Saving Grace

Zander POV The September sun slowly starts to peak just above the horizon shining in through a crack in the blinds disturbing me from my sleep, orange tones illuminating the oak wood flooring of my room. I swing my legs over the bed onto the floor my feet hitting the cold wood a welcoming feeling helping the slight hint of a headache, I look at my watch 6:08am, enough time for a shower before training. I mind link my Beta Daniel "Be ready for 6:30" "Got it Zan" he chirps back before I cut the link. I hear the rustle of the bed sheets and look to my left to see platinum blonde hair splaying over the pillow. "f**k" I think to myself. My one and only rule no sleep overs and I've broke it. What was I drinking last night? I creep to the bathroom clicking the door behind me quietly and step into the walk in shower trying not to wake the she wolf laid in my large king sized bed, I turn the shower on and step in letting the hot water hit my back, my hands on the grey tiles in-front of me. My eyes roll as I hear the gentle click of the door. No getting out of this one. "Morning handsome" the blonde says whilst walking into the shower to join me, I mean, she's awake now and so am I,I suppose a little fun won't hurt, Dan can start training without me I am the alpha after all. *** "Ahh, nice to see you finally show up" Dan looks at me with a huge grin on his face. I look at my watch 7:15am. "I had some.. business I needed to take care of" I reply raising a knowing brow but also giving him a look to not mention anything further in front of the warriors. I don't like too many people knowing my private life, I'm their Alpha first and friend second. But Dan's different he's been my friend since we were pups, his dad was the Beta to my Father the alpha before me, he ruled with an iron fist and as two mischievous young pups we always had each other's backs. We finish up training at 8am and head for a 5 mile run around the territory, I need it to clear this buzz in my head. "Hey what happened last night?" Dan's blue eyes looking at me quizzing my confused look in response. "What do you mean?" "I mean your golden rule was broken, she must have been some woman to make it all through the night, I noticed you sending her into a car to be taken home this morning " I growl a little as I look over my shoulders at the warriors just close enough to be in ear shot to remind Dan I'm also his alpha and my most important rule is keeping my private life just that. I mind link him instead telling him one too many scotch got the better of me. He doesn't reply just smirks at me and carries on running. After our run we all gather in the pack house dining hall ready for breakfast. "Ahh my boy" chimes my mother with the biggest grin on her face as we walk in, she gets up to greet me as I stride over to the top of the hall where she sits at the top table looking out over the hustle and bustle, I reach her and kiss her cheek gently. "Mother" My mother the greatest Luna there ever was, it's took her a long time to be as happy as she is now. My father was a brutal man at times he loved my mother but it wasn't a fated match he married for wealth and power not for love. He drilled it into me your Luna is your power but also your weakness. I saw few tender moments between them growing up he kept her at arms length most of the time including me and my sister Jamie, he harvested that power for his own greed too.. "Now, I know you said nothing big but I couldn't help myself I invited the surrounding packs Alpha's and a few selected she wolves to come along for your birthday party next month" My mom gives me a knowing look. She's desperate for me to find my fated mate but I on the other hand have no interest in the slightest. I roll my eyes and shake my head beginning to laugh, the only woman I will ever soften my heart to. "Mom I'm going to be 25 not 5, I don't need a party. And I'm the Alpha not a.." I don't get to finish my sentence before she's pushing a plate of food in my face and tutting. "No no I'll not hear anymore protests, a party is just what this pack needs now eat you have a meeting down town in an hour." she waves her hands and turns to walk out of the hall. I suppose she's right, the past 18 months have not been easy. When my father died suddenly other packs tried to come for us, but I was ready. I was born ready, it was a bloody battle but I rose to the top and the top is where I plan to stay. I am not my father and my only fear is becoming him, the darkness in the end ruled him and he ruled through fear from his own people. I don't intend that to be me and succumb to that darkness. My pack knows this I am reasonable and care for all my people but to the outside world I am fierce and take no mercy and that is how I intent it to be. *** Dan hands me some paper work to sign as we sit in the back of my Range Rover and drive towards the city around 45 minutes away. The city is a neutral ground where wolves and humans and a few other creatures reside freely and I happen to own 80% of it. The humans just don't know we exist. "So you've got a meeting with the old man Ron about the shop next door to his. A friend of his is wanting to rent it from us opening a new salon or something. "A human girl" I hear the distaste in his tone. Dan doesn't particularly like them all that much, no discipline and rude. I don't mind them too much as long as they stay away from our land but I can't say I disagree with him. We discuss the days meetings ahead before pulling up outside Ron's hardware shop. A quaint little shop with a wooden front, it looks slightly out of place in the middle of a steely city full of high rise offices and apartments, we've offered him some place nearer to the forest a nice town with less noise and hustle of the city but he insists on staying. The door chimes as we walk through the small shop filled with all kinds of tools you may need for home DIY purposes. "Ahh Ron, good to see you" "Alpha" he replies and nods as a sign of respect. "I'm glad you've swung by, I'm wanting to talk to you on behalf of a friend, Grace. She's wanting to rent to shop next door" I hear Dan huff a little he can't understand why a wolf would want to be friends with a human. Ron narrows his eyes before I growl quietly to remind Ron that Daniel is his Beta and Shoot a look at Dan to remind him that business is business. Ron averts his gaze and carries on, "she should be here any minute now, she's a young girl 24. Wanting to start up on her own, girly stuff my wife likes to have done. I haven't a clue, hair nails all that stuff. Spending my money is what I like to call it. I've told her to meet us here anyway" I smile slightly, pushing up the sleeve of my black blazer and crisp white shirt to check the time. "Late" appears Dan's voice in my head, I turn my head slightly to see him unimpressed. Just then the door chimes and the smell hits me like a speed train, human scent mixed with orange and honey. I turn around to see a petite slightly tan woman stood in the shops entrance her brunette hair curled slightly flowing around her. Her deep brown eyes widening a little as she locks them with mine. My wolf stirs immediately. "Mate" Shit.