33 - Finn


    As we approached the SUV, a piercing scream shattered the tense silence-Finn''s name echoed desperately from behind us. We both spun around just in time to see the childunch herself toward him, her small body wrapping around him with surprising strength.


    "No, don''t go," she sobbed repeatedly, clutching him with all the tiny strength her fingers could muster.


    Finn nced at me, his expression searching for guidance, but I was just as lost. Neither of us knew how to handle this raw, overwhelming emotion. Deep down, a part of me wished Ryker''s assumptions about her parents were wrong. We werepletely out of our depths when it came to raising a pup or managing these intense emotional outbursts.


    "Hey,” I said softly, stepping closer and gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She responded with a muffled ''humph'' and burrowed even deeper into Finn''s neck. Taking a steadying breath, I exchanged a look with Finn. Janelle was our immediate problem, but Trinity was our responsibility now. The weight of that truth pressed down on me, and I felt utterly clueless about what to do next.


    Finn rubbed her back soothingly. "Trin, why can''t we leave?"


    "Because you won''te back," she whimpered, her voice muffled against his skin.


    I pressed my hand over Finn''s on her back and asked gently, "What makes you think that?"


    “Gramma and Grampa didn''te back. Then Mommy and Daddy didn''te back. Aunty Jo didn''te back either. Grown-ups don''te back when the bad stuff happens."


    “Oh, sweet girl,” I murmured, moving closer to surround her between Finn and myself. Finn''s free arm encircled us protectively. "I can''t promise anything. Pack attacks are dangerous. But I can promise that we''ll both do everything possible toe back to you as soon as we can." I kissed her cheek softly and pulled back, meeting Finn''s eyes. He looked just as shattered by her reaction—maybe even more so. He had lived this reality before and understood the storm raging inside her.


    A cough interrupted the moment. "Sorry, I should have held her all the way down to the falls," Be said quietly, barely masking his sorrow. He held out his hands to take her, and I stepped aside. But when Finn moved to hand her over, she screamed again, inconsble. Be had to pry her off him, her body kicking and writhing. I fought the urge to scoop her back into our arms. Instead, I turned us both toward the SUV.


    “Let''s go. Want me to drive?" I whispered.


    Finn shook his head, his face hard as stone. We climbed inside silently. He started the engine without a word, and we pulled away. Her screams echoed faintly in my ears, haunting me. I closed my eyes, sinking back into my seat, struggling to keep it together. That was one of the most gut-wrenching moments I''d ever experienced. A tear slipped down my cheek, and I felt Finn''s hand rest gently on my thigh. Opening my eyes slowly, I looked to my left. His eyes were rimmed red, but he stared straight ahead. Holding onto his arm, I whispered, "What did you do to me?"


    "Hmm?" He nced at me, confusion flickering briefly before his gaze returned to the road.


    "Before you, I was never this emotional. Honestly, I don''t think I''ve felt anything like this in over ten years. Then I find my mate, and suddenly I''m a blubbering mess every five minutes."


    He let out a wateryugh. "Maybe if you didn''t fight the mate bond so hard, you wouldn''t be this emotional."


    I squeezed his hand. “Let''s kick Janelle''s ass first, then I''ll see what I can do about that." I rxed into theforting tingles spreading through me.


    The two-hour drive blurred past in silence until we neared our destination, where business had to take priority. We had a child to bring home. I gasped softly, and my wolf chuckled yfully in my mind.


    "What?" Finn scanned the surroundings from the driver''s seat.


    “Oh, uh, nothing. My wolf is being unhelpful."


    "I didn''t have the thought you did,” he teased as I giggled.


    "Shut up."


    "You alright over there?"


    "Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry. Jensen should be close." I directed him to pull off the road. My wolf and I needed something to focus on, a distraction from the growing storm of my imagination. We climbed out and surveyed the area.


    “Let''s go! We found their camp. We want to ambush them before they realize we''re onto them."


    "Sometimes I wish I was part of your pack," Finn muttered, walking around to my side of the SUV. I nced between Jensen''s wolf and Finn, then made a sudden, impulsive decision.


    Wrapping my arms around Finn''s neck, Iced my fingers in his hair. His arms instinctively wrapped around me. Before he could ask what I was doing, my fangs slipped out, my wolf surging forward as we marked him. His fingers dug into my skin, and the sensation was overwhelmingly pleasurable. Without hesitation, he returned the mark. I inhaled deeply, holding the breath as a wave of euphoria washed over me. He held me close, pressing me against him as we both came down from the high.


    "All right, lovebirds, you can f*ckter. Finn, wee to the noise you might regret it here, real soon."


    "Oh sh*t!"


    A chorus of voices shouting ''Finn'' and ''wee to the family'' filled our ears.


    "It''s about time, Greta."


    "Shut up, Ryker, you''re one to talk."


    "We can all give Greta a hard timeter. Right now, we have a rogue to take down." I nodded my thanks to Jensen, even though we both knew it was only dying the inevitable.


    Finn and I shifted and followed him. Our wolves ran side by side, close enough that our shoulders brushed as we moved.


    "They''re not far from here. They''re not as stealthy as when your group came through, Finn. I just can''t tell if that''s intentional, and we''re being set up, or if they''re really this stupid."


    "It could be either. Janelle never seemed like the nner type, but I didn''t think she was the idiot of the group either."


    "LOOK OUT!" Brian''s shout rang out just before a blur of fur streaked past us, followed by a wolf crashing into me.


    "GRETA!" Finn yelled.


    "Go! I''ve got this asshole." I didn''t wait for a response, turning to face whoever had


    just knocked me down.