Page 37 of Finn's Solace

"A kiss before we get into the car?"

I nodded quickly, and Levi covered my lips with his, his hand sliding up my back and into my hair as he pulled me in, our lips dancing against each other like we'd been doing this for a lifetime.

A wolf whistle from somewhere close by made me pull back, though Levi's hands stopped me from going too far away. I raised my head, only to find my eyes drawn to a familiar figure making his way toward us, two more familiar faces with him.

"Oh shit," I mumbled, and Levi straightened up, dropping his hands and taking one of mine in a firm grip instead.

"What is it?"

I sighed loudly, then did the introductions. "Levi, this is my uncle, Joy, and his mates, Quill and Tate. Guys, this is my mate, Levi."

Levi blinked rapidly as he switched gears from 'protect mate' to 'meet mate's family,' which I would've teased him about if I wasn't anxious about what would come out of Joy's mouth. While Joy was Papa's biological brother, he was far more like Dad in temperament and personality. Also in looks, to a point, with his blond hair and pale skin. While Papa had taken after his Indian mom, Joy took after his American dad.

"Did you say your mate? Aren't you too young for that?" Without waiting for a reply, Joy turned to his mates, his light blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "Isn't he?"

Tate snorted while Quill rolled his eyes and patted Joy's cheek. A wolf shifter with the body to prove it, Quill was dressed in a lace top that showed off glimpses of his skin, and dark jeans with strategically placed tears. "You were younger than him when you found us, sweetie. Remember?"

Joy sighed, and finally turned to Levi, holding a hand out. "It's nice to meet you, Levi. Take good care of my favorite nephew."

"Yes, sir," Levi agreed, giving his hand a firm shake.

"You guys out for a date night?" I asked, and Joy nodded.

"It was Joy's turn to pick," Tate said, sounding none too happy about it as he slid his brown curls away from his face. He was a werewolf, and would pick staying home over going out any day. I would never tell the others, but he was my favorite uncle.

"Aww, you had fun, Tate. I know you did."

Tate huffed, but I could see his amusement in his strange purple eyes. When he'd first arrived in Mistvale, he'd been blind. But my dad wasn't the best healing mage in the world for nothing, and he'd figured out a way to give Tate his sight back.

"Okay, how about we get back to our night and leave these two to theirs, hmm?" Quill suggested, and I shot him a grateful look. He winked back at me, then took his mate's hands in his and started tugging them away.

"Night, Finn! Don't do anything I would do!" Joy turned around to shout, and I could feel my cheeks burning as we watched him go.

"You have an...interesting family," Levi said after a moment, and I groaned.

"Don't judge me. I didn't choose them."

That made him laugh, and he pulled me into a hug. "I think they're awesome, and they clearly love you. I'm glad you ended up with them. You deserve all the love."

"You get them now too. We'll see how you feel after a year with them," I warned, and he chuckled, then pressed a kiss against the side of my neck.

"I can't wait."

Levi

I loved how easily Finn talked about our future.

Sometimes, I could sense him holding back—especially when the topic came to the past or his basilisk side—so it was comforting when he talked about our future like it was set in stone, like he knew without a doubt that we'd be together in a year.

"Maybe we should go to your place," Finn said as I started the car and pulled into the street, his hand falling to my thigh, just above the knee, and staying there.

"Yeah?"

Finn hummed, then slid his hand a little higher. "I don't want the night to end yet. Do you?"

"I don't. My place it is."

I drove through mostly empty streets—the benefits of a small town—and it started raining just as I parked in front of my place.

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