Page 135 of Finlay
The ground was icy beneath my paws, winter making itself well and truly known. Christmas had been three weeks ago—the first Chester had spent at the clan house. Being the mate of our leader meant he could expect to spend several hundred more there too.
I was happy for them. I was. But hanging around to bask in their tender touches and quiet laughter had been too much to ask. Instead, I’d taken a shift watching Reid’s place. He’d refused invitations from Chester, Finn, and Logan to join them for Christmas.
At my urging, Logan had confided in Reid that I wouldn’t be there. I’d hoped that might be enough to get him to join the others.
It hadn’t been. Like me, Reid seemed content to spend the most festive day of the year in complete solitude.
He hadn’t been alone though. Not entirely. I’d stayed outside for twenty-four hours straight, silently standing guard and ensuring his safety.
It didn’t make up for what I’d done. Nothing would. Butfor that day, I didn’t run. Not even the usual perimeter laps we usually took during these shifts. I hadn’t wanted to leave Reid even for the minute that would take. He didn’t know I was close by, but I did.
I didn’t want him to be alone. Not on Christmas.
Not on New Years either. I’d taken that shift too, watching him through the window as the clock struck twelve. He hadn’t done anything to recognise the moment, just continuing to watch the true crime documentary he’d settled on.
My only acknowledgement was a silent wish for the man I’d failed.Please let Reid find the happiness he deserves this year.
Two more weeks had passed since then and we hadn’t exchanged a single word. Not that I expected us to. I had no intention of approaching him. He’d made it clear that my presence made him uncomfortable, and since the last thing I wanted to do was cause Reid any more discomfort, I kept my distance.
My insistence on being included in his guard rotation was the one concession I made to try and preserve my sanity. I had to know he was safe. ThatIwas doing something to keep him safe. It was over a decade too late. I knew that. But until we could be sure the threat from his clan had passed, Reid’s safety was all my life revolved around.
Even now, while not on shift guarding him, I couldn’t get him out of my mind. One of our warriors, Hamish, was currently on duty. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Hamish. I tried to remain close to Reid even when I wasn’t on shift, regardless as to who was watching over him.
Never before had I been so grateful that wolf shifters didn’t need much sleep to survive.
Not wanting Hamish to think I was questioning hisabilities, I was running perimeter circles around the town. Reid would be almost home right now, Hamish tailing him silently through the quiet evening.
I was about two miles away when an outer ward tripped. I skidded to a halt, my hackles rising. Ten seconds later, another ward tripped.
Right outside Reid’s home.
Fuck.
The ground blurred under my feet as I tore through the woods. My muscles bunched as I gave myself over to my wolf fully. He pushed us faster. Harder. We wove between the trees effortlessly, leaping cleanly over small streams and boulders.
With less than half a mile to go, a desperate howl rang out into the night. All my hair stood on end.Hamish.
He was in trouble.
And if Hamish was in trouble, that meant Reid was too.
I was running so fast now that even my supe vision was blurred. It wasn’t enough.Faster. Go faster.
More howls echoed through the darkness, this time from behind me. From the heart of the clan lands. Hamish’s call had summoned every warrior within earshot.
Good. I didn’t know what we’d be up against, but the more of us, the better.
Anything so long as Reid walked away from this.
Gravel flew in all directions as I skidded to a stop outside Reid’s home. My eyes swept over the scene, noting every detail.
Hamish slumped on the floor in his wolf form, lifeless eyes wide.
A jaguar shifter standing over him, maw dripping with blood. Waiting for Hamish to wake from his temporary death so he could put him down again.
Three more shifters in a circle in their human skin.
Reid sobbing in the middle.
