41 - Finn


    I''ve been trying to unravel the mystery behind why both the Luna and the Alpha are so secretive about this whole situation. At least Kennedy was straightforward enough to tell me she wants to give us a house—an outrageous offer, yes, but at least something concrete to hold onto. If I weren''t feeling so weighed down by everything else, I''d probably be tossing and turning all night, trying to piece together their intentions. But right now, wrapped in warmth andfort, I feel something I haven''t in a long time: like I''m exactly where I''m supposed to be.


    I drift off, lulled by the gentle, rhythmic snores of the two girls nestled in my arms.


    Suddenly, Trinity''s sharp yell cuts through the quiet. "FIIIIINNNNN!!!" I spring off the couch, vaulting over the backrest, ready for whatever''sing. My eyes dart around, searching for the source of her shout, but instead, I''m met withughter. "It worked, Be!" she exims, her voice bubbling with excitement.


    Be smirks, clearly amused. “Someone''s a little wound up after sleeping in so long,” he teases, ignoring my re as I blink away the dryness in my eyes. What a jerk.


    I spot Be and Trinity sitting at the kitchen ind alongside Gabriel and Peyton. "Where''s Landon? And what was that scream about?" I ask, rubbing my eyes and moving toward them. Since there''s no obvious danger, I let myself rx a bit.


    “Landon''s with the Alpha. You''ve slept long enough, and the Luna has ns for you now," Be informs me.


    I nce at Trinity and Be, both grinning like they have no idea how much they''ve interrupted my rest. "What time is it? I feel like I just fell asleep. There were so many interruptions," I mutter.


    "It''s noon. Kennedy said to leave you alone, but now it''s time to pack up and get going," Be replies.


    "Going? Going where?" Trinity''s voice isced with concern. She leans into my side, and the simple contact soothes both of us instantly.


    "Don''t worry, pint-size. You''reing too. We''re moving everyone to the big pack," Be says.


    Trinity''s mood shifts instantly. "What''s the ''big pack''?" she asks, her curiosity piqued.


    Be doesn''t miss a beat-he''s really good with kids. "Well, Alpha Ryker helps out smaller packs by making them part of Dark Moon, like this one," he gestures around. “Oak Lake joined us a couple of years ago. This is the old packhouse of the former Alpha. It''s nice, but you all need more space, so we''re heading to the main packhouse to get settled while we look for anyone else from your pack."


    "Does that mean I get to go to school?!" Trinity''s voice deepens with excitement. “I love school! It was so much fun, and I kind of miss it. What about Gabriel, Peyton, and Landon?"


    Beughs. "Yes! You''ll all get to go to school and hang out with Finn, Greta, and the rest of us while you''re here. But first, we have to get Finn out the door."


    Her eyes snap to me. "What are you waiting for? Let''s go!" She jumps off the chair, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the door.


    "Whoa, whoa, wait! I have to get my stuff first," I say,ughing.


    "Nope! We cleaned your room earlier. Everything''s packed in the big car. Come on!" she insists, jogging out the door with my hand still in hers. My long legs keep pace easily, and I can''t help but smile at her excitement. When we reach the long staircase, I scoop her up and throw her over my shoulder. She makes little noises each time shends on me, giggling harder as we descend.


    I''m still wrestling with how deeply I care for this child and how much I want her to stay with Greta and me for good. But for now, I decide to cherish every moment we get with her, no matter what the future holds.


    "Hey!" Greta appears around the front of the SUV, smiling warmly at us. "You finally got him up."


    "Uncle Be showed me how," Trinity says matter-of-factly as she jumps out of my arms and climbs into the backseat.


    "Let''s go. Landon left with the Alpha and Luna earlier,” Greta informs me.


    "So you know where we''re headed then?" I ask.


    “Well, I did get up at a reasonable hour,” she replies with a grin, dodging my attempt to tickle her side.


    "So, where exactly are you taking me?" I ask as I slide into the passenger seat. Greta settles Trinity into a booster seat I hadn''t even noticed before. Peyton and Gabriel are already buckled in.


    "I''m not telling you. It''s way more fun this way," she says,ughing. The kids join in, theirughter filling the car, and despite myself, I can''t stay annoyed.


    Nearly two hourster, after passing through some now-familiar neighborhoods and then venturing into new territory, we finally pull up to a sprawling estate. "What...?" I breathe, taking it all in.


    "It''s amazing, right?" Greta''s eyes meet mine, but I can''t tear my gaze away from the house.


    The grand two-story home is painted a soft gray with crisp white shutters framing at least fifteen windows across the front. A wraparound porch stretches wide, with two rocking chairs tucked quietly to one side of the front door.


    "Can we go? Can we go?!" Trinity and Gabriel chant from the backseat as Ryker steps out onto the porch.


    "Yeah, let''s go!" Greta says, moving quickly to keep up with the kids as they scramble out of the car.


    "Hey! What do you think?" Ryker asks as we step onto the porch.


    "Think about what?" I reply, still taking it all in.


    "Your new house," he says simply.


    "Excuse me?" I''m still waiting for the catch. There''s always a catch. No one just hands over a house without strings attached.


    "This is the original packhouse," Ryker exins. "As we started absorbing more packs, we needed a more central location. But I couldn''t bring myself to tear this ce down. My parents didn''t want to stay here—it''s too big for just the two of them, and they didn''t want to maintain a house that no longer hosted guests."


    "And you''re giving it to us?" I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice.


    "Yep. You, Greta, the kids, and any other pups who find themselves in situations like yours. No one should have to fend for themselves or endure the abuse Greta went through, or the constant maniption and instability you faced."


    My jaw drops. I''m speechless.


    "Don''t thank me just yet," Ryker adds with a grin. "There''s some work to do. We''ve kept the house maintained, but it needs updating, and theyout could use some reconfiguring. It''s about a twenty-minute drive from the training grounds, but thend can be expanded if needed. Linda''s already working with our design team toe up with ideas. And feel free to add your own input-this is your home now, brother." He ps me on the shoulder, and I feel tears prickling behind my eyes, close to breaking downpletely.


    Greta wraps her arms around me from behind. "So, what do you think?"


    I take a deep breath and smile. "I think I''m home."