An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(38)

He searched her face, his gaze tracking every inch of her it seemed. “And yet I don’t feel the urge.”

Her heart shattered, her soul aching for the loss of what she would never have. She might have known the truth, might have told herself over and over again it would never happen, but to hear the words laid out from his lips, she felt as if she would die.

And she didn’t like the woman she would become if she allowed this pain to take over. She didn’t want to crawl into the forest and curl up into a ball while she waited for the world to pass by. That wasn’t who Brynn Brentwood was.

“I see.”

Who owned that hollow voice?

Oh, yes, that was her.

Finn shook his head. “I don’t think you do.”

“What is there to miss? The moon goddess f*cked up. My wolf wants you. After over a century of living, I’ve finally found the one man and wolf I could be with, and his wolf doesn’t feel the same. Hence, f*cked up.”

She tried to stand, but he put his hands on her knees. She sat back down at the contact. His hands were so warm, so calloused. So freaking hot.

“It might not be the moon goddess,” he whispered and she lifted her head.

“What?”

“It could be me. I’m broken.”

Her hand shook as she cupped his cheek. The rasp from his beard went straight to the warmest places within her.

“What do you mean? You’re not broken, Finn. You’re…you’re the Heir.”

He gave her a sad smile. “Do you know what happened to me when I was a child?”

An eerie feeling slid over her. She shook her head. “I don’t know everything. I know Caym and the Centrals attacked your den many times during the war.”

“That’s a way of saying it.” He let out a breath. “I was three or so when Caym broke through the wards. He was trying to find his daughter, my aunt Bay.”

Brynn coughed. “I…how did I not know that? Dear, goddess. She mated to Adam.”

Finn frowned. “Yes. Bay is half demon, but she’s wolf through and through. There is nothing different about her other than she spent most of her early life on the run because of the blood in her veins.”

She winced. “I’m sorry. It just surprised me.”

“It’s not an easy thing,” he said gently. “Caym broke through the wards and ended up landing in a clearing where we’d been relaxing for the afternoon. I happened to be running right next to him when it happened.”

He met her gaze and she held her breath.

“He broke every bone in my body. I remember the pain, Brynn. I remember more than I should. I remember the screams. I remember people trying to reach me. I remember being awake when Caym dropped me to the ground with his power and turned to slit my uncle Josh’s throat.”

Brynn didn’t gasp, didn’t make a sound. She was afraid if she did anything like growl for the injustice of it all, Finn would stop talking and she’d lose him…more than she already had.

“Hannah, Josh’s mate, was able to save us, but Josh will always speak with a lower register because of the damage to his vocal cords.” He licked his lips. “She Healed me but sometimes…sometimes I don’t think she fixed everything. Or maybe she didn’t put me back together right.”

“Oh, Finn,” she cupped the side of his face and leaned forward, pressing her forehead to his. His breath warmed her face, and she sat there while his body shook.

“My wolf is so f*cking quiet, Brynn. I can’t always feel him. It’s like he’s there, but it’s a haze. I don’t have to try to control my wolf because while he might be quiet, he’s always there. I’m never not fighting my wolf, but the damn thing won’t speak to me.”

“You’re not broken,” she rasped, tears in her throat.

Finn ran his hands up her side and she shivered. “What if I am? What if the moon goddess didn’t make a mistake? What if my wolf is screaming at me that you’re my mate, but I can’t hear him?”

The horror at his statement made her pull back. Tears stung her eyes, but she couldn’t cry. She blinked a few times, trying to breathe while she did so.

“No. That can’t be the case.”

“What if it is?”

Her heart broke once more. She hadn’t thought it possible. The empty cavern that had once held her soul became a wash of pain that slammed into her over and over again as she tried to catch her balance.

“What does this mean?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

“It means that…I don’t know, Brynn. Look at me.” She opened her eyes, unaware she’d even closed them to begin with. “I’ve wanted you from the first time I saw you across the circle. I was a teenager then, but I knew you were someone I wanted. I didn’t know what it meant, and maybe I still don’t. But ever since then, I’ve wanted you. I’ve stayed away because I know once I have you, I’m going to become addicted. I crave you more than breathing, more than anything I could ever hope to have. I knew that if I had you, I’d keep you—even if we weren’t mates. I stayed away because that wasn’t fair to you…or our future mates.”

She winced.

“But…but I was wrong, wasn’t I? I stayed away because I didn’t want to hurt us, and yet, I did so anyway. I hurt you so much. I’m so f*cking sorry.”