Chapter 11 - Dan
At first, I’m just relieved to have Grace out of the way for a while. The slow burn of tension in the air has been slowly fraying my nerves, winding me up and twisting my thoughts.
I take my time doing the dishes, enjoying the silence and the room to breathe.
I went into this as optimistically as possible. I didn’t expect us to fall in love, but I hoped we could make a good partnership at least.
After I clean the kitchen, I take a look around, searching for basic recipes on my phone based on what I find in our cupboards.
I’d like to make some attempt to cook for her and show that I’m trying to please her, but even the simplest instructions confuse me, and I definitely don’t want to make any more huge mistakes.
I’m not sure why I want to make a gesture, anyway. It’s not like she’s making an effort.
I grab a can of beer and go stretch out on the couch, texting with Rex to find out how Declan and Ryan are doing. In the hands of their healers, Declan has finally started to improve, but it’s obvious the snake’s magic has affected his shifter abilities.
That means all of us have to be extra careful.
After finishing my beer and scrolling for a bit, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet when it suddenly strikes me that Grace still isn’t back. For a moment, I’m conflicted. I know I should look for her, but at the same time, I’m enjoying the alone time.
I’ve never had to live with another person before, except for the boys when we were on base or missions—and they sure as fuck didn’t make me feel awkward just for existing.
I get up and go into the kitchen, double-checking the time. She has definitely been gone for at least two hours, and a spark of worry blooms deep in my guts.
Did something happen to her?
A rush of cold sweat cascades across my skin, making my chest hurt as my muscles tighten up.
There’s so much danger all around us—and the snake needs witches!
Even though I can’t let go of this possibility, I know if there had been any movement from the snake, I would have been contacted by my patrols.
Unless they’re all dead.
With a groan, I text Rex again, asking if there’s been any contact from Sloan. He texts back that no heat signatures have been detected, and all seems quiet.
My thumb hovers above the screen as I debate whether to tell him Grace is missing or say nothing. Eventually, I just shove the phone back in my pocket and head for the door.
I have no evidence yet that anything’s happened. I wouldn’t want to put all packs on full search, only for her to stroll into the house five minutes later.
I go outside, standing on the back step, and turning all my senses outwards. The night is full of soft, peaceful sounds, with no sign of disturbance.
She said she liked long walks, and she knows the area. I shouldn’t panic yet.
I tilt my head, searching for her scent. I catch just a hint of it, so I stay in my human shape and wait.
If it comes to it, I should be able to track her. It seems like she’s getting closer, so for now I’ll just wait.
Her scent gets stronger, and I know she can’t be far away. The smell of her makes the hairs rise on the backs of my arms as if my wolf is getting his back up.
I don’t know if I want to fight her… or fuck the daylights out of her.
When Grace finally comes out of the tree line, I’m so relieved and angry that my emotions rush to my face before I can stop them. She looks up at exactly the wrong moment and sees me glaring at her with my arms folded across my chest.
Great. Now I look like a dad waiting up on an errant daughter.
“Where have you been?” The question bursts out of me before I can think.
“Walking,” she says, very softly.
I expect her to be defensive, maybe even hostile, so her quiet answer and the way she shrinks away immediately make me suspicious.
“That must have been a long fucking walk.”
“It was,” she replies, tilting her head and looking me in the eye. Her crystal gaze fires like silver and steel, her will rising in response to my anger.
“You can’t just disappear like that. What if something happened to you?”
“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m sure you are, but you have a duty to the pack, and you can’t just desert us.”
“I didn’t desert you. I’m back now.”
I narrow my eyes, watching her closely. She’s still not reacting the way I expected her to, and the way her eyes slide away from mine suggests that she’s hiding something.
Was she out with another man?
I’m surprised by the rush of jealousy that fills me then. Suddenly, my mind is overrun by images, starkly detailed and almost sensory, of Grace in the arms of someone else, smiling as he kisses her, writhing in his arms as she moans with pleasure.
Fiery rage blossoms in my chest and ignites in my veins, hardening all my muscles. I clench my fists and blink hard, trying to clear my mind.
You’re being ridiculous! She isn’t with anyone else, and even if she were, would that really be so shocking?
She was dragged into this by the lottery system. It’s entirely possible that she had connections before this happened, and it would be stupid of me not account for that, but we are married now and appointed as pack leaders. She shouldn’t be sneaking off into the woods to have secret meetings.
I open my eyes to see that Grace has actually backed up a step.
“Dan, you’re being ridiculous. Let me in the house,” she says. Even though she tries to speak firmly, I see a flicker of fear on her face.
What the fuck is going on?
“Grace,” I say, very steadily. “What have you been doing out there for two hours? I know you’re hiding something.”
The way her eyes suddenly widen with shock, I know I’ve hit on the truth. I take a step towards her, and she doesn’t step back, but she does tilt her head and glare at me.
“I’m not hiding anything, you slow-witted oaf. I like long walks in nature; it calms me. I’m a witch, and you better get used to that if we’re going to be married.”
“Don’t insult me,” I mutter. “Or, I should say, if you’re going to insult me, be a bit more accurate. I thought you were smart.”
Her eyes gleam with white fire, and her mouth twists as she steps towards me, balling up her fists as she glares at me.
“Fine. You’re a clumsy, muscle-bound, idiotic freak with absolutely no manners or class. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even spend one minute in your company, let alone a lifetime!”
“Well, you’re a stuck-up, elitist ice queen!” I roar, my mouth racing ahead of my mind. “Have you ever relaxed, ever once in your life? Or are you afraid to, because then the stick might fall out of your ass?”
“How dare you?” she hisses, her voice deep and rough. “Every time you open your mouth—or even breathe—you make my point for me, you—”
“No, shut up!” I yell, all my pent-up frustration screaming through me, exploding in an incandescent release.
“I’ve tried as hard as I can to make this pleasant for us both, and you can’t even acknowledge my effort.
Then you go sneaking off into the woods and disappear, come back acting all secretive—”
“Oh, get a grip,” she snaps, throwing her head back and rolling her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself! As if I’d bother trying to keep secrets from you. You’re so slow, I wouldn’t even have to.”
“Why do you think you’re so much better than me!” I yell, hearing my own voice spiraling out of control as my mind goes utterly blank.
That’s it, I’ve gone too far. I’m out of things to say, and now I’m running on fumes of rage. I’m about to make a fool of myself, and I can’t stop it.
Grace actually laughs, stepping back and shaking her head so her blond hair catches the light from the back window. She shimmers with gold fire as she focuses her gaze on me.
“I’ve never thought I was better than anyone,” she laughs. “You don’t know anything about me, and the way this is going, you never will.”
Without thinking, I reach out and grab her shoulders, pulling her close to me. I’m way beyond rational thought and completely out of my head. I see Grace’s eyes go wide as the color drains out of her face, and I tighten my grip on her shoulders when I feel her tense up in my hands.
Both of us are breathing hard, and heat rises between us. Her scent is something like lilies, or orchids—thick, sweet, intoxicating, but potentially poisonous, and my mind swims as I inhale it.
As the moment draws out, Grace relaxes in my hands. Our faces seem to get closer together, and her lush, red lips are only inches from mine. I can feel myself leaning towards her, and she’s yielding in my hands, her body bending towards mine.
Does she—does she want me?
Our faces come even closer together, and I feel her warm breath splash across my face. The heat between us intensifies, and her scent changes, the thick vanilla aroma hinting at something raw.
My fingers tighten against her shoulders again, and my mind is completely blank as I draw her even closer to me.
I have no choice now except to obey my body. It’s the only truth I know.
Suddenly, immense pressure hits me in the chest, and I feel strong ropes wrapping around my upper arms as I’m jerked backwards and pinned against the wall of the house. It’s so sudden and shocking, I actually scream as I’m yanked away from Grace.
She stands calmly, watching me struggle. I look around frantically and see that I’m being held by vines that are curling around my biceps, tightening slowly as they keep me pinned.
It’s the vines she grew all over the house! Holy shit.
Grace takes her time composing herself, smoothing her hair back, and adjusting her clothes before she walks over to me. She tilts her head, and the vines tighten, squeezing my arms until they leave bruises.
“I am not your property,” she says, her voice harsh with emotion. “You can’t tell me what to do, or touch me however you like. Do you understand?”
I nod, fighting against the fear rising in me as well as the vines themselves. They are stronger than ropes, thick, heavy, and unmistakably alive.
And controlled by her.
“I understand,” I gasp, struggling again as the vines tighten on me.
“Good,” she says, and turns away from me to walk into the house. The moment she’s back inside, the vines release me, and I fall to the ground, gasping for breath.
That was the most terrifying event of my whole entire life.
At first, my thoughts just crash around in my mind, driven by panic.
I don’t want to go in there. How can I share a house with her?
Slowly, I get to my feet, making a conscious effort to slow my breathing. As I go inside, I listen to her moving around upstairs and relax a little, hoping we won’t have any more confrontations tonight.
Yeah, I can save that for the morning and slowly build up my anxiety until then.
I go straight into the living room to the couch and stretch out, trying to relax. My thoughts finally begin to settle, and that’s when I realize I still have no idea why she was gone so long.
She was definitely hiding something from me. Does it have anything to do with the incident this morning?
A splinter of fear pierces my chest as suspicion grows in my mind. It seems ridiculous, but I can’t ignore the possibility.
Could she be working with the snake?