Page 203 of The Heart of Winter

I blinked, hard. Swallowed.

Okay. That’s a lot. Double news. Wait, no, it was dumb. Stop.Hold the thought, Winter.

"Well, congratulations!" I tossed it out so lightly, it almost came off as rude. "I know you always wanted that. But with all due respect, I don’t think you’ve quite adjusted to your new alpha nose yet," I concluded dryly. "Because clearly, you’re having some serious olfactory hallucinations."

Finn frowned, eyes scanning my face. He hesitated. Like I said, Finn was a damn good psychologist. He knew what to say to calm down a twitchy, traumatized plane crash survivor.

"Yeah… maybe. The scents are still overwhelming. Honestly, it sucks, everyone smells so much stronger now. Most people stink."

I exhaled, relieved.

"You’re just in the adjustment stage, right? Everyone can make a mistake. But I admit, ever since I got back, my sense of smell’s been all over the place too. Must be from living in nature too long, everyone smells so intense to me now. I can even guess the level of mateship."

Finn stared at me, mouth slightly open, like he was talking to someone clearly delusional.

"Hmm…" he said cautiously. "I’ve never heard of nature enhancing someone’s sense of smell to that degree."

"Well, apparently, it did in my case," I muttered evasively.

And there it was again, that quiet, analytical pause as he studied me.

Poor Finn. He had to handle me like I was cracked porcelain. I knew he thought I was in denial. About a lot of things. (And I was.) But I just… didn’t want to go there.

Eventually, he gave up. He cleared his throat.

"So… tell me what happened."

"You probably read about it in the papers. No point in repeating it."

"Yeah, but it’s a miracle, you know. No one survives a fall from that height."

"From what I understand, I owe my life to Snow and Summer. You know… the omega who lives with my parents now. He has telekinesis, and Snow helped him focus his power on us just in time to stop the fall. That’s all I’ve got."

"Wow, sounds like magic. Your brother’s incredible. Are he and this… Summer a thing?"

I shrugged. "Nah, I don’t think so. Summer has serious trauma. But I don’t know. Snow’s not one to gossip."

"I always thought Snow was kinda creepy," Finn muttered with an awkward laugh.

"He is kind of creepy. But he’s a damn good brother," I added quietly. "He saved my life."

In those first hours after coming back, I had tried to thank them again, but Summer ran off to his room for the second time, and Snow didn’t say a word.

Finn nodded, then hesitated for a moment before suddenly asking, "And what about Sariel?"

I flinched slightly at the sound of his name.Slightlybeing an understatement.

"Have you talked to him since you got back?"

My jaw clenched so hard it ached. It had been three days since we set foot on the mainland, and I hadn’t exchanged a single text with Minty.

With difficulty, I admitted, "We haven’t been in contact yet."

Finn was scanning me again with that sharp, penetrating gaze.

"You have feelings for him?"

A surge of irritation welled up inside me. Finn and his directness. Maybe I liked it? In him and not only in him… But now it felt too… personal.

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