25 - Finn
"Deal." That was the only instruction we received-just deal with it. And now, here I am, trapped in this ce with her for an unknown stretch of time. I can''t handle this. Not right now. I need to get away.
"I''m going to go look around," I mutter, dropping my bag hastily as I make a beeline for the door.
"Finn, wait-" she calls after me, but I don''t catch the rest. I bolt down the hallway like a frightened animal, rushing past a bewildered Kennedy, racing down the stairs, and bursting out onto the sprawling patio. My chest heaves; my lungs burn as if they refuse to draw in air. This is unbearable. Being near her is suffocating. Even the faint trace of her scent in the car was enough to shake me. Right now, I''m caught in a strange paradox—more rxed and yet more tense than I''ve felt in weeks.
"You need to calm down. This is a good thing," she says softly, her voice trying to soothe me.
"How can this be good?!" I snap back. "I was finally getting used to not having her around."
"You get another chance. That''s why it''s good!" she insists.
“I don''t want it,” I say, voice low and bitter. “She doesn''t want me. I''m a rogue with nothing to offer. Just let me reject her so we can move on. The rest of our group is settled, and Ryker will have everyone packed up soon enough."
"No!" she counters firmly. "I let you reject Amy because she wasn''t right for us or our kind. We set her wolf free to be with someone better. Greta is different-she''s a good person. She''s just scared."
"Scared of what?” I demand, frustration bubbling over. “That''s the problem! You get to know things about her that I don''t. She won''t even talk to me. I can tell she needs help, but she''s too stubborn to ask for it."
I pace the deck like a trapped animal, restless and agitated. The stic holding my hair snapped, leaving a bothersome strand brushing against my neck, adding to my irritation.
"Did you know you make funny sounds when you fight with your wolf?" she says with a nervousugh. I stiffen at the sound, and the delicate scent of cherries surrounds me, wrapping around my frayed nerves like a fragile embrace. I can''t handle this—not yet. I turn away from theforting fragrance.
“Finn, please, wait." She grabs my arm, and the sudden contact sends an electric shock through me, awakening something inside. The entire forest seems toe alive—the colors deepen, the sky brightens, and every sound sharpens with rity. It''s the first time she''s touched me willingly, not because of duty or training.
"I need to go,” I say, pulling free from her grasp and edging toward the stairs. "Just listen, please," she pleads.
>>
"Not if you''re just going to list every reason you don''t want me," I say, cutting her off. "I get it—you don''t want a mate. Fine. I''ll keep my distance, and you can keep pretending this isn''t real. I''m tired of hearing it."
"No, Finn, listen," she insists.
"I don''t want to fight with you. I don''t want to hear how worthless I am. Trust me, I already know. It''s been made painfully clear. After my pack was attacked, no one came for me. That''s the one thing I remember from my childhood with absolute certainty. I had family in other packs, but none of them wanted me enough toe find me. I waited—days, even-hiding from the assholes who destroyed my pack, hoping someone would im me. No one did. No one missed me. No one wanted me." My words tumble out in a frantic rush, maybe hoping that if Iy it all bare, she''ll finally reject me.
"Will you shut up for five fucking minutes?!" she snaps, exasperated. "I''m trying to talk to you. You''ve been avoiding me since the hospital. I''m sick of chasing you around.” She nces over my shoulder. “Luna, are you okay if we take a walk?”
"What''s wrong with you?!" I spin to face Greta, my re sharp. "We can''t just leave her here alone. It''s our job to protect her. That''s the only reason the alpha and beta aren''t here."
"She''s fine," Greta replies coolly. "Why are you so protective? For someone who ims to hate the pack so much, you sure are attached to its very heart."