Stronger by Ang Chris
Chapter 44

“But you... 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 extract the information from him, Brian. He attacked us, so you have my full permission to treat him as the enemy,” Grayson gripped the phone so tightly that 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 you’ll disinfect them. If they’re enemies, 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 rubbed 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 to 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 for 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 knew 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 saw may have entered the link in our minds.

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

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

Each day we spoke to each other and shared lunch together. I learned 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, 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 a clearing.

She slid into the trees as he nipped at her, desperate to see her closely. Spinning in a circle slowly, coming up to him, muzzling 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 felt 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 soon, 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, it would have been unforgivable for me not to let him know soon enough.

We needed 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 about 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. Sing like you worry and still there is this great big bubble that’s about to pop,” I sighed.

“No one is going to touch you, Annette,” he stopped in his tracks, his eyes flickering 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 kiss me, and soon those kisses followed many more kisses that grew in their warmth. His lips tracked down my face to my neck, his hands gripping my hips, making me let out a small and breathy moan.

This brought him back, 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, Maric 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 the new parents.

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

“I know I’m not allowed to ask, but... is my brother safe? I 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 Lillianna were home safe.

“Ella, go check the pies. They cannot overcook,” Elizabeth inserted herself.

Does no one understand the meaning of stealth missions? I have questions. 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. Even so, she wanted to know who knew her duty not to 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 else’s.

Still, it was my duty to shoulder this.

After finishing the desserts and the rest of dinner, we headed out to the pavilion for the introduction of our new pup.

“If anything happens to my wife—” a voice came above the others.

“Steven, not now. This is not for the ears of everyone, and you endanger her by speaking aloud,” his mate growled.

“I know, but this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do—waiting for news.”

I understood him. We were all waiting for news.

The ceremony began, and we tried to ignore the tension in the air.

Seraphine and Enzo stood guard near the family as they presented their child to the pack.

We bowed our heads as Maric and Jacob handed their adorable little babe to Grayson.

I handed him to Grayson, and the alpha smiled down at the small life in his hands. “This pup will no doubt be a great warrior.”

The pride in his voice made me ache. I now wanted his children. The big, large family we had talked about.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Maric beamed with the endearing love only a parent has for a child.

Grayson handed the baby back to the parents.

Seeing that child, dreaming of our future together, solidified my decision. I had to tell Grayson the truth tonight.

We were going to have a baby, and he deserved to know.

No one would harm our child. Not if I had any say in it.

After the ceremony, we mingled and enjoyed the celebration. My mind wandered to what we would learn tonight from Brian and Lillianna. The uncertainty of war loomed over us, but seeing our pack united gave me hope.

Grayson and I finally went home. I couldn’t delay the conversation any longer.

“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 about the idea he was about to get.