Once everyone arrived, they were supposed to discuss the next phase of action with regards to their safety and the full Unveiling. Instead, all he could think about was how much his dick hurt.
Thankfully he wasn’t fully hard right then since Brynn wasn’t in the room, but in a den full of wolves with an acute sense of smell, being turned on at the thought of another wolf was embarrassing. Hell, it had made puberty a fucking nightmare.
“What is with that face?” his cousin Charlotte asked. She frowned at him as she pulled her long, black, curly hair into a ponytail. She was forever fidgeting with her hair, either covering her face as much as possible or making sure it didn’t touch the back of her neck. He understood her ticks, but he wished there was a way he could help fix the reasoning behind them.
“What do you mean?” he asked, pushing thoughts of his worries for Charlotte and his need for Brynn from his brain.
The Talon wolf wasn’t his mate. End of story.
Charlotte gave him a side-eye and he snorted. “You look conflicted and yet angry at the same time. So what’s up?”
He shook his head. “Just going through things. No worries.”
She stared at him.
“Really. I swear. I know your dad was the Omega, but I don’t need to tell you everything I’m feeling. If it were a huge deal, I’d tell you. Okay?”
She rolled her eyes, letting his wolf relax since he hadn’t hurt her with his careless words. “I worry about you because you’re my family, friend, and roommate. Not because of who my dad is. You know better than that, Finn Jamenson.”
He shrugged, though he knew he had probably been an ass just then, too. Apparently, it was a common theme these days. “Thanks for worrying,” he said, meaning it. He worried about her, too. That’s what made them friends, cousins, and Packmates. “Though at some point, don’t you think we should get our own places?”
Charlotte blinked at him. They’d only been living together for the past year. Before that, he’d lived with his other cousin, Brie. There was enough space that he could have lived alone like some of his brothers and most of his cousins, but he liked the company. He had a dozen male cousins and siblings he could have lived with, but Brie and Charlotte were the ones that could deal with him and his wolf the best. They didn’t crowd him or challenge his wolf. In fact, Brie had been so submissive, she’d helped settle his wolf in a way he missed. He’d been able to help her wolf out too since that’s the way their wolves worked. Charlotte wasn’t submissive, but she had a caring way about her that soothed, as well. The darkness within her matched his own, albeit on a different and hidden level.
“I like staying with you,” she said softly. “I don’t like being alone. And while I love Mom and Dad, I’m a little too old to keep living with them.”
Finn reached out and played with her ankle, knowing she needed touch but space, as well. She’d been through hell growing up before Maddox and Ellie had found her chained to a wall and had taken her in as their own. The fact she was actually Ellie’s sister and not her daughter wasn’t something they discussed. Their twisted family tree made for a confusing bedtime story. Charlotte was family and that was that.
“I like having you around, too,” he said softly.
“I love the two of you so much.”
Turning at the sound of Brie’s voice, Finn was on his feet in a flash and had her in his arms just as quickly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed into him. “Missed you, Brie,” he growled softly, inhaling her scent. She calmed him with just her presence. She was family, even if she didn’t live in their den anymore. “Love you, too,” he whispered. “Since you’ve married that oaf over in the Talons, I hardly ever see you anymore.”
Charlotte laughed behind him and tugged Brie away so she could hug her, too. “Finn’s an idiot, but I love and miss you more.”
Brie stepped back once Charlotte released her and smiled at both of them. Despite the fact he called Gideon an oaf, he knew the Alpha was the best thing for Brie. He’d never seen her so happy, so cared for, so strong.
The world might have been crashing down around them in the past year, and their lives were at risk just for being wolves, but he knew Brie was in her element with her mate. She’d taken to the role of being the Alpha’s mate better than anyone could have hoped for. He’d been so fucking worried when she’d first told him of her potential bond with Gideon. The two of them had taken the rocky road to finding their way through their relationship, but Finn had a feeling both were better for it.
Finn frowned. “Wait. Why are you here? Not that I don’t love you being here, but I’m confused.”
Brie gave him a sad smile. “A few of the Talons are coming to meet. We took the tunnels rather than driving over since we’re under such surveillance outside the wards.”
The tunnels had taken almost fifteen years to complete, but they connected the two Packs over the miles that separated them. Not only did they have to deal with the natural boundaries, but they also had to add in the wards and magical influences to keep their dens safe from outsiders. It was one way they were able to protect their dens from those that would attack them for the blood that ran through their veins.
Finn cursed. He hated that he felt like he lived in a prison. What had once been a place of safety from the outside world, now felt like the bars of captivity. They could come and go as they wanted, but the humans watched them. Or, at least, they watched the Talons since that’s where it had all started. In the past year, humans had started following around enough Talons that they’d found the Redwood den. Either that, or they’d known all along. He wasn’t sure exactly what the government knew at this point. Just one more reason they were meeting. They couldn’t sit back anymore and wait to see what the humans would do.
The full extent of what Brie had said hit him and he froze fractionally before forcing himself not to look like he was on edge. “Who came with you?” His voice was lower than usual, and he caught the curious look in Brie’s and Charlotte’s gazes, but he ignored them.
“Gideon, Ryder, and Brynn,” she said slowly, her eyes narrowing. “The rest are at the den, holding the fort so to speak. Gideon thought it would be best not to bring the whole crew on Redwood Pack land. The four of us, plus two soldiers is enough.”
It made sense, even though he couldn’t quite think. As Alpha, Gideon would need to talk with Kade about what their plans were. Though they met in neutral territory as often as possible, sometimes it was necessary to meet in one of the dens, showing their trust in the pact. They also had almost daily online meetings, but everyone was careful about what they said, as no matter how good they were with technology, they could never be sure they were completely safe. Not anymore.
Ryder, as the Heir of the Talon Pack, did much of the same things as Finn did. The two of them helped their Alpha keep their Pack safe, as well as carry the burden of being connected to so many wolves at once. The Alphas held the most, but without the Heir, it would be too much. One day, Kade would step down and Finn would be Alpha. Finn just prayed that it wouldn’t happen as it had before. When Finn’s grandfather Edward had died protecting them all, Kade had become Alpha on a battlefield covered in blood, and Finn had gained the responsibility of a Pack as a toddler.
Ryder, though a good Heir from what Finn could see, wouldn’t always remain an Heir. When Gideon and Brie had a child, the firstborn son would become the Heir when he was old enough, unless something tragic happened like it had in Finn’s case. Actually, with the way the moon goddess had changed the dynamics ever so slightly with his family, their firstborn son or daughter could be the Heir.
When Finn had been forced to carry the bonds of Heir, he’d altered the timeline of when the next round of power would be exchanged. His siblings were all becoming the next in the hierarchy far too young. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but he couldn’t help but blame himself. But with the changing of the guard, the Redwoods were in a special position where they had a former set of power holders who w
ere in the same shape and at the same endurance level as the current ones. It only made them stronger.
It was different for the Talons, he knew. They’d had the change of the guard through pain and blood because Gideon and Brynn’s father had been a tyrant rather than an Alpha. Finn didn’t know everything, but he knew it had been bad. Maybe one day Brynn would tell him the extent of what had happened so he’d be able to help.
He almost froze again.
No, he wouldn’t be talking to Brynn about that. She wasn’t his mate. She wasn’t even his friend. She couldn’t be, not with the attraction they held for each other and the lack of ability to do anything about it.
Finn cleared his throat, aware the girls had started talking about something else when he’d been lost in his own thoughts. It wasn’t unlike him to do that when he was in the company of those he trusted, not when his mind went to the darkness of his past more than it should, but he didn’t like it. He wanted to live in the present, only he couldn’t cut those ties.
“Good, you guys are here,” Kade, Finn’s father, and Alpha of the Redwood Pack said as he made his way into the room. He strolled toward them, his hair still messy from whatever he’d been doing upstairs with Melanie. The strain around his eyes wasn’t easy to see, but Finn had spent his whole life studying his father to ensure one day he’d become the Alpha he needed to be. The past year had been hell on all of them, but the Alphas had borne the worst strain. They had to balance the line of politics and war, and yet ensure their Pack felt safe within the den wards. It wasn’t an easy task, and as time moved forward, Finn wasn’t sure the task would be possible.
“Uncle Kade,” Brie said with a smile. Kade opened his arms, and Brie stepped right into them. Some of the tension in the Alpha’s shoulders eased, and Finn held back a smile. Sometimes, Finn wasn’t sure Brie was aware of what she could do with her submissive nature, but right then, he had a feeling his cousin knew exactly what she was doing. After all, she was married to an Alpha.
Kade pulled away and ran a hand through his hair. “We’re not bringing in everyone today, just a few of us since Gideon agreed not to bring his whole Pack onto our land. That means it’s pretty much the few of us in this room. We’ll let the others know what we come up with, and frankly, won’t make any new decisions without them, but we still need to talk.”
Charlotte frowned. “Then why am I here? I mean, not that I mind being included, but I don’t hold a title in the Pack. I’m just me.”
Finn snorted. “There’s nothing just about you.”
She grinned at him, a rare true smile.
Kade snorted. “You’re here because you’re part of our future generation, and you’re best friends with Finn. He might need you after the talk we have today.”
At that cryptic statement, his father left the room, presumably to go to the meeting area where Gideon would show up. Finn stood there, his eyes wide. “Why would I need you, Charlotte? What the hell is going on?”
He looked toward Brie, who winced. “What, Brie?”
“I don’t know everything, but you know this isn’t the first meeting we’ve had, right? There are plans being set it motion, and whatever happens today, know that I love you and will support you no matter what.”
A sense of foreboding slid over his skin. “Brie.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Come on to the back. The others will be in the room by now. I wanted to come through before the actual meeting because I miss you guys and I’d rather be here as family first before I’m the Alpha’s mate.”
She took Charlotte’s hand and made her way to the back of the house, leaving Finn there, speechless. The strength she held constantly surprised him, though he knew it shouldn’t. It would take the strength of a thousand dominant wolves for a submissive wolf to handle and mate with an Alpha. Brie had that reserve of strength in spades.
Finn took a deep breath and moved toward where the others were gathering. His mind tried to follow the path where his father would lead him, but he couldn’t think clearly. Not when the exotic and floral scent that was the woman he couldn’t have filled his nostrils, sending the human half of him into straight lust. Jesus, he couldn’t think with her around, couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t a mating bond—that much he knew—but that damned itch wouldn’t leave him the fuck alone.
He rolled his shoulders, begged his cock to keep down, and walked through the door to the meeting room.
There she was.
All dark hair and bright blue eyes. Her strong cheekbones stood out, her jaw set as she met his gaze. Hell, she hated him, and he didn’t know why. He hadn’t done a thing to hurt her, and yet it looked like she wanted to snap his spine.
Or rather, snap his spine after fucking him hard against the wall.
That was yet another reason he couldn’t get a bead on the woman in front of him.
“Finn.” Ryder nodded at him, and Finn gave him a chin tilt back.
“Ryder.”
“You’re here,” Gideon growled then looked down at Brie, who had apparently elbowed him in the gut. “Good to see you, Finn.”
Finn held back a smile at the way the big Alpha softened at the touch of his mate. Finn wanted that, craved that. He’d seen the way his family had fallen, one by one, with their mates. Seen the way they raised their children and fell more in love each and every day. He couldn’t wait to have that with someone.
If only he could get her out of his mind so he could get on with it.
“Let’s get started,” Kade said softly. “Most of us already know why we’re here.”
Finn frowned. He didn’t like being left out of the loop, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like where this was going.
“Since the humans found out about us, we’ve done our best to keep calm, keep rational,” Kade continued. “Only a few of us have been outed, and the government doesn’t know what to do with us because we’ve had the right people in power all this time. But things are coming, we know this. Those who want to hurt us, who want to control us, are getting louder.”
“We have fires burning within the circles that will gain traction in the government and sects we’ve been following all this time,” Gideon growled. The Alpha spoke in a growl at all times it seemed. “But there is one thing we need to keep going. The human’s perception of us.”
Finn tilted his head, confused. What did this have to do with him?
“You’re talking propaganda.” Brynn’s voice slid over him, even as the barbs in her words did, as well.
“We’re talking perception,” Kade said. “My nephew Parker is out in the world, talking to other Packs and doing his best to connect all of us so we’re ready. Not every Pack is ready to align themselves with others. There are centuries-long tensions, and even more fear when it comes to wanting to hide from what the humans could do to us if they tried. But while he is doing that, we need to make sure the humans do not fear us.”
“But shouldn’t they?” Charlotte asked, her voice soft. “Shouldn’t they fear us, just a little?”
Kade let out a sigh. “Yes, and no. But right now, they know nothing about what we are. And what humans do not understand, they want to destroy. We aren’t the first people to have this happen.”
“You’re saying you want to put a face on us,” Finn said slowly. “You want the humans to see us as one of them, even if we’re not.”
Finn’s mother, Melanie, nodded. “Yes, hon. We want them to see us interacting with the world and not killing them outright. Because, hell, we aren’t killers. They need to know that.”
“And what happens when that lack of fear turns on us?” Brynn asked.
Gideon raised his chin. “Then we take the next step. We will protect our people. But first, we need humans to see us as real. Not monsters.”
“What does this have to do with the people you asked to be here?” Finn asked.
Kade let out a breath. “We need a person from each Pack to act as a representative within the world. We already have a f
ew of us out there trying to mingle and acting like nothing is wrong. But now we need those people to do it daily, to interact and not shy away if a camera takes a photo of you smiling.” He turned toward Finn. “I need you and Brynn to continue doing as you’ve been doing, but make it stronger. Show the world that we aren’t monsters. Prove to them we can live within their world and within our own. You and Brynn have laid the groundwork in the past year. Now, make it more.”
Finn cursed inwardly. It all sounded like a fine plan if it had been anyone else. But having to be near Brynn day in and day out until they figured out a way to keep their people safe? He wasn’t sure if he would be able to do that. He met Brynn’s gaze, the anger in them almost tactile.
He wasn’t sure she would be able to do that either.
Because the more they were around each other, the hotter the flames burned. And one day, they wouldn’t be able to tame the fire. When that day came, he wasn’t sure who would make it out in one piece.
If either of them could.
Chapter Four
Brynn slammed her fist into the wall, the drywall giving in, creating a hole where a slab once stood. The pain sliced down her arm, a dull throb instead of something more serious thanks to the blood in her veins. Her body shook, and she tried her best not to scream.
She’d held the fire, the rage, inside throughout the entire meeting with the Redwoods and had even made it to her home before she’d broken. She was lucky she’d lasted that long.
How could her brother, her Alpha, do this to her? Didn’t he see the pain on her face, feel the agony in the bond she held with him as Alpha? Her other brother Brandon, the Omega, who could feel all of the emotions of the Pack, would probably be able to feel her anguish, but damn it, why couldn’t her Alpha of a brother? Why did he have to put her through the pain of being with the one man who hated her? Hated her enough to ignore the bond they could have with one another—if he could even feel it at all.
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