Page 88 of Haze

Lena’s brow is furrowed, and while she’s not misty-eyed, she’s clearly distraught. I try to push love toward her, but either her wolf is still too far under, or she’s not capable or receptive to feeling it.

“Have you ever considered that maybe you’ve been too busy fighting what you think being a submissive should be, so you haven’t been able to experience what it truly is?” I press my forehead against hers. “Faolan, I want to know, more than anything, what it is people have led you to believe about being submissive.”

“Yes. I’ve considered it, especially because even right now, the longer you’re here with me, whatever is wrong inside me, this growing nonverbal discomfort, I can hardly keep it from you. I can hardly keep myself from you.” Lena sighs.

For the first time, I watch as Lena’s wolf rises into her eyes. The hazel tones become more gold and lit with character but still in that nearly human realm. It’s easier to hide her wolf because her eyes are so bright to start with.

Mate is beautiful. We need to run with her. My wolf admires Lena right along with me.

I want to tell her what I’m thinking, what I’m feeling, but Lena’s not done talking.

“There’s this intense need to do whatever someone wants me to do,” she says sadly. “It’s worse now that we have you.”

“I can help you,” I vow.

She swallows hard, moving to look away from me.

I keep giving her the reassurance she’s desperately in need of. “You won’t have to feel that way with me in your life. Let me in. Quit trying to push me away. Whatever it is you’ve gotten twisted up in your brain, let it go,” I coax. “Especially let go of your preconceived notion of what I want or don’t want and what I’ll love or won’t love. Let those thoughts go. Allow me to give you what you need, and accept that I’m not a runner. I’ve never run from a fight. I’ll never run from you.”

Drowsiness wanes over my faolan. “I don’t know how to do this, Finn.”

“I’ll help. Get some rest, Kathleen. I’ll be here when you wake up.” I rake my fingers through her hair, and she turns her face toward me again.

Hesitantly, she comes to me and gives me the sweetest kiss. She’s soft and supple. I kiss back with tenderness. We lie there for a while. Finally, she starts to drift off, and eventually, her room grows dark with the setting sun. Lena looks so young and peaceful as she sleeps.

Chapter 28

Finn

I doze with her for an hour before my stomach rumbles, angry that I didn’t finish the tacos earlier. I grab a pillow from the head of the bed and slowly swap it out with my arm underneath Lena’s head. I hope to get back before she even notices I’m gone.

Lena’s room is soundproof, and I find that out when I walk into the movie viewing area. I can now hear loud voices from the floor below, echoing up to the loft space. That’ll be handy later. I’ll show her all the ways no one will ever love her as much as I do.

When I reach the landing of the main floor, all voices stop and every head turns to look at me.

With a raised eyebrow, I ask, “Can I help you?”

The older couple from earlier is missing, and a dark-haired male I didn’t notice earlier sits among the Aldens.

“Who had an hour?” Dinah’s voice breaks the silence from where she’s sitting on the couch.

“That would be the tall blond henchmen,” Cade answers.

“No!” Thalia objects. “It’s been ninety-five minutes, that means it’s the henchman with the cool palm tattoo.”

Through the insanity, I look over at Revecca for an explanation of what’s going on.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Apparently there’s a betting pool as to how long you would stay upstairs bedding that... particular disruption in the bloodline. They managed to get the royal guards in on it too.”

A rumble starts deep in my chest with her insult.

Jesus Christ, Revecca. We got to start this already? I’m not in the mood for her dramatics. How does she always seem to turn up in my life when I least need her brand of chaos? Why isn’t she in Ireland? Magnus would probably love to see his mate.

“Hey!” Dinah shouts angrily.

Normally, I wouldn’t let someone else defend my mate, but Dinah’s growl is so impressive I want to see the bite behind it.

“What? It’s true,” Revecca answers with a wave of her hand to everyone around her.

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