Saving Grace

Part 12

I watched as she swayed towards to water.

"Are you coming in?" She said turning to look at me over her shoulder with a glint in her eye.

She didn't have to ask me twice.

I got up and followed her towards the waters edge.

"You know, Its warm but not warm enough for our clothes to dry off if we get in the lake." I say making sure she knew, I didn't want her diving in and getting cold from damp clothes for the rest of the day.

"I guess we'll just have to go in, in our underwear then." She said calmly.

I gulped hard. This isn't what I meant but I wasn't going to complain. I grabbed the top of my t shirt and pulled it over my head I noticed Grace admiring my body.

"Like what you see?" I smirked raising my brow.

"Do you?" She asked as she pulled down her gym leggings to reveal her long tanned legs and round ass in her little black panties. She stood confident in just her pants and sports bra, her body on show for all to see, curves in all the right places, she was radiating beauty.

I was in big big trouble with this woman.

I gulped down and tried to drag my eyes back up to hers, I was trying so hard to control myself.

She broke the trance by giggling and running towards the little wooden dock.

"Last one in the lake is a loser!" She shouted as she took a running jump in.

I laughed at the sight and quickly tugged down my own shorts and run in after her.

The water was cool on the skin at first, not cold just refreshing. Grace pulled out her bobble that was keeping her now even darker hair in place and let it flow around her, water trickled down her forehead and cheeks, she looked like a beautiful mermaid and I was the sturdy seaman caught in her trap.

I swam towards her just about to reach for her but a mischievous look spread across her face, she splashed water into my face and started to giggle as she swam away.

Oh this was on.

I swam after her catching her foot with ease and pulled her backwards and towards me into my arms. She started laughing and squealing, Jett howled in my head he loved the chase. I turned her to me and wrapped my arms around her waist, she instinctively wrapped hers around my shoulders and brought her legs up around my hips.

"Got ya" I say with a smirk.

"Only because I let you." She throws back.

We stare into each other's eyes and an overwhelming feeling of home settles in my chest, the feeling of restlessness and my own demons fade away. This right here is where I'm meant to be, no matter how tough telling the truth and everything that comes with it would be, I knew we'd over come it.

Grace smiled her perfect smile before placing a soft kiss on my lips then placing her forehead on mine.

"This is perfect." She said barely a whisper.

I closed my eyes breathing in her scent, a smile to rival the Cheshire cats spread across my face.

"Perfect" I whispered back.

Just as I was about to place another kiss on her lips an earth shattering howl came from the woods just behind the lake. My eyes widened and my body stiffened it shock. Grace's eyes filled with horror as she clung to me even tighter.

I heard commotion coming from the woods, snarls and growls filled the air.

"Zander stay put we've got this." I heard Jamie's voice fill my head. I looked at the woods and back to Grace, I had a choice to make and I needed to make it quick. I could hear the fighting loud and clear.

"How many?" I replied through mind link to Jamie. I waited but got no reply, I started to move carrying Grace out of the water.

"Wait Zander what are you doing? Won't it be safer to stay in the water?" She said whilst physically trembling.

"No come on, it's fine I won't let anything happen to you I promise." I kissed her quickly on the head, I put my heart and soul into that quick tender kiss hoping she knew how much I meant it.

We climbed out of the water trying to stay as quiet as possible so no attention was drawn to us. I heard the snarls getting louder I tried Jamie again through the mind link. Then mom. But I got no reply, the panic in my chest begun to rise. Grace pulled on her t shirt and I chucked her my shorts there was no way leggings were going over wet skin. "Here throw these on, quickly"

"Wait No, what? Zander you need them it's fine quick let's just get out of here." She said in a panic fumbling with her clothes.

I looked back at the forest and then to Grace. This is not how I wanted it to be. A loud whimper came and Jett flung forward in my mind.

'We need to go now!' He growled.

I grabbed Grace's face between my hands and with everything I had I gave her a kiss, savouring every bit of her. She grabbed my hands and pulled back. "Zander we haven't got time come on let's go I'm scared!" Her eyes willing me to move.

"I'm sorry Grace" I said before swooping her up and placing her in the reeds at the side of the lake. "Hide and don't make a sound, I'll explain everything and anything you want me to later. Please hide and keep quiet. And if it comes to it run, run as fast as you can up to the trail." I said with desperation in my voice.

GRACE POV

This is madness, what is he saying!

"What? I don't understand." I say in confusion.

"They're animals just leave them!" I exclaim at his madness, what was he going to do why would he run into a pack of fighting wolves he was going to get himself killed!

"So am I." He replied Sadness tinging his voice.

And there right in front of me I watched his bones crack and pop as he transformed into a Jett black wolf.

I cowered lower into the reed bed as I watched it run into the forest and disappear from sight, my stomach knotted and my head spun I could feel the bile in my throat rising and threatening to come out. The sheer horrendous noise of his bones cracking made me ill. A mixture of adrenaline and pure fear run through my veins, my hands shaking violently. I couldn't process this, this wasn't real. This wasn't happening, not to me I'm a normal girl with a normal life. And the man I've been dating has just turned into a wolf.

Did he slip something in my drink? Am I hallucinating?

That was it! He must have, I'm hallucinating and none of this is real. How stupid of me to come to a secluded area with a man I barely know! I need to think and think fast. I move quickly to the blanket and grab my trainers before hiding back in the reed bed pulling them on quickly, this is my perfect opportunity to run and get away from this psychopath, heaven knows what's he's planning to do with me after drugging me!

I take a deep breath in then out trying to steady myself, the only way back to the trail is the steps. Hopefully if I calm myself I'll have enough energy to get up then and out onto the trail where there's hopefully people about to help me. My heart twinges a little and sadness creeps in. How could he do this to me, I thought he was such a nice guy. I thought stupidly that he could be my happily ever after. I curse myself for falling so quickly!

I take one last look at the forest and then I notice it's all gone quiet. This is now or never, I leap up and start to make a run for the steps.

"GRACE!" I hear him call out, it accelerates my heart and I run as fast as I can towards the steps. I heard footsteps coming up behind me, fear pushes me on. But I'm not quick enough, I feel him gain on me his hand tugging at my arm bringing me to a stop. I wriggle trying to get free but its no use, he spins me round to face him, his face full of panic.

"Grace please let me explain!" He begs.

I stop wriggling and heave my chest up and down trying to calm myself, I stare into his eyes. They don't look like the eyes of someone who was trying to drug and have their wicked way with me. They look scared and vulnerable like a lost little boy.

"What just happened?" I say trying to sound as firm as possible. "Did you drug me, was I hallucinating?".

"No! Never!" Zander exclaims, clearly a little hurt by my accusation.

A pang of guilt washes over me, how could I think he'd ever hurt me. But if that wasn't an hallucination then Zander really just did turn into a wolf right in front of my eyes.

"Please, let's sit on the blanket or I can take you home whatever you prefer and I promise I'll explain everything." He furrows his brows hopeful that I'll let him.

I nod my head and gesture towards the blanket, I can't seem to find the words at the moment. I then realise he's fully naked and my cheeks flush a bright red. He notices and covers himself with his hands as I shake out of his shorts for him to put on.

As we walk over to the blanket i grab my leggings and pull them on quickly. I sit down a little further away, I can't help but keep my distance from him, I'm confused and bewildered, my gut is telling me to trust him but my brain tells me to be on guard.

"Grace I.. I'm sorry I don't even know where to begin." He says looking up at me with a woeful expression.

"I mean you could start at the part where you just changed into an animal.." I say wide eyed. The words coming out of my mouth seem like a fantasy story.

"Okay.. then here is the truth. I'm a werewolf."

I hear the words come from his mouth and want to laugh at the sheer stupidity of what he just said. But the deadpan expression on his face tells me he isn't joking around.

"A werewolf?" I repeat.

He nods his head. "I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth. I'm sorry I didn't tell you from the off but there's laws and rules around humans knowing about us. There are only a handful of people in the world that know."

I interrupt before he carries on.

"Sorry what? Us? You mean this is like an actual real thing, there's a whole population out there?" My mind was spinning but I wanted to hear it all.

No, I need to hear it. I know some people would get up and run and run and run. And never ever look back but seeing Zander's vulnerability, his worried expression and the sadness in his eyes, that is what knocks me sick. He looks as though he's scared to lose me and it makes my heart leap because in the back of my head that little voice is begging me to stay and comfort him.

"Um yeah.." he says eyeing me worriedly and rubbing the back of his neck.

I look away and take a deep breath. I've been dating a werewolf. What the f**k is my life.

"Listen Zander, this is a lot to take it in. What I just saw.. it's.. it's.." I couldn't find the words.

"Crazy?" He says furrowing his brows.

I chuckle slightly. "That's the understatement of the year."

He half smiles before his face drops again.

"I don't want to lose you." He blurts out before hunching his shoulders up not knowing if that was the right thing to say or not.

I study his face, taking my time to answer.

"You won't... but I need the whole truth absolutely everything."

"Of course, everything!" He says nodding his head.

"Have you always been a werewolf?" I say, I can't help but be intrigued. I've heard a lot of peoples life stories with the job I'm in but this one would undoubtedly be the most interesting.

"Yeah kinda, we're all born human. Then at 16 we get our wolf. For most, on our 16th birthday it starts with the wolf appearing in our mind. Then usually that night under the moonlight we change into our wolf. It's painful at first but then after that it's easy. Most can change within seconds."

I stare at him for a moment, this kid has got to be kidding me.

"My wolf is called Jett, I hear him in my mind that's how we communicate. When we change into his wolf form, he can't speak like I do unless I would let him come forward when I’m in human form. But we can still communicate through our mind." He looks at me questioning if I'm okay and that he can carry on.

"Right" I nod.

"So that was Jett?" I ask.

"Yeah." He says, clearly holding in his breath.

"So are you like, normal? Or do you I don't know eat animals like wolves do?" I ask not sp tactically.

This makes him laugh a little. "Yes I'm normal, I act, eat, sleep and think like a normal human I just have a wolf that I can transform in to."

I look towards the forest take a deep breath trying to process all of this new information.

I feel his warm fingertips brush my arm and it makes me jump slightly in surprise, he pulls his arm back immediately and raises his hands up to show he's sorry.

A stab of guilt hits my stomach. "No don't be sorry, you just made me jump that's all." I say reaching for his hand, as soon as I touch his skin a wave of comfort washes over me and I see the corner of his lips lift slightly into a shy smile. He squeezes my hand and starts to brush his thumb over my skin the feeling bringing me pleasure and a sense of belonging. I know what he's just told me is crazy and it's flipped my life upside down but I want nothing more than to climb into his lap and comfort him and myself in a way.

"So there's another thing" he continues telling me more information. "Most werewolves live in packs, they are entire towns. We all live together mainly away from humans, we have schools and 9-5 jobs, everything that's in your world is in mine, but instead of police we have hierarchy. So an Alpha and sometimes his Luna. Then a beta, gamma, delta and omegas. The Alpha is at the top and in charge he over sees everything in his pack, he is their leader and protector. So if anyone is in danger it's his responsibility, he needs to go help them.." he trails off, looking at me intently.

The penny drops.

"You're an Alpha aren't you?" I say mouth open a little in shock.

He nods slowly, anticipating my reaction.

"Wow." Is all I can form at the moment.

"It was my mom and sister in the woods, I'm so sorry everything has happened the way it has but I couldn't leave them. They needed help, I'm their protecter." His brows knit together like he's having flash backs from only 20 minutes ago.

"I understand." I say, because I do. I would have done anything to protect my parents and keep them from danger.

"Thank you for understating" he says with a small smile.

I inch a little closer to him feeling myself relax in a weird way, I'm intrigued to know more.

"So you're the Alpha of a pack. So how many people are in your pack?" I ask.

"250" he answers

"Wow that's a lot of people to be in charge of." I say in amazement.

He smiles his lovely warm smile and even under the circumstances it melts me.

"Yeah it is but I love what I do" he pauses for a second. "And who I am."

I watch him studying his face. It just accrued to me, where do we go from here?

"You mentioned laws and rules, around humans?" I question intrigued.

He takes in a breath. "Yeah so as a rule humans generally aren't aloud to know about us, there are only a handful in the world that do. If a werewolf reveals himself to a human there can be consequences unless the reason you reveal yourself is within the allowed rules."

He looks at me sheepishly. I'm not sure if I'll like what I hear next.