Page 158 of Haze

Diplomatic language has never been my strong suit, but I figured that would solve it.

“Oh, I see.” Henri nods. She turns to Cade and squares her shoulders. “Where did we end up with security for the university and the lab for Lena?”

“I talked to Doctor Thorpe. There was no sign of anyone loitering. I’m calling Michael from Corinth and checking in with his team after we eat. I think Finn made the right suggestion that we simply wait and see if they can’t be shuffled off.” Cade smiles at her. He rests his hand on her shoulder. “I know Lena and Finn will be difficult to navigate, and I appreciate your understanding that we have to work around their limits. I won’t make them do things they’re not comfortable with.”

“Okay. I guess that’s all I needed from you and Lena.” Henri side-eyes me like she’s searching for answers before looking back at Cade.

“Yes. I know it presents a problem that he’s taking over for Deacon tomorrow.” Cade sighs. Lauren shoos him with a wave of her hand to get to the sink he’s blocking. “We’ll have to cross that bridge next week.”

“Alright,” Lauren cuts in. “It’s my kitchen. Get out. Finn, you and I will have some serious talks. I’ve let the four of them run my house for too long.”

Cade lifts his arms in surrender, trying to appease Lauren, who has now picked up a knife. Cade walks around to our side of the island in a hurry.

Thalia laughs loudly and covers her mouth. She gains some composure. “I was wondering when we’d drive Lauren nuts.”

“Oh, that ship has sailed, darling.” Lauren chuckles.

“Do we have a time tomorrow?” I hate disrupting the lighthearted banter.

“Lunch with the pack is served at eleven,” Lauren informs me. She shrugs. “I can keep a plate warm for you if you’d like to challenge him before and eat after, or if you’d like to make it through the meal first. Either is fine with me.”

“Challenge first,” Cade answers. “I want the pack to know where he and I stand before the day is up. That way, Deacon can have some peace and eat and heal in one go. No nervous energy floating about through the meal.”

“Understood.” I nod.

There’s no nervous energy in the room right now. Cade is so easily giving me a shot at his Second, and those around him aren’t hesitant about it at all. Pride swells in my chest.

Earning my place back home, despite it being right in the lineage, wasn’t an easy feat. Da’s approval was never something I felt like I had earned, and Magnus always made it clear I was there to support him. I had a place and a job. Here, I have both of those things, but more than that, Cade’s accepted me as family and welcomed me into the inner circle of the pack.

Chapter 52

Lena

Late October is beautiful in Minnesota, mostly. Today, it’s cold and threatening to snow. Standing in my bathroom, I examine the contents of my walk-in closet, looking at the options of what to wear and scrutinizing every single choice I could possibly make. We’re wolves. We run warmer. But I like to be extra cozy. Just because it takes more for me to freeze to death doesn’t mean that I don’t get cold. While today will be in the forties, brunch will be served outside. Lauren assured me twice that the propane heaters will be on, so I won’t freeze to death, but that doesn’t change my dilemma. What to fucking wear?

I know what Finn is wearing because it’s what Finn always wears: one of his six dress shirts and a pair of slacks. Today, it’s my least favorite, white. It has nothing to do with how he looks in it but everything to do with the fact that I own nothing in white. So even if I wanted to match, I can’t.

Not that I should be matching him. By now, everyone’s seen the tabloids, and they know what they think is happening. But there’s a difference between dating someone and being intended.

The pint of lava rolling about in my stomach gets angrier. It does so anytime my wolf gives up trying to convince me that Finn and I will work it out. Her being half-feral means I only have to put up with the whining and pining for him half the time. The other half, fire burning on the inside my body, is an inconvenience.

Thalia sends me a picture of what she’s wearing. The long-sleeve green dress with a twirly skater-girl style skirt looks cute on her.

“It’s brunch with a small group of the pack, Kathleen,” Finn says with soft encouragement.

I shoot a glance over my shoulder, ready to fire back a sharp response. He absolutely better not say what I think he’s about to.

Finn walks past me to the row of dresses hanging up and pulls one of them free. He folds it over his arm and picks up a pair of shoes from the rack, then pulls a pair of leggings off the stack. He then displays his outfit choice for me. It absolutely works, and it’ll look perfect.

“Wear your hair down. And if you’d do me the honor—” Finn walks out of the closet and through my bathroom.

I follow him, my heart rate picking up.

He comes back, holding a small green velvet jewelry box. Oh fuck. Not this conversation.

“I don’t want to rush you into my collar, but I’d hoped since there’s no denying how much time I’ve spent at the pack house, you’d consider a small step in embracing our relationship publicly.” Finn opens the box.

The view is breathtaking.

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