She couldn’t imagine it. Finn was a measured man. His life and his work put him in a place of ultimate control. No wonder he fought the change—and his wolf. At the same time, if Cyrus was coming for them, maybe Finn needed to let his wolf take charge.
The howls started again. “That sounds different.” She glanced at Hollis, the surprise on his face drawing her to her feet. “What is it?”
Hollis stood as well, his face hardening. “Mal is here.”
“Malachi? Isn’t that good?” she asked, curious. Finn would be happy. Even though he’d only mentioned him a few times, it was clear he and Mal had been close, and Finn felt his absence.
Hollis shook his head. “Stay here.” He headed for the door.
Maybe it was the look on Hollis’s face, or the sudden eerie quiet from outside, but Jessa knew something was very wrong. Oscar must have sensed it, too. His thin wail startled her, breaking off before he cried out with more gusto. She hurried to the crib.
“Oscar,” she whispered, staring at the restlessly sleeping baby. But it wasn’t the Oscar she knew. In his place was a small gray wolf, curled into a tiny ball. Small ears, small tail, and shiny black nose. “Oh, Oscar.” She’d known there was a chance. But… Tears stung her eyes as she gripped the side of the crib.
“He’ll be fine, Jessa.” Hollis patted her hand. “Let him sleep.”
She stared at Oscar, wanting to hold him close. Wolf or not, he was a baby. Her baby. She reached into the crib, stroking thick, soft fur instead of baby-soft skin.
“I need to go make sure Finn and Mal don’t kill each other,” he said before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
It took a few minutes for Hollis’s words to sink in, but by then he was gone and she was staring at the thick wooden door. “Kill each other?”
Finn and Mal were friends. Finn was his alpha. Wasn’t he? She was tired of questions. Of not knowing. But then, she was so new to this world. Finn and his pack were still discovering things, and they’d been this way for ten years.
The wind picked up, carrying the sound of movement outside. The howling started again, breaking off suddenly, followed by a menacing growl. Whatever warm welcome Finn had issued minutes before was gone. The sound of fighting was unmistakable, even to Jessa.
Oscar whimpered, his agitation increasing as the sounds grew louder. He curled tighter, his paws drawn in and his nose buried. She placed her hand on his back, marveling once more at the transformation.
The noises outside grew more fearsome. Surely it wasn’t Finn’s pack. It must be the wolves. Maybe they sensed something.
But what?
Last she’d heard, Cyrus and the Others had no idea Finn’s pack was here. The only thing they’d had to fear was the moon, and now, that was over.
“It’s okay, Oscar.” she soothed, hoping she was right. Oscar’s heartbeat raced beneath her palm. When she lifted her hand, he whimpered and fussed.
She picked him up, smiling as his wet nose pressed against her collarbone. She wrapped the blanket around him and carried him to the bed. He lay, his eyes barely open, and yawned widely. Even as a wolf pup, he was the most precious baby she’d ever seen. She lay beside him, pulling him close against her stomach and humming softly. She ran her hand down his back in slow, gentle strokes until he eased back into a deep sleep. He was soft and sweet and helpless. He made the same sounds he always did, the same muscle twitches and full body stretches, even if he was no longer human. She rested a hand on his back. As much as it hurt her heart to know this was what his life would be, she couldn’t deny she was relieved he’d made the change so easily.
“Sweet dreams, little man,” she murmured.
It was silent. Too silent. While Oscar slept easily, she was nervous and on edge. Hollis should have been back by now.
“We’re safe,” she assured Oscar, assured herself. “Everything’s okay.”
But the longer they were alone, the more she wondered. What if the Others had found them? Was Cyrus here? Or Thomas? She shook her head. No, Finn would protect them. No matter what, she believed that.
The slight clicking on wood made her stiffen. She hadn’t heard the door open, but she tensed, certain she and Oscar were no longer alone. Every instinct told her to move, but where the hell was she supposed to go? Should she run? Take Oscar and hide?
She sat up quickly, her heart in her throat, and came eye to eye with the biggest wolf she had ever seen. Her hands gripped the edge of the bed as she leaned back, digging deep for calm and strength.
The wolf stepped forward, its ears cocked toward her, its eyes fixed on her face. It had the bluest eyes—just like Finn’s. She swallowed, her hold easing on the mattress and her heart rate slowing. The wolf stepped forward, a soft whimper rising from his broad chest.
It was Finn.
His blue eyes were unmistakable. The way he looked at her was unmistakable. “Hi,” she whispered. He leaned into her, rubbing his face along her jaw, burying his nose in her hair. She wrapped her arms around him, her fear evaporating.
Oscar squeaked, and Finn stepped away from her, his nose scenting the air around Oscar. He cocked his head to the side, a soft whimper in his throat. Jessa lifted the blanket so he could see his son. Finn made an odd noise at the back of his throat, his blue eyes returning to her.
“He’s sleeping. He’s fine.” She marveled at how easy it was to have a one-sided conversation with a wolf—a wolf whose shoulder was bleeding. “Are you okay?” she asked, reaching for him without thought.