“But I won’t.”
The admission makes my chest tighten—because I believe him.
Even when he’s coming undone, even when he’s on the edge of losing control, Finn never crosses the lines he could cross. That should scare me more than anything. Because it means I trust him.
I start to turn, to meet his gaze, but he curses, hands flying off of me as he steps back.
“They’re looking for you.”
I blink, dazed, as my eyes follow his line of sight. Across the way, in my apartment, they’re moving.
Graham is in my room, searching. Carson and Hunter are at the still cracked window, peering out, scanning the street. Finn’s jaw ticks as he steps away, raking a hand through his hair.
“Go, little fire,” he says. “Before your alphas ruin the moment.”
I hesitate. And he sees it. His lips curl, head tilting as his eyes darken.
“You don’t want to go, do you?”
I force myself to turn away, swallowing the heat burning low in my stomach. I don’t answer. Because we both already know the truth.
I don’t want to go. But I move toward my clothing anyway. My panties are missing. I don’t have time to worry about them, though, and quickly pull on my jeans, socks, and shoes.
I should leave.
I have to leave.
But my feet refuse to move.
He watches me with knowing eyes, his expression unreadable, and his body still humming with tension. His gaze flicks past me, out the window again, where they are searching for me. His lips twitch.
“They’re worried,” he muses, tilting his head. “Desperate to find you. They are going to burn the whole city down ifyou don’t appear soon.”
I swallow hard, gripping my own arms, grounding myself.
He steps closer, just enough to make me feel his heat, but not enough to touch. “They’re good alphas. You can trust them.”
I blink at him. “What?”
He hums, watching me too closely. “They’ll take care of you.”
There’s no jealousy in his voice. No bitterness at the thought of them touching me, kissing me, owning me in ways he doesn’t.
He’s stating facts. I stare at him, heart thudding, but he just smiles.
“I know you, little fire.” His fingers trail up my bare arm, slow, teasing, deliberate. “You’re going to need alphas eventually. Strong ones. Ones who can protect you from the bad things.”
I suck in a deep breath, but he keeps going.
“I’m not the bad thing, Willow.”
He leans in, pressing a kiss to my throat this time, not my mouth, not the places I expect. Slow. Worshipful. And it feels as if he’s already claimed me in his own way.
“And if you want them too?” He exhales against my skin, lips brushing my pulse. “That’s fine. I’ll accept them into my pack.”
I shiver. His pack. A beta, who thinks he creates the pack. He’s crazy. Off kilter. I know all of that, yet still…I’m here.
His teeth graze my jaw, his breath warm and steady despite the way my body is burning beneath his touch.
