The War for Love- a Collection of Short Stories

Introduction - Grace

A/N: So, Jess is coming around to the Dark Runners. I wonder what Grace will do once she meets her Mate?

    Her sweet, lost, scared Mate?

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Grace.

Yes, Hazel?

This is outfit number nine.

Seven.

Grace, let's be honest, we surpassed single digits long ago.

    I sighed, glancing around my room and holding up another dress before casting it aside. It was my first solo introduction, I would be "an ambassador to the Pack" as Harmony always put it. I had to look the part. 

Sorry that I want to look good.

Grace.

Yes, Hazel?

Stop changing, wear this. We'll be late.

    Having decided that the dress was too much, I was now pulling on my favorite jeans that Dad had bought me for Christmas. Spying a pale pink button-down, I shrugged into it, liking the contrast between the dark jeans and light shirt. 

The party doesn't start for hours.

I didn't say the party, I said you'd be late.

SHIT! It's nearly one! HAZEL, why didn't you tell me earlier! 

Hey, don't blame me, I've been trying to get your attention for the last five outfits.

    Rolling my eyes, I checked the clock and breathed a sigh of relief. I had time to throw on some makeup. Luckily, I had mastered the fifteen-minute routine. Primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder. Leave to bake, eye shadow... My hands hovered over my palates. 

Which one?

Champagne. with the dark brown outside. 

Good call.

    Sweeping the colors on, I quickly decided to skip the fake lashes. Instead, I brushed on mascara, rolling the wand to make my practically non-existent blonde lashes appear dark and full. Checking the time, I saw that I had five more minutes to get out the door.  

Okay, time to kick it into high gear.

    Brushing the leftover powder off my face, I quickly contoured and brushed on a mild highlighter. Tilting my head in the mirror, I watched as my cheeks flashed, reflecting the sunlight. "More..? No. Don't need to completely blind them... yet." Smirking, I looked around my desk quickly. I stuck a clear gloss in my pocket, grabbed my white blazer and stopped by my jewelry box. I hooked my bag, I slung it over my shoulders and paused. Browsing for a moment as I slid into my black heels, I found the items I was looking for. Mrs. Woods owned a small jewelry shop off the main street, and she'd made me a couple of pieces for my sixteenth birthday and First Shift. 

    Luckily, Mom and Dad were taking care of our gift for Trent. 

    Clasping the grey and white statement necklace on, I grabbed the set of earrings that went with it and popped them in. Turning to look in the mirror again, I nodded, liking the outfit. I tugged a couple of strands out of my braid, and, hearing my watch beep 13 times, dashed out my door. Turning around, I pulled it shut and locked it. I did have some confidential information in some of my notebooks, even if it was low level, I needed to protect it. Pulling the necklace back on, I carefully kept it off my braid. 

    Feeling my back pocket, my breath hitched. Fumbling, I grabbed my purse and breathed a sigh of relief when my car keys and wallet were inside. My watch caught the light, reading 13:15 and I gasped, turning on my heel.

Shit, s**t, s**t! I was supposed to leave five minutes ago!

You're a mess, Grace.

You're in a mood.

    Running down the stairs in heels was a magic trick that I had mastered over the last couple of years under Harmony. "Sometimes, you've got to get somewhere quickly and look good doing it," I muttered under my breath. It was one of Harmony's several catchphrases. I had laughed at her, thinking it was stupid, but as it turns out, being able to run in heels was a skill worth learning.

    Stepping off the staircase, I kept running to the door and pulled it open. Hazel through my body into a full stop and I saw the sheen of the concrete. Last night's drizzle had stuck around, one of the perks of Washington I guess, and the smooth porch would be incredibly slick.

Thanks, Hazel. 

You're welcome.

    Stepping out, slowly, I rummaged in my bag while walking as quickly as I could until reaching the rougher driveway. Rushing down, I unlocked my car and slid in, shoving the key in the ignition and pulling the door shut. The clock in here said 1:15, but it was usually a little fast. 

Grace, get it together!

Jesus Hazel, I'm nervous alright! You are in a foul mood- what bunny bit your butt?

    Hazel huffed, and I pulled out of our long driveway. Because of my parents' standing in the Pack, we were lucky enough to get a house close to Pack House and Center Circle. Joining the moderate traffic, I found myself glad to be having the introduction. If I'd left closer to the party, the traffic would be insane. 

    Someone cut me off and I missed the turn I had to take, and Hazel growled deeply. Turning at the next street, I went around the circular lawn that formed Center Circle and met my eyes in the mirror, which were flashing silver. 

Hazel, seriously, what is going on with you today?

I don't know, I- there's something, I just feel like something's not right. 

It's probably you just feeling my nervousness, it's fine.

No, this is different, Grace. It's just... weird. I don't know, but something's not quite right.

You don't think...

I don't know, maybe.

    Sighing, I brought my attention back to the road and tried to parallel park on the grass in front of the Pack House. Alpha Marcus normally did introductions at the family house, but because today was Trenton's birthday, and the party was at the Pack House, there was an exception being made for this girl. 

There are a lot of exceptions being made for her.

I hope she's worth it- well, actually no, I don't. 

Why?

I'm hoping Ethan was just being weird. If he's that shaken up... 

I don't know Grace. I don't know.

    I sighed again and grimaced, remembering how Ethan's voice had shaken when he described her. Taking the keys out and sticking them in my purse, I hoped that Tyler was there already. "Please, please let them be late," I whispered a prayer to Selene and got out of the car. I didn't bother to lock it, car theft just didn't happen in High Grove. Crime in general just didn't happen, outside of teenage pranks and stupidity. 

    I smiled, remembering our senior prank on the high school. Chuckling to myself, I walked in the door and saw Tyler standing across the room-

    "Pink hair?!" I yelled, and Tyler whipped around bright red. Storming over to me, I couldn't tell if he was mad at my lateness or embarrassed because I signaled him out. "Shut up- the sibs pranked me. And you're late, come on, we've got to go." Tyler turned around, and I quickly reached out, yanking the "Point and Laugh" sign off his back. 

At least it doesn't say Kick Me.

Taylor. The boys are incredibly unoriginal. 

True.

    Once we got on the stairs and around the corner, out of sight of everyone else, Tyler turned around, walking up the steps backward. Lowering his voice to a murmur- we were out of sight, not quite earshot- he said, "You're incredibly lucky. They're running late, something happened on the way here. Jason called on Rose's behalf, the girl will need medical attention once she arrives." I nodded along, not surprised, but struggling to speak. Hazel had jumped up, lodging in my throat, creating a lump as though I were about to cry. 

    Tyler turned around and kept going up the stairs, and I followed quickly. I needed to go over my notes to make sure I had her name down and where she was from, along with the intention of the meeting. I began to run the lines in my head, trying to get the words right. Ty interrupted my thoughts, pointing down the hall. "Office four. Dad'll be there soon, so you should get down there. Door's unlocked, don't forget to lock it once you're inside." Tyler said, then ran back down the steps. 

    Taking a moment to straighten my blazer, I walked down the hall, becoming more and more irritated by the click of my heels. 

Not your irritation, mine. Something's wrong, Grace.

Tell me what it is then. I can't fix something I don't know about, Hazel.

That's the thing is I don't know what it is! It's driving me insane! 

Me too, and if you can't settle down, I'll have to block you out. I am not screwing this introduction up.

Grace, I just... Please be careful. I don't know what's wrong but something is.

Okay, Hazel.

    I stopped outside the door marked Office 3, taking a couple of deep breaths, hoping to contain Hazel's irritation without having to block her. It was a very lonely thing, not having her in my head with me. It still baffled me that I'd lived more years without her than I had with her, and yet when I didn't have her, it felt like a part of my soul was missing. I exhaled slowly and opened the door.

    Alpha Marcus was sitting behind the desk, going through some papers. "Hello, Grace. Is she here yet?" He didn't look up as he spoke, so I removed my bag, setting it in one of the armchairs and turning to stand before him. "No sir, they ran into some complications. Rose herself has not checked in, but Jason called on her behalf to say that the girl will need medical attention. He did not state whether it would be a hospital or doctor needed, though my instincts are pointing me toward the former." 

    Again, I found myself speaking without any true knowledge, and going purely off of what I felt was right to say. Nodding, he said, "Very well then. We'll have her taken to Dayton if need be after the meeting. Grace, can I trust you to see that it is completed? Tyler will be busy tonight, and if she truly needs the hospital, then she should be taken as soon as possible." Alpha Marcus flipped the page of his report before meeting my eyes, his greying brows raised in expectation. 

    "Y-Yes, sir, of course. Would you like me to go as soon as the meeting is over and report back to you tomorrow morning- since you'll be busy with your family tonight?" I replied quickly, going back to my bag so I could tell Mom and Dad I wouldn't be home tonight. Alpha Marcus went back to his papers and nodded, saying, "Yes, that would be great. Thank you, Grace." Unlocking my phone, I automatically answered, "You're welcome, sir," as I texted Dad.

    I knew Dad wouldn't like it, but he would understand that it was a task from the Alpha. I didn't need to do it, he could have someone else drop the girl off, though Hazel growled lowly at the thought. She was careful to make sure the sound would be contained in her body, and I was thankful for that. While he could be fun and open, when Alpha Marcus was in his "Alpha Mode" as Tyler and I called it, everyone knew not to test him. 

Fuck, I forgot to lock the door!

It's fine, Alpha Marcus is here. Tyler was probably worried about the papers that he's reading so intensely. 

Yeah, I wonder what's on them.

    "Alpha Marcus?" "Hmm?" "May I know what you're reading?" I asked sweetly. I was genuinely curious about what he was reading, and even though Hazel was yelling at me for asking him, he nodded and motioned me closer. "Yes, I'm reading a report on this girl who's on her way. Her old Pack held a trial for her, but something doesn't seem right. There's only one testimony, and there was only the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and the highest Delta of the Pack present. It says nothing about how the trial was conducted or a jury, and the punishment..." He flipped the page, his eyes flaring bright gold and growling before he reigned in his wolf and said, "Was extreme, to say in the least. 100... I don't care what she's done, this was supposedly her... Dear Goddess." 

    He slammed the folder shut and shoved it away, appearing disgusted with the contents. "Sir?" I asked, grabbed the folder before it fell. "Burn that. That girl was not punished legally. What that Alpha did to her... Who are they again?" Now standing, Alpha Marcus began to pace in front of the windows. His question was more of a demand, and I already knew the answer from studying my notes. I answered when he paused, hoping he could calm his wolf. "The Snow Howlers, sir." 

    "Well, these Snow Howlers are about to receive a visit from the Grand Council, along with a very angry group of Dark Runners, led by me. Dear Selene, it's a wonder the girl's even alive, I mean-" "Dad!" Tyler broke into Alpha Marcus' rant. 

    Alpha Marcus turned sharply to face Tyler, and behind him, I could see a shadow. My eyes looked back to her as she stepped inside the room before all of my attention was on her. 

    She barely came up to the lower half of Tyler's chest, and even though he's six-foot, that made her shorter than me when I didn't have my heels on. And she was thin, quite possibly the smallest grown wolf I had ever seen. Her dark hair hit her chin, giving her an even more severe look. Her eyes were sunken in, so much so I couldn't tell what color they were- brown or hazel or dark blue, I kept staring, trying to figure it out. 

    She shifted slightly, and her scent hit me, nearly causing me to stumble. Piney forest rains, charcoal, indigo flowers, and night air. Amber, wolf, iron and salty blood, bone. There were so many scents I could tie to her, and so many more, like the ones clinging to the new clothes she wore, but all I could tell in the moment was that my Mate was standing before me.

    The broken girl I was to introduce to my Alpha was my Mate.

Holy f*****g s**t, Hazel. 

Push it aside, get through the introduction.

    As I watched her, I noticed the light catching her eyes as they almost danced around the room. She swayed slightly and took a step toward me. I pinned my arms to my sides to resist reaching out to her- I wanted to touch her, I wanted to feel the electric sparks Tommy talked about incessantly, and I wanted to see her smile when I ran my fingers through her hair. 

I bet she's got a beautiful smile.

Grace, focus.

Hazel, that's our Mate.

I know, but Grace, you have to focus.

How are you so calm?

I'm not, I'm trying to keep you from making a fool of yourself. Now FOCUS!

    I snapped my attention from the girl- my Mate- and looked to Alpha Marcus. He was also staring at her, though not as intensely as I had been. Tyler left the room after meeting his father's eyes, and now that she was in the light, I could see that her eyes were an almost black blue, as though her irises had been bruised. Taking a deep breath, I got another wave of her scent. Now she smelled of ink, candle wax, a cold wind. 

    She smelled like copper, ferns, and a thunderstorm that wasn't quite there. 

    She smelled like home. 

    Clearing my throat and maintaining eye contact with the Alpha, I finally found my voice. "Alpha Marcus, I would love to introduce Jessica Loves. Formerly of the Snow Howlers Pack, located in New Brunswick, Canada, and she has been a Rogue for three months." I looked back to Jessica, saying, "Jessica, this is Marcus Young, Alpha of the Dark Runner Pack. Alpha Marcus, may I be dismissed?" 

    With a nod, he came around the desk, reaching a hand out toward Jessica. Though he didn't move quickly, her wolf whimpered, cowering as she stepped back. He looked to me, and I could see the concern swimming in his light grey eyes. "Thank you, Grace, you are dismissed." Nodding, I turned to leave, and as I passed Jessica, her hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

    It must have been something her wolf pushed her to do, a reflex almost. Her fingers tensed around my arm, firmly holding me in place as she shook. I could almost see the muscles in my arm contracting, crying out from the intensity of the Mate bond. 

    Fire- not light sparks, but a bright blaze burned its way up my arm, sizzling every nerve ending and vessel. It wasn't painful, necessarily, but I could tell that it also wasn't normal. I didn't know what was normal, but from talking to Tommy, my brothers, even my parents, every account told me that what I was feeling was far from normal. 

    Those eyes, her eyes, met mine and she stepped back with a gasp. "You-you look... No, no. No, this, you look..." She tried to step back but was holding my wrist, so I stepped with her to keep from falling. When she remembered she was gripping my wrist, she sprung back, letting go with such force that I was pushed back. She stumbled too, wrapping her arms just below her ribs and I could hear the distinct noise of bone rubbing bone in a crackling sound. 

Her ribs are broken?

Who the f**k broke her ribs?!

    If they were still broken, that meant it had happened in the time since she'd been taken into Dark Runner custody. I knew my eyes were glowing silver when I met hers, and Hazel released a deep growl, not at Jessica, but whoever had done this to her. "It-it was an accident, he didn't mean to, I moved fast and he just acted on instinct-"  Jessica stuttered over her words, trying to get out an explanation that would calm Hazel. "I-I mean, I am tech-technically a-a prison-" "No, you are not. Jessica Loves, if you would like to stay here, I will grant you asylum." 

    Alpha Marcus broke in between us, flashing his eyes at me. Hazel backed down immediately, submitting to her Alpha. Jessica was breathing quickly- short little bursts that had to be painful for her. Turning around to face Jessica, Alpha Marcus extended his hand again, slower this time. "Jessica, would you like to stay here?" Her eyes darted around the room, catching mine and holding them. 

    I nodded subtly, praying she'd say yes. "Yes, sir, I would. Do you need anything from me?" she asked tentatively, as though he was going to demand some despicable act from her. "Yes. Jessica, Grace is going to drive you to Dayton General. It is the closest hospital from here, and I need you to allow the doctors to help you. We will take care of the formalities when you are well." 

    Her eyes lightened a fraction, and I could see a small amount of hope creeping into her features. "Yes sir," she whispered, sounding both at a loss for words and overwhelmed by emotion. 

    Her face gave away everything.

    This was the first time in far too long that she had hope.