An Alpha's Choice (Talon Pack #2)(11)

“I’m fine,” she lied.

Brie raised a brow. “I so don’t believe you. You’ve been out of sorts for a year now, and today was even worse.”

“You’ve only known me for a year, Brie.” Gideon mating with Brie had brought Finn into her life. She may have seen him in the distance in the past thirty years the Redwoods and Talons had been working together, but she hadn’t truly met him until Gideon and Brie’s mating ceremony. Finn had only been a child when she and her family had stepped in after years of war to try and help defeat the Centrals. She hadn’t seen him then, and since the moon goddess wasn’t truly evil, she wouldn’t have known Finn was her mate at that time anyway. They might have been fated to be together, but maturity mattered. Fifteen years later, when her friend Quinn had mated Finn’s sister Gina—the first mating of a Talon in far too long, and the first mating between the Packs—she’d only seen Finn from afar. He’d been an adult at that point, but still far too young for her.

Then he’d come to the den with Brie, and she’d been lost.

He’d looked right through her.

No, that was a lie. He’d checked her out, his wolf glowing in his eyes as if he liked what he saw. But that had been it. He’d been a male reacting to a female he wanted to f*ck.

He hadn’t been a man falling to his knees in rapture at the idea of a mate.

She’d been so angry when he hadn’t blinked, hadn’t felt what she’d felt. She might not have spoken about it to his face, but there would have been some form of recognition. She’d seen the reactions of others finding their mates enough to know what Finn should have done if they’d been mates and he’d felt it.

Of course, in the worst-case scenario, he could feel the potential of a bond and he chose to ignore it. She didn’t want to think about that. Because if that were the case, he’d seen her—felt her—and rejected her. It hurt to think that she’d rather fate have f*cked up and given her a mate that couldn’t feel what she did rather than one who didn’t want her at all.

Her wolf whimpered, a sign of weakness she’d rather chew her own foot off than show, and she ground her teeth.

Brie sat next to her, studying her face intently. “You’re in pain, Brynn. I can feel it, and you damn well know Brandon can. Gideon can as well, but he has so much on his plate, he’s choosing not to be the overprotective brother and try to fix all your problems for you. At least that’s how he’s choosing to deal with this for now. I don’t know how much our Alpha can hold back when it comes to you. He’d tear up the world more than it already is to protect you.”

Tears filled Brynn’s eyes and she cursed. She cleared her throat. “I think you’re confusing the two of us. He’d start another war for you.”

Brie let out a sigh. “You’re his baby sister. It doesn’t matter you’re over a century old. He’d do anything for you. He’d do anything for any of his brothers and cousins, too. That’s the kind of man he is and what makes him a wonderful yet sometimes overbearing Alpha.”

She snorted, knowing the overbearing part was accurate. “I’m fine.” She let out a breath. “I’m going to be fine. How’s that?” Because she wouldn’t let this all-consuming agony take over her life and risk her Pack. They were worth more than a bleeding wolf with no mate. Far more.

“I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong, Brynn. You’re my sister now. You know I’d do anything for you.”

“I’ve never had a sister, you know.”

Brie grinned. “Growing up with all those boys must have been hell. I don’t know how you and my Aunt Cailin did it. At least I have girls in my generation.”

“I didn’t mind it, actually.” She frowned. “They were there for me in the darkest days. Even when they were overbearing and so male, they were my blood. You know?”

Brie sighed, sadness filling her eyes. “I do. Gideon told me some of what your father did to all of you, but not everything.”

Brynn stiffened. No. She wouldn’t think about that, wouldn’t think about the past. Wasn’t it just a few minutes ago she’d told herself she’d live in the present? And yet, here she was, thinking about the piercing screams and endless trails of blood and memories. She’d learned long ago not to scream, even when it hurt too much to bear.

Brie held out her hands, careful not to touch Brynn. Oh so careful. “He didn’t tell me your secrets. You know your brother would never do that.” There was an edge to Brie’s words, and Brynn relaxed marginally. The woman defended her mate at the same time she tried to soothe Brynn. There was a strength there that others hadn’t bothered to see.

Brynn let out a breath. “I do. I’m sorry.” She ran a hand over her face. “I’m just a little off. It’ll pass.”

“If you’re sure.” It didn’t sound like Brie believed her one bit, but there wasn’t anything she could do about that at the moment. “I actually came over here to see what your plans were with Finn before we head back over to the house to meet with the rest of the family. I figured you might want to talk it over with just me before you’re bombarded by the testosterone that is the Brentwood men.”

Brynn held back a smile at the thought of the male-dominated family she lived in, even if she winced at just the mention of Finn’s name. Fuck, this wasn’t going to be easy.