When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 31 Finnegan

I nearly rip the door out of its frame as I open it with rage streaming through my veins.

Taking a few steps, I only catch my breath as I hear the door close behind me.

I nearly suffocate at the sadness and pain wafting through me, and I figure that they must be Artemisia’s emotions.

Fucking mate bond.

I think about going to town and fuck another she-wolf just to make her suffer.

To have her go through the pain I felt in that prison cell and is now pumping out into my chest.

But my wolf goes fucking feral at the sole thought.

It really takes all of me not to lose control and give over to my wolf who is fighting with all his might to get back to his mate.

The shattered glass that I took with me on my way out, crunches beneath my shoes as I reach the round reception desk situated in the middle of the station.

The two nurses sitting on their chairs shivering, and acting like they hadn’t just pissed themselves, look at me with big eyes.

They must have heard everything as we were shouting at each other, not thinking of the other patients who would have another perfect gossipy story to tell about me in town.

That I can’t even treat my mate decently.

“Hey,” I shout, hitting my hand on the desk, making them flinch. “Hurry up to clean the mess. A glass fell on the floor.”

“Sure, sir!” One of them stutters before she scurries off.

“And don’t slip on the blood,” I growl, starting to walk again.

‘Return to mate.’ Drake growls, making me chuckle.

‘Absolutely not, old boy!’

I try concentrating on my steps as I keep pushing him down.

But his desire to go back to her as her scent is vanishing gets stronger by the second.

‘She is scared. Mate needs us,’ he pushes forward again, making me groan.

‘Stop it! She is a fraud. She lied to us.’ I hiss at him, making him even angrier.

‘She is scared! Mate needs us!’ He repeats, making me roll my eyes.

‘Shut the fuck up!’ I growl, opening the double doors to the outside with a bang.

She called us monsters, and it burns my guts as I can’t really contradict her.

Because I’m certainly one.

Standing on the lawn before the pack hospital, I turn my forearm towards me to look at the long cut that a sharp shard slit from my wrist upwards.

‘Imagine if it had hit mate,’ Drake nearly whimpers, making me ball my fist.

‘Shut the fuck up!’

I watch my wound get surrounded with black smoke that seems to come out of it as it heals it instantaneously.

‘You weren’t honest with her either,’ Drake snarls, and I let my arm slump with a dry laugh.

‘Fuck off already.’

I start running into the forest, resisting the instinct to shift as Drake would surely hurry back to his mate.

Speeding up, I only stop in front of a border to another pack territory.

The pack warriors must already have been alarmed as they peek through the trees to watch my next steps.

I push out a single laugh as I push my hair out of my face and count about 20 guards sprawled around me on the other side.

You would need more than that to stop me.

Not wanting to start another trouble as Cayden will already be reprimanding me about my scene in the hospital, and I really don’t want Artemisia’s pack to think even worse of me, as they already complained to my brother about my mate-collecting mission, I slump down onto a big rock behind me.

“Relax, fellas. I won’t cross any border.” I laugh as the muscles in my limbs slowly relax after my hours-long run. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The sun is already peaking over the mountain tops as I take a deep breath and watch the landscape.

This part of the forest is slightly descending, enabling me to watch over the treetops to take in the amazing scenery.

I hate how my wolf sends pictures of my mate to my brain, making me want to have taken her to see it as well.

‘She wouldn’t care, Drake. Stop it!’ I rub my hands as I lean forward, propping my elbows onto my knees.

Wetting my lips, I let my head hang as I laugh to myself. ‘I fucked up badly, didn’t I?!’

Drake just grumbles, not giving me an answer as my heart squeezes, and I guess Artemisia must be crying again.

The wolves on the other side are still waiting in the wings, as I take a whiff of the air.

“I was wondering when you would show up,” I say, avoiding turning around to look at my brother.

“What are you doing here?” Cayden asks, and I shrug.

“Just enjoying the beautiful sunrise.”

He sighs as he steps next to me, probably scanning the wolves on the other side as well. “I was told by a few nurses that you did a scene in the pack hospital.”

“Ah, it was nothing. Just a little fight,” I groan, distorting my face.

“You can’t be serious, Finnegan.” He inhales sharply as he passes his hand over his face. “It was a great sacrifice by your brothers to stay away from the hospital to let you have a moment with her to find some harmony after what happened. How can you fuck it up?”

I laugh and wipe the dust from my jeans. “You should be used to it by now, shouldn’t you?!”

“Finnegan,” he says, his voice full of disappointment. “You already lost your title as Beta. Don’t lose your mate as well.”

“Sure,” I scoff. “I forgot how I should still worship you for not throwing me out of the pack. But you can stop acting all nice now. And just take her already.”

“What are you talking about?” He asks, feigning shock.

I shake my head, my gaze still locked on the rising sun over the mountains. “We already know that we will lose her to you. And she wants to be a Luna anyway, so congratulations, brother dear.”

“You are out of your mind!” He states, making me stand up and turn to him.

“Am I? Really?” I ask as he glares at me.

“She didn’t say anything in this matter. And she surely isn’t flirting with me while she spends all the time caring for her mates.”

Clicking my tongue, I turn away from him. “Argh, come on. I feel her emotions. And I was just a few rooms away from her room as I felt her affection for you streaming through her body. What did you talk about, huh? Did you already tell her how you want to have a piece of her too?”

“Watch it, Finnegan!” he warns me, his alpha command wafting over me, even if it doesn’t make much if not pricking a little bit.

“Wait.” The air suddenly shifts as he realizes something. “You felt her emotions?”

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “Precious, right?”

“How long has this been going on?” He asks, making me grin at him.

“From the first moment, I laid my eyes on her.”

He stares at me, taken aback, and I walk past him. “We saw how hurt you were as we smelled our mate at the souvenir you brought from the party. But don’t worry, brother. Your secret will be safe with us.”

Laughing, I shift into my wolf, to run back home and leave him behind.