Chapter 40
forty
I’m not sure whether it’s the fact that he made my omega giggle for the better part of the night or the two glasses of wine I choked down with dinner… but climbing the manor’s back staircase next to Finn actually doesn’t make me want to kill anyone.
That probably has less to do with my packmate and more to do with the small body tucked into my arms. Not to mention the golden waterfall cascading over my elbow.
Violet’s head lolls against my chest as we reach her door. Finn gazes down at her slack features, then sighs, waving magnanimously toward her bedroom. “She’s still more comfortable around you,” he mutters. “You should sleep with her.”
Right. Fuck. He doesn’t know I can’t sleep with her. In the literal or figurative sense. Each time I try, I wake up to nightmares, or swerve right toward a rut.
I grit my teeth and shake my head. Finn’s blue-green eyes follow the solemn motion. His brows crease. “Uh… why the fuck not?”
This asshole. A low growl crouches in my lungs. His gaze narrows. “You don’t want to?”
I shake my head again, firmer. Some of his dismay melts away. “You can’t for some reason?” he guesses.
At my nod, he glances into Violet’s dim room. Maximus is already there, curled up beside her footboard while Pascal dozes on her pillow. Understanding gilds Finn’s features. “That’s why you send the dog,” he realizes. “And why you got her a kitten to snuggle with.”
I feel like a jackass, but I bob my head again, admitting to all of it. His expression morphs into a glower. “You know that damn cat replaced me, right?”
I shrug. That was just a happy accident.
Finn huffs a conciliatory chuckle. “Dick,” he accuses without heat. Then makes that stupid, suspicious face again. “Wait, does this have anything to do with why you didn’t totally tap in during her heat-spike? And why you guys haven’t—uh…?”
Fuck me.
Of course he can tell. They all can, probably.
Finn holds up his hands, palms out. “I’m not trying to call you out, big guy. I just notice when our scents are on her. And when they’re, um, not.”
It’s a good thing I’m holding Violet, honestly. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to give this bastard two black eyes to go with his swollen nose. Finn doesn’t take stock of my murderous glare, this time, though. He’s too busy gazing at Violet, considering.
“You know,” he starts, “if all of this works out for the best… you and I will still be packmates. And we’ll be her only alphas.”
It’s my turn to look suspicious. He clears his throat, dropping his focus to our feet.
Mumbling, “I’m just saying. I can help. I mean—I want to help, if you need that.
” He suddenly lifts his chin, pinning me with a steady stare.
“Because I can’t do this shit alone, Ry.
And our girl deserves men who know what the fuck they’re doing. ”
He’s right. As much as I hate to admit it, my Alpha gets worse every day. I could never stay away from Violet or reject her… but I also won’t be able to live with myself if I snap into a rut and hurt her.
I look to the monster prowling inside of me, knowing he’s as desperate to have Violet as I am. I nudge him toward Finn, asking whether he has a better idea than trusting this guy. I get my answer when the collar around my throat loosens ever so slightly.
Just enough for me to reply.
“Fine.”