Page 85 of Claimed

I want everything this village offers me. Him. Them. Clean water. Fun. Enough to eat. The freedom to be me in either form. The freedom to get to know my wolf better. Since I’ve let the animal part of myself out so much in the past few days, I feel more connected to myself. Stronger, too. So strong in fact, I think I could battle my brother myself, do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t mess this up for me. For our pack. Because I believe the Arcana Falls pack is the key to helping my pack find a better way forward.

And I want babies with Grey. Would they be healthy? Would they thrive? They’d have the best chance here in a place like this, wouldn’t they? Even if they have my genetics? It’s a scarythought, but being with this incredible man makes me feel like anything is possible.

“You’ve made me very fuckin’ happy tonight, Blossom,” my mate says gruffly. “I knew the instant I caught your scent that you were meant to be mine. I knew I loved the way you look, smell, feel. But right now, what you’ve given me tonight, letting me in, giving me all of you, being my touchstone to make sure I don’t inflict damage on those I care about? I’m falling in love with you, too. Understatement. It’s an incredible feeling. Let’s go, though. I have things to tell you and want to do it in the privacy of our home.”

He helps me to my feet before pulling a twig out of my hair and tossing it. He wiggles his fingers so I’ll grab his hand. We walk a little while before I suggest we run home as wolves, which we do. And I’m nowhere near as fast on my feet as I would be if I’d had more practice, not as fast as I was earlier because I’ve definitely tired myself out. But it’s a good tired. I’m getting stronger, faster, and know it’s just the beginning of feeling so much more connected to myself.

And as much as our play tonight was wild, beautiful, exhilarating, and has me absolutely exhausted and even sore from it, when we get back and into the shower, I reach for him, knowing he smells that I want him again. Because I don’t want the best night of my life so far to be over yet.

“I can’t believe I’m even able,” I whisper against his chest as he takes my hair into a fist and goes for my throat with his tongue. “I heard your pack members saying something about me smelling like I’m in heat.”

“You’re definitely in heat, Stace, and I do not fuckin’ like a bit that anyone smelled that but me.” As angry as he looks saying it,suddenly he’s smiling. “Good chance I’ve planted a pup in you tonight.”

Oh, my stars; I hope so. The sheer joy this notion brings me has tears springing forth in my eyes. The warm, gentle look in Greyson’s gaze as he soaps me up with his strong hands tells me he feels the same.

A baby. I really do hope so. I can’t help but worry about the notion, though. Because of things I know about my family. That I suspect. And with what might be lingering in my body from living in that village.

“I’ll take care of your brother with as much care as I can. Trust me?”

“I trust you,” I tell him.

And I do.

But I can’t help but worry all the same. So many good things are happening right now. So many things I never thought I’d have. Is it possible that it all won’t be ripped away and I won’t find myself once again hungry and depressed, surrounded by junk and despair?

I hope with all my heart that whatever happens, I don’t lose him. As long as I have Greyson, I could even go back to living in that junkyard.

***

“I’m an important part of the Young coven. I need training and that’ll come. Tomorrow might be trial by fire with some of this SCC shit, but we’ll see. I knew I came into extra power, hit some milestone when we mated. Knew something was different in me, felt it, but have no clue how to tap into it.”

We’re snuggled up in bed and it’s nearly dawn, but he’s given me information about the evening he’s had. He says he leftthe conversation and ritual with his aunt feeling like things were happening how they were supposed to. He seems a little frustrated at joining the coven late, at not having all the facts about his family and his place in it for all this time because of how his parents’ bond was severed, how he grew up not knowing that side of his family.

He mused about having a different upbringing if he’d had an opportunity to know how to use the magic he has, says he would’ve started his training at age eighteen if he’d grown up with his biological mother. He told me he’s always known his witch blood is there, says he’s generally very able to put people at ease, to bring them around to his way of thinking. He said it’s been a little perplexing to deal with my insecurities and my fears because he’s used to being able to assuage those things for people.

He says he did recognize his packmates, but was furious at their presence and it took a minute and my touch to tamp that down because he was in the rut, because I’m in heat, also because he’s alpha – which makes sense.

He requested my promise to keep being open with him. I gave that to him with the caveat that I’d try my best.

“There are a lot of things about my upbringing, about my life in Silver Hills that are ugly, that aren’t things that you’ll want to know,” I say into his skin as he holds me.

“I want to know everything about you,” he replies gently. “I know all this has been a lot. And I’m sorry we haven’t had time to just get to know one another as we should, that the problems here are taking time from us, but we have forever, sweetheart. We’ll catch up, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree.

And now as I drift off in the emerging light of dawn, spooned by him on our sides, enjoying his scent, his body heat, I can’t help but wonder how he’ll feel and what he’ll do when he learns it all.

He curls tighter into me and presses a hand on my stomach and his lips to my bare shoulder.

And I know he’s caressing not just me but also the notion of a child that could very well be forming inside me at this very moment. And I’m terror-stricken at the idea of any of this promising future being taken away.

25

Grey

“This walk becomes too much for you, Aunt Mimi, you tell me, and I’ll carry you,” I say.

Mimi takes my arm, handing me something with what I immediately know is an intentional expression. There’s a tangle of necklaces in my fist. She’s being carefully blank. I know this because before I can react, I’m hearing her voice. I hear it but her lips aren’t moving. I don’t show a reaction while she’s speaking directly into my head, wantingjust meto get the message she needs to relay.

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