The Moon Rises (15 page)

Worse than knowing he scared the only girl he had
liked in years was the knowledge that his brother would be dating Gigi soon.
When Ella accused Finn of hurting Gigi, Declan was too pissed too quickly. His
brother even accused him of raping Gigi – an accusation he didn’t seem to feel
guilty for wielding.

Declan would end up with Gigi and the great Alpha
wouldn’t do anything stupid which scared the beautiful blonde. As petty as it
felt, Finn wished Gigi would end up with Anton rather than Declan. At least he
wouldn’t have to watch the girl he wanted making out with his brother at family
functions.

Entering the house, Finn found Ainsley sitting in
the kitchen, crocheting while dinner cooked. Glancing up when Finn entered, she
looked disappointed he wasn’t Declan.

“He’ll be here soon,” Finn said, answering her
silent wish.

Ainsley nodded and returned to crocheting. After
checking the stew, Finn sat at the table and watched his mother as she ignored
him. His mind was on Gigi when Ainsley finally spoke.

“I heard you’re dating some whore from The Moon
Rises?”

No matter his mother’s quiet tone, Finn flinched
when she called Gigi a whore.

“I went on a date with a girl who works there.
She’s sweet.”

“I know all about her, Finn. You would be smart
to dump her before she shows up pregnant and looking for a handout.”

Frowning, Finn said nothing. His mother stopped
crocheting and watched him.

“Whores are tricky, Finn. They know how to trap
males. I should know. My sister was a whore and it got her killed. Maybe this
whore you have now will get herself killed?”

“Mom,” he said quietly.

“What’s so great about Gigi besides her good
looks? Remember how looks fade especially on whores.”

“She’s not a whore. She’s…” Finn hated having to
defend Gigi to his mother, but she wasn’t like his Aunt Shauna. “Gigi’s a sweet
girl. Innocent.”

“An innocent whore named Gigi,” Ainsley said with
a harsh laugh. “You’re like your father. Soft when it comes to females. He
always saw the best in them, but it was a bitch who killed him. Conned him into
thinking she was switching sides. She killed him without batting an eye because
those whores are just cold inside. They hide it well though. Your father was no
fool, but he believed her sweet lies because the whores tell the best lies. I
bet your Gigi tells some good lies herself.”

Finn sighed, feeling the depression which clung
to him since Gigi got spooked on their date. What began as a hazy unhappiness
now felt overbearing with his mother’s cruel words.

“I don’t think we’ll be going out again,” Finn finally
said.

“Good. Beauty can go away. Remember Tess?”

Finn swallowed hard as he realized what his
mother was threatening. In high school, he had asked a pretty human girl to the
prom, but Ainsley thought Tess wanted more than just a few dates. Thought she
wanted to marry Finn and give Ainsley weak half breed grandchildren. Tess never
made it to the prom, instead ending up in the hospital with her pretty face
slashed by a mugger. Finn never knew for sure it was his mother’s doing, but he
never went around Tess again, just in case.

“I won’t see Gigi anymore,” Finn said quietly,
hating his mother for nagging him to marry and have kids then threatening to harm
a girl he actually liked.

“That’s a good boy.”

Finn remembered his brother’s demeanor when he
thought Gigi had been hurt.

“Declan likes her too.”

“That’s fine. Your brother doesn’t fuck for life
like you. Let him have his whores.”

Finn considered saying something, but nothing
would faze Ainsley. Even if he felt like making a grand stand against his
mother, Declan would defend her and his brother was heading down the hall towards
them.

“Smells good,” Declan said, leaning down to kiss
the top of his mother’s head.

“Not for another half hour. Eat a cracker if
you’re hungry.”

Once he got a good look at his brother, his grin
faded. “If dinner’s not for a while, Finn and I will be out on the porch.”

Ainsley nodded, never looking up from her
crocheting. Once outside, Finn stared at the street where he grew up playing.
He remembered riding his bike and trying to keep up with Anton and Declan who
would always ride too fast then suddenly stop and wait for him to catch up.

Remembering them as kids, Finn sometimes had
trouble accepting how Anton and Declan would fight one day and only one would
walk away from it.

“I like Gigi,” Declan said quietly as he sat on
the front porch. “I can’t have her and it makes me crazy and I took that out on
you today. I’m sorry.”

Finn turned to look at his brother who gestured
for him to join him on the swing.

“I was ridiculous,” Declan said once Finn sat
next to him. “You wouldn’t rape anyone. I screwed up acting like that in front
of everyone. Those guys know you and they had to know I was being stupid. I’m
sorry.”

Finn sighed. “Ella thought it too.”

“Ella doesn’t think. She just reacts. If she
really thought you raped Gigi, she wouldn’t have just punched you. She’s a
crazy bitch when she’s on the warpath.”

Finn nodded, but he didn’t believe Declan’s
words. Ella had genuinely worried that Finn had raped Gigi. These were his
friends and family and they thought he was capable of hurting a female.

“I messed up with Gigi. I deserved to be
slugged.”

“You kissed a girl you liked and with anyone else
it would have been fine. Gigi’s still figuring out the Circle. She was hired to
replace a waitress who might have been killed by some supernatural creature.
For Gigi, what you did might have seemed scary, but I know you. At the very worst,
your move was lame, not threatening.”

Finn laughed. “Ass.”

Throwing an arm around his shoulder, Declan
smiled. “She’s gorgeous though. The kind of chick who makes guys nuts. You lost
control and licked her. I freaked out and tried to hurt my brother over a misunderstanding.
She’s bad news, but I can’t get enough of her,” Declan said then paused for a
long moment before spitting out the next words as if it killed him to say them.
“I think you should ask her out again.”

Finn studied Declan and smiled. His big brother
wanted Gigi so badly he was like a dog in heat, but he would step aside to give
Finn another chance. Yet dating Gigi was out of the question.

“Thanks, Declan,” Finn said, admiring his big
brother once again. “I can’t go out with Gigi again though.”

“Look, she freaked out, but Ella’s going to talk
to her. Gigi’s nice to those gross ghoul kids. If she can give them a break,
she’ll give you one.”

“It’s not that,” Finn said, glancing back in the
house.

Declan frowned for only a second then understood.
“How does she even know you two went out?”

“You didn’t tell her?”

“Why the hell would I tell our mom about your
dating habits?”

Finn shrugged, feeling tired after a weird day.
Declan tightened his hold around Finn’s shoulders.

“She doesn’t have to know. You took Gigi
somewhere public which is probably how Mom got wind. Just keep your relationship
on the down low and it should be fine.”

Finn thought about Tess with her scarred face.
Tess was a nice girl and her life was harder now because of Finn. He didn’t
want to put Gigi in the same position.

“I really like Gigi. Too much to put her in danger.”

Declan sighed. “You don’t really know what
happened with Tess.”

“Would you take the chance?”

Gazing out at the passing children on their
bikes, Declan sighed again. “Probably not, but it’d be hard to let her go.”

“I know.”

“If you change your mind, I’ll keep your secret.
Mom thinks all beautiful females are whores, but Gigi’s a good girl and she’d
make you happy.”

Finn studied Declan then frowned. “You just don’t
want her to end up with Anton.”

Declan laughed. “Can you imagine? I’d kill him
for that alone.”

Unhappy at the thought of Anton dying, Finn just
sighed. “For all the unhappiness of the day, I’m glad to know Gigi has friends
who’ll go homicidal to protect her. Chicks can be catty, but Ella cares about
Gigi.”

“There’s something special about Gigi. I don’t
normally like dumb chicks, but she’s something else. I can’t believe she’s human.”

“She’s not dumb.”

“Yeah, she is. Someone messed with her head, so
it’s not like she has a choice.”

“She’s not dumb, Declan. She’s just young. From
when I met her at the store to our date, she already seemed older.”

“Fine,” Declan sighed. “She’s not dumb.”

“Thank you.”

Declan nudged his brother. “She did think you
were going to eat her.”

Finn covered his face and laughed. “Still not the
worst date I’ve had.”

“It’s like were not even related.”

“Mom says it’s okay for you to date her, but I’d
rather you didn’t. Consider it my birthday and Christmas gifts for a decade
rolled into one.”

“I’ll do my best, but if Anton goes in for the
kill, I’ll likely break my word. I might have the better territory and pack, yet
if Anton’s sleeping with Gigi, that’s all anyone will remember.”

“Never heard a better reason to date someone.”

Declan shrugged. “Being an Alpha takes a lot of
work, little brother.”

“Neither of you should date her since you can’t
have mates. I’m just saying.”

Sighing, Declan nodded. “Probably right, but
Anton’s lonely.”

Finn thought about his best friend who was indeed
lonely and had been most of his life. Declan might wish for more than girlfriends
and one night stands, but he wasn’t obvious about it.

Anyone who knew Anton knew the Alpha needed a
family. Unfortunately this wasn’t an option for Declan or Anton. Finn sometimes
wondered it was an option for him either.

Gigi kept rubbing at her arm where the injection
mark was hidden by a Band-Aid. The trip to the clinic for birth control had
been confusing and Gigi wasn’t sure how long the shot area would hurt, but Sara
said it was necessary.

Their original plan was to head straight to the
mall, but Sara made a stop at the clinic instead. In the exam room, while
waiting for the doctor, Sara explained the sudden urge for birth control.

“The first night you were on pack floor, the guys
were such pigs, but you were new so it made sense. Last night though they were
more subtle, but I feel like it’s only a matter of time before one of them
fucks you. I’m not sure you’re strong enough to tell them no.”

“I told Finn no.”

“Because you thought he was going to eat you,”
Sara said with a slight grin. “You said it felt good before you got scared
though.”

“It did,” Gigi sighed, thinking of Finn’s soft
kisses.

“Well Weres are pigs and they use women, but that
doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re doing in the romance department. They
get a lot of pussy for a reason. They’re sexy and seductive and the next thing
you know you’re naked and they’re leaving you knocked up with some half breed
they won’t acknowledge.”

“What about condoms?” Gigi said, pointing at a
sign in the room.

“Weres are not going to use condoms. It’s not
their job to keep you from getting knocked up. That’s why we’re getting you
something to keep you safe.”

“I’m not sure Finn wants to date me now.”

“Anton does. Declan does. Roger will when he gets
back. Oh, and every jackass in their packs wants to nail you. They’re all hunting
you and sooner or later one of them will sweet talk you into spreading your
legs.”

Sucking on her bottom lip, Gigi felt ashamed by
Sara’s view of her.

“It’s not your fault,” Sara said, softening her
tone. “I’ve dated Weres and they all show their piggish ways eventually. In the
beginning though, they’re charming and sexy. Trust me that you’ll want to say
yes. They won’t need to trick you or anything. If I have trouble saying no and
I’m a bitter bitch, you’ll have no chance.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m surprised you’ve lasted as long as
you have.”

Gigi thought about Finn, Declan, and Anton and
realized if any of them kissed her like Finn did on their date, she would have
trouble asking them to stop now that she knew licking was sexy, not dangerous.

“So this shot will keep me from getting pregnant?”

“Yep. I get it every three months and it’s
worked. I know a girl at the club who got the shot though and she still got
pregnant. Dave tried to get her to kill the baby, but she isn’t an evil freak
like him and instead left the Circle to raise their daughter. The Weres don’t like
half breeds because the kids can’t always shift. Silas’s brother is a half
breed and he can’t shift and you’d think the guy was crippled by the way they
talk about him.”