1. Finn

Lingering on the wooden porch of the Cragstone packhouse, everyone is celebrating. A band plays, the full moon glows with summer drawing to a close. Joy, sex and happiness everywhere, but fuck all for me. Bitter but true.

“Beer?” nudges Alpha Cillian. My fox-haired leader studies me when I silently take the bottle. “Maybe try a smile? You’re allowed to enjoy a party you know.”

“It will take at least twenty more of these then,” I reply grimly, taking a hefty swig before grabbing the Alpha’s from him with a cheeky swipe.

“Hey, nothing crazy this month?” Cillian remarks cautiously. “Of course not Alpha,” I reply, adding a sarcastic salute that leaves him rolling his sky blue eyes. 

Everyone is happy. As the single women finally complete their skipping, weaving dance between the other unmated men of the pack there is the occasional yelp of delight. Another young couple finding their forever bond. A moon-forged connection stronger than blood, bribery or betrayal.

Lucky for me, I have already found my mate. Naomi. 

Except she was pregnant with another man's child and wanted nothing to do with me. Not so lucky.

That was over a year and a half ago, at another full moon party. My hand brushed her bare wrist by accident. We weren’t dancing, there was no magnetic draw to her across the room.  Her copper bobbed hair and brown eyes never held me enraptured from a distance. If anything we annoyed each other. 

As a Beta Warrior I had of course admired her. The woman and her twin sister are fucking lethal. Naomi and Leona Kharkov’s names strike terror into every man. 

Not least because they are completely adept at literally ripping balls off. They’ll do it. I’ve seen it. Testicles gone, man on floor, grins on their faces. 

Simply terrifying. Superb archers, scrappy knife fighters. Their martial arts skills are impeccable too. 

Except around two years ago both twins fell pregnant to the charming Beta Adrian of White Forest. They both adored him. Had an arrangement together and everything. I might have stood more of a chance with Naomi had Adrian been a bastard. But no, he was by all accounts, simply wonderful. 

Unfortunately he’s dead. 

Naomi wanted nothing to do with me. In fact her grief was still so raw it meant our mate bond contained no joy at all. Only grief and fear.

She would choose me to be dead instead of Adrian in a heartbeat. So she ran. Left her pack and her mate in the dust.

Like I say, lucky me.

It’s also incredibly strange watching your mate’s identical twin live her life. Leona is just as fiery except she now has little Aria constantly balanced on her hip whilst she points out deficiencies in wrestling grips. 

She clearly blames me for Naomi’s absence too.

/Don’t drink and think/ my weary wolf Adamo warns me, but those two beers from Alpha Cillian are long gone already. 

My wolf is right though. Wondering about Naomi won’t get me anywhere. Leona knows where her sister is, so does her mother. Our Alpha and Luna know. None of them tell me a thing. 

If I track her myself she’ll reject me. But I don't want to reject her. So I’m trapped. 

“Have you somehow gotten even bigger? Oh let me have a look at you…Finn, honestly I don’t know how you get shirts to fit you,” the tall, willowy figure of Diane Jackson purrs into my ear. Handing me another pair of beers she lingers on the porch. 

Her manicured hand rests on the wooden railing, a millimetre from mine. Long black hair and green eyes, figure squeezed into a clinging red dress. Fucking her a few weeks before discovering my bond was a mistake I’m regretting to this day.

So I’m huge. Tall and broad. My father must have some Lycan in him because even Alpha’s don’t compare. It’s forced me to fight harder and smarter. When your head is a trophy piece for the enemy, you don’t get second chances. 

“Sorry again about the roof,” I offer between sips. Diane did fetch me a fresh beer after all.

/Be eternally grateful you didn’t land in her bedroom/ Adamo groans forcing me to hide a smirk, /You’d still be tied up in there now./ 

Diane smiles, excitement flickering across her face that I’m replying to her. “Oh the roof is fine, it’s nice you got Sawyer to fix it for us.”

“It was the least he could do.”

My best friend had bet me Beta Easton would still be talking about different varieties of carrots by the time I walked across a row of cottages and I couldn’t resist. Except those thatched roofs are not designed for my weight. 

I’d shot through the roof on the very first step as my friends howled with laughter below. Apart from Easton, who was still talking nonsense.

“So what can I say to get you out on that dance floor?” Diana purrs, her hand finally jumping from the railing onto mine. Blood red nails make me stare down in absent minded curiosity until I snap back into reality. 

“Absolutely nothing. Excuse me Diane,” I snap, before quickly placing my half-finished beer down and striding away.

The whole pack is gathered in the centre for the party. I dart around the back of the wooden packhouse and into the shadows. If I’m fortunate I won’t stumble onto some newly mated couple rutting like dogs. 

“Hey Finn!” Diane’s voice rings out. “Wait!”

/Shit she is persistent/ Adamo and I groan in unison. People definitely heard her shout at me then. I can do without rumours.

“Sorry, I’m just heading out-” but instead of taking the hint she keeps walking until she overtakes me, her hips swaying extravagantly in red. 

My annoying, lovesick wolf points out that Naomi doesn’t need to do that flirty shit. She’s got a vibe all of her own.

Well Naomi isn’t here is she. She will never be here. 

Meanwhile Diane breathlessly makes her play, green eyes shining up at me with pure filth ready to tumble from her pouting lips. “Look Finn, surely you need to blow off some steam? I know I do. Living like a monk since she ran off? You could have a beer, or ten…or maybe we could think of something better to do?”

The way her eyes blatantly dropped to my crotch was surprisingly enticing. Someone who doesn't want to run from me. “There isn’t a girl here who wouldn't love to cheer you up. Especially me.”

Before I came to Shadowlands I dabbled in illegal bare knuckle fighting. There wasn’t a shortage of women who thought my ashy brown curls, muscles and grey eyes were a hit. One war against psychotic hybrid wolves and a runaway mate later has left me here. 

A desert-like dry spell. 

If Naomi tried to rip my balls off now I imagine dust would puff out.

Diane takes another step forward. Both her hands land on my chest and for once I’m tempted. Two years waiting for Naomi, how long is too long? “Ah, I see your wolf agrees with me! Mmm, your eyes suit that golden look.”

/Just tell her to fuck off/ Adamo growls sending a wave of a cold repulsion down my spine. Except before I can put Diane straight everything turns to shit. 

She lunges forward, her lips smashing into mine in a harsh battle for permission, slender arms around my neck, my hands fly to her waist as I try to put distance between us. Exactly the same moment as thumping footsteps burst around the corner.

“FINN!” screeches the final, smallest Kharkov sister, Phoebe. Seventeen, sporting thick, tall leather boots. Uniquely, her copper hair has white streaks running through it. After the war she woke up like that and ever since she’s been one moody, bratty teenage bitch since. “What the fuck is this! You and Diane?”

“What’s happening? I’m coming Phoebe!” shouts another female voice and to complete the misery of my evening Naomi’s twin sister Leona enters the scene.

A coven of judgement. Not helped by the triumphant Diane barely even flinching. Her hands remain on my chest, nails digging in, until I take a wide step to the side. “What!” I snap.

“You were kissing her, I just saw it!” Phoebe shouts as Diane smirks, checking her nails.

Leona scowls at me, her dark brown eyes unflinchingly harsh, “Finn how long has this been going on for?”

“Are you for real? Me and her!” I scoff, rolling my eyes as finally Diane takes a step back, wrapping her arms around her stomach and blushing. “She jumped me! Sorry I forgot I’m meant to be living in a damn cave waiting for a command from your sister…”

“Finn this is such a shitty thing to do-” Phoebe chimes in, trying to be part of an adult conversation with her white and copper streaks and scowling face. 

“Phoebe, this situation has absolutely nothing to do with you,” I growl. “Now get yourself home, you shouldn’t even be out.”

“I’m seventeen! I’ve got my wolf now, I’m not a child. You’re a cheating scumbag!” and even Leona snaps at her to calm down. 

Diane steps forward, her slinky red figure  and black hair standing between myself and a seething, all-black catsuit sporting Leona.

“He can do what he likes! So what if I kissed him? Like Naomi gives a shit anyway-”

“It doesn't matter if she does or not Diane, you know he has a mate!” Leona snaps but their argument drifts away from me. Because my wolf picks up a scent. The one he’s never given up hunting for. The gentle, nutty hint of almonds.

Around the corner strolls Naomi, her brown eyes piercing both me and Diane with furious judgement. /Fucking hell Finn/ Adamo groans.