Page 34 of Haze

Doctor Thorpe said for a week. They believe it is for the weekend? My wolf is equally suspicious.

“Is it common that she takes extended time away?” I probe into the difference in timelines.

“Very.” Deacon shrugs nonchalantly, but at my inquiry, he examines me suspiciously with his blown pupils. “Lena likes her space. She’s not a hermit but —”

Cade clears his throat, cutting Deacon’s sentence short.

I’m realizing the Aldens are not forthcoming with information, so I let the subject go, for now.

We don’t need to run. Let’s go back to the city and find our mate, my wolf presses.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the authority to excuse ourselves from pack activities like this. We still need Cade on our side.

“Are we running or not?” Deacon groans, covering his eyes with his hand before letting out a large yawn.

Deacon is Cade’s Pack Second, and perhaps his informality comes from being siblings. However, if I’d spoken to Magnus that way in front of a new pack member, it would have ended in a brawl later.

I’m not in Ireland. It’s best to remember it’s not my pack nor my place to judge.

Cade squeezes Thalia’s thigh and stands. He uses the ceremonial invitation. “Friends, let us run.”

* * *

The run was a difficult introduction to the pack. Some of the Alden pack members snapped and snarled at me. Trying not to make waves, I loped behind most of them. On more than one occasion, wolves would turn and move to challenge me. The Leviathan was quick to disband any attempts at challenges. Lowering my head, despite objections from my wolf, I hung back multiple times, attempting to keep the peace.

At the end of it, I’m knackered and glad to be going home, mostly none worse for the wear.

“Finn,” Cade calls as I open the door to my rental car.

I stop, letting the door fall closed. He walks around the side of the car to get close to me. I didn’t realize how much smaller Cade was than me until now. It’s not that he’s a small wolf. But he’s easily seven to ten centimeters shorter, and he’s much leaner. Yet, his presence is still intimidating.

“I’m sorry about today. I didn’t anticipate so many of them being intimidated by you. We’ll run in smaller numbers until you’ve settled better.” Cade offers his hand out to shake.

I accept his hand and apology. “It’s understandable. Another Alpha wolf encroaching while you’re still in your first year on the throne. No damage was done.”

“Well, we do have a problem though.” Cade steps back and leans against the garage door, watching me. He lifts one foot to rest against the door, tucking his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been notified of a formal complaint at the university about you from one of the humans.”

Swallowing hard, I realize it was foolhardy to assume Doctor Thorpe would have been where the conflict ended. I don’t do Cade a disservice by denying it or making an excuse. I’ve no shame in what I did, only that, apparently, I didn’t scare Brayden enough to keep his mouth shut.

“Finn,” Cade groans. He pulls a hand from his pocket and scrubs it down his face. “Fucking give me something to work with.”

“He called Lena a bitch.” I shrug, hooking my thumb on the pocket of my jeans. “And at least I didn’t kill him with witnesses.”

“Fuck. Finn.” Cade hangs his head, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “You’re on thin ice. Lena being your mate or not. You put your hands on a human. Keep it together, or I’ll have to run you out of this territory too. I don’t want to, Finn, but for fuck’s sake. Do you know who he is?”

“I have a feelin’ you’re about to tell me.” The words come out before I can remind myself to keep my mouth closed and not bite the hand feeding me.

Cade shakes his head, looking at me with a glare.

He bites his tongue for a second before growling, “The sass between the two of you will drive me to an early grave.”

“Sorry, Sovereign.” I hang my head in apology for speaking out of turn.

“Brayden Bachman is the child of, I honestly don’t fucking know their title, but even with the couple million dollars the Ardelean Fund funnels into the school each year, Brayden Bachman’s parents are more important or better connected,” Cade growls.

It’s not surprising the idiot would be connected. How much is this eejit going to cost me?

“I’m supposed to ask you to apologize, but you and I both know how this will go. You’re going to snort, and I’m going to shake my head. Then you’re going to remind me Lena’s your mate, and you’re defending her honor. To which, I’m going to tell you that you’ll have to get smart and take care of him a different way. Then I’ll have to reiterate, very clearly, I’m not giving you permission to kill him.” Cade breaks down how the conversation will go in one quick breath.

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