Ch. 9 Hope and Despair

Finnick’s POV

Searing pain coursed through me at my mate’s implied rejection. The strength of it threatened to knock me off my feet as I stumbled my way to the door. I should have been prepared for it. It was no more than I’d expected, no more than I deserved. Still, I’d let my guard down and now I was paying the price.

“She wasn’t supposed to be home!” I lamented aloud to myself.

By the time I realized she was really there, it had been far too late to rein in my wolf. Then we’d found her with another man and instinct took over. No wolf could sit back and allow another man to touch his mate.

Callum had taken over in less than a heartbeat, intent on claiming his mate and removing the threat. And though there was a small voice in my head telling me it was a very bad idea, it was miniscule compared to the joy and elation I’d felt at finally having her within my reach.

For the briefest of moments, I’d held her in my arms and it was everything to me. She was everything that I’d ever wa