13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Amelia
T he helicopter's blades drummed a restless beat, mirroring the storm in my mind. The silence between us was suffocating. Finally, I broke it.
“Finn,” I said softly, my voice barely audible over the noise of the helicopter. “Do you think we’re safe? I mean, really safe?”
He turned to me, his sharp features softening slightly.
“As safe as we can be,” he replied, his voice steady. “This place is off the grid. No one knows about it. You’ll be protected here.”
I nodded, but my hands still fidgeted in my lap.
“It’s just… everything’s happening so fast. Orson, Alma, all of it. I feel like I’m losing control.”
Finn reached over, his hand covering mine. His touch was warm, grounding.
“I know it’s a lot,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “But you’re not alone in this, Amelia. I’m here. And I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
I looked down at our hands, his larger one enveloping mine, and felt a lump rise in my throat.
“Finn, I… I don’t even know who I am anymore. If I’m really Alma’s reincarnation, what does that mean for me? For us?”
His grip tightened slightly; his gaze unwavering.
“It doesn’t change who you are,” he said firmly. “You’re Amelia. Strong, kind, brave. Alma may be a part of your past, but she doesn’t define you. You’re your own person.”
I met his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, but all I saw was sincerity.
“But what if I’m not?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What if all of this—Orson, the danger, everything—is because of who I was? What if I’m just a pawn in some bigger game?”
Finn’s jaw tightened, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes.
“You’re not a pawn,” he said, his voice sharp with conviction. “And if anyone tries to use you, they’ll have to go through me first. I won’t let anyone hurt you, Amelia.”
His words hit me like a wave, washing away some of the fear that had been gnawing at me. A small, hesitant smile tugged at my lips.
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
He nodded, his expression softening.
“I do,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You’re important to me, Amelia. More than you realize.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I felt a warmth spread through me despite the chaos swirling around us.
“Finn… I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”
He leaned closer, his gaze intense.
“You don’t have to find out,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I’m not going anywhere.”
As the helicopter descended, hope flickered in me for the first time in ages. The villa appeared, sleek and modern, seamlessly woven into the mountains.
“This is… yours?” I asked, my voice filled with awe.
Finn nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Yeah. It’s one of my safe houses.”
I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued.
“A firefighter with a mountain villa? Finn, what aren’t you telling me?”
He hesitated, his gaze flickering away for a moment before meeting mine again.
“There’s a lot I haven’t told you, Amelia,” he admitted. “But I think it’s time you knew everything.”
The helicopter landed, and Finn helped me out, his hand lingering on mine. As we neared the villa, the doors slid open, a soft feminine voice greeting us.
“Welcome home, Finn.”
I froze, my eyes widening.
“Voice automation? Finn, what is this place?”
“It’s my sanctuary. Come on, I’ll show you around,” he chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice.
Inside was stunning, sleek and minimalist, with panoramic mountain views and air scented with pine and earth.
I turned to him, crossing my arms.
“Finn, how does a firefighter afford something like this?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“I’m not just a firefighter, Amelia, my family is one of the oldest and richest werewolf lineages in the world,” he said, his voice steady but laced with tension. “My father was the Alpha of our pack, and when he died, the title passed to me.”
I blinked, trying to process his words.
“Wait, so you’re not just a werewolf… you’re the leader of your pack?”
He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Yes. But I didn’t want that life. I wanted to help people to do something meaningful. That’s why I became a firefighter. It’s my way of giving back, of using my strength to protect others.”
I leaned back, my mind reeling.
“Finn, this is… a lot to take in. You’re telling me you’re not just a werewolf, but an Alpha? And you’ve been hiding this from me?”
He reached for my hand, his touch warm and reassuring.
“I didn’t want to scare you, Amelia. I was afraid that if you knew the truth, you’d see me as a monster. But after everything that’s happened, I realized I can’t keep hiding who I am from you. You deserve to know the truth.”
I looked down at our joined hands, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Finn, I don’t see you as a monster. I never could.”
He squeezed my hand gently.
“I’m not alone anymore,” he said, his voice soft. “Not if you’re by my side.”
I met his gaze, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes.
“Finn, I care about you. More than I probably should.”
He nodded, his expression softening.
“Let me show you to your room. You must be exhausted.”
I followed him down a hall full of artwork to a spacious, elegant room with a king bed and a mountain-view balcony.
“This is incredible,” I said, stepping inside. “Finn, this place… it’s like something out of a dream.”
He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe.
“It’s my escape. My haven. And now, it’s yours too.”
I turned to him, my heart swelling with gratitude.
“Thank you, Finn. For bringing me here.”
He stepped closer, his eyes searching mine.
“You’re worth it, Amelia. You’re worth everything.”
He left before I could respond, the door closing softly. Later in the evening I was exhausted but unable to sleep, I stared at the ceiling.
“I’m slowly losing my mind…” I muttered as I slipped out of bed and left my room.
I found Finn on the balcony, bathed in moonlight. He looked up, his gaze softening as I approached.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, a knowing smile playing at his lips.
I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself.
"Too much on my mind."
He patted the spot beside him.
"Come sit with me. Night’s always been my favorite time to think."
I sat beside him, the cool night air contrasting with his warmth. Silence lingered until Finn suddenly chuckled.
"What?" I asked, tilting my head at him.
He smirked. "I was just thinking about my childhood. My sister and I used to sneak out at night to play hide-and-seek in the woods. We thought we were so clever, but our mom always caught us. She’d pretend to be furious, but I swear I caught her laughing more than once."
I smiled, imagining a younger Finn causing mischief.
"You must’ve been a handful."
"Oh, absolutely," he said with a grin. "Once, I tried to shift for the first time way too young. I ended up stuck halfway between forms for hours. My dad had to carry me back to the house while my sister laughed so hard, she cried."
"That’s adorable," I laughed, picturing it.
He shook his head.
"It was humiliating. But my parents… they were amazing. Strict but fair. They wanted me to be strong, to be a leader, but they never made me feel like I had to be someone I wasn’t." His voice softened, his smile fading slightly. "I miss them."
"They’d be proud of you, Finn," I placed a hand over his, squeezing gently.
Finn's dark, gold-flecked eyes held mine, the night humming with unspoken tension as he leaned in, his breath warm on my skin.
“Amelia,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.
I couldn’t look away, couldn’t breathe. The pull between us was magnetic, drawing me closer to him. His hand brushed against mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity.
“Finn,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He cupped my face gently, his thumb tracing my cheek. His touch was reverent. I leaned in and then my phone rang.
Heart racing, I fumbled. Sienna's name flashed.
“I… I should take this,” I stammered, my cheeks burning.
Finn nodded, his expression unreadable, though I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
“Of course,” he said, his voice steady but quieter now.
I stood quickly, clutching my phone.
“Goodnight, Finn,” I said softly, before hurrying back to my room.
Once inside, I answered the call, my voice still shaky.
“Sienna?”
“Amelia! Are you okay? I’ve been trying to reach you all day!” Sienna’s voice was frantic.
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m… safe. Finn’s with me.”
There was a pause on the other end.
“Finn? What’s going on, Amelia? You’re scaring me. Who tried to kidnap you and why?”
I sank onto the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair.
“It’s a long story, Sienna. I’ll explain everything when I can. But right now, I just need to know you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” she said, her tone softening. “But you sound… off. Are you sure you’re alright?”
I glanced at the door, my mind still replaying the moment on the balcony.
“I’m… figuring things out,” I admitted. “But I’m safe. That’s what matters.”
“Okay. Just… be careful, Amelia. And call me if you need anything,” Sienna sighed.
“I will,” I promised. “Thanks, Sienna.”
As I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if the phone hadn’t rung.
Exhaustion finally began to tug at me, and I closed my eyes, hoping for a few hours of peace.
In my dream, I was standing in a dark, unfamiliar room and I could feel someone watching me. I turned, my heart pounding, and there he was—a man with cold, empty eyes and a cruel smile.
“You can’t escape me, Amelia,” he said, his voice low and menacing.
I tried to run, but my feet were rooted to the ground. He moved closer, his hands reaching for my throat. I struggled, clawing at his arms, but his grip was like iron.
“You’re mine,” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “You’ve always been mine.”
I gasped for air, my vision blurring as his fingers tightened.
“Let go of me!” I screamed as I jolted up from the bed.
The door flew open, and Finn rushed in, his eyes wild with concern.
“Amelia!” he said, crossing the room in two strides. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”