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FinleyThe door closes behind us, shutting out Liam and the complications he brings. But my body is already too far gone to care about anything but the man standing before me, his scent filling the small cabin, his eyes burning gold with Summit's influence."Are you alright?" Dane asks, his voice rough with restraint as he keeps a careful distance between us.I'm not alright. My skin feels too tight, too hot, every nerve ending hyperaware and desperate for his touch. Nova paces frantically beneath my skin, whining with increasing desperation as another wave of heat rolls through me. This is happening faster than my previous cycles, the proximity of a mate accelerating everything."He's lying," I say, trying to focus on something besides the burning need. "About you. About Aria."Dane's jaw tightens momentarily before his expression softens. "He's jealous. Desperate. He sees what he threw away, and now he wants it back.""Is that all it is?" Despite the heat-haze clouding my thoughts, I
FinleyA growl rumbles through Dane’s chest as he settles between my thighs, his own clothes discarded with an efficiency that speaks to Summit's influence. "Look at me," he says, his voice commanding but gentle. "I want to see your eyes when I make you mine."I meet his gaze, finding a strange clarity in the midst of the heat-haze. This moment feels significant, momentous—a point of no return for both of us."Are you sure?" he asks, one last check despite the strain evident in every line of his body.I push up on my elbows, taking a moment to savor every delicious line and ridge of his hard chest, his bulging biceps, and his washboard abs. My eyes follow the happy trail of soft, dark hair to the cut vee of his pelvis until they stutter to a stop on the thick, veiny length he’s slowly pumping with his fist. A choked gasp escapes at the sight, suddenly worried how we’re going to fit. But that concern quickly melts away at the sight of the creamy liquid dripping from his tip. My mouth w
DaneFinley's heat drags on in a haze of sweat-slicked skin, desperate moans, and primal need. Days blur together, marked only by brief moments of clarity between waves of insatiable hunger. Summit has taken over completely, driving me to claim her again and again, each time more intense than the last. I've lost count of how many times I've made her come undone beneath me, around me, against me—each cry of pleasure only fueling my need to hear it again.Finley arches her back, moaning, her nails biting into my shoulder as she rides the wave of pleasure coursing through her. The room is a blur of heat and skin, our bodies slick and relentless. My growl vibrates through her, her body shaking with the force of how much she wants this, how much she wants me. I flips us easily, pinning her to the bed, my body hard and demanding against hers.I snatch up her hands, trapping them above her head with one powerful grip. "You feel that?" I rasp against her ear, my breath hot and wicked. She gasp
FinleyConsciousness returns slowly, my body aching in ways both pleasant and unfamiliar. The cabin is quiet, sunlight filtering through the curtains to indicate late morning or early afternoon. I stretch carefully, taking inventory of new sensations—muscles used in ways they never have been, skin sensitive from days of constant contact, and a bone-deep satisfaction that Nova practically purrs about.The heat has finally broken.Beside me, Dane sleeps deeply, his features softened in repose. Days of helping me through the heat have taken their toll on him too, though he never once complained, never faltered in his attentiveness. My cheeks warm at the memories that surface—his hands, his mouth, his voice guiding me through the most intense experience of my life.But beneath the satisfaction, beneath Nova's contentment, something nags at me. The memory of his reaction when I tried to mark him surfaces like a splinter working its way to the skin. The way he flinched away, the flash of pan
FinleyDone with my well-deserved self-chastisement, I relax into Dane’s embrace, letting Nova's satisfaction at our mate's nearness override the lingering uncertainty. I'm through being paranoid, letting old wounds color new experiences."I need to head back to Mountain Ridge today," he says against my hair, tension evident in the way he holds himself. "Just for a few days, to handle some pack business and gather my things.""Your things?" I pull back to look at him."I thought... if you wanted... I could stay here. At Forest Trails." There's a vulnerability in his eyes I haven't seen before. "Not in your cabin necessarily, if that's too soon. But nearby. So we can build on what we've started."The offer takes me by surprise, warming something deep inside. "You'd leave Mountain Ridge? For me?""For us," he corrects, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "I told you, I've made my choice. My place is with you now."It's everything I should want to hear. Everything Nova does want to hear.
Finley"This is a terrible idea," Tara whispers as we crouch in the underbrush at the northern edge of Mountain Ridge territory. "If we're caught, it's an act of aggression. Territory violation.""We won't be caught," I mutter, though my pounding heart betrays my own anxiety. "Your cousin's mate said this section is barely patrolled.""Barely isn't never."She's right, of course. What we're doing is reckless, potentially damaging not just to me but to Forest Trails as a whole. If I were thinking clearly, thinking like a future Alpha, I'd turn around now.But I can't. I need to know the truth.After Dane left, promising to return within days with his belongings, the doubts I'd tried to silence came roaring back. His explanation about the marking made sense logically, but instinctively, something felt wrong. Add Tara's information about Aria's claims, and I couldn't just sit at home wondering.So here we are, trespassing on another pack's territory in the dead of night because I can't be
Finley"I'm so sorry, Fin," Tara says, reaching for me.I step back, not ready for comfort, not ready for anything but the rage and humiliation burning through me. "He lied. About everything. The entire time.""Men are trash," she offers weakly. "Especially Alpha sons with too much power and too little conscience."I laugh, but it comes out more like a sob. "I'm such an idiot. Twice. Twice I've fallen for this. Twice I've believed men who said they’d never hurt me only to have them let me down when it counts.""This isn't on you," Tara says fiercely. "This is on him. On both of them. They're the liars, not you."But it doesn't matter who's to blame. The result is the same—another rejection, another humiliation, another mate bond that will need to be severed.We walk in silence toward the Forest Trails compound, each step feeling heavier than the last. How am I going to face the pack knowing I've been made a fool of again? How will the council view this when they're already questioning
FinleyThe council meeting room feels suffocating tonight, the air thick with tension and the lingering scent of fear. Eight council members sit around the ancient oak table, their expressions grave as they absorb the news of the attack. My father stands at the head, his Alpha authority radiating outward in waves that would normally calm the pack. Tonight, it barely makes a dent in the collective anxiety.I take my place to his right, the seat traditionally reserved for the heir. To his left sits Bradley, who technically has no right to be at the main table but somehow has positioned himself there anyway. No one questions it. Not tonight, when he was apparently the one keeping things under control while I was... elsewhere."The evidence is unmistakable," Elder Morris says, inspecting the twisted metal symbol through his wire-rimmed glasses. "Witchcraft. Dark magic of the oldest kind.""But why?" asks Adrienne, one of our youngest council members. "The truce has held for decades. Forest
Finley"I don't know," I admit, finally answering Liam’s lingering question. "I haven't thought that far ahead.""I have," he says quietly. "I've thought about nothing else since realizing what a colossal mistake I made two years ago."This is dangerous territory, emotional landmines I'm not sure I'm ready to navigate. "Liam—""Just hear me out," he interrupts, taking another step closer. "I know I screwed up. I know I hurt you in the worst possible way. I know trust doesn't magically reappear just because I finally realized what an idiot I was.""But?" I prompt, hearing the unspoken continuation in his tone."But I'm not giving up without a fight," he says with sudden intensity. "Not this time. Not again. I was a coward before, choosing the safe option instead of what my heart and my wolf knew was right. I won't make that mistake twice."The declaration hangs between us, genuine and raw in a way that catches me off guard. Nova responds instantly, pushing forward with hopeful recogni
FinleyI find Aunt Kat in the western training grounds instead of Dane, watching Liam attempt to channel his newly emerging gift in a controlled environment. The enclosed space has been cleared of flammable materials, protective wards established around the perimeter, and water stations positioned strategically for worst-case scenarios.Liam stands in the center, eyes closed in concentration, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool evening air. His mother circles him slowly, her voice calm and measured as she guides him through what appears to be a basic focusing exercise."Feel the heat within you," she instructs. "Not as something separate, not as something to fight against, but as an extension of your own nature. Your birthright finally awakening."I hang back, not wanting to disrupt what looks like delicate training. There's something mesmerizing about watching Liam like this—his usual cocky confidence replaced by intense concentration, vulnerability in his effort to contro
Finley"So your proposal is a blood oath instead of traditional combat?" I clarify, keeping my expression neutral despite the alarms blaring in my head. "That's... unusual."Alpha Blackwood smiles with practiced diplomacy, though something about it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "These are unusual times, Alpha Candidate Bennett. The traditional approach seems unnecessarily limiting given the current circumstances."We're back in the reception hall after the Skinwalker attack, the Silver Creek delegation having been kept in secure containment during the entire incident. Dad sits beside me, his presence both reassuring and tactically necessary—as acting Alpha, his authority supersedes mine in formal negotiations."And what specific terms would this oath entail?" Dad asks, his tone giving nothing away."Still to be determined through appropriate negotiation," Alpha Blackwood replies smoothly. "But focused on proper acknowledgment of the dishonor Dane caused my daughter, suitable reparatio
Liam "So much for maintaining human pretense. They no longer need it," Dane observes. "Which means they're done gathering intelligence and ready for direct engagement.""Engaging now," Finley confirms, and without further hesitation we move into a coordinated attack.I've been in plenty of fights before, but nothing like this. We move together like we've been training for years—Finley setting the foundation with direct central engagement, me somehow knowing exactly how to connect our movements, and Dane completing whatever strategy forms between us.The Skinwalkers are freaky-strong, bending in ways nothing should be able to bend, coordinating their attacks like they share a hive mind. But despite this, we're holding our own, maybe even winning.Then I notice their pattern—two targeting Finley at the front of our triangle, two focusing on Dane, and one specifically coming after me. They're trying to break our formation, targeting each position in the triad separately.They know what
Liam"Keep those positions tight," I call to the warriors lining the corridor outside the archives. "Silver verification at five-minute intervals. These things can look like anyone."The warriors nod, adjusting their formation with practiced efficiency. I've always been good at this part—the tactical coordination, the battlefield management—ever since Kaden made me his Beta. It's the personal stuff I keep screwing up.The alarm continues blaring, but there's something different about this attack. The Skinwalkers' movements are more coordinated, more deliberate than previous encounters. Less random aggression and more... purpose.I press the comm link. "Western defense, status report.""Multiple entities confirmed," Jackson reports, his voice tight with tension. "Seven, possibly more, approaching in formation from the northwestern perimeter. Using mimicry forms—three wearing Forest Trails colors.""Maintain distance," I instruct. "Silver verification protocols for anyone approaching th
Dane "It wasn't what it looked like," I say, knowing how weak the explanation sounds."Really?" Her eyebrow arches with perfect skepticism. "Because it looked like a private meeting with the woman you were engaged to until very recently. The woman whose 'history' with you apparently involved more than a platonic arrangement.""I was gathering intelligence about potential Skinwalker influence on Alpha Blackwood," I explain, keeping my voice calm despite Summit's growing agitation at Finley's obvious distress. "Aria approached me with concerns about her father's behavior.""And reminiscing about your intimate past? Was that intelligence gathering too?"The direct confrontation catches me off guard. Finley doesn't usually engage this directly with personal matters, typically maintaining a careful distancedefelcting with sarcasm."I was simply acknowledging our complicated history," I reply honestly. "Context for our current situation.""Context," she repeats, the word dripping with disb
DaneSix hours until my exile becomes official.The thought circles my mind as I review security arrangements for the pack’s perimeter. Six hours until I'm either back at Mountain Ridge facing Silver Creek's blood challenge or permanently cut off from my pack, my territory, my inheritance."Your wolves are looking tired," I tell Malia as we complete our inspection of the eastern guard post. "Make sure they get adequate rest before tonight's patrol rotation.""They're fine," she replies with the blunt honesty I've always appreciated from her. "It's you who looks like shit."My phone vibrates with an incoming message. Alpha Bennett, summoning me to the main entrance immediately. No explanation, just a terse instruction to come.When I reach the main entrance, I understand why.Three black SUVs with Silver Creek insignia sit in the arrival plaza, surrounded by Forest Trails security in careful formation. Alpha Bennett stands conversing with a tall, silver-haired man I recognize immediate
Finley “Liam Ryan Stone! How dare you growl at me!” Aunty Kat snaps back. “You’re an adult, capable of making your own choices. If mistakes were made. They’re yours alone! “Besides, you never asked for my advice. Maybe if you ever spent time with your parents, shared what’s going on in your life . . . but you didn’t. Besides, no mate deserves to be chosen out of a sense of duty, when your heart is elsewhere. I shiver involuntarily at the reference to Liam’s rejection. For his part, he hangs his head, looking duly chastised. “I know. You’re right.” He admits. “But I still don’t understand why you never mentioned the triad.”"Because knowledge shapes destiny," she replies, not defensive but matter-of-fact. "If you'd known about the triad possibility from childhood, how might it have influenced your choices? Your relationships? Your development?"The question hangs in the air, impossible to answer but equally impossible to dismiss. Would Liam have rejected me two years ago if he'd kn
Finley"That's enough for today," Celina decides, standing to break the ritual circle. "Too much too soon could strain connections that are just beginning to form.""But we're making progress, right?" Liam asks, the hope in his voice impossible to miss."Significant progress," she confirms. "The triad functions better than I expected at this stage. With continued practice over the next two days, you should be able to access the necessary connection when the Night of Seven Stars arrives."The relief in the clearing is palpable. For the first time since learning about our supposed "triad" status, we have tangible proof that we can make this work despite everything standing between us.As we help clean up the ritual space, I catch myself watching both of them when they aren't looking. Liam moves with the easy grace he's always had, a familiar sight that still makes my heart do uncomfortable flips despite my best efforts to remain detached. Dane has a different kind of movement—more delib