Page 10

“There are things in this world we can control, and things we cannot. For instance, I can control me. I can control how I react in situations or to people. Aaaand that’s pretty much all I can control.

So really, it’s a crap deal. Life, that is.

It’s crap, I react crappy, and then I die.

The end. I know. I’m a ball of sunshine. ” ~ Lizzy

L izzy’s boots crunched against the dried leaves as she paced, her restless energy crackling in the cool night air.

She’d needed a break from the inside of the sprite compound, a break from the quietness that had settled over the place since practically everyone had left.

Okay, not everyone. And it wasn’t totally quiet.

But with everyone else—specifically Jen, Myanin, and Heather—gone, there was simply a hum of volume, instead of boisterous voices, threats, and laughter.

Yes, there were still sprites, fae, wolves, warlocks, and elves milling about, going on about their lives doing whatever it was they were supposed to be doing to save the world.

Lizzy didn’t know what that was, and she didn’t really care.

That wasn’t totally true. She cared that Cindy and the seer sprites were attempting to work their magic, literally, and see if they could find where their people had gone.

But while they were doing something helpful, Lizzy was unable to do anything. She couldn’t sit still and just wait .

Every second that passed felt like another thread unraveling from this new bond she shared with her pack, her family.

The world she’d suddenly become a part of was slipping through her grasp as fast as water through her fingers.

She’d only known them a short time, but they’d proven themselves to be fighters, to care for the weak, and to put others before themselves.

These were people worth having at your back.

And she’d only just been reunited with Kara —the only true friend she’d ever had.

Now, she was gone. The ache in Lizzy’s chest was unbearable, and she was losing her ability to keep her emotions on lockdown.

Finn, sitting on a fallen log nearby, tracked her movements with sharp, brown eyes.

His elbows rested on his knees, his posture calm, but she could feel the tension rolling off him through their bond.

Her mate was worried, and not just about the pack or situation they’d found themselves in. He was worried about her .

“Stop worrying about me,” she snapped through their bond, not even glancing his way.

She hated that her irritation poured over into her reaction to him, and that was totally on her.

It wasn’t Finn’s fault that Lizzy was being an ass.

And their relationship was so new, she still didn’t know how to turn to him for the comfort she needed.

Or, at least, it didn’t come naturally. Not like it had with Kara when they’d been kids and living in the crappiest of situations.

“I’ll stop worrying when you stop looking like you’re about to collapse,” Finn shot back, his voice sharp but laced with concern.

“ Lizzy, you need to feed.” His voice softened, “ I know this is still new.” He had obviously picked up on her anxiety.

“But it will get easier. I am yours, and you never have to be hesitant about coming to me.”

Her steps faltered, but she quickly recovered, she didn’t want him to be nice to her, not when she was being a snot.

She made sure to keep some distance between them because if she got within reaching distance, he would just snag her around her waist, set her in his lap, and not let her up until he was good and ready.

He seemed to like her sitting in his lap—something she’d noticed other male wolves preferred of their females as well.

“Weird wolves,” she grumbled to herself.

“Don’t ignore me,” Finn pressed, his tone more demanding now.

“ You’re getting weaker. I can feel it, Lizzy.

Being weak isn’t going to help our pack or Kara.

” His words were more forceful, more demanding, and though she knew he was right, it still pissed Lizzy off. Bringing up Kara really pissed her off.

Lizzy’s jaw clenched and unclenched as she took a slow, deep breath, willing herself not to say something she would regret.

None of this was Finn’s fault. It wasn’t his fault that she had to have his blood to survive.

It wasn’t his fault that taking his blood was, well, not like eating food.

It was much, much more satisfying in more ways than one.

“ I’m fine,” she lied, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

His fault or not, she hated this—hated the way her hybrid nature made her dependent on him in a way that felt so …

intimate. Their relationship was both familiar and fresh at the same time.

They’d been through so much together in such a short amount of time, and they were true mates.

So to some degree intimacy came naturally.

But this type of closeness? This was something more.

Feeding from her mate was something she’d barely come to terms with, and doing it when they had no idea how their pack was felt like she was betraying them.

They could be fighting for their lives and here she was sucking on her mate’s neck like a juice box, getting her rocks off.

She mentally groaned. Finn heard everything she was thinking because he wasn’t bothering to stay out of her head, and she was too emotional to block him.

Finn growled low in her mind. “Taking in the sustenance you need is not getting your rocks off. Though if you’re into juice boxes, we can figure something out.

You’re not fine. Stop being stubborn, and stop thinking you’re betraying anyone by taking care of yourself.

” Finn’s voice rumbled through their bond, low and commanding, but it was tinged with an undercurrent of frustration and something deeper—something raw.

“You’re mine, Lizzy. Let me take care of you. Let me help you.”

Lizzy shook her head, her steps faltering again as her fisted hands trembled at her sides. Her mind wandered to the last time she’d fed from Finn, and her face flushed. It wasn’t just about survival; it was something far more intimate, far more consuming, and she still wasn’t sure how to handle it.

Finn stood abruptly, his movements deliberate, and Lizzy’s heart stuttered in her chest. He crossed the clearing in a few long strides, every ounce of his energy radiating determination and a hint of exasperation.

“You’re going to drive me insane.” His voice was low and rough as he stopped in front of her. His copper eyes, intense and unyielding, locked onto hers. “You’re standing there, pale as a ghost, shaking like a leaf, and you still refuse to admit that you need me.”

“I don’t?—”

“You do.” His tone brooked no argument. “And I’m done letting you push me away because you’re too stubborn to accept it.”

Before she could protest, Finn reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Lizzy gasped, her hands coming up instinctively to push against his chest, but the warmth of his body seeped into hers, stealing her breath and her resolve.

“Finn.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. What was she going to say? He could feel her emotions and hear her thoughts. There was nothing she could hide from him, but for some reason she’d attempted to lie even knowing he would be able to prove her wrong.

“You’re mine,” he said again, his voice softer now but no less firm. “And I’m yours. This bond between us—it’s not just about survival, Lizzy. It’s about trust. It’s about letting me be there for you, letting me give you what you need.”

Lizzy’s throat tightened, her emotions threatening to spill over. She couldn’t look away from him, couldn’t ignore the way his words wrapped around her heart and squeezed.

“I know you’re scared.” Finn’s hands slid up to cup her face, his thumbs brushing gently over her cheekbones. “I know you’re struggling with needing and wanting this. It’s still new and overwhelming, but you’re not alone in that. I’m nervous, too.”

“You?” Lizzy’s face scrunched up. “What the hell do you have to be nervous about? All you have to do is stand there and let me suck on your neck while I attempt not to molest you.”

A smirk formed on his much too inviting lips.

“It’s not molesting me if I’m a willing participant.

” He leaned closer to her and took a deep breath, and she knew Finn was taking in her scent.

He’d shared with her one night, when it was quiet and the world around them was asleep, that her scent could create different reactions in him, depending on the situation.

Sometimes it was comforting, like coming home after a long day.

Sometimes her scent calmed his wolf when he felt she was in danger.

And other times, well, other times it made both man and wolf perk up and take notice.

She looked up into his glowing, brown eyes, saw the hunger in them, and knew this was one of the latter reactions.

His emotions flooded the bond. Only then did Lizzy realize that he’d been holding back much of his feelings.

It wasn’t only his concern, irritation, and frustration that she was feeling now.

Along with those emotions—actually overshadowing those emotions—were love, desire, and unadulterated need.

Finn wanted her, and he was letting her feel just how strongly he did.

They’d yet to take their relationship any further than some serious kissing and the obvious neck biting.

And up until now, Finn, apparently, had been keeping the extent of that desire tamped down. A lot.