Page 21 of Bound by Alphas 1: Bound (The Blood Moon Chronicle #3)
Shut. Up , Logan growled back, mortified by his body’s betrayal. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the pale expanse of Finn’s skin, the delicate structure of his collarbones visible above the chaise, the fox ears flattened against his head in embarrassment.
Logan had seen countless naked bodies before—in military showers, in combat medical situations, in various bedrooms throughout his life. None had ever affected him like this, leaving him breathless and unsteady, his wolf clawing at his control, demanding he cross the room and claim what was his.
“Stellar aim,” Finn muttered, stretching to grab the shirt without exposing himself further. “Really living up to that predator reputation.”
Get out of there , Cade ordered through the bond. Now .
I’m trying , Logan growled back, but his feet seemed rooted to the floor, his body refusing to move away from his mate’s presence.
Then Finn was moving toward him, the t-shirt barely covering his essentials, and Logan caught the scent of fox and honey and something uniquely Finn that made his head swim. When Finn’s feet slipped on the wet floor, Logan moved purely on instinct, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.
One moment Finn was falling, the next he was pressed against Logan’s chest, fitting against him as though he’d been designed specifically for Logan’s arms. The t-shirt had ridden up during the fall, and Logan’s hand encountered bare skin at Finn’s lower back, directly over the silvery marks they’d placed there years ago.
The contact sent a jolt of electricity through Logan’s system, his fingers automatically tracing the triangle pattern—their claim, their mark, proof that this beautiful creature belonged to them. Had always belonged to them.
Finn’s heart hammered against Logan’s chest, so rapid Logan could feel each beat like a drum against his own.
The cool air hit Logan’s hand where it rested near Finn’s exposed backside, creating a maddening contrast with the heat where their bodies pressed together.
Then Logan felt it—Finn’s fox tail unconsciously curling around his leg, the soft fur caressing his calf in slow, gentle strokes that felt more intimate than any deliberate touch.
The sensation sent a shiver up Logan’s spine, his wolf howling with primitive satisfaction at this unconscious claiming gesture from their mate. Even as Finn’s conscious mind resisted them, his fox instincts knew exactly who he belonged with.
Mine , his wolf snarled. Mate. Take. Claim .
CONTROL . Cade’s mental command slammed into him with alpha force, the only thing keeping Logan from doing something unforgivable.
“We’re both men, Finn. Brothers,” he forced himself to say, the words tasting like ash. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
The hurt that flashed across Finn’s face was like a physical blow. Logan retreated, escaping to the hallway before his control could slip any further. He leaned against the wall, breathing hard, his body still humming with adrenaline and desire.
That was too close . Cade’s internal voice was strained. We agreed to give him space .
Tell that to my wolf , Logan snarled back. He wasn’t falling on purpose .
No, but you didn’t have to catch him like he’s your bride on your wedding night , Keir pointed out, his usual humor notably absent. Cade’s right. We need to be more careful .
Logan stalked to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
He paced the length of his military-precise quarters, trying to burn off the excess energy thrumming through his system.
The image of Finn—naked, vulnerable, perfect—was seared into his memory.
The absence of body hair had shocked him at first, then sent a wave of possessive desire through him.
Finn looked so delicate, so unlike others, so… perfect for them.
“Fuck,” he growled, slamming his fist into the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. The pain barely registered.
He needed to calm down. Needed to regain control. They’d agreed to take things slowly, to give Finn time to adjust to the idea of being their mate. Jumping him in his bedroom after seeing him naked was definitely not part of the plan.
Logan stripped off his shirt, dropping to the floor for a series of punishing push-ups. Physical exertion had always helped clear his mind, and right now his mind needed all the clearing it could get.
By the time he’d completed three hundred push-ups, his arms burning and sweat dripping onto the hardwood floor, his body had finally calmed enough to face the others. He showered quickly, changing into comfortable clothes before heading to the kitchen to make popcorn for the movie night.
You’ve been gone a while , Cade observed through their bond. Everything under control?
As much as it can be , Logan replied tersely. Where is he?
Still in his room.
Logan nodded to himself, focusing on the simple task of making popcorn. The normality of it helped ground him, pulling him back from the edge he’d been teetering on since seeing Finn naked.
When he entered the living room with the bowl of popcorn, Drew had already claimed the main sofa with his usual disregard for spatial courtesy, sprawled across it like he owned the entire piece of furniture.
Cade sat at one end of the sectional, looking far too composed for someone who had witnessed their mate naked through a pack bond.
From his position near the doorway, Logan watched as Finn appeared a few minutes later, dressed in sleep shorts that showcased legs that should be illegal and an oversized t-shirt that slipped off one shoulder. His fox ears twitched adorably as he surveyed the room, looking for a place to sit.
“Where am I supposed to sit?” he demanded, hands on hips in a pose that was probably meant to be intimidating but just made him look like an irritated kitten. “The floor?”
“There’s room here,” Cade said, patting the space beside him with a casualness that Logan knew was entirely feigned.
Logan watched the exchange between Finn and Drew about “leg day,” admiring the way Finn’s tail swished with annoyance. Even irritated, he was beautiful.
Logan moved to sit on Finn’s other side, effectively boxing him in between himself and Cade. He felt Finn tense slightly at his proximity, no doubt remembering their encounter in the bedroom.
Keir was the last to arrive, dropping gracefully into the armchair and immediately having to negotiate with Pixel for space. “Who’s ready for some multiversal madness?” he asked aloud, while sending a different message through the bond.
He’s nervous , Keir observed. Still thinking about what happened in his room .
Can you blame him? Cade replied, his mental tone carefully neutral. Logan practically eye-fucked him, then told him they were ‘just brothers.’
Not helping , Logan growled.
The next three hours were a special kind of torture. Finn started out tense and distant but gradually relaxed as the movie progressed. His legs stretched out across Logan’s lap, his tail no longer tightly wound but draped loosely over his thighs.
Don’t move , Cade cautioned when Logan tensed at the contact. Let him come to us .
Easy for Cade to say. He wasn’t the one with Finn’s legs draped across his lap, the warmth of him seeping through thin fabric, the scent of him filling Logan’s lungs with every breath.
Logan’s hand settled on Finn’s ankle, his thumb tracing small circles against soft skin. He felt Finn’s momentary tension, followed by a gradual relaxation that sent a surge of satisfaction through his wolf.
Careful , Keir warned, though his mental tone held more envy than censure. Don’t push too far .
I’m not pushing , Logan defended. Just… maintaining contact .
By the third movie, Finn was fighting to keep his eyes open, his head nodding forward before jerking back up in a valiant but doomed battle against sleep. Cade, with a casualness that fooled no one, shifted position slightly, creating a perfect space for Finn to lean against him.
For a moment, it seemed like Finn might resist. Then, with a small sigh that sounded like surrender, he let his head drop against Cade’s chest.
The wave of possessive satisfaction that rolled through their bond was unanimous. Their mate, nestled safely between them, trusting them enough to fall asleep in their presence. It was a small victory, but one their wolves celebrated with primitive joy.
He fits perfectly , Keir observed, his internal voice soft with wonder as Finn nuzzled closer to Cade, fox ears twitching contentedly in sleep.
He always has , Cade agreed, his arm coming up to wrap loosely around Finn’s shoulders, holding him secure.
Logan’s hand tightened slightly on Finn’s ankle, completing the circle of contact. Through their bond, they shared the simple pleasure of the moment—their mate, safe and content between them, exactly where he belonged.
When the credits finally rolled, Drew yawned dramatically and stretched. “Well, that’s me done,” he announced, eyeing Finn’s sleeping form with amusement. “I’ll leave the baby brother transportation to you big strong alphas.”
“Very considerate,” Keir drawled, but his eyes were on Finn, his expression softer than usual.
Drew shuffled off to his room, leaving the three brothers with their sleeping mate. For a long moment, none of them moved, reluctant to break the peaceful tableau.
We should get him to bed , Cade finally said, though his reluctance was clear.
You take him , Logan replied, carefully lifting Finn’s legs so Cade could stand. He’s already comfortable with you .
With a gentleness that belied his size, Cade gathered Finn into his arms. The kid mumbled something incoherent, nuzzling closer to Cade’s chest without waking, his tail curling around Cade’s arm in unconscious trust.
The sight hit Logan like a physical blow—their mate, small and vulnerable in Cade’s arms, fitting so perfectly it seemed impossible they’d ever been separate beings. This was how it should be. This was right.
Don’t , Cade warned, catching the direction of Logan’s thoughts. We agreed to give him time .
I know , Logan acknowledged, though his wolf snarled in protest. Just… take care of him .
Cade carried Finn to his room, leaving Logan and Keir in the living room, the silence heavy between them.
“This is getting worse,” Keir said quietly, running a hand through his hair. “Every day he’s here…”
“I know,” Logan agreed, his voice rough. “When he was at school, at least he wasn’t under our roof most of the time. Now…”
“Now we’re in constant torture,” Keir finished. “Seeing him every day, unable to touch, to claim.”
“We’ll manage,” Logan said, though he didn’t entirely believe it. “We have to.”
They made their way upstairs, passing Cade in the hallway as he closed Finn’s door silently behind him.
“He’s asleep,” Cade reported, his expression a mixture of tenderness and frustration. “Didn’t even wake when I put him down.”
“This is going to kill us,” Keir said quietly.
“No,” Cade replied, his voice firm despite the strain evident in his eyes. “This is going to make us worthy of him.”
Logan said nothing, but as they each retreated to their separate rooms—alone, when every instinct demanded they stay with their mate—he knew sleep would be impossible.
The memory of Finn’s body, the feel of him pressed against Logan’s chest, the way his tail had curled around Logan’s leg… it was all too vivid, too recent.
He stripped off his clothes and opened the French doors to his balcony, letting the cool night air wash over his heated skin. Then his body began to shift, bones cracking and reforming as he surrendered to his wolf.
The massive mahogany-red wolf leaped from the balcony, landing silently on the manicured lawn below. Within moments, two other wolves joined him—Cade’s golden form and Keir’s sleek blond figure—and without a word between them, they ran for the forest.
They would run until exhaustion claimed them, until the need for their mate was dulled enough to allow them a few hours of restless sleep.
And tomorrow, they would begin the torture all over again.
But Finn was worth it. He would always be worth it.