by Selena Page
“She…”
“No, man.” Rory’s voice took a harsh tone to it, “I saw what you went through with Cori. I’m not gonna let you lose another woman you love. You gotta tell her, and you gotta keep her. But first? You gotta make sure she gets through this alive. She’s counting on us, yeah?”
Finn smiled faintly, nodding once. The prospect of telling Miah how he felt was even more terrifying than the idea of losing her. But Rory was right--the young werewolf had a special knack for knocking sense into him when he needed it the most. He didn’t want to lose her. When this was over, he would tell her how he felt. And if need be, he would beg her to stay, to forgive him.
Finn chuckled, the tension flowing out of his shoulders as the calm that usually came with an imminent battle settled over him. “Thanks, Rory. I needed that.”
Chapter 24
The plan was simple. Go to the nightclub where Thaddeus would be, based on intel from the pack in Dublin. Find a quiet corner and wait. Keep him talking with promises of information until the werewolves could get there and rip him and his clutch apart limb from limb.
Of course, no plan actually survives first contact with the enemy.
Miah tried to think of where she had gone wrong. She had done everything according to the plan, including scrubbing down in the hotel near the club to remove the scent of the werewolves, and covering herself with the cloying scent of vanilla and spices. Despite that, from the moment she walked into the club, she knew something was wrong. Too few people, and far too many vampires. Their pale auras and dead eyes gave them away, but it had been too late to turn back.
The painful rending of her half-healed neck was a familiar feeling as the vampire sank his fangs home. It was getting harder to think with Thaddeus’ teeth in her throat. She tried to block out the sound as she struggled against his vice-like grip, but her limbs were already starting to go cold and limp.
He wasn’t going to stop this time. He would drain her dry and leave her for dead. If she was lucky. If she wasn’t, she was going to wake up like him.
In the distance, she heard the distinctive roar of the wolves as they clashed against the Vampires. The scent of copper filled the air, along with a cacophony of screaming and the sounds of battle.
Too late. They were too late, the wolves were too far away from her. But at least they would kill Thaddeus and his clutch. At least, that was what she was trying to tell herself to justify the fact that she was going to die here.
“You think I didn’t know what you were up to, little witch? You think I didn’t know exactly where you were and what you were planning?” Thaddeus chuckled low in her ear, blood slowly dripping down her collarbone, “I’ve been watching you. Thank you for bringing me the pack and Bourassa. As for you…well. You’ll make a fine addition to my little family.”
Miah let out a weak cry as she struggled against him, pushing at the vampire.
A guttural snarl was the only warning she had before Thaddeus was pulled off her. Fur filled her view as Finn positioned himself in front of her, slashing and growling at the Vampire.
“Finn!” Miah stumbled back slightly, watching in horror as the two fought. The din of combat dulled as the vampire blurred, his clawed hands rending the dark fur of the man she loved. The sharp cracking of bone filled her ears, and her protector leapt back, growling as he tried to avoid putting pressure on his dangling front limb.
Something inside her snapped. A scream welled up inside her chest as her eyes darted around the room. Werewolves locked in deadly battles with the undead, blood splattering the walls and floor of the darkened club. Her eyes snapped back to Finn and Thaddeus, once again locked against each other in battle. A knife flashed in the Vampire’s hand--a silver edged blade that she knew could deal a deathblow to a normally stalwart werewolf.
Fire filled her soul. She could feel it swelling, insides swirling as something shifted. The auras around her lit up like fireworks. Thaddeus raised the knife and began to swing it down towards Finn’s chest, and the world erupted in flames.
Chapter 25
The silence in the club was deafening. Burns covered her hands and traveled up her arms, but it didn’t matter anymore. She could feel the pain, a dull throb in the back of her head, as the power slowly began to recede.
Thaddeus’ charred body lay at her feet. Just beyond him was Finn, his bloodstained body still.
Miah focused on the bodies as sorrow filled her soul. She had found the power, had summoned it, but she had been too late to save him. It wasn’t until Rory shook her shoulder, hard, that she snapped back into herself with a gasp.
His eyes were wide and round, his face dappled with blood from the fight. “Miah! Miah, what the hell happened?”
She tried to speak and it came out a croak. Her throat was parched and rough, and speaking was painful. Burns in her throat. She watched as Elise bent over Finn’s body, desperately working to save him. “I don’t know. I don’t know what happened. He was going to kill Finn, and then there was fire, and…Jesus, Elise, is he alive?”
“He’s going to be fine, Miah. We’ll take care of him.” Elise glanced at her, concern and a hint of fear in her eyes.
Miah stood silently for a moment as the rest of the pack moved around them. They had won--the vampires were all dead, in no small part due to a sudden column of flame landing on their heads--but the celebration was muted at best.
“Your eyes went silver, Miah. And then you were shooting fucking fireballs out of your hands. What the hell was that?”
She shook her head with a wince, “I don’t know, Rory. I don’t know. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be.” Elise sighed as she looked up at Miah, “You saved his life. The knife missed his heart and lungs. It’ll be a long road for him to heal, but he will.”
Miah exhaled slowly, her hands shaking. She glanced down at the burns that marred them, the flesh slowly beginning to heal over. It was done. She could go home and put it all behind her. She glanced at Rory, giving him a sad smile as she stepped back from him, carefully navigating the floor slick with blood.
“Tell Finn…just…tell him goodbye. And that I’m sorry.” Miah rushed away from the group of werewolves. Bourassa stood by the door, his eyes boring holes into her as she approached.
“I’m leaving.” Her voice quivered, and she willed her tears back. She wanted nothing more than to rush back and check on Finn, just to reassure herself that he was still alive. But her work was done, Thaddeus was dead, and she didn’t belong here.
Bourassa’s voice was harsh, his thick French accent slurring the words, “Good. You are not technically a human, so you are not subject to our laws regarding them. However…”
She held up a hand, shooting him her best death glare--a talent she learned from Carmina. “Yeah, I get it. Say a word and you’ll kill me. Don’t worry.” She risked a glance back into the club, where the pack still stood around their alpha, “I’m not coming back.”
The Lance smiled slightly at that and nodded once, leaning over and pushing the door open for her.
Chapter 26
He stared at the neon sign, drumming his fingertips on the steering wheel. He hated America. He hated Texas. And right now, he hated himself for ever letting the dark-haired beauty currently pouring coffee for truckers walk out of his life. He never should have let her go.
Finn could see her through the window, a cheerful smile on her face as she chatted with her customers, moving gracefully through the tight space. Seven months. He had spent seven months wallowing in his own sorrow, the pain of losing Miah eating at his soul. Although his physical injuries healed in time, his mind and heart was a different matter. It wasn’t until Rory silently handed him a piece of paper with her address and phone number on it, along with a one-way ticket, that he had done anything about it.
He didn’t expect her to take him back after the way he had treated her. But she had to know how he felt about her. How he truly felt about her. He had to tell her that he had been
wrong to push her away.
She seemed healthy. Happy. He should just leave her to her new life. He had no right to disturb her again. No right to walk back into her seemingly happy existence.
With a heavy sigh, Finn dragged himself from the rental car, eyes forward as he made his way to the front door. Seven months of torture was enough, for both of them.
Miah turned towards the door as he pulled it open, her brilliant eyes widening in shock. She froze, and he could see the emotions running through her mind. His heart constricted in his chest, and suddenly, all of his perfectly planned speeches flew out of his mind.
She carefully set down the steaming pot of coffee, taking one slow step towards him.
It was then that he saw her. Really saw her. She was glowing--a stunning visage of a woman, one burn-scarred hand lightly resting on the swell of a very pregnant belly.
“Finn?” Her voice cracked, fear and hope mingled in one.
“Miah, I…” He stepped towards her, and her face lit up. She rushed towards him and threw her arms around his neck.
“Is it really you? Are you really here?” Her voice broke slightly, and he could see the desperate need in her eyes. It was all he needed to hear--she had missed him as much as he had missed her.
He stepped back, cupping her face in his hands, his voice soft, “I’m sorry, Miah. I never should have told you to leave. I was wrong.”
She inhaled deeply and nodded, “It was. But I shouldn’t have gone. I’m sorry…”
“You have nothing to apologize for, little bird.” Finn’s eyes trailed down to the swell of her belly. He stilled, his voice going quiet, “Is it…”
She smiled softly as she took his hand, gently pressing it to her abdomen. He felt it. Tiny flutters beneath his hand. A promise of something to come, a promise of new life. A promise of hope.
“She knows you’re here.” Her voice was soft and tender, more than he deserved.
There was so much he wanted to say to her, so many apologies and promises he wanted to make. For months, he had felt incomplete, with part of his soul missing. There weren’t words to tell her how she completed him, how she put his demons to rest.
Finn gathered her in his arms and held her close, bending to murmur softly in her ear, “I love you, Miah Caprice. From the moment I saw you, you stole my heart.”
Miah bit her lip, worry flashing in her eyes, “The pack?”
He chuckled warmly, peppering soft kisses against her ear, “Rory took over as Alpha. And The Lance of the Americas is much more forgiving when it comes to relationships. I’m yours, if you’ll have me. And I swear I’ll never leave your side.”
Miah relaxed in his arms, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek. She laughed, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears as she kissed him softly, “Damn well better not, wolf.”
Up Next:
The Caprice Family celebrates Christmas in:
Mistletoe & Mischief
Available December 2016
About the Author
Selena Page is the author of the Caprice Chronicles, a paranormal romance series centered around a family of cursed witches and warlocks. Her heroes are hot, her heroines are sassy, and the spellbinding chemistry that results will blow your mind.
A foodie, knitter, and lover of daring bodice rippers, Selena writes from her beachfront home in Galveston, TX, and spends her spare time relaxing in the sand and playing in the waves with her viking husband and her three corgis by her side.
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