He'd become a half-vampire.
"Long time no see," Finn said, moving beside Kai, each step landing on my heartbeat. "My fiancée."
"Shut up." My voice was ice. "You're disgusting."
"Disgusting?" Finn laughed, the sound twisted and sick. "Layla, you wound me."
"We were engaged, after all."
"I may have died, but technically, you're still my fiancée."
"That engagement was never valid." I calculated how many bullets I had left. Finn stood right next to Kai. I couldn't risk a shot.
"Wasn't it?" Finn tilted his head. "But I remember it so clearly."
"Elder Drake personally delivered the invitation. You wore your prettiest dress and prepared a bouquet..."
His smile grew more grotesque.
"Such a shame the groom 'died' early."
He burst into laughter, tears streaming. "You should've seen your face! Shock, terror, despair..."
"It was magnificent!"
I clenched my jaw. Behind my back, I quietly picked up the gun I'd dropped when shifting. Slowly gripped it.
"All right, all right. Enough teasing." Finn stopped laughing and wiped his eyes. "Maybe you'd prefer I call you..."
He paused, malice glinting.
"Sister-in-law?"
More insane laughter echoed through the mine like multiple Finns laughing at once.
"You're insane," I whispered, fangs baring involuntarily.
"Maybe." Finn shrugged. "But that doesn't matter."
"What matters is..."
His eyes went cold. Hollow and cruel.
"You think Kayden truly loves you? A hybrid orphan? The pack's defect? Layla, have you looked in a mirror?"
Finn extended his hand theatrically.
"Look at yourself. Are you worthy of an Alpha? Remember how he abandoned you? In front of everyone. Called you a 'mistake.' Said Silver Moon Pack's Luna could never be someone like you."
Each word was a blade, stabbing into my heart's still-bleeding wounds.
Those memories... the wind on the cliff. The icy sea. Kayden's cold stare. They hadn't truly healed, and now they were ripped open again.
"You think when he says he loves you now, it's real?" Finn continued. "Once the novelty wears off, once the pack pressures him..."
"He'll abandon you just like seven years ago. Because you'll always be that unworthy—"
"Enough!"
