Moonless

Chapter 54

My first instinct was to push him away with all my might, while my body was filled with what felt like a thousand bolts of electricity. 

He took a step back from me, but I don't think it was from the force of my shove. It was a voluntary step.  Blood, my blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He raised his hand it wiped it away with the back of his hand.

I felt my neck where he had just bitten me, and winched at the stinging it caused.

"What the hell did you just do!?" I yelled, but of course I knew what he had just done. I just couldn't believe he had done it in this way.

"Claimed you," he replied calmly.  "I'm sorry, I didn't ever want to do it like this. But if you are talking about leaving me to go with them, I'm going to do anything in my power to stop that from happening. Now that we are mates, especially new mates, we can't physically be apart without great distress. Your first instinct will be to stay with me."

In the background, I heard Annie yell something to the effect of. "You dick! You can't just go around claiming women without their permission!?" Followed by a several other winded statements that seemed to go on forever.

But her voice became distant in my ears, while all my senses focused on one person and one person alone. Grayson.

His eyes were their warm brown color and right at this moment, I wanted to claw them out of his face. His face that appeared so calm and placid, like a still body of water.

I could feel my pulse beating in my ears, while my face burned with anger and betrayal.

"Actually you being near me right now is causing me a lot of distress ," I snarled

"Aurelia..."

"Actually it's Everlee," I snapped and Grayson blinked in surprise. The first emotion I had seen cross his face since he had sank his teeth into my shoulders without my consent.

"Okay...Everlee, why are you so angry anyway?  I know this is not ideal, but you just said you wanted to be my mate..."

"Because I didn't agree that you could make me your mate right this second! You couldn't have picked a worse time to but this burden on me! How could you be this selfish!?"

Grayson's face darkened. "My father needs to die. And you know that the only chance I have at killing him, is to claim my mate. I told you this over the phone. And I thought you, of all people, would be on my side, after he tried to kill you. So please, let's go!" he grabbed my arm and yanked me towards him. I'm not leaving you, so you can get yourself killed by getting involved with whatever is going on in Red Crescent."

"Let me guess, you wouldn't be willing to come with me?"

"The Red Crescent pack made their choice when they decided to continue sacrificing Lunera to their dark god..."

"It's not just about them, Grayson. It's something much bigger."

He looked over at Liam and I followed his gaze to see that he was struggling to hold Annie back ."

"Look, your brother was once my friend, a my best friend in fact. But circumstances changed, people get older and life changes for them. It looks like he claimed a mate, so he will be a lot stronger. I wish him the best of luck, but I you aren't going to risk your life for a pack that tried to sacrifice you as a child. You aren't going with him, even if there was something you could do, if the threat is really as serious as you make it out to be."

"That's not your choice to make, it's my choice."I said and tried to yank my arm out of his grasp.

But his hold on me did not waver. His grip only got tighter, I could feel his nails digging deep into my skin.

"Aur...Everlee, I'm sure you aren't going to like what I'm about to do next either, but I'm doing this for your own good. I hope you can forgive me someday. For claiming you and doing this..."

"Doing what!?" I asked, suddenly very alarmed.

He looked towards the side where the witch stood. Her black dress billowed like a black storm cloud against the bleak landscape. He nodded at her, and she responded by raising her hands into the air.

It was at this moment, I realized what was about to happen.

A spell!? He was going to have his witch friend cast a spell? A spell that would make me go with him. Or a spell that would make sure no one could stop him from taking me by force?

I heard Liam yell something. And in a flash, Aaron ran at the witch , only to be tackled to the icy ground before he could get any closer.

"I looked up at Grayson. My mate.

"You know what, I hope you can forgive me too," I said and with me free hand, the hand holding the gun, I pointed it down at his foot, and pulled the trigger.