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Drew followed my gaze to Keir, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Ah. I see the problem.”

The redhead was laughing at something Keir said, her hand resting on his forearm, body angled toward him in obvious invitation. She was beautiful—tall and curvy, with the confident air of an alpha female. Everything I wasn’t.

“There’s no problem,” I said stiffly. “He can flirt with whoever he wants. They all can. It’s not like anything’s changed.”

Drew sighed. “Finn?—”

“I need some air,” I cut him off, setting down my cup. “I’ll be on the deck.”

I slipped through the French doors before he could stop me, gulping in the cool night air. The deck stretched along the entire back of the house, offering spectacular views of the moonlit ocean below. I moved to the railing, gripping the cedar wood as I tried to steady my breathing.

This was torture. Watching them act like nothing had happened. Watching them flirt and charm and be their perfect alpha selves while I stood on the sidelines, the unwanted mate they were stuck with through some cosmic joke.

“Shouldn’t you be inside enjoying your party?”

I stiffened at the sound of Keir’s voice, not turning around. “Needed some air.”

He moved to stand beside me, his presence warming the space between us even without touching. “It’s a lot, I know. All those people.”

If only that were my biggest problem. “I’m fine. Just needed a break from being the center of attention.”

Keir chuckled, the sound warming something inside me despite my best efforts to remain detached. “Never known you to shy away from the spotlight, little fox. Not when there are compliments about your art to be had.”

The nickname hit differently now, laden with new meaning. I gripped the railing tighter. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m growing up.”

“Maybe you are,” he agreed, his voice softening as he studied my profile. “Nineteen. Hard to believe.”

I finally turned to look at him and immediately wished I hadn’t. The moonlight silvered his golden hair, making his blue eyes seem to glow. He was heartbreakingly beautiful, and for one wild moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like if he actually wanted me. If the mate bond was something he welcomed instead of endured.

“You should go back inside,” I said, looking away. “Your admirer is probably wondering where you went.”

“My what?” He seemed genuinely confused.

“The redhead. The one who couldn’t keep her hands off you.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by something that looked almost like amusement. “Jealous, Finn?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want to keep you from your… entertainment.”

His smile faded, replaced by an expression I couldn’t quite read. “Is that what you think we’re doing? Finding entertainment?”

“I don’t know what you’re doing,” I said honestly. “I don’t know what any of this means. This morning?—”

“Not here,” he cut me off, glancing toward the house. “We’ll talk about it later, when it’s just family.”

Family. The word twisted in my gut like a knife. That’s all I was to them—family. An obligation. A responsibility.

“Sure,” I said, forcing a smile. “Later. You should go back to your friend.”

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “Don’t stay out here too long. It’s getting cold.” He shrugged out of his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric was warm from his body, enveloping me in his scent—a mix of sandalwood, citrus, and something uniquely Keir. My fox stirred at the scent marking, a purr of satisfaction rising in my throat before I could stop it.

Keir’s eyes darkened at the sound, his pupils dilating slightly. For one breathless moment, I thought he might say something—do something—that would acknowledge what had happened this morning.

Instead, he reached out and ruffled my hair, just as Cade had done earlier. “Happy birthday, little fox.”

Then he was gone, leaving me alone with the moonlight and the ocean and the ache in my chest that seemed to grow with every passing hour.

I stayed on the deck longer than I should have, hiding from the party and my own conflicted emotions. The cool night air helped clear my head but did nothing to ease the ache in my chest.