Finn Crowley crouched over his bike as it made short work of the road leading to the Morrow mansion. After school he’d headed back to the bookshop – it was delivery day, and he didn’t want Aunt Pam lifting all the heavy boxes alone.
He could smell the change in the forest as the trees came back to life after the long winter. He loved this time of year, when everything was waking up. It always seemed as if the world was so full of promise. As if anything could happen.
If he were really honest, Finn would prefer not to be going to Lucas’s party. He wasn’t really the partying type, and even though Lucas was his brother – and boy, was that a weird one – Finn still didn’t feel comfortable around him. They had both led such different lives that it was difficult to find anything in common. Unlike Finn, Lucas had never had to worry about where his next meal – or the money for it – was coming from, or where he was going to sleep that night. Finn’s long life on the road had made him serious and thoughtful. Lucas, on the other hand, was a perpetual joker, always looking for fun and laughter, never thinking about anything beyond that day. Once people had found out they were brothers, everyone had assumed they would be friends. No one seemed to realize that it wasn’t as simple as that. But Finn knew that Faye was looking forward to the party, and he wanted to be there for her. Seeing Faye McCarron’s green eyes sparkle when she was happy was truly something worth living for.
Finn glanced over his shoulder at the bike following him. It was his old ride, ridden by Jimmy Paulson. Finn hadn’t wanted to let it go, but Jimmy had needed a bike, and it didn’t seem right to give him Joe’s. It was the bike that had led the Black Dogs for years, after all. So Finn had taken Joe Crowley’s ride, and passed his on to Jimmy. Jimmy wasn’t strictly a member of the biker pack. But then, Finn wasn’t sure he was himself any more, either. Not really.
He knew he was expected to lead the men, to take over from his dad and work out what they should all do now that they had rid the world of Mercy Morrow. But Finn had found a new existence in Winter Mill. It was a quiet life, but a good one. He was living with Faye’s Aunt Pam, over Winter Mill’s bookshop – Faye and her dad, Peter, had moved into their own place and so Aunt Pam had suggested to Finn that he move into the spare room instead. He’d kidded himself that he was doing her a favour – keeping her company when Faye moved out. But really, Pam was the one doing Finn a good turn. With Joe and Mercy gone, Finn didn’t know what to do next. Defeating Mercy Morrow had been the sole purpose of his life for threehundred years. Now she was gone, he was lost.
He’d enrolled in high school, and he was enjoying it. It felt good to be living a normal life, like a normal teenager. He hadn’t felt the wolf rising for months – it was almost as if getting rid of Mercy had quelled the curse. Finn knew it was the same for all the bikers, and he was beginning to think that he could start again. Maybe he could forget about the wolf completely, and be the teenager he’d never had the chance to be. He could finally graduate high school, something he’d never managed to do before. The wolves had always been moving, always following Mercy. Maybe now he could even find a career – working with wood, perhaps: he was good with his hands. And then . . .
And then . . . what? What would happen in a normal life? He’d fall in love, get married, have kids – isn’t that how it worked for most people? Could he have that too? Well, Finn already knew he could fall in love. He was in love – totally and utterly in love – with Faye McCarron. But could she ever really love him? His past and what he really was would always be there, lurking inside him, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And what if she met someone else; someone . . . easier to be with? Someone with less baggage, fewer troubles?
Finn shook himself as he saw the gates ahead. On the way to a party was not the time to be thinking heavy thoughts. He and Jimmy pulled into the grounds of the Morrow mansion. Up ahead, it looked as if the fun was already in full swing. There were kids he recognized from school dancing on the lawn, or sitting on the grass in circles, chatting and laughing.
Finn stopped the bike beside one of the many cars and pulled off his crash helmet, running a hand through his hair as Jimmy coasted to a stop beside him.
‘How are you finding her?’ he asked, nodding to the bike.
‘Great!’ Jimmy grinned as he took off his helmet. ‘Thanks so much, Finn. I promise I’ll take care of her.’
Finn reached over and patted him on the shoulder. He liked Jimmy – the boy had proved to be far tougher than he looked. ‘I know you will.’
‘Finn! Jimmy!’
He turned towards Faye’s voice, feeling a smile bloom on his face. Then he saw her, and his breath caught in his throat. Even after six months and everything they had been through, Faye still made his heart turn over every time he saw her. She threaded her way between the cars until she was standing beside the bike, looking into his eyes with a smile.
‘Hey,’ he said softly, raising one hand to touch her face.
‘Hey,’ she said back, cheeks blushing pink.
‘You look beautiful,’ Finn told her. ‘I mean, you always do, but tonight . . . you look . . . amazing.’ He put his head on one side and frowned. ‘And also worried. What’s up?’
‘It’s Lucas,’ Faye said as he swung his leg over the bike and took both her hands in his.
‘Why?’ Finn asked. ‘What’s happened?’
Faye shook her head. ‘He’s just not here.’
‘What, at the party?’
‘He doesn’t seem to be anywhere,’ chipped in Liz, who had arrived with Faye and was now standing beside Jimmy. ‘We got here and everything was totally silent. He hadn’t done any party prep at all. It was weird.’
‘How long ago was that?’
Faye glanced at her watch. ‘About thirty minutes. Maybe a little longer.’
Finn shrugged. ‘Is that all? Have you looked all over the house?’
‘Not yet – I was just about to go and check on his room.’
‘Then he’s probably just having a shower. Or maybe he’s gone for a walk, or something.’
‘When he knew people were coming?’
Finn shrugged. He watched Faye’s freckles move over her nose as she frowned.
‘Finn,’ she said. ‘He’s your brother. Aren’t you worried?’
Finn slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. ‘Not really. I think Lucas can look after himself. He managed pretty well when Mercy was around, didn’t he?’
He felt her chest move against his as she sighed. ‘Yes . . .’
‘Well, then. What can he do to himself in an empty house? Nothing. Don’t worry – he’ll appear out of the woodwork at any minute, you’ll see.’ Finn pulled her closer still. He could smell the flowery scent of her perfume, and feel the steady beat of her heart against his. He didn’t really care about Lucas right now.
Faye lifted her head to look at him, and he saw something spark in her eyes that made him feel as if he could fly. Smiling slightly, he leaned forward until his nose brushed against hers and her lips were so close that he could almost—
Behind him, Finn heard Liz clear her throat. ‘Um . . . we’ll just leave you guys to it, then, shall we?’
‘Yeah,’ added Jimmy, sounding a bit embarrassed. ‘We’ll just go get ourselves some soda. Wearing leathers makes me thirsty . . .’
‘You look good in them, though,’ Liz said as they walked away.
‘I do?’
‘Oh yeah. A bit dangerous. I like it.’
‘Dangerous? Me?’
Finn felt Faye draw away from him as their voices faded into the background noise of the party. He tried to pull her back, but it was no good – the spell was broken.
‘I’m beginning to get really worried, Finn,’ she said.
‘I can see that. I just don’t understand why. Lucas is a big boy – he can look after himself.’
‘Don’t you care about him?’
Finn stared at Faye, and the flutter in his heart was suddenly replaced by a cold, sneaking fear. ‘Yes, I do. But you seem to care even more.’
Faye’s eyes opened wide. ‘What do you mean?’
Finn rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘Nothing. Forget it.’
‘Finn, are you jealous? Of Lucas?’
He frowned at his feet. Jealous? Finn hoped he wasn’t. He didn’t want to be. Jealousy was a waste of time, an ugly emotion that did nothing but damage beautiful things. But he was; he couldn’t help it. Lucas and Faye had become close very quickly. What if she really liked him? This is what he was afraid of. All that stuff when they’d got together . . . what if it was all too much? What if she’d already decided his brother was a better choice?
‘Do I need to be?’ Finn hadn’t meant to say it, but the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. They floated on the evening air, turning the atmosphere between them dark and unhappy.
Faye stared up at him, her face pale, but said nothing. Then she turned and walked away.
‘Faye, wait,’ Finn called after her.
‘I’m going to look for Lucas,’ she shouted, without looking back.
Finn watched her go, a lead weight hanging heavy on his heart.
