Page 94 of Haze

“I love you, Grif.” A blonde woman smiles. They’re naked and standing in a field. Tall green grass flits around their waists. She’s radiant. Perfect tits out and unashamed. Blonde hair, bobbed above her shoulders, dances across her face in the breeze.

Finn’s hand brushes the hair out of her eyes. “I love you, Aoife.”

“Then why won’t you accept me as your mate? Claim me,” she says loudly over the sounds of the waves on the shore below.

Finn cups her head with his hand. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Is it because of her?” Aoife purses her lips.

Shaking his head, Finn answers her quickly. “It’s nothing you’ve done wrong. But I’m not settling with anyone less than my divine mate. I’m sorry, Aoife.”

“You may never find her. You’re not exactly young, Grif,” Aoife growls at him.

He shrugs and shakes his head. “I understand you’re angry. It doesn’t change the facts. She’s out there somewhere. I can feel it.”

“Is it because I’m not submissive enough? What can I do to prove I’m right for you?” Aoife begs him for answers.

“It doesn’t work that way, Aoife.” Finn shakes his head. “I understand if this is the last time you want to run with me.”

“This is the last time we’ll ever be alone together,” Aoife answers.

Her footfalls are heavy as she storms away from the cliff edge above the sea. She shifts fluidly into a black-flecked gray wolf.

Finn lets her go scrubbing his hand down his face. He whispers, “God give me the strength to find her. Please, God, let me find her.”

I blink hard a few times, my eyes dry.

Finn’s standing there, smiling and waiting for me.

The squirming inside me feels like lava rolling in my gut. It’s uncomfortable. It still doesn’t feel like my wolf, but whatever it is needs to be out.

Motioning toward the door, I usher him out. “I’m good. Let’s go.”

Finn nods and follows me down to the back deck. Frost has settled on the deck railing and the stairs. Down at the bottom of the stairs, off to the left, is the door to the small changing room to keep our clothes in. Finn follows me in, and with the two of us in here, it’s tight. It’s larger than my office at the university, but the air with him is thick.

“Faolan,” Finn beckons after I pull off my shirt.

I turn to look at him. Tits out, I feel ridiculous knowing the cold’s effects. Raising an eyebrow, I wait for more info from him.

“Am I supposed to ask you about your visions?” Finn’s question is genuine.

No one’s ever asked that before. Most of the time, people get weird about it, or they dive in trying to ask all the questions. Everyone wants to know what I know and if it’s about them.

Dumbly, I shrug. “You can if you want. I don’t normally talk about what I’ve seen, but sometimes I will.”

“So, when you’ve been with me, you’ve had three?” Finn’s pants fall to the floor.

“No.” I shake my head, turning away from him. “I’m not talking about that right now.”

“Fair enough.” Finn doesn’t press.

Why is he agreeable?

It’s barely below freezing as I step out into the cold night air, and I remember how unfair it is that I’m stuck in this awful climate. Why couldn’t we live somewhere warm? Sure, the trees are beautiful this time of year, but it’s only getting colder from here.

Finn closes the door behind him when he steps out of the room, and I wait for him. With each minute that passes, I’m more unsure that I’ll be able to shift.

Nervous energy must pour off me because Finn addresses it. “Relax, Kathleen, I’ll make sure you shift okay. Your wolf is there.”

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