Page 134 of Finlay

I wasn’t sure which was more intense as I sank inside my mate—the heat of him or the rush of emotion along the bond.

“Fuck, m’eudail,” I groaned. “You feel so good.”

“Don’t make me wait.” Chester pushed back impatiently. “Fuck me hard and fast, Finn.”

Buddy was preening inside me. Finally, Chester was our mate. More than that, we were claiming him in the most physical sense.

Me though? I was thrilled because Chester was telling me what he wanted me to do to him. There was no blushing, no reservations, just him communicating what he needed. The knowledge that he felt safe enough to do so gave me almost as much joy as mating him did.

Almost.

I did as he asked, slamming into him hard and fast. My hands kept a tight grip on his hips, ensuring he wasn’t accidentally shoved against the hard edge of the sink.

“I thought of you too,” I snarled, angling my thrusts tohit his prostate. “Every fucking day, Chester. With every stroke, I thought about getting out of the water. Coming into your house. Bending you over and fucking you where you stood.”

“Finn…Oh fuck.” The lust was almost unbearable now, building into a release that promised to be epic for both of us. “I’m close.So close.”

“I’m going to do that one day,” I said, repeating my earlier promise. “I’m not going to warn you either. Just come in here and take you. Would you like that, m’eudail?”

Chester came with a cry and triumph flashed through me. It didn’t last long though, the combination of his orgasm and how he clamped down around me tipping me over the edge.

“Chester, oh god,” I gasped, leaning my head between his shoulders. I wrapped my arm around his waist to keep him steady and withdrew from him carefully, ignoring the mess that dripped to the floor. I’d clean up in a minute. Right now, I needed to hold my mate. “That was so good. You’re always so good for me, m’eudail.”

“Because you bring it out of me,” Chester said, straightening and turning to face me. “You’ve given me the confidence to find myself again, Finn. I’ll be forever grateful for the day you walked into my life.”

“Me too, m’eudail.” Contentment flowed through me as I pulled him into an embrace. I wasn’t even sure which of us was feeling it. It didn’t matter.

We were both happy and content, and I was going to make sure it stayed that way until the end of our days.

Epilogue

EVAN

Running was my refuge.

I spent as much time as possible in my wolf form. It didn’t give me total freedom from the guilt that chased me, but it was enough.

Enough for me to breathe. To try and remember the version of myself I’d once been. The one who didn’t have any stress aside from what came with being in the inner circle. It was a position I’d been proud to attain. At fifty-four, I was the youngest beta to ever rise to such a rank.

Now it was just another reminder of how I’d failed. I didn’t deserve to hold such an honoured role.

Not when I’d failed Reid as I had. A human. Achild.He’d asked for my help. For me to save him.

And I’d brushed it off as a joke.

It was why I ran so hard and fast now. If I kept moving, the shame could only nip at my heels instead of consuming me completely.

I’d considered letting it. In the initial days and weeks after learning the truth, I hadn’t tried to fight it. Itwas only the knowledge of Reid being in danger now that helped me push back the darkness.

I’d failed Reid once. I wouldn’t fail him again.

I didn’t expect his forgiveness, or for him to even tolerate my presence. I’d never be able to atone for what I’d done. Once this situation with his clan was resolved, I’d stop running. I’d let the darkness swallow me whole.

It was what I deserved.

I didn’t let the others see the depths I’d sunk to. They suspected I was struggling; I wasn’tthatgood of an actor. But they didn’t know that Reid’s safety was all that was keeping me going.

They didn’t know I expected to fall apart once everything had been taken care of.