𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐑

𝐍 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄

Kimberly

Her eyes closed in frustration. Normally she'd be excited to see Finn. But within the last several days, something inside of her changed entirely.

Brushing her fingers through her hair, she tries to side-step the menacing man. But his hands are quick to return back to her waist, keeping contact with her somehow.

Everan's furrow deepens as he contemplates an answer. She nearly faints at what he chooses to say.

"Because someone ought to ask a pretty lady like her to dance?" There's a twitch in Finn's face, one that was easily recognizable for someone who lived with him for so long. A jealous tick.

She swallows heavily, eyes blinking in an attempt to assuage the growing tension between the two males. She hadn't a clue what Everan was capable of, but surely, he was an Alpha for a reason?

"Think you can let her go now?"

"No. No, I don't think I will."

Kim could see the literal steam escaping Finn's ears. Although Everan remained poised as per usual.

Her fiancé took a step forward, towering over the Alpha. What he provided in height, didn't nearly match up for the muscular definition of Everan.

She feels the breath leave her the moment he lays a hand on Everan. A hand clasping his shoulder warningly. But it's a warning that the Alpha doesn't take too well.

With swift movements, his own hand grasps Finn's, twisting it to an inhuman degree, bringing it behind the human's back.

Finn let out a cry of pain, twisting and turning to free his hand of the Alpha's hold.

"Let go, you asshole!" Finn pleads, with a lack of manners.

Kimberly shoots Everan a panicked look, one he takes into consideration for just a moment before releasing the man.

"Everan," Minnie warned, emerging from the crowd that began to form. "This is my wedding, for goddess' sake!"

Snapping out of her shock, Kimberly quickly brushed passed the Alpha, interlocking her fingers with her fiancé's. Her eyes scan his features, taking note of any further injuries he could've sustained. 

Despite the uproar she left behind in the wake of their fight, she tugged Finn into the house, away from prying eyes. 

"What the hell was that, Kim?"

"It was nothing, I swear. Just a dance." But even the lie felt heavy on her heart as it rolled off her tongue.

"It didn't seem like nothing. He's a psychopath! He almost broke my arm!"

She tries not to flinch at the insult hurled at Everan. She'd only known him a few days but the thought of anyone having ill thoughts towards him hurt her.

Was this what he was talking about? Being his mate?

"He knew what he was doing. He wasn't gonna seriously hurt you," she muttered quietly, inspecting his arm to avoid any eye contact with him.

"Are you seriously defending him right now? Do you even know the guy?" 

"I know... enough." The hesitancy in her words just dug her a bigger hole. 

Finn pulled away from her, twisting his arm to check for further damage. When he came out without much stinging, he gestured her towards the door.

"We're leaving. I'm taking you home."

But the thought of leaving Everan made her heart clench with anguish. 

"I can't go!" 

Finn paused with his hand on the door knob. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her outburst. "Did something happen with that man, Kim?"

"What?" She paused, appalled by his boldness. "No, nothing!"

His hand encased her wrist, tugging her towards his truck. His grip a bit too harsh against her delicate skin.

"Let go, Finn! I can walk on my own."

But the giant didn't heed her words, frustrated with her opposition to leave. 

Finn opens up the truck door, eager to usher her inside when another hand shuts it harshly, shaking the entire vehicle. 

Kimberly glances up to find Everan's eyes glowing a deep red. The sight causes a stuttering Finn to appear.

"Everan?" She tries to gather his attention, but his eyes were glued to Finn's.

"If you don't take your hand off of her, I'll break it this time," the Alpha said with so much finality, it shook Kimberly to her very core. 

The human's hand slowly retracted but his anger still surfaced. 

"Who the hell do you think you are? This is my fiancée!" 

Everan lets out a cackle that lacks any humor behind it. 

"Your mundane relationships are incomparable to what she is to me. She's staying here. Lest you want her to die on the drive back."

"Die?" The humans both questioned in unison.

"The consequence of being separated from your mate for long periods of time."

Kimberly's eyes widened in realization, taking a step closer towards the Alpha. Fear of dying fueling her actions. 

Finn's heart shatters at the sight of her seeking comfort in the stranger. She can feel her own squish at the sight of bringing hurt to him. He'd been her rock for so long. But just like Everan's words. It was incomparable to what she had with Everan.

"Don't come crawling back to me after he gets what he wants from you, Kim," Finn spits with so much disgust, she nearly recoils from it. 

Her heart rips in two at the sight of his familiar truck, that held so many memories of them, driving down the snowy path into the distance. 

The only thing keeping her from falling apart was the warm hand that rested on the small of her back, small sparks settling on the area their skins touched. 

Despite the remorse for hurting Finn, she felt more whole with Everan than she had ever felt with him.

...

I never expected to get so many reads! Thank y'all so much.