Choose the Night

A Talon Pack Short Story

Author Note: Choose the Night is a Talon Pack short story that centers on Brynn and Finn from An Alpha’s Choice. Brynn is trying to come up with the perfect anniversary gift for Finn, only she’s never been good at things like that. Little does she know that Finn has plans of his own. In terms of a timeline, the events take place after Mated in Mist (Talon Pack Book 3).

Brynn needed this date night to actually work out. In fact, she needed her anniversary with Finn to work out, as well. The fact that they hadn’t been together for a full year, but rather a mere few months shouldn’t matter. This night needed to be perfect.

Only Brynn wasn’t the girly-girl the others in her Pack were, and had no idea how to plan a romantic date. She was more the ‘bang against the wall type’—moaning and howling while all sweaty. Finn, while more dominant that her by a mere breath despite being a future Alpha, tended to be the more romantic of the two of them.

And that was something she could not tolerate today.

Not on the anniversary of their mating.

She couldn’t lose to him in the romance department.

And that she needed to make this a competition spoke to the fact that she would one day be the future Alpha’s mate.

And that she was stubborn. But shh, don’t mention that.

It was just that after the courtship they’d had and the hell they’d literally walked through, she wanted to make sure her mate knew how much he meant to her. Because of what had happened when he’d been a child, it had taken far more strength and sacrifice than most wolves endured for the two of them to even find a way to make their mating work in the first place.

She’d taken a leap into the unknown with Finn, the Heir to a Pack not her own, and the son of an Alpha newly brought into the world as a power. But she wouldn’t take back that decision for anything.

However, now she had to show her very alpha mate how much he meant to her, and do it in a romantic way. As much as she knew he loved it when she slammed him against a wall and had her wicked way with him, she’d already done that the day before during their break from patrol.

So, their six-month anniversary had to be a little more special.

With a sigh, she pulled her long hair up into a ponytail and got to work making lists. She wasn’t like her sister-in-law with her OCD nature and ability to organize anything, but she could at least try to make a plan.

She could do a picnic lunch with him during their break, but that would require her to cook or ask a friend or family member to cook for her.

She could find him a present that would make him smile.

She could cook for him like she hadn’t wanted to with the picnic, but if she stayed within the house, it meant less travel.

“Or you could get naked and wrap yourself up with a teeny-tiny bow,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her.

She twisted in her seat, crumbling the paper with her list in her hand as she did so. “Finn,” she squeaked.

Squeaked.

Brynn Brentwood-Jamenson did not squeak.

Her mate cupped her face in his large, callused hands and lowered his lips to hers. She sank into the kiss, her body practically melting into him. Her wolf reared up, pushing at them both, needing the man, the wolf, in front of her.

They were bonded on more than a human level, they were linked on a soul level. Their wolves were bonded, as well; a true mating that spoke of generations of commitment, love, and magic.

When Finn pulled back and rested his forehead on hers, they both panted, trying to catch their breath.

“Heck of a list, baby.”

Her cheeks warming, she tried to pull back, but his hold on the back of her head kept her in place. “You weren’t supposed to see that.” She lowered her eyes, embarrassed, then cursed and met his gaze once more.

He kissed the tip of her nose, his green eyes glowing with need, with the power of his wolf. “No need to lower your eyes for me, princess. You know better than that. You’re my equal. In wolf, in dominance, in life. Now, why are you embarrassed about that list?”

She could have broken his hold, and frankly, he would have let her go if she moved. He’d never hurt her, never clip her wings. He was a dominant male, who loved his dominant mate.

“Argh. You weren’t supposed to see that list,” she repeated. “I wanted to be all romantic and find something to do with you for our anniversary, but I could only come up with cliché things that didn’t seem like us.” She nuzzled into his hand, her wolf stretching her claws, practically purring. “And the fact that those romantic things didn’t seem like us annoyed me. Why can’t I be romantic, Finn?”

To her horror, tears stung her eyes.

Finn immediately moved, forcing her to his lap as he held her close. “Shh, princess. It’s okay.”

She wiggled, enjoying the way he hardened under her. “I feel like an idiot.”

“You aren’t an idiot,” he whispered as he kissed her temple. “You’re my mate, and therefore, cannot be an idiot.”

She snorted. “Really? That’s your excuse? That seems a bit centered around you.”

“Well, I’m a future Alpha,” he said with a deep chuckle. “It’s kind of the point.” He kissed the top of her head while his hand slowly roamed over her body. If he didn’t quit that soon, she’d be slamming him against a wall. Again. “And Brynn? I don’t care what we do on our anniversary, as long as I’m with you. And you know what? This doesn’t have to be all about what you can do for me. Maybe it should be what I should do for you? Or even what we can do for each other, with each other. Because I love you, mate of mine. You’re mine. I’m yours. We chose each other when the world was against us, and you know what? I’m going to spend every day knowing that you’re mine, and I’m yours. Showing you that.”

Her heart melted, and she sank into him once again.

“Though I still think you naked with a bow might be nice.”

She grinned wickedly and wiggled on his lap. “Maybe we should get you a bow. I know exactly where to tie it.”

He laughed before kissing her with the strength of an Alpha. “Is it your turn or mine to be the one pressed against the wall?”

Brynn licked her lips. “Mine.”

He wiggled his brows, folding his hands behind his head. “You’re going to have to make me.”

She growled low, though her wolf pleased by the challenge. “Game on, mate.”

“Game on.”

After they were sweaty and lying in a heap on the floor, Finn’s back a bit bruised from his turn against the wall, she curled into him, her wolf content.

“So,” she began, “what do you really want to do for our anniversary?”

“You,” he answered.

She punched him in the shoulder, but there wasn’t much heat since he’d taken most of her energy. “Well, if we don’t do something fun on our anniversary, then choose the night, Finn. Choose the night, and we’re going to play at romance and try something new.”

Finn rolled so he hovered over her, his eyes dark, intent. “Any night with you is something new, Brynn. But yeah, princess, I’ll choose the night.”

He kissed her softly, and she moaned.

“I choose you, Brynn,” he whispered once they’d made love once more. “I choose you. Always and forever.”

She closed her eyes, cherishing his words. She was his, and he was hers. And no matter how romantic she might want to be, she knew there was no greater romance than this—than simply being with her mate.

She may not have figured out what they were doing to do for their date, but she’d worry about that later. She had Finn in her arms, and that was all she needed.