Taken by the Outcast Alpha (Whispers of Fate)

22. Sage

Chapter twenty-two

Sage

F inn's arm is wrapped around me, holding me close. A smile tugs at my lips. A girl could get used to waking up like this, I think. Then I pause, doubt creeping in. What if last night changed everything for Finn, but not in the way I hope? My mind starts racing with anxious thoughts.

Finn stirs beside me, his eyes fluttering open. He moves, hovering over me with a concerned look. "One thing you should know about living with a wolf," he says, his voice husky from sleep. "We can sense a change in mood by a change in scent."

"What?" I blink, surprised.

"Your scent changes when you start to get anxious about something," he explains. "What are you thinking about, Sage?"

"It's nothing—" I start to say, but he cuts me off.

"It's not nothing. If it were nothing, you wouldn't be avoiding eye contact."

I startle, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Better?"

"Only if you tell me what is worrying you," Finn insists.

I start to squirm, trying to escape this conversation, but Finn's eyes narrow.

"Unless you are planning for an immediate repeat of last night, you should probably stop—"

"Would you…?" I can't finish the question, my face burning with embarrassment.

“Would I repeat last night?” Finn asks.

I nod, too embarrassed to speak, as I duck my head to hide my flaming cheeks.

Finn brings a hand to my cheek, his touch cool and soothing in the chilly autumn morning. "If anyone ever made you doubt that, they were an idiot," he says softly. "I have every intention of taking you again and listening to you call out my name as you climax for me."

My breath catches in my throat, a mix of relief and desire washing over me. I lean into his touch, my earlier doubts melting away under the intensity of his gaze.

I watch as Finn moves with a graceful efficiency, covering me gently with the bedroll before dressing quickly. He catches my eye, giving me a soft smile before ducking out of the tent, leaving me to dress in peace. His thoughtfulness warms my heart, and I smile as I pull on my clothes.

When I emerge from the tent, the scent of coffee and something delicious hits me. Finn's set up a little camp stove and is tending to what looks like a hearty breakfast. My stomach growls appreciatively.

"Do you like to camp?" I ask, settling down next to him.

Finn nods, his eyes distant for a moment. "Yes. But I don't get to go very often. Or didn't. When I was alpha..."

His voice trails off, and I can sense the weight of his unfinished thought. Without hesitation, I walk up to him, placing a hand on his arm.

"If your pack is worthy of you, they will realize they made a mistake," I say firmly. "If they aren't, then you’ll know you’re better off without them. And we can do whatever the fuck we want whenever we want." I pull him in for a kiss, soft but full of promise. "Either scenario, we win."

Finn looks at me, his amber eyes searching mine. There's a vulnerability there I haven't seen before. "If I earn my place as Alpha back, you'd—"

"Be right beside you," I finish his sentence, my voice steady and sure.

I lock eyes with Finn, feeling the weight of his gaze as he searches for the truth in my words. A thought occurs to me, and I can't help but ask, "Do wolves smell truth too?"

Finn's expression softens slightly. "No. We are more likely to smell a lie."

I chew thoughtfully, considering this new information. "And now?"

"I'm not a shifter lie detector," Finn grumbles, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"No. But I should know," I insist, feeling it's important to understand the extent of his abilities.

Finn looks at me, his eyes curious. "So what about witches? Can they tell when people are lying to them?"

I feel my mood sober instantly, memories of Damien flooding back. "Not many can. My cousin Sylvie is an exception. If I had her skill, Damien wouldn't have gotten so close."

Finn stops mid-bite, his expression turning apologetic. "I didn't mean—"

"I know you didn't," I interrupt, "but it's the truth."

"But you can protect," Finn says, his tone reassuring. "I know you were helping me during that fight."

I nod, feeling a small swell of pride. "My powers are more defensive and protective than offensive."

Finn reaches across the table, placing his hand over mine. The warmth of his touch sends a tingle up my arm. "Well then," he says, his voice low and comforting, "it's good that I have the offensive approach handled, and you to cover my back."

* * *

I wrap my arms around Finn's waist as we settle onto his motorcycle. The familiar rumble of the engine vibrates through me, and I can't help but smile. It feels right, being here with him like this.

As we pull away from the rental car place, the crisp autumn air whips around us. I lean into Finn's back, grateful for the warmth of his body against the chill. The road stretches out before us, winding through the colorful New Hampshire landscape.

The fall foliage is a blur of reds, oranges, and golds on either side of us. It's breathtaking, and for a moment, I forget about all the dangers we've faced. I focus on the present - the steady thrum of the bike, Finn's solid presence in front of me, and the beauty of the world rushing by.

The ride to Laconia feels different from our earlier, more frantic journeys. There's a comfort in it now, a sense of rightness that I can't quite explain. Maybe it's because we've faced so much together already, or maybe it's just the growing bond between us. Whatever it is, I relax into it, enjoying the simple pleasure of the ride.

As we near Laconia, I can feel a shift in Finn's posture. He's alert, scanning our surroundings, ever the protector. But even with the looming confrontation ahead, I feel oddly at peace. We're in this together now, witch and wolf, facing whatever comes our way.

The rally comes into view, a sea of chrome and leather. I tighten my hold on Finn, silently communicating my support. We're here to meet Derek, to regroup and plan our next move. But for now, I let myself enjoy these last moments of relative calm, the wind in my hair and the man I'm quickly falling for guiding us forward.

On the outskirts of Laconia, I spot three riders ahead, blocking our path. My heart skips a beat when I recognize Damien among them, but surprisingly, fear doesn't grip me like before. With Finn by my side, I feel... safe.

Finn slows the bike, coming to a stop facing the trio. We all remove our helmets, the tension palpable in the air.

"Victor, did you bring outsiders into the Pack?" Finn's voice carries an edge of authority that makes me shiver.

The man I assume is Victor responds coolly, "They will allow us all to benefit from the power of the Fate Weaver. Not just the Silverclaw family."

I swing my leg over the bike, planting my feet firmly on the ground. Finn follows suit, his presence beside me reassuring.

"What benefit did he promise you?" Finn asks, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Victor's reply is swift and greedy. "Power. Riches."

Finn scoffs. "Do any of you even know what the Fate Weaver can do?"

Damien's voice cuts through the air, smug and confident. "The Fate Weaver gives the wielder the chance to change fate."

"That guarantees neither power nor riches," Finn counters, his logic attempting to cut through their delusions.

Damien's gaze shifts to me, his eyes cold and calculating. "That's why I needed the little witch. For her protection spells."

I stand taller, drawing on the strength of my connection with Finn and the power within me.

I watch the tension unfold before me, my heart racing but my resolve steady. Finn's words cut through the air, sharp and confident.

"You're a fool, Damien." Finn's voice is laced with disdain. "You had no idea what you had nor a plan to truly get what you wanted and lost it all."

Damien's face contorts with anger. "I've lost nothing," he retorts, but I can hear a hint of desperation in his voice.

The third man removes his helmet, revealing a face I don't recognize. His words are filled with venom as he spits, "You're the Alpha without a fucking pack."

I see Finn tense beside me, his voice barely a whisper. "Robert Shadowpaw." Then, louder, he addresses the man. "Robert. You had a lot of potential, but you let yourself be blinded by ambition."

Robert's response is quick and cruel. "I'm blinded by nothing. You are the one who stands alone with nothing but a stinking witch as backup."

I bristle at his words, anger flaring within me. How dare he? But before I can react, a figure materializes from the shadows. My breath catches as I take in his appearance—he looks so much like Finn that they must be related.

"Sorry, brother," the man says, his voice filled with regret. "I thought it had been a fair challenge. A fair challenge, I had no place to oppose. But Victor never intended it to be a fair challenge."

I watch as Finn and the man clasp hands, a wordless understanding passing between them. Then Finn turns to me, his eyes soft despite the tension surrounding us.

"Sage, this is my brother, my beta, Marcus," Finn introduces. "Marcus, this is my mate, Sage."

I feel a jolt of surprise at Finn's words. His mate? The declaration hangs in the air, heavy with meaning. I see Marcus's eyes widen, and I know instinctively that this is significant.

Marcus inclines his head towards me, exposing his neck in a way that I don't fully understand but recognize as a sign of respect. The gesture fills me with a strange sense of pride and belonging.

Then, Marcus turns to face the three men blocking our path, his posture shifting to one of challenge and determination.

I watch in awe as more people emerge from the forest behind Marcus. Each new arrival seems to ease the tension in Finn's shoulders, and I can feel the shift in the atmosphere. These must be members of the Silverclaw Pack, coming to stand with their true Alpha.

Finn's voice is filled with pride and a hint of wonder as he introduces me to each newcomer. "This is Sage, my mate," he says, the words sending a thrill through me every time.

To my surprise, each pack member shows me a level of respect I've never experienced before. Some bow their heads slightly, others expose their necks like Marcus did. It's overwhelming, but in a good way. I feel a sense of belonging I've never known before.

A tall woman with silver-streaked hair approaches us. Finn's voice softens as he says, "Sage, this is my mother, Elena."

Elena's eyes are warm as she looks at me. "Welcome to the family, dear," she says, pulling me into a gentle hug.

As more pack members arrive, our group grows larger and more formidable. I can see the uncertainty creeping into Damien's eyes, his earlier bravado faltering. Victor and Robert shift uneasily, clearly not expecting this turn of events.

I stand tall beside Finn, drawing strength from his presence and the support of his pack— our pack.