Saving Grace

Part 7

Zander pov

I woke earlier than usual, it was still dusk out side but I could just about hear the birds beginning to tweet and the forest behind the pack house coming alive. I thought the run last night would have worn me out but I feel pent up with energy and a mixture of emotions. Fury, anger, excitement.. lust.

I reach over for my phone and grab it. I decide to text Grace and wish her luck on her first day. Not that she'll need it, I noticed last night the way people seem to flock around her. The warmth and kindness radiates off of her like Selene herself.

I put my phone back down and decide to head to the shower, its only 5am so I'll leave it another half an hour before I start to raise the warriors for training.

After showering and dressing I can't wait any longer I open up the link and boom out that I want all warriors ready for training in ten minutes. A chime of "yes alpha" follows as I head downstairs.

I walk out of the back of the pack house and down the steps towards the training ground in the clearing just up ahead as I'm nearly there i here footsteps running up behind me, I turn slightly to see Dan.

"Hey man what's with the early start it's hardly even light yet?!"

"The attack has got me thinking, I want this pack at its best. No one will dare to so much as sniff at my borders." I grunt out a little harsher than maybe I intended.

"Goddess you need to find your mate I swear you're getting grumpier by the day." Dan laughs a little but I don't see the funny side I let out a warning growl so he knows not to push me any further.

If only he knew, if only I could tell him about Grace. Maybe he could help me out of this mess i shouldn't be keeping things like this from my Beta but he hates humans. They're strange creatures don't get me wrong but she's different I can sense it I just don't know what. Or maybe that's just the mate bond talking.

As the warriors begin to line up I bellow out across the grounds

"You all know we had an attack the other day, a pack of disgusting dirty rogues" the warriors chime in with my disgust. "We are the red moon pack, we take no mercy. We are fierce and ferocious and I will take no pity on anyone that lets a rogue break our boundaries again!" The warriors stay still and to attention. "Now pick a partner and let's spar, the next time a rogue comes within 20ft of our borders I want you to rip them limb from limb."

I could feel my wolf rising the need for blood and violence starting to surface. I picked one of the younger warriors. "You with me." His eyes widened a little before getting his game face on. We started to circle each other, waiting for the first hit. He lunged for me and I moved quickly out of the way, "come on!" I shouted. "One day you're going to have a Luna to protect and this isn't good enough." My ears picked up a few muffled sounds. s**t maybe that was the wrong thing to say.

This time I lunged and connected with his jaw, he quickly shook it off and jumped back up into the fighting position. My mind flicked to Grace, could she be my Luna? He caught me off guard whilst i was distracted he twisted and kicked me to the stomach but I was quick enough to grab his leg and twist him down onto the ground. I leaped onto him punching his face till I drew blood. I knew I was taking my frustrations out on him but I needed a release.

Just as his eyes started to flicker I stopped and growled in disapproval. "Get him up and get him some water he'll start to heal. You have work to do pup." I snarled at the other warriors. They knew better than to look for too long and to get back to the task I'd set.

I walked away a little to look over at the mountains over at the clearing. "I need my mate" my wolf came forward in mind. I let out a puff of air, "You and me both Jett. You and me both."

Dan jogged up to the side of me.

"Why don't you go shower and change I'll take the rest of the training session from here." He knew there was something wrong but after watching me beat my warrior to a pulp he knew better than to ask what. I grunted and walked off back to the pack house.

Once inside I stormed up to my room on the 3rd floor, I swung the door open and slammed it shut my fist hitting the wooden frame a growl ripping from my chest, if the pack house wasn't awake before it would be now. My wolf was pacing in my mind I had this unexplainable burst of anger I couldn't seem to shake.

I heard my phone buzz and walked over to where I'd left it on my desk, picking it up immediately my face softened and my anger seemed to disperse as I read the text.

'Thank you! I'm so nervous... can't wait to see you later.. xx'

My heart swelled a little, she couldn't wait to see me? Before I had chance to reply I heard my door creak open. I knew before turning it would be my Mom, the only one who doesn't knock before entering and gets away with it.

"Is everything okay Zander?" She spoke softly and low I knew I'd woke her from her sleep.

"Yes sorry mom, just frustrations over training sorry I woke you to back to sleep it's still early." I said trying to shoo her out of the room.

"Zander.. I know my own son."

I let out a big sigh. It was now or never, I have to tell her about Grace, I can't carry this on and give myself hope if she doesn't agree. From her reaction I'll know for certain what I'll have to do.

"Come, please sit down I need to talk to you." I led her into the living area of my room.

"You're worrying me Zander what's wrong?" I could feel the anxiousness in the air.

I sat in the grey chesterfield chair across from my mom on the sofa. All of a sudden I felt like I was 9 again and was about to tell her I'd smashed her favourite vase.

"I.. I think I've found my mate.." my voice no longer sounding like the strong Alpha i was but like a lost little boy.

A cheer came from my moms mouth "oh my God Zander this is amazing this is amazing news!! News I've been waiting for, for too long!" She jumped about clearly elated, I didn't know if she'd be that way after I told her she was human.

I forced a smile out before my face dropped again.

"Isn't it? What's wrong darling?" My mom sat down in the chair next to me and placed her hand on my forearm. I sucked in a deep breath...

"She's human." I turned my head to my mom, I searched her face for emotions. My wolf started to whimper in my head.

She paused for a moment clearly thinking about what to say before a smile creeped on her face.

"My darling boy, I don't care if she was a vampire with 3 heads. If she will love you and take care of your heart, your happiness is all that matters to me." She squeezed my arm reassuringly.

My wolf began to perk up jumping and prancing around in my head.

"What.. you're not mad?" I questioned.

"Why would I ever be mad that you found your mate?" She began to smile and shook her head at me.

"I just thought with her being human it would be a problem." I smiled the biggest smile I've ever mustered the image of Grace floated through my mind.

"So tell me.. everything!" My mom perked up on her chair adjusting herself comfortably as though she was the child and I was going to tell her some fascinating story.

"Her name is Grace, she's the same age as me. She just moved into the city and is leasing one of the shops and apartments from me. I met her to sign paperwork only a few days ago as soon as she walked in I knew, her scent hit me like a speed train. Orange and honey, we shook hands and that's when I knew, the tingles ripped through me like a bolt of lightening." This felt good, talking to my mom about Grace. I continued on.. "she's the most perfect little thing I've ever seen. Tan skin, the deepest brown eyes and..." before I could finished my mom cut me off. "And long flowing chocolate brown hair that shapes her face perfectly.." a smile creeped over my moms face as she finished my sentence.

"What?? How do you now?? Please don't tell me Jamie has blurted her mouth!" I would be pissed if she had I could feel the anger starting to bubble.

My mom laughed, "No Zander I saw her a long time ago, when you came of age I saw her in a vision. It was the first one I’d had since we managed to stop them, I couldn't see her face just her chocolate brown hair flowing in the wind, she was stood on edge of the clearing looking out towards the mountains. I didn't know she was a human all I could feel was her kindness and warmth."

My mouth dropped open, there's not many times in life I have been speechless but this was one of them.

"And have you spoken with her since?" My mom pressed on.

"Yes.. I wasn't going to I was planning on rejecting her at the next full moon but.."

"WHAT?!" My mom doesn't raise her voice often but when she did she meant it.

I looked away as my wolf whimpered and whined in my head at the thought. I got up and walked towards the large window. "I know.. I just I thought mates were a weakness, I've fought hard to be where I am to have this pack where we are. I have no weakness', i though a mate would open up a whole new world of trouble. Especially a human one, she can't defend herself! And what about the pack? Could they ever accept her? But then.. I saw her last night and we kissed and from that moment on I knew I could never let her go. No matter the cost." I turned to my mom with my brows furrowed. I always had all the answers but this time I needed her guidance more than ever.

She started to walk over to me and engulfed me in a hug. She leaned back placing both hands on my biceps and started to smile "You my son are one of the greatest Alpha's your generation has seen, I have no doubt that this pack would follow you to the end of the world if needs be. Selene doesn't make mistakes. The moon goddess picked her for you for a reason. Don't miss out on this opportunity to love and live life to the fullest." She smiled softly before continuing. "This won't be easy I won't lie, not only are you going to have to date her the human way but you're going to have to go gently with the pack too. Most of them don't like humans because of fear, passed down from generations ago when they used to hunt us. But that is no more. You can be the one. You both can be the ones to welcome the winds of change."

I stared at her for a moment I couldn't believe I ever thought my mom wouldn't be on my side.

"Come let's go for a walk and we'll talk all this through, get showered.. wash the blood from your knuckles..' she raised a brow whilst looking at them and the back to me "and we will go work all this through". She leaned up and gave me a small kiss on my cheek. I smiled back at her "Thankyou mom"

She waved her hand to signal it was nothing at all. Nothing a mothers love couldn't fix. As she walked out the door I turned back to look out of the window. One day hopefully soon I want to be stood looking at this amazing view with my amazing Grace stood by my side.

I reached over to the desk to pick my phone up.

"I can't wait either, see you at 7?" I hit send and within seconds got a reply.

"See you at 7 handsome x"