Goodbye, My Mate

Chapter 151

Leah's POV

Finn kept his silence, a rare occurrence that only deepened the enigma that surrounded him. The more time I spent with him, the more his mysteries unfolded, like shadows weaving around him. It was as if something dark and heavy, invisible to the eye, ensnared him. I desperately wanted to help lift that burden, but the 'how' eluded me, plunging me into sadness.

Reaching out to grab his hand, he took a deliberate step back, evading my touch. "Finn, you know you can share anything with me,” I said softly, my heart pounding with every word.

His face darkened, and his voice dropped to a whisper, "Leah, I don’t want to talk about it right now."

“Finn, I understand, but the tattoo on your chest...” I whispered, my curiosity tipping the balance.

He erupted in anger, his voice thunderous, "I’ve already told you. I don’t want to discuss it now!"

His sudden outburst stunned me into silence. This was a side of Finn I had never seen before—maybe this was the real him, I thought. The real Finn.

He stood up, and for a moment, I thought he would leave, but instead, he headed to the bar, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. His hands trembled as he drank it in one gulp. "I’m sorry, Leah," he said, his voice softened. "I shouldn’t have yelled. This place... it’s just so depressing. I need a drink, and then I’ll tell you everything."

Wrapping my arms around his chest, I pressed my face against his back. "You don’t need to apologize, Finn. I crossed the line. You have every right not to answer questions that make you uncomfortable."

Finn put down the glass, turned, and pulled me into his arms, placing me gently on his lap. Burying his head in my chest, he stayed silent, and I stroked his hair, lowering my head to kiss him.

"I didn’t choose this life, Leah," he mumbled into my chest. "I had no choice."

"But now you have me," I said gently. "We have each other. We will build our life together, create a new beginning. That’s all that matters now."

Finn remained silent for a moment, then spoke with a heavy heart. "The tattoo was given to me by him. He did it to cover the scars on my chest - to make me less frightening to buyers. To him, it was just business."

I knew he referred to Alpha Kyle. I tightened my embrace, offering him the support he desperately needed.

“Does it hurt?” I asked softly.

Finn shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I’ve had worse.”

“I will never hurt you, Finn. I promise, I’ll do everything I can to protect you,” I murmured fervently.

Finn gently pressed a finger to my lips, his touch feather-light. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Leah,” he said, his voice breaking, filled with sorrow.

He looked so vulnerable that it tore at my heart, and tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

“I love you, Finn,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Love makes anything possible.”

“And love hurts,” he replied, his words cutting through me like a knife.

My love was causing him pain.

A heavy weight settled in my chest.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

Being in love shouldn’t feel like this.

Suddenly, Finn pushed me away and sprang to his feet, pacing the room with restless energy. His words echoed in my mind—

“I had no choice.”

Was he here because he loved me?

Or was there another reason that bound him to me?

Just then, the door opened, and a tall, grey-haired man walked in. I recognized him immediately—Alpha Kyle, the Chairman of the Derby Committee. We had met once at the Derby, where he was introduced as the Alpha of the Moonhowlers Pack. What was he doing here in Mediland? People of his stature rarely set foot in this place.

His eyes scanned the room, landing on me first. "Miss Lewyn, a pleasure to see you again," he said, then turned his gaze to Finn, his eyes gleaming with malice. "And you. You haven’t changed a bit over the years. I should have kept you for longer."

Finn locked eyes with him, unwavering. "We need to escape the Kingdom as soon as possible."

Alpha Kyle eased into a chair, his demeanor nonchalant. "If you were alone, arranging that would be a breeze. But now you're trying to whisk away another man's wife. Things have gotten... complicated." His gaze slid to me. "Miss Lewyn, your husband is searching for you. His soldiers are everywhere. This predicament has severely hampered my operations."

"Perhaps you need a new line of work," I replied, my eyes narrowing.

Human trafficking was abhorrent in my Father's Kingdom, but here in Mediland, the Royal Court's reach was impotent.

"Such harsh words, Miss Lewyn," Alpha Kyle's grin was icy. "As a self-made businessman, I leverage every resource to maximize profit. A daughter of Alpha like you could never fathom my struggles. But that's beside the point. My business prospects are the least of your concerns right now..."

Finn's patience evaporated. His contempt for the old man erupted, "Just shut up and get us a boat. We'll be gone in no time."

Alpha Kyle's smirk deepened. "Finally showing some backbone, Finn?"

In a blur of motion, Finn grabbed the old man's collar, slamming him against the wall. "Shut the fuck up! Stop calling my name!"

"Whoa, where's that sweet demeanor you used to have? What would your pretty little girlfriend think if she knew just how sweet you were?" Alpha Kyle taunted, unflinching, his calm unsettling.

Finn's fist hovered, ready to pulverize him. Despite the imminent threat, Alpha Kyle's composure remained intact. His guards flooded the room, but he waved them off.

"Let it out, boy. You can't negotiate with someone you're furious with. Release that anger, then we can discuss your options."

Gradually, Finn lowered his fist, releasing his grip.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice edged with resignation.

Alpha Kyle's smile broadened as he took his seat again, crossing his legs with a leisurely air. "Now, we're talking business," he said, satisfaction dripping from his words.