Page 11

She took in a shaky breath as she searched for her confidence and found herself lacking.

Lizzy’s hands gripped the front of his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping her upright.

“I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted, her voice breaking.

“I don’t know how to be … this person. This mate.

” There were times, in the heat of the moment, when Lizzy was able to lose herself in their passion and she didn’t feel so self-conscious.

But then there were moments, like now, where feeding seemed like a burden and inappropriate, as did the desire to jump her mate.

And for some reason, it was in these moments that she struggled the most. All those insecurities, fears, and doubts came rushing in and held her back.

Finn’s gaze softened, his wolf shining through the copper of his eyes as he leaned closer. “You’re already everything I need, Lizzy. You just have to let yourself believe it.”

And then he tilted her head gently to the side, his lips brushing against the curve of her neck, and Lizzy’s breath hitched.

“Let me help you,” he murmured, saying the words again, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. “Let me show you how good it can be when you stop fighting it.”

“I know how good it can be,” she whispered.

“That’s part of the problem. We should be looking for our pack.

Not peeling each other's clothes off. And I thought you wanted to wait until we’d had a bonding ceremony.

There’s been no time for that. The few moments that I did feel confident enough to pursue you, and the world wasn’t completely coming down around us, you stopped things.

So, really, this is your fault.” She sounded like a petulant child, and she was grasping at straws, and for what?

Because she was afraid of her need for him?

Finn stared down at her patiently. The intensity of his gaze never wavered under her scrutinizing words.

His breathing was slow, even, and he seemed to be under complete control, despite the fact that the bond was rolling with emotions between them.

“The bonding ceremony is important because I want you to know that I am committed to this relationship. Though we’ve completed the Blood Rites, so you couldn’t escape me even if you wanted to, the ceremony is the formal event of the mating.

But, as you pointed out, there hasn’t exactly been time to press pause so that we could do that.

” He paused, his head tilting to the side in a very wolf-like gesture.

His eyes glowed even brighter. “We will do the ceremony, when Kara can be present, as well as the rest of our pack. However…” There was another pause, and after breathing deep, he let out a shuddering breath.

“I find that my beast and myself are in need of solidifying the bond. I will not push you, if you’re not ready.

” She felt the sincerity in those words, and it warmed her.

“But if you are, I will not deny you any longer. And as you said, this is my fault. I have stopped us from going further, and even though I tried to reassure you so that you wouldn’t feel insecure, I think I still, though inadvertently, made you feel that way.

I ask your forgiveness, Lizzy. And if all you want to do is feed, then that is all we will do. But you will feed.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, the pull of their bond stronger than ever as his words settled in her bones.

Finn was right. The times when she’d pushed the boundaries he’d set, because feeding did create a flame inside of her that burned insatiably for him, had made her feel unsure of herself.

Maybe Lizzy hadn’t realized that, or she’d simply pushed it aside because it’s easier to ignore an insecurity than feed it with attention, but she was aware of it now.

“I don’t ever want you to feel unwanted, especially by me.” Finn’s voice was gruff with his wolf. “You are precious, and if I gave you the full force of the ferocity of my desire it would probably terrify you.”

After several heartbeats, Lizzy leaned forward and pressed a kiss over his heart.

“I trust you,” she whispered, “And I believe you.” Setting aside her own doubts, she chose to believe his words and the feelings flooding the bond.

She could feel his warmth, his strength, his unwavering love for her, and it was impossible to resist.

Finn’s arms tightened around her, and he pressed a kiss to her temple before tilting his head to the side, exposing his neck to her. The scent of him, rich and intoxicating, filled her senses, and her fangs ached in response.

“Take what you need.” His voice was low and steady.

Lizzy hesitated for only a moment before giving in, sinking her fangs into the strong column of his neck. The taste of him—warm and electric—flooded her senses, and she couldn’t hold back the soft moan that escaped her lips.

Finn’s body tensed beneath her, his hands gripping her waist as a low growl rumbled in his chest. He wasn’t unaffected—far from it.

The act of her feeding was more than physical; it was a merging of their souls, a deep intimacy that left them both breathless.

Electricity flowed through her veins as the warmth of him filled her, and she bit down even harder, causing him to grunt.

T he moment Lizzy’s fangs pierced his skin, Finn’s world narrowed to her.

The bond between them flared to life, blazing with a heat that made his wolf howl in satisfaction.

Her need for him was like a drug, and he’d gladly give her everything he had if it meant seeing her whole again.

He hated that he’d made her doubt herself or his desire for her.

And he planned to rectify that situation immediately.

For a moment, he struggled to focus, his wolf and the man getting lost in the feeling.

The sensation of her feeding was unlike anything he’d ever experienced—pain and pleasure intertwined, a raw, primal connection that left him shaking with the force of it.

His wolf growled possessively—the need to satisfy, protect, and provide for his mate overwhelming every other instinct.

She clung to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she took what she needed, and Finn couldn’t help the low groan that escaped him.

The intimacy of the moment was almost too much, a visceral blending of their souls that left him raw and exposed.

Every nerve in his body was on fire, his senses heightened to the point of madness.

He could feel the warmth of her breath against his neck, the rapid thrum of her heartbeat against his chest, and the softness of her curves pressed against him.

Her form trembled in his arms, and the sheer vulnerability of it undid him.

She wasn’t just feeding—she was trusting him, leaning on him in a way she rarely allowed herself to do.

And yet, that trust came with a weight that nearly brought him to his knees.

He wanted to be strong enough for her, to be the anchor she didn’t even realize she needed.

His wolf pushed at the edges of his control, desperate to claim her again and again, to mark her, to show her in every way that she belonged to him. But Finn held himself back, even as the ache of it tore through him.

But the bond between them was relentless—a living, breathing thing that pulsed with a need as old as time.

It demanded more, begged for more. And Finn could feel her need, her desire, echoing his own.

She was trying to fight it, trying to hold onto the walls she’d built around herself, but they were crumbling.

And every crack in her defenses sent a jolt of satisfaction through him.

He closed his eyes, his breaths uneven as he fought to hold onto his control. “Lizzy,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

She pulled back slightly, her lips brushing against his skin as she whispered, “I think I have an idea.”

Finn opened his eyes, meeting her gaze, and the sight of her nearly undid him. Her pale, green eyes were glowing, her cheeks flushed, and her lips—still stained with his blood—were slightly parted as she panted for breath. She was beautiful, fierce, and utterly his.

The headiness of the moment was overwhelming, almost suffocating in its intensity.

But Finn didn’t pull away. He couldn’t. Because as much as it scared him, as much as it left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, it also felt right.

She was his mate, his other half, and there was no part of himself he wouldn’t give her.

“Lizzy.” His voice was a low growl as he battled with his control, his beast wanting to own and consume their mate. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile, but there was a softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

“You’ll survive.” Her voice was light but tinged with something deeper.

This was the female he saw emerge any time they got even a little carried away, the female that he’d shut down for fear of taking things too far.

She was sexy and confident in his attraction to her.

This was the Lizzy he always wanted to bring out.

Finn couldn’t help but laugh, the sound rough and unsteady. “I’m not so sure.” His hands tightened on her waist. “But if I don’t, at least I’ll go happy.”

She rolled her eyes, but the tension between them didn’t ease. If anything, it thickened, the air around them charged with an energy neither of them could ignore. Finn could feel her wolf through their bond, restless and hungry, mirroring his own.

His control was hanging by a thread, and he knew it. But no matter how much he wanted her, he’d let her set the pace. Because she wasn’t just his mate—she was his everything. And she was worth every ounce of patience he had.