Taken by the Outcast Alpha (Whispers of Fate)

16. Sage

Chapter sixteen

Sage

I feel Finn's muscles start to relax as we pass the "Welcome to Jackson" sign. The tension that's been radiating off him for miles begins to dissipate, and I allow myself a small sigh of relief. We're not out of danger yet, but at least we've made it this far.

Finn guides his bike to a stop next to a line of parked motorcycles. The rumble of the engine dies, and for a moment, the sudden silence is almost overwhelming.

"I need to go find Derek," Finn says, as he glances down the street.

I scoff. "If you think for one second you are going off by yourself, you sorely underestimate me."

Finn turns to look at me, surprise evident in his amber eyes. I can see the conflict there, the ingrained instinct to protect warring with the realization that I'm not some helpless damsel. It's clear he's used to shouldering burdens alone, carrying the weight of responsibility on his broad shoulders.

"I'm not leaving you..." he starts, his tone caught between reassurance and uncertainty.

"No, you aren't," I interrupt, my voice firm. "So, where do we look for Derek?"

Finn pauses for a moment, then pulls out his phone. His fingers move swiftly across the screen as he checks for messages or missed calls. Finally, he looks up at me with a hint of a smile.

"My best guess, knowing Derek, is to follow the food."

I follow Finn as we approach the food trucks, my senses on high alert. The aroma of grilled meat and fried food wafts through the air, but it does little to calm my nerves. Suddenly, a man's voice cuts through the ambient noise of the rally.

"So the rumor is true. The Alpha of Silverclaw isn't traveling alone."

Before I can react, Finn moves with lightning speed. He grabs the man and shoves him against the nearest wall. I'm startled by the sudden aggression, but I can feel the tension radiating off Finn.

"Did something about my message make you think I wanted that announced like that?" Finn growls, his face inches from the other man's.

The stranger's eyes widen, and he quickly backpedals. "Okay, man. I was joking."

Finn's grip doesn't loosen. "There are shifters all over this town, so how about you keep the jokes to a minimum? Maybe a whisper."

I step closer, my curiosity overriding my caution. "Who told you Finn wasn't riding alone?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

The man's eyes flick to me, then back to Finn. "Victor reached out to Ethan, my Alpha. Asking if he knew anything."

Finn's growl deepens, and I can see his muscles tensing further. "What did you tell him?"

"I told Ethan as his Beta that this wasn't a fight we wanted to interfere in," the man replies quickly. "Ethan told Victor to fuck off, and he'd talk to the Alpha of Silverclaw when Finn returned."

I watch as Finn's expression shifts, a mix of surprise and relief washing over his face. "Ethan didn't accept Victor as Alpha?" he asks, his voice intense.

Derek nods, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Ethan took my word."

Finn nods back, and I can sense something passing between them—a silent understanding born from years of friendship and trust. It's a connection I can't quite grasp, but can practically feel it in the air between them.

"Can we blend in?" Finn asks, his eyes scanning the crowded rally around us.

Derek's face grows serious as he considers the question. "Hard to say. You aren't the only one trying to blend into this rally. That can either help you or bring you more trouble."

I feel Finn's gaze shift to me, and my breath catches in my throat. Not because I feel threatened—far from it. It's the intensity of the attraction I sense from him that almost scares me. It's like staring into the sun; beautiful, but potentially dangerous.

The silence stretches between us for a moment, heavy with unspoken words and emotions. Finally, Finn breaks it, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of tension. "Let's get some food before we decide." He nods towards the diner next door.

I nod, grateful for the suggestion. The smell of greasy food and the rumble of motorcycles surround us, but all I can focus on is the warmth of Finn's presence beside me and the weight of the decisions ahead.

I slide into the booth next to Finn, our bodies close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off him. The vinyl seat squeaks as we settle in, both of us instinctively angling ourselves to face the diner's entrance.

A tired-looking waitress approaches, her pen poised over a small notepad. "What'll it be?"

Finn orders a rare steak with a side of fries, while I opt for a veggie burger and a cup of coffee. As the waitress walks away, I catch Finn's raised eyebrow.

"What?" I ask, a hint of defensiveness in my voice.

He shrugs, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Nothing. Just didn't peg you for a vegetarian."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not. But I figure one of us should stay alert, and that's not happening if I stuff myself with red meat."

"Fair point." Finn nods, his eyes scanning the diner again. "But never a problem for me." He grins briefly.

We fall into a tense silence, both of us hyper-aware of our surroundings. Every time the bell above the door chimes, I feel Finn stiffen beside me. My gaze darts from face to face, searching for any sign of recognition or threat.

When our food arrives, the aroma of grilled meat and coffee fills the air. I wrap my hands around the warm mug, grateful for something to do with them besides fidget nervously.

"So," I say, keeping my voice low, "what's our next move?"

Finn takes a bite of his steak, chewing thoughtfully before answering. "We need to figure out if Victor's here. If he is, we need to leave. If not, we might be able to use the rally as cover for a while."

I nod, picking at my veggie burger. "And what about the Fate Weaver? Is it safe?"

"As safe as it can be," Finn murmurs, his eyes meeting mine. The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. "But the longer we stay in one place, the riskier it gets."