Moonless

Chapter 22

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I climbed to my feet. And brushed the dirt off the red and white striped uniform, while I avoided eye contact with Grayson.

Above us, the steel beams of the Eiffel Tower stretched high into the starry sky.

"Well?" Grayson said turning to face me

"I will admit I have been more volatile than usual, but as I said, I'm under a lot more stress. I'm still trying to deal with the fact that I'm Alpha's son's mate, which still feels like a death sentence."

Grayson opened his mouth.

"And yes I know, you said you will protect me, honor be damned. But you're going to have to prove that before I believe it. And on top of being your mate, I had to deal with my friend being  hurt. And your refusal to find another mate. Not to mention a strange wolf was lurking just outside of our home, who also knows we are mates."

"That was just Liam, and I told you. He won't reveal our secret."

"He's weird, I don't trust him."

Wait I was openly talking about Liam, and the binding spell wasn't impacting me. Maybe I could tell Grayson what he did...

A wave of pain rocked my body and doubled over. The world around us blurred and snapped back into focus.

Or maybe not...

Grayson was by my side the next second. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Oh nothing, just the binding spell your so call friend put me under.

"It's just random stomach cramps, I get one every once in a while."

"You shouldn't be getting them in here...."

"Well, I am I replied."

A moment of silence stretched between us. 

"So why would not being mates make you, and supposedly me less likely to control ourselves?"

"Well in our beliefs, as you know, the mating bond is destined by the Moon Goddess. She is the most primal part of us and also the most powerful. So denying a bond, especially one as strong as ours, will only make that part come out more and more."

"Unless she snubs you, then you don't have to worry about those kinds of things. One of the only perks of being a Lunera."

"Obviously she didn't completely snub you, as you put it if she made you mate with me. You feel the pull of the bond, I know you do."

He was right, I did. I wasn't going to say that aloud though.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You've got a point, she hates me, or she must really hate you. What did you do to make her hate you?"

"You are avoiding my question about being my mate. I'll take that as a victory, because you normally just say no right away."

"I'm not avoiding the question. I'm getting my facts straight, before I make a decision."

"And that decision is leaning towards..."

"Can I ask you a favor before I answer?"

"Yes, anything you want."

"I have some school work due over break and I'm not sure how long your dad wants to keep us in the dungeon. Could you have someone bring my backpack? I don't want to fall behind."

Grayson let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, I can arrange that."

And about my answer. "I will..."

"You will!?" Grayson asked and began to move towards me.

I held out a hand for him to stop. "But on one condition. You try to find another mate... for at least a month. Leave Pine Ridge and go look for another mate."

"I told you, I'm not leaving Pine Ridge without you, and I'm certainly not going to do it to find another mate."

"I need you to try. I've survived 9 years here without out you, I can make it for another week."

"Aurelia, I told you that there is no way I'm going to find a mate with a stronger bond than the one that we got. I've been around the world, met wolves from all over, and nothing until I met you. I can't go one month more without being mates, I won't be able to last that long without losing it. Especially not after the next full moon."

"Then how long could you last max, be honest."

"I don't know, the next full moon is in 6 days, so maybe another week?"

"Then for that week look for another mate, leave Pine Ridge. I don't want this future. I want the future I had before. If this is causing me and crazy, you finding another mate will stop that."

Grayson's eyes flashed yellow yet again, "In theory yes," he replied drily. "But if we do this then I have a condition of my own. We meet every night in my dreams, and the second the week is up and I come back, you're mine."

"Okay, I'll stop fighting it. If you return without a mate."

"Great."

"I'll make arrangements to leave first thing tomorrow.   Alpha Christopher has been bugging me about going to visiting Black Lake. I've never been. Maybe I'll find my mate there."

I felt my heartbreak at those words but this was my choice, my last chance at escape. My head hoped he would find another mate. The ache in my chest? however, hope he didn't.

Silence stretched between us.

"I'll walk you to the Musée du Louvre. I don't really want to see you anymore tonight."

I flinched internally at his words. "Okay," I replied and so began one of the longest walks of my life.
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I woke to the sound of a fist being pounded against the glass.

I sat up and stared numbly at Liam, while he waved at me from the other side of the glass.