“Because he loves you.” Willow smoothed awisp of hair from herface. “If I had a guy look at me with even one-tenth of thedevotion with which Grayson looks at you, I’d marry him in aheartbeat. This Imogen woman probably made up the whole marriage ofconvenience thing. Love like you and Grayson have is rare, Jamie,but it’s real. So what if it happened quickly?”
Jamie shook her head. “It’s not. It’s apathetic, make-believe romantic fantasy people read about in books,or watch at the movies.” There was so much she wanted to tell herfriend; the fact Grayson was a werewolf for one, and his duty to his pack, and not tomention how he wanted her to become a wolf like him and Luna. Didhe intend to bite her to initiate the mutation? When, on theirwedding night? She bit down on her molars. “There are things youdon’t understand, Willow. It’s complicated.”
“Tell me. I might be able to help.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
Her friend regarded her, the kindness in hereyes threatening to bring on another round of tears. She pulled herinto a hug. “I’m here if you need me, okay?”
* * *
Grayson fought with Xander and Flynn.Growls and snarls reverberated around the ballroom,but above it all, heheard Imogen’s mocking laughter.
He glanced over to where Imogen wasstanding, but Jamie wasn’t there. A moment earlier, she’d beenstanding next to his ex, and he could only guess what the bitch hadbeen saying. Nothing good, that much was certain, but it was the look on Jamie’s facethat shook him to his core.
He’d morphed in front of her, revealed hisbeast, something he’d hoped to avoid.
Regret burned through his soul—he neverwanted Jamie to see him like this, see the monster thatlurkedwithin.
The gatherings nearly always ended with afight, and in turn, with him duty bound to prove once again he wasthe alpha. What possessed him to think this get together would beany different?
Xander took advantage of his distractedstate and bit the scuffof his neck. Grayson howled then retaliated, sinking his sharpteeth into Xander’s flank. His beta went to attack again buthesitated.
Grayson emitted an almighty growl,exerting his power as alpha. Xander padded backwards, his earsflat, head lowered insubmission. Flynn followed suit.
Grayson shifted back into his human form, asdid Xander and Flynn. No one batted an eyelid. The pack dispersedand went back to stuffing their faces as though nothing hadhappened.
Grayson grinned at Xander,rubbing the puncturewounds at the back of his neck. His beta’s attack proved he wasgetting stronger—he’d never shown any signs of challenging himbefore now. Maybe there was hope for him to become alpha after all.“It appears I might have underestimated you, Xander. We willdiscuss this later, but right now, I need to find myfiancée.”
He stepped over the shredded piles oftuxedos and grabbed a robe someone handed to him—he always madesure there were robes on hand for such incidences—and marched overto Imogen. “Where’sJamie?” he demanded.
“She’s gone. Good riddance, I say.”
His wolf wanted out again, but he resistedthe temptation to claw the smirk from her face. “What did you sayto her, Imogen? If you’ve said anything to upset her, or you’vehurt her…” Who am I kidding? He’d done that all on his own, by morphing into his beast,but he wanted someone to blame, and his ex would do nicely. “I’llsee to it you’re exiled from the pack,” he added.
“There’s no need for that, Grayson,” shepurred, leering at himlike a bitch on heat. “Now that toy poodle has gone, we can pick upwhere we left off.” She linked her arm in his and scraped herfingernails down the V of his robe. “You know a female wolf cansatisfy your needs far better than a diminutive human, and I’m morethan happy to oblige. And what was that awful dress she waswearing?”
Imogen droned on, her whiney voicebringing to mind his daughter’s violin lessons. His ex was trulythe most despicable, conniving she-wolf he’d ever met. Again, hequestioned what he’dever seen in her.
He wriggled out of her grasp. “Get out of mysight. Now!”
Imogen backed away, but his dislike of herwas unimportant. The way Jamie had looked at him in his werewolfform broke his heart. What he’d feared from the beginning hadhappened; he’d scaredher away.
His world crumbled beneath his feet.
The ballroom became a blur of faces, none hewanted to see. It took everything he had to face his pack. “Party’sover, folks. Everyone go home.”
No one dared challenge him.
The room fell silent, other than the shuffle of feet as theguests made their way out of the manor.
Car doors opened and shut outside, and thespecialist caterers, who were in the know and used to wolfgatherings, began clearing away.
Grayson left them to it and fledout the back of Beckett Hall,the devastation and sorrow coursing through his system comparableto the pain he felt when he lost Piper, yet differenttoo.
But had he truly lost Jamie? She hadn’tdied like his wife. Maybe there was a chance... He stoppedhis train of thought.There was no way she would ever forgive him, and he didn’t blameher. Why would she want to marry someone like him, a monster, dutybound to protect a pack he never wanted?
He reached the thicket, twigs and stonesjabbing into his bare feet.
To hell withthis.
In less than three seconds, Grayson morphedinto his wolf and sprinted through the trees, his paws digging intothe cool earth, the wind ruffling his fur.
He reached Gray’s Point and looked back atthe manor.
Luna will be safe; Alice willlook after her.
Grayson turned away and blocked all memoriesof Jamie from his mind, giving in to the primal need of hiswolf.
Chapter
