30. Chester
Chester
F inn and I had settled into a nice routine over the past few weeks. We spent most weeknights together and every weekend. Mainly at my place, but occasionally at the clan house. Despite wanting to keep our relationship quiet, Finn was keen for me to get to know his inner circle better.
I wanted that too. Reid hadn’t stopped telling me “I told you so,” but it was true. He’d been right. I’d been skirting around the edges of life while telling myself it was enough.
And it wasn’t. I’d been stable, but not happy. Content, but not fulfilled. Safe, but not satisfied.
With Finn and the others in my life now, I was enjoying all of those things.
I’d stopped trying to pretend that what we had wasn’t a relationship. It was doing a disservice to both of us. I wasn’t sure when it had happened, but slowly it had. Finn and I were together. We were happy. There was no rush for us to become mates. None at all.
With Christmas just around the corner, I’d decided to hang lights on the outside of my house. Before Matt, I used to go overboard with the decorations, something he’d deemed “tacky.”
Even last Christmas, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do more than have a simple tree. But things were different now. I was different.
No, that wasn’t right. I was returning to who I used to be. To the man who laughed freely and didn’t give a fuck what others thought about him.
It was all down to Finn. He hadn’t just reminded me how to be happy, he’d given me the confidence that Matt had stolen from me.
I’d never be able to thank him enough for that.
One thing I knew though, was that I’d never stop trying.
Finn had given me so much, and I wanted to do the same for him.
Potentially for the next several centuries.
That thought didn’t scare me as much as it once had. Spending time with Finn and the others had helped with that too. Seeing how they interacted, the undeniable bond they had, it had made me realise I wanted that too.
More than that, I deserved it. I was a good person, and I deserved happiness as much as the next person.
Yeah. A lot had changed for me, and all of it for the better.
All because of Finn.
That was partially why I was halfway up a ladder, cursing wildly at the string lights.
I swore they hadn’t been knotted when I packed them away.
I should’ve done it indoors, especially given it was colder than the sodding Antarctic out here today.
The wind was stinging my cheeks, and I’d only been out here for a few minutes.
I swore as yet another knot appeared. How the fuck did that even happen? Had the lights had a party during the years they’d been in the box? Maybe one at the end had decided to have an affair with the one in the middle before leaving them for the bulb two-thirds along. It was the only explanation.
I was so focused on the knotted mass that I didn’t realise anyone had approached. The sound of a throat clearing had me jolting hard. “Fuck!”
The ladder swayed under me and my hand shot out to grab the guttering. It creaked under my weight and my feet kicked wildly as I searched for the rungs. My heart raced as panicked gasps escaped me. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Before I could do more than let out another startled yelp, the ladder was under my foot. A strong hand grabbed my ankle, guiding it back to the rungs. “Here. I’ve got you.”
Heart in my mouth, I looked down to thank whoever had saved me, but the words died on my lips at the sight of the man at the bottom of the ladder. “You.”
Clyde’s lips twitched. “Is that how you greet someone who’s just saved your life?”
I tried to slow my racing heart as I carefully descended the ladder. I’d learned more about Reid’s former clan since our last meeting, none of it good.
A voice whispered in my ear that I was in just as much danger now as I had been when swinging from the guttering. He might’ve saved me, but I suspected it was only because he had an ulterior motive. One that somehow involved my erstwhile employee.
He was in for a shock if he thought he could get any information from me. I’d protected Reid from him before and would happily go to the mat to do it again.
I stepped off the final rung and retreated a few steps. Like the first time I met him, my whole body seemed to revolt at his mere presence. “I wouldn’t have fallen if you hadn’t startled me.”
Clyde smirked. “You wouldn’t have been startled at all if your wolfie friend had gone up the ladder for you. Doesn’t he realise that humans are alarmingly fragile?”
My palms started to sweat as he took a casual step towards me. “We might be fragile, but that doesn’t mean we’re weak.”
Clyde tilted his head mockingly. “Is that a pointed reference to my son? I can assure you, his weakness is a daily disappointment to me.”
My hands fisted as he took another step. I refused to give up any ground. I’d had enough of twats like Clyde and Matt thinking they could intimidate me. “I thought you wanted to reconcile with Reid because you missed him. Funny how you’ve given up that lie already.”
He shrugged, unbothered about me calling him out. “I had hoped it might bring Reid back of his own accord, but I appear to have miscalculated. He’s always been a stubborn fool.”
“If by ‘stubborn fool’ you mean ‘smart enough to keep himself safe,’ then I think I’d have to agree.”
“And now he has his little pack of wolves guarding him around the clock,” Clyde mused. He lifted a hand and ran a nail down my cheek. Revulsion went through me at the touch, but I refused to let it show. “Pity they didn’t think to guard you too. Really, it’s taken all the fun out of it.”
Run. Run. Run. My brain was screaming the words at me, but my feet didn’t move. What was the point? Clyde would catch me before I made it to the edge of my property. I didn’t need to see him in action to know his speed and strength outstripped my own.
That was both the blessing and the curse of understanding shifters a little better. It demonstrated how capable Finn and the others were of keeping Reid safe. But it had also taught me how easily a shifter could take down a human should they so choose.
From the cruel grin Clyde wore, that was precisely what he was choosing. But if he thought he could chase me down, that fear would make me flee, he could fuck off.
If I was going down, it’d be on my terms.
“Finn will be here any minute,” I bluffed. In reality, Finn wouldn’t be by for hours. See, this is where the mating bond would’ve come in handy. Not only would Finn know something was wrong, but Clyde would have difficulty killing me.
Fuck, I was suddenly regretting holding out. Thanks, brain, for having this realisation far too fucking late.
Still, I continued. “Finn won’t like you coming to my home like this.”
“It’s a free country,” Clyde said smoothly. “I can go where I please, thanks to those treaties.”
I’d heard enough about that to argue back. Funny how a few months ago I wouldn’t have said boo to a goose, but here I was, toe to toe with someone trying to break me.
“But you can’t hurt me,” I said forcefully. “Or kidnap me. That would violate the treaty. Finn’s clan would destroy yours.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frightened. I was terrified. More than that though, I was pissed. Pissed that this dude was trying to intimidate me to get to his son. His son who he’d abused . That he was threatening me, knowing it would send Finn into a tailspin.
Anger was better than fear. I grabbed it with both hands and held tight.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” Clyde said, his hand going to my throat and squeezing lightly. My breath tried to come faster, but I willed it to stay steady. “Finn will be so busy negotiating to save your life that he won’t do anything. ”
He pouted mockingly. “You’d think his clan would’ve learned better by now. Danny lost his love because they weren’t mated, and here’s Finn taking the same risk with you.”
Fool. Stupid, stupid fool.
It was one thing for Finn to tell me how dangerous it was to be with a supe while not mated. Experiencing it was a different matter entirely.
“Finn won’t hand Reid over,” I said steadily. “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. They protect the innocent, unlike you.”
“The innocent,” Clyde spat, his eyes narrowing. “You mean the unnatural, because that’s what Reid is. It doesn’t matter anyway. Reid is my property.”
My nostrils flared. “Humans aren’t property.”
Clyde chuckled, his hand tightening. “That’s where you’re wrong, Chester. You’re as much Finn’s property as Reid is mine. And we’re about to learn what he’s willing to pay to get you back.”
“I’m not going to pay anything.” I almost fainted at the sound of Finn’s voice. He was behind me, coming from the woods. “Because yer going to let Chester go right now.”
Clyde spun me, keeping his hand on my throat. In this position, I was facing Finn. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, his bones cracking in quick succession. He was completely nude, meaning he’d shifted to run here.
How had he known?
I didn’t give a shit about that right now, I was just fucking grateful he was here.
The murderous ice in his gaze softened as it met mine. “It’s all going to be okay, m’eudail. Keep your eyes on me. ”
Clyde laughed in my ear, sending a chill down my spine. “You might be good, but you’re not that good, Finlay. Take one step towards me and I’ll snap your boy’s neck.”
More cracking came from Finn’s direction, but he didn’t shift. “Clyde, Chester has nothing to do with this. Let him go. This is your final warning.”
Clyde was still laughing. “Who the fuck are ye to be warning me ? I hold all the cards here, Finlay. Today ends the reign of the McCarthy Clan. Finally, it’ll be our time to shine.”
He took a step backwards, dragging me with him. I stumbled over my own feet, my breath rasping through the hold Clyde had on me.
Finn growled, his fists clenching tighter as a muscle jumped in his jaw.
I closed my eyes as fear threatened to overwhelm me. Just then, Finn’s voice barked out. “Eyes on me, m’eudail.” They flew open to see Finn watching me closely. He didn’t look away from me as he addressed Clyde. “I thought you just wanted Reid back.”
“I did,” Clyde said, “but let’s just say I’m an opportunist. Seems you’ll do anything to keep your little human alive. So long as he’s in my custody, I’ll be the one holding your lead. You’re forgetting the power of leverage, Finlay. I’m happy to remind you.”
“The only one who holds my lead is the man you’re currently choking,” Finn growled. “And I’m not the only one forgetting important facts here.”
“Oh?” Clyde dragged me back another step, sarcasm oozing from him. “Do enlighten me.”
Finn bared his teeth. “Wolves hunt in packs.”