A Reunion

[Fineon’s POV]

Why am I here? Why did I even bother coming? Was I a glutton for punishment or something?

Feeling my heart squeeze painfully, I stare up at the mansion where my first and only love lives.

Inside I’m sure she is somewhere smiling and laughing, but that smile and that laughter aren’t meant for me. No, they’re meant for someone else.

Feeling a knot form in my throat, I lift a finger and hook it under the tie that has been fastened too damn tightly. Giving a tug, I hope to find some relief, but find that I still feel like I’m suffocating.

"Fineon?" My older sister, Andira, calls out, drawing my attention away from Fire Rose's pack house. "Are you okay? I’ve called your name three times now."

"Yeah," I respond, forcing a smile. "I’m alright, just a little tired."

For a moment, Andria doesn’t speak as she takes me in.

"Could you stop?" I ask, beginning to feel uncomfortable. "Shouldn’t we be heading in instead of standing around out here?"

"You’re right!" Andria gasps, "I’m sure they’ve already realized we’re here."

When we begin to make our way up the long path leading towards the large building in front of us, Gale appears with two large men who look exactly like Chance following closely behind her.

Grimacing, I take in the thugs as their eyes narrow once they see me.

How the hell is it even possible that Idris and Cyrus are already so fucking big? They’re only eighteen! Does it run in the Tutor bloodline to be hulking giants?

"Andria!" Gale calls, snapping my attention away from the irritating duo.

I can feel my heart squeezing and that knot forming once more.

It seems that my memories just don’t do her justice. She’s a vision to behold, and I can’t help but find myself wishing I could take her from Chance.

Stopping in my steps, I watch as she rushes forward with her arms wide, ready to wrap them around Andria, and then I’m sure she will come for me too.

"It’s been so long." Gale announces letting her silver eyes shift from Andria to me. "When did you grow to be a man?" She continues, seeming genuinely shocked.

Irritation and pain shoot through me as I realize that she still thinks of me as nothing more than a child. Dammit, when would she see that I wasn’t that child anymore?

"I’ve been a man for quite a while." I point out, keeping my voice neutral.

"Of course you have." Gale giggles in response. "Andria, I bet you’re always having to beat the girls off Fineon, aren’t you?"

"You have no idea." Andria huffs, shooting me a glare. "Everywhere he goes, there is someone or another trying to win his heart."

"Could you two not talk about me as if I’m not here?"

"But it’s such a shame he hasn’t managed to find his mate yet." Andria sighs, ignoring my demand. "He’s going to be twenty nine this year and still hasn’t found her. I worry he will spend the rest of his life alone."

At her words, Gale’s smile falls into a frown, and a look of pity fills her gaze. I want to tell her not to look at me like that because knowing she wants me to find someone hurts, but I remain silent.

"Do you remember the twins' first birthday?" She suddenly asks, giving Andria a knowing look. "When Fallon told him he would be her luna?"

"Do you think?" Andria gasps, seeming genuinely excited. "She turns twenty-one next year, right?"

"That’s right." Gale confirms. "It is always a possibility."

Frowning, I find myself remembering that day. Back then, the pipsqueak was so damn cocky with her announcement, but I didn’t think much of it. How could they possibly take it seriously?

"There’s no way he is good enough for her." One of Chance’s clones huffs. "I’ll be damned if I let him touch a hair on her head."

"Idris," Gale hisses, shooting her son a glare. "Fineon would be the perfect match for Fallon."

"I’m with Idris," the other, Cyrus, agrees. "Fallon only deserves the best."

Trying to contain my irritation, I look from one twin to the other. Who the hell were they to say whether or not I was good enough for their sister? Not that I had any interest in her, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth to hear that regardless.

"That’s enough!"

Jumping, I snap my gaze to find Gale giving the twins disapproving looks.

"Your father and I are forever indebted to Fineon. If he turns out to be the one meant for your sister, I can rest easy knowing she will be cherished and well taken care of." She begins, her frown deepening. "I expect both of you to treat him with respect, understood?"

Smirking, I watch as they both seem to deflate and nod.

"Sorry," Idiris huffs, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

"Yeah," Cyrus grumbles after.

"Great, then how about we head inside?" Gale beams, her mood changing immediately. "Before your father comes looking for us for taking so long."

As if he were summoned by her words, the big brute burst through the front door and began to make his way towards us.

"What’s taking so long?" He asks once he reaches us.

"Just catching up." Gale responds, snuggling close to him as he wraps an arm around her waist. "We were just about to head in."

"Then let’s go."

Inside the pack house, which is alive with activity as members busy themselves decorating the halls and main alcove of the building.

"What’s the occasion?" I ask, trying to distract myself from hyper-fixating on Gale and Chance’s public display of affection. "Do you have the moon goddess herself coming for a visit?"

Given the grand set-up, it is clear that it is someone big that they’re expecting, but it couldn’t possibly be someone royal, especially since Gale and Chance were close with the current reigning kings.

"Even better." Chance beams proudly.

"Better?" I repeat, raising a brow. "Who could possibly...?"

"Our sister, idiot." Idris huffs. "She finally comes home from basic training today!"

"I thought I told you that she was returning." Andria murmurs.

"I don’t remember." I admit.

Even if she had told me, I wouldn’t remember anyway. I didn’t have much interest in anything that involved that annoying girl.

Sighing, Andria simply shakes her head as we make our way towards the dining area.

Inside, a long table is already set, and food sits atop it, waiting for us.

Great, that means that I can eat and get the hell out of here. Watching Chance and Gale snuggle and act lovingly towards one another is already grating on my nerves, and I don’t know how much of it I can actually handle.

Plopping down, I watch as everyone else does the same.

To my dismay, Chance and Gale sit right in front of me.

Instantly, I feel like getting up and moving, but I know that would be rude. It wasn't either of their faults that I was uncomfortable. No, it was my own for pining after a woman who was already mated and in love.

For the rest of the dinner, I have a front-row seat to their display of love as Chance helps feed Gale as if she isn't able to do it herself, and she happily accepts his offers.

When the dinner ends, I'm more than ready to go and see myself out after declining Gale's offer to stay the night since it is already so late.

Once I’m free, I make my way out into the night and stare up at the moon above, cursing it with every fiber of my being. Then, in a flash, I shift and surge forward, making my way back to Grishan and The Red House, where alcohol and the promise of beautiful women wait for me.