Saving Grace

Part 4

I look at my watch and notice I need to get back before my pack starts a search party, I'd ignored mind links for the past two hours we'd been sat having lunch and chatting. I don't want to leave this girl ever, I f*****g knew this was a bad idea.

As we stand to leave my wolf whimpers a little, he doesn't want to leave her either. She's his mate too especially because she doesn't have a wolf he feels the pull more than ever.

"I've really enjoyed lunch" Grace turns her head over her shoulder and smiles as we begin to walk out, a twinkle in her deep brown eyes. My goddess this definitely was a bad idea.

"Yeah me too" I say pushing the door open and motioning her to walk through.

" You know you're quite the gentleman" she says raising a brow as if surprised.

I fake a shocked expression " what you'd think I'd be anything less?"

She giggles at my response.

"And just to show you how much of a gentleman I am, I'll even escort you back home safe"

I hold my arm out for her to take. She slips her petite fingers into the crook of arm instantly igniting sparks, this feeling is quickly becoming addictive.

"I'm having an opening evening tomorrow if you'd like to pop by, I mean I know it obviously won't be of any interest to you but I just thought that it would be nice you could see what I'm doing with the place.."

I smile at Grace starting to trip over her words a little.

"Is that a second date?" I tease.

Her cheeks flush red immediately, I see the embarrassment plain on her sweet face.

"I'm joking" I chuckle saving her from her embarrassment. "I'll see what I can do and try swing by."

She looks up at me through her long lashes and smiles breathing out a slight sigh of relief then looks away, I think trying to hide her pink cheeks.

As we reach the shop she lets go of my arm and I instantly miss the warmth of her hand.

"Well Thank you for lunch and walking me back home, hopefully I'll see you tomorrow?" Just as I hear her finish her sentence I hear Dan's voice boom in my head

"ROGUE ATTACK ON THE NORTHERN BORDER WE NEED YOU NOW ZAN"

"Is everything okay?" Grace brings me back to reality, I look at her for a second mesmerising every inch of her perfect face.

"Yeah uh sorry I've just remembered I've got a big meeting that I'm running late for" I reply harsher than intended.

"Oh" I can't tell how to take her reply is she mad at me for my tone, disappointed? I haven't got time to think about it though I turn away and start to run to my car just down from her shop. I take one last look, "Goodbye Grace"

"Goodbye Zander" her voice the softest of sounds. I squeeze my eyes shut as I jump in the car. "f**k" I bellow hitting the steering wheel before gaining composure and starting the ignition. The engine roars to life and I take off down the street back to my pack. This, this is the exact reason this will never work. I was stupid to come here, from now on I stay away.

I quickly jump out of the car near the Northern Territory at the edge of the forest and strip down, I set off running and leap into the air Jett coming forward and taking over my body. Nearing the slight clearing the smell of blood fills my snout along with the horrid scent of rogues. I see Dan and my Gamma Nathan leading the way with most of my warriors savaging the rogues limb from limb. I run straight into the action, growling loudly and pushing out my alpha aura trying to submit the rogues.

"Where the f**k have you been?" Dan questions through mind link before lunging for another scruffy bastards throat. Before I get chance to explain a brown wolf runs towards me, jaw snapping at my shoulder I turn quickly piercing my fangs through his neck, blood seeping into my mouth fuelling my rage. After another 10 minutes or so of fighting the rogues have easily been defeated I look around and count 50, it's nothing we couldn't handle but 50 are a slight cause for concern. "Get rid of the bodies" I mind link to the warriors then turn to my beta and gamma, "Dan, Nathan get cleaned up and my office 30 minutes." They nod as we leave towards the pack house.

After showering and changing I head for my office. A knock on the door sounds letting me know Dan and Nathan are here.

"Come" i shout.

"Alpha" they both nod in respect and walk in to take a seat in-front of my desk.

"Where the f**k were you?!" Dan speaks first.

I'm pissed, I've just had the best afternoon with a gorgeous girl, a girl who cruelly has been chosen by then moon goddess to be my fated mate. I let my self be foolish enough to wonder if that would ever be but it can't. It won't.

"Watch your tone" I snarl. I know I shouldn't take it out on Dan but he can't know where I was so knocking him down is the only option. He averts his gaze before muttering "sorry". He waits a second before continuing "what are you thinking though Zan 50 rogues?"

"We tighten the borders and patrols, and we keep an eye on the situation. It might just be a case of they were hungry and drove to desperation to attack in that large of a number."

"You don't think they were trying to take over the pack do you" Nathan questions.

"No. They'd need hundreds to take us on and over my dead body I'd ever let that happen. I'm not overly concerned like I say we tighten the borders and patrols just to be safe."

They both nod in agreement. I nod back signalling their dismissal, Nathan stands and exits the door but Dan stays seated.

"So?" He asks whilst raising his brow.

"So what?" I throw back.

"You still haven't answered my question."

I start firing up my laptop and organising paper work on the desk, I don't want to have this conversation right now or ever for that matter as far as I'm conserved this is done.

"I was in the city attending to business" the annoyance clear in my voice. "Is that all? Because I've got stuff to do?"

Dan furrows his brows for a second but knows not to push any further for now. Just nods "thats all". He and Nathan exit the office and I immediately let out a breath of air and lean back into my chair. My wolf is restless pacing back and forth in my mind.

"I don't have a good feeling about these rogues" he says.

" We’re just worked up let's not over think this it will be nothing."

"What if they go for mate"

I roll my eyes, "they don't even know who she is and she's not our mate! She can't be look at the difference in us we are from two different worlds!" Before I get chance to push him down he disappears clearly not happy with me. But this rejection needs to happen for everyone's sake. Just then the door knocks again, I close my eyes for a second and rest my head against the back of my chair. Can I not get a minutes peace?

"Come!" I bellow annoyance clear in my voice.

"Goddess above you're in a bad mood" Jamie smirks as she says it and flops down into the chair in front of me. I sit forward and arch my brow placing an unimpressed look on my face. "I just heard about the rogue attack is everything okay" her face changing to serious.

I let out another sigh

"Yes it's fine nothing for you to worry, the borders have been tightened to make sure no one gets through."

She pauses for a second "you don't think someone's found out about Mom do you?" A worried look written all over her face.

"No, no one knows and no one apart from us will ever know." I reply.

"In all honesty it never even crossed my mind, Mom hasn't used her powers for years she shut it off a long time ago. We don't need her to tell the future anymore Jamie we're good. I'll protect this pack till my last breath" I say sincerely.

"I know you would Zan, it's just thrown me that's all we haven't had a rogue attack of that amount in a long time".

"I know but honestly don't worry it's fine, has your big bro ever been wrong?" I smirk trying to lighten the mood. It seems to work as Jamie lets out a laugh.

" I mean I can count plenty of times brother!"

I laugh along before glancing at the mountain of paper work I've got to do.

"Is there anything else because this won't do it's self" I say gesturing towards it laid out on my desk.

"No no I was just checking in on my big brother." She says with a smile.

Something else is coming she's never just checking up on her big brother. She wanders to the door and places her hand on the handle before stopping opening it.

"Well actually now you mention it.. Grace the new tenant you asked me to look up. I noticed on her socials she's having an opening night tomorrow and me and my friend from college were wanting to go?" She raises her shoulders a little and starts to give me her best smile.

Grace. I feel my wolf stir again at the mention of her name. Me and Jamie have always been close and she's my closest confidant.

"Tell her she can help us" Jett pleads, maybe she can. And maybe she can't, no we're not doing this.

"Zan is everything okay" I hear Jamie say, I feel my wolf taking control.

"Zander your eyes are black whats going on"

"Mate" I let out in a low growl. I shake my head and push my wolf back and regain my control. f**k you've done it now. Jamie rushes back over and sits down in the chair. I prop my elbow on the desk and hang my head pinching the bridge of my nose, now I've no option but to tell her.

I let out a sigh before starting "It's Grace, she's my.. mate" I look up at Jamie to see her jaw drop before me. She's silenced for a second which doesn't happen often.

"She's your mate?" A confused look on her face "but she's human?"

"I know."

"I mean it's not completely and utterly unheard of but this hasn't happened for hundreds of years. I mean you'd have to seriously consider this, the council would need to be informed, the elders. Can you trust her? What am I saying you don't even know her. And besides you never wanted a mate anyway did you?" Jamie rambles on.

"I know Jamie I know. That's why on the full moon I'm going to reject her." I can't help the tinge of sadness in my voice.

Jamie studies my face for a second "you don't want to though do you?"

I look at her and take a long blink thinking about what to say next.

"It's the bond talking and my wolf. I'll do what's right for my pack. I can't and won't put her in danger or anyone else for that matter." I say matter of factly.

"Zander.." she lets out her own sigh before starting again "Zander what if this is your chance of happiness, the moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. This pack loves you, they'd follow you to the ends of the earth. Don't be like father please, blood thirsty and give into the darkness". Her eyes flick to my knuckles slightly bloodied from the fight only an hour ago. I cover them consciously.

"It's just too greater risk J, I never wanted a mate. A mate is a weakness and a human one even greater so. You know how the fated bond works. I'll be forever drawn to protect that woman, she can’t protect herself. She'll be an easy target and you know how plenty of wolves feel towards humans."

I run my hands through my hair. Moon Goddess why me.

"You have just under 4 weeks till the full moon, please think this through properly Zan. Have you met her or did you recognise it though the photo?"'she questions.

"No I met her yesterday, Dan and I went to show her around the shop. It hit me like a train as soon as she walked in the smell of orange and honey. My wolf knew straight away there was no mistaking it." I smile a little picturing her sweet, sweet face.

"The smile of your face tells me all I need to know Zander." She smirks back at me.

My expression drops a little.

"I took her for lunch today, I know it was wrong but I needed her to sign one more piece of paper work. I knew I should have got Dan or Nathan to take it but I just needed to be sure this is what it is, a fated bond. Before I could stop myself I'd asked her for lunch and I had the best afternoon i’d had in a long time. Then Dan mind linked me about the rogue attack and I came crashing back down to reality."

Jamie looks at me with sadness in her eyes. "Don't pity me please" I say standing and walking to look out of the window.

She waits a few seconds before answering me. "I'm not" she pauses again. "Look Zander, the goddess doesn't make mistakes, maybe this girl needs you. The great Zander Black."

I turn to see her rolling her eyes and we both chuckle lightly.

"Or maybe it's you that needs her." She raises her brow before continuing. "I'll support you whatever decision you make you know I will and eventually this pack will too. But this won't be easy and if you want this you're going to have to do this the human way. Grace won't feel the bond like you do."

I turn back to her, I never thought of that either. I run a hand through my hair. "The human way?" I scrunch my nose up a little. Jamie laughs "yes the human way, she won't fall at your feet with the click of your fingers like these desperate she wolves."

I pace the floor a little.

"Fancy a date tomorrow to a new opening night?" I smirk a little. I hope this isn't a bad idea.

A wide grin appears on Jamie's face. "I thought you'd never ask."