Chapter 44

“But you’re okay?” I asked Brian over the sat phone.

“Yes Luna, he was fast but he couldn’t take a punch,”

“Do whatever you need to to extract the information from him Brian. He’s attacked oh so you gave my full permission to treat him as the enemy,” Grayson gripped the phone so tightly I put my hand on the side of his face to steady him.

This wasn’t good news in any way. This almost guaranteed our worst fears. Even if it did not it meant we had attacked an innocent pack which would leave us indebted.

“Let us know what you get Brian I want you to treat your wounds promise me whatever you have to disinfect them if they’re enemy they’ll be trying to poison and infect I packed some antidotes with you,” I spoke to him over the speaker.

“Thank you luna,” he commended me. I felt pride spike in me at the kindness in his voice towards me. He started out as wary as my mate and now he was thankful for me and risking his life for me.

“Call us only when you have the information do not risk it until then,” Grayson continued sternly.

“Please be sure to thank Lilianna for us,” I asked Brian before hanging up.

“You know worrying like this will not help the situation, all it will do is attract attention,” I rub his shoulders for a second.

He reached his hands up to grab mine, rubbing his thumbs over my knuckles . “This is looking more and more like the ground is about give out from underneath us,”

“I know, let’s go for a run,” I whispered to him.

“Hmmm,” he pulled me closer, a mischievousness to him.

“You will leave first so I can shift on my own!” I shrieked pulling myself away from him hitting his back.

“I’m just saying that I would not be worried,” he leaned back. “But I know we still need time,” he rubbed the side of my face for a second.

“Go,” I nodded to the door.

He growled a second and walked out the door giving me a smirk over his shoulder that sent a thrill down my spine.

We had been much more open with each other and I felt like I could tell him anything. Still I wondered if he felt the same way.

I know how much of a gentleman he was being. He wanted me more than words could describe. I had seen flashes in his mind the other day. I had to leave the gym and run home for a shower.

It was the first time I’d seen images in his mind. He hadn’t seen any from me yet. He had apologized for almost an hour when he realized what I’d seen.

It was only natural I told him.

And the fact that I had to keep myself at a distance to stop from recreating what I say may have entered the link in our minds.

I walked out of his office and down to the back porch in an alcove meant for shifting. I hung up my clothes next his.

To say I felt cheated by the fact that we now had a definite threat cornering us just as we were finding our rhythm with each other was putting it mildly.

Each day we spoke to each other and shared lunch together. He told more and more about him and I told him about my life.

I let Seraphine take over and bolted to the woods. Enzo was waiting his figure, a shadow hunting me down.

Seraphine took off teasing him with her scent leaving it in the air for him. Jumping around the woods leading him to clearing.

She slid into the trees as he nipped at her desperate to see her closely. She pranced in a circle slowly coming u of him nuzzling into him as they bathed in their time together.

In sync Grayson and I looked away and the two wolves ran into the wind together.

After an hour we walked out of the woods. Grayson came after me and I waited for him on the porch of the keep.

“Hungry?” He asked me as he buttoned up his shirt.

“Let’s go eat,” I laced my fingers through his.

I had the sense that after what we would hear from Brian I had to tell Grayson the truth about my dreams.

We were in a much better place and if he knew we were most likely going to have a pup from my heat then I had more faith in our future.

The thought of bringing a baby into an unstable relationship is one thing but if we truly were on the brink of war I wouldn’t forgive myself for not letting him know soon enough.

We need to protect the child we were bringing into the world.

“Are you alright?” He tilted his head to me as we walked the path to our home.

“I am…I suppose I’m worried what is going to come of this interrogation tonight,” I leaned into him.

“I thought you said not to worry,” he teased me moving his hand from mine to rub the small of my back soothingly.

“You shouldn’t worry, I shouldn’t worry. And still there is this great big bubble that’s about to pop,” I sighed.

He stopped in his tracks. “No one is going to touch you Annette,” his eyes flickered black for a second.

“No one is going to touch me,” I leaned my hands on his chest. “I know but I am..worried who will get hurt to make that happen and what we might lose,”


He smirked a cocky smirk, his finger playing with my curls. “I don’t lose,”

He leaned down to me kissing me a soft kiss that followed many more kisses that grew on their warmth. His lips tracking down my face to my neck his hands gripping my hips that made me let out a small and breathy moan.

This brought him out and he stepped away from me as we gathered ourselves.

“I’m sorry,”

“You know I’m not, we are getting there slowly, but surely,” I grabbed his hand again and we went into our home for lunch before we separated to do our duties for the day.

Tonight Marie and her husband Jacob were presenting their baby to the pack so we had a large dinner planned.

“Luna?” Ella sidled up to me as we were icing the cake for new parents.

“Yes,” I smiled at her as I was piping.

“Is..I know I’m not allowed to ask but. Is my brother safe mother had a terrible dream last night and I just-“

“He’s safe,” I stopped what I was doing. “I can’t tell you anything else but I can tell you he’s safe,”

I didn’t like keeping this from her but no one could know until Brian and Lilianna were home safe.

“Ella go check the pigs they cannot over cook,” Elizabeth inserted herself between us.

“Does no one understand the meaning of stealth mission. I have question I want to protect my pack but I ask nothing,” She huffed.

Though she knew there was a mission she didn’t know what it was or everyone on it. I knew she wanted to know and I knew she knew her duty to not ask.

“Thank you Elizabeth I know it’s hard to be patient during a time like this,”

It was hard to not tell them what was going on and ask if I was doing the right thing. Elizabeth was a very logical person and had a deep sense of duty to the pack I wanted her opinion more than anyone’s.

Still it was my duty to shoulder this.

Once we had finished the deserts and the rest of dinner we headed out to the pavilion for the celebration of a new pup.

“If anything happens to my wife!” A voice came above the others.

“Steven need I remind you that this is not for the ears of everyone and you endanger her by speaking aloud of it!” My mate growled.

“Elizabeth take this,” I handed the cake off rushing forward.

“Alpha Steven, Grayson! Honestly such childish behavior if you miss your wife so much we can discuss trades over the phone!” I made sure to speak louder than necessary.

“Sorry,” Grayson squinted at Steven while rubbing my back.

“Sorry Anna I supplier I just miss her touch, if only I had as close as Grayson keeps you,” he winked at me and Grayson.

**He is too much a fool sometimes. **

*I’m surprised he cares so much anyways. *

**He doesn’t think before he speaks it is my oldest friends greatest downfall. **

*If only we could see his mouth shut until they’re back*

We walked to the head table Steven pouting slightly beside Grayson. Matt and Leon look beyond annoyed with him.

“Come everyone, let's sit and embrace our newest member!” Grayson announced.

“Everyone please welcome Noah!” I smiled.

Marie and Jacob walked through the crowd, everyone clapping softly for them and the tiny bundle in the new mothers arms.

They bowed their heads before us and offered their child to me. I took in my arms and the adorable soft babe melted my soul.

I handed him to Grayson and the sight of him with a child in his arms and I now wanted fifty children. The big, large mate I had with small little pup in his hands.

“A strong babe he will no doubt be a good wolf and a good man,” Grayson handed the baby back to the parents.

“Thank you alpha,” Jacobs face alight with the overflowing love of a child.

*A babe wouldn’t be so bad *

A mental wall went up between me and Grayson. Seeing that child, a sickening chilled hand of fear squished my heart.

I couldn’t help like we were about to go down the dark path and also supposed to be welcoming a pup.

In the morning Brian would call and tell us what he knew. The way he’d injured that wolf there was no doubt that it had to stay put and Brian had time to get the information we need to know.

I couldn’t breathe with the thought someone wanted to take this from us when we were going to be the happiest we’d ever be.

I couldn’t breathe. I turned away and pretended to have a coughing fit. I tilted my head up and kept the tears in my eyes.

“Annette?” Grayson came up to me. “Are you alright?”

“I just took to sharp of a breath I um just got a tickle in my throat from it,” I kept my face from him as I spoke.

I kept myself through our dinner or at least I hope I did my heart unable to shake the freeze of terror. I held Graysons hand without thinking my body instinctively looking to his for comfort.

We headed to our home at the end of the night.

“I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I enjoy your cooking,” he complimented me, no doubt feeling my body so tense.

“Will you sleep with me tonight?” I blurted it out without thinking the idea he was bout to get.

“What?!” He almost jumped out of his skin with shock and excitement.

“I m-mean sleep, be asleep sleeping next to me in the bed in my room by my side but asleep. Sleeping,” I cleared it up for him, my face heated by the idea of what I had just implied my words jumbling themselves up shyly.

“Oh yes of course. Annette, are you still worried?” He pulled me closer to him again as we walked into our home.

“Yes I know I need to try and relax that’s why I’d like to just lay in your arms tonight,”

“Sounds perfect,” he smiled to me heading upstairs.

I know I wanted to be in his arms all night safely and hopefully peacefully.

I did my best to look at ease when I walked out of my closet in my nightgown and saw him shirtless in our bed. My bed but also our bed.

“You sleep shirtless?” I blushed, halting my steps.

“Do you want me to put a shirt on?”

“No,” I walked over and laid down. I don’t think he expected me to say that so quickly and unfazed. I had been waiting since we met to lay in his arms.

And even though our lives practically depended on the news we got in the morning I slept the best I had in my whole life.