By the Blood Moon (Silver Rapids)

1. Finn

Chapter 1

Finn

FIVE DAYS UNTIL HALLOWEEN

A utumn in Silver Rapids was momentary and breathtaking.

Stands of birch, black cottonwood, and aspen flew by as Finn drove the winding road home. He couldn’t help but stare at the fleetingly vibrant colors; hues of yellow, red, and orange reminding him of the way Jaime’s hair shifted and caught in the firelight. The golden foliage appeared almost glowing in the setting sun, a stark contrast to the deep, bluish-green of Loon Lake interrupting autumn’s sprawl across the Alaskan tundra.

He couldn’t wait to be home, and share these last few chilly evenings outside with his mate before the winter snows drove them in for the next six months.

Just as Finn was turning off the highway onto the stretch of road their cabin sat on, Silas called. “Hey, are you and Jaime doing anything for Halloween?” he asked, voice filtering through the truck speakers.

Finn shook his head, even though Silas couldn’t see the movement. “We didn’t have plans to leave the house, but I know Jaime’s disappointed that we probably won’t have any trick-or-treaters living so far out of town. Why? Do you want us all to do something?”

By us all , Finn meant Sheppard, Silas, and Sam, who had been living with Silas for a few weeks now. Both he and Jaime wondered what the hell was going on between the two of them, but the last time Finn had pried Silas nearly bit his head off.

So now they all danced around the topic, and Finn kept his nose to himself.

“Yeah, Sam and I thought you and Jaime could come over. Sheppard has to stay on top of some things at work, and we don’t have much in the way of decorations, but we may have a few trick-or-treaters stop by. We could put on a couple of scary movies, maybe?”

Finn smiled, remembering how he’d always spent Halloween at Silas’ when they were kids. They’d go trick-or-treating and stuff their faces with candy before crashing on the living room floor, a sugar coma in full swing.

When Si’s parents went to bed, they’d sneak on scary movies they were definitely too young for, spooking each other on purpose with imaginary shadows and figures lurking in windows until they were too tired to keep their eyes open, passing out in a pile of candy wrappers and gangly limbs.

For a handful of years, Si’s mom and dad had even let them dress up as “werewolves,” and they’d shift into their partial forms, ears and fangs out for the world to see, and giggle together as people oohed and aahed over how realistic their costumes were.

“I think Jaime has enough Halloween decorations for the whole neighborhood,” Finn said, chuckling. “We can come over early to get everything set up. I’ll talk to him and let you know.”

Gravel crunched underneath Finn’s truck tires as he pulled into the driveway, saying goodbye to Silas and parking behind Jaime’s car. Golden light spilled from their cabin windows in the blue dusk, beckoning him out of the chilly autumn air and into the warm embrace of their cozy living room, where the fireplace was surely crackling and the faint scent of watercolor paints lingered.

Finn cherished coming home to those little things; the evidence of his mate’s growth and healing over these past few months never ceased to make him smile.

But mostly he just loved coming home to Jaime.

Home.

We’re home.

His wolf’s pleased rumbling wasn’t referring to the cabin they shared together.

He stepped out of the truck, his work bag slung over one shoulder, and made his way up the path, dimly lit by solar lanterns staked into the ground on either side. The crisp, autumn days that both he and Jaime loved so much were drawing shorter and shorter now, and soon it would be fully dark when he returned in the evenings, like it had been when he left for work this morning.

Jaime often stayed up late reading or painting, and so he usually slept in a bit longer in the morning, only stirring just as Finn readied for the day. Pressing a kiss to Jaime’s soft, sleep-messy hair before he left for work was one of his favorite things, but it grated against an ancient instinct in him to leave when the sun hadn’t yet risen, his wolf grumbling about his mate being alone and asleep and vulnerable.

It made him restless. It felt wrong.

This morning had been especially difficult. Showered and fully dressed, Finn had bent down to kiss Jaime’s temple and whisper a goodbye. He’d poked his head out from the covers to mumble something unintelligible, before rolling over and tucking back into their warm bedding. Finn had whined, and nearly buried back underneath the covers with him, work and responsibilities be damned.

Sensing his predicament, a sleepy smile had appeared on Jaime’s mouth. “If you had it your way, all you and I would do for the next six months is hide in this bed and hibernate, like the bears.” He’d reached out, taking Finn’s hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Go to work, baby. I’ll be fine. I love you.”

All of Finn’s wolfier instincts had been dialed up in recent months. Claiming Jaime last spring had thrown kindling on the fire that had otherwise simmered low all his life, and his wolf had grown even more insistent as the bond he shared with Silas and Sheppard grew stronger. Their childhood and time in the military had brought them together, yes, but that bond of friendship and brotherhood had developed into something more these past few weeks. Something deeper.

Pack , Finn’s wolf whispered.

His wolf spoke to him a lot more now. Sometimes the noise became too much, overwhelming in a way Finn hadn’t learned to manage before. Silas and Sheppard helped him navigate the newly intense feelings. So did Jaime.

But they both knew that Finn’s difficulty in leaving Jaime this morning had been more than just the battle with his newly awakened wildness.

Yes, Finn wanted to cozy up with Jaime under the covers and never leave, but with the ongoing situation with Sam and all of the shit they were dealing with from the Salt Creek pack, Jaime's nightmares had surged.

He was working through the relapse well. Returning to weekly sessions with his therapist, along with being able to paint again, to express and process his emotions in that way, had really helped Jaime to manage the trauma and grief that still plagued him.

But when he woke from those nightmares gasping for breath and coated in sweat, not knowing if he was still trapped, or if Jackson Bishop hovered just out of view, Finn knew how much Jaime appreciated the physical reminder that he was safe, and that he was home.

Sometimes all Jaime needed was to be held. Sometimes he needed Finn’s voice, so blue, he’d mumble, lips moving against Finn’s skin as he spoke. And sometimes he needed more—needed Finn’s grip and gentle command and the way they came together slow, and tender.

One of those nightmares had driven Jaime from sleep last night, and he’d clung to Finn, shaking in his arms before he’d collected himself enough to shower and change, tumbling back into bed exhausted.

He’d looked better this morning, warm from sleep with the color back in his cheeks, but even still… Finn hated to leave him.

Stepping up onto the porch, he shook off those thoughts for now. He was home, and Halloween was almost upon them. It had been many years since it was anything more than another day on the calendar for Finn, and being excited to spend it with Jaime, with his family, made him feel like a kid again.

His youthful exuberance was boosted even further when he opened their front door to find Jaime had clearly spent his day decorating. Kicking off his shoes, Finn looked around and noted that Jaime had taken his advice to “Go for it babe, decorate the house to your heart’s content,” quite literally.

Strung up across the mantle, a fire indeed crackling merrily within, was a garland of black paper bats, dangling between twinkling orange and purple fairy lights. Even more lights hung over the archway leading into the kitchen, and draped around the books and trinkets that decorated their built-in shelves. Faux jack-o'-lanterns of varying sizes were artfully arranged in front of the mantle and along the shelves, and a four-foot tall light- up ghost stood in front of the floor to ceiling windows, its arms raised as if to say, “Boo!”

Finn snickered. If Sam were here, he might have made a joke about not realizing he’d dressed up early.

A Halloween-themed ambience YouTube video was playing on the television, completing the living room aesthetic. Finn fucking loved all of it.

He stepped around the tote bags stacked by the door, full of even more decorations Jaime hadn’t gotten around to yet.

“Jaime,” he called out, peering into the kitchen. Finding only a clean counter and an empty breakfast nook, Finn was about to check the backyard when he caught Jaime’s scent.

Drifting down from the second floor, a beacon the predator inside him honed in on immediately, the smell of Jaime's arousal told Finn exactly where his mate was. Forever beholden to that siren song, he let it guide him up the stairs and into their bedroom.

Unlike in the past, when he’d sped home at the promise of Jaime flushed and ready, nearly feral and desperate to root himself deep inside his mate, this time Finn kept his strides sure and measured. He let the sound of his steady climb up the steps heighten the anticipation for them both, even as he began to harden in his pants.

The light sounds of water gently lapping against the porcelain tub pulled him into their bathroom, and he stepped into the dimly lit space, humid warmth fogging the mirror. At the sight before him, Finn began untucking his shirt and unbuckling his belt, sliding it free.

A few seconds ago, he may have thought to make Jaime wait, to edge him with anticipation just a little. But he was only a man.

And his mate had clearly thought ahead.

Jaime lay soaking in a hot bath, steam rising around him as a flush bloomed across his cheeks and down his chest. His hard cock peeked out from the surface of the water, the tip pink and glistening. Jaime’s e-reader was propped up on the edge of the tub, telling Finn exactly how he’d spent his day after he finished decorating for Halloween.

Finn slowly drank in the display, certain that Jaime had intended for him to do so. His sleek, freckle-dusted legs emerged from the hot water, and he sat up just enough to expose the rest of his bare chest. Jaime’s eyes were hooded and soft, watching Finn, and his mouth tipped up in a small smile when he leaned his head back against the tile and took himself in hand, lightly stroking up and down.

Finn wanted to swallow the tiny gasp Jaime let out at the movement, his thumb slipping along his cockhead. He reached out with his other hand, beckoning Finn forward. “Welcome home, baby. I've been thinking about you all day, please come join me?"

Finn didn't need to be asked twice.

He hastily finished undressing, clothes scattered across the floor, and slipped into the oversized tub behind Jaime, cradling his body between his thighs and wrapping his arms around his middle, pulling him back against his chest.

Jaime reached up with both hands to grasp the forearm Finn had wrapped around him and peppered a line of kisses along it, the teasing bravado gone as he nestled close. “Hi,” he whispered.

Finn pressed his smile, teeth and all, into their mating mark at the base of Jaime’s neck. “Hi. That was quite the greeting you gave me.”

Jaime shimmied further into his embrace. “The Halloween decorations? Or… this?” He pulled one of Finn’s hands down to wrap around his cock.

Finn growled. “You know the answer to that already,” he said, giving Jaime’s shaft a gentle squeeze for emphasis, pumping him once, twice.

Jaime whimpered. “How was your day?”

“Fine. Fairly boring, actually. Which I won’t complain about, all things considered.” Finn teased his thumb along the sensitive crown, drawing out another one of those small sounds he lived and breathed for. “What about you, baby? What did you get up to today, other than turning our living room into a Spirit Halloween?” he asked, continuing to lightly stroke Jaime’s cock.

“I—um— fuck , Finn, I can’t think when you do that.”

Finn chuckled and released him, palming the fleshy inside of his thigh, and Jaime continued.

“I read a book today. And I thought, that is, if you want to, I thought I’d show it to you.” Jaime’s fingers drifted over the hair on Finn’s forearms.

Finn snagged the e-reader off the ledge of the tub, and flipped it on. “You know I love when you show me your favorites. What was it this time? Pirates, again?”

Jaime had gone through a pirate romance phase a few weeks ago. He’d asked Finn to pretend that he was a surly pirate captain, and was teaching Jaime, a rival stowaway, a lesson for trying to thieve the treasure he’d hidden in his captain’s quarters. Finn’s terrible accent had them both in stitches all night, but he’d taken immense pleasure in showing Jaime exactly what kind of treasure he was keeping in his captain’s quarters .

Fuck, that had been hot.

Jaime shook his head. “No. Not pirates again. Um, just read it.” He was flushed again, and Finn was beginning to think it was more from embarrassment than arousal. Really, he already knew that Jaime read all kinds of smutty romance. What could he have found that had him so worked up this time?

Finn held the e-reader in front of them both, hooking his chin over Jaime’s shoulder as he tapped back to the front cover.

Oh.

Oh.

Finn’s eyebrows raised. “ Knotting my Omega ?” he read aloud, like it was a question.

Jaime squirmed in his hold, fingers still playing in the hair on Finn’s other arm, but he held his chin high as he replied, “Yes. It's a newly released sequel to a werewolf series I started a while ago. Before we met. I read this one today.”

Finn’s wolf grumbled.

Mine. My mate.

Show him our knot is the best knot.

He barely suppressed an eye roll at the idiotic animal’s jealousy over Jaime reading about a fictional wolf knotting someone else.

Stop it. That’s embarrassing.

His wolf growled again. My mate.

Jaime gave him a look over his shoulder, finally making eye contact, and Finn smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Working on it.”

Jaime smirked, and kissed him. “You’re mine, wolfy. Now calm down, please.”

The damn thing preened at Jaime’s words. And maybe Finn did too. Just a little.

“I’ll happily read this with you baby, but, this doesn’t sound like anything new for us.” He gave Jaime a wolfish grin. “You are mine, and I already knot you. Often. Enough to keep you ready for it.” Finn pressed kisses down Jaime’s neck, his own hard cock pulsing at the suggestion.

Jaime sighed into his kisses, but tangled his fingers back in his lap, looking down. “Just… read it.”

Finn hummed, and began tapping through the short novella, skimming most of the first few chapters at Jaime’s direction. He drifted his claws up and down the soft underside of Jaime’s arm as they relaxed in the hot water.

The two men danced around each other in the first chapter, denying the tension and bond between them, but they quickly succumbed to their feelings and the real action started soon after. Finn smirked at the full body flush that spread from Jaime’s cheeks down to his chest the further Finn read through the smutty scenes.

And then he got to the chasing. And the forest sex.

Well, that was new.

Finn cleared his throat. “Do you like this, baby?”

Jaime squirmed some more, but nodded. “Yes,” he whispered, as if afraid Finn would make fun of it.

He waited, knowing that Jaime had more to say when he was ready. When all Finn did was continue to drag his claws up and down Jaime's stomach in light, teasing passes, Jaime huffed, and continued. “It’s called primal play. I… like it. I’ve read about it a few times, and want to try it. With you. Only if you want to, though! I know it’s a lot.”

Jaime was clearly into this idea, but something was off in his voice. Finn gently took hold of his chin, and angled his body so they could better see each other. “Are you sure? You don’t seem as confident this time.”

Something like hurt flashed across Jaime’s face, and he pulled his chin out of Finn’s grasp, leaning forward. “We don’t have to do it if you don’t like it, Finn. I was just wondering if it’s something you’d be interested in. If not, that’s fine.” His voice had gone tight.

"Hey. Look at me,” Finn said, running a soothing hand down his side. Jaime turned back around, more fully this time, and leaned against the side of the tub with his knees tucked up under his chin.

Finn continued. “I like the sound of this. I think I could enjoy doing this with you, very much. It's just more than we’ve ever tried before, and I want to make sure you’d be into something so… physical.”

Jaime huffed. “I can do physical.”

Finn smiled, but grew serious before he continued. "I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was rejecting the idea. You just don’t seem as certain about it as you have before. I want to know that you’re all in, before we talk through the logistics of being chased through the woods, naked, and fucked up against a tree.”

Jaime couldn’t fight back his smile. “I suppose it is a lot when you spell it out like that.” He reached out for Finn’s hand and squeezed, before he continued.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry. I know we need to talk about it, and I didn’t mean to react that way. I’ve just wanted to ask you about this for a while, but I haven’t, because I was nervous you wouldn’t like it. And I didn’t want you to be hurt that I could be turned on by you… chasing me. I know in the beginning, you were afraid I wouldn’t want you because of your wolf, and I don’t want you to think that I think of you that way, like some feral wild thing. Does that make sense?”

Finn cocked his head, taking a minute to think. “Yes, I think I understand. I’d never judge you for liking something like that, though. Even if I’m not into it myself. And I haven’t been afraid of that rejection from you since the start. Saying you would have done the same after I ripped off a guy’s head for trying to kill you really did wonders for my fears that you wouldn’t want that part of me.”

Jaime’s eyes grew wide, and then they both burst into laughter, Jaime collapsing back into Finn’s arms as they tried to catch their breath.

“Too soon?” Finn chuckled, carding his claws through Jaime’s hair.

Jaime just continued to laugh, shaking his head. “I love you.”

Finn pressed a kiss to his temple. “I love you too, baby. And I want to do this with you. But I want to talk it through, first. To make sure we have a plan. You can’t go running through the brush barefoot in October, for one. That’s off the table. So, shoes.”

Jaime kissed the tips of Finn’s fingers, right over his claws. “Is it still sexy if I’m wearing my shoes?”

Finn growled, and he wasn’t sure if it was him, or his wolf that answered. “ Yes .”

“Alright, then. Shoes. But are you sure, Finn? This won’t be sexy for me unless I know that you’re one-hundred percent into it, too. I need to know that, before we do anything else.”

Finn wrapped his arms around Jaime and squeezed. “It’s not something I’d ever considered before, but now that you’ve brought it up…”

He felt his wolf stir, prowling closer to the surface in that way he had these past few weeks, making Finn more aware of being a wolf shifter than he’d ever been before. “I’m sure. My wolf likes it. I like it. More than I probably should, to be honest. The thought of chasing you through the woods should bother me, but instead it makes me feel…” he trailed off, unable to find the exact words.

“…Like I’m yours?” Jaime whispered. “Like you’re the only one who could ever catch me—the only one I’d let catch me. Like you need me so badly that you want to chase me, but you’d never hurt me. Like us being together is inevitable; it wouldn’t matter how far or fast I ran, you’d always be there. You’d always find me.”

“Yeah. Like that,” Finn rasped.

“Thank you. For listening, for being open. For being you. Always, for being you.” Jaime looked back at him, eyes glassy, but it was love, not hurt, in his gaze. “So, you’ll do it with me?”

Finn almost made a joke about always wanting to do it with Jaime, but this wasn't the time. "Yes, baby. I'll do this with you. Let's take a few days to discuss the logistics and make a plan. Is that alright?"

Jaime nodded and nuzzled his head under Finn's chin, kissing and tonguing at the water that had pooled in the dip of his collar bone. "Yes, Finn. Of course, yes. Thank you."

Finn chuffed. "I'm not sure who's going to be thanking who by the end of this."

Jaime giggled, and leaned back into his arms. Pressing his ass up against Finn's cock where it was firming back up, he said, “For now, do you want to eat dinner first, or knot me and then eat dinner?"

Finn grinned, and lightly bit at Jaime's shoulder. "Oh I'll be eating, either way. I’m ravenous.”