Werewolf Boyfriend: Finn 2 (complete)

Hunting isn’t something I grew up doing. I’ve never actually had to. I grew up in the city, where the only things to hunt were pigeons and squirrels. It sort of scares me to think about going out into the woods to catch something to begin this courtship, but I’m determined to do it.

I try, I really do. I just can’t do it when the time comes, and I cross paths with many deer and rabbits in that forest, believe me. I’m just not capable of it, so instead, I buy Finn a goodie bag. I fill it with hair ties, beard oil, fancy soap, local honey, and a few other things. I may not be able to hunt, but Adam assures me there are ways around it.

Finn’s home is a cute little A-frame with a porch made from twisted laurel trees. There’s a wrought-iron gate I’m too afraid to push open in case it makes noise, so I hang the bag over the fence. Inside is a letter that reads: “it’s not a deer, but I hope it gets the point across.” Stupid, maybe, but for now it’s the best my abilities could offer.

The day the new goats are being brought in is an exciting one. I’m preparing the barn and fenced-in yard with hay, and filling the troughs with clean water. Shauna and her two sons are there as well, helping while we wait for Daisuke and Beau to arrive.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I ask Shauna.

She perks up and smiles at me. “Do you have one?”

I nod. “I feel like if I don’t tell someone, I’m going to burst.” I inch in closer to her so I can whisper. “I’ve started a courtship ritual with Finn.”

Her bright eyes widen, and she takes hold of my hand. “That’s such a good choice!” she says.

My face burns as I smile. “It wasn’t really a choice. Well, in my mind it wasn’t.”

“Finn is such a sweetheart! It’s about time someone realized it and scooped him up.” She glances over to check on her sons playing. “Poor thing,” she sighs.

I furrow my brow. “Poor thing?”

Shauna crosses her arms. “He did the courtship ritual with a girl, and everything was going fine. Shel just loved all the attention. But right at the end she turned him down. She was already engaged to someone out of town, but she didn’t tell anybody.”

My eyes widen. “That’s awful!”

“Well,” Shauna sighs as she shakes her head, “it didn’t settle too well with Finn either. He sort of retreated for a while. It took his siblings a lot of patience to coax him out of that blacksmith shop.”

I wonder now if it’s a good decision to do this. Maybe he’s still hurt, or doesn’t have the energy to go through this with anyone. I can understand if he just wants to be friends. I’d be more than happy to do that for him.

“What did you end up giving him first?” Shauna asks.

I shrug. “I tried hunting, but I got too anxious over it. So I just left a bag full of nice things for him.”

Shauna beams. “Beau did that for me, too. He left me all sorts of yarn that first night.” Her smile turns nostalgic. “Hunting was a trigger for him in the early days, so he got creative with how to court me. Lots of weres are going that route nowadays.”

I sigh with relief. “I thought I was going to seem weird.”

“I’m sure Finn will be excited for whatever you decide to bring him.” She pats my back. “Do you know what you’re doing next?”

I’ve got several ideas on my mind. It’s sort of like figuring out the treats in an Advent calendar. “I know he likes the candy shop. I was thinking about something from there.”

“I know he loves cinnamon and spicy things,” Shauna says. “Every time we have him over for employee family dinners, he always eats my snickerdoodle cookies and asks to take home the leftovers.”

The new goats arrive. There are four of them: A white Nubian goat named Trixie, a Mytonic named Katya, and two brown Alpines named Shea and Sasha. Already, Remi is sniffing around the girls. Once everything is set up and ready, my job will commence. The girls are getting checkups the next day, so today they’re just acclimating to their new home. Sasha and Shea are fairly calm and really sweet. Katya and Trixie are a handful, and having grown up in a rescue together they’re already joined at the hip. Trixie has a bad habit of bleating, especially when she wants something. I already know I’m going to have my hands full with her.

After putting the girls up for the night, I go back into town to the candy shop to get supplies for my next offering. Walking down the street, I look across the way to the lingerie shop and see Finn emerging. I freeze up, wondering if I should say hello or just run. I don’t want him getting suspicious. What if he already knows? I’m not subtle, I could give it away if he doesn’t.

I try to play it cool and continue on walking. I keep the bag close tucked behind me so if he does spot me, he at least won’t see it.

“Aysel! Hey!” he calls out to me, dashing across the street. A car nearly hits him, honking its horn as he scurries out of the way.

“You almost got hit!” I yelp as I run up to him.

“Would have served me right. I wasn’t looking,” he chuckles.

I frown. “Just to say hello?”

He shrugs. “Would have been rude if I hadn’t. What are you doing tonight? Out shopping again?”

“Sort of.” I keep between him and the candy bag. “Still kind of amped up from work, so I just felt like walking.”

“That’s right! You got the new goats in today. How was it?” His bright blue eyes sparkle.

I smile up at him, feeling my nerves melt away under his presence. “It was a lot of fun. The girls are really cute, and already Remi seems to be interested.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised you had some new black goats by the end of the week,” Finn teases. He walks beside me, even though I know he’s going in the opposite direction.

I giggle. “I wouldn’t either, but he’s not allowed around them until the checkup tomorrow. Once the vet gives the word, we’ll allow Remi to circulate with the girls.”

Finn stands with me at the crosswalk again. “And what about you? How are you enjoying it now that your new job has fully kicked in?”

“I haven’t shoveled any shit yet, so I don’t consider it really on yet. But I think I’m going to like it. If one noisy goat is the worst of my day, it’s better than every other job I’ve had.” I smile at him and my heart goes off running. “What about your job? How is it going?”

Finn shrugs. “I’ve been working at a country club near Asheville this week. All their thoroughbreds need shoeing. It’s enough money to last me through to next year.”

“You’re kidding,” I scoff.

He shakes his head and grins. “A farrier who works only on throughouhbreds can make six figures if they lay their cards right. I like my farms, though. The money gets me what I need, and I can’t complain about that.” We cross the street together, and Finn motions towards the park. “Want to go for a walk? Or am I keeping you from anything?”

I shake my head. “No. I only have leftovers waiting for me at home.”

His eyes brighten, and we enter the park together. There’s a nice scenic path that goes along the river. I’ve been told about it a dozen times since moving in, but I’ve yet to see it for myself. Walking along it with Finn makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.

“My dad made these signs when they first laid this path.” He points to a sign with a placard on top. “There’s also lampposts in the park that he made, too.”

“Any of your creations in here?”

He shakes his head, “My brother has a few things, but I mainly focus on the farrier work. If you see a horse in Hearthway Hollow, you can be assured it’s wearing one of my handmade shoes,” he says proudly.

“You like horses?” I ask.

His smile becomes soft and sweet. “I used to want to race horses when I was a kid. But when I hit my growth spurt that all became a distant dream. You don’t see many six-foot, two-hundred-pound jockeys.”

“There’s always a first.”

Finn laughs and his smile beams down upon me. “I figured it wouldn’t have been the best thing for me. I found my calling, and I’m happy with my work and where I’m at. Not many people get to say that.”

We walk in silence for a bit. Eventually we come to a fork in the path, and the streetlamps all begint to turn on. “That offer for dinner still stands,” Finn says. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Soon,” I say with a nod. “Hopefully, if things work out well.”

“I’m sure they will.”

That evening I leave the bag of cinnamon candies on his gate with another note. “I hope this will suffice. I’m not much of a hunter, I’m more a cuddler.” It sounds stupid no matter how many times I run it through my head.

The next night I leave another goodie bag for him, followed by a homemade cake the next night. I feel like I’m running out of ideas, but the night of the scenting is coming up faster than I care to admit.

The scenting part of the ritual is the one where the intended give their answer. If they agree, the were marks them with their scent, rubbing up on them and leaving it for the world to know that they will indeed become a couple. I’m extremely nervous about this. After hearing the story about Finn’s rejection, I’ve been worried he won’t accept. I also fear what he will do when he realizes it’s me. Will he be happy? Disappointed? There is so much to be worried over I can’t keep my mind straight.

But the evening does come, and when it does I tremble up the path to his house. To my surprise, I find the iron gate open. I swallow hard and make my way onto his porch. I stand there and look around, wondering if coming through the gate was a mistake. Maybe I should close it and leave?

“I’m here.”

I look up from my hands to see Finn stepping out of the door. He has an apron on, and his hair is pulled back into a bun. I just look at him. Even though I’m shifted, he’s still taller than me.

“Wow, you’re so fluffy.” Finn comes up close to me and holds out his hand. “Are you hungry? I made us dinner.”

“D-do you not want me to scent you?” I’m shaking so much I’m afraid he’ll notice if I accept.

Finn takes my hand. “I’ve been promising you dinner for a long time. I figured you’d be more comfortable on a full stomach.”

I clutch his hand. “You knew?”

Finn takes me inside, and the smell of him all around me makes my head spin. His place is small, but very neat. The kitchen, dining room, and living area are all one room, and there’s a loft for his bedroom. Everything is done in natural wood and wrought iron. Above the front doorway hangs a large horseshoe.

“You beat me to the punch,” he says softly. “I was going to court you, and then...” he chuckles shyly. “Well, I was very surprised by what I found.”

I duck my head. “I’m sorry.”

“No! Don’t be. I was really happy.” He places his hand under my chin. “I’m glad you’re here now. If you want, get comfortable. You can shift back if you’d like.”

I shake my head. “I don’t have any clothes with me.”

That’s when his cheeks redden. He clears his throat. “Well… how about this?” He goes into a room behind the kitchen and comes out with clean clothes. “Here’s one of my shirts and some pajama bottoms.”

“You sure?” I ask.

He nods. “Please. I want you to feel welcome here.”

I go into the bathroom and change. The shirt is a tight fit, and the pants are way too long, so I roll them up. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. I’m wearing his clothes! I sniff the shirt, shivering as his scent and detergent mingled together reach my nose. I look around his bathroom, and see the toiletries I bought him placed here and there. Then I step out, keeping my arms crossed since I don’t have my bra. Finn is setting the table and pouring wine.

“This looks nice.” I still sound nervous.

“I hope so.” Finn pulls out my chair for me. “It’s not much, and I’m not the best cook in the world. But my mom made sure I knew how to cook fish.”

“I’m not the biggest fan, if I’m honest. But if you made it, I’ll try it.” I fidget in my seat as he sets down a plate. The salmon is bright pink, and it actually smells really good. On the side there are some vegetables and a huge baked potato.

“This looks wonderful.” I take a fork and try a bit of the salmon while he watches. It’s really good. I’ve never had fish that didn’t overwhelm with fishyness, or wasn’t in stick form. “It tastes wonderful, too!”

Finn sighs with relief and undoes his hair, letting it fall down around his shoulders and back. He scoops it away from his face, showing off his beautiful jawline. “I’m glad. I was a bit nervous. I haven’t cooked for anybody in ages.”

I wonder if that girl was the last one he cooked for. I sample the wine, then go back to picking at my plate. I felt nervous eating in front of him.

“You know,” he says softly, “I’ve been tempted all this time to just tell you not to worry about the ritual, and fling myself at you.” He laughs shyly and his cheeks darken. “But I wanted you to be able to experience this, too. I never got to finish the courtship ritual I did years ago.”

I gulp down a mouthful of wine. “Shauna mentioned something about that.”

“It wasn’t meant to be,” he sighs. “The timing wasn’t right. I was supposed to be patient.” He reaches out over the table and takes my hand. “When I met you, the air changed.”

My heart is pounding away at my bones and muscle. I can barely catch a breath.

“You don’t need to scent me, Aysel. There’s no one else I would rather be with.” He kisses my knuckles, and I spill my wine. “Here, let me get a towel.”

“Sorry! Your shirt...” I try to dab him with a napkin.

“Hey, it’s white wine. No worries.” He comes back with a cloth and wipes up the table. He’s close now, so very, very close. “There we go.” He looks at me, and our eyes lock. I forget how to breathe. Finn’s beard is rough, but his kiss isn’t. His lips are soft and warm, and his fingers brush through my hair while his palm rests on my cheek. His lips move there next, then to my neck, and then he gently nibbles my ear until I am a cocktail of anxiety and hormones.

“You’re shaking,” he whispers.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He kisses me softly again. “How about I tell you that story? Maybe it’ll help make you feel comfortable.”

I nod and take his hand, and he leads me up to his loft where his bed is. We lie down on it, and I hug one of his pillows. Above us are skylights that look out into the night. The stars shine bright and the moon is almost full.

“There’s a legend in my family about the origin of the werewolf,” he starts. “My father used to tell it to us all the time, and it used to terrify me. Along time ago, there was a Viking father and son, who were very powerful and feared far and wide for their violence and mercilessness. That didn’t satisfy them, though, for they felt they had too much humanity. They wanted to be monsters, to be able to sow fear without a care in the world. They were truly evil people.

“One day, they got their wish granted. On full moons they were able to shed their humanity and wear the coat of a beast instead. They could kill and terrorize without a whim of guilt or mercy.”

“That’s awful,” I murmur.

Finn rolls onto his side to look at me. “I used to think as a child that we were still evil. That because of that father and son, we were all doomed to shed our humanity. I never wanted to shift, I didn’t want to hurt anybody. But my father told me that, despite the legends and the fear of the evil within us, we at least have that fear. In the story, the father and son had no fear, and because of that they lost what made them human.”

His hand touches my cheek. “As long as we hold onto that, we will not become monsters like them.”

I nuzzle into his palm, slowly releasing the pillow between us. Finn moves in closer, kissing me again. His body is so big, I wonder if I’ll even be able to hold him. I look up into his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes.

“Don’t be nervous,” he whispers. “I’ll take over the ritual from here.” He pulls off his shirt, letting me gaze in wonder at his hairy chest. His hands slip under my clothes. I shiver at his touch, but I want it all the same. His big hands run over my belly, up my sides. He kisses my neck and cheek. When he finally removes my shirt, I quickly cover my chest.

“They’re too big,” I whimper.

“I have pretty big hands,” he offers shyly. “I can hold them for you?”

I laugh softly and slowly move my arms. “They’re not cute. They get in the way and they hurt.”

Finn cups them in his hands and kneads softly. Then he dips down, and his hot mouth sinks over a nipple. His hands continue to knead, making me blush all over. He snuggles his head between my breasts. “It’s so soft!”

“You’re embarrassing,” I whimper.

He looks up and his hair falls into his face. “Want me to stop?”

I bite my lip and shake my head. Finn kisses me, slowly shifting as he does. He gets even bigger as a werewolf, nearly taking up the entire bed. I gaze at him in awe, wondering what a god like this wants from me.

“Aysel,” he whispers. “Can I touch between your legs?”

I nod and stretch out my arms, bringing him back down to me. I wrap my arms around his neck, meeting his kiss. His fingers slip between my thighs, and he breathes into my ear as he touches me.

I find my breath faltering the more I feel him. His fingers dance over me, moving slowly at first just to make sure my comfort level doesn’t change. Once his fingers grow wet, he begins to rub faster. He groans in my ear, and his kisses are harder and hotter.

Soon I’m holding his waist between my legs, trembling only a little as he takes his time. He’s quite thick, and it takes a little time for him to work inside me. He keeps a finger on my clit, rubbing as he pushes inside. With each slow roll of his hips I grow a little more certain, a little less anxious.

“Is it okay?” he whispers. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“Come closer.” I open my arms and fold them around him. I press my body close to his chest and breathe a sigh of relief. His hips move, and I feel him press against them. “Move, please,” I whine.

“Off, or...?” His voice is nervous.

I shake my head. “Your hips.”

He breathes and does as I ask, but I can feel that he’s holding back. I urge him to move faster, but it takes some convincing. Once he lets go a little, I moan and sigh, arching my back. Finn goes harder, hitting my head against the headboard a little, but I’ve long since forgotten I even had a head.

The world is spinning, and all I can do is hold on to Finn. There are tremors all around me, but I don’t care. I pull him closer as I hear my own voice rise and crash like the earth around us. His body quivers, and mountains form. His howls break the moon and form new oceans. I collapse into the new earth we’ve created with our bodies, and as he lies still with me, I fade off into the trees and grass. My body cools like rain.

The sound of rain does wake me, and I look up through the skylights to see it running down the glass. I relax in bed, content and like jelly from the waist down. Finn’s leg wrapped around mine tugs, and he pulls himself closer. He lays his head on my chest, all that beautiful hair spilling out along my skin. “Are you awake?” he whispers.

“I’m not sure.” I run my fingers through his hair, along his scalp, down his neck. “I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

Finn lifts his head to kiss me. “How about I make us some coffee?”

I smile at him. “Okay.”

He rises from the bed and stretches, giving me the best morning show of my life. He looks back at me with a wink and a smile. “Still dreaming?”

“I never dreamed anything this good.”

He gets back in bed, kissing me and holding me close. “Coffee can wait. I don’t want to get up yet.” He pulls the blanket back over us. “Today calls for a very long morning.”

I hold his face between my hands. How did I get so lucky? I must be dreaming. If so, I’m never waking up again. “Is that usually how a scenting goes?”

Finn grins from ear to ear and shrugs. “If you want it to.”