Page 13 of Bound by Alphas 1: Bound (The Blood Moon Chronicle #3)

“You should go shower,” Cade said aloud, his tone making it more command than suggestion. “The salt water will dry your skin. You’ll catch a cold.”

Finn rolled his eyes, his wet fox ears twitching with the motion. “It’s blazing hot out, Cade. I don’t think hypothermia is a concern.”

“Listen to your alpha,” Drew said with exaggerated seriousness, then winked at Finn. “He knows best.”

The word ‘alpha’ sent a visible shiver through Finn that he quickly disguised as a shudder from the water.

“Actually, maybe we should stay out here and dry naturally,” Drew suggested, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Enjoy the sun a bit longer. What do you think, Finn? Want to stretch out on one of these loungers?”

I will murder him , Logan’s internal voice promised.

Get in line , Keir replied.

“Nevertheless,” Cade insisted, his alpha authority slipping into his voice without intention. “Shower. Now.”

Finn’s ears flattened slightly at the tone, his body responding instinctively to the command even as his expression remained defiant. “Fine, whatever. Come on, Drew.”

Drew lingered, watching the brothers with amused eyes. “You know,” he said conversationally, “it’s fascinating how those old scars on Finn’s hip seem to catch the light sometimes. Almost like they’re glowing. Weird, right?”

With that parting shot, he followed Finn inside, leaving three stunned alphas in his wake.

As they disappeared, Logan released a breath that sounded more like a growl. “Did you see the marks? They’re more visible now than they were last year.”

“The mate bond is strengthening,” Cade confirmed, his voice tight. “The marks are responding to our presence.”

“And Drew knows exactly what he’s doing,” Keir added, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “He’s torturing us deliberately.”

“Elena’s setting up lunch on the lower deck,” Cade noted, spotting the housekeeper arranging place settings.

“Remember,” he warned as they moved toward the stairs. “Careful. Gentle. We don’t want to scare him off.”

“I make no promises about the gentle part,” Logan muttered, but his mental agreement flowed through their bond. None of them wanted to lose Finn, not when they’d waited so long already.

By the time Finn and Drew emerged onto the lower deck twenty minutes later, freshly showered and changed, the three Sinclair alphas were already seated at the table.

Cade nearly choked on his water when he saw what Finn was wearing—tiny shorts that revealed miles of toned leg and an oversized t-shirt that slipped off one shoulder, exposing the delicate curve of his collarbone.

With his damp hair curling slightly around his fox ears and his tail swishing behind him, he looked like every fantasy Cade had been suppressing for years.

Breathe , Logan reminded him through their bond, though his own internal voice was strained. You’re staring .

We’re all staring , Keir pointed out, not bothering to hide his appreciation. Look at those legs. And that shirt—is he even wearing anything under those shorts?

Focus , Cade growled mentally, forcing his expression into something approaching normal. “The food looks excellent,” he commented aloud, his voice remarkably steady considering the chaos in his mind.

Finn froze momentarily, like prey spotting predators, before Drew nudged him forward. “Elena outdid herself,” Drew agreed, dropping into a chair and immediately reaching for the breadbasket. “Perfect after a morning swim.”

“Though someone’s still sulking about losing that race,” Finn added with a hint of his usual snark, gesturing to Drew as he reluctantly took the only available seat—directly across from Cade. His tail curled protectively around his waist as he sat.

“Only because these gave him an unfair advantage,” Drew countered, pointing to Finn’s fox ears. “It’s like racing against someone with built-in rudders.”

“I’d hardly call them an advantage,” Logan said, his voice gruff as he passed the salad. “More like you’re finally growing into your natural abilities.”

Finn’s ears flattened slightly. “Right. My ‘natural abilities.’ The ones that make me look like a rejected anime character.”

“I think they’re adorable,” Keir said, reaching across the table to flick one of the ears before Finn could dodge. The touch sent a visible shiver through their mate, his scent spiking with something that made all three alphas tense. “Very distinguished.”

“Says the guy who can shift into a perfect wolf whenever he wants,” Finn grumbled, but there was less heat in it than before.

Elena appeared with a steaming platter of linguine with clams, the garlic and white wine sauce filling the air with mouthwatering aromas.

“Eat,” she commanded, placing it in the center of the table.

“All of you. Especially you, nino,” she added, giving Finn a pointed look. “Swimming burns calories.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Finn said automatically, his ears perking up at the sight of the food. It was one of his favorites, and all three brothers silently thanked Elena for her perfect timing.

The first few minutes passed in relative silence as everyone served themselves. Then Finn took his first bite, and the sound he made—a soft moan of appreciation—had all three alphas freezing mid-motion.

Did he just— Logan’s internal voice was strangled.

Yes , Keir confirmed, his own mental presence vibrating with tension. And he has no idea what he’s doing to us .

“Good, isn’t it?” Drew asked innocently, watching the brothers’ reactions. “Finn always makes the most interesting sounds when he enjoys something. You should hear him when he tries chocolate cake.”

Finn remained oblivious to the subtext, twirling pasta around his fork with those elegant artist’s fingers, his pink tongue darting out to catch a drop of sauce at the corner of his mouth.

“You’ve got a little something…” Drew reached over, brushing his thumb slowly across Finn’s bottom lip to remove a drop of sauce. The casual intimacy of the gesture made all three alphas tense visibly. “There. All better.”

I’m going to kill him , Logan’s internal voice promised.

Not if I get to him first , Keir responded.

“So,” Drew continued, clearly enjoying himself, “did you hear the Pattersons are trying to arrange a mating between their son and the alpha daughter from that pack in Oregon?”

“Jason Patterson?” Finn asked, looking up with interest. “The one who kept hitting on me at the party last night? He kept telling me how good I smelled.”

Three low growls vibrated around the table before the brothers could stop themselves. Finn’s eyes widened, his ears swiveling toward the sound.

“Did I say something wrong?” he asked, confusion evident in his tone.

“Not at all,” Cade said smoothly, though his knuckles were white around his fork. “The Pattersons have been trying to strengthen their alliances for years.”

“By pimping out their son to every eligible wolf in the Pacific Northwest,” Keir added with a snort. “Last month it was the Richardson Pack. Before that, the Calhouns.”

“He seemed nice enough,” Finn said with a shrug that made his oversized shirt slip farther down his shoulder, revealing more of that tantalizing skin. “A bit handsy, but nice.”

“Handsy?” Drew repeated with exaggerated concern. “Where exactly was he handsy, Finn? I need to know as your protective brother figure.” He shot a pointed look at the alphas, whose expressions had darkened dangerously.

“Just my lower back, mostly,” Finn said, reaching around to touch the spot—precisely where his mate marks were located. “Right around here.”

Handsy? Logan’s mental roar made both his brothers wince. I’ll tear his fucking hands off .

Easy , Cade cautioned, though his own wolf was snarling at the thought of another alpha touching their mate. He’s baiting us. Testing our reactions .

Is he? Keir wondered, studying Finn with narrowed eyes. Or does he genuinely not realize what he’s doing?

Drew knows exactly what he’s doing , Cade realized. This is deliberate torture .

“You know,” Drew said thoughtfully, “Jason did mention something about feeling a strange energy from you. Said your skin felt warm to the touch. Weird, right?”

Aloud, Cade kept his tone casual while shooting Drew a warning look. “The Pattersons have always been ambitious. But I doubt Jason will find happiness in an arranged mating.”

“Why not?” Finn asked, genuinely curious now. “Isn’t that how it usually works for packs? Political alliances and all that?”

“Sometimes,” Logan admitted, his voice still rough with suppressed possessiveness. “But it’s rare for it to result in true happiness.”

“Not like a true mate bond,” Keir added, his eyes fixed on Finn with an intensity that made their mate shift uncomfortably in his seat. “Nothing compares to that.”

“Oh, speaking of which,” Drew interjected with false innocence, “Finn was telling me earlier how fascinated he is by the whole mate bond concept. Weren’t you, Finn?”

Finn choked slightly on his water. “I was not?—”

“You were asking all those questions about how it feels and what happens when mates touch,” Drew continued relentlessly. “You know, the brothers probably know all about that. Being alphas and all.”

Finn’s ears flattened completely, his gaze dropping to his plate as a blush crept up his neck. “Right. The magical mate bond. How could I forget?”

The bitterness in his voice was like a physical blow to all three alphas. Through their bond, they shared the pain of it, the knowledge that Finn still believed they didn’t want him.

“It is magical,” Cade said quietly, unable to stop himself. “When it’s right.”

Finn looked up, surprise flashing across his face before he masked it. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Drew opened his mouth, clearly ready with another barb, but Logan silenced him with a look that promised retribution later.

An awkward silence fell over the table, broken only by the sounds of cutlery and the occasional whine from the pets who had positioned themselves strategically around Finn’s chair.

Mochi sat at attention by his right side, Boba had flopped dramatically at his feet, and Pixel was perched on an adjacent chair, her one good eye fixed on Finn’s plate with predatory focus.

“So, Finn,” Keir said aloud, deliberately changing the subject, “how’s your latest project coming along? The mixed media piece you were working on last week?”

The effect was immediate and striking. Finn’s entire demeanor transformed—ears perking up, eyes brightening, tail swishing with genuine enthusiasm. “You remembered I was working on that?”

“Of course,” Keir said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to remember every detail about Finn’s art. “The one with the driftwood and sea glass, right? For your portfolio?”

Drew caught Cade’s eye across the table and mouthed silently, “You’re welcome,” with a smirk that promised more torture to come.

“Yeah,” Finn said, his voice warming with passion.

“I actually finished it the other day. I’m trying a new technique where I incorporate actual sand and crushed shells into the paint to create texture.

It’s tricky because the weight can crack the canvas if I’m not careful, but when it works, it catches the light in this really interesting way that mimics how sunlight plays on water. ”

All three brothers leaned forward, drawn in not just by the subject but by the transformation in their mate.

When Finn talked about his art, he glowed—confidence replacing insecurity, passion overwhelming shyness.

His hands moved expressively as he explained his techniques, his eyes bright with creative fire.

“I’d love to see it,” Cade said softly, meaning it more than Finn could possibly understand. He wanted to see everything Finn created, wanted to watch him work, wanted to be part of that world where Finn felt confident and free.

Finn hesitated, surprise flickering across his face. “Really? I mean, it’s not finished-finished. I still need to seal it properly and?—”

“I’d love to see it too,” Logan interrupted, his gruff voice gentler than usual. “Your work is… impressive.”

Coming from Logan, who rarely commented on anything not related to security or training, this was high praise indeed. Finn’s ears twitched in obvious pleasure, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

“Maybe after lunch?” Keir suggested. “We could all go to your studio.”

The brothers had converted one of the mansion’s sunrooms into an art studio for Finn’s sixteenth birthday, filling it with professional-grade supplies and perfect lighting. It was one of the few spaces in the house that was entirely Finn’s, and they had always respected it as his sanctuary.

“I… sure,” Finn agreed, though his tail curled tighter around his waist, betraying his nervousness. “If you really want to.”

“We do,” all three brothers said in unison, making Drew snort into his water.

“Creepy,” Finn muttered, but there was amusement in his tone. His lips quirked into a small smile, and for the first time since the ceremony, something like hope flickered in his eyes. It was tiny, hesitant, but it was there.

Through their bond, the brothers shared a moment of cautious optimism. Maybe, just maybe, they hadn’t lost him yet.

“So,” Keir said as they finished lunch, “about that studio visit? I’m curious to see what our resident artist has been creating.”

“It’s not exactly the Louvre,” Finn rolled his eyes, but his fox ears perked up with poorly concealed enthusiasm. “And if any of you say something stupidly alpha like ‘it’s just a hobby,’ I’m using my paintbrushes as improvised weapons.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Cade said smoothly, rising from his chair. “We do possess some cultural awareness, contrary to popular belief.”

“Debatable,” Drew muttered, earning a sharp look from Logan.