Finn didn’t have an answer to that.
“He’s not your mother, Finn. I know she really did a number on you and your relationship with your wolf, but Jaime has never given me the impression that he would hate something just because he doesn’t understand it.”
Finn groaned. “Even if that thing he doesn’t understand is the same thing that haunts his nightmares? That tore up a woman in front of him?”
Silas startled. “Seriously, Finn, is that what you think? You are not the same as Bishop. Just because he’s a wolf and you are too, that doesn’t make you the same. You are not bad just because of what you are. Would you say the same of me?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t!”
“Well, then.”
Finn digested that. Eventually, he sighed, and tipped his head back against the seat as he looked up at the house. “How would I even go about telling him? He’d call me insane, kick me out, and call the cops before I could even finish explaining.”
Silas hummed. “You could just show him. Rip the bandaid off, so to speak. It’s what I would do.”
Finn shot him an unamused glare, and Silas held his hands up in a surrender. “Fine. You and I are not the same in that approach, I get it. Think on it though, brother. Go for your run. I’ll be here.”
Silas paused, and reached over to clap Finn on the shoulder. “But don’t deny yourself a lifetime of happiness and companionship out of fear. Please.”
Finn nodded, holding back the fresh tears suddenly clouding his vision.
He reached for the door handle, but Silas stopped him. “Wait. Um, Finn.” He cleared his throat, suddenly sounding nervous and looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
Confused, Finn asked, “What? Are you ok?”
Silas nodded, not making eye contact with him. “Yeah Finny, I’m fine. I just… I’m not sure if anyone’s told you, or if you would have had a reason to know, or if it even would happen to you since you’re half-shifter, but I should tell you something.”
Now Finn was even more confused. Really, what could he want to talk about with him that would make him so nervous? The kind of porn he liked to watch? “Just say it, please. It cannot be as bad as I’m imagining.”
Silas cleared his throat. “Have you ever had sex with someone in your partially shifted form?”
Maybe it can be as bad as I’m imagining.
“I’m sorry. What?”
Silas gave him a pained look and whined. “Christ Finny, I do not want to be having this conversation with you. But I can’t be a good friend without making sure you’re… prepared.”
Finn raised his eyebrows, voice pitching high. “Are we seriously having a safe sex talk right now? You know we’re both thirty-two years old? And that I have used a condom with every single person I’ve ever been with, despite our super-healing, disease-immune wolfyness?”
Silas pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, Finn, I’m not talking about using a fucking condom. I’m talking about sex while you are partially shifted. It’s… different. Things are… different.”
Finn waved his hands around wildly. “No, Silas. I have not had sex with someone while I’m partially shifted. That’s actually been the furthest thing from my mind mid back-alley hookup!”
Some of the tension left Silas’s face. “It won’t be the furthest thing from your mind when you’re with your mate.”
That stopped Finn short. “Are you saying I’m going to want to shift if Jaime and I ever… become intimate?”
Silas moved his head in a yes and no gesture. “I’m saying your wolf will want to be right there with you when you’re with him. All the time. Have you not noticed it?”
Blinking, he considered. He had noticed, actually. He’d barely been able to keep his shift in check whenever he was in the same room as Jaime, let alone…withhim. “Oh, fuck.”
Silas nodded. “So, for everyone’s sake, it might be best to tell him before you… you know.” He made a lewd gesture with his hands, and Finn shot him an exasperated look.
“So that’s what you meant by different? With my mate, I’ll want to be partially shifted?”
Silas nodded, but then cleared his throat again. “Also. Um. This may not happen to you since you’re only half wolf, but…” He looked like someone was forcing him to eat an entire plate of fish heads. Raw. Eyeballs and all.
“Just fucking spit it out Si, so I can get out of this truck and try and forget this conversation ever happened.”
