25. Adrian
Chapter Twenty-Five
Adrian
Idon’t move right away. I lie here, one arm tucked behind my head, the other resting loosely against the mattress, letting myself take it all in.
The room is quiet, full, and warm. Finn is sprawled half across the bed like he owns it. Jonas is curled slightly into my side, breathing slow and even. Lachlan, steady as always, has one arm draped loosely around Kaia. And Kaia—she’s curled into Lachlan like she's always belonged there.
The sight should calm me, but it doesn’t. All I can think about is the way she looked in the dining room, shaking, trying to apologize for something that wasn't hers to apologize for.
My jaw tightens.
I feel helpless, and I don't do helpless. I fix things. I try to tell myself she's safe. She's finally safe.
My chest tightens, not in panic or control. But with something quieter. Something that feels dangerously close to relief. I let my eyes close, just for a minute.
I don't remember falling asleep, but when I open my eyes, the light has shifted. The room is softer, quieter. Everyone is still here, still asleep. Except, of course, Finn. Finn is already watching me, grinning. I exhale slowly. "Of course you're not napping."
He whines, "I tried. I really did."
I carefully shift, sliding out from the bed without disturbing Jonas.
Finn mirrors me, silent for once as he follows me out into the hallway.
I don't stop until we reach Finn's room.
I push the door open and sigh. Disaster.
It's a complete, utter disaster. Clothes hanging on the back of the gaming chair.
Towels draped over chairs and lamps. Something that might have been organized once.
But it's also chaos that somehow still feels like home.
Finn leans against the doorframe like this is completely normal.
I shake my head.
"I love you…" he says, trying to calm me down before this mess makes me freak out.
"I know." I turn and close the door behind us.
Finn's expression softens immediately. "Daddy…" he says quietly.
My gaze darkens slightly. "Get on the bed, brat."
Finn blinks, then hesitates. "Wait…" I still, and Finn shifts slightly, softer now, less sharp, less teasing. "Can we just…" he starts, then glances down. "Can we just cuddle and kiss for a minute?"
My expression changes instantly, the edge gone. I replace the sharpness with something gentler. "Yeah," I say. "Of course." A moment passes, then I add, "I'm sorry, Finn."
Finn shakes his head, already moving toward me. "It's okay," he says. "I was a brat earlier. But now I'm just…sleepy and cuddly."
I smile and huff a quiet breath.
I lie on the bed and say, "Come here."
Finn doesn't need to be told twice. He climbs onto the bed and immediately drapes himself over me, like gravity works differently when it comes to him and me.
I adjust instinctively, one arm wrapping around his back, the other resting along his waist.
Finn tilts his head slightly, studying me. He sighs. "I like the silver in your eyes." His voice is soft, like sunlight sinking into warm sand.
I raise an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to say my hair."
Finn smirks. "I was thinking about it."
I shake my head slightly but don't argue.
Finn leans in, closing the space between us. The kiss is slow. Unhurried. Not demanding. I let myself settle into it, letting the usual control slip slightly, just enough to exist in the moment instead of managing it.
I love this version of Finn. The soft, open Finn. Not performing. Just him. Finn shifts after a minute or two, tucking himself against my side, his head resting against my shoulder. "I'm worried about Kaia," he murmurs.
My jaw tightens slightly. "Me too."
"She freaked out over the dining room."
"I saw."
He exhales softly. "Jonas says she's running from her parents. They were going to sell her."
I go very still, then quietly say, "I know." The words come out colder than I intended. More controlled. Something sharp, protective, and final laced through them. "I won't let anyone touch her," I say. "Ever."
Finn doesn't respond right away, just shifts slightly closer.
"I'm probably going to get security," I continue, "Just until we understand the situation."
Finn nods into my chest. "Okay."
My hand moves slowly against his back. Silence settles between us again. Then Finn tilts his head slightly up.
"You need to open up to her, too."
I huff quietly. "Oh, do I?"
Finn lifts his head, grinning slightly. "Yes, Mr. No Emotions."
I narrow my eyes. "Oh, you little…"
Finn laughs softly, pressing closer again. "I'm serious," he says. "She's scared of Alphas. You don't get to just be the scary one forever."
I lean in slightly, my voice dropping an octave. "Careful."
Finn grins. "Or what?"
There it is, the shift. My hand slides to his jaw, tilting his head just enough to hold his gaze. "Or I'll remind you why you like that I'm the scary one."
Finn's breath catches, but he doesn't pull back. He never does. Instead, he leans into it. "You love it," he whispers.
My grip tightens just enough. "Don't push me."
Finn smiles, soft and dangerous. "I always push." There's a pause, then he shifts closer again, pressing into me, voice dropping just enough. "I'm still a brat," he murmurs. "Just a sleepy one."
I let my hand settle at the back of his neck again, steady, grounding, familiar.
I close my eyes and allow the moment to stretch just a little longer.
I let myself exist in this moment, because the rest of the world will come back soon.
And I'll need to be in control again. I'll need to figure out how to be something Kaia won't fear.
But for now, Finn is warm against me, and that's enough.