Page 89 of Finlay

“Because Evan knows when to drop it,” I said warningly.

“Please.” Logan rolled his eyes. “If Chester’s going to spend more time here, he needs to get used to the fact that death and disembowelment threats are part of our daily discourse.”

He wasn’t wrong, but did he have to bring it up during Chester’s first visit?

I turned to Chester with a sigh. “Sadly, he’s right. Supes tend to veer towards the more violent end of the scale because we heal fast and are difficult to kill permanently. Not that you need to worry about that violence being aimed in your direction.”

No, my inner circle looked scandalised at the thought.

“We would never,” Logan said. “Even if you weren’t Finn’s…date, we’d still protect you. That’s how it is for all humans under our jurisdiction.”

Evan winced, shifting in his seat. I knew exactly whathe was thinking about. From how Chester tensed beside me, he did too.

“Reid will come around,” Chester said quietly. Evan looked at him in surprise. “What he went through wasn’t your fault. That was on his family, not you.”

Evan hadn’t listened when I told him this, and from the tight smile he offered Chester, I knew this wouldn’t make a difference either.

Logan spoke up suddenly. “Chester, what made you go into floristry?”

Gratitude filled me as Logan and Chester fell into easy conversation. It gave Evan some time to pull himself together.

Not completely though. I wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to do that. The bloke wasn’t sleeping. Was barely eating.

He was letting the guilt eat him alive instead.

He managed to get it together enough to join in and ask Chester a few questions. I kept a careful eye on him though, and I knew both Logan and Calan were doing the same.

The rest of the dinner passed in a flash. Despite all my fears, Chester was relaxed. I’d heard him laugh more tonight than I ever had before.

We’d cleared our plates when Chester confessed something suddenly. “I’m not going to lie, I was nervous to meet you all.”

My chest swelled. Not at what he’d said, but because he was opening up. This was a man who’d been taught that letting others close led to pain, but here he was, putting himself out there.

For me.

Calan frowned. “Why?”

“Because I like Finn.” Chester shot me a shy smile, his hand finding its way to my thigh. “I didn’t want to fuckthis up. But you’ve been so welcoming and kind. I can see why Finn is so happy here with you all.”

Chester hadn’t said those words hoping to win the others over. He genuinely meant them. But the result was the same regardless. All they’d wanted was for me to find someone who wanted me like I wanted them. Someone who cared enough to try. Who understood the vital role the clan played in my life and overall happiness.

With a few simple sentences, Chester had hit each of those notes.

The reaction from the other three was instantaneous. Evan smiled. Logan gave a little squeal.

And my brother, the grumpy fucker of a wolf, gave Chester a massive grin.“Welcome to the clan, Chester. I think you’ll be happy here too.”

Chapter 26

Chester

Dinner lasted long after the plates had been cleared. Usually, my social battery would’ve been drained hours before, but it wasn’t. Sitting there, seeing how they all interacted, taught me more about Finn than any conversation could have.

He was kind. Funny. Firm. Ridiculously intelligent and perceptive. Watching him with the others suddenly made it easy to understand why he was the leader.It was in the stern way he had only to say one of their names to make them fall in line. How he remembered the minute details of what each of them had had on that day. How he’d understood Evan’s struggles and recognised the way Logan’s ridiculousness was bringing me out of my shell.

The dynamic between the four of them was fascinating too. Despite only Calan and Finn being blood related, a sibling-type bond existed between them all. It was in their teasing banter and the funny stories they competed to tell.

I knew without asking that this was a group who’d go to the mat for each other. They already had by coming running to the shop when Finn had called. Sure, as theirleader, I guessed they had to obey him, but I suspected their loyalty ran deeper than that.