Dating a Werewolf

by Abbey MacMunn

  “Tell me. I might be able to help.”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  Her friend regarded her, the kindness in her eyes threatening to bring on another round of tears. She pulled her into 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, he heard Imogen’s mocking laughter.

  He glanced over to where Imogen was standing, but Jamie wasn’t there. A moment earlier, she’d been standing next to his ex, and he could only guess what the bitch had been saying. Nothing good, that much was certain, but it was the look on Jamie’s face that shook him to his core.

  He’d morphed in front of her, revealed his beast, something he’d hoped to avoid.

  Regret burned through his soul—he never wanted Jamie to see him like this, see the monster that lurked within.

  The gatherings nearly always ended with a fight, and in turn, with him duty bound to prove once again he was the alpha. What possessed him to think this get together would be any different?

  Xander took advantage of his distracted state and bit the scuff of his neck. Grayson howled then retaliated, sinking his sharp teeth into Xander’s flank. His beta went to attack again but hesitated.

  Grayson emitted an almighty growl, exerting his power as alpha. Xander padded backwards, his ears flat, head lowered in submission. Flynn followed suit.

  Grayson shifted back into his human form, as did Xander and Flynn. No one batted an eyelid. The pack dispersed and went back to stuffing their faces as though nothing had happened.

  Grayson grinned at Xander, rubbing the puncture wounds at the back of his neck. His beta’s attack proved he was getting stronger—he’d never shown any signs of challenging him before now. Maybe there was hope for him to become alpha after all. “It appears I might have underestimated you, Xander. We will discuss this later, but right now, I need to find my fiancée.”

  He stepped over the shredded piles of tuxedos and grabbed a robe someone handed to him—he always made sure there were robes on hand for such incidences—and marched over to Imogen. “Where’s Jamie?” he demanded.

  “She’s gone. Good riddance, I say.”

  His wolf wanted out again, but he resisted the temptation to claw the smirk from her face. “What did you say to her, Imogen? If you’ve said anything to upset her, or you’ve hurt 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’ll see to it you’re exiled from the pack,” he added.

  “There’s no need for that, Grayson,” she purred, leering at him like a bitch on heat. “Now that toy poodle has gone, we can pick up where we left off.” She linked her arm in his and scraped her fingernails down the V of his robe. “You know a female wolf can satisfy your needs far better than a diminutive human, and I’m more than happy to oblige. And what was that awful dress she was wearing?”

  Imogen droned on, her whiney voice bringing to mind his daughter’s violin lessons. His ex was truly the most despicable, conniving she-wolf he’d ever met. Again, he questioned what he’d ever seen in her.

  He wriggled out of her grasp. “Get out of my sight. Now!”

  Imogen backed away, but his dislike of her was unimportant. The way Jamie had looked at him in his werewolf form broke his heart. What he’d feared from the beginning had happened; he’d scared her away.

  His world crumbled beneath his feet.

  The ballroom became a blur of faces, none he wanted to see. It took everything he had to face his pack. “Party’s over, folks. Everyone go home.”

  No one dared challenge him.

  The room fell silent, other than the shuffle of feet as the guests made their way out of the manor.

  Car doors opened and shut outside, and the specialist caterers, who were in the know and used to wolf gatherings, began clearing away.

  Grayson left them to it and fled out the back of Beckett Hall, the devastation and sorrow coursing through his system comparable to the pain he felt when he lost Piper, yet different too.

  But had he truly lost Jamie? She hadn’t died like his wife. Maybe there was a chance... He stopped his train of thought. There was no way she would ever forgive him, and he didn’t blame her. Why would she want to marry someone like him, a monster, duty bound to protect a pack he never wanted?

  He reached the thicket, twigs and stones jabbing into his bare feet.

  To hell with this.

  In less than three seconds, Grayson morphed into his wolf and sprinted through the trees, his paws digging into the cool earth, the wind ruffling his fur.

  He reached Gray’s Point and looked back at the manor.

  Luna will be safe; Alice will look after her.

  Grayson turned away and blocked all memories of Jamie from his mind, giving in to the primal need of his wolf.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A wet nose nudged him awake. Grayson blinked in the bright sunlight. Xander stood over him, in wolf form.

  He had no idea how long he’d bolted around the grounds of Beckett Hall. In fact, he didn’t even know if he was still on his land, but he didn’t care. Wallowing in self-pity and licking his wounds suited him fine.

  Grayson growled and bared his sharp canines. He didn’t need to talk to warn his beta to back off.

  Xander transmuted into his human shape.

  The guy was either mad or stupid. He snarled. How much warning did he need?

  “Shift back, Grayson. I have to tell you something.”

  Grayson turned and padded away, his head low. Xander wasn’t worth it. Nothing was worth it anymore. His life had no meaning, no purpose, not without Jamie.

  “It’s Luna.”

  Luna? His stomach lurched. He morphed in an instant, appalled he’d not once thought of his daughter. What the hell was the matter with him? It was known that those who succumbed to their wolf could let it take over their mind, but forgetting everything…? “What about Luna?”

  “Alice sent me to find you. Luna’s missing.”

  The pain in his heart now ached in a different way. “When?”

  “About three hours ago.”

  “Three hours?” he shouted. “Why the hell didn’t you come for me sooner?”

  “I’ve been searching for hours,” Xander said, keeping his voice low. “You weren’t easy to find.”

  Grayson’s gaze flitted around. “Where are we? What time is it? How long have I been out of it?” He raked his hands through his hair. “Oh God, if anything’s happened to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “Calm down, Grayson. You’re no good to anyone in this state.”

  He never let anyone in his pack talk to him like that, but his beta had a point. Panic rose in his gut, bubbled into his chest. “I have to find her.”

  “We will. I ordered the pack to start the search. You weren’t around and…and someone had to take charge.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I… I know it’s not my place, but—”

  “You did the right thing, Xander.” Yes, he had underestimated his beta; his actions proved he was ready. He patted his upper arm. “Once we’ve found Luna, I’d like to discuss the possibility of you taking my place as alpha.”

  His beta grinned, but quickly put on his serious face again. “We’ll talk about it later. We have to get back to Beckett Hall and organise the search party. Are you okay to go wolf again? We’ll get there faster.”

  “Of course I’m okay.” He wasn’t, not with Luna missing, but if going wolf and risking losing it to his beast again meant he’d find his daughter sooner, then he would.

  * * *

  Alice greeted him in the hall, her concerned, wrinkled face looking ten years older. “Where the hell have you been?” She slapped his bare arm, her blow surprisingly strong. “I’ve been worried sick over your rogue wolf act, and now with Luna missing, I don’t know how much more I can take.”

  “I�
�m sorry, Alice, I didn’t think.” No, because he’d been hell-bent on the road to self-destruction.

  “No, you didn’t,” she reprimanded. “While you were off wallowing in self-pity, did you stop to think what it would do to Luna? She loves Jamie too, as do I. We were all devastated when she left.”

  Guilt reigned. His aunt spoke the truth. “Me too, but I need to find Luna right now.”

  “I know you do. With you leaving as well, it only made things worse with Luna. The dear pup thought everyone abandoned her. I tried to tell her, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “It’s not your fault, Alice, it’s mine. I’ll make it up to you, I promise, and to Luna.”

  She softened. “What about Jamie, will you make up with her?”

  “Jamie and I are over. She saw me shift and she looked terrified.”

  “Are you certain of that? Jamie is not the type of girl to scare easily, and she knew what she was getting into.”

  “It doesn’t matter. If it wasn’t me wolfing out that made her leave, then whatever Imogen said to her did.”

  “What did that gold-digger do this time?”

  “I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me, but it doesn’t matter. Jamie will never forgive me.”

  “Poppycock!” said his aunt. “You love Jamie and she loves you. Surely she’s worth fighting for?”

  “She is, a thousand times over, but she doesn’t love me.”

  Alice clipped his ear this time. “Did going rogue wolf make you lose your mind completely? You have two people who worship the ground you walk on, and if you’re not careful, Grayson Beckett, you’ll lose both of them. Now get out there and find your daughter, and when you’ve done that, you can go to Jamie’s and get her back before someone else snaps her up.”

  Grayson rubbed his stinging ear and regarded his wise old aunt. She was right. One hundred per cent. His heart pounded with renewed hope.

  * * *

  Jamie’s doorbell rang. She ignored it.

  She sat on her sofa and blew her nose again, then threw the tissue on the side table, another one to add to the pile. The sapphire engagement ring sat next to the tissue box, a depressing reminder of what could have been. Cujo woke on her lap, his big brown eyes looking at her, as though her dog understood her pain.

  The tears flowed.

  How many more tears could she shed for Grayson? And for Luna and Alice too? She missed them all so much. In a short time, they’d made their way into her heart, and for the first time in her life, she’d felt like part of a happy family.

  More tears trickled down her cheeks.

  The doorbell rang again.

  Cujo pricked up his ears, then ran towards the hallway.

  “Come back, Cujo. I’m not in the mood to answer the door.” Plus she probably looked horrendous, with puffy eyes, no makeup and dressed in her slouchy clothes—not that she cared.

  She’d tried to block it out, but last night’s events replayed in her mind like a mantra, and no matter how many times she went over it, the ending was the same.

  Grayson had only proposed to her because he wanted a marriage of convenience, a mother for Luna and to look good in front of his pack.

  The bell sounded yet again. This time, whoever it was held their finger on the button.

  Cujo yapped excitedly.

  Jamie got off the sofa. Woe betide anyone who wanted to wind her up today. She’d give them a piece of her mind, all right.

  She marched into the hall and flung the door open.

  Her anger drained away. “Luna…?”

  Luna offered a forlorn smile. Her cheeks were grubby and tear-stained, her hair a tousled mess. “I had to see you, Jamie.”

  “How did you get here? Does your father know you’re here?”

  “No.” She picked up Cujo and ruffled his ears. “I had to catch the bus and the train, and then I walked the rest of the way.”

  “What, on your own?” Luna rarely left the manor, and then only under supervision. “Have you any idea how dangerous that could have been, you silly girl?” She sounded like a concerned mother, and the worry twisting inside her gut felt like it too. Anything could have happened to the naïve girl; she heard on the news the other day of a young girl who’d gone missing after she’d got on a train.

  She brought Luna inside and sat her on the sofa.

  Luna’s bottom lip quivered. “I thought you would understand, Jamie. I’m not the baby Dad still thinks I am. I’m half wolf and I can take care of myself.”

  Confusion reigned. Her knees buckled as she slumped on the sofa next to Luna. “You’re half wolf? But you can’t be…”

  Luna frowned. “Yeah, of course I’m half wolf. My mum was human, like you, Jamie.”

  “I… I didn’t know…” It didn’t make sense. Random thoughts swirled inside her head, made her dizzy. She assumed Luna was a full-blooded wolf like her father. She had the same eyes as her dad, werewolf eyes. Grayson had spoken of his late wife, Piper, Luna’s mother, of how they met and how much he’d loved her, but he’d never mentioned she was human. If it were true, and Luna would have no reason to lie, then it meant…

  Her mouth dried.

  It meant Imogen had lied when she told Jamie that Grayson expected her to become a werewolf.

  Her hands trembled.

  It meant that Imogen could have lied about other things too.

  Was the marriage of convenience thing a lie? She thought Grayson had broken that trust, but what if he hadn’t?

  How could she be so dumb as to take the word of a she-wolf she’d only met twice? She was Grayson’s ex, after all. Maybe the bitch wanted him back.

  “Are you okay, Jamie? Is it bad that I’m only half wolf?”

  Jamie regarded Luna. Tears gathered on her thick lashes. “No, Luna, it’s not bad. Don’t you ever think that. You are a beautiful young woman, inside and out, and your dad will be worried sick.”

  “He probably hasn’t even noticed I’ve gone. He told everyone to go after you left the gathering, then he morphed into his wolf and ran away.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Did you two have a fight? Don’t you love Dad anymore?”

  Her head pounded with unanswered questions. If only everything was as simple as how kids saw things. “No, we didn’t have a fight, not exactly. I love your dad very much, and you too, Luna, but sometimes… sometimes things get complicated.”

  Complicated because she’d listened to Imogen and believed everything she’d said. She didn’t even know the woman, but the first time she met her, she hadn’t liked her.

  She couldn’t forget the look of regret in Grayson’s wolf eyes before she fled from the gathering, but she’d not even given him a chance to explain.

  “I don’t understand.” Luna frowned. “You said you love Dad, and he’s totally in love with you. I don’t see how it’s complicated.”

  There with the innocent reasoning of a child again. She smiled at Luna. “I’ll tell you when you’re older, little pup.”

  Luna rolled her eyes. “It is the twenty-first century, you know—there are such things as mixed species relationships,” she said as though she was the adult now. “They’re not without their problems, but my mum and dad made it work, so Dad told me.”

  The girl was growing up fast. “I know, Luna,” she said softly. “I’ll have to call your father and tell him you’re safe.”

  “He won’t have his phone on him—not as his wolf.”

  “Then I’ll ring the house and let Alice know you’re okay. Hopefully she can get a message to him. In the meantime, I’ll make you a hot chocolate.”

  Luna beamed.

  Jamie left Luna in the lounge and walked into the kitchen, delving into her pocket for her phone. She dialled Beckett Hall’s landline.

  To her surprise, Grayson answered. “Who is it?”

  The mere sound of his gruff voice sent her into a tizzy. “Grayson… I…”

  “Jamie?” His voice cracked like brittle ice. She heard
him gulp. “It’s Luna, she’s gone missing. I know you hate me, but if you have any idea where she might be, please, I’m going out of my mind—”

  “She’s with me,” she interrupted. His deep concern for his daughter touched her heart. She recalled how distraught he’d been when Luna had gone missing before, the day she’d followed them on their picnic to Gray’s Point. “She’s safe, Grayson. Do you hear me? She’s safe.”

  She didn’t know if he did hear her; the phone went dead.

  If she knew Grayson at all, he would be on his way here.

  Jamie frowned as she made two hot chocolates. Why would Grayson think she hated him?

  She took the drinks into the lounge and sat with Luna while she played with Cujo.

  Half an hour later, someone banged on the door repeatedly. It had to be Grayson.

  Jamie leapt off the sofa, her belly churning with an odd mix of apprehension and excitement.

  She took in his appearance as she opened the door.

  Purple circles looked like bruises beneath his eyes, his long hair hadn’t seen a brush in a while, and deep worry lines scored his brow, but her magnificent wolf man still took her breath away.

  Her love for him intensified. She yearned to feel his strong arms around her and lay her head on his chest, but she hesitated. She had more than a few questions she needed to be answered, but first and foremost, Grayson was here for his daughter.

  Behind Grayson, Willow came out of her apartment opposite. She went to say something, but spotted Grayson and stopped. She mouthed something like, ‘What’s he doing here?’

  Grayson was looking at her with a lingering gaze that pierced her soul; she doubted he’d noticed Willow. “Luna’s in the lounge,” she told him, the wobble in her voice noticeable.

  “Thank God she’s okay.” He raked his fingers through that thick mane of his. “Look, Jamie, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want my daughter, then you’ll never have to see me again.” Grayson left her standing in her hallway as he marched past her to find Luna.