She cupped his face and smiled. “You came back.”
“I’ll always come back for you.”
“You two need to heal a bit longer before you can finish your mating,” North said dryly. “I know the mating urge is strong between the two of you, but you need to hold off. You just died, Finn, and Brynn is still sore from the attack.”
Finn growled and quickly picked Brynn up, setting her on the table. “Your hip? You need to sleep. Let me get you a blanket.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Shit. My protective tendencies were always strong, but now with my wolf pushing, it’s even worse.”
Brynn smiled. She couldn’t help it. Her wolf was so fucking happy. Finn’s wolf was strong. And theirs. She would wait until they were both healed enough to complete the mating. Now that she knew it would happen, she could breathe for the first time in what felt like forever.
“Welcome to the Pack,” Kade said softly. “And when you’re mated, we’ll do it more officially. Thank you for saving my son. And as for those who would hurt you? We will find out who was working with those two humans. Of that, have no doubt.”
He hugged his son, Melanie following suit, and then they left Brynn and Finn alone in the exam room with North.
The doctor smiled, his wolf in his eyes. “I need to check on you two. The other doctor, Noah, was outside in the waiting room with a lot of the Pack and Finn’s family. He will make sure Hannah, Mark, and Walker will be okay. But let me check you two out and then you need to sleep. Mating and retribution will come. For now, just thank the goddess you have each other.”
She leaned into her mate, knowing what North said was true. Her mate was wolf through and through. The damage the demon had done was gone.
Finally.
And soon, she’d have her bond, her mate, and her future.
Everything.
ADVANTAGE
Charles McMaster stared at the two dead bodies on the slab showing on the screen in front of him and held in a curse. The wolves had been stronger than he’d thought. According to his research, no wolf should have been able to break though those bindings. They would have to make them stronger for next time.
Because, of course, there would be a next time. This was merely one move in an elaborate chess game. He would not fail. He never did.
“Burn the bodies and make sure the ashes are spread apart. Make this building disappear, as well.” It wouldn’t do to have any connections to this. As it was, he was on a secure call, but again, he couldn’t be too careful.
“Of course, sir.” The soldier did as he was told and ended the call.
Charles ran a hand over his face and frowned. He’d wanted to know more about the two wolves who were from different Packs but seemed to be in a relationship. Brynn and Finn had become the face of the wolves, and humans were starting to side with them. That wouldn’t do.
He would have to use the violence against them to his advantage. After all, if it looked as if he were looking into the violent outbursts for the sake of their people, humans would begin to side with him. Only the humans didn’t know they would be doing so until it was too late.
Sheep.
The lot of them.
He’d just make sure the humans didn’t know the wolf in sheep’s clothing wasn’t a wolf at all.
He’d use anything he could to his advantage. And one day, the wolves would die and he would use their power for his own needs.
Advantage.
Perfection.
Chapter Fifteen
Finn was beyond ready. Beyond it. He rolled over on his back and threw his arm over his eyes. It had been four days since he’d died and come back stronger and more connected to his wolf. Charlotte had moved out of the house quietly, leaving him and Brynn to be together. He hadn’t asked for that. In fact, he had planned to find a new home on his own. But Charlotte had been her normal self and smiled before slapping the back of his head, saying that she could do it quickly and find a new place, that he’d need time alone with Brynn. His cousin knew him better than most.
He was fully healed—as was the woman sleeping next to him. The fact that he was merely sleeping next to Brynn in his bed rather than completing the mating made him edgy as hell. It was funny, they’d made love before so this wouldn’t be a new thing, and yet he was freaking nervous.
What if he wasn’t truly fixed?
What if he could feel the potential bond, but couldn’t complete the mating?
Of course, as soon as he thought that, he felt like an asshole. The past four days had not only been about healing, but finding who had kidnapped them. The two who had come at them were dead, but there were more. There would always be more.
Finn was beyond weary, as well.
“Stop thinking so hard,” Brynn murmured from his side.
He rolled over and put his head in his hand so he could watch her wake up. She smiled at him, her eyelashes fluttering awake.
“Good morning, mate.”
She licked her lips. “Good morning, mate.”
He groaned as she reached between them, cupping him through his boxer briefs. They’d been sleeping next to one another in their underwear for four days. Some would call it temptation; Finn called it another kind of agony.
“Are you feeling better today?” he asked, his fingers trailing along her skin. He couldn’t stop touching her. His wolf pushed at him, a new feeling that settled him more than he thought it would. Damn, he’d missed so much of his life by not being able to hear his wolf fully. He knew going in that he’d take in every aspect of this newfound connection to his wolf and the woman in front of him and never take them for granted.
“Yes,” she whispered, her hand squeezing his cock.
He let out a moan, rocking himself into her palm. “Brynn…”
“Don’t Brynn me. It’s time, Finn. Make love to me. Fuck me. Do it all. Just be inside me. I want the bond. You want it, too.” There wasn’t an uncertainty to her voice. His dominant mate knew what she wanted, and damn if she wasn’t going to get it.
He fucking loved her.
He lowered his lips, kissing her softly. “Of course, I want our bond. I just wanted to make sure you were ready.” He cupped her face, his thumb running along her cheekbone. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I’ll never hurt you, princess.”
Brynn turned her head and sucked his thumb into her mouth. He groaned at the sight. “I know you won’t. I’m healed, and so are you. So let’s stop waiting and do what we should have been able to do so long ago.”
Finn opened his mouth to say something, but then he could only moan. Loudly. Brynn scooted down and pulled his cock out of his boxers. When her tongue slid along the slit, he about came right then. Talk about embarrassing.
She swallowed the tip, her eyes on his as she teased him.
“Brynn. Fuck. Your mouth.” He used to be better at the use of the English language.
She pulled back, a cocky grin on her face. “I’m going to taste all of you, Finn. And yeah, you can fuck my mouth. That’s why I’m down here.” She went back to what she was doing, rolling his balls in her hand while bobbing her head up and down. With each stroke, each lick, she went deeper, encasing him in such a wet heat that he had to hold back from coming.
“I love your mouth,” he whispered then pulled her up by her shoulders. “But I need to be inside you. Now.” He kissed her and ripped the side of her panties with his claw, leaving her bare. “Ride me.”
She rolled her eyes and slid her leg over him, slowly, oh so slowly, lowering her body over his cock.
“Sweet goddess,” she groaned. “Was it this good before?” She rolled her hips, causing Finn’s eyes to cross. She pulled up her tank, leaving her breasts bare. Damn he loved her nipples.
He reached up and cupped her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers. “We’ve always been better than good, Brynn. But now? It’s so much more.” He lifted up, meeting her stroke for stroke. Her cunt squeezed him hard, and he almost came, but not with
out her. Never without her.
He slid his hands up and down her body, craving the feel of her skin beneath his palms. He loved this woman, this warrior, this wolf. She was everything and more. He’d dreamt of finding a mate, but it had never been to the true depth of Brynn. She was so much more than a dream, so much more than an ideal mate. She was real, unapologetic, and his. But it wasn’t that he owned her, far from it. No, he was hers as much as the opposite. They were each other’s, their respective fated mates, and yet fate was only a small part of it. He’d craved her without knowing that fate wanted him to. He’d begged for a change with her and he’d gotten his promise, his dream. She was his everything, and he would live the rest of his life showing her that he was worth it.
“Mark me,” he groaned. “Mark me and make me yours.”
She threw her head back and rode him with abandon before falling on his chest. He tilted his head to the side and fell onto the edge of bliss as she bit into him, marking him forever. A part of him he hadn’t known existed locked into place, a tug on the new thread of connection and fate strengthening.
“Your turn.” She moved to the side, baring her shoulder and neck for him.
His wolf howled, begging for more. He let his fangs slide out of his gums and bit into her shoulder, marking her. The thread between them pulsated then locked into another seal of promise and forever.
He slid his fangs out then rolled them over, pounding into her as she lifted her hips, meeting him thrust for thrust.
“Come with me, Brynn, my mate.” He crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her with all of his heart, his soul.
And when her cunt clamped around him, her body bowing, he followed, filling her until they were both spent, sweaty, and sated. The final part of the mating bond, the part that connected the two humans as well as the wolves slid into place, and he warmed.
“I can feel you,” she whimpered, awe in her voice.
Tears slid down her cheeks, and Finn kissed them away one by one. “I can feel you, too.” And he did. A warm strength that would hold him up if he should fall. Some mates, over time, felt deeper connections and even had powers along the bond. One day, they might, too. But for now, he had her and her wolf. He didn’t need anything else.
Brynn’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth on a scream.
Finn rolled, sitting them both up even as he kept deep within her. “What’s wrong?”
She put her hand above her heart and gave him a sheepish smile. “I wasn’t prepared for the other part.”
He frowned and ran his hands up and down her arms. “What part? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“I’m a Redwood now,” she murmured. “When I mated with you, the bonds brought me over to this Pack. I screamed because I had to sever my connection to the Talons first. I’ve never not felt my brothers. It was…weird.”
He kissed her cheeks, her lips. “I’m sorry, Brynn. I know it’s hard.” He swallowed. “If it were possible, I’d have moved over to the Talons.”
She cupped his face. “I know. And I’m not sad that I’m a Redwood. It’s just different. You’re the Heir, and now I’m your mate. It was always going to be this way. Kade accepted me into the Pack, and that’s why it happened so fast. If I hadn’t been willing, then it would have been different. So just kiss me, mate, and celebrate with me. I won’t mourn what I’ve lost because I’ve gained so much.”
He kissed her as she’d asked, bringing her chest to his so he could feel her heartbeat along his skin and the bond.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. “Now, how about we test that shifter endurance.”
He snorted then rolled her under him, the movement pulling a groan out of both of them. “Sounds like a plan.”
He’d gladly do this every day until the end of time. He had his mate, his Brynn. He didn’t need anything else.
“If you don’t stop smiling like that, I’m going to punch you,” Brynn said from his side.
Finn smiled a bit wider and brought their clasped hands up to his mouth. “I love you, and I’m walking to the café where I fell in love with you. You’re my mate, and I can feel your wolf. I can’t stop smiling.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled, as well. “You’re ruining your big bad wolf reputation.”
“Gladly. For you.”
“Dork.”
“Your dork.”
“Goddess. If I had known you’d be this mushy…”
“What? You’d just mate me again?” He stole a kiss and kept walking. She leaned into him, and he smiled again. Fuck. He needed to stop smiling so hard. But he couldn’t help it. They’d spent the rest of the day yesterday in bed until they both could barely walk and were in dire need of food and water. Seriously, the best way to spend a day.
Now, they were back to what they had been doing before—proving to the world that wolves were people, too. It shouldn’t matter to the humans that shifters were stronger, faster, and could kill. Humans, as they’d proven, could kill, as well. Humans were a threat just as much as shifters. It depended on the individual if the threat was carried out.
The Packs still didn’t know who’d kidnapped them beyond the two they had met face to face. They did not know who was in charge. That, above all else, scared him. Because they couldn’t continue to fight an enemy they did not know. But they did know the two men who’d attacked them were not alone. There had to be a connection to someone else, and Finn knew the Redwoods and Talons would find it. They had protected their Packs for centuries before this. They had defeated a demon from the very depths of hell. They would find a way to defend themselves from humans.
Humans.
Those without magic or the ability to shift. Yet their greatest enemy.
His Pack’s pain, the Talons’ pain, Franklin's death, would not be in vain.
Brynn squeezed Finn’s hand, and he looked down at her, only to have the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. A group of seven humans came toward them, their hands fisted at their sides and glares on their faces.
Shit.
He was not in the fucking mood to deal with this. He was just walking outside on a sidewalk with his mate. He hadn’t shifted, he wasn’t even growling or letting his wolf come to the surface. If it hadn’t been him and Brynn, whose faces were clear to the public as known shifters, no one would have recognized their true natures.
Sadly, he had a feeling he was about to see the true natures of those in front of him.
And he wasn’t going to like it.
“You should just go back to your dens. We don’t need your kind here.”
Brynn tilted her head as the man spoke. Finn held on to her hand. Their Alpha had told them that this would be their last outing like this. Things had changed. They were to show they were alive and well to those who may be watching, but after that, the world would have to know that though they might look harmless, and would be to anyone who didn’t harm them, they would never be defenseless.
It had come to this, though it was inevitable.
The world was scared of the unknown, and those in command weren’t ready to show their true motives. The next step was coming, and Finn was ready to defend those he considered his when it happened.
Because he knew there was no way they were coming out of this unscathed. No, not today, not with these people in front of him. But over the long haul. As soon as the Packs took down one cell, one group, or a pair of people, another would pop up into place. They were scattered, their forces unsure and fighting on too many fronts. There would come a time where they would have to band together, and Finn wasn’t sure those he loved would come out of it whole.
And damn it, that was not what he wanted.
He wanted peace.
Only, he knew he’d have to fight for it.
“We are going to go get coffee, and you will be leaving us alone,” Finn said, his voice calm. Too calm—though the humans didn’t know it.
“I said you sh
ould go,” the human male repeated.
“We aren’t doing anything wrong,” Brynn said, her voice sharp. “You’re in our way. We will call the authorities if we have to.”
Finn ran a tongue over his teeth. They knew some people on the local police force, but he wasn’t sure whose side those who showed up would be on. His allegiance was to Pack first, all others second. And now it seemed he might have to show that in a more public fashion.
“You’re a threat to our children,” a softer-spoken man said. “If you’d just stay away like you were, everything would be fine.”
Finn shook his head. “We aren’t a threat to your children. If anything, the actions of those who hate us are a threat to our children. The thing is, you say that we should go back to when we were hidden? But we weren’t truly hidden before. We walked amongst you, and were friends with you and your neighbors. We held jobs, and married those we loved. We had children. We grew up with one another, and yet now you’ve all seemed to forget that.”
Brynn continued for him. “Before you learned to fear us, we were one of you. Now that you think you know who we are, you listen to the lies told about us rather than what you see about us, and you think we should hide away. Or worse, you try to kill us.” She waved her hand at them. “Look at you. Seven against two, and yet all we have done is walk down a sidewalk holding hands. How is that okay? How is that normal?”
“You aren’t normal,” one of them said.
“No. I guess we aren’t,” Finn agreed. “But then again, are you? Are any of us normal? We aren’t human. I will give you that. But we haven’t hurt you. We want to be able to live in peace. But it’s hard when just this week, someone kidnapped the woman I love as well as myself, cut into us with knives, and beat us. How is that okay?”
“And where are these people?”
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