22 - Greta


    Long ago, I made a solemn promise to myself: never again would I endure those dark days. Even Ryker doesn''t know the full extent of what happened. And now, here I am, caught in a bind with this towering man who''s using the mate bond as a weapon against me. My wolf is practically begging to spill every secret to this charming guy and his equally persistent wolf, just because they''re so stubbornly sweet.


    "They can help us. They already are. This human isn''t like those rogues who destroyed your pack," she said gently.


    "I get it, I do. But that doesn''t make it any easier. I haven''t spoken about this in ages. I don''t want those nightmares creeping back. I''ve only just started to sleep peacefully again.”


    "You know you''ve been sleeping better since you''ve been around him, right? The past two days have been like heaven."


    I fought the growl rising in my throat at her words. She wasn''t wrong, but admitting it felt like surrender. Even in the cave, he managed to pull me out of a nightmare— something no one else, not even Ryker, has ever done. Usually, those memories cling to me for hours, and shadows haunt my vision for days afterward.


    "He''s too sweet and innocent for me..." I muttered.


    "You say that, but he''s spent most of his life in a rogue pack and was even mated to Amy! What makes you think he''s innocent and sweet? I only see that side of him when he''s with you."


    "You don''t. He acts the same way around Kennedy..." I protested weakly.


    "She was the first to give him a chance, no questions asked. She believed in him before he even believed in himself. Even you felt how his loyalty to her connected him to this pack."


    "He''s like that with the pups too." I wasn''t sure why I kept arguing. I was clutching at straws, and we both knew it. Change has always been my enemy. It''s never ended well. Evening to Ryker''s pack was far from easy.


    "Because he understands them. Deep down, there''s a little boy who just wants to belong to a pack."


    Suddenly, I realized I was making noises arguing with my wolf. I blinked and found Finn hovering just above my face.


    I summoned every ounce of sass I had. "Do you know you can get off me now?"


    I pressed my elbows into the bed and shifted my hips. Immediately, I felt his erection still beneath me but stop moving.


    "Hmm." He smiled, yful and teasing. "Nah, I think I like it right here."


    He slowly moved his hips against mine. mes sparked through my entire body at the thought of his arousal. At the same time, every muscle in me tensed. I didn''t know what he nned next, and this was not a position I enjoyed being in.


    "Is that panting I hear?" he teased.


    "N-n-no! Get off, Finn... now." I pushed against his chest again. There was a slight shift, but Icked the leverage to move him. He held my gaze for so long I could see every shade of blue in his eyes. Without warning, he nodded and then pulled me forward. I blinked, surprised to find myself straddling hisp.


    "Now you''re on top. Is this better?” His tone held no teasing this time. "Can you stop overthinking and just be here?"


    I opened my mouth to respond just as the door creaked open.


    "I''m sorry to interrupt, but we really should get Finn''s samples as soon as possible," the healer said.


    I tried to slide to the side, but Finn locked his arms around my back.


    "You don''t need to move for her to get what she needs. We''re not done talking," he said, his voice low and steady.


    I whipped my head toward the healer, silently begging for a reason to escape hisp. I needed space-my body was buzzing like I''d had too much coffee.


    "If you''refortable right there, Miss Greta, I can work around you. Being close to your mate actually helps with the healing," she exined.


    "Who told you we''re mates?!" The usation slipped out sharper than I intended. Finn flinched, and I caught it.


    "No one, Miss. It''s just pretty easy to recognize new mates if you know what signs to look for."


    "Please keep that information to yourself." Finn took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his arms rxing and resting beside my knees. The healer simply nodded. Suddenly, I felt hollow inside.


    "Let''s get this over with. I need to sleep, and I think Kennedy still has more poking and prodding for you to do once this crap is out of my system."


    "Yes, sir."


    "Please call me Finn. I''m not a ''sir'' to you," he said kindly but with a t tone.


    "Okay... Finn." The healer chuckled sheepishly, but her eyes widened as she nced at me. Yep, she got caught flirting with my mate, and something about my expression made her rethink her life choices.


    "Your jealousy is showing," my wolf teased.


    "I''m not jealous."


    "Bullsh*t! That girl nearly wet herself just now. Finn''s wolf thinks it''s hrious, by the way."


    "Shut up! Stop talking to him, traitor."


    "Not a chance! Do you know how long I''ve waited for him?!"


    I had noeback. I knew exactly how long. Since I was eighteen, she''d hoped that finding my mate would heal some of my deepest scars. Like Ryker, I had long given up hope. Pain-both physical and emotional bes something you simply tolerate after a while. I didn''t know how to stop being distant. I needed to figure out how to try—for my wolf and his. I wasn''t the only one who mattered. Why did everything have to be so damnplicated?


    "You can get off now," his deep, gravelly voice pulled me back to reality.


    "Hmm?" I blinked. Finn wasn''t looking at me anymore.


    "She''s done and gone. You can go." When I didn''t move, he lifted me from hisp and set me aside before heading into the bathroom. When he locked the door behind him, I knew he wouldn''te out until I was gone.