FINN
I was awake, lying next to Spencer, watching her sleep. The fact that she survived the curse was a miracle, making this the happiest day of my entire life.
She looked happy too when she fell asleep, but during the night she jolted several times, which I knew was from the nightmares.
My lips slightly touched her shoulder, then, trying to be quiet, I got up and went downstairs to make breakfast so it would be ready when she gets up.
Liam was already awake, and I heard him go for his morning run. Alister was sitting on the patio, waiting for the coffee to brew.
“Morning.” Yawning, James came out from the study where he slept on the couch.
Spencer was alive. And most of it was thanks to Alister. He showed up at the last moment when I was completely drained of energy by Clare’s spell, and Spencer was barely breathing.
Alister, who was a hundred-and-thirty-year-old werewolf, was much stronger than me. Without a moment of hesitation, he took my place so Clare could channel his powers to save Spencer.
Why?
Why would he suddenly show up when he refused to help when I asked him? He even agreed to stay for a night when I offered him a room.
James has met Alister only a couple of times, but Liam and I have known him for years, and we knew how selfish and arrogant he was. So what made him change his mind?
“Maybe he wanted to be a part of this historical moment for our kind in case Spencer survived,” suggested James when I shared my thoughts with him. He sat on the stool at the kitchen island watching me fry some chicken as an addition to our normal breakfast menu.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s more than that,” Liam came in through the back door, returning from his run wearing only shorts and holding his t-shirt in his hand. “And he’ll let us know what he wants soon enough.” His eyes closed and his eyebrows moved up as he sniffed the air. “Mmm, chicken.”
“Yes. Spencer would be hungry for more than eggs and bacon after that shift.”
“Right. But don’t forget to count me in since I lost some blood after she bit me,” he made a comically pitiful face.
“And I got bitten too.” James blinked at Liam, grinning.
“Calm down, clowns,” I rolled my eyes. “There’ll be enough for everyone.”
Liam threw the t-shirt over his shoulder and headed to the living room.
“I’ll go take a shower.”
“Use the one on the first floor next to Alister’s room.”
“Why? We always showered in the second-floor bathroom. It’s bigger.” He turned around. “Are you afraid I’m gonna run into a naked Spencer?” He smirked. “Are you jealous?”
“She’s using mine, you moron. It’s for Clare.”
“Oooh. She’s using yours.” He and James exchanged a humorous glance. “You lucky son of a bitch.”
“I know, right?” James spread his hands, trying to look shocked, but couldn’t stop grinning.
“The heir of the Great Alpha herself. What the hell does she see in you?” Liam kept poking fun at me.
Lately, I’ve rarely seen Liam in a good mood, and I was glad to see him having fun, so I just laughed with them at a few more of their stupid jokes.
* * *
SPENCER
I was in bed, and I could hear the boys laughing downstairs. That was so strange. Everything felt so strange.
“I’m a wolf.”
Yeah. It sounded crazy. And it felt just the same. Crazy hearing. Crazy scent. Crazy sight. And sex with Finn, which I thought was already so perfect, now was just . . . crazy.
My whole body moaned from memories of last night with him in the woods. I was glad we didn’t do it in the house, which was full of wolves, and everybody would’ve heard us from every floor and corner no matter how big the house was.
Good morning, love, I spoke to Finn in my mind, hoping I was doing it right and he’d hear me.
You’re awake. Hi. I could feel him smile as he replied from downstairs. Breakfast is almost ready.
I was having a conversation with my boyfriend from the second floor to the kitchen without speaking the words out loud.
Like I said. Crazy.
Finn laughed. You’ll get used to that.
You heard that too?
Yep. And you’ll learn to disconnect. So I’m your boyfriend?
I love you. The rest is up to you. You can call it whatever you want.
I love you too.
I’ll see you in a bit . . . Over.
He laughed again.
* * *
Before going downstairs, I went to Mom’s room to make sure she was awake. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t in the kitchen either.
“Good morning,” I said to James and Liam, already sitting at the table.
“Same to you,” Liam smiled.
“Hi, Spencer,” James beamed at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Great.” Looking at them a little alarmed, I asked, “You can’t hear my thoughts, can you?”
“Of course we can.” Liam stared at me as if I asked something stupidly obvious. “You were thinking what a good looking and smart man I am.”
Did I?Wait a second.No, I didn’t.
“Seriously?” Shaking his head, Finn gazed at Liam. “No, he can’t. Not until you address him directly.”
I chuckled. “Actually, I was wondering where Mom is.”
“She’s having coffee with Alister on the patio. She’s trying to be nice to him . . . you know, like saying thank you.”
“She already thanked him yesterday. A bunch of times,” said James.
“I’ll call them.”
“I just did.” Finn took my hand and pulled me into his arms.
Through their wolfy mind connection, Finn offered Alister the option to stay over last night, and by the time the two of us returned from the woods, it was late, and everyone was so exhausted that they were already asleep.
Except for Mom. She was in her room, awake, as she said, hoping that I’d come say good night to her so she could see I was okay. And of course, I did. I wanted to see that she was okay, too, hug her, thank her for saving my life, and tell her that she had nothing to worry about anymore.
Well, at least not about that damn curse that nearly killed me.
After that, I went to bed too, and I didn’t see Alister. All I knew about the man who helped save my life was what Finn told me. His name was Alister McDonnell, and he was a hundred and thirty years old, big-headed, smug, pain in the ass.
After such a meager description, I was having a hard time imagining what that mysterious man would look like. And I was pretty surprised by what I saw when he walked in after Mom.
I was looking at a handsome man in his late forties, with short chestnut hair, wearing a black shirt and beige pants. The first thing that caught my attention was his dark eyes radiating a sly smile that barely touched his lips.
Finn let go of me and I took a step toward Alister.
“Hi.” I held out my hand. “I’m Spencer.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Spencer.” With his smile intact, he shook my hand. “I’m Alister.”
“Finn told me what you did, and I can’t thank you enough for—”
“Oh, that was nothing compared to what we all got in return.” His expression slightly changed, and I noticed some kind of admiration in his look. “The rise of a unique wolf I never thought I would witness.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, and I just shrugged with a smile.
“Sorry, I’m still not sure what it all means.”
“Of course you don’t. And I think it’s time we fill you in.”
“How about we have a normal breakfast first? Clare.” Finn pulled out a chair for her at the head of the table and Mom sat down.
Finn and I sat next to each other across from Liam and James, me close to Mom, leaving the other head of the table for Alister.
“Did you sleep okay?” Mom asked quietly while the others were helping themselves to the food.
“Had a couple of weird dreams. Otherwise,” I jerked my shoulder, “I’m fine.”
My mouth watered as Finn put pieces of fried chicken on my plate.
Mom chuckled. “You must be hungry.”
“Starving,” I nodded and picked up the crunchy chicken leg.
“This story will ontinue”