Chapter Eighteen

Thursday – Kildare, Ireland

Melody

When Finn got home, it was after midnight. I lay awake in bed, waiting for him after packing our bags. Watching the clock tick away the minutes I should’ve been sleeping. We left the house two hours after he got back. He lay in bed with me for those two hours in complete silence. Refusing to tell me where he had gone or what had happened. I knew he went to confront Colin. But it wasn’t until we left the house and he left the third plane ticket sitting on the kitchen table that I knew for sure we were going without him.

The hour drive to the airport was another one spent in silence. I stopped trying then. Too exhausted, physically and emotionally. I needed to prepare for this trip and what we needed to protect Finn’s family. I slept on the plane, which was nearly a seven-hour flight. When we touched down, and I woke up, Finn was watching me sleep, a sad look in his eyes. I can’t shake the feeling that he is grieving something, but I’m unsure exactly what it is.

Now, we pull up to a massive castle after another hour's drive from the Dublin airport. I thought we would be staying at his family's home in the city. But Finn told me on the drive out of town that we would be going to the family’s old keep in the County Kildare, close to Kilcullen Castle. I see a small woman with a massive mountain of a man standing next to her as Finn pulls the car into the drive. “There are my grandparents out front.” Finn turns to me as he puts the car in park and nods towards them.

“What?” I ask, confused. Looking back to the couple standing on the steps, that couldn't be a day over sixty by my estimation.

“I told you, lass. We age, but slower.” He winks at me.

“But your grandmother, she isn’t? Is she?”

“No, lass. It’s part of the mating. I told you there are things I can’t tell you right now. Come here.” Finn holds his arms out to me, and I hurry across the car towards him, trying to hug him over the center console. “I’m sorry, Melody. I shouldn’t have treated you that way. Last night or on the trip here. I’m angry with Colin, not you. I love you, lass.” He tips my chin up to him and kisses me quickly. “I promise I’m going to keep you safe. Let’s go meet my family.”

As we get out of the car, the not so elderly couple makes their way over to us. I see other family members standing on the steps in front of the large castle doors. “Hello, lass. Ye’ must be Melody. I’m Finn’s grandda, Edmund.” He scoops me up in a big hug lifting my feet off the ground before I can speak. I let out a squeak as he puts me back on my feet, and Finn steadies me by my elbow.

“Lad!” Edmund says and takes Finn in his arms, patting him on the back hard. I catch a look between the two that I can’t place. But don’t have time to keep observing them together because Finn’s grandma is standing next to me now, holding her arms out to me with the warmest and most inviting smile I have ever encountered.

I collapse into her embrace. She puts her hand on my hair, and she whispers in my ear, “Ah, lass. I know. It's exhausting, isn’t it? Always being strong for our men.” I nod into her shoulder. Tears sting my eyes, and I sniffle. Pulling me back to look at my face, she wipes away my tears. “You’re family now, lass, and you’re with family. I’m Lydia, my love. Look at you. You look like you haven’t slept a wink in weeks. Let's get you inside, get you a hot cup of tea, and warm you up.” Having her hands wrapped around my arms fills me with warmth. She goes on, “Then you can get some rest. I’ll be sure to keep those two quiet so you can get some sleep. You’ll be needing all the rest you can get. I suspect sooner than you think you won't be getting much at all.” Her comments confuse me, but she is so sweet and kind that I follow her into the castle. I’m in a castle in Ireland. My boyfriend is a werewolf. Can my life get any weirder?

I look back over my shoulder and see Finn and Edmund unloading our bags from the car. The family members who were on the steps moments ago are gone now. I wonder if they were shooed away by this kind woman who seems to think I need to be treated like a china doll as she helps me up the steps. I am taken aback by Lydia, likely four times my age. She helps me up the steps and into the great hall rather than it being the other way around.

But I lose my train of thought as we cross the threshold. I look around in amazement. The massive hall we just entered is made of stone that I suspect is centuries old, but rather than cold and drafty, the space has been made warm and inviting. Fur rugs are scattered around the room. On one side of the hall, a massive fireplace that Finn and five of his cousins could stand inside is roaring with a fire that looks like they’re burning small trees rather than logs.

A large table stands opposite the fireplace with a dozen heavy, wooden chairs along its sides. The walls are covered with large oil paintings of couples, some with small children. In others, women are seated in chairs, their husbands looking down on them lovingly. I’m shocked by the resemblance that all the men carry to my Finn.

“What do you think, lass?” Finn says just then in my ear. I turn to see him standing at my shoulder and smile.

“This is your home?” I ask him. “Finn, it’s so beautiful.” He bends down then and scoops me up.

“It’s our home, love. Come on, I’m going to put you to bed so you can get some proper sleep. I know you were up all night, and you hardly slept on the plane. You look dead on your feet, Mel. And you need your rest.” The moment I am in his arms, all of the tension releases from my shoulders, and I realize how tense I have been since the phone call with Colin the night before.

It seems like it has been days since then, but it has only been twenty-four hours in reality. I start to protest, but Finn silences me with a kiss before I can even get a word out. “To bed. We are going to bed. We have a very early morning, and we need to sleep. Come on. I’ll take you to our room. Grandma said she would be sending us dinner and some tea to help you sleep. Don’t argue.” I can see in his eyes that there would be no point in arguing with him. He has on his Alpha look. My Alpha? Or The Alpha? I wonder.

“Yes, sir,” I say and rest my head on his shoulder as he carries me to the large staircase on the opposite end of the hall.

When we get to our room, there is a massive four-poster bed in the middle of the far wall. The floor here is also covered with a large number of fur rugs. I can’t wait to curl up on the big one in front of the fireplace with Finn and make love. I smile at the thought. “Penny, for your thoughts? What’s that smile about?” Finn asks as he sets me down on the floor and closes the door behind us.

“I was just thinking about making love with you on that rug in front of the fireplace,” I tell him, running my hand down this muscular chest.

“You’re insatiable, lass. But don’t worry, we will. In due time. First, dinner and then to bed with you.” He points to the table and chairs next to the fireplace, “Let’s eat.”

“I thought we would meet everyone tonight?” I ask as we settle into our chairs at the small round table set for two. Finn starts to serve me, and I get distracted by the pile of fluffy mashed potatoes he scoops onto my plate. There are peas, warm rolls, rich gravy, and massive legs of lamb. He has piled my plate full, and my stomach growls loudly. I laugh at the sound. “I guess I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I saw food.”

“Dig in, lass. I, for one, am starving. We haven’t eaten all day, and you can't afford to keep doing that.” He scoops up a bite of potatoes on his fork and digs in.

“Finn, stop treating me like I’m made of glass. You and I both know that’s not the case.” I bite into a roll. “Oh my god! These are amazing! I’m going to have to thank your grandma for this.” I dig into the rest of the food on my plate, and we eat in silence, both of us so hungry we are hardly pausing to chew. After we eat, I stretch back in my chair, and my eyes are suddenly so heavy I don’t think I can make it to the bed. But I’ve been waiting to ask Finn about last night.

“Finn?” I ask as I push a pea around on my plate, not looking up to make eye contact with him.

“Yes, love?” he answers. But I still don’t meet his gaze.

“Tell me what happened with Colin.” I look up then, and his eyes flash dark amber, then back to chocolate brown. “And about that,” I say, pointing at him. “What’s going on? A few weeks ago, you couldn’t control your emotions nearly this well, but you haven’t explained why the change of heart with the BDSM stuff between us. What happened, Finn?” I wait for a few moments, but he doesn’t say anything. I yawn then, fighting to keep it hidden so he can’t see how exhausted I really am.

“Sleepy, love?” Finn asks as he stands from his chair. “Come here. I’ll tuck you in, and then we will talk. I promise.” I take his hand and let him help me from the chair. I hug him and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“This is like a fairytale, Finn. I just wish we could be here for a better reason,” I say as I make my way across the room to the bed and fall backward onto it, arms spread out to the side. “Mmm, this bed is amazing. Why is everything here so perfect?”

I hear Finn laughing as he rummages through our bags for our pajamas. “Here. Get changed, and I’ll pour you a cup of the tea that Lydia sent up for you,” Finn says as he tosses my pajamas onto the bed next to me. I stand and turn to grab them but freeze when I see the peach lace tank top and boy shorts lying on the bed.

Finn turns around to look at me. I stumble back like they might burn me if I touch them. Pointing, I ask, “What are those doing here?”

“I packed them. I noticed you forgot—” He trails off when he sees my face. “What is it, Melody?”

“Get rid of them. I’m not wearing that,” I tell him and start getting undressed. “Give me your t-shirt.” I reach my hand out to him.

“Melody, stop.” He steps towards me with his hands out.

“Give me your t-shirt, Finn. I’ll sleep in it. Toss those on the fire. I will not wear them.” I step towards the open bag on the floor and grab one of his shirts. I finish undressing and slip it on over my head. Then because he hasn’t moved from his spot. I walk back to the bed, pick up the offending pile of peach lace and walk towards the fire with it.

“Mel, stop.” I ignore him and continue over to the fire. I look up at him. Tears are running down my cheeks. Before I can toss them in, he catches my wrist. “What’s going on?” he shouts at me then.

“Finn,” I say, begging him. “Please. I have to do this.” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

“Your dreams?” he asks as he opens them again, looking directly into mine.

“Yes,” I whisper back to him.

“It won’t change it.” He is still looking me in the eye, still holding my wrist in his hand.

“You think I don’t know that?” I scream at him. I rip my arm from his grasp and throw the clothes on the floor in front of the fire. I turn on him then. “You think I don’t know what’s going to happen, that I haven’t dreamt of it almost every night for two months now. You think I don’t know whether I am wearing those damned pajamas, or a t-shirt, it won't stop them! They’re coming for me, Finn. We both know it. I can’t stop it, and you can’t stop it!”

I turn my back to him tears are falling from my face to the floor. I cross my arms over my chest, hugging myself. I turn back to face him. “I’m sorry. But I can control this. So let me have this. Please.” Finn nods, bends down, picks up the clothes from the floor, turns, and tosses them onto the fire. Instantly, they burst into flames. I collapse onto the ground. Tears are still running down my face. I’m exhausted. He is picking me up then, taking me back to the bed.

“Shh, shh. You’re okay. I’ve got you, lass. Sleep, just sleep.” He climbs onto the bed, still holding me in his arms. He covers us both with a blanket, and before I can say another word, I’m asleep.