Page 70 of Finlay

I had to wonder, why wasn’t he asking them? Did he think it wasn’t his place? That us sleeping together wasn’t a good enough reason for him to demand some answers?

Or was it because he didn’t want to be involved? Did he suspect this would likely have a violent outcome? Did that make him not want to be with me anymore, given what he’d been through?

Clearly, Chester wasn’t the only one with questions. I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to mine either. Not if it meant having to walk away from him before we’d truly begun.

“Then, Reid, why don’t you come on back with us to the cl—house.” Calan caught himself just in time. Another reminder that the sooner I let Chester in on our world, the better. “We can discuss how best to keep you safe.”

Reid lifted his chin defiantly. “I can keep myself safe.”

Evan’s response was dubious. “Against your…family?”

The look he shot in Evan’s direction was pure ice. “I’ve been doing it all my life, Evan. I asked for your help once before. I’m not asking for it again.”

I took a step forwards as Evan shoved himself off the wall. But he wasn’t going for Reid.

No, he was leaving.

None of us moved to stop him. Not with how he was vibrating. Evan needed to shift and run for a while. To burn off some of his guilt and shame before dealing with Reid.

Reid watched Evan until he disappeared from sight. He bit his lip, as though debating something.

“You were a child,” I said quietly. “Evan didn’t know any better.”

All guilt vanished as he turned that icy glare on me. “He should have.”

Logan watched on curiously, along with Chester. While Chester knew more than the others, I suspected he also knew there were large parts of the story that we were keeping from him. Logan, on the other hand, hadn’t been filled in on Evan’s connection to Reid.

I sighed. “If he’d known, he would’ve acted. I promise you, Reid, no one regrets what happened more than Evan.”

“That’s not true,” Reid murmured. “I think you’ll find I win the regret trophy, thanks very much.”

“Okay I have no idea what’s going on,” Logan said suddenly, moving up next to Reid and looping his armthrough his. “Obviously there’s some tea justdyingto be spilled. But I like you, Reid.”

Reid side-eyed Logan. “You barely know me.”

Logan waved that off. “Meh. You have a flair for the dramatic and can apparently hold a grudge almost as well as I can. That’s all I need to know.”

Reid snorted, some of the tension leaving him. “Thanks, I guess.”

“You’re welcome,” Logan chirped. “Now, I know you’re feeling weird fuzzy things about opening up to Evan and him keeping you safe, but he’s just one part of the…what did you call us?”

I groaned internally as Calan slapped a hand over his eyes. Yep. Called it.

“The furry cavalry.” Logan snapped his fingers in triumph. “Anyway, you have three other cavalry members here to help you. What do ye say?”

Reid bit his lip again, his eyes drifting to the woods Evan had vanished into. “I’ll just be dealing with you three?”

Fuck, I hated this. But as much as I wanted to have Evan’s back, I needed Reid safe more. Not just because of his proximity to Chester, but because he was a human living on our lands. “Just us three.”

Chester stepped forward suddenly, his lips thin. “Reid, you don’t have to go with anyone if you don’t feel comfortable. If you’re worried about being in danger, maybe we should call the police.”

We all winced, Reid included. The police were the last people we wanted involved in this, especially given it was likely to end in violence. It always did with shifter conflicts. While treaties and diplomacy got us a certain way along the path to peace, they were never enough. Our naturescommanded us to dominate any threats. To make them submit to our strength.

I wasn’t concerned about it. The four of us alone could easily overpower the entire Clarkson Clan if needed.

But with Chester now in the equation…I was suddenly keen to find the fastest resolution possible.

“No,” Reid said, detaching himself from Logan to address Chester. “I don’t want the police involved, Chester.”

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