11. Finley
Finley
Stepping back into Zander’s home brought me a sense of peace, one I didn’t know I’d ever really had before. Having all their scents filtering around the space, knowing I had my things here and even a room to call my own, made me realize this was my home to me now.
Sitting at the kitchen island, I watched Zander as he pulled things out of the refrigerator to make something to eat.
On the way here, my stomach had grumbled again in the car.
Both he and Mason were obsessed with me eating enough and making sure I was healthy.
It wasn’t like I’d spent the last thirty years taking care of myself, but I was learning it was nice to have them taking care of me.
“Is there a place that I might clean up and get a change of clothes?” Rath asked, standing in the kitchen, taking in the house.
Slipping off the chair, I grabbed his hand and looked at the others. “I’m gonna do the same thing so I can take him up. Are any of the rooms on the second floor still open?”
Right before all this went down, we had just decided to have everyone move into this house, but I didn’t know if that actually happened.
“The first three have been claimed by us betas, but the other two are open so Rath can take his pick,” Noah informed me.
My gaze instinctively went to Zander since it was his house and I didn’t want to assume the rest of us had the right to dictate that kind of thing.
Meeting my gaze, Zander handed his wooden spoon over to Mason, who took over the cooking and stalked over to me.
Gripping my jaw with his fingers, Zander forced me to look up at him. “What did I tell you about this house?”
“That it’s my house too,” I whispered, my wolf cringing that we had displeased him by not trusting what he told us.
“Correct, and what is Rath to you?” Zander pressed.
My eyes flicked in Rath’s direction and I licked my lips before returning to Zander’s gray gaze. “He’s one of my mates.”
“Good girl, now doesn’t that make you think he would have a place in your house? He can pick any room he likes as long as it isn’t my bed or your nest because that space is for you alone,” Zander stated, his tone brokering no argument.
“There aren’t enough rooms, though,” I murmured. “We are one room short.”
“Mason and I can share a room. We’ve done it most of our lives, so it doesn’t bother us,” Noah answered, solving the problem.
“One of the rooms we picked is larger than the other so we can make it work, but that isn’t something you need to worry about.
As your mates, your pack, and nos, we will always make sure that what’s yours is looked after, including your mates. ”
“You were absolutely born to be her Companion. You come to it naturally and do it well,” Rath praised Noah. “Thank you for making me feel welcome in your home and pack. I know it’s hard when this is not how things normally work for your kind.”
Zander met Rath’s gaze. “No matter what, Finley’s care comes first, how ever that presents itself.
” Looking back down at me, he pressed a kiss to my lips and released me.
“Now go show him to the rooms he can pick from and get yourself cleaned up. I’ll have food ready for you when you come back down. ”
I gave him a soft smile as I twined my fingers with Rath’s and led him up the stairs, still trying to figure out how the hell I ended up with this life.
Everything in the house looked just as I’d left it.
I know it was only three days ago, but it felt like so much had happened since then.
I paused at the two doors across from each other and closest to my nest.
“All of them have attached bathrooms, so no one has to share. Zander’s room is up one more level.
I’ll grab some clothes since I think he is the one closest to your height.
That’s where they have me staying, but this room is my nest if you ever can’t find me in the house.
” I shared, pointing to the door at the end of the hall.
Rath pulled me close and kissed my forehead. “Thank you, nin mel, now go do as your alpha asked. I’ll be fine to figure out the rest on my own. There is no need to worry over me. The others are taking this well and I’m not unable to handle things myself.”
I knew that in my brain, but my heart was already so protective over him, I didn’t know what to do.
Rath seemed to understand my trouble and picked me up so my legs wrapped around his hips.
Then he walked into the room on the right.
It was simple with a queen bed, dresser, nightstand, and a comfy chair.
The view out the window was of the forest, but I felt like no matter what window you looked out, it had a great view.
The colors of the room were soft tans and creams, making it very calming.
Peeking into the bathroom, it was the standard shower, sink, and toilet combo.
He continued to carry me into the room across the hall, and this one was a mirror replica of the other, but the colors were soft sage greens that reminded me of a darker version of his eyes.
“I think I will settle in here just fine. It is peaceful and green is one of my favorite colors,” Rath mused to himself, kissing me on the cheek. “Now, shall we go up and shower?”
Blinking at him in surprise, I tilted my head, trying to figure out what he was thinking. “Do you not like the bathrooms down here?”
“They are fine, nin mel, but you will not relax unless I’m with you.
Elven females are some of the most territorial women out there.
Right now, you don’t completely trust your other mates to look out for me, so you are being driven to keep an eye on me.
I have to admit it’s incredibly flattering to have you act this way, even in your own home.
So to make things easier on both of us, I figured we could just clean up together,” he explained, smiling at me.
Unsure how I felt about what he was saying, I just nodded my agreement, and we headed up to the space I shared with Zander. Once on the top floor, Rath set me down on my feet, and I lead us straight for the bathroom.
“For a man who wasn’t planning on sharing his mate, he sure has a big enough bed for group activities,” Rath commented with a chuckle.
“It’s come in handy. When I first shifted, my heat came quickly after, so at one point, all of us were in that bed… until the betas got kicked out of it,” I said, remembering how crazy all of that had been.
I flipped on the shower, turning on all the different heads, so neither of us would be cold as we washed up. It was one reason I’d never been a fan of shower sex. Someone was always left in the cold. Zander had found the solution to it, even if that wasn’t the intent when he had it built.
Peeling out of my clothes, I stepped under the steaming water and hummed at the feeling of finally cleaning up after all we’d been through.
A body stepped up behind me, settling his hands on my hips as I leaned back into him.
He kissed down my neck opposite of Colt’s mark while brushing his hands upwards until he cupped my breasts in his hands, thumbs caressing my nipples that were begging for the attention.
My body didn’t care that we’d just had sex a few hours ago.
It begged to be touched as if I was starved.
“So beautiful,” Rath murmured in my ear. “The fates blessed me when they gave me you to treasure, my love.”
His lips journeyed from my ear down my neck, licking the water off the hollow of my collar bone. My skin burned where he touched it, leaving me completely aware of everything he was doing. I rubbed my ass against his erection, nestled between my cheeks, begging for attention.
“Trust me, nin mel I want nothing more than to pin you against the wall of the shower and show you just how much I yearn to know what your body feels like. But I think it’s best if we get you cleaned up first. You’re tired, even if you aren’t letting yourself feel it yet.
You didn’t get much sleep the other night.
Then there is the massive amount of power you used that would have knocked anyone out for a day at least. Let me treasure you for now.
We have all the time in the world to explore each other. ”
I couldn’t help but whimper in my disappointment, hearing he didn’t want me. My wolf was disheartened and my magic rebelled at the idea our mate would reject our advances.
Were we not good enough for him?
Did he desire another?
That thought made me growl in anger. Stepping away from him, I let out a whine.
“Maybe you should shower on your own then, since we have all the time in the world,” I tossed back at him, grabbing the shampoo Zander had bought for me.
Rath sucked in a breath, telling me he figured out I was upset with him. “Nin mel…”
I sidestepped him as he reached for me. “No, you made it clear that my advances at the moment aren’t welcome.”
“That is not what I meant at all. We are new to each other and I didn’t want you to feel forced to be intimate with me if you weren’t ready.
Our bond wants us to finish the process.
We’ve bound our souls together but not our bodies, so it’s tricking your body into thinking that’s what needs to happen.
I don’t want what happened when you went into heat to happen between us as well,” Rath reasoned.
Glaring at him, I shook my head. “You don’t get it.
They gave me the option to have them leave or have the betas take care of me because it would be easier for them not to mark me.
I wanted them. Deep down in my soul, I knew they were mine, and I was theirs.
Was it the most romantic situation or something I expected?
No, do I regret it? Fuck no, they are my mates and so are the others.
They trusted me to know what the right call was, Lane was like you, feeling as if he was taking advantage of me, but if you believe that the fates brought us together, then there shouldn’t be any doubt from you in regards to me. ”