Suddenly, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t tell Finn how much worse Evan had inadvertently made everything. Even if I couldn’t forgive Evan for not taking my concerns seriously, I also couldn’t make his guilt heavier. If Evan found out…if he learned what had happened next…
He hadn’t done it intentionally. That much I could accept. I was pissed and hurt, but not cruel.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said eventually. “Forget I said anything.”
The look Finn levelled me with suggested he’d do no such thing. He didn’t push me though. “Listen, the most important thing to know is that you’re safe here. You can rest assured that we’ll protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting,” I said through clenched teeth. I’d learned not to rely on anyone apart from myself. “I just want to make sure you’re not going to report my location to the Clarksons.”
“Absolutely not,” Finn said firmly. “You’ve got my word, Reid. Your presence here will remain secret. Even if asked outright by your father, we will lie. You don’t need to worry about them discovering you.”
My shoulders drooped as the weight lifted from them. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“It’s nothing. We’d look out for you even if you weren’t ‘supe-adjacent.’ Any friend of Chester’s is a friend of mine.”
I snorted at the ‘supe-adjacent.’ That was better than the ‘freak born human’ I’d grown up hearing. “Good to know. So you’re serious about Chester, then?”
That was when Finlay, the almighty leader of one of the most powerful clans in the world,blushed.“Um, I’m not sure…I mean, we haven’t…”
My laughter cut through the tension like a knife. I patted Finn’s arm comfortingly. “Don’t strain yourself, Finn. It’s okay. I’m rooting for you in this.”
“You are?”
“Of course. Like I said before, your reputation precedes you. You’re known for being fair, kind, and protective. Allqualities someone like Chester needs in a partner. I think you’ll be great for him.”
“You know, the same could be said about Evan.”
My muscles tensed. “My experiences with him don’t suggest that.”
The memories from earlier, the ones I’d suppressed all this time, nudged at me again.Don’t they?
I shoved them away. The past didn’t matter given what had followed. I might have been able to accept that Evan hadn’t meant for me to get hurt, but I couldn’t forget that it had happened.
“Evan’s a good person,” Finn said softly. “You don’t have to hear him out, but just know that he’s sorry.”
“I’m sure he is.” I stepped back from Finn, suddenly ready for this conversation to be over. “But that doesn’t change anything.”
Finn ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, I’m not going to push the matter. I know you said you don’t need protecting, but if you need help, will ye please reach out to us?”
Guess it was true—wolf shifters really were protective. Certain ones, anyway. “Sure. Give me your number.”
He popped it into my phone and handed it back to me. “I’ve put the numbers of the whole inner circle in there. Feel free to contact any of us.”
I gave him a thin smile, reading all too well what he was hinting at—the opportunity he was giving me to reach out to Evan if I changed my mind. “I won’t. There’s only one number I’ll use, and only if I have no other choice in the matter.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a little stubborn?”
I smiled sweetly. “Every damned day.”
Chapter 5
Reid
Istopped outside my front door and patted down my pockets.Fuck.Where had I put my keys this time?
Before the panic set in, my door swung open. Amused blue eyes swept over me. “You’re supposed to welcome guests into your home, not the other way around.”
I scowled at Bryce. “It’s not my fault you’re early.”
