Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Finn
I know Coyote Glen is a small town, but damn, it feels even smaller when you’re trying to avoid running into people.
It’s been a couple of days since Aurora and I spent that evening together. She’s still got that pull on me, the way she laughs as if she doesn’t need anything from anyone, but at the same time, I can feel she’s been holding it together, waiting for the right moment to crack.
And I’ve been making myself available, too available, just to watch her unravel, bit by bit.
Not in a creepy way, okay?
More… I’m trying to get a look at the real person underneath. The one who’s not always putting up walls or running from things she’s not ready to face.
I’d been distracted by the idea of her ever since our ride—the way the wind kicked up her hair and the laughter felt so easy.
But tonight, I find myself making my way to her cabin, not because I want another excuse to flirt or distract her, but because there’s something about her that feels unfinished.
I’m not used to feeling I’m needed, but with Aurora? It’s different. She doesn’t look at me as if I’m just here for fun. She actually sees me. The thing is, I’m not sure if I’m even ready for what that means. But that doesn’t mean I won’t show up to see if I can figure it out.
I roll my bike up the dirt path, the engine purring underneath me until I stop it near her car. The gravel crunches beneath my boots as I approach her place, and right away, everything feels off.
Tire tracks.
Odd-looking tire tracks.
They’re fresh, making a noticeable path down the driveway. They’ve disturbed the gravel just enough that it catches my attention. And I know that this is where the paranoia kicks in. It’s a small town, and maybe people come and go without anyone noticing, but I notice. I always notice.
I check the front door. Locked, as expected. But then I notice the window latch. It’s off. Though I know it’s easy to dismiss as nothing, I’m not about to ignore it. The latch should have been secure, but it seems as if someone’s been tampering with it.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle, and I let my instincts take over.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, moving quickly toward the window, checking the frame, pushing the latch back into place with a little more force than I need to.
I get that it’s easy to dismiss the little signs. It’s easy to brush things off when you’re convinced you’re just being paranoid. But paranoia’s saved my ass more times than I care to admit. I can’t let my guard down.
Not after the life I’ve lived.
I shake my head, taking a deep breath before I knock softly on the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
It’s only a second before I hear her footsteps. My stomach tightens, but I push the feeling aside.
The door creaks open just a little.
Aurora stands there, looking a little flustered. Her expression is guarded, eyes flicking over me with a subtle wariness, like she’s trying to figure out my angle. I can see her glance down the driveway, probably noticing the tire tracks I just saw, but she doesn’t mention them.
“Finn,” she says. “What are you doing here?”
I smile, trying to deflect the unease in her voice, but I catch the flicker of hesitation in her gaze. She’s not letting her guard down easily. And why should she? I’ve only known her for a few days. She has no reason to trust me yet.
“I just came to make sure you weren’t being haunted by some mysterious stranger, or, you know, to check if you’ve been eaten by any wild animals out here in the woods,” I joke, but I’m still watching her closely, seeing the way she doesn’t completely buy it.
The look in her eyes is a mix of curiosity and caution, and I wonder if she’s already second-guessing the trust she’s willing to put in me.
I frown a little. “Also, the window latch is a little off. Just be careful, alright?"
She nods. “Right… so, what really brings you to my humble abode?” she asks, stepping back to let me in.
I follow her inside, but I can’t stop my eyes from scanning the room. Her cabin’s cozy, warm even, but I still can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. I don’t know what yet, but I feel it in my bones.
She catches my eye as I glance around.
“Everything okay?” she asks, leaning against the counter, trying to act casual, but I can see the way her hands twitch a little.
She’s picking up on it too.
“Yeah,” I say slowly, pushing a little bit further into the room. I wait for a beat before I speak again. “You sure everything’s okay here?”
Her smile falters just a fraction, but she doesn’t give in.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she asks, with a slight edge in her voice that wasn’t there before. “I’m just getting settled. Nothing to worry about.”
I let the silence hang, my eyes flickering back to the window. It’s a quiet night, but I can’t shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Something’s not right. Someone’s been here.
“Yeah,” I say, my tone softening, though I can’t fully convince myself. “Just making sure.”
She nods, that light flickering behind her eyes, trying to keep it together. “I’m good.”
I don’t push it. There’s a part of me that wants to tell her she doesn’t have to handle everything on her own. That she doesn’t need to cover it up, that it’s okay to need help.
But I know she won’t let me.
She’s too proud.
“Something’s off,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “You sure no one’s been around here? There are some weird tire tracks outside.”
Aurora frowns but tries to shake it off. “I told you, I’m. fine. Couldn’t that be someone just passing by?”
I don’t believe it. Not for a second. I’ve been around enough to know when something’s wrong, even if it’s subtle. I move toward the window, checking the latch again with more force than necessary.
“There’s something about this place…” I mutter, more to myself than to her. I’ve got a gut feeling that’s gnawing at me, and I’m not about to ignore it.
Aurora watches me for a beat before her eyes flicker to the driveway. She looks back at me, finally speaking up.
“I… I thought I was just being paranoid,” she admits, almost to herself. “I thought it was nothing, but I saw a truck idling out there for a while the other night. It’s probably not anything, Finn. I’m just… thinking too much.”
My eyes narrow. “A truck?”
I take another step closer, the hair on the back of my neck standing up. I can’t shake the feeling that this is more than just a coincidence.
“How long was it idling?”
Aurora shrugs, as if she’s brushing it off. “Not long. Maybe a few minutes. But you know how it is around here. Small town. Maybe someone was lost or just passing through. It’s fine.”
I stare at her, watching her try to downplay it, but something inside me tells me it’s not fine. My instincts scream that I’m not being paranoid. I’ve been around long enough to know that when your gut tells you the atmosphere is off, you don’t ignore it.
I pull my phone from my pocket and hit Ryder’s number, stepping into the other room to make the call. I can’t put this off. This isn’t a feeling I’m willing to dismiss.
The phone rings a few times before Ryder picks up.
“Yeah?” His voice is gruff. I guess he’s already pissed about something. That’s Ryder for you… always a bit on edge, but with good reason.
“Ryder,” I say quickly, not wasting time. “Something’s off. I’m at Aurora’s cabin, and there’s… well, there’s signs. Tire tracks, the window latch… I don’t like it. I think someone’s been here.”
There’s a long pause on the other end. I can hear him sigh, the sound low and annoyed.
“Shit,” he mutters under his breath. “Are you saying what I think you are? You’re sure?”
“Yeah. And there’s more,” I add. “She mentioned seeing a truck idling outside. I don’t know, man, but it’s too much to ignore. Especially with… everything that’s been going on.”
Ryder curses again. “Fucking hell. I’ll come over. Send me a pin of where you are.”
I hang up the phone and turn to face Aurora. She’s standing by the window now, her arms crossed, her face pinched with frustration. I can tell she’s trying to keep her cool, but she’s worried.
“So, who was that?” she asks tightly, her eyes searching mine. “Who did you just call?”
I can see the way her shoulders stiffen, the way she’s bracing herself. She doesn’t want this. She doesn’t enjoy the feeling of being watched or taken care of. But I’m not about to sugarcoat it. She needs to hear this. She needs to understand.
“His name’s Ryder,” I tell her. “He owns The Hollow with Zane and me. He’s not the kind of guy you want to mess with, but he’s the kind of guy you want watching your back. He’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Aurora’s expression falters, looking uncomfortable with the idea of someone else stepping in. She looks away, her gaze shifting to the window again, hoping I’ll just let it go.
“I don’t need… all of this,” she insists. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can,” I say, my eyes locked on hers. “But this isn’t about what you want, Aurora. This is about what you need right now.”
“Do you really think it’s that dangerous? Here? Come on, it’s just tire tracks.”
Oh, she has no idea. She doesn’t know anything about our lives. But how do I tell her it might not be the town that’s problematic—but me?
“Let Ryder help. He’s good at this. Me too.”
Her eyes flicker with frustration. “I can’t just let everyone take over.”
I barely get a chance to form a witty reply when I hear the crunch of gravel outside. I don’t even have to check to know it’s Ryder. He doesn’t take his time when there’s a problem, and right now, he might have a big one on his hands.
Ryder doesn’t bother knocking. He walks right in, striding confidently. No hesitation, no politeness. His boots thud against the floor as he sweeps his gaze across the room.
“Ryder Callahan,” he says firmly. “Finn, what’s going on here?”
I can see the flicker of surprise in Aurora’s eyes. She clearly wasn’t expecting this. He doesn’t waste time with pleasantries or asking permission.
I don’t blame her. I’ve seen Ryder do this a thousand times, but to someone who doesn’t know him, it must come across as pretty damn rude.
I meet Aurora’s eyes, offering a half-hearted shrug.
"That's Ryder,” I explain quickly, trying to ease the tension a little. “He’s… uh, protective of people he cares about. Doesn't waste time asking questions, just makes decisions. We should listen to him.”
“So, Finn?” he continues. “What’s happening? Whose ass do I need to kick?”
I hold up my hands, trying to defuse things before they go sideways. “Ryder, it’s not—”
“You know it is,” Ryder interrupts, his eyes locking onto Aurora now. “What the hell did you do to get yourself tangled in this?”
Aurora’s eyes widen, her jaw tightening. She opens her mouth to protest, but Ryder’s not having any of it.
“I told you to be careful, Finn. You know what’s going on at the moment. You know, getting mixed up with anyone is a bad idea.”
Aurora bristles at his words. “I’m fine. I told Finn it’s nothing. I’m just—”
“No.” Ryder cuts her off, his tone now cold, authoritative.
“You’re not fine. You’re not staying here alone tonight.
Not after all of this.” He turns his glare back on me.
“And you, Finn, how the hell did you let this go on? You know better. You’ve seen the signs. And now she’s caught up in this mess.”
Ryder’s not even looking at Aurora anymore, not really. His eyes are on me, and I can tell he’s furious because I let things go too far. And hell, he’s right. I’ve been too casual, too lighthearted. I’ve enjoyed myself too much—and let people see it with Aurora.
But this is the part of me I’ve been running from. Caring too damn much.
Aurora’s shaking her head. She’s not ready for all of this. She wants to fight back, but she doesn’t have the energy. “I can’t just pack up and leave. I’m not—”
Ryder shoots her a sharp look. “You’re not staying here alone tonight. You’re not a damn target, not for anyone’s messed-up games.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aurora tries, but Ryder shakes his head.
“I’m sorry, but you’re going to stay with us at The Hollow tonight. Whether you like it or not.”
Aurora’s cheeks flush with frustration. She wants to stand her ground. I can see it. But it’s Ryder, and when he uses his authority, there’s no way around it. Judging by her expression, she knows it too.
“Fine,” she says, a little more defeated than I’m used to hearing from her. “But just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’m back here. I’m not turning into some damsel in distress.”
I can’t help but grin, despite the situation. That’s the thing about Aurora. She’s got that fire in her, even when she’s being backed into a corner. She doesn’t want to be saved, but right now, she’s not in a position to argue.
Ryder just gives a short nod, his jaw still tight. “Good. Now, get your things, Aurora. You’re coming with us.”
She looks between the two of us, clearly frustrated but resigned. I can tell she’s still not happy with the idea, but she’s also not going to make a scene.
As she walks off, Ryder turns to me, his expression still furious but softening a little.
“You better be damn sure this doesn’t happen again,” he says. “She’s not some girl you can play with, Finn.”
I look him in the eye, his words settling in.
“I know,” I say quietly. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
I mean it. But I know that this is just the beginning. Things aren’t going to be simple for either of us anymore. Not with Aurora in the middle of it all. And not with the things I’m trying to figure out about myself.
But tonight? Tonight, I’ll make sure she’s safe.