Page 10 of Haze

“What are your opinions on our Alpha?” Finn turns slightly, his body blocking me into my chair. “Is he larger than life as the legends make him?”

Our. Adorable that he thinks I’ll accept his claim on me as his mate. Wrong. But adorable. A dance for dominance continues.

Submit to him. Let him win. It’s not hard, my wolf cries, whining inside me. She rolls low inside me, pressing me to fall to my back beneath him.

Despite her demands, louder than normal, I keep my composure.

A coy smile creeps across my face. “I wasn’t aware there are legends. But I’ve heard no complaints from his mate.”

Finn’s laugh is full-bodied. He almost spits out his beer, quick to mop it up from his lips with the back of his hand.

The way his tongue clears the back of his hand has my wolf in a fit of desire. My core clenches with a need that I’m not ready for. I push my wolf and those feelings away, harder than I ever have before. Finn can’t know that he makes her or me feel anything.

Shrugging, I sip my own, letting the rich taste roll across my tongue. “What do you want to know about The Leviathan?”

“So, they do call him that?” Finn cocks his head, watching me.

“His wolf. Yes.” I slouch back into my chair, pretending to be comfortable. “He tells people he answers to Cade.”

“Cade, even to newcomers? Or should I be prepared to pull out the whole formal wardrobe and honorifics to meet with him?” he probes.

“Split the difference between the two. Why all the questions? You’re fairly certain you’re staying?” I push back.

He can’t stay. With how my wolf is acting, there’s no way he won’t figure out our secret.

Finn pauses, almost unsure of his answer.

My wolf’s hackles rise, watching him clench and unclench his fist.

He gives me something real. “I want someplace to settle into a quieter life, and I’ve been made a job offer here. I want to do all the right things to earn favor. And since I’ve found my mate, why would I go anywhere else?”

His honesty doesn’t ease the feeling. I don’t trust what he says. But it’s not something I need to work out now.

Half of my beer is gone, and it’s time to head home.

I smile at him. “Well, that’s it for me.”

“When will I see you again, Lena?” Finn doesn’t move from the tight quarters of the barstool.

He’s almost blocked me into my seat.

My wolf pushes back. Yes. Now. We’ll see him now. Absolutely yes.

I disagree with a shake of my head. “It’s been fun. Antagonizing you has been delightful, but I don’t see other wolves.”

Finn stands from his chair. We’re too close together. I draw in the heady scent my wolf clung to at the wedding: fur, warm bread, and salt.

There’s no denying this experience. Cade told me it was like a magnetic pull that he couldn’t fight. My heart beats quickly.

Please? My wolf begs for just one touch. One moment of vulnerability with him.

Instead, I step around him, locking her deep inside, and move on with my life. Finn, with the sexy Irish accent, may be my mate, but without a mating mark, it’s nothing more than spending time in the same space as someone I’m attracted to. Really attracted to.

“Lena.” His voice is gruff and commanding.

I don’t look at him. Not when I can hear the recognition of who I am, who we are, in the way he says my name. Regretting that he got my real name, I wince and keep walking. I can’t fix that mistake, but I can get the hell out of here. There’s no way the Irishman knows how to get around Minneapolis faster than I do.

His footsteps follow me through the bar to the door. As I’m headed out, a group of college guys crowd in. There are about ten of them. They let me out but block Finn’s exit. I walk with the wind, mixing in and out of the traffic on the sidewalk. The after-school and dinner crowds flood the streets, giving me cover on the way back to my building. To be on the safe side, I walk two blocks out of the way, taking my scent and putting it in the wind. I haven’t felt Finn behind me the entire way, but there’s no such thing as too careful. I go in the door on the far side of the building, looping myself to the opposite stairwell, running it to the second floor before walking back to the elevator and riding it to the sixth floor.

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