Chapter Four Finn
Finn
When he had finally made his way home after his shift last night, all Finn wanted was to climb into a hot shower and have a good cry. Finn wasn’t above a good cry, he just preferred to do it alone. He found it difficult to deal with his feelings while dealing with other’s feelings about his feelings. Yeah, well, it made sense to him. After Austin had left, taking his sweater and not leaving a fairy tale glass slipper (or anything, really) behind, Finn wanted to run into the street and look for him.
Dennie had wisely intercepted him with a gentle reminder of his Oath and a firm, “You’ll be of no good to him if he comes back and you’ve been fired, dumbass.” He was right, of course, and too observant for Finn’s dignity.
So, he’d used his useless alpha strength to rip off the filing cabinet door to get his friend’s bag out and apologized, but he’d get the charting done tomorrow…or was it now today? He just couldn’t face logging Austin’s injuries clinically. Not when he felt overwhelming anger and sadness at every single one. After all, his heart hurt, and there was the pressing matter of that good cry.
The shower did a lot to get the rotten pear scent out of his nose (if not his memory). Grayson’s basil and green tea body wash and Leo’s cinnamon-orange-scented lotion soothed him. These were the scents that made him think of family and love. Now, he wants to climb naked into bed with Jay. The door to Jay’s room is never closed to any of them, not figuratively or literally, and it’s easy for Finn to walk on silent feet to the large king bed in the center of the room.
His pack alpha lies naked on his back, one muscular arm over his head and the other around a curled-up Grayson, whose sleeping nose is pressed into the side of Jay’s neck. Both mates smell like sex and home. It’s all Finn has thought about since he realized their mate had run back into his old life, injured and afraid.
His stomach rolls again, and Finn presses into Jay’s side with a small whimper, inhaling the familiar scents of pine and come. Without his scent blockers, he must smell awful despite the artificial scents from his shower. Finn isn’t surprised to see his mate’s nose twitch or feel his sleepy, sated gaze.
“Hey, baby.” Jay smoothes his hand down Finn’s back and over his ass. “Tough shift?” Finn moans at the caress. He’s not thinking about sex, he just needs the comfort in that touch; feels it in his soul.
The tears start again because this thing with Austin is big. Call a family meeting, all hands on deck BIG, but he cannot find the words to explain how he let their mate run out the door, and his mates probably haven’t been asleep long. He will tell Jay tomorrow and ask for help. Find Austin and still keep his honor intact.
“Yeah. A terrible, no good, very bad day. Can I tell you tomorrow?” he whispers, pressing a kiss into the broad chest under his head.
“Of course. Do you need anything?” He gently pulls Grayson’s arm across his chest so that his hand is also on Finn. It works to soothe Finn even more. A press of lips to Finn’s hair, and he slips further toward the exhausted oblivion of sleep. His alpha has him now. Nothing to do but rest.
“Just this right now. Just you and Grayson.”
“All right. Sleep now. It’ll be better in the morning. Love you, baby.” Jay holds him tighter, and Finn breathes in again, the scent of pine and Grayson’s fresh basil scent mixing with his own.
“Love you too.” And with that, he sinks under.
***
Jay’s bed shifts and wiggles. Finn’s bed-mates had left before the sun rose for meetings, leaving him to go back to sleep alone with a persistent discomfort thumping near the base of his skull. The delicious scent of mocha soothes it a bit and if he had to choose his favorite scent of all his mates, Luca Wilde’s would be it.
Finn’s nose is filled with rich mocha flavor, and he swears that when he scents Luca, he can taste it in the back of his throat. Arguably, tasting Luca is also high on his list of favorite things. The expensive coffee maker in their gourmet kitchen attests to the fact that Finn is a coffee fanatic.
But Luca Wilde being awake at six in the morning means only one thing: he’d been up all night in their home studio, hopped up on caffeine and music.
“Finn. Finn. Finn. Finnieeee! Wake up. Isn’t today your partial shift?” Finn, lying on his front, cracks his eye open to see Luca’s big, chocolaty brown eyes up close. His curly brown hair is glorious, and his heart-shaped smile is turned into a sneaky smirk.
Climbing onto Finn’s back, Luca kisses down his spine, nipping and licking, making Finn shiver and wish he had an extra hour to thank his beta for keeping him on schedule. Maybe they could put Luca’s extra energy to a good purpose if Gideon had given permission. When Finn finally looks like he’s awake, Luca smacks his ass hard and rolls off him, scrambling out the door and cackling like a maniac.
“Luca Wilde! Get back here! You’re going to be sorry.” His mate’s plump bare ass, barely covered by a t-shirt, jiggles out the door at top speed, and Finn has to smile when he hears something about not threatening him with a good time. He wonders if there’s food left or just coffee, and follows his bratty mate into the hall and down the stairs after pulling a patented Jay-style black t-shirt over his nakedness. He preens a bit at Grayson and Rowan’s catcalls when he gets within sight of the breakfast bar.
It takes mere seconds for Rowan to get up from the bar with an obvious glint in his eye, teeth sunk into his bottom lip. The young alpha’s aroused spicy rum scent would normally have Finn meeting him halfway and then ending up on the couch for a quick and dirty something-something. Finn is a huge fan of Quick and Dirty with Rowan Foster.
Rowan hasn’t been presented for long, and already he’s struggling with the volatile nature of his sex drive. The endocrinology experts attribute it to him being an enigma alpha—a rare subset of alphas who are not only more instinct-driven but more everything: more intense, more impulsive, more primal. But then again, so are Jay and Grayson, though they seem to handle it with a touch more finesse.
The three enigmas often send each other and their mates into a hormone-fueled sexual feedback loop. Even now, it often fell to Finn or Leo to open the windows and put grumpy enigma alphas with blue balls into a cold shower, or they’d undoubtedly be relegated to a life of poverty.
Hand up in the classic “stop” pose, Finn speaks firmly. “No, Ro. If you get any closer, I will be late.” Rowan looks like he’s weighing the odds that he could convince Finn, regardless of a short-staffed hospital shift.
It is the sudden thought about the hospital that brings the previous day crashing down, and suddenly, the crushing pain in Finn’s head surges. “Fuck,” he says, staggering and falling forward. Nausea and remembered grief combine to make his vision black around the edges.
Intercepting him just as he hits the tile floor, Rowan mutters, “Finn, fuck. Did I make you weak in the knees?” He’s genuinely worried, but Finn is not the only one who is uncomfortable with big emotions. Finn curls into Rowan, breathing in spiced rum-scented comfort while Luca hurriedly hands him some water.
“Gideon texted that you didn’t eat your lunch or dinner yesterday. Eat this, please.” Grayson gives him a protein bar usually reserved for emergency nutrition during their ruts. Five alphas on a rolling schedule of bi-annual ruts meant the pantry was always full of emergency snacks. Grayson is stunning in the early morning light, his long black hair pulled half up off his face and his blue eyes electric with concern.
“Was he pissed?” Finn asks, taking a huge gulp of water and chewing three-quarters of the bar in one bite. He realizes he is ravenous. And cold…and hey …was that a hand on his dick? “Rowan!”
“What do you expect?! It’s so pretty,” the big alpha whines, giving it a slow pump, “and it’s right there, and I’m trying to cheer you up. Yours is totally my favorite one, too.” He turns his doe-eyed smile up to level five to show his dimples (He uses those dimples and freckles to his advantage whenever he can), It also makes him a huge fan favorite, with odes to the Long Road Home’s drummer all over every social media platform.
“Not ten minutes ago, you told me that mine was your favorite.” Grayson rolls his eyes. “To be fair, it was in his mouth at the time,” he says to Finn with a smirk.
He loves his mates, and they are just trying to help. No doubt, Jay told some or all of them that he’d had a hard day at the hospital, and they knew him well enough that he would talk about it when he was ready. Well, he’s decided he isn’t ready to talk about it yet.
Somehow, in the dead of sleep, his subconscious mind had decided that he would do what he needed to do to save Austin, even if Austin himself wasn’t on board. Keeping quiet about it hadn’t been about the fact that he wasn’t proud of what he was going to have to do to get the information, or that he hadn’t done it last night. Not at all. It was about making sure he honored Austin’s choices, and Finn had to find him first to make sure he knew he had some. It would mean losing everything he’d worked for, but Austin was worth it, no matter the consequences.
He reluctantly removes Rowan’s large hand from his very disappointed erection, giving it a last squeeze. Finn had a human to find. Then he would tell his mates.
“I’ve got to go to work, but I look forward to you showing me exactly how it’s your favorite later.” Kissing the sad-faced alpha, he gets yet another slap to his ass for his trouble and heads to his room to dress for his short shift. Well, short by hospital standards and based on the rotation, he will probably have to face Dennie again. Outsmart him, too, if he has plans to access the administrative system to find Austin.
He acknowledges to himself again that it will mean losing his job. The Oath spell would no doubt trigger at his less-than-honorable intentions, even if it was for good reasons. If Finn thinks too hard about it, he might remember the intensive eight years of accelerated learning he completed to do a job he had dreamed of since he was a child. Oops, there he goes, thinking about it. And you know what? It doesn’t matter; he is still willing to risk it all for his mate.
Dressed in another soft sweater gifted from Rowan, this time in bright green for courage, Finn heads to the kitchen to grab his lunch from the fridge to see Grayson sitting at the table with his green tea, eyes on Luca sitting in Rowan’s lap on the couch, large hands gripping Luca’s amazing ass. Rowan is a giant of a man with broad shoulders and thick thighs, and by comparison, Luca is tiny, barely five-foot-six. Together, they are mesmerizing.
Finn looks away so fast he gets a crick in his neck because if he can avoid looking, maybe he can get away without waking up his morning erection again. Both men are putting on a show, which normally compliments Finn’s penchant for voyeurism, but this will make him late for work for the third time this week. It’s even more of a temptation when he hears Luca squeak as Rowan flips him over, the sound of skin hitting the leather and the slap of skin on skin as Rowan works to get them both off with his usual enthusiasm. Finn hopes Luca has permission from Gideon to come because Rowan looks like a man on a mission.
“Aren’t you going to be late, Finn?” Grayson’s tone is teasing as Finn finds himself standing stock still in the door of the open fridge, pretending to look for his Saturday bento box with the usual sticky note, but is entirely sidetracked by the muffled sounds of a begging Luca.
His imagination can easily fill in the blanks: the beta is on his belly with his ass in the air, Luca’s red mouth is open wide enough to suck on two of his fingers while Rowan holds his hips tilted for the best angle to nail his prostate.
Giving his head a shake, he spots today’s food offering with no note (Gideon must be pissed after all). Shoving it into his bag, he rushes out into the foyer to slide his shoes on. He blows a kiss to Grayson over his shoulder as his gorgeous, stunning mate laughs while the sounds of Rowan and Luca coming together follow him out the door.
The door to their large home on the outskirts of Nashville slams shut behind him. Finn pulls his sweater down to hide his semi with a sigh. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d had to ride the bus with his bag in his lap and a flush on his cheeks. He likes the bus during his short shift days, as the morning drive traffic in Nashville is insane especially since the only driver still home is Rowan, and Finn’s smart enough to know the bus is the safer option. He pulls the side gate closed and walks the fifteen minutes out of their secluded neighborhood to the main thoroughfare. The bus is there just as Finn arrives, and he’s lucky to find a seat.
He sends a text to the group chat to say good morning to Jay and Leo, then goes to his private chat with Gideon. He mentally plans a suitably groveling text as a thank you for today’s meals and an apology for not eating yesterday’s when he sees one already sitting in his inbox.
5:38 AM - from Gideon
Eat today’s food, Puppy, or else. Jay says u had a f’d up day. So ur forgiven.
6:10 AM - from Gideon
Talk to me if u need. Will try not to be a jerk because he says ur really sad
Finn smiles at his phone, unconcerned that he probably looks like a lovesick fool. Saturday is market day for the chef, and he left before 5:30 am to get the best produce and fish for the week. His restaurant, Quest, has been booked out every night for the last three years, and Finn is so proud of his mate. His uncharacteristically sweet words make his heart turn over.
7:45 AM from Finn
Yesterday was awful but also a bit good? more to share tonight
7:46 AM from Finn
Love you.
He could have guessed that it was going to ring as soon as he sent the text. He is still on the bus, so he doesn’t answer. The obsessively protective Gideon has—correctly—read more into his words. Finn and Gideon love each other intensely, but they rarely say the words. They were two of a kind in that they showed those they loved that they cared for them in a myriad of ways and saved the words for big moments. But this is a big moment for Finn, even if the other didn’t know it.
7:47 AM – from Gideon
Are you ok? Dying? Kidnapped? Answer your phone
7:47 AM – incoming call from Gideon
7:48 AM – incoming call from Gideon
7:49 AM – from Gideon
If you don’t answer me I’m going to show up in the ER smelling like fish and I will be bringing the big knives. Leaving Quest in 30 seconds…
7:50 AM - from Finn
I’m ok. Not dying. Just missed you and yesterday was shit. Call off the sharp claws, kitty-cat .
7:51 AM - from Gideon
…
…
Ok. See you this afternoon. Prepare yourself
…
Love you too.
The words give him the strength to do what he needs to do today. If Finn was worried about how breaking his oath might make Jay and Leo look at him with disappointment, he knows that Gideon would have no regrets. The bus slows to a stop in front of the hospital exactly on time. Dennie waves from his post at the triage station in an empty waiting room, offering an iced white mocha latte from the cafe around the corner.
Pasting a smile on his face and a scent patch on his neck, he jokes, “Thank you, and I didn’t even need to break out the puppy dog eyes!” Nodding in thanks, he drinks deeply. The hit of caffeine is just what he needs since he had to leave his coffee machine and his mocha-scented mate at home. It helps him get his head around how he was going to handle his illegal breach of privacy.
“You’re welcome. Figured you could use it after last night. You left here looking like a kicked puppy.” The nurse shuffles after him to the command center, slipping in behind the desktop and spinning the chair around and around. “No word on our runaway last night, but Dr. K. wants to know if you still want to talk. He was just here but had to consult. He said he’ll be back in fifteen.”
A crumb of doubt wedges itself into his conscience. Riordan Kennedy is his mentor. The chief of surgery is also a close friend of Jay’s, and the Kennedy pack are frequent visitors at the Rhodes compound for celebrations and social visits. Stealing information from the hospital about Austin was one thing, but breaking his commitment to his mentor and friend would have far-reaching implications. “Sounds good. Tell him I’ll be in the staff room. And let’s hope today goes smoother than yesterday,” he says with what he hopes is a sincere smile.
“Go, Team!” Dennie throws his arms up and shakes invisible pom-poms.
In the staff room, he sits heavily and absently sips his coffee, the flavor making him think of Luca, as it always did. Finn takes strength in knowing that, like Gideon, Luca would want him to do whatever it took to save Austin.
With that in mind, Finn peeks out through the glass door of the staff lounge. Off to his right, he glimpses Dennie practicing a TikTok dance in the empty waiting room. With not one ounce of hesitancy, mind firmly made up, Finn sits at the deserted nurse’s station and wakes the administrative computer up with a flick of the mouse.
This was the moment. Stomach churning and sweat gathering under his green sweater, he pauses; if he types Austin Rena into the Tennessee Health System database intending to access his personal information, the magic will activate, and security will descend in under six minutes—probably less.
So, he’ll just have to be fast. There’s only one thing on his mind: Austin, Austin, Austin.
“Finn?” He had been so focused on his discomfort that Finn had lost track of the possibility that his co-workers were frequently in and out of the ER, even on its slowest days. He would make a terrible spy, dammit.
The eyes of his mentor are on the computer in front of him. There is no way to confuse the admin system with anything other than what it was, and only admin staff should access it at any given time. Even charting is done on tablets found at the other end of the station.
“Finn. Please tell me you’re not doing what I think you are doing,” Riordan says pleadingly, a look of confusion on his face. The beginnings of anger are clear in his expression. There is no fooling his superior. Dennie must have said something about how weird Finn had been last night, and Riordan is the farthest thing from a fool. While Finn hadn’t typed Austin’s name yet, there was no way it didn’t look like exactly what it was. At a complete loss for words, he remained seated in the chair, unable to meet the fellow alpha’s eyes.
“Fuck. Finn, you could lose your job. What could be worth that?” Riordan is genuinely perplexed. “Nothing could be worth losing everything you’ve worked so hard for. Tell me this isn’t what it looks like, and I’ll believe you.” He takes a seat on the desk, waiting for Finn to lie.
Finn’s stomach lurches with shame. “Dan, I’m sorry. It is exactly —”
The code siren interrupts, and both his and Riordan’s eyes fly to the waiting room. Code sirens mean “patient in acute crisis.” Finn puts one hand on the counter, vaults over it, and hits the floor running, assessing the situation on the other side of the doors in a single glance. A stocky older man wearing a transit uniform is carrying a naked person covered in far too much blood, with even more flowing onto the floor. Dennie is taking a pulse and pushing through the doors before he and Riordan can reach them, leading the man into the med-bay.
Finn comes to a dead stop so quickly his mentor slams into his back, almost taking them both to the ground. The scent is one he knows, but this time, the rotted pear is almost eclipsed by the smell of blood and waste. Vomit and urine and death. Death . Austin. His mate is dead. A sudden loud wailing fills the med-bay until a hard slap across his face makes it stop suddenly.
“Finn, get out of the way!” Dennie shakes his hand out.
Riordan is already pulling the med cart toward him, pulling on gloves. “Put him here, sir, and back up. Dennie, leave Finn for a minute. I need you to call for backup if he’s unable to assist. Finn!” Riordan is a force to be reckoned with. “He’s not dead, you idiot. Stop saying that and get in the game.”
Not dead. Oh, Goddess. Finn moves toward his unconscious mate, grabbing his hand instead of doing anything useful. The one with the two broken fingers. He’s breathing so quickly that there are black spots in his vision. There’s so much blood that Finn can’t tell where it’s coming from, and the boy who smiled and joked and smelled like forever is no longer visible under it all. Seconds later, Riordan is doing chest compressions when the rest of the trauma team arrives at a run.
“His name is Austin Rena, and he is my mate,” He blurts out, holding back the urge to scream.
“What?! But he’s human. Shit. Does he know he’s your mate? No?” at the shake of Finn’s head.
“Well, that explains a lot,” Dennie mutters and hip-checks Finn out of the way so he can put in the IV like the professional he is.
Finn gently places Austin’s hand in Dennie’s and steps back. “Be careful. His fingers are broken.” Dennie looks at him with pity and straightens the hand gently. A small rectangular piece of paper falls to the floor. Clearly, Austin values whatever it is since no matter his state, he has refused to let go.
“We’re going to need a surgical bay and find out who is his next-of-kin,” Riordan tells the nurse standing by.
“Wait!” Dennie says, turning and handing what appears to be a small photo to the doctor. Riordan takes it, and his eyes blow open wide as he glances down at it.
“Holy fuck. This changes things. Shannon, get that surgery prepped, and Finn? You better call your alpha.” He holds out the photo to Finn with a bloody glove. Pulling them off, he shouts, “Patient on the move. Let’s go! And Finn? I’m going to do the best I can, okay? Trust me.” And he’s gone, taking his badly-broken mate with him.
Suddenly, the chaotic med-bay is empty; the silence is like a vacuum that sucks away his ability to stand. His legs give way underneath him, and he finally looks at what has fallen from Austin’s hand. There’s blood on it, but it doesn’t stop him from seeing the much younger faces of Austin and his very own pack alpha smiling out from the picture. With a shaking hand, he turns it over where the words Nix and Jamie are written in red on the reverse side.