Page 123 of Haze

In the silence of the room around us, she finally speaks. “Break my heart, Griffin O’Leary, and there won’t be a hole deep enough on this earth to hide in.”

“If I break your heart, faolan, I won’t be looking for a hole to hide in. I’ll be handing you a knife to cut mine out,” I answer her threat.

She hums with approval.

After a few more minutes, Lena wiggles in my lap.

I’m not ready to lose the softness of our moment together, but she grumbles, “I’m smelly and I’m hungry and I have to pee.”

Her honesty with her needs is so pure that I can’t help but let out a small laugh. I help her untangle herself from me, and before she steps away, I kiss her and wrap my hand through her hair.

I pull my phone from the nightstand and look at the time. It’s about four in the morning, but Lena long since missed dinner, having been asleep for more than twelve hours.

“Run a bath. I’ll go make you breakfast.” I kiss her forehead.

She smirks. “And a mimosa?”

“It’s Thursday,” I deadpan.

“Thirsty Thursday,” she corrects with strong sass and a raised finger.

Well, she has a point. I smile at her and give her a nod. “Maybe.”

Chapter 40

Lena

This morning, I’ve made my way down to the basement, hiding from the hustle and bustle of the wolves coming and going as they spend time with Cade and Thalia. I should be up there with them, but it’s easier if I have an excuse that benefits them. I’m involved from a distance, and that’s seemingly enough for people. It gives me time to reflect on everything from the last few days.

I’m in bed early every night. I’m eating, arguably, more vegetables than I have in years, and they’re not awful. Mostly. My wolf has been a roller coaster. It’s back and forth between progress and failures. Sometimes, standing tall and being Alpha Female comes with its usual pressure. And other times, I have to retreat because I have no control over the lava inside me.

Existing in the same room as Finn is all it takes for me to relax. She quits trying to push hard and escape uncomfortable situations. By his side, there’s no wallowing in my belly that nearly drags me to the floor any moment someone gets loud and aggressive.

I’m starting to ready for the movie event tonight when footsteps sound across the floor.

Finn, my wolf coos with excitement, feeling his approach.

His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back from the cabinet I’m pulling supplies from.

“Need you,” he murmurs in my ear.

He nuzzles my hair out of his way with his nose and clamps his teeth down at the base of my neck.

“I have a job to finish. I told Lauren I would get this done so she could go on a date,” I argue, but I can’t help melting into him a little. My core clenches at the possibility.

Finn lets me go. “Show me how to help.”

I turn to look at him. “What?”

“Lena.” Finn spins me in his arms. “It’s our pack, and if the only way you’ll let me take you up to your suite and fuck is to help you assemble things for the pups, then show me.”

So sexy when he wants to be with us and how he says pups. My wolf pushes back toward him.

“Sure, okay.” I indicate over toward the folding tables lined up against the walls. “We need to set up six of those, two at each of the three different heights.”

Finn doesn’t hesitate to walk over and get to work. “Where do they go? Lined up or in rows?”

“You don’t have to help,” I remind him.

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