An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(16)

Finn let out a slow growl, knowing he couldn’t f*cking kill this bastard right here. Not when other humans were gathering around, wondering what the wolves would do. Everything mattered. Every choice, every decision. Gutting the fool who dared threaten Brynn wouldn’t help his Pack, but it might help his wolf.

“You’re a fool,” he muttered. “Just get out of our way. We’re enjoying the nice day and we don’t want any trouble.”

Brynn’s shoulders had stiffened at the man’s taunt ever so slightly that Finn was sure he was the only one to see the movement. At Finn’s words though, she relaxed into her ready-to-fight stance. It was hot as hell, but he wasn’t about to lose focus.

“I’m going to ignore the fact you just threatened me like you did,” Brynn continued. “We’re not doing anything wrong, and I’m not in the mood to deal with a man who thinks he’s tough by thinking it’s okay to tell random women to get on their knees.”

“You’re not a woman. You’re a dog,” the first man snapped.

Finn tilted his head. “Then, with that logic, you want a dog around your cock. Seems to me you’re the one with a problem.” He took a step closer, watching the man’s eyes widen. He heard both bastards’ pulses race, but he did his best not to look menacing.

Normal.

That was the key word.

Only Finn didn’t think there was a normal. Not anymore. Not that there ever had been one.

“Asshole.”

Finn took another step so he was right by Brynn’s side. Others surrounded them, but he only scented their fear and curiosity. The only threats were the two men in front of them. Brynn surprised the hell out of him by taking his hand.

Her palm was soft, softer than he thought possible. His pulse picked up at the contact, even though his attention was on the men in front of them.

“Goodbye.” With that, she squeezed his hand, and he moved with her, walking to the side so the men didn’t know what to do. The human males braced themselves, yet Finn and Brynn passed them, holding hands and not doing a single thing to threaten them. He had a feeling in the world of technology and instant communication, someone had shot a video of the altercation; there was no getting out of that. But all they would see was a man and woman trying to get by two men who’d come at them. They hadn’t done a single thing wrong and hadn’t responded to the threats.

He prayed that would be enough. Because if it wasn’t? Then acting normal wouldn’t be enough. Instead, they’d have to take the next step, and Finn wasn’t sure the world was ready for that.

Brynn released his hand as soon as they turned the corner, and he immediately felt the loss. “Assholes,” she muttered.

He snorted, even though the adrenaline rushing through his system hadn’t abated. His wolf wanted a fight, and it hadn’t gotten one. It would have to deal though because he’d already fought with Brynn enough. It didn’t escape his attention that they hadn’t finished their argument from earlier, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with that. Not after what had just happened. Going against instinct and not pummeling the man for daring to even think about hurting Brynn had been hard as hell. He didn’t have the energy not to do something stupid like pull Brynn close and kiss her until they were both out of breath and gasping each other’s names as they came.

“Ready for the museum?” he asked, his voice a harsh growl.

She turned to face him, her brows raised. “You still want to do this?”

“We have to,” he bit out. “I don’t care if we’re fighting with each other, we’re here for our Packs. They come before any of that shit.”

She let out a breath. “I get it. And for what it’s worth, thank you for not killing those *s.”

He snorted. “Killing them would have been easy,” he muttered, aware they shouldn’t be discussing killing outside on a street. “They threatened you. They deserved worse.”

She swallowed hard before turning away from them. “I could have handled them on my own.”

“I know.” That was one of the many things he admired about her. “But you didn’t have to, and frankly, I’m glad neither one of us was alone just then. It’s good we were together. If not, we might have forgotten to rein it in and done something stupid like claw that f*cking smirk off the bastard’s face.”

She gave him a look out of the side of her eye that he couldn’t figure out. “That’s true.” She shook her now mostly warm latte. Ice didn’t last long in this heat. “I’m done with this. You?” He nodded, not in the mood for something sweet that wasn’t the woman in front of him. Dangerous. “Okay, then. Let’s go look at some artwork and pretend that I’m not older than half of it.” Her mouth quirked in a semblance of a smile.

He threw back his head back and laughed. “You’re not that old, Brynn.”

“I’m older than you, pup.”

Pup. That had to be part of the hatred, but damn if he cared right then. She confused the hell out of him, but since she wasn’t physically pushing him away, he’d take what he could get for the time being.

“Whatever. You can show me what paintings are what. My uncle Reed tried to show me the world of art and I got distracted by shiny things like running and screaming at the top of my lungs to scare Brie.” He grinned and she rolled her eyes. Progress.