her eyelids drooped as I continued to stroke her face. "He... let... m..."
"Shhhh... just sleep, we'll talk tomorrow." She nodded and I started to sing again. Once I was sure I wouldn't wake her I went into the living area.
Xavier glared at me. "What the fuck did you teach her?"
I chuckled. "Nothing actually, she's just really bright and ask a lot of questions."
Aurora laughed. "Like what?"
I sighed. "She asked why our parents disappeared sometimes and I said that's what couples do. Then in all of those stupid kids book whatever princess is being taken away from her home by some guy. She automatically took that as if I were to find someone I would be taken away or disappear when she wanted to spend time with me."
He frowned. "You know better."
I smirked. "I've told her as much, but it stuck, so I just avoid the subject altogether. Works in my favor though."
Ray blinked. "She literally attacked Ezekiel. She's becoming a miniature you."
I smiled. "I know... she'll be a force to be reckoned with when she grows up."
Xavier gaped. "That's not okay, Violet."
I sat back on my elbows. "Why not? Our parents seem to find it very amusing and approve. She is strong and independent for the most part."
He frowned. "She will have relationship issues just like you."
I rolled my eyes. "I do not have relationship issues." I pursed my lips as I felt Ezekiel approaching. "I have fucking stalkers..."
I jumped up and opened the door before he could knock. "He-"
"If you wake that child up I will kill you and she will help."
He paused and sighed. "Can we talk?"
I crossed my arms. "About?"
He glanced in the room. "Alone?" I arched an eyebrow. "Please, Violet..."
I glanced back. "Call if she wakes."
Xavier gestured to Ezekiel. "Epitome of relationship issues, right there."
I glared at him and closed the door quietly. "How may I help you?" He gestured for me to follow and I looked back. "If she wa-"
He nodded. "We won't go far, just somewhere more private."
I eyed him suspiciously. "And where is that?"
He closed his eyes. "I won't hurt you Violet, you should know that by now."
I pursed my lips. "Not like you could." I reluctantly followed him and stopped when he went to open another room door. "I'm not going in there."
He looked at me sadly. "You don't trust me."
"I don't trust anyone except my family and my pack."
He walked over to me. "You always were that way until the very end. Violet, I won't touch you if that's what you want."
I could feel his sincerity and thought it over for a minute. "You won't touch me... hard to believe given your history."
He nodded. "I'll stand on the other side of the room."
"Again, the past proves otherwise."
He searched my face. "Do you really think I'd tr-"
I sighed. "If not for the Season I may have been more easy going about it, but I can smell your lust."
He pressed his lips together. "That... I can't control."
"That would be the problem in us going in there together alone."
He watched me for a moment. "I don't smell yours... or feel it."
I averted. "I'm a broken wolf apparently, I find no joy in the Season, it's actually really annoying."
He chuckled. "I don't think that's it at all. You can feel desire, I know that much."
I rolled my eyes. "But am literally disgusted by this little affliction the rest of you have."
He smiled softly. "I'm actually grateful for that."
I glanced around. "What do you want, Ezekiel?"
He gently took my hand. "For you trust me."
I searched his eyes. "Just this once, if you fuck up..."
"I know." He led me in the room and gestured to a chair. I opted for the counter and slid unto it. "You didn't seem surprised that I could still feel what you feel."
I looked out of the window. "Kinda stuck with that until I die..."
"What?"
"The mark... it doesn't go away until I die even though it's not complete... I wasn't of age."
He shifted uncomfortably. "How do you know that?"
I met his gaze. "My mom's isn't like a rash, more a tattoo. That's where I remembered it from, then in the cave... it's different now though so."
He pulled up his sleeve and I sadly looked at the accident I made three years ago. "So if you were to mark someone else..." I shook my head. "I don't understand."
"You're not stupid, Ezekiel... I'm not gonna spell it out for you."
He smiled softly. "Viorel marked your mom... they're mates." I lowered my gaze. "You don't seem happy about that."
I closed my eyes. "I knew before I left. I've known since the cave."
I felt him come closer and glared at him. "You're afraid..."
I shrugged. "Being hitched is not something I can afford right now. However, my family insists on making me attend these events."
He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"We still have a lot to do before we are truly stable, now with me being old enough I'm being bombarded with requests for dinners, parties, so many unnecessary things I have no interest in. I don't see the point."
"Because you already found your mate..."
I shook my head. "Because I'm not ready for any of that. I'm quite content, single, and focused right now."
He frowned. "And what about me?"
I sat back on my hands. "Another reason I never attended these events. You've been doing well so long as I was out of sight. Your pack is more disciplined, your borders more secure and from all accounts more respectful."
His eyes widened. "Yo-"
I pursed my lips. "As long as you were doing well there was no need to mess that up, for either of us."
A warmth filled my chest and I looked away from him. "Violet..." I sighed and met his gaze. "The reason I wanted to talk is because I don't want you to disappear again..."
I nodded. "I figured."
He thought a moment. "I know you don't want to jump into this, but we both know we're mates so... could we maybe take it slow."
I frowned. "Wolves and slow don't go together."
He chuckled. "No... but I have a feeling you're leaving in the morning."
I checked the time. "Five hours."
He nodded. "I never did get your phone number while you were there. I regret that."
I narrowed my eyes. "You spent most of your time stalking me. Didn't really need it."
He smiled. "This is true." I rolled my eyes and sent a text, he blinked in surprise when his phone chimed. "How did yo-"
"Your mom before we left. She insisted."
"But you didn't call..." I just stared at him and he chuckled. "No, you wouldn't."
I glanced at the door. "I should go."
He pursed his lips. "So soon..."
I slid off the counter. "She's getting restless, she'll wake soon."
"Your brother can't handle it? She's his sister too."
I opened the door and grimaced when a shrill scream echoed through the halls. "Fuck..." I ran to the room and slammed open the door.
"She's gone! He took her!"
I facepalmed. "Zoey..."
She whipped around and tore out of Xavier's hold. "You came back!"
I dropped to my knees. "I told you I wouldn't leave you, silly girl."
She hugged me tight. "He said you left with him!"
I glared at my twin. "What the fuck, Zay?"
He shrugged. "I said you'd be back..."
I sighed and smoothed her hair. "I'm right here. He just wanted to talk."
I inwardly groaned when I felt Ezekiel behind me and she turned red with anger. "I said you can't have her!" She tackled him and start punching his chest. "You can't take her away!"
He blocked her blows and I grabbed her collar to pick her up turning her to face me. "He's not... I need you to calm down."
She sniffed. "But he wants to."
I sighed. "Him and every other guy especially during the Season. I'm not going anywhere right now."
She pouted. "Right now..."
I dropped her and she wrapped herself around my leg. "I told you we would talk later. Let's go."
She stuck her tongue out at Ezekiel as we went back to our room and I plucked her forehead. "But..." I raised my eyebrows and she pouted. "Sorry... but she's still mine."
I shook my head and laid with her in the bed. "What's come over you all of the sudden?"
She grabbed my hair. "He looks at you different... I don't like it."
I began to stroke her face. "We'll talk at home..."
She frowned. "You didn't deny it."
I nodded. "You're right."
She began to fight sleep. "But..."
"Tomorrow, Ladybug. When you aren't all over the place."
She sighed. "Will you sing to me?" I smiled softly and sang until she was out.
I watched her for a bit. "No... I won't be leaving for him or anyone else, I promise."
***
If I ever wondered what Violet was like as a child, I'm pretty sure I'm getting a healthy dose. Her sister is strong, smart, and possessive, the only quality Violet didn't seem to have. I couldn't miss that she was amused by it all, angry at her brother for getting her started sure, but she found the reactions hilarious.
I sighed and sat up. She knew and she still left, the thought made me frown, but at the same time... she clearly had been keeping tabs on me. Even still she was wary, she wasn't ready for any of this, still thinking of her pack first.
But the way she felt about Zoey was breathtaking. She loved her and would do damn near anything for her, that much was clear and made me think how she would be if we had our own. The thought was gone quickly as she quietly, which I found impressive, got her brother. I shook my head, she's still violent.