Page 152 of Claimed

“It speaks of the fear they need to be liberated from. And that’s what we’re doin’ here. Change is hard. We’re giving people leeway, but nobody gets a chance to fuck you over. Your safety means the most to me in all this. Okay, Blossom?”

“Yes, Grey.”

“Good girl. Gimme another kiss to last me the next few minutes until one of the guys brings you to me.”

I step closer and put my hands to his jaw. “I love you so much.”

“Good. Me, too.”

“That was our first fight, right? Technically?” I ask. “Before Dani got here?”

His eyes scan my face. “Guess it was.”

“Make up sex is customary after a fight’s over, isn’t it?”

A smile spreads across his face, but then it dies.

“Not fucking you here, babe. No goddamn way.”

My heart sinks at the look on his face. I suddenly have the urge to shower. Shower in the clean water of Grey’s house, washing away Silver Hills first.

“Maybe we can take a run later,” I suggest. “Have makeup sex in the woods?”

His smile returns and I feel relief that he’s not repulsed by the idea of sex after learning so many ugly facts about my life.

“Sounds like a plan, sweetheart.”

I kiss him once more before I turn back and see Brody has left the door open, but is strolling along the fence line about a hundred feet away.

I suspect he’s giving me and Grey space as well as showing me he’s giving me and Addy privacy, too, while making Grey feel safer about leaving me here.

Jase walks up before I go inside and I see and feel the relief from my mate that I’m not being left with a male fighting off the rut. After waving at Jase, I pull in a deep breath and walk across the threshold of the four walls, leaky roof, and soft floor of what was once called my home, though never felt like it.

No, this never felt like home. It never felt safe. It never felt like a haven. Not this building nor the other buildings I lived in while here, at least not since I was six years old before I moved in with Father and Wyatt. Sure, there were times when things were quiet, calm, but this was never a home to me. It was shelter from the elements but with a threat continuously looming just outside those four rotting walls, but that was all it was... a building.

I want things to berighthere. I want things to be good for the people I grew up with. I want all the kids raised here to have enough to eat. To feel safe. To know they can be themselves instead of being repressed, under someone’s thumb. I want this pack to always have medicine for the sick. Clean water. A capable leader.

But along with all this, I’m also really, really anxious to go to Arcana Falls. Because I think when we get back, the relief I’ll feel on the other side of that pretty bottle green door in that lovely white house that Greyson bought and decorated in anticipationof meeting me will mean that finally, for the first time since I was six years old, I will feel like I’mhome.

The Arcana Falls pack has welcomed me. And when all this is behind us, maybe I can lean in to beingme– the me I’ve suppressed here.

41

Grey

“Thanks again for gettin’ here so fast, Dani,” I say while walking her to her car so she can grab some things for the locator spells.

“Absolutely,” she waves her hand.

“How’s Aunt Mimi doin’?” I ask.

Dani smiles wide. “She’s great. Booked a last minute flight and gone to Europe to meet up with an old friend. Jess and Ronnie dropped her off at the airport this morning. She was agile, happy, and humming a tune. We were a little worried she’d be out of touch as she’s going unplugged for at least a week, but she told me knowing you’re part of the coven puts her at ease that we can handle whatever comes up.”

“Nice,” I reply.

“How about you? How are you feeling with all your new mojo and all? We’ve all felt some… ripples.”

“Still adjusting, I think,” I tell her. “Eyes seem to be permanently gray instead of switching to and from gray and brown. Red sparks fly off when I get really pissed.”

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