Page 30 of The Alpha’s Rejected Arranged Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #3)

Three months passed quietly. No new demon threat rose up to take Dukiel’s place, and the remaining rogues were easily hunted down. The biggest lingering threat to Moon Lake was the beast demons, but Finn set Derek in charge of hunting them down and destroying their nests. The town settled quickly, quietly recovering from their shared trauma.

Hendrik stayed in the hospital for a month in total. He was a strong baby boy, and Finn was pleased when she and Elin were able to bring him home. Since they hadn’t exactly had time to prepare for a baby, the pack rallied together for them. When they first brought him home, they found the house filled with everything they needed. Diapers, a crib, more baby clothes than Finn thought they’d need—he quickly learned he was wrong and that babies went through clothes fast—blankets, toys, and things he hadn’t even considered they’d need.

Once home, he and Elin fell into their quiet, sleep-deprived routine. They weren’t getting much sleep with a new baby, but both were so happy that he was healthy, and they cheerfully put up with the long nights.

It helped that Seth and Rosemary were happy to help out and they had Christine and Derek, too.

All in all, life was calm. Hendrik had no sign of demonic energy around him or any lingering symptoms from being forced to grow so fast or be born so early.

“How do I look?” Finn asked Elin one morning, showing her the new suit he’d bought. “I never had a suit before, but Seth said I needed one for formal affairs. I look ridiculous, don’t I?”

Elin, who was in bed after a nap, cast a critical eye over him. “Hmmm. You’re right. You can’t wear that. It makes you too hot. I’ll end up ravishing you on the dinner table, and people will be uncomfortable.”

Finn laughed, his cheeks warming. “You certainly have a way with words.”

“You look great. Is that for the feast tonight?”

Finn fiddled with the cuffs and nodded. “Yeah.”

The pack had fully accepted him as Alpha, and the integration of the rogues into the pack was going… well, for the most part. There was still tension between the groups. Both sides had lost loved ones to the others. There was real effort from all quarters to move on, though, placing the blame on the demons where it belonged.

Hayden and Mica were due to arrive in a few hours to formalize the alliance between Moon Lake and Bluebell Valley. It was a solid step forward to present a unified front against the lingering threat of the demons. Dukiel’s journals had also been digitized, and they were going to hand over the drives for Bluebell Valley to work on translating the writing.

Finn had read through Beth’s journal from the month she was pregnant with him. There was little in there that he didn’t already know about demons, but learning more about his mother was helpful. It helped heal wounds he didn’t know he had.

Elin tapped her chin as she gazed at her mate, a glow coming to her eyes. “You know how Christine said I’m fully healed, but it might take a while for my hormones to get back into balance for me to want sex?”

Finn paused mid-fidget. “Now?”

“Yeah. Seeing you in that suit does things,” Elin purred.

A bolt of desire shot through him at the sultry look on her face. She leaned back in her pillows, smirked, and crooked her finger at him. Finn pulled off the suit jacket and tossed it aside, his gaze never leaving hers.

“I have a lot of work to do,” he warned her.

“We have plenty of time. And if everything isn’t perfect, I’m sure everyone will understand.”

She had a good point there. Finn quickly pulled off the rest of his clothes, not bothering to make it sexy. Nothing was as sexy as being in bed with his gorgeous mate anyway. He pulled back the blankets and clasped her legs in his hands. Elin bit her lip, her eyes darkening as she watched him. Finn ran his hands up her legs, enjoying the sensation of goosebumps breaking out under his touch. When he came to the hem of her nightgown, he hesitated.

“This thing is damn sexy,” he said, gazing appreciatively at her. It was low-cut, showing off ample cleavage, and the silky material laid flatteringly against her form.

“This thing?” Elin gasped in mock horror.

“This thing.” He bunched a handful of fabric in his hand. “But not nearly as much as you.”

Elin grinned. She lifted her hips to help him pull the nightgown off. As soon as it was gone and she was left in nothing but her panties, he was certain it was the right choice. His gaze traced over her curves, his breath growing quicker.

“Here I am,” Elin whispered.

“Here you are.” Finn propped himself over her, nudging her legs apart. “So beautiful. So sexy. Smart and angelic and perfect.”

Elin moaned as he cupped her through her panties. She lifted her hips as her hands ran over his back, leaving fireworks in their wake. Finn could do this forever. Just touch her. He gazed at her beautiful face, tasted her beautiful lips, and wanted nothing more than to be here with her forever.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you, too.” Elin tangled her fingers into his hair.

Finn cupped her ass with one hand, bringing her up off the mattress. He tugged her panties off and tossed them to the floor before he lowered his kisses down her neck. He lingered at her breasts, kissing and licking until her nipples hardened, then continued down. Elin laid back, getting herself comfortable as he delved into her.

He found her clit with his tongue and was immediately rewarded. She gasped lightly, her hips coming forward. Finn kissed her lazily, flicking his tongue first fast, then slow. He watched her face grow redder as her bud grew harder beneath his tongue. Her pupils widened, her breath coming in short gasps as she tangled her fingers into his hair.

“Softer,” she panted.

Finn obliged. Her scent grew stronger, filling him. It made him harden, and he reached down to squeeze himself, hoping a shock of sensation would help him last longer. Elin let out a soft cry. Her fingers dug into his scalp, and she pulled him away. The spikes of pain washing through his head only made him want her to pull harder.

“Oops,” Finn said, grinning at her. “Guess that was too much too fast, was it?”

He winked. Elin’s cheeks went red, but she grinned back. Without a word, she flipped him onto his back and captured his mouth with hers. Their kisses grew more heated as she trailed her hands down his body. She found his hand still wrapped around himself and pulled it away, then pinned it up over his head. She pressed his other hand beside it, then broke their kiss.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she kissed along the sharp line of his jaw. Finn groaned, his body feeling tight. He knew exactly what she was planning for him. She released his wrists, but he didn’t move them from where she’d put him as she kissed down his neck. Her eyes lifted to his as she carefully pulled his nipple into her mouth and bit around it, just hard enough to cause a slight sting.

“Should I bruise you, my love?” she purred as she moved even louder, scraping her teeth along his ribs. The sensation of slight pain mingled with the heat of her body so close did wonderful things to him. He throbbed with need and grunted.

“Fuck, Elin, you can do anything you want,” he said, panting as he stared into her eyes.

Elin bit down a little harder, then soothed the pain by licking the spot. Finn groaned, rolling his hips upward. He brushed against her breasts. Elin used one hand to push him down and keep him in place as she continued to work her way down.

He felt like he was going home when she took him in her mouth. Finn let out a heady groan as the pleasure washed through to the core of him. The appreciative noises combined with greedy little slurps only made it more difficult for him to control himself. Finn panted, gripping the bed beneath him. Fuck, yes!

Soon, he was trembling, dangerously close to release. Finn let out a strangled growl, reaching to pull her away. Elin’s eyes were wide, but she flashed him a grin.

“Too much?” she asked.

“I don’t want your mouth,” Finn told her. “I want you. I want to be close to you. I want to feel every inch of your body pressed against mine. Come here.”

He lifted her up, pulling her over him. She straddled him, grinding herself against him. The sensation was even stronger than her mouth had been. Finn’s head fell back, and he moaned. Her breasts pushed up against him, and the heat of her body radiated into him.

Perfection.

It was the only way to describe this moment.

“Finn,” Elin breathed into his neck. “Tell me what you want.”

Finn cupped her face with both his hands, lifting her gaze to him. “You, Elin. I want you.”

Their hands roamed each other’s bodies, ending between them. They stared into each other’s eyes as Elin positioned Finn at the right angle, then sank down onto him. He slid in, the two fitting together as perfectly as if they were puzzle pieces cut from the same mold. Finn combed his fingers through Elin’s hair, loving her closeness, loving the way her mouth opened slightly.

“Do you want me to take over?” he asked, one arm tight around her hips.

“Just give me a minute.” Elin lowered her head to his chest, her back arched. “I’m so sensitive right now. Fuck, is this what happens when we go for three months without?”

“Maybe,” Finn panted.

He wasn’t going to last long. But he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to see Elin come with him over the finish line. He reached between them, finding her clit. Elin groaned, rocking her hips instinctively. She straightened, bracing herself on either side of him. Together, they moved, panting and thrusting as the pleasure built between them.

“Goddess, Finn,” Elin cried, her back arching. “I fucking love everything you do to me.”

“I fucking love you,” Finn said. At least, he thought he did. It might have come out as a garbled growl of pleasure.

Neither of them lasted much longer.

Finn was the first to go. His vision went dark as the tension inside of him exploded. His muscles went lax, and he barely had the frame of mind to keep playing Elin’s clit. When she threw back her head and howled as she collapsed over him, he knew his work was done. They clung to each other, panting and slick with sweat.

Finn would have happily stayed there forever. Eventually, though, Elin lifted herself off him. She slid down with a groan, finding the space beside him. One of her legs remained flung over his hips as she pressed her face into his shoulder.

“Have I told you how much I like that?” she asked him breathlessly.

“A few times,” Finn answered, panting.

Elin giggled. “Good. Because you deserve all the praise.”

They lay there, tangled in each other’s arms, for some time. Finally, Finn stirred. He adjusted his position so he could better look into his mate’s eyes. She was so beautiful. She’d made such a difference for him, and he wasn’t sure she’d ever fully realize how much of a savior she’d become to him.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“For what?”

“Not giving up on me.”

Elin stroked his red hair from his face. “Thank you for listening to me.”

They kissed again, long and slow. Finn closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her closeness. With Elin, all he could see were bright days to come—and he looked forward to each and every one of them.

*****

THE END