Chapter 30
FINLEY
It took days and some intense therapy sessions to deal with what we’d found in Fletcher’s research facility. Helped along by how busy we were with no real time to dwell.
Slade was researching, Talon had fight training, Kellan and I were in the midst of hockey season, and Hunter left the city to tear apart his old childhood home in the hopes of finding something we could use to track Jewels.
All the while, Emme kept us from fracturing, her soothing presence what we came home to every single day.
After today’s early therapy appointment, I spent a few hours in the garage, my hands buried under the hood of my Ford, letting the calming and familiar motions of fixing an engine add to my healing.
Emme had been here earlier, and we’d made great progress on her vehicle before she had to leave for magical training with Constantine.
The more she warmed up to her father, the more I let go of my concerns. The witch-wolf had kept my mate safe, and for that I owed him. He’d just better never hurt her again, or he’d soon be joining Emme’s mom.
There was a clang behind me as one of the contractors fixing the garage wall dropped metal. It was taking longer than expected to fill in the dragon-shaped cutout, but they were scheduled to finish in the next couple of days, which would take some strain off Slade.
The dragon had been all but sequestered in his room going through the files, but he was distracted by strangers in proximity to our mate. As we all were. It split his focus, and fractured his temper, until the only one who could be around him and not fear for their life was Emme.
He’d swoop in like an overgrown bat, steal our girl away for whatever he got up to with her, and then come back almost tolerable. All I knew was that when our omega was with the dragons, her mind and essence calmed to the point I was sure she handed all of her freewill over to them.
We all had our kinks, and Slade’s was control. Thankfully, Emme appeared well-equipped to not only handle us, but also enjoy our particular quirks. Thank you, goddess.
“Hey, bro,” Kellan said, wandering into the garage, taking a bite of a shiny red apple. The fact that he refused to admit green was the superior apple color… “You ready for the game? We’ve got to be there in three hours.”
The weight on my chest lightened again. “Yeah, I could use some bash therapy on top of my regular therapy.” It was really a day of therapy for me between Dr. Karen, cars, and hockey. Just had to finish with Emme, and it might actually be a perfect day.
“Yeah, fuck… the last few weeks have been a lot,” Kellan said, letting out a ragged breath.
I hated when his shining personality dulled—he might be an annoying motherfucker who bounced like an overgrown puppy, but he was our annoying motherfucker.
No one was allowed to hurt him.
Kellan wasn’t built to exist in the shadows like the rest of us. Even Emme, for all her warmth, held more darkness than Golden.
When I placed my tools back on the shelf, I wiped the grime off my hands with a clean rag. “We should head to the rink early. No one will be there yet, and I think we could both use a free skate.”
Kellan’s entire face lit up and fuck I almost hugged him. He’d love it, of course, but I wasn’t a hugger. Still…
When I stepped closer, he blinked in clear surprise, freezing as if he didn’t want to spook me.
Ignoring that, I followed my instincts and wrapped my arms around his shoulders until a grunt escaped him.
The apple hit the floor with a thud, and he was unmoving in my hold for a beat, until his arms banded around me so strongly that my ribs ached.
“Bro,” he choked out in a shaky voice. “It freaks me out when you do this shit.”
He didn’t let me go, though, and I was determined not to release him first.
“Just go with it, Kel,” I said. “I’m here for you. You can share your pain, and I promise I will never let you walk through it alone.”
“Thanks, Fin,” he murmured in a deep, guttural tone. “It’s weird when you go all therapist, but fuck… I think I needed that.”
My chest ached as my bear bellowed. “Yeah, apparently so did I.”
In the end, Kellan wasn’t the only one holding on like his life depended on it.
Kellan released me right as Emme’s scent exploded through the garage. We both turned to find her standing near the Charger, her beautiful face streaked with tears.
“Shortcake,” Kellan called, crossing the garage in two seconds to reach her. “Did you just see Fin in Care Bear mode? Did you take a video?”
Despite her trembling lips, she smiled and her whole face lit up. Happiness flowed from her wolf through the bond too. “Only a mental one, which I can share with you anytime you need the reminder.”
Kellan met my eyes with a soft gaze. “I’ll never forget how lucky I am to have this pack. Fucking blessed.”
Goddessdamn. They really were turning me into the softest Care Bear.
I needed to get out on the ice and smash motherfuckers into the boards.
But first… “Would you like another skating lesson, Ice? We were thinking of heading down early to blow off some steam before the game. We should be able to get in now before they Zamboni it.”
She clapped her hands, the tears no longer falling, though the evidence remained. “Yes, I’m done with magical training for the day. I could use a bit of exercise since Slade isn’t free to torture me.”
“Hell yes,” Kellan whooped. “I’ve been waiting for my chance to get you on the ice, pretty mate.”
Emme patted his chest. “Okay, I just need to change and grab my skates.”
She was gone in a flash, and I finished cleaning myself and my work area, before grabbing my gear as well. I wouldn’t be back before the game tonight. By the time the three of us were in my truck, heading for the rink, my bear was a contented puddle in my chest.
I loved all my pack, but these two were my peace.
The rink was quiet. It always reminded me of a sleeping bear on game day. Just snoozing away, until it would roar to life a few hours later.
We got changed in the locker room, and when Kellan and I knelt at Emme’s feet, each of us taking a skate to lace her up, her breath caught. She stared between the two of us. “Well,” she choked out, “this is quite the sight.” Her cheeks pinkened as her scent filled the room.
Kellan groaned as he traced his hands up her calves. “You’re so fucking sexy, Shortcake. Honestly, I’m going to jump you on the ice.”
I slapped his shoulder. “Not that I disagree, but we’ll have time for that later. We need to skate now if we want to get out before the Zamboni.”
We’d be in big trouble if we fucked it up after that.
Slipping guards on all our skates, we helped Emme to the rink.
She stepped onto the ice as gingerly as the first time, her feet moving so slowly they were almost stationary.
Kellan started to skate laps around her, side to side and then backwards.
“Showoff,” she shouted as he sped off, his skills far surpassing even mine
When he returned, she scowled down at her feet. “I suck at this too.”
Her adorable little pout had me chuckling as I slipped my hands around her waist, swinging her in an arc. “We’ll have you skating rings around us in no time.”
Emme’s raised brows and narrowed eyes expressed her concern for my sanity, but I was too caught up in being out here with them to worry about it.
Kellan came up behind her and I released her to him.
Emme collapsed against him and he moved slowly for once, gliding them both around the arena.
I joined in, letting the ice and my pack soothe me.
We skated right up until they fired up the machine, then we helped Emme off the ice. She limped between us back to the locker room. “Skating uses muscles I didn’t even know I had,” she groaned. “Is it normal to feel super sweaty but also cold? It’s kind of a gross feeling to be honest.”
Kellan and I exchanged a quick glance, and in that one look it was clear we both had the same thought. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” I suggested, rushing them into the locker room. “You’ll feel better soon.”
She collapsed against the bench with a relieved sigh. “Thank you, I think I’m going to need a little help until my healing kicks in.”
Like we were jacked up on adrenaline, Kellan and I stripped her skates off so fast that she grunted. He moved on to her pants, while I dragged her hoodie up over her head. She looked between us, and confusion tugged at her features, but she didn’t say a word.
When she was gloriously naked between us, we stripped our own clothes too, and the three of us walked into the showers, which were state-of-the-art and had near-limitless hot water. The silence was filled with need and desire as we drew her under the spray.
When her soft skin brushed against mine, there was a kick in my shaft, which was already hard and aching.
If Emme had glanced down at either of us, she’d know exactly what we had planned.
I didn’t share as well as Kellan and Hunter, or Slade and Talon, but I didn’t have any issue with what was about to happen here today.
Emme moaned as hot water crashed over her from one of the wide showerheads, and I needed to touch her before I lost my mind. My palms slid over her bare skin, and when she rubbed against me, the tightening need in my balls almost sent me to my knees.
“Darlin’,” I breathed. “We want you so fucking badly. We both need to be inside you, but this is your chance to say yes or no.”
“Yes, yes, all the fucking yeses,” she gasped, tilting her head back to give Kellan access to kiss up her throat.
Sliding my hand down her stomach, I drew my finger in a slow circle around her clit and she arched into me. Kellan kept her legs from buckling under her as we continued to explore, and soon I was stroking through a wet mess between her thighs. “Fuck, you feel so good, mate.”
Emme moaned again and parted her legs wider. I got you, baby.