“Cyrus is still out there Jessa,” Finn spoke carefully, his rage barely in check. “Without one of us at your side, I can’t protect you. Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Again.”
Jessa saw through his anger. Fear rolled off him. Fear for her. Because she’d been so caught up in what she needed she hadn’t stopped to think it through. He was right. Cyrus was out there. So was Byron. And if the farm wasn’t Ellen’s home, that meant there were more places the Others lived. More places and, likely, more Others.
“I won’t, I promise.” She slid her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry.”
…
Finn stood under the water, waiting and waiting… Until he knew something wasn’t right. She wasn’t in the room. And his wolf came undone. Not that he could go tearing around the hotel as a goddamn wolf. He’d tugged on his sweats and run, hoping he’d catch her scent and follow her. It was surprisingly easy. While he’d been worst-casing things, she’d headed straight to the other room. To Ellen. For answers, of course.
He’d leaned against the door, hair wet, shirtless, causing the hotel patrons to smile and whisper as they passed by. But he had to get a grip before he went into the room, had to rein in the urge to fight. There was nothing to fight. Only fear.
They had enough things to fear without his mind getting the best of him. Having Jessa back in his arms helped. But it didn’t er
ase the very real threats out there.
He hoped Hollis’s investigation would reveal Cara’s cause of death was the car accident. If not–they’d figure it out.
And Cyrus was loose. But the great alpha was afraid and, for the most part, alone. It would take time for him to rally reinforcements. Time Finn would use to learn everything he could about the Others.
Ellen was the key to that.
After they’d boarded the jet he’d charted to Montana, after Jessa had fallen asleep, he crept to the back of the plane to hash things out.
“What’s the plan?” Dante asked.
Finn glanced at Ellen.
Dante nodded.
“I can’t communicate telepathically with my pack so say what you want. I gave your mate my word. I keep my word.” She wouldn’t look at him, she had yet to make any eye contact with him. But he believed her.
“What, exactly, did you agree to?” he asked.
“To help with the whole pregnancy thing,” Dante muttered. “Is Jessa in danger?” his voice lowered.
“I don’t know—”
“Yes,” Ellen shifted.
Finn glared at her. “You know this because?”
Ellen shook her head. “My deal is with her. Not you.”
Finn sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’re going to strike a separate deal.” He sat in front of her, staring at her.
She smiled, looking at her hands. “No thank you.” He heard the snap to her voice, her wolf responding to his order.
But she wasn’t his pack. Was she? Could he make her obey him? Finn gritted his teeth, his wolf desperate to show her who was in charge. “I’m not asking.”
“Maybe we should wait until we land to get under each other’s skin?” Gentry asked, nervous. “Wolves in the sky—not something I’m equipped to handle.”
“Good call,” Dante seconded.
Finn sat back, watching Ellen.
She looked confused. Her gaze shifted from Gentry to Dante, stealing a quick glance his way. “You’re going to listen to them?” her question was tight.
Finn sighed. “I’d rather not. But, yes, I am.” He stood, ignoring her. “We’re heading to the refuge. Hollis can work best there. And, for now, it makes sense for us to be there. But if you need to go, I’ll respect that,” he looked at Dante. “I don’t think Cyrus will try again for a while. He didn’t like what he saw. We scared him. Which means, right now, we have the advantage.”