An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(46)

Ryder didn’t look put out that his little sister was talking about sex, but she didn’t want to dwell on it and make him uncomfortable. No use in both of them feeling that way.

“Then what happened?”

“I freaked out and kicked him out of my bed.” She met Ryder’s gaze as she set his cup in front of him. “I couldn’t deal with the fact that we had no true future. We’d be able to make love but never have what we should. So I made the decision to end it before we could hurt ourselves more than we already had.”

Ryder gripped her wrist, giving it a squeeze before leaning away. “And you regret that?”

She shook her head, paused, then nodded. “I think I made a mistake, but I don’t know what to do about it.”

“It’s never too late, you know. If he tried to come to you before, knowing he wanted to have a future with you no matter what, he might have left to give you space. Finn isn’t that bad of a wolf.”

High praise from a Brentwood.

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Okay? Tell me about Franklin’s family. Are they doing okay? What about the case? Any leads? Are we any closer to finding out who attacked Franklin and Seth? What about the man who tried to run Finn and me over? ”

Ryder studied her face for a moment then sighed. “Franklin’s family is mourning. And before you start to feel like it’s your fault, know that they don’t blame you. They know you kept him alive for as long as you could. So stop with the blaming. As for the case, we’re cold. Finn got the description of the car, but it was stolen. We don’t know who did it. It could have been extremists. Could have been random humans with a grudge. Or, it could have been something far deadlier and connected to the government. Washington’s been oddly silent since we came out. They’re positioning their chess pieces at the same time we are, but I don’t know if we’re forming the right strategy for their attack.”

Brynn let out a breath then took a sip of her tea. The honey soothed her aching throat.

“I feel like we’re missing something.”

“I feel the same way. We’ve done our best to protect our people, but until we know what the humans plan on doing, we can only keep at molding the public’s perception of us while not allowing others into our dens.”

“And that doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything productive.” Her wolf growled at that. She hated feeling helpless. But until they knew what the humans had planned, they had to act as if things were normal. One wrong move and the powder keg would blow.

Ryder drank the last of his tea before putting the cup in the sink. “I don’t know what to tell you. We’re in a holding pattern that makes me feel helpless as hell, but we’re going to find a way to keep the Pack safe.”

“And my duty?” she asked. “Do you still want me to remain the face of the Pack? To act normal?”

Ryder leaned forward and brushed a kiss on her brow. “You’ll find your path, little sister. And if that path is with Finn, then you will find a way. If not? Then we will be here to hold you when you need us. As for the face of the Pack? Gideon is holding off on that until we see what the humans’ reaction to the attack is. So far, it’s been…positive, for lack of a better word.”

Her brows shot up.

“They saw you and Finn try to save your friends. People are shocked that anyone could be gunned down like that in broad daylight. Turn on the news when you have a chance. I know you’ve been in another head place recently with all that’s going on, but when you’re ready, come back to the duty you have.”

She hugged him tightly then watched him leave, shame filling her. She’d been so caught up in her own pain; she’d stepped away from the real world. There had to be a better way to balance it. Her brother Gideon had done it. So had countless others. She wasn’t alone in finding a mate—though she knew her situation was uniquely heartbreaking.

Determined to focus, she closed the door as someone knocked. She opened it, not bothering to scent who it was, and froze.

“Finn.”

He’d changed into jeans and a henley, his hair wet from a shower. It would have annoyed her that he’d washed her scent off, but she’d done the same thing.

“Brynn.” He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets as if he were unsure what to do with his hands. “I know you told me to go, and I did, but can I come in?”

She backed up without a thought, wanting him near despite the actions that had moved her to tell him to leave in the first place.

“Why are you here?” she asked, her voice emotionless.

He faced her, his hands still in his pockets. “I left because you told me to, and I will never do anything to hurt you, but I couldn’t stay away, Brynn. Not with so much between us.”

She swallowed hard. “It hurts to be with you, yet at the same time, its agonizing not to be with you, Finn.”

His jaw clenched, and he pulled one hand out of his pocket to cup her cheek. She didn’t back away, and it took all within her not to lean into his touch.

“Take me as I am, Brynn. Take my soul, my body, my everything. We will find a way to form the bond.” He let out a breath. “I talked to my Aunt Hannah, the one who Healed me all those years ago, and she is going to look for a way to fix my wolf. My whole Pack will help if needed. We’re a family, and I will beg them if I have to.” He met her gaze and her heart raced. “I’ll go down to my knees right now and beg you to give me a chance if that is what you want.”