Finding Finn

By Lynn Crandall

A short story loosely connected to the Fierce Hearts series’ were-lynx colony.

Asher Monroe’s younger brother Finn has never had any trouble accepting his human identity despite Asher’s extraordinary were-lynx abilities and rich life with the colony. In fact, Finn loves his life as a research scientist and living on his own terms. But when a disease that is targeting were-lynxes brings a group of violent were-lynxes to town to threaten his research partner, Nissa Bello, his life is changed forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Crandall
• Release date: Apr 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370705931

Lynn Crandall

Lynn Crandall lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her cat. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. Her background is in journalism, but whether writing a magazine or newspaper story or creating a romance, she loves the power stories hold to transport, inspire, and uplift. In her romances, she focuses on vulnerable, embraceable characters who don't back down.She also has written a children's book, Invincible and Sparkly. It fallows the journey of two young girls who turn to loyalty, hope, and belief in self when confronting danger, loss, and self-doubt. It is a book of my heart.

Book preview

Finding Finn

By Lynn Crandall

FINN MONROE PULLED NISSA BELLO behind him, swiftly removing her from the group of young men gathering around her. Tension hardened his muscles. Back off, jerks! He made himself a wall between his friend and the four menacing guys staring him down. Mind your own business.

Students gathered to catch the warm afternoon rays of sun in early May dappled the university quad, all of them tightly focused on their own little space in the grass, so much so Finn and his predicament didn’t penetrate their attention. He didn’t budge from the spot under the sprawling limbs of an old oak tree near the Genetics and Complex Diseases building where he worked every day in his research lab. Most days with Nissa, a fellow researcher.

The largest guy in the group stepped closer. She is our business. Get out of our way or we’ll remove you, and you won’t like our method.

Yeah, we’re warning you. Once. Another hulk shook his finger in Finn’s face. It’s your choice to go easy or go hard. Either way, this little stand of yours won’t matter. We’re taking the girl.

Finn, Nissa whispered in his ear, stop this. Just let me go.

The trembling in her voice gave away her fear. His heart clenched at the same time bile burned in his gut. No way he was backing down. Yes, the four of them were built like athletes, but he was no slouch. In a physical fight against them, though, probably he had zero chance of winning.

His mind whirled with possibilities. Thoughts of what these overgrown students had in mind for Nissa twisted his lips. Size doesn’t matter. Not to him. Confidence in his ability to talk his way out of this filled him. He knew from an IQ perspective, he was on the high side and them, cumulatively, he’d bet not so much. I can see you’re determined, but she doesn’t want to go with you. He tried for nonchalant. "So we’re at an impasse. I’m not going to let you take Nissa anywhere, especially since she clearly doesn’t want to go. And in the United States, it’s her inalienable right to choose. You understand that word, don’t you. It means indisputable, undeniable. So you go on your way before I call the police and we’ll all just chalk up this little fiasco of yours to, oh, I don’t know. A case of brainless syndrome? Finn took hold of Nissa’s arm and made to walk around the group on his way into the building, not taking his glare off the men.

Instantly, two of the four muscled him back around the corner toward the side of the brick building and shoved him to the ground. Finn kicked his feet at the one holding him down and rolled his head from side to side in an attempt to avoid hits. The punches from the other guy hit soundly, one after another. Blood trickled in his eye, but for a split second, he caught a glimpse of the other two men marching Nissa farther down the side of the building.

From deep inside, he drew up all his strength and raised his head. Before the next hit came, he pulled up from the