Chapter 41

“They’ll take Brian and a member of the Waxing Pride, they’ll head out tonight until his wife comes back safe Alpha Steven will be here,” Grayson shook his head with a sigh at that last part.

“For lifelong friends, you can’t stand him,” I noticed with a smirk.

“You’ve met him. He speaks and acts without thinking… I don’t” He grumbled.

“Oh I know,” I concurred with my smirk only growing.

Grayson gave me that tugged corner of his mouth as a smile in return. Last night was seared into us now. The adoring and full-hearted kisses had sealed us together, the stone wall of a line we drew in the sand had been crossed.

Eventually, we parted and I went to sleep on a cloud. I know I sound like a teenager after her first date when in reality I’m talking about my husband. If I was human he and I would have a thorough knowledge of each other before calling each other husband and wife. Sometimes I dream of that, but now I am forever captivated by our story.

After all, it was ours.

“Brian will have a sat phone he’ll update me every morning before they rest,” Grayson changed the topic and pulled back to the task at hand. “When they return I want you to check the scent on anything they bring,”

“Sounds good to me,” I nod, trying to pretend like I was paying attention which I really really should be.

His hand snaked around my waist. “I’m distracted too, so don't worry,” his breath lingered on my neck, and the urge he had to kiss my skin was audible.

I pulled away from him trying to get my head together. “I have to go to the border patrol again and this time I really need to pay attention as Luna it’s my job,” His ire was all over his face.

“Well I will be out there around noon,” He straightened, inching closer like a predator in the forest. “That won’t be a problem will it?”

“Grayson behave,” I scold him, slipping just out of his reach and heading for the door. “I’ll see you later.

You would think breaching the physical barrier would abate the air of tension between us. Instead, I stoked the flames of an unknown fire in my mate and now he was insatiable, he wanted nothing but to be next to me and my brain was unprepared for this interference with my duties.

I headed to the border and was ready to listen to Elizabeth about all the alarms, special defenses, and signals. As Luna defending my people was one of the most important things I did. I knew Elizabeth with her no-nonsense attitude would help me focus.

“Have things grown between you two?” She greeted me, arms folded over her chest, a sly look on her usually stern face.

*Apparently not. *

“What do you mean?” I gaped at her stunned the rule-following woman was so flagrant speaking to her Luna.

I know she sees Grayson as a dear friend, and she has been there for me even when I had trouble with him. She is someone I have come to trust absolutely. Seeing her act so blatantly with me was not something I thought would ever come after all these weeks of interaction.

“My apologies Luna,” She straightened. “Aarron was at the keep today and said you two were in Graysons office all morning, and Amaria said something about a dream…I don’t gossip but if it concerns an heir…”

It made sense why she was being so frank now. She wanted to know if I was pregnant or if Grayson and I had a chance at being pregnant.

“My heart is coming, Grayson and I are getting closer, but as of yet it would take divine intervention for an heir to be produced,” I clarified then gave her a stern look. “Which I would prefer you kept between us,”

“Of course, I know I should have been more delicate but, I didn’t want you here defending if you were,” She coughed her awkwardness at crossing into my private life now washed over her.

“Elizabeth you have taught me almost everything I need to be the luna here. I trust you, if there was a chance for an heir I would tell you before anyone else here,” I flippantly spoke thinking she knew how thankful I had been for her.

Instead, she stopped dead in her tracks and looked as though I had told her I loved her. “Luna I am-thank you,’

I gave her a soft smile. “Elizabeth even through all my troubles arriving here you have helped me. You gave me support in a time when I needed it most. Besides that I know no matter what you will do what is best for our pack I am well aware of how lucky I am to call you a friend of course I will tell you whenever I get pregnant,” I spoke earnestly.

Elizabeth, one who was not one for a lot of emotions, much like my husband, coughed and looked from side to side. “I am, honored Luna,” She looked away from me. “I think of you as a good friend as well,”

“I believe I have defense training,” I nodded to her, giving her an out from the tenderness.

“Yes, let's,” She nodded but gave me an almost proud smile.

She taught me the secret defenses we had around the perimeter. Hidden tripwires and bombs are rigged. Pop-up defenses fifty, twenty and ten yards out. Trench defenses, and oil are set to light if needed.

Grayson was critical of protecting what he loved. Now that we had crossed the threshold of touching I wondered exactly how far he would go for me.

It was hard not to shiver at the thought of his dark side. He had built this place for his future family. I know why he had been so careful to let me in. Seeing the defenses of the border only solidified the knowledge that the man I was giving my heart to would burn the world to a crisp to keep me safe.

I know he would crack every bone in the body of a man who would try and take me from him. Was it wrong that endeared me to him? Wolves could be brutal and hostile, but I liked to help, heal and care. Still, the thought he would protect me with no mercy made me trust him even further.

“Impressed?”

I smirked to myself at his gravelly voice raising the hair on my neck. He knew I liked it so he led with it.

“Do you blame me?” His hand brushed my back up my spine dragging his knuckles.

You are enjoying this far more than I thought you would.

His laugh hit my ear and I did my best not to lean against his chest just to feel him further.

There is nothing like the pull to the person made for you. When you take things further your instincts speed up all rational.

Still so much had happened I knew this could not be our course. I had to keep some lines intact. I couldn’t jump into the deep end because it looked warm.

“If you want me to stop I will,” he stepped back a ways from me.

I spun and put my hands on his shoulders bringing our bodies back together. “This can be our new normal. I don’t mind touching you, I’m just not comfortable with anything more than what we have,”

“As long as you’re comfortable with this I’m okay,” his hands rested on hips. “I will never make you uncomfortable or upset again,”

We went to dinner after Grayson checked the security footage. Basic drill of making sure nothing went past us. Tonight Brian, Lilliana and a warrior of the waxing pride pack would leave and track whoever came onto our lands.

“Anna!” Lillianna enveloped me in her arms with her sweeping grace.

“Lilianna I cannot thank you enough,” I whispered into her ear.

Because this was going to be a stealth mission no one in any of our packs outside of the alphas and the betas knew what was going on.

This meant it had to look normal to all eyes. I highly doubted someone from our pack could betray what we hold in our hearts, but the safety of everyone was involved here.

“My darling this is what friends are for!” She gave her glamorous smile and we sat down to eat.

“Grayson I hope while I’m away you and Steven will behave yourselves,” she gave a stern look to her husband.

Steven shrunk away from her a little. I believe he had not gotten away unscathed for his comment the other day.

How he could have openly insulted Lilianna so carelessly I have no clue. It was not intended to wound her but I know it did. They didn’t have any pups and insinuating he wanted my alpha blood even as a joke must have stung.

“I will be perfectly nice,” Grayson nodded to her as he put some extra meat on my plate.

Ever since he found out my heat was coming he’s wanted me to have full plates and lots of protein I was about to lose a lot of blood and if I was prepared it might not hit me quite so hard.

This is also why I made myself a spinach salad for every meal. All the extra iron I could need. I’ve been dreading my heat ever since I’ve learned of it and I don’t think anyone would blame me.

The body convulses and burns up to as hot as 107 degrees. Your stomach muscles contract and constrict. And you bleed like a faucet for at most three days.

The only thing that will help is the touch of your marked mate. Grayson being my soulmate means his touch would feel like fresh snow. Allegedly.

It didn’t feel like it could come any day. It felt like I still had time. I felt like I had enough time to get more comfortable with Grayson touching me more intimately.

It seemed we were always sped up by life. No matter how much we want to put the breaks on, our world is spinning faster and faster.

Goddess knows what will happen to us….