Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
O nce more Finnar sat brooding on a fallen log, but this time his thoughts were haunted not by thoughts of revenge, but thoughts of Scarlett. The forest whispered its secrets around him, but for once, he paid no attention to the sounds that usually kept him alert. His thoughts kept circling back to Scarlett—her smile, her fearlessness, the way her small hand felt in his.
His need for her threatened to consume him. His beast paced restlessly within, demanding they return to their mate. But she wasn’t Vultor = could she truly be his mate, no matter how right it felt?
A pang of guilt stabbed through his chest. Here he sat, dreaming of a future with a human while the ashes of his family’s home still haunted his dreams. The faces of his family floated before him—his younger brother’s infectious laugh, his sister’s radiant smile, his mother’s gentle touch, his father’s strong face.
His claws extended involuntarily, digging into the bark beneath his hands. How could he contemplate happiness when they had suffered such cruel deaths? But the anger that had sustained him for so long felt hollow now, replaced by an ache that had nothing to do with vengeance.
Scarlett’s warmth had begun to thaw something inside him he’d thought frozen forever. The way she’d transformed his den from a dark cave of misery into something that felt like… home. The easy rhythm they’d fallen into as they worked together. The peace he’d felt in her presence.
His brother would have liked her, he realized with a start. The thought sent fresh waves of guilt crashing through him. Was it betrayal to move past his anger? To want something more than revenge?
He dropped his head into his hands, his emotions warring within him. The forest continued its gentle song around him, offering no answers to his troubled heart.
A familiar scent drifted on the breeze. His head snapped up to find Seren leaning against a nearby oak, watching him with those calm, knowing eyes.
“You wanted to see me?”
“I think she’s my mate.”
The words burst from his throat before he could stop them. His voice cracked on the last word, raw with emotion.
Seren gave a thoughtful nod, his expression neutral as he waited for him to continue.
“But she’s human. How can that be?”
“It’s rare but not unheard of,” Seren said quietly, an odd note in his voice. “But it’s… difficult. Humans fear us. Our own kind may reject you both. You’ll face prejudice from all sides.”
The alpha’s words only confirmed his fears—not for himself but for her.
“I would be willing to risk it, but it also feels like…” His claws dug into his palms. “Like I’m betraying them. My family. How can I want this when they?—”
He broke off, unable to finish.
“Would they want you to live in anger?” Seren’s voice was gentle, lacking its usual commanding tone. “Or would they want you to find happiness?”
The question wasn’t new—Seren had asked it before, many times over the years. But for the first time, he let himself really consider it. He remembered his mother’s smile when she spoke of finding his father, the way his brother used to tease him about being too serious.
The memory of his brother’s laughter echoed in his mind, free from the usual taint of rage and loss. Would they really want him to spend his life consumed by vengeance?
“They would want me to be happy,” he said slowly. “And I could be. With her. Even without my pack.”
He studied Seren’s face, searching for signs of judgment or disapproval, but found only understanding.
“I see. The path won’t be easy,” Seren said, his voice low. “But I know of at least one case where it worked. Where love overcame those barriers.”
The revelation stunned him. He’d never heard of such a union, but then he would never have considered it before he met her.
“If you’re certain she’s your mate…” Seren’s voice trailed off. “I won’t stand in your way. I won’t exile you. But be absolutely sure of your feelings first. The consequences of being wrong would be devastating—for both of you.”
Something in Seren’s tone caught Finnar’s attention. A hint of longing, quickly masked but unmistakable. He looked at his alpha with new eyes, realizing that Seren was well past the age when most unmated Vultor succumbed to their beast side. Yet here he stood, perfectly controlled, leading their pack with unwavering strength—and completely alone.
How many years had Seren spent watching others find their mates while he remained solitary? Yet he’d never shown any sign of losing control, never let his own loneliness affect his leadership.
He was not as strong. He didn’t want to live alone, didn’t want to live without his mate.
“I’m sure,” he said firmly.
“Then go to her.”
He was moving before Seren finished speaking, his heart lighter than it had been in years. The forest welcomed him with its familiar scents—pine, earth, and the crisp mountain air. He bounded down the path, each step bringing him closer to his mate.
Halfway down the mountainside, he froze. Her scent drifted up from below—that intoxicating sweetness that had first drawn him to her. But something was wrong. Fear tinged the edges of her usual warm fragrance, along with uncertainty and worry.
His beast surged forward, claws threatening to emerge. What was she doing back in these woods? His protective instincts flared as he picked up his pace, moving swiftly but silently through the underbrush.
The forest blurred around him as he raced downhill, following her scent. Despite his worry about what had brought her back to the woods, his heart quickened at the prospect of being with her again. He’d been a fool to think he could stay away from her.
The slope grew steeper, but he barely noticed, his focus entirely on reaching her. Her scent grew stronger with each stride, pulling him forward like an invisible thread connecting them. Whatever had brought her back into these woods, he would protect her from it. And this time, he wouldn’t let her go.
He burst through a curtain of hanging vines into a secluded clearing. At one end water cascaded over moss-covered rocks into a crystal-clear pool. Ferns swayed gently in the mountain breeze, their delicate fronds casting intricate shadows across the ground.
Just as he started across the clearing, she emerged from between two ancient pines, her red hair gleaming like fire in the dappled sunlight. Their eyes met across the pool and his breath caught in his throat.
Her face lit up with that radiant smile he’d been dreaming about since they parted and she ran towards him. His beast roared to life, but this time with joy rather than anger.
She threw herself into his arms and he caught her, lifting her off her feet. Having her in his arms felt so right, so perfect. His beast purred contentedly as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in her sweet scent. The truth he’d tried to fight crashed over him with absolute certainty. It didn’t matter that she was human. She was his mate. The one person in all the world meant for him alone.
He’d been such a fool, letting his bitterness blind him to what was right in front of him. But now, with her warm and real in his arms, he finally understood. This was what he’d been missing, what he’d been searching for all along.
He pulled back just enough to study her face, relishing every detail—the slight flush across her cheeks, the way her dark eyes sparkled with joy, even the tiny freckles scattered across her nose. His beast rumbled with satisfaction at the certainty he saw reflected in her gaze.
“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered, her voice catching.
The pain in her voice tore at something deep inside him. He cupped her face with one hand, his thumb brushing across her soft skin. His claws threatened to emerge but he kept them carefully retracted, unwilling to risk marking her perfect face.
“You’ll never lose me,” he promised, the words emerging as a low growl.
He captured her lips with his, pouring all his longing and certainty into the kiss. Her mouth was soft and yielding beneath his, and she melted against him with a small sigh that made his beast purr with satisfaction. The taste of her, the feel of her pressed against him, the sweet scent that filled his senses—everything about this moment felt absolutely right.
Her fingers slid into his hair, holding him close as the kiss deepened. She fit perfectly against him, her slender curves soft and welcoming. He wanted to stay in this moment forever, to hold her and kiss her until the world faded away. But eventually the need to breathe forced them apart.
He drew back just far enough to rest his forehead against hers, their breath mingling in the space between them. He could feel her heart beating in time with his, their rhythms perfectly matched. His mate. The knowledge settled over him like a warm cloak, bringing with it a sense of peace he’d never known.
She pulled back, her small hands cradling his face, a worried frown replacing her smile. “Finnar, there’s something I have to tell you. There’s a hunter in the woods. I think he’s looking for the Vultor.”
He considered, then dismissed her concern. “Don’t worry, little red. I can handle myself against any hunter foolish enough to come after me. Right now I have something far more important on my mind.”
“What’s that?”
“Claiming you as my mate.”