Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter Nine

“Fine.”

She barely muttered the words, but Alpha Grayson’s smile tuned to the level of a thousand watts.

“The better choice of events then.” He motioned her to move toward him.

A pit formed in her stomach, the feeling of desperation pulling her weight.

There was also anger.

Fire was burning in that pit.

She had to gnash her gums to keep her teeth in check, as she moved directly in front of the Alpha. He twirled his finger, and she obliged, spinning until she locked eyes with Michael.

“Remove your shirt,” he instructed.

A snarl filled the room, all attention quickly returned to Michael.

Crack.

His defiance was cut short.

Laura quickly pulled her shirt down, exposing only her shoulder.

Alpha Grayson tooted over her shoulder. “You’d think you’d be comfortable with the body, even without a wolf form—given where you grew up.”

She ignored his words.

He lightly touched her upper back. Everything in her screamed to move away as he muttered the words of binding. His hand gradually adjusted to the feel of a blazing hot spear, piercing her skin as the mark she so desperately threw away was etched back into place. She didn’t flinch as the pain brought stars to her periphery and tears brimmed, threatening to spill.

Brown eyes held hers, the distress greater than her own.

A chorus of howls penetrated the wall, a pack welcoming their new member. They certainly wouldn’t waste a breath if they knew for whom they howled. She felt their confusion through the link that connected the pack before she shut it out. She understood the confusion; new member inductions were typically held in ceremony.

“There we go.” He stepped back. She felt his disgusting stare at the mark as she resettled her shirt.

Yea, there goes freedom, she thought bitterly.

She was now one with the pack again, through the bitterest of reunions.

“Well, I have more matters to attend, a convoy to entertain, and the likes.”

He left the room, taking with him the shifters who beat Michael.

Laura went for him, pulling the cloth from his face.

“Let’s leave. Fuck this–fuck this pack–you’re not going. I’ll kill them–they can’t even handle their own shit and have to drag you through it every time. I’m not watc–,” Michael spewed lava as soon as the gag was removed.

“Hush, what’s done is done,” she sighed, “and I can’t exactly run anywhere without him knowing now.” Michael winced, not in pain, but she couldn’t exactly find it in her to blame him.

She’d reached out to him after all.

“You don’t owe them shit, Lars,” he affirmed her sentiment.

She agreed, but all she would have to do is go to the trials and do her worst. Then, she could get the pack mark off again, and hopefully return to her life without too much damage from this marathon of an ordeal.

She pulled on the chains that held him, one breaking loose in her grip. He sagged forward, into her arms.

“You’re heavy,” she complained.

“And you’re not?” His dry response underscored his exhaustion.

She struggled a bit more with the angle of the remaining chain before frustration saw her nose to nose with Michael.

She swiped him.

The hair on her arms raised, and a soft crackle of electricity licked her body before surging into him. His eyes went wide, his expression contorting into one of surprise at the full force of the energy she afforded him, then he eyed her quizzically, clearly wondering how she managed to do it, but his mouth remained shut.

Laura moved back as Michael raised himself off his knees, bringing his remaining binding down as he did.

He stood tall, his disposition almost sunny as he looked better than even before he was assaulted.

“I’d say nurse me back to health, but..I guess you just did that part.” She almost cracked. His personality couldn’t take a break even after a beating. He stood there, flashing that characteristic smile, though it quickly dimmed as the situation resettled in the air.

“Lars–,” he started.

She cut him off with a shake of her head. She didn’t want him to keep poking the issue.

Laura sighed as he looped his arm across her shoulder, dragging her with him. She took one last fill of the room that highlighted her life and hoped to gods it would be the last time she saw it.

They retraced the steps she’d taken to get there with the Alpha–her Alpha. The thought made her want to snarl and howl simultaneously.

Instead of going back to the Alpha’s manor, Michael steered her in the direction of his family home.

“I’ll really be damned, if I let you stay there,” he half muttered, half huffed.

The walk to the living side of the territory would be considered long by human standards–almost five miles. The homes, depending on pack rank, were situated on the lower slope of the territory. Those of higher rank received more land and were situated closer to the pack’s facilities. Michael’s wasn’t exactly the first house on the block.

There were more people present here, some on two legs, some on four. Many faces smiled in acknowledgment, but Laura nearly snapped her spine to keep from shrinking when a few decidedly placed her face.

Michael remained shoulder to shoulder with her, the sun blazing down on their silhouettes. She knew he hadn’t taken to wolf form for her sake. He could have saved himself the distance otherwise. She would’ve felt a little bad if she hadn’t fully healed him. Nevertheless, she appreciated the gesture.

They eventually arrived at a brick house outfitted with black panes, and a black door.

They’d hardly taken the first step onto the porch when the door was thrown open. A lovelier version of Michael stepped out to meet them.

“Told you I smelled him!” His sister called back into the house.

A wiser version of Michael flowed onto the porch not a second later.

“Michael! What brings you here?” Arms were thrown around his frame in a fierce squeeze, his mother barely giving space as she stepped back to appraise him.

“Oooh, you know… Donny messed up his joint again.” He couldn’t look them in the eyes.

“That idiot is lucky to still have any,” his mother grumbled.

“Hah… Yeah.” Michael was many things. A good liar wasn’t one of them.

. His sister eyed him suspiciously before suddenly turning her gaze to Laura. She gave the appropriate response to Laura’s presence–a lifted brow. Laura choked at the sudden attention, coughing once to clear the saliva in her throat before offering a small smile.

The exchange drew the attention of his mother, Delta Jacklyn, from harassing her son into agreeing to move back home.

“Well, if it isn’t Laura.” Jacklyn turned to face her fully.

Laura offered another small smile.

“Yes, the new Candidate. I’d say congratulations..but there’s nothing to celebrate,” the woman sighed. Her eyes were gentle as she returned Laura’s smile with a sadder one.

Delta Jacklyn was one of the few good ones.

“Come on in sweetie, I just finished whippin’ up lunch.”

“Thank you.” Laura relaxed the tension she’d absorbed since first waking up in the territory, as they passed the threshold.

“Shoes by the door kids,” Jacklyn called as she shuffled further into the kitchen.

Everyone dutifully shucked their shoes off, and as Laura turned to follow the promise of deliciousness, an arm looped and locked onto hers.

“You can share my room.” They were practically the same height, but his sister still managed to tuck her head into the crook of Laura’s neck.

Laura froze, not sure what to do with the show of affection–especially from someone she never interacted with much.

Michael swooped in to save her.

“That’s what guest rooms are for, Macy,” he chided his sister, ragdolling her away.

Laura followed them down the hallway.

She’d only been inside once before. Michael had snuck her in one summer, long ago, when everyone else was away.

It was as inviting as the people inside. White walls told stories frame by frame, and at this time of day, the light curving through the window perfectly illuminated every dark corner.

Laura felt warm.

Safe.

The afternoon passed uneventfully. Laura mostly updated them on her latest travels. Almost feeling back to herself as she wowed with stories from old lands, and speculated ancient histories. Michael’s sister, Macy, filled any silence with questions, and after she ran out, spurred conversations on every possible topic.

He had a loving family. It was something Laura was truly envious of, no matter how she told herself not to be.

The sound of everyone else settling had long passed, and the house was quiet but for the sounds of nature. No matter how many times she flipped, she wasn’t the least bit tired. There wasn’t a television in the room–her usual go-to for an easy distraction–and with the hearing of a shifter it wouldn’t be the best idea to sit on the couch… So instead of disturbing Michael and his family, Laura did the next best thing and headed outside to clear her head.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter