by Kelly Oram
“I know you know Cynthia wasn’t pretending to be your friend, Grace. I understand you’re hurt, but you know how much she loves you.”
“I know,” I admitted with a sigh.
“I never pretended anything with you, either,” he promised quietly. “I don’t expect you to believe that, but it’s the truth. I never imposed myself on you like Caleb did.”
“But—”
“You asked me out, remember?”
I snapped my mouth shut and sipped my cocoa, hoping the steam would hide my blushing cheeks. I had been the one to ask him out. There was something about him, even now, after he’d betrayed me, that I couldn’t help liking.
“I said yes because I like you, Grace, and that’s real. I wasn’t acting on orders. In fact, I was kind of going against them.”
Preston sighed at my look of confusion. “Cynthia’s right,” he said. “I wouldn’t be allowed to date you even if you could ever trust me again. I’m an alpha. I have responsibilities to my pack. When you asked me out, I told myself it was okay because my father wanted me to try and gain your trust, but the truth is that I just wanted to go. I know I’ll be expected to mate with a natural female werewolf someday, but just know that when I find someone I hope she’s like you.”
“Oh yeah, I’m a real catch,” I muttered before I could stop myself.
“You are, Grace. Guys like Ethan and Russ don’t understand that because they don’t think like you. They’re fighters. They admire physical strength. But neither of them understands what it’s like to be a leader, to have to think beyond themselves and put others first.”
That wasn’t exactly true. “Ethan always puts me before himself.”
“Only because he’s bonded to you.”
Okay, that may have been true.
“When you don’t stand up to the kids that give you a hard time at school, it’s not because you’re afraid,” Preston said.
It wasn’t a question, but I answered it anyway. “No. My dad needs me to keep a low profile, and high school will be over soon enough. Trust me, it’s better for everyone if I ignore the idiots and just be happy with my real friends.”
Preston smiled. “Exactly. When you don’t speak up, or sacrifice your own needs for others—especially for people you don’t like—you’re the stronger one. You have a lot of your father in you. You’re diplomatic. You’d make a great leader.”
I blushed again and Preston grabbed my hand. He actually pulled my glove off so that he could lace our fingers together. He soaked up my humanity for a moment and then said, “If I could make you my mate and have you rule my pack with me someday, I would. You have compassion and mercy, but also conviction in what you know is the right or wrong thing.
“Plus, you’re brave. The way you’ve handled everything thrown at you? After seeing that, I didn’t know you, but I admired you instantly. The more I learn, the more I like you. I’ve been so angry knowing Caleb was asked to try and claim you.” Preston paused a moment, then corrected himself. “Angry and jealous.”
I tried to hide my surprise but I stiffened anyway, and Preston pulled my hand into his lap, forcing me to lean just a little closer to him. “Caleb just saw a prize. He was flattered that the pack asked him to take on such a big responsibility. He thinks you’re pretty and he knows you’re special, so he was willing to go along with the plan, but he didn’t care about you at all. He didn’t know what he was being offered. He would have been nice, but he wouldn’t have appreciated you the way you deserve. Not like I would.”
This time I didn’t bother to hide anything—not my gasp, not my blush. Not my surprise, or fear, or excitement. I stared up at Preston with my mouth hanging open like an idiot. “You really see all that in me?”
Preston stared back at me with that intense, wolfish, hungry stare of his. When his eyes drifted the direction of my lips, I forgot to keep breathing. He tucked my hair behind my ear, letting his fingertips linger on the side of my face and it became official—my heart gave out.
“What I wouldn’t give to be allowed the chance of winning your heart, Grace,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry that you’ve been hurt by my family.”
It took me a moment of sitting there before I realized what I was waiting for, and then another moment to realize that Preston wasn’t going to do it. It took no time at all to realize exactly how much I wished he would.
“Preston?” I asked.
He was already looking at me, but he raised his eyebrows slightly. “Hmm?”
I pulled his face down to mine before I could talk myself out if it. I felt his hesitation as he told himself he should stop me. But I could also tell he didn’t want to stop me, so I leaned into him just a little. My ungloved fingers found their way to his cheek, and he gave in to me.
The kiss was soft and slow at first, but something began to build in it. Warmth spread through my whole body that had absolutely nothing to do with the supernatural, and everything to do with liking the feel and taste of his lips. He moved his hands to my face as he deepened our kiss. Then, all too soon, we were pulling apart, both trying to get a hold of ourselves.
I knew he was surprised that I kissed him. Staring into his eyes, seeing just how much shock was in them as we tried to catch our breaths, I knew I was going to have to explain myself. “I like you, too, Preston,” I said, doing my best to not blush. “You’re nothing like your brother. I noticed that the night of Aimee’s party. That’s why I asked you out when I’d said no to him. I feel like you understand me. You know what it’s like to have expectations placed on you. You know pressure, and you know there’s no point in playing games. You’re just you,” I told him with a shrug of my shoulders. “Sometimes that’s a little scary and intense, but it’s still refreshing. There aren’t many people brave enough to just be themselves.”
Preston only let the tiniest hint of a smile break out on his otherwise stunned face. I was glad he seemed happy with my confession, but then his expression dimmed a little and he said, “I thought you liked Devereaux.”
There was no stopping my cheeks from flaming this time. I looked down at my lap and shrugged. “I do,” I admitted quietly. “I like you both. But there’s a difference between you. I can’t really explain it, but I’ve felt drawn to Russ since the second I first saw him. I feel like I know him, like somehow I’ve always known him. I’m not sure if that’s because of Dani or what, but it’s almost as if I can’t help liking him.
“Liking you feels different because I know it’s all me. You earned my approval. It’s not some mysterious supernatural connection. Somehow, that’s more appealing. Right now, if I had the choice between the two of you…” My voice trailed off, my embarrassment finally creeping back in. “I’d like to give us a try.”
Preston sighed and then leaned back, putting a safe distance between us. “I’m sorry, Grace. It’s not that I don’t want to, but it’s impossible. My father would never allow it.”
Sometimes I really hated werewolves. All their stupid rules were, well…stupid, that’s what! No one person should be able to have that much control over other people’s lives. I was so angry all of a sudden that I wanted to go find the D.C. alpha and threaten to sick the council on him just because. “Why can’t I?” I muttered to myself.
“What?” Preston asked.
“It couldn’t hurt to ask,” I said. “If I’m really so important, maybe he’d let us.”
Preston shook his head. “You don’t understand pack life, Grace. It’s not that simple.”
“No. Think about it. If I were dating you, then, in a way, I’d be tied to your pack. That’s what your father wants, right? It’s what the whole resistance wants. Your brothers are all natural born, too. Tell your dad to let them mate with natural females. You know Caleb would be much happier with some wild and crazy wolf girl than me, anyway.”
Preston laughed despite himself. “How well you know my brother.” He chuckled again, but then pulled himself back together. “Grace,” he said seriously. �
��There’s no doubt it’d be a tempting offer, but think about what you’re saying. Wolves look at things like what you’re offering as contracts. Dating me would basically be like joining the pack. My father would expect you to be loyal. He’d want you to join the resistance. I’m sure he’d ask that in return for giving us what we want.”
I sighed. I knew he’d ask that, too. Then he’d ask me to somehow pull my father into the mess. I liked Preston, but was dating him really worth that?
“If I ask you something, will you be completely honest with me?”
“Always,” Preston promised.
“Do you follow the resistance out of loyalty, or do you believe they’re really doing the right thing?”
Preston took a long time to answer me. I was glad because that meant he was really, truly thinking about it. “I think they lose focus sometimes,” he said. “They get a little overzealous and take things too far. What Simone did to Russ and Ethan at the meeting was uncalled for. And sending people to kidnap the Chosen One and the Seer, giving them orders to kill whomever it took no matter how innocent, makes them no better than the council they oppose.”
“But?”
“But,” Preston agreed, “I do believe the cause is right. The only way to make the world safe for everyone is to bring balance between the humans and us, but the council will never allow it. They won’t listen to reason. They push us so deep into hiding that it’s no wonder humans can’t accept us. In a way, they’re the ones creating the fear and animosity. They inadvertently create the violence they’re trying to protect us from.”
I thought it over for a minute, then reached for Preston’s hand again. “Well,” I said, “then it sounds like the resistance needs me. They need someone to be the politician and keep them from turning as evil as the council, right? I’m not about to let them murder innocent people or start a war. There has to be a peaceful solution. If bringing humans and supernaturals together is really what this world needs, then who better to do it than me—the counterpart of the most powerful supernatural ever to exist, and the daughter of the most powerful human on the planet? Not to mention one of the only people in the world who truly loves both species.”
It wasn’t until that very moment that I realized just how special I really was. I didn’t have any supernatural power, and maybe the Creator’s purpose for me was to simply exist, but the Angel Michael was right. There was a lot I could do with my life while I was here.
I hadn’t thought so before, but this was my fight. I was the missing puzzle piece. There was a way for me to reach out to everyone and make all the separate pieces become one complete picture. I just had to find it.
“I could tell your dad I’d be willing to work with the resistance if he lets us date,” I said, becoming excited. “I’m sure he’d go for it. He was willing to force his own children to switch schools. He asked Caleb to claim me just so he’d have a connection with me. Could he resist an offer from me if it came willingly? Especially knowing my connection to Dani and having the son of Michael bound to me? There’s no way. He’ll let us, Preston. He’d probably let you leave the pack and join the circus, if I asked him to. If I join the resistance, you and Cynthia could both be free!”
Preston noticed the change in me. He watched as I became more and more determined to take the world by storm and stop everyone from being idiots. As he realized what I’d decided, he gazed at me in wonder. “You would really do that?” he asked. “Just so you could date me?”
I laughed. “I would do it because it’s the right thing to do. Dating you would be more like a perk of the job.”
Preston burst into incredulous laughter. “You are an amazing person, Grace St. Claire,” he said as he pulled me tightly into his arms.
“So you keep telling me,” I teased, and then helped him close the last of the distance between our faces.
My heart was soaring. My everything was soaring. For a few minutes, my world felt perfect and exciting instead of hopeless and dreadful. Then, in a split second, that perfection was shattered.
Preston felt their presence first. A tremor rippled through his body, making the hair on his arms and neck stand up. The most animal-like snarl escaped his throat before he’d even managed to untangle his lips from mine.
“What is it?” I asked, but the hiss I heard behind me answered my question.
I’d never seen Andrew more livid as he burned his stare into Preston from beneath the hood of a large, thick cloak. “You will die for touching what belongs to me, dog!”
“Andrew!” I gasped. “Please, calm down. I don’t belong to you. I never did.”
My voice didn’t crack through his rage at all. Nothing and no one was going to stop him from trying to kill Preston. It was written in his eyes.
I was fairly sure that Preston could hold his own against Andrew, but then I noticed all the other hooded figures silently slipping out of the shadows from every direction. There were so many of them—fifteen at least. Preston could never fight them all off by himself.
“Ethan, help us.” I whispered it out loud, but mentally I screamed it.
Andrew’s face curled into a cruel smile. “Your angel will never get to you in time. It was a mistake to think that a single dog would be able to keep me from you. Finally, I will have what I want.”
“Andrew, please,” I begged. “Don’t do this. No one has to get hurt.”
“It’s a little late for that, love,” Andrew said pleasantly. “You have already hurt me so very deeply.”
Preston released me as his body started trembling far beyond his control. “If nothing else, I will take you down with me,” he promised Andrew. “I’m sorry, Grace,” he whispered, and I knew he meant it as a good-bye. He didn’t plan to live through this fight.
“No, I’m sorry,” I said, tears escaping down my cheeks. “This is my fault. He’s here for me.” I stood up and held out a hand to Andrew. “Take me,” I said to Andrew. “I won’t put up a fight. Just let Preston go.”
“Grace,” Preston argued, pulling me safely back to his side. “I won’t let you make that sacrifice for me.”
“Nor I, I’m afraid,” Andrew said grimly. “His crime is unpardonable.”
“He didn’t do anything wrong! I don’t belong to you!”
“But you do, love, and you must learn the consequences of betraying me.”
Andrew snapped his fingers, and instantly a swarm of vampires descended on Preston and me. I was ripped away from Preston and handed off to Andrew as Preston exploded into a large wolf and began futilely fighting off his attackers. He got in a few good swipes and bites, and even one kill, but there were simply too many of them. I couldn’t even see him beneath the pile of vampires. Within seconds the coven had him pinned on the ground, and they began tearing him to shreds with their teeth and claws.
I tried as hard as I could to break from Andrew’s grip, but I couldn’t even move against his steel arms. “Preston!” I screamed. “Andrew, stop them!”
But they wouldn’t stop, and I had a feeling they were taking their time with it. I turned my face away and didn’t even care that the shoulder I was burying it in belonged to the man responsible for this horror.
“No, Grace!” Andrew snapped. He pulled my head away from him and forced me to take in the sight. “You must watch. You must remember this.”
I broke down completely. Andrew caught my sagging body and held me gently. “He was not for you, love,” he whispered almost regretfully. “Only I am for you. If you do not wish anyone else to share his fate, you will not betray me again. Do you understand that now? You are mine.”
I shut my eyes and tried to drown out the sound of Preston’s agonized cries, which were growing more and more faint. Preston! I sobbed silently. Ethan, they’ve killed Preston! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have made you guys leave. I’m so sorry. Preston’s dead. It’s my fault! Tell Cynthia I’m so, so, sorry!
Grace! Ethan’s voice sounded utterly panicked in my mind. We’re on our way! Ten mor
e minutes, just hold on! Where are you?
My house. But I don’t think I’ll still be here in ten minutes.
Keep talking to me. Tell me where he takes you. I’ll be there before you know it. Just hang on.
I didn’t hear Preston anymore. I knew there was nothing left of him. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t keep my eyes closed. I screamed when I saw the mess at my feet.
It had been bad enough to watch them tear apart the wolf, but the body that lay mutilated before me was not covered in fur. Preston had left this world in his human form. It was a nightmare that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
I groaned as my stomach began to churn, and emptied its contents.
“I’m sorry, love,” Andrew whispered, holding my hair back as I vomited, and vomited, and vomited. Once I was finally finished he scooped me into his arms. “Come,” he said. “It’s over now, Grace. Time to go home.”
“Ethan will find me,” I croaked as Stefan tore the sleeve off my coat, exposing my arm to the cold evening air. “He’ll kill you all for this.”
Andrew gave me a very patronizing smile, and then I felt a small sting puncture my skin. “Sleep now,” he said as Stefan emptied a syringe into my body.
Grace! Ethan shouted. What’s going on? Why are you so calm?
Drugs…So tired…
Fight it, Grace! Stay awake!
I knew I’d lost this fight. I wouldn’t be able to tell Ethan where they were taking me. There was nothing else to do now so I whispered, Good-bye, Ethan. I’m sorry.
I woke up in a grand four-post bed tucked beneath layers of the softest, silkiest blankets I’d ever felt. I couldn’t help running my fingers over the deep red satin in awe.
I was in a room unlike any I’ve ever seen—made of stone walls draped in elegant tapestries. It had no windows save a handful of small skylights far too high up to look out. Along the far wall there was a fireplace with a roaring fire dancing in its belly that gave off the scent of fresh pine and bathed the entire room in a soft glow.
