DARCY POV
"We are all fine... It's dad. He's sick. Pack doctor can't figure it out. He can't fulfill his duties right now. Daniel is needed here. I am basically human. Emma is enjoying her first semester at a college across the country. It has to be you, Fin. You need to go home and help mom," Stanley says as Tabitha rubs his back.
He is keeping his tone even for his younger brother, but we can all see his face. He looks practically ill as he relays the news about Alpha Forest to Finley.
Marcie called four or five hours ago and Stanley has done nothing but plan. He immediately started emailing the Northern Gray pack's doctor and corresponding with Emma, who sounds like a brat.
"Yeah...."
"Yes, he is okay."
"No, Dan said for all three of you to go. It gets dicey in those woods so you need the backup, Fin. Once you get there Lewis and Killian can return. Grab your packs and head that way tonight. Mom needs you now," Stanley says as he brings his hand to his forehead.
My heart twists a little and my inner animal gets worked up. Just hearing Killian and Finley's names together affects my body. I want both of them back here. I want Killian in my arms and I want to see Finley's face so I know he is okay.
I know it's wrong of me to want to hold someone other than my mate, but I truly love Killian. We grew up together. We have fought side by side. We got married and tied ourselves together. While we did choose not to mark each other my marriage is still important to me. I refuse to be like my mother. My father cried his heart out for months over her betrayal. Just because my animal chose someone doesn't end the relationship I created.
"Yeah, you too," Stanley says before putting the phone down on the counter and drawing my attention back to him.
He sighs loudly and keeps his upper face hidden with his hand. Sam and Mariah exchange a quick look from the other side of the massive island while Tabitha keeps her focus on her upset mate.
Very few illnesses bring down shifters, and none of them are good. So the stress coming from the pack is understandable especially since they have been going through hard times. Daniel hasn't even come back out of his room since Luna Marcie called them crying.
"Your dad is tough. We just saw him not that long ago. He will be okay," Mike says trying to bring the energy in the room up and his little human nods in agreement with his words.
Stanley's hand falls to the counter top and we all freeze as we spot the tears on his face.
"Yeah, but it's most likely cancer. The pack doctor... He told me in an email. He didn't want Mom to know just yet, but he told me that is his guess," Stanley says and Benji growls.
Cancer. Every shifter fears the word. A sickness that renders wolf healing practically useless. A sickness that requires treatment that most of our clinics don't have. Human facilities are more equipped in treating cancer, but we can't risk the exposure to seek medical attention for prolonged periods.
"Your parents pack is bigger. Do they have the equipment," Boyd asks with a hint of desperation and Stanley shakes his head.
"Dad would be the first," Stanley says and a pessimistic fog begins to fill the kitchen before Samantha slams her palm down on the island.
"Then we bring in a specialists that know about us in. We pay for your dad's treatment. We have the funds. Andrew's estate was triple what I got from the Laynes. Let me use it," Samantha says and Stan stares at her for a second before smiling.
"Alright. I will call around. The council is still assembling new members so it might take them a few days to get back to us with a name, so I will do my own searching. We will get this taken care of," Stanley says with a small grin and Samantha smiles.
"We aren't losing anyone else. I refuse," Samantha says and her friends beam at her.
The heartwarming moment pulls at my heart and I am once again reminded that I made a choice. Mating Finley would lock me in with these amazing people for life, but my decision is final.
I sigh and slip away. The pack members normally leave me be. The females have given up on including me in their activities. Samantha even gives me the stink eye when she thinks I am not looking. Probably angry at me for not bonding with the pack. I don't think any of them know about Finley and me. I have done a good job of keeping myself distant from him.
I get to my bedroom and close the door. It feels weird being in our room without Killian since his smell is everywhere, but I still enjoy it more than being out there. His scent is the only place that feels like home. After losing my dad he was the first person I bonded with.
I dive onto our bed and grab his pillow. I already did my share of the chores today so I know they won't bother me unless there is another emergency.
"Mmm," I whisper as I breathe in his scent.
My inner wolf even relaxes a little due to the familiarity. I know she would enjoy Finley's scent more but that's a pointless thought.
I bite my lip as my mind does another mini battle.
Finley was an unexpected twist when we drive up on that first day, but I swore to myself as soon as my eyes locked with his that I wouldn't forfeit my marriage. Killian means more to me than that and I won't throw him away like garbage.
I nod my head to silently agree with myself and turn over on my back.
I like this. I like being able to think. When I am around the others my brain can't focus on anything but them. My mind wants to evaluate all of them as if they were a mission, but they aren't another mission they are my pack... My Pack.
Pack life is so strange to me. I have never had a large family to bond with. I had my parents, then just my dad, then the council and Killian. There were a couple of others who trained with us but they were only acquaintances. I didn't bond with them. My wolf and I are just used to more solitary living. I don't dislike the atmosphere here in this pack. It is just uncomfortable with my mate here and hard to shut off years of training.
I sigh as he enters my mind again. Finley. Finley. Finley. My mate...
I squeeze my eyes closed and repeat what I have been telling myself since day one.
Finley is just a bump that tugs at my inner animal. As time goes on that tug will lessen. He will find someone that he cares about and we will live in peace. Killian will never know and neither will anyone else. We will live out our lives being happy for one another... maybe even friends.
"And maybe tomorrow I will poop cupcakes," I mumble to myself as I realize just how diluted I sound.
One of us will have to leave. Killian hates it here so it should be us. Finley is needed in the Northern pack for now, but eventually he will want to return home. When he does I will tell Killian we can leave. The pack should be able to rebuild during this time and I won't feel guilty about leaving. The council members who orders us here were removed from office and Daniel shouldn't have a problem letting us leave. Killian has been a thorn since we got here so they will probably be happy to see us leave.
My heart twists again as I think about leaving Finley, but I ignore it. This is the life I have chosen.
FINLEY POVDad's sick.The biggest strongest wolf I know is sick. He is never sick. He is like a mountain. He is always standing tall. Nothing shakes Dad. He is my hero. He has always been the male we can count on for everything. Every problem we have ever had has been solved by Dad. How can he be sick? Lewis whines from beside me as he senses my mood, but I keep my muzzle pointed straight. Getting to the Northern pack will take us all night and I don't have the energy or patience to address anyone. I just want to run. I can't take anymore. I feel as if my body is constantly anxious. It has been one blow after another... Adam killing his mother and abducting Samantha and Angelica, Lauren betraying us and killing David, Mariah losing her son, Grace and Andrew dying, Stanley coming back from death, and Darcy showing up married. Now Dad is sick, and I am losing my composure. I have tried to remain positive. I have been the one to offer support to the others. I have tried to keep my em
LEWIS POV"Finally. I can not wait to charge my phone," Killian grumbles as we pull our clothes from our packs and I freeze. Finley is radiating so much emotion and any slight comment could set him off. I glance over at him to find his usual cheerful face drawn into a deep frown. The skin between his eyebrows looks like mountains it is so scrunched. He must be focused on his dad. Killian's negative attitude doesn't seem to matter to him anymore. "Lewis, take Killian to the guest house we normally use, then meet me at the main house," Fin mumbles in a low unfamiliar voice as he finishes buttoning his jeans. "Got it," I reply trying to sound light and agreeable. He needs me to comply right now and I have no problem doing just that. Killian is shooting daggers at him for some reason, but I won't add anything to his plate. If he wants me to drop the brat off at a separate location I will. Fin gives me a single nod before walking off in the direction of the Gray home and I turn my at
FINLEY POV"I hate to break this up, but Forest's condition needs to be addressed before you can properly get to know one another," Mom says, as Killian stares at Darcy's look alike like a deer in headlights. Marcie leads Bella away, and I am slow to follow behind them. My instincts are telling me this is a good thing. Killian has found his mate and Darcy should be free. My wolf feels content and happy, but my heart feels as if there is a wall. After that barn conversation with Darcy, my feelings toward her seem cold. She chose him over me. Nothing else really matters at this point. No matter what Killian decides, my mate already chose and she didn't choose me. "Stay out here, boys," Mom says quietly as we approach her bedroom and my head clears a little. I stop right outside their door as concern for my Dad returns full force. The issues with my mate and her husband can wait. They don't concern me anyway. Lewis comes to a halt beside me, looking anxious, and Killian stays back a
DARCY POV "Fin sounded so worried about his mom and his dad. The Doctor has all but confirmed Forest has cancer. Now we are just waiting to know the specifics from the blood tests," Sam whispers to the other females and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My senses are on high alert. It's been almost 24 hours since Lewis sent a message saying they had arrived in the Northern Gray pack, but Killian has yet to call or message me. I have left him a dozen voice-mails and texted countless times. Lewis and Finley have been checking in and calling the others with updates, but Killian isn't responding to me. "I am sure it is hard accepting that Forest is sick... Are we sure we can help with the treatments? I mean, yes, a few doctors know about us, but a specialist. That is someone who will be hard to find. What if they are out of the country," Mariah asks in a gentler tone than usual. Trevor touches her cheek, and her attention turns from Samantha to him. I look her ove
FINLEY POV The gentle neighs from the horses around me filter through my sensitive ears as my brain continues to drift through thought. Food, water and reproduction, those are the only things wild animals care about. The horses we tend to and the cattle we raise have no drama in their lives. They live every day as if it were their last. They learn from their pasts, but they do not dwell on their futures. They do not plan. Their lives are lived day by day. If only I could shut that part of my brain off too. If only I couldn't dream or wish about the things I want for tomorrow. If only I were a wolf all the time. "Fin? You in here man," Lewis calls and my head snaps in the direction of the tack room door.I don't know how long I have been standing in front of the manure shovels and wheelbarrels, but it must have been a while for Lewis to come looking for me."Yeah, just putting up," I say in an easy going tone to bypass any suspension about why it's taking me so long to come inside
FINLEY POV For three solid days, I have listened to Killian mope about running the cameras or brag about his council missions with Darcy. It is at the point where each time he opens his mouth, I want to tear my ears off. I can no longer eat or sleep. I am just seething. His ego is the size of Alaska and I just want him to shut up so we can complete our job. Today alone has been particularly bad. "Hey Fin, you good," Lewis asks as we walk into the cave we are calling home for the night. I nod without meeting his concerned gaze and he sighs. "I haven't heard a wisecrack in over 48 hours," Lewis says, digging deeper, and I grind my teeth. Usually, I disguise a bad mood, concern, or give advice through light-hearted jokes, but I feel too sick to my stomach to laugh about anything right now. Even a fake laugh would make my mouth fill with bile right now. Killian just finished describing how much he is looking forward to returning to his wife for some much-needed sexual time, a