Chapter 5: A Chance at Happiness
1832 Words
Finn
“Are you going to tell me what happened out there?" Luce asked, climbing into the back of the black SUV with me.
I had the girls loaded into a different vehicle. Spending the ride back to the compound being judged, scrutinized, and berated by that woman was not how I wanted to spend my evening.
“What's there to tell?
The car lurched forward and the convoy was on the move. Absently, I glanced out the window, turning my head just enough to catch sight of the SUV following us with Vivian and her twin sister.
“Finn, she's your mate."
“We established that."
Luce cleared her throat. “Stop stonewalling me here. We've been through too much for that."
I sighed and rubbed my temples. After today, I'd need a good, long massage to work off this tension.
“I didn't come to the Solstice Ball expecting to find my own mate, you know that. This was supposed to be about finding mates for the other men. A few of them did, and that's good."
“I agree. But that's not the issue we're supposed to be talking about. This girl… she's the surprise."
“I couldn't simply ignore it, could I?"
“Why not? You know as well as I do that dragging her into this is not ideal."
I scoffed and looked out the window again, my eyes instantly drawn to the SUV behind us. My heart hammered against my chest, ready to break through my rib cage. I had double security around the SUV. That girl would try to bolt the first chance she got.
Since the moment I saw her at the Solstice Ball, I hadn't been able to look away. My wolf was so enthralled with her to a point I couldn't ignore. Finding a mate was the last thing on my mind, but there she was.
“After learning about what happened to Laurel…"
I tensed and snapped my eyes back to Luce. “It's done!"
Luce nodded and averted her eyes. I hated it when she did that. It was such a clear display of her disapproval.
I sighed again and ran my hands through my hair. “I don't understand why this happened. My chance at happiness came and went."
“Apparently, the Moon Goddess has other plans for you."
Scoffing, I looked at Luce again. She wasn't mocking me. There was a deeper emotion in her eyes that told me she empathized with all of this.
“What do you think of her?"
I growled under my breath. “She's bratty and headstrong. From what I know of Jackson Summers, he probably spoiled her rotten. She seems like the type that always gets her way and puts up a fight until she does."
Luce chuckled. “You formed that strong of an opinion of her based on your brief interaction in the courtyard?"
I arched an eyebrow. “What are you implying?"
“There is a fine line between love and hate."
“Who said anything about love, or hate for that matter? She's an annoying child!"
“Oh, I got a good look at her. She's anything but a child. And that dress… you do know that she was asked to dance more than anyone else until you showed up and staked your claim with that dark glare of yours. After that, no one would risk asking her to dance."
“Then they were smart not to." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Groaning, I turned away from Luce and watched the SUV behind us again.
This was all wrong. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. I couldn't deny that it was happening. I was so caught off guard by my wolf's reaction and the instant knowledge that she was my mate, I didn't have time to compose myself.
That slip could cost me everything. There was no turning back the clock, now.
“Jackson might have spoiled his daughters but he comes from a strong, loyal bloodline. They've been involved in Shadowmoon almost as long as your family and mine. She's a good match."
“Really!?" I spat. “She'll never be the kind of leader Shadowmoon requires. I can't see a girl like that ever measuring up to the demands of this life. She'll never be worthy of my position, prestige, or power."
Luce stared at me, face blank. I couldn't figure out what she was thinking but my outburst upset her, that much was clear.
“Don't count her out just yet. I spoke to her and…"
“Was she anything more than a stubborn, spoiled, brat?"
Luce rubbed her chin. “She's stubborn, I'll give you that. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Honestly, Finn, you could use someone that stubborn to challenge you."
“I don't need someone that challenges me," I barked.
“Oh really?" She quirked an eyebrow at me. “You've never had anyone that stands up to you."
“Don't you?"
She shrugged. “As much as I can. But I don't have the same stubbornness that Vivian has. It gives her resilience and strength. And if she's used to getting her way, that's not a bad thing. She'll fight tooth and nail to get what she wants."
“Which doesn't serve the organization."
“Unless what she wants is for the best of Shadowmoon."
Luce was actually making sense. It didn't sound so bad to have someone standing beside me willing to fight for what I wanted to fight for. Someone who would call me out and give me another perspective to consider.
I didn't have the same faith in Vivian that Luce had. She was too young and set in her ways to be of any use to me.
“She'll never measure up to… what I need in a mate."
“If you feel that strongly, then you should reject her rather than bring her into all of this. She doesn't want to be part of it. It would do you both a favor to reject her."
Every muscle in my body tensed and I flicked my eyes toward the SUV behind us. It stayed at the same distance to my car the entire drive back to the compound. If they fell even a foot behind, the driver knew he'd have to answer to me.
When I turned back to Luce, she had an expectant look in her eyes.
“I can't do that."
“Why not?"
“The same reason I couldn't ignore her when I realized who she was," I barked.
“It's not fair for you to do this to her. You know that. Just reject her and let her move on with her life. It'll hurt like hell but we both know it will be better, for both of you."
“It's too late for that now, Luce. You know that."
She shook her head. “We don't know that. You're acting paranoid and have no reason to think-"
I snarled and thrust my hand out, clamping it over Luce's mouth. Her big, brown eyes widened and I felt her jaw twitch.
“Do not test me! I have every reason to think about what might happen. This girl's presence is more of a threat than anything and I can't chance her being out there. You know that I know that. Don't pretend like turning her loose wouldn't come back to haunt us."
Luce swallowed hard and nodded against my hand. I pulled away and scratched my eyebrow as I turned to look out the window again.
“If I'd been prepared and controlled my reaction to her presence, then I could've rejected her in private and no one would be the wiser. Unfortunately, too many noticed my response to her."
“Don't beat yourself up. How could you have been prepared? There was no reason to think you'd find your mate."
“Well, it did happen. And we have to deal with it."
“Alright."
We fell into silence as the entire convoy sped down the interstate. Most of my business was conducted in the city limits of Baltimore but for the safety of my people, we kept the compound in the wilderness. I liked my privacy and it kept the human cops from knocking on my door whenever something related to Shadowmoon came up. They'd come to my office in the city instead and I could easily send them on their way.
City buildings faded into suburban homes. Soon, they faded too and we were driving out into the wilderness. Off the interstate, it was a five-minute drive to Shadowmoon property, a large acreage of forest and fields that had been in my family for generations.
The convoy turned down a private road lined with poplar trees. Tires grumbled on the uneven cobblestones through open fields until we got to the cul-de-sac at the end. A mansion half-hidden in trees peaked out at us.
It was a beautiful, lush space in Maryland, carved out just for Shadowmoon. Nights under the full moon were gorgeous when we could all run together. It seemed like an endless paradise, hidden away from the big city.
The SUV pulled to a stop but I didn't get out. I signaled the driver of the other car through the rear windshield. He'd keep the girls in there until I gave him a different signal.
“What do you want to do with them? I can have guest rooms made up inside."
I grunted and shook my head. “No. Put them up in the cottage."
Luce gasped. “You're joking right?"
I narrowed my eyes “Do I sound like I'm joking?"
“Finn, what are you trying to do to the poor girl?"
“I want her far away from the mansion. The cottage is the best option because it isn't currently occupied."
I knew my vague explanations weren't good enough for Luce. She wouldn't pry into my thoughts on the matter, which was one of the reasons she made such a good second in command. She might question me but she wouldn't push and she always got around to carrying out my orders.
“I'll do it but I want you to have an official complaint from me on the matter. If you're going to put her through all of this, you shouldn't make it harder than it has to be."
“I don't want her to have any illusions about what this is. We're not going to live out some fairy tale and run off happily ever after. She needs to know that now," I growled.
“Fine." Luce let out a deep breath. “What about security?"
“I want double security on them at all times. No excuses. I can bring in reserves from the city if need be."
Luce shook her head and mumbled something about making my own mate a prisoner.
- Writer
