Page 23 of Howling Mad
I sigh, the question unearthing old weight.“Always.He wants me to be his perfect heir.I tried, but it wasn’t me.”
She leans closer, empathetic.“That sounds exhausting.”
“He’s never satisfied,” I say, swirling my spoon.“Wrong job, no mate, and I’m always falling short.Claudia, an alpha’s daughter, was his ideal.She acted supportive but then dumped me when I skipped a traditional role.”
Finley’s eyes flash with anger.“That’s so unfair.”
“It broke me for a while,” I admit.“I felt defective.Red’s matches were my shot to prove I’m enough without pack ceremonies.”
She smirks.“Instead, you got spies, sneezes, and topiary disasters.”
I laugh, the bitterness fading.“Your picks screameddoomed.Like you were dropping hints.”
Her cheeks flush, and she toys with her napkin.“Sorry.My feelings got tangled, and I short-circuited.”
I brush her hand, cautious.She doesn’t pull away.“I’m glad.I’d rather skip small talk and just be with you.”
Her eyes widen.“We’re so far from professional right now.”
I nod, my throat tight.“We can sort it out or keep going to see where it leads.”
She glances away, exhaling shakily.“Red, the pack and your dad.It’s complicated.”
“I know,” I say softly, “But I want to try.”
“Same,” she says, her voice small but resolute.
Relief washes over me.We finish our ice cream as the shop owner signals it’s closing time.Outside, we walk, arms brushing, with each touch sparking warmth.Near an alley, raucous laughter interrupts us, and my senses sharpen.Three bear shifters loom over a smaller figure.I sniff, identifying her as a fox shifter, cornered and scared.
Finley stiffens.“She’s pinned?”
“Looks like it,” I say, my pulse racing.“We can’t walk away.”
“Agreed,” she says, stepping forward.
We approach, and I clear my throat loudly.The bears turn, startled.The fox, young and trembling, cowers by a dumpster, her eyes flickering with hope.The lead bear, in a torn jacket, sneers.“Keep moving, pups.This doesn’t concern you.”
I plant my feet.“She’s scared.Let her go.”
He laughs, glancing at his friends.Finley steps beside me, her voice steady.“She asked you to leave her alone.Didn’t she?”
Another bear scoffs.“What are you, her babysitter?”
Finley’s lip curls.“Back off, or we’ll call the cops to see if this is just a friendly chat.”
The air crackles with tension.The lead bear sizes us up, his gaze narrowing.“You looking for trouble?”
“We’re looking for you to leave her alone,” I say, unwavering.
He lunges, half-shifting, his limbs bulking unnaturally.I block his swing, pain jolting through my arm.Finley dives in, landing a sharp jab to his side.Another bear reaches for her, but she spins free, surprisingly agile.The fox stays crouched, terrified, as the brawl erupts.A claw rakes my side, burning fiercely, and I growl, shoving back a bear.Finley wraps an arm around the leader’s neck, clinging as he thrashes.My chest swells with pride.She’s fearless.
The third bear pauses, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as we fight back.A car’s headlights sweep the alley, startling them.The leader, panting heavily, reconsiders his odds.“This isn’t worth it,” he mutters, stepping back.
His friends hurl curses, with one spitting on the ground, but they retreat into the darkness.I exhale, scanning to ensure they’re gone.
The fox lets out a shaky breath.“Thank you,” she says, her voice quivering.“They cornered me over my wallet.”
Finley kneels beside her, her voice soothing.“You’re safe now.”
