Chapter Seventeen

March — Tuesday – The Burren, Ireland

After that child killed two of my pack, the flight back to Ireland was tedious. It took everything I had not to go back and snap his bitch’s neck that night just to teach him a lesson for what he had done. But I need him here for our plan to work. I wasn’t sure he would make the trip for the Vernal Equinox if we had killed her now. I have spent the past three-hundred years planning the takedown of the two packs in this region. I will not let an outburst of temper ruin those plans now.

I will rule, and they will bow to me or die. Once I eliminate the lines of succession, and I’m the last proper Alpha standing, all three packs will merge and be one. The Paschal moon will be the most potent full moon of the year. All who can shift will. Then we will draw out the Alphas and their mates, eliminating each one. Man, pregnant woman, and child. Not one will remain to stand in my way. I throw back my head and howl at the moon. The time is soon.

***

Tuesday – Southern Maryland

Melody

The rest of February goes by without much excitement. Finn and I settle into a routine. I go to work and see him when I get home for a few minutes before he leaves for his shift. Colin stays at the house on the nights when Finn works, and we get through the month preparing for our trip to Ireland for the Equinox. When Finn and I have the same days off, we work on controlling his inner Alpha. I spend my days off when Finn is working with Summer and Sam. We plan a baby shower and the nursery for Summer’s new baby, due in the middle of August.

All in all, we lead reasonably everyday lives. As normal as we can, waiting for the unknown. When we had dinner with my parents, Finn was a huge hit. My mom loved him instantly, and apparently, being a wolf makes him quite the outdoorsman. So, he and my dad have a lot in common. They have been on a couple of ice fishing trips together, and I feel that once we get over the hump with his pack, we will be able to get back to the life we led before the Alpha showed up. I’m happy, in love, and ready to see what the world has in store for us.

When I get home from work, the plane tickets for our flight in two days are sitting on the kitchen table.

“Hey, love. How was your day?” Finn asks from the bedroom. I can hear him changing for his shift and sigh internally. Too late to get undressed myself and jump into bed with him.

“It was good. Sam said she and Colin would be coming over for dinner tonight. I wish you could stay home and hang with us.” Finn comes down the hall, sliding his handgun into his holster and adjusting his belt.

“I wish I could too, lass. But tonight is my last shift before we head to Ireland. Then we are going to be gone for almost six weeks since we won't be coming back home until May after Beltane.”

We decided to go to Ireland just before the Vernal Equinox on March 20th and stay until after Beltane on May 1st, marking the halfway point from the Equinox to the Summer Solstice. Finn’s pack believes that if anything happens, it will be during that time. Finn disagrees and tells me so, again.

“I'm pretty sure we will be back in a week, Melody. If they’re going to make a move, it will be on the Equinox with the full moon. I don't think they will be waiting for Beltane. Even though legends say that magic is stronger during that time. We are not ruled by magic but rather the moon. So now is when they will make their move.” When Finn tells me this, as he has several times now, I smile and nod.

“I trust you, Finn. I really do. I just wish the rest of the pack trusted you on this too. I can’t help but shake the feeling that we are walking right into a trap, and we are the only ones who know it.” He stops in front of me and wraps me in a warm hug.

“I know, lass. I do too. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m a little tired.” I shrug, but I know that’s not what he is asking.

It has been about a month since we slipped up in the shower. I’m not due for my period yet, and the one test that I took out of desperation a couple of days ago was negative. It would have been too early to tell, even if I was pregnant. But I couldn’t help myself. Finn steps back and looks down at me in his arms, then bends his head and presses his lips firmly to mine.

“I love having you here to kiss whenever I want. Have fun with Colin and Sam tonight. I’ll see you later, love.” I walk him to the door and watch him get into his truck and leave, closing and locking the front door behind him. I head to shower and change before my dinner guests arrive.

***

Colin, Sam, and I sit at the table with a half-empty box of pizza in the middle of it after we have finished eating. “I’m so jealous of you two and this trip to Ireland,” Sam says, nibbling on a piece of crust from her plate. “Mel, did you think that you would ever get to go to Ireland, honestly? I know you’re going to see Finn and Colin’s family for this celebration thing, but do you think you’ll get to do much sightseeing while you’re there?”

We have told everyone that the three of us are going to Ireland to visit Colin and Finn’s grandparents, who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary as part of the Equinox Festival.

“Um, well, I have told Finn that, even though we will be spending most of our time in Kildare with their family, I want to make sure that we take a trip to the Burren to see the Cliffs of Moher and to Wicklow to see this waterfall I have dreamed of seeing for years.” I finish my slice of pizza and smile at Sam. But notice that Colin has hardly said two words and is sitting at the table with us, just staring out the window.

“But what do your parents think about you delaying the start of the spring semester?” Sam asks me. I avoid her eyes and keep pushing crumbs around on my plate. “You did tell them, right?”

“So, about that, Sam. I didn’t know how to bring it up since we’ll be gone for six weeks. I’m actually not delaying the semester. I’m going to take the whole semester off.” She shoots me a look of confusion, then turns to Colin, looking for answers.

“What? You’re going to be gone for six weeks! When did that happen? Melody, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry, Sam.” I struggle to find the words to explain this to my friend when my hands are tied, and I can’t be honest. “Hey, Colin. Do you mind giving us a minute?” I tap him on the shoulder, bringing him back to the present.

“What, lass? Oh sure. I’ll be out front.” He gets up from the table and heads to the door. Then he turns back to Sam and says, “Let me know when you’re ready to go, and I’ll drive you back home.” Then he closes the door behind him with a soft click.

Looking at Sam, I ask, “Has he been this way all day?”

“Oh. My. God. Mel! He has been so distant for the last week. I don’t know what his deal is, honestly.”

“I have a feeling I do. Sam, how much do you know about Colin and his family?”

“Not a lot. It’s not exactly like he is a man of many words. I expect he is more likely to club me over the head and haul me off to his bed, rather than to sit down and have an actual conversation with me, like with real words, not just noncommittal grunts.”

“Well, Finn has told me a bit about them. They moved here from Ireland when Colin was sixteen. Their dad had a bit of a falling out with their grandparents. Finn didn’t go back until he was seventeen. It was after their dad died in an accident.” I shift in my seat, unsure if I should really be sharing all of this with her, but determined, I go on. “He spent the summer with his grandparents that year. But Colin was twenty-three at the time, and he refused to go with Finn. He has refused to go back every time Finn has gone since. Sam, Colin hasn’t been back to Ireland in over fifteen years.” She looks past me at the front door, and I know she is picturing Colin sitting in his truck in the driveway. She wants to go to him. I know she wants to hold him and tell him it will be okay.

“Melody, I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything. No wonder he is freaking out. In two days, you guys are supposed to be leaving, and he clearly is still struggling with some unresolved issues.” She jumps up then. “I’m sorry, Mel. I have to go.”

“Sam, wait.” I stand up and wrap my friend in a tight embrace. “I love you, Chica. I’m going to miss you.” She wraps her arms around me and hugs me so tight that she is smothering me in her breasts again.

“I love you too. Promise me you’ll text and call. What am I going to do without you for six weeks?”

I step back and smile at her. “I promise to send lots of pictures and try to text you at least once a day to let you know I haven’t drowned myself in pints of Guinness,” I tease. Except I won't be drinking at all, at least not until I start my period.

“Thanks for the pizza. I’m sorry again, Mel. But I need to go to Colin,” Sam says. She holds my hand as she walks towards the front door and grabs her purse off the couch. I just smile at her. “I get it. Trust me, Sam. There is something about these Caomhanach men, isn’t there?”

Turning to me when we reach the door, she says, “You know there really is.” Then she plants a kiss on my cheek as she turns the handle to open it. “I love you, Mel.”

“I love you too, Sam,” I say to her back as I close the door behind her. She is already halfway to the driveway. I go to clean up the plates off of the kitchen table. But I can’t shake the feeling that this could be the last time I’ll be seeing my friend.

***

Wednesday – Southern Maryland

Finn

The lights are off in the house when I pull into the driveway at around four in the morning. Colin texted me ten minutes ago. After dropping Sam off, he swung back by the house, and we were all clear. There haven’t been any signs of anyone being here in over a month. I’m not looking forward to this trip tomorrow. We are due to fly out at around six o’clock Thursday morning. By the time we land Thursday night, it will be nearly six o’clock p.m. We will be almost exactly twenty-four hours from sunset on the Vernal Equinox and the rise of the Paschal Moon.

Once I’m in the house, I change out of my uniform as quietly as possible, trying not to wake Melody. Then I head to the couch and sit staring out the window, waiting for the sun to rise. I’ve got no hope of sleep, even though I’ve been working midnights for nearly two months now. I’ve always been more of a night owl. I can't imagine why.

It is just before dawn when I hear Melody moving around in the bedroom. I go to check on her. “Hey, what’s wrong, love?” I ask when I enter the room. She is sitting on the edge of the bed. Unshed tears fill her eyes when she looks at me.

“The dream, the wolves, Finn.” I can hardly make out her words before she collapses into my arms, tears streaming down her face.

***

Wednesday – Southern Maryland

I stand in the field behind their house again. This is the first time I’ve been back since that insolent child killed two of my best men. I had to come back and make sure he would bring her. I don’t trust that he wasn’t breeding her before now, and if his bitch doesn’t go with him when he leaves for Ireland tomorrow, I’ll be sure to put her down when I’m done there. Not a single Caomhanach can live, and I suspect she carries the next in line already. I toy with her dreams again, making sure to lead her exactly where I want her to be. Oh, sweet thing, the fun is just about to begin.

***

Melody

When I wake up, I reach down and grab my leg out of instinct. My hand comes away dry. There’s no blood. It was just a dream. I sit up on the edge of the bed, taking deep breaths and trying to slow my heart. The light is on in the living room, and I don’t want to worry Finn. But just then, the light coming in from the hall dims. When I look up, he is standing in the doorway.

“Hey. What’s wrong, love?” he asks as he crosses the room towards me. I collapse into his arms and break down.

“The dream. The wolves. Finn,” I say between sobs. Gasping for breath, this is the first night I have had the dream since February when we had the last sighting of the wolves. But this one was different. It didn’t start with me in the woods, and now I know how I’ll end up there. I stop crying and look into Finn’s eyes. I know what is going to happen on the Equinox. I don’t know how or why I have been dreaming of it for months. But I know we are in danger. I’m positive now, more than ever, that we are walking right into a trap.

“Finn, I don’t know if we should go. I’m scared.” He is sitting on the edge of the bed with me, rubbing my back.

“I know, lass. I’m scared too. It’s a trap, isn’t it?”

I nod. “I think so. They want us there so they can kill you. They’re going to use me as bait, Finn. You can’t let them.” I turn to him then and grab his hands. “Promise me, you won't let them use me as bait to hurt you.” He is shaking his head.

“I can’t promise that. I won't. Melody, I will not let them hurt you. I don’t know what to do. If I leave you here, you’ll be unprotected, and they will know.” Finn shifts me in his arms. “I don’t think for a second they’re not still watching us. But if I take you with me, I’m walking you right into their territory. What am I supposed to do, lass? How am I supposed to keep you safe?”

“We will both stay. You can’t go either. We will both stay here in the States. Finn, stay with me here in Maryland. Please? If you won’t promise to not let them use me against you, then promise me you'll stay.” As soon as the words are out, I know he won’t agree. I know he has too much honor and feels too much responsibility towards his family to stay here. I sit quietly. He is looking at the floor and I see the moment he decides that he can’t tell me he’ll stay. He turns to look at me, and the pain in his eyes breaks my heart.

“I know. It’s okay, we'll go,” I say, nodding. “I understand you need to be there with your family.” He lifts his hand to my cheek and brushes my lips with his thumb.

“I love you, lass. I’m so sorry I brought you into this. If I could take it all back—”

“Don’t say that!” I interrupt him. “I wouldn’t take it back. I wouldn’t change a thing because then I wouldn’t have had this time with you, Finn. These past two months. You’re my world. I love you. Don’t say you would change things, please? Would you really give me up? That easily?”

“No!” he growls in response, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room. “I’m sorry. No, lass. I wouldn’t give you up for anything.” He is on me then, lifting me onto the bed and laying me in the middle of it. He pins my arms above my head in his hands and growls, “Stay.” I obey his command and keep my arms there. Watching as he climbs from the bed and crosses the room to his dresser, he comes back with a pair of handcuffs. He opens them and slips on one, tightening it with a click. He feeds the other through the metal of the headboard and secures my other wrist.

“What are you doing, sir?” I ask, unsure of where he is going with this. “You can’t chain me up here and hope I won't follow you,” I tease. He turns and looks at me.

“Oh, lass. You’ve no idea what I can do. I could keep you chained here for days if I wanted. In fact, I just might. Maybe we won’t go to Ireland after all, and I’ll spend the Vernal Equinox fucking your brains out while you’re cuffed to my bed.” He stands and crosses to the closet, then emerges from it with something in his hands that I can’t quite make out.

“What’s that?” I ask, craning my neck to see what he is holding. We have been working on his control over the past month. He rarely loses himself to his Dominant side anymore. But the look in his eyes and how he moves around the room makes me wonder. Is this my Finn or my Alpha?

Holding his hand up in response, I see that he has one of his ties in his hand. “Sir?” I am confused.

“Lift your head.” I hesitate and look right into his chocolate brown eyes.

“Finn,” I ask softly, “are you sure?” While we have been trying, this is the first time he has used restraints, and it’s not something we have tested his limit with before now.

“Melody.” He turns his head to one side and smiles at me, I see a tiny flicker of amber in his eyes, and I suck in a sharp breath through my teeth.

“Finn,” I say back to him, “look at me. Are you sure?” He nods in response and holds up the tie in his hand, indicating that I should lift my head.

I do as I’m told, and he takes the tie and covers my eyes, tying it in a knot behind my head, blindfolding me. I hear him opening and closing drawers, then moving around the room, but I can’t tell what’s going on. It gets quiet. I’m not sure if he left me here or is still in the room with me. I squirm impatiently, but I remain silent, waiting for him to speak first. I feel his hands on me. Slowly he slides his hands up my legs, over my thighs, reaching the waistband of my underwear.

“These are in the way,” he declares as he grabs them and rips them in half. First at one hip, then the other, he jerks and pulls them out from under me. I hear a soft crash as he throws them over his shoulder, so they must knock something over on his dresser. I giggle.

“Shh, lass.”

“Yes, sir.” I chew on my lower lip then. Trying to keep from laughing at him. But he continues to slide his hands up under my shirt and over my breasts.

“I love your tits, lass. They’re so big and soft.” He pulls my shirt up over my head and bunches it around my wrists. I’m exposed to him. Naked and cuffed to the bed. I squirm with the anticipation of having his hands on me.

“Please, sir,” I whine “I said hush, lass. If you can’t keep that mouth shut, I’ll gag you.” His words send a thrill through me, and I consider the idea of the gag and making him follow through on his threat.

“Oh, yea?” I say before I even finish thinking it through. Way to go, Mel. I roll my eyes at myself, thankful for the blindfold so Finn can’t see. He laughs at my response.

“Are you testing me, lass? Seeing if I’ll follow through?”

I open my mouth to respond, but he immediately pushes in a ball gag. He lifts my head and fastens the buckle behind my head. I hear him chuckle and feel his weight leaving the bed. I squeeze my eyes closed behind the blindfold and picture the room in my head. I listen to him shifting things around on the nightstand. Then I hear footsteps as he slowly crosses to the bed. His weight is there again. He undoes the cuffs on my wrists, rolls me over, fastens the cuffs once again, and lifts me by the hips.

“On your knees.”

Finn helps me up onto my knees. I can picture myself in this position ass in the air, my elbows bent, holding me up. Hands cuffed to the headboard in front of me. I’m blindfolded and gagged. I’m helpless and squirming. Waiting for him to touch me, my pussy is dripping, and I whine. He leaves me sitting here, waiting.

***

Finn

I maintain my control as I stand at the foot of the bed and watch Mel squirm. She is exposed to me, and I can feel my inner Alpha fighting to take control and dominate her. I have spent the past month slowly working my way up to this moment, wanting to restrain her but afraid I wouldn’t be able to maintain the uneasy internal balance if I did so.

The last time I completely let go and let my Alpha punish her, I sat back and watched, still unsure of what it would mean. Terrified of what might happen and angry with myself for taking the risk with her, as I watched. But no matter what, all of the times I have slipped and lost control, I have never been unable to keep myself from shifting. It is only the power that builds and takes over inside of me. I’m still me, not the wolf. But I still don’t trust myself, and that inner turmoil will not help when the shit hits the fan. So I decide it is now or never.

I tip my head back and close my eyes as I search myself for the Alpha tendencies inside me that want to surge to the surface. My muscles bunch and smooth as I embrace it. I look back towards Melody on the bed. When I open my eyes, I know they will be deep amber, Alpha to the core.

***

Melody

I’m not sure how much time passes. Most likely it is only a few minutes when Finn says, “Oh, love. You’re so beautiful.” Then he runs his hand down my spine, from the base of my neck to the small of my back. Then I feel the tails of the flogger between my shoulder blades. He runs it down my back, following the same path his hand just took. Slowly I feel the leather slide over my ass, and then the sensation is gone. Again his hand runs down my back. This time he continues over my ass and slips his finger into my pussy. I moan around the ball in my mouth. Yes! Finally.

“Is that what you want, lass? You want me inside of you? You’re wet already. You’re such a little slut. You know that?” I feel the tips of the flogger across my ass. The stinging sensation makes my pussy clench down around its emptiness. I wiggle my ass, asking him for more. Please, sir. Again! I think, begging him in my mind.

“Oh baby, you’re so ready.” He slides a finger into me again, slowly, he fucks my pussy with his fingers. Tormenting me with the sensation. I try to push back against his hand, but I can’t move in this position. He takes his hand away from me, and I whine.

I hear a soft buzzing, and I jump when he presses something against my clit. The gentle vibrating tells me it is a toy. Finn slowly slides it up and down the folds of my pussy, coating it with my own juices. Then he pushes the vibrator into my waiting cunt. Slowly he starts to fuck me with it, then faster, and I moan loudly, drool running out of my mouth down my chin. I try again to push back towards him and further take the vibrating dildo into me. More! I need more. Sir, please. I’m crying out around the gag now, begging him. Finn brings the flogger down onto my back then, and I cry out.

The sensation sends shockwaves through my body. My pussy clenches around the dildo filling me. My orgasm is starting to build inside me. Each time the tips of the flogger come down onto my back then trail over my skin, it’s bringing me closer and closer to the edge. He is teasing me, my skin is on fire.

“All you have to do is ask for permission and I’ll let you come, sweet Melody.” Oh, you cruel, cruel man. Please. I whine against the gag in my mouth. I know he planned this. He knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut. This is what he wanted all along.

***

Finn

“What’s wrong, love? Cat got your tongue?” I say, punctuating my question with a smack to Mel’s ass with the flogger. She pulls against the cuffs at her wrists. I smile as I feel the power flow through my body to my fingertips. I don’t feel the urge to shift anymore when I’m with her like this. Just the need to dominate, fuck, own her. She is mine.

***

Melody

Two, three, four more times, the tips of the flogger hit my ass, thighs, and clit. I’m screaming now. The pleasure pain is too much, and I’m fighting to keep from coming. The low buzzing in my pussy has my juices running down my thighs. I feel his hand then as he runs a finger up my thigh.

“Mmm, you’re so wet and ready for me. You want me to fuck you? Just ask.” I laugh then around the gag in my mouth, and he laughs with me.

I feel the bed dip as he kneels on it, then I feel his fingers on the back of my head. Finn unbuckles the gag and removes it from my mouth.

“Sir!” I say immediately. “Please, fuck me. Please, sir. I need you inside me. Now, Finn,” I beg him, whining.

I’m on the verge of my climax.

“I can’t wait, sir. I’m going to come.” I hear him chuckle as he unties my blindfold and removes the cuffs.

“I’m here,” he says, helping me roll onto my back. “Don’t let go of the headboard,” he says, quickly. I look up at him and smile as I grasp the headboard again.

“Hi.”

Then I freeze. Fear courses through my veins when I look into the deep glowing amber eyes. He smiles back at me.

“Hello, love.” He bends down and kisses me, taking my mouth in his. Demanding, owning me. Then he slowly kisses down the side of my neck, over my breasts. He pauses and nips at my breasts, taking one of my nipples into his mouth. He sucks hard then bites down on me. I arch my back. Finn. Please.

Finn peppers my abdomen with kisses and makes his way over my hips. He stops when he reaches my clit, and slowly circles it with his tongue.

“Yes, sir.” I moan. With his mouth on me and the still vibrating dildo in my pussy I’m going to orgasm.

“Please, sir. Can I come?” He lifts his mouth from me. I look down at him and see him smiling up at me. “You smell so sweet when you come, lass. Who am I?” His question confuses me, and I furrow my brow.

“Finn?” I say it as a question, unsure if it is the answer he is looking for.

Alpha, my mind says. Giving me the answer I’m looking for.

“Alpha,” I say to him, looking right into his glowing eyes. He nods and dips his mouth to my clit again.

“You’re mine,” he says, lifting himself onto his arms above me. Smiling down at me. “I’m not going to hurt you, Mel.” He kisses me on the lips, then takes my lower lip between his teeth and nips me, I can taste myself on his lips. “I promise.” He smiles a wolfish grin at me. I smile back at him. The love I see in his eyes makes me sure he has figured it out. This is my Finn and my Alpha. He has figured out how to be both and not keep fighting his natural instincts.

I bite my own bottom lip and look up at him. “Yours,” I agree. Slowly he lowers himself back towards my hips, kissing each one.

“Come for me, baby.” He takes hold of the dildo in my pussy and starts to fuck me with it as he licks and nips at my clit. The orgasm starts slowly but shoots through me. I arch my back up off the bed and scream out in ecstasy.

“Finn. Yes. Oh my god. Finn.” I’m coming down from one orgasm, my eyes squeezed closed when I feel him pull the dildo out of me. Before I can protest, he lifts my legs by my ankles, bending my knees and opening me to him. Then he is sliding his cock into me, slowly. Teasing me again.

“Please, sir. I’m close.” I want to reach down between us and rub my clit, but I’m not allowed to take my hands from the headboard. “Please, sir. Rub my clit, while you fuck me.” Finn smiles down at me.

“See, you’re getting it now. This mouth,” he kisses me quickly, “should be used for two things, asking for what you want and giving me what I want.” Fuck yes, sir.

“I want to come, sir. Please make me come again. Fuck me.” He pounds into me hard then, but instead of rubbing my clit he picks up the still vibrating dildo and presses it to my sensitive bud as he fucks me. I toss my head back. “Yes.”

“You look beautiful when you come. I want to watch you all night long. Go ahead, lass. Let go.” I tense, as I feel the next orgasm start to take over my body. He stills the moment I begin to come, buried deep inside me. I feel his cock tensing as I clench around him.

“You want to come, sir?” I ask sweetly, biting my lip and sucking on it. “I want to taste my cum on your dick, sir.”

He smiles then. “You really are a dirty slut. Come here.” Finn pulls me down on the bed and then turns me, sliding my head towards the edge.

He hands me the dildo and wraps my hand around it. “Fuck yourself while I fuck your pretty mouth, lass.” I do as I’m told. I slide the dildo into my waiting pussy. I’ve orgasmed multiple times and am so sensitive now it won't be long before I finish again. I tilt my head back and look up at him, licking my lips.

“I want you, sir. I want to taste you now.” I smile, thinking about that first night with Finn at The Den and how far we have come since then.

He steps towards me, and I take him in my mouth. Sucking him hard. “Fuck!” He roars, and the sound of his pleasure makes me smile around him. I keep sucking. I don’t take mercy on him or let up. That’s right, sir. I have the power too. Finn reaches down and puts his hand on my throat. Then, holding me still, he fucks my mouth. I match his rhythm with the dildo fucking myself at his pace. I’m about to come when he stills in my mouth, tensing. I feel him shoot his cum down my throat. I pump into myself two more times, and my orgasm hits me. We finish together. Then he steps back, kneels down next to my head, and puts his hand on my cheek.

“I love you, lass,” Finn says in my ear as I lie still in the bed, exhausted. I turn to look at him and smile.

“I love you, too.” He is my Alpha.

***

We spend the rest of the day in bed. Alternating between talking about our plans for our flight out to Dublin the next day and napping wrapped in each other's arms. The sun is starting to set by the time I finally get out of bed and shower. I need to pack my bag for our morning flight, and I haven’t even started getting my things ready. I leave Finn in bed and head to the bathroom for my shower. I finish quickly, knowing it is going to take me at least an hour to pack. I’m brushing my hair up into a high ponytail when I hear Finn’s cell phone ring in the bedroom. I creep out into the hall and peek into the room to see if he is sleeping. But he isn’t in bed where I left him, so I walk around to his nightstand and pick up his phone to see who is calling. The screen says, Colin. I pick it up and connect the call.

“Hey, Colin. Let me find Finn for you really quick.”

“No, lass. That’s fine. Can you just give him a message for me?”

“Um, sure. But he is just in the kitchen. I can get him for you in just two seconds if—" He doesn’t let me finish.

“No, Melody. It’s fine, I’d rather you didn’t, lass. Look, just tell him I’m sorry.”

“Colin? For what? You’re not making any sense.” I start to head for the door to find Finn and get him to help me make sense of the phone call.

“Melody, listen to me.” The tone of his voice stops me in my tracks.

“Okay.”

“Tell Finn I said I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t. Take care of him for me, lass. Goodbye.” Colin ends the call.

Finn walks down the hall and is standing in the bedroom doorway. I’m still holding the phone to my ear, trying to process what just happened and what we’re going to do next.

“Who was that? Is everything okay? Melody?” It dawns on me then, and I look at Finn.

“He’s not coming with us.”

“What?” Finn asks, stepping into the room towards me. “Who was on the phone, lass?”

“Colin,” I answer almost robotically. I’m still processing what this means. For us, for the family, for Finn, and his relationship with his brother. I’m heartbroken. I know he won't forgive him. I hold the phone out to him. “Finn, Colin isn’t coming with us. He said to tell you he is sorry. He told me to take care of you.” I sigh. “I’m so sorry, Finn.”

***

Finn

Twelve hours. We are supposed to be boarding a plane to Ireland in twelve hours, Colin and me. He promised he would come back with me and finish this so we could all be safe. He made me that promise weeks ago, but I knew. I knew then, and I knew the moment I saw Melody holding the phone in her hand that he wouldn’t go with us. I take my phone from her.

“Finish packing our bags. I’ll be back,” I say as I leave the room and head for the door. I grab my keys from the kitchen table. I turn when I hear her following me to the door.

“Finn!” Melody shouts. “Wait.” Running across the room, she wraps her arms around me, and I hug her tightly to my chest with one arm around her shoulders. She looks up at me, and I see the pain and pity in her eyes. She trusted him. The pain is hers. The pity is for me. She thinks I trusted him too. I didn’t.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret,” she says as I turn from her and stalk out the front door.

When I get to our ma’s house, I see her car isn’t there, and I thank the Lord. She shouldn’t be here for this. She doesn’t need the stress. I cut off the engine and walk to the front porch through the yard. The door bangs against the wall when I throw it open as I enter the house.

“Colin!” I yell his name, but I didn’t need to. I knew he would be waiting for me, and he is. Standing in the room with his arms across his chest.

“Finn.” He meets my gaze.

“Just tell me one thing, did you ever plan to go?” I take a step towards him. My body is shaking with rage as I clench and unclench my fists.

“Aye, I did. But I talked to Grandda last night. Finn, you don’t need me. I’d just be a liability for you. Leave Melody here with me. I’ll keep her safe while you go. It’s you they want, not me.” He steps towards me then, and I step back from him.

“You can’t shift, can you?” I don’t know why I have waited this long to ask him. All of these years after our da died. But there it is, finally out in the open between us. I should have listened to our grand da and asked after he brought it up last month. Colin is not an Alpha. Our da was onto something, and he actually stopped it from happening, but what he didn’t consider is that if Colin couldn’t step up, then someone would have to. That someone would have to be me.

“No, Finn. Not like you. Not like Da and Grandda. The moon controls me. I can’t get on that plane with you. I’ll shift at sunset. I have no control. I’m not the Alpha, Finn. You are. You’re next in line.” I’m shaking my head, and tears spring to my eyes as I listen to him confess the truth I’ve been denying.

“No, Colin.” I’m crying now. I start pacing the room. “Tell me you’re lying. I can’t be.”

“Finn, you are. It’s fine, you know what they’re planning. The night you killed the two in the woods behind your house, they told you the plan. You have to go and fight. They’re going after you, and Grandda. You have to go and fight with him.”

“Fuck! Colin!” I turn and punch the wall, drywall pieces fly out around my fist, pictures fall to the floor, glass shattering. I turn on him then. “Fuck, Colin! Melody’s pregnant!” He flinches at my words, and I know he has come to the same conclusion I did.

“She doesn’t know it yet, but I can smell it on her. What am I going to do, Colin? I can’t protect them both. If I leave her here with you, they will kill her. If I take her there, then I’m walking her right into the middle of the fight, and I can’t protect her and Grandda. I can’t choose between them, Colin.”

“Finn.” Colin holds his hands out to me. I am about to shift in the middle of our ma’s house. He is trying to calm me down. “Finn, take a breath. We can figure this out.”

“No, we can’t, Colin. How long have you known? Since they showed up here and immediately started following me?” I yell, accusing.

“I didn’t know you could control it, Finn. I thought you were like me. I thought Da was right in bringing us here, being away from Ireland. I knew we were still cursed, but I thought it would work. I thought we wouldn’t be in line for Alpha. I didn’t realize until the night you killed them, the night of the munch last month.”

“A fucking month, Colin? I could have made other plans. I’m supposed to be on a plane in less than twelve hours. There is no time for me to change things now.” My rage continues to build, but I have the wolf under control. Tonight with Melody unlocked something in me, making my two sides more cohesive, I stop fighting the change, and my muscles relax.

“I didn’t know about Melody. How could I have known?” he says. His answer does nothing but bring more rage to the surface.

“Bullshit! You should have told me! You knew you weren’t the Alpha and that I was their target. That’s total bullshit, whether you could have known about her or not. You knew I was in danger, and you didn’t tell me.” I turn my back to him and stalk out of the house. I make it to the driveway, standing by the truck's bed. I kick off my boots, toss my shirt onto the ground, and kick out of my pants.

I shift before I get entirely out of my clothes, and shreds of them settle onto the ground around me. I land on all fours in front of Colin as he steps from the house, tossing my head back. I howl. Fuck! My pain explodes from my chest. I look down at him, growling, digging at the ground in front of him with my paw. I snarl in his face.

“Finn, please,” Colin begs me. I snarl and snap at him. He puts his hands up, protecting himself from me, and steps back. Then slips and falls onto the ground. I stand over him, staring down into his face. “I’m sorry, Finn. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Don’t do something you’ll regret. I hear Melody’s voice in my head.

I whimper and turn, kicking up the grass with my claws as I dig them into the earth for traction. Running off in the other direction putting as much distance between my brother and me as possible. I’m not sure if I’m doing something I’ll live to regret or not. Either we will all survive this, and I will have saved myself from the regret of killing my only brother. Or someone I love will die, and I’ll regret not killing him as punishment for the position he put us in.