Page 86 of Haze

“You told me you didn’t want to fuck.” I finish stripping and toss my relatively clean clothes into the washing machine like the ones from earlier.

The builder thought we were a bunch of eccentrics with how large Cade and I requested our bathtubs. I overheard two of them talking about how ridiculous it was that I wanted my own washer and dryer in my closet. But neither of them has to live with Deacon. I’ve lost more dresses to the strange shit he’s left in his pockets than one woman should ever have to grieve in her life.

I go to the chest of drawers where I keep my soft, squishy clothes.

“Besides, I can’t feel our bond because my wolf is gone.” I drop the bomb on him.

Here we go. Now he’ll reject me and leave.

Finn steps forward and reaches into the drawer around my hands. He pulls out my softest squishy pants and slides the drawer closed.

“No, she’s there, but you’re not listening to her.” Finn’s body pressed against me has me relaxing against him.

He doesn’t understand. There’s nothing to listen to.

This leaning on him, craving his physical touch, isn’t conducive to letting him go. I’ll never break the bond if we’re so close all the time. The steps to move away from him are a million miles that I begrudgingly cross.

Chapter 27

Finn

“When were you thinking of telling me about your wolf, Lena?” I swallow hard, looking down at her hazel eyes.

I know her wolf is struggling. The unsettledness of an insecure animal tugs on my own wolf. We want to steady her and help her find her way back to the surface.

“Oh, I see. It’s Lena now. Given up on the full name, easier to see me like everyone else.” She huffs, pulling on the pair of sweats I chose for her.

The sting of her reaction pulses in my heart. When she’s dressed, Lena walks toward me.

I don’t step out of her way, and she gives a half-hearted growl, “Move. If you insist on talking, I’d like to do it not standing in the bathroom and closet.”

Dutifully, I follow her back to her bedroom. She hesitates by the bed but walks back around the double-sided fireplace to the seating area from when we first came in.

She picks up a remote from the table and points it at the fireplace, and the gas insert springs to life. Much like at the apartment, she has a blanket on the back of the couch, and she pulls it off and begins wrapping it around her as she sits on the couch.

When she’s settled, I grab the corner of the blanket to tuck it under her feet.

She tries and fails to snarl at me.

“Kathleen.” I keep moving, tucking her feet in underneath her. “Faolan, are you always going to bite?”

“Is your plan to keep touching me and trying to make everything okay?” Lena snaps. “Nothing about you was part of my plan. Especially not telling you about my wolf.” The answer comes out of nowhere, and I realize she’s answering my original question.

I was going to sit down in one of the chairs so I could watch her as we talk, but that’s no longer an option. Sitting on the opposite end of the sofa, I reach under the blanket and find her foot. I’ll tame you, faolan. You’ll be moaning and craving my touch soon.

Running my thumb along the top of her foot, I let Lena watch me as I try to feel her more.

Our mate’s wolf is very hurt, mine recognizes. We’re both trying to call to her wolf. I want so desperately to unify them. He keeps looking. Why won’t they talk?

“I don’t expect you to want me, Finn.” Lena’s words don’t make sense.

Sitting in silence, I wait for Lena to talk, trying to figure out where this difference is coming from. Her wolf hasn’t woken up yet? Dinah said with how much sedative she received it might take time. Did someone tell her?

“I’m not exactly perfect mate material.” Whines slip out between her words, and I can see her struggling to hold them back.

I lean over her on the couch and use my thumb and forefinger to turn her chin to face me. “I don’t care what you say, or what your brain is telling you, or what assumptions you’ve made about me. We’re till death do we part. I fully intend to make you an honest woman and marry you. So don’t say it. Don’t think it. You’re absolutely perfect, and I’ll never leave your side if that’s what it takes for you to believe me.”

Lena shakes her head. It’s too hard to sit this far away from her. It’s too hard to pretend that resting my hand on her stocking-clad foot is enough. I stand and pick up my mate.

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