Chapter 28
I jumped from my seat. The others still hadn’t sensed what I had but they were at the ready with me, prepared for a danger they didn’t know was present. How could they not know he was here?
"What is it?" Dominic growled, drawing a knife from his side.
"It’s Grayson, he’s here. I can feel him."
The others moved to form a circle around me, backs turned toward me as they searched in every direction. There was no movement, no scent caught, no noise to alert. They questioned my warning but the feeling was unmistakable.
I closed my own eyes while they searched with theirs. I concentrated on slowing time, on bringing up the magic that warned me in the first place. It felt as though it had been a part of me all along, like Grayson had been born with my name on his tongue.
Our connection was stronger than it had been yet, the full moon adding to both our energies. I listened hard, waves crashing in the background and wind whistling through the trees. My hand raised on its own as though powered by an unknown force. A finger lifted and I opened my eyes to look in the direction I was pointing.
"That way!" I called out, the men following my finger.
"Marek! You’re with me. Jax, Julien! Stay with her." Dominic billowed out.
The command seemed to release Marek and he ran like an oversized bull towards the direction I led him. Dominic followed, leaving the other two to tighten the circle around me. My pulse surged and I grabbed at Julien’s wrist, whose back was still turned to me.
I continued to search for Grayson, the weight of his watchfulness still boring into my skin. They must have passed right by him. My back straightened, they had passed by him and now it was only us three against the Alpha King.
The pain of what I had done struck me, Grayson knew our plan as though he were in the room with us. He was here, not only to take me back by force, but to stop Julien. And I had sent our strongest away, leaving Julien open for Grayson to kill.
As though my thoughts were a prediction of the future, Grayson emerged from where I indicated. His eyes were fierce, different from how I remembered. The muscles rippling along his body seemed stronger, more dangerous. He had been shaving with his knife but a shadow appeared along his jaw. He looked magnificent and terrifying.
He was whole, unbroken and living up to the name he had been given. The thing in me called out for him, reaching its tendrils like static. I couldn’t quite catch my breath, seeing him in person lit a fire inside my soul that I hadn’t known existed.
He charged. It felt like slow motion watching him and my body went cold while a tear began to fall. I couldn’t stop him from his mission, I could only watch as the power of his claim subdued me.
Jax met him first, swinging two daggers at him. Grayson elegantly dodged each slash before a single blow to Jax’s chest sent him flying to the ground. The wind had been knocked out of him and he writhed on the ground, gasping for air.
The encounter had slowed him but hadn’t stopped him, he marched towards Julien and I with a swagger of someone who held more power than he deserved. A growl ripped through the air, echoing against the trees as he approached.
Julien pushed me back slightly and braced into a fighting stance. Grayson swung first, a fist so angry it would have killed had it landed. Julien dipped and held up his own hands with claws beginning to grow.
They danced around each other on their heels, hurling fists and missing the connections. Julien landed the first hit, a swipe of the knuckles across Graysons lower jaw. Grayson smiled at the contact, unphased by the pain.
Julien landed another and another to Grayson’s face but he bounced back with a grin like it was all a game to him. When he finally decided it was time, he hit back.
The first was to Julien’s stomach, a hard thud that made Julien gasp. Then another against his cheek, knocking him back. These blows did affect Julien, who staggered against the unexpected power.
Jax had made it to his feet and charged again, attempting a tackle at Grayson’s midsection. He fell back a few steps but refused to be taken to the ground. His knee came up to hit Jax in the nose, blood gushing out.
He punched Jax again when Julien intervened and suddenly it was two on one except both were losing to Grayson’s fury. Every punch to Grayson only made him more energized, like he was stealing they’re power and sending it back threefold.
I stood before them at the fire, watching and unable to move. Trapped in my own body and mind while my world fell apart.
Grayson’s might grew to the point that he easily tossed Jax aside. Jax struggled to get up again but couldn’t, blood dripping from his face as his arms buckled at each attempt.
Julien was breathing too heavy, a punch to his chest had caused a raspy noise to come from his lungs. There was a cut on his lip that he kept wiping the blood away from and his eye was starting to swell. He wouldn’t last much longer.
Grayson puffed his chest out and raised his chin in victory. This would be the end of Julien.
"Grayson," I called in a small voice with a half-whisper. He hesitated in his footsteps.
I struggled through whatever force was keeping me frozen in place. Julien fell to his knees, too weak and his breathing too labored. My hand reached out, calling to the one I wanted.
My summons was answered as Grayson turned from his mission to face me, a look of pain on his face.
He reached me in only a few long strides. My outstretched palm touching his bare chest first. The contact burned.
I pushed back on instinct but my arm buckled at the twitch of his muscle beneath my fingers. He grabbed me by my shoulders first.
I hesitated, fear over his rage making me shake. He didn’t wait for my explanations as he drew me in. One hand wrapped around my back, pressing myself against him in a desperate way. The other gripped at the back of my head, fingers tangling in my hair. He drew me firmly against him, my face settling just below his collarbone in an embrace that made me whole.
The feeling of him was warm, familiar, devastating. His hold was gentle and a tightness I hadn’t realized I was carrying unraveled.
Our beating hearts synchronized as he pressed me closer. I never wanted him to stop holding me like this. He felt like the only solid ground in a world that had been slowly tilting for weeks and I clung to him as if letting go meant falling.
When he drew back, he pushed back a lock of my hair and circled his fingers around my ear before landing on my chin and pulling my face up to meet him.
The look in his eye was one of relief and his eyebrows twitched with an agony I didn’t understand. I hadn’t expected him to act like this, he actually seemed pleased to see me.
His hand left my chin and he brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. If I didn’t know him better, I’d think he was admiring me. A glint of something was in his eye as he leaned down. I tilted myself up as he kissed my bottom lip in a way that felt so unlike him.
My breath was held. His upper lip sat between mine for only a moment and I fought back the urge to kiss him back even thought the feeling lit sparks in my stomach.
He let go and pressed his forehead against mine, letting out a sigh. I found myself closing my eyes, enjoying the intimacy.
A deep, drawn out growl began behind Grayson and the signature, stubbornly angry look, returned to his brows. The delightful sparks turned to painful coals as he turned on his heels to meet Marek in his werewolf form face to face.
The sun had hidden itself by now and its light was dwindling away. The moon was on full display, already starting to work its magic among the pack.
I looked at Julien, who was slumped on the ground amd my heart broke for him. Jax had passed out and I didn’t see Dominic anywhere.
The giant dark brown wolf huffed and bared its teeth to Grayson who held out a hand in front of me for protection.
"If I turn now, I won’t be able to turn back. When I say, you run."
Grayson leaped at Marek, gripping handfuls of fur as he threw the beast to the ground. Marek jumped on him and latched onto Graysons shoulder, the bite leaving deep bleeding punctures behind.
He cried out in frustration rather than pain and this time Grayson grabbed Marek by the neck and swung him against a tree. I heard a cracking noise and I let out a cry for him.
"Now!" Grayson yelled out.
He grabbed my wrist as he passed and I followed without question, leaving behind the disaster that he’d caused on my pack.