Page 151 of Haze

“You’re positive this is what you want?”

He cackles. “If I hadn’t made a promise that I wouldn’t actively seek out death, I would ask you to challenge me to our final breaths. We’ve been waiting for someone to come along we could trust. Someone who’d be strong enough to hold the position. We need someone who has a reason to be loyal.”

I cross my arms over my chest. There’s no way I could bring myself to kill Deacon. He’s harmless.

I nod. “Lena knows about this?”

“No.” Deacon puffs out his cheeks. “I’ll sweeten the deal for you, not that you’ve been able to fight any of the logical reasoning. I’ll give you some insight on Lena now. Call it good faith.”

I wait, and Deacon does give me a tidbit of information. “Lena’s primary love language is physical touch, but it makes it hard for her to contain her wolf. So, she goes without it a lot of the time despite how badly she needs it. Lena denies herself.”

I’ve never had such a light bulb moment. Something I do causes Deacon to smile.

“We’re all having lunch at the house on Saturday about noon. Should have twenty or so witnesses.”

There doesn’t seem to be anything more to debate. Deacon hands the beer and opener back to me before making his way to the door.

He stops and turns back before opening it. “Oh, and Finn.” Deacon stalls at the door.

“Yeah, Deacon?” I ask him.

He hangs his head. “Don’t tell Lena. She’ll only get upset by it. It’ll be easier when she doesn’t have a choice but to deal with it.”

That’s the truth. Lena will be pissed that I’ve found another way into her life. Especially one that affects her job as Alpha Female. Theoretically, it should make it easier for her. I guess if she sees it that way.

Chapter 49

Finn

I couldn’t sleep. I had too many options and things going through my head. I’ve run various scenarios until my eyes burned from the morning light as much as from the lack of sleep. Lena didn’t text me back any of the times I texted her, but her phone moved around the pack house a few times and then settled in on her end of the house shortly after midnight. Sitting in Cade’s office, waiting for him, gives me enough assurance of safety that I have to fight falling asleep.

“Sorry about the delay.” Cade’s voice startles me, and I sit up in my chair.

Cade rakes his eyes over me, examining me as he moves behind his desk to sit down.

He’s still studying me when he comments, “You look like hell.”

I scrub my hand down my face. I’m knackered. Maybe I should have grabbed an hour in bed with Lena before meeting with him, but this is too important. It needs to be done.

“Lena’s in danger,” I inform him as politely as I can.

“You’ll have to forgive me for not seeming shocked, but that’s about as vague of a statement as we can get around here. Both of your pictures ended up in the news two days ago. I’ve a pile of death threats for all of us.” Cade sits back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

His body language now mimics mine. We’re both guarded.

I circle back to where the conversation truly needed to begin. “I had a visit from Deacon.”

Cade nods. “That would be good since I sent him to talk with you. I was told you left Ireland after a difference of opinion with Magnus. I know what I was told. But what really happened doesn’t matter. You’re a strong Alpha wolf, you’re already tied to the family, and I would rather put you in position than risk someone else forcing their way in.”

“I would rather have some control over my own life,” I confirm.

“I’m exhausted, Finn. Fuck, you look how I feel.” Cade gestures between us. “We need to support each other. We haven’t had a chance to figure out really where we stand with each other. The Leviathan likes you. The bit of time we’ve spent together has been proof enough to me that we’re a good team.”

I nod. “I like that I like my mate’s family. It could have been so much worse.”

“Speaking of your new family. It seems you know Revecca Ardelean better than I do.” Cade is hyperfocused on me, and I feel his scrutiny. “You wouldn’t happen to know why she’s here?”

“Revecca Ardelean and Magnus O’Brien are married.” It feels weird speaking of Magnus not as my brother but as who he is, the head of a pack. But the formality seems necessary in this instance. “Best guess is if you take back your rightful throne in Romania, it gives her a little more freedom in her life. I tend to keep out of her and Magnus’s business, but I know she doesn’t like Hugo Arcan as next in the line of succession.”

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