Page 5 of Finn
His record was flawless, with more kills than any other hunter in the Guild.
If it weren’t for Guild politics, he’d probably be leading his own squad.
Instead, the current squad leaders were all handpicked by the Elders, and unsurprisingly, they were all family or close allies.
Everyone knew Gabriel’s mother had been a skilled hunter, but his father... rumors whispered he wasn’t entirely human.
It was why Gabriel was faster, stronger. But I thought it was just jealousy talking.
Gabriel’s gaze softened, and he watched me, quiet and patient.
He never lost his temper, even when I messed up. That patience was what drew me to him most, maybe.
His presence was solid, grounding, making me want to share everything with him.
“What really happened, Finn?” he asked, and I looked down, still hesitant.
Without a word, I grabbed a fresh box of ammo, letting the silence stretch as I loaded my gun.
Gabriel said nothing, just watching me with that quiet intensity that seemed to unravel something inside me.
“I screwed up,” I said finally, after firing a few rounds.
I was so lost in the memory of last night that I didn’t notice him move closer until I felt his warm, solid presence at my back.
He was guiding my hands, adjusting my grip on the gun, his fingers strong but gentle over mine.
My heart raced as his chest brushed against my back. I squeezed the trigger, and the shot hit dead center, right in the target’s head.
My shoulders slumped, tension spilling out of me in a shuddering breath.
“For a moment,” I whispered, “Higgins looked so painfully human. The report said he was dangerous, but when he was begging for his life… I don’t think he was acting. Just a scared man. It felt wrong.”
Gabriel was silent, but when he spoke, his voice held a surprising softness.
“The intel the guild feeds us isn’t always accurate,” he said.
I looked over at him, startled by the words, meeting his eyes—a striking shade between blue and green, full of something I couldn’t name.
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
He gave me that smile, the one that always felt like he was on the edge of sharing some deep secret.
“The Guild… bending the truth isn’t surprising. You must have sensed it before,” he said, his gaze intense.
I glanced around, but the firing range was still empty, and for some reason, I felt like I was hearing something forbidden.
“That’s treason,” I whispered.
Gabriel tipped my chin up with two fingers, and I felt my heart stutter.
His touch was gentle, his face just inches from mine, and I felt drawn to him, helpless under the weight of his gaze.
“Finn,” he murmured, voice low. “I’ve always known you’re different. Special. Don’t let them brainwash you. Never doubt yourself.”
My mind spun, barely registering the words. All I could think about was how close he was, the warmth radiating from him.
All the frustration, anger, and tension faded, replaced by something I could barely keep down any longer.
