*Grayson*
I took my seat at the head of the conference table, checking the time on my wrist watch. There was a lot to be done today and I didn’t want the meeting to take longer than necessary. The council members were already seated, and I couldn’t help but note that the table was incredibly empty. Only seven out of the ten seats were filled. Right now, the council didn’t have a healer, a seer and a Luna. The first two, we could easily rectify, the last one… I barely managed to stop my thoughts from drifting to Keera.
I had decided to give her some time to think things through.
I wasn’t letting her give up on us so easily.
I cleared my throat, gaining everyone’s attention. Unlike the other meetings we’d had, there was something different about this one. The tension that came with knowing a serial killer was on the loose, had completely disappeared. In it’s wake was the desire for a new beginning. “We have to get the pack a new healer and seer, after Elena and Ria failed them.” I began. “Dahlia and Willa have both done quite well.” I pointed out. “I think we should arrange for their inauguration into the council.” They nodded in approval.
Dahlia would take up the office of the pack healer and Willa would take up the office of the pack seer. It might take some getting used to but I had no doubt that they would eventually get the hang of it. Ginny shot me a look I couldn’t quite decipher. “You said you were going to let us know who your mate is once we finished with the case.” Ginny reminded me. I watched the others smile in excitement. Shit. I’d almost forgotten I had promised then that. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t keep it from them any longer.
“It’s Keera.” I announced. “She’s my fated mate.”
“What?” Ginny exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. Her mouth dropped open and she immediately slapped her hand over her parted lips. Her gaze drifted to Ryan but he was looking as shocked as she was. No need to let her know he had already known about it. The others were taken by surprise too. No one had seen it coming. The human team leader? They had been with her this whole time. I patiently waited for the initial shock to wear off.
“I should have known,” Nyx said, fighting a small smile. “That’s why you couldn’t fight off the attraction between you two.” She said with a small shake of her head. Congratulations went round. Nyx and Ginny rounded the table to give me a huge hug while the guys either shook my hand or clapped theirs behind my back. Nyx’s expression was a little worried when she stared back at me. I already knew what she was going to say even before she said it. “Grayson, Keera’s human…” She pointed out.
I brushed my hand down my face, nodding.
I already knew that. It didn’t matter that she was likely to have traces of the werewolf gene in her. I wondered if she was even aware of the fact. The goddess didn’t choose people who didn’t have any werewolf in their lineage to be fated mates. For Keera to have been chosen, then she had to have the werewolf gene running through her or the turning process would kill her. If she decided to turn, that is. I met their eyes. “Yeah, I know.” I nodded. “We’re still talking about it.”
Their concerned murmurs filled the room, but luckily I was able to steer the conversation elsewhere. The meeting continued and we began discussing strategies for integrating Dahlia and Willa into their new roles. Joe suggested that we conduct their inauguration as soon as possible and I couldn’t agree more. Their positions were important and didn’t need to be left unoccupied. Any of the pack members could need their help at any time. A few hours later, we had gathered the pack at pack central.
Keera and her team members were seated at a corner as we started the ritual. Anticipation hung in the air as we neatly organized the items we were going to make use of on a long table. The sun was setting and there was a slight breeze moving around. I stood before the crowd, making sure my voice was clear and strong. Willa and Dahlia were standing a few feet away from me, wearing navy blue cloaks. I raised my hands, wordlessly asking for silence. “Let us begin the rites of induction.”
The ritual commenced, and Dahlia and Willa took a step forward. Conall lit two candles and handed them over to the duo. I opened the scroll and began reading the oath, listening as they repeated after me. Ryan took the scroll from me after we had finished. “I, Alpha Grayson of Moon Valley pack,” There was a pindrop silence. “Hereby appoint Dahlia as Pack Healer,” I continued. “May her skills bring health and wellness to our pack. May she be a willing instrument in the hands of the goddess, and may the pack never know evil under her care.”
Dahlia stepped forward, and I presented her with a silver acorn pendant, adorned with a small, glowing moonstone. The pendant signified her position on the council. Ria and Elena’s pendants had been taken from them and were going to be burned in the fire tonight. Dahlia accepted the pendant from me and the pack erupted into applause. My eyes locked with Keera’s. She was watching the ritual with an unreadable expression. I drew my attention from her and focused on Willa.
“I, Alpha Grayson of Moon Valley pack,” I took a brief pause before continuing. “Hereby appoint Willa as Pack Seer,” I continued. “May her visions guide us through the unknown.” Willa received a similar pendant, hers featuring a shimmering opal. Jax brought the bowl containing a blood-paint mixture, Dahlia and Willa both dipped their palms inside it and added their prints to the huge rock where the other council members’ prints were. The pack congratulated them afterward, praising their dedication and youthful energy.
Dahlia and Willa were indeed the youngest council members in our pack’s history.
Soon enough, it was time to celebrate. Nyx and Ginny passed trays containing baked goods around for the pack members to feast. Jax neared as everyone ate. “Back to nine,” He said, talking about the council members. I fist bumped him, echoing his statement. Now, if only I can convince my mate that we belonged together and not apart. I made my way to Keera’s room a few hours later. I had overheard Lexi excitedly informing Nyx that they only had forty eight hours left until they were back home.
I knocked softly on her door, waiting for her to ask me to come in. Her smile faltered when she realized it was me. I pretended like the slight change in her expression didn’t affect me. I closed the door and walked further into the room. She stood up from her bed, walking to meet me halfway so I wouldn’t come too close. “Keera, we need to talk.” I pleaded, folding my arms across my chest. Her duffel bag was now on her bed rather than her closet. It was open, but she hadn’t began packing yet.
“Why do you want to drag this out?” She whispered, pain evident her voice.
“The goddess picked you for a reason, Keera. She’s not trying to ruin your life. You have the werewolf gene and-”
“I know.” She quickly cut in. “I’ve always known.” She emphasized, mirroring my posture. “I’m not as clueless about my past as you might think.” No, I didn’t think she was clueless. She just wasn’t willing to let it change her mind. Not for the first time, I wondered why she wasn’t willing to turn. Did she still hate my species? Or did she just not love me enough? Did she even love me at all? No one gave up so easily on someone or something that they loved. I took a calculated step towards her.
“Keera-”
“Grayson, please-”
“Why are you giving up on us so easily?” I asked in exasperation, wiping my eyes with the tip of my thumb and index. I let my emotions get the best of me and covered the distance between us. “Why wouldn’t you even fight for us?” I demanded, shaking her before I even realized what I was doing. “Fuck,” I cursed, raising my hands and taking a step back. Her eyes flashed with shock and I knew I’d fucked up big time. “Keera, fuck, I’m so sorry.” She took a step away from me, immediately schooling her expression.
“There’s no point starting a fight you’re destined to lose.” She whispered in reply. She pushed her hair behind her ears and the image of what my life would be with her in it seemed to be slipping beyond my grasp. Her gaze dropped, her shoulders sagging. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. My heart ached when I caught the pained look in her eyes as she meet my gaze. “Grayson, please. Just accept that it’s over. We’re not meant to be.”
Bullshit.
I couldn’t help it, I inched towards her again. It was almost like there was an invisible rope drawing us together. “You could turn.” I reminded her. Her jaws clenched but I pressed on, feeling like she was ripping my heart in two. “The case might be over, but we don’t have to be, Keera.” I shook my head when she tried to object, taking her hands in mine. “We had.. we have something real, Keera. For goodness’ sake, help me understand why you’re so willing to throw that away!”
“Because I have a life to get back to Grayson!” She yelled, drawing her hands away.
“You don’t have to go!” I yelled back, pulling my hair, anger and frustration tugging at my insides. “You don’t have to go,” I repeated, my voice firm. “You can stay here with me. I can turn you, and then we won’t have to be separated.” I realized how selfish I was being, but I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t leave my pack unprotected to be with her. An Alpha was supposed to make decisions in the best interest of his pack; put his pack’s happiness before his own.
Her face twisted.
“The last thing I’d ever thought I’d do was become one of you!”
I flinched at her words.
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. “Don’t you feel anything for me, Keera?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Even the slightest bit?” I swallowed, hearing her words echo repeatedly in my head. Was it really that much of a sacrifice for her to make? She said she’d known she had the werewolf gene. Surely she has known there was a possibility she would end up as someone’s fated mate? Her eyes welled up with tears.
“Grayson, please don’t.” She whispered. “You’re making this hard.” Tears rolled down her cheeks, and I couldn’t resist. I gently grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to me. She tensed, like just making physical contact with me was hurting her. I reached up and wiped her tears away with my thumb. Her tears fell faster as she met my gaze, fisting her hands lightly against my chest. “This is already hard enough.” She breathed raggedly.
How could I convince her it didn’t have to be?
“It doesn’t have to end this way.” I whispered back, desperation creeping in. Desperation to fully have her as mine forever. “Please.” I begged, my voice coming out a little shaky. “Please,” I repeated, gently lifting her chin so she could look at me. Her body trembled against mine, her tears soaking my shirt. It didn’t have to end this way. I wouldn’t let it end this way. I finally admitted the words that had been on the tip of my tongue since the day I’d walked in on Ellie and her.
“I’m madly in love with you, Keera.”