Page 6 of Finn
Taking a breath, I decided to risk it all.
In one swift move, I leaned up, closing the last inch between us, and kissed him.
The kiss was tentative at first, but when his hand slipped around the back of my neck, pulling me closer, the world around us melted away.
The reality of what I’d done hit me a few seconds after our kiss, and I pulled away, my face heating up.
“Sorry, that wasn’t—” I stammered, completely flustered, unsure how to even begin explaining myself.
But Gabriel just put a finger to my lips, his gaze steady and calm.
Then, to my shock, he smiled. A real smile, soft and warm, and I realized with a start that I’d never actually seen him smile before.
“Don’t be sorry,” he murmured. “I’m not.”
The words melted something inside me, and for a moment, everything was perfect, until I heard voices approaching.
Instinctively, I stepped back, pulling away from him, and Gabriel’s brows knit in a faint frown before he, too, straightened up.
The fleeting closeness between us was gone, swallowed by the tense air around us.
Two hunters entered the range, their chatter bouncing off the walls. I stiffened as I realized one of them was Asher.
His gaze fell on us, and immediately, his expression soured, dark eyes narrowing as he stalked over.
“I’ll see you around, Finn,” Gabriel said, his voice lower but with a glint of something almost mischievous in his blue-green eyes.
He gave a nod to Asher, “Asher,” before turning to leave.
Asher’s scowl deepened as he watched Gabriel’s back retreat, and he turned back to me.
“What did he want?” My brother’s tone was sharp, a question wrapped in accusation.
“He was just… concerned,” I said, my voice a bit more sour than I intended.
After having my head bitten off by the squad leader, Asher had given me a similar lecture, and I was exhausted.
“Well, unless it’s training, you should stay away from him,” Asher said, his expression stern, gaze fierce.
I scoffed, feeling something inside me snap.
Asher had always had something to say about Gabriel, always warning me off him, but he’d never given me a real reason.
“Why is that?” I asked, the frustration thick in my voice.
“Because he’s bad news,” Asher said firmly. “And you deserve better, Finn.”
But he’s the one I want, I didn’t say.
Eventually, my silence wore him down, and he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
CHAPTER THREE
FINN
FIVE YEARS LATER
My tiny roomfelt even smaller than usual that night, the walls pressing in on me like a cell.
