Claws Against Petals✓

5•|Birthmark

Grayson's POV:

As I watched her delicate gaze, I failed to notice how close I was leaning into her. But her scent just draws me in, I want to know what it is. My curiosity kept digging at me, even in the last few weeks that had passed. I would always think about her, her smell, her breathing...her eyes, their hazel, it shouldn't be possible... beast like us should only have golden eyes...close to honey brown. But that isn't the only thing that stood out to me, it was the bruising around her neck that bothered me.

"Why did you reject your mate?"

I questioned her, though I was immediately interrupted by two voices drawing near us-

"Orchid, I'm so glad you finally came to visit. Oh, what happened here? Grayson dear, if you can please pick that mess up-"

"Wait, you know who Orchid is? Have you both met already?"

I heard my sister ask surprised by great Mary's comment as I heard them both coming from the back. Pulling myself away, I stayed silent as I began to pick up the yarn around me. So the girl's name is Orchid...

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I accidentally made a mess in your shop, please, let me help-"

"Don't worry about it, my brother will do it. Now tell me, how do you know great Mary?"

Marissa asked her as she approached Orchid, pulling her away from me. I ignored them as I tried to hurry up and leave. I know my father told me to get along with others, but I can't get comfortable with humans, let alone other wolves from different packs...

"Marissa, how about you take Orchid to the back of the shop? I'll make something for you both to eat, I'm certain you both are hungry. Orchid and I could explain how we both met after were done eating."

Great Mary explained as I felt her approaching me, looking in the corner of my eye. I saw that Orchid kept staring at what I was doing as I finished cleaning. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything to her...

"Are you sure you don't want me to cook?"

I heard my sister ask...

"Marissa, I don't know if you've noticed. But your cooking isn't exactly edible."

I responded with a mischievous smirk.

"Shut up Gray! No one is asking you-"

"Relax children, no fighting in my store. Marissa, show Orchid the little cafe in the back room. I need to talk with Grayson for a minute, alone."

Great Mary said in high discipline as I released a hidden growl before looking away from them. I then heard Marissa and Orchid make their way back, it wasn't until I heard the door shut behind them that I punched the wall next to me with such brutal force!

"Grayson-"

"Why are you letting that she-wolf into the backroom?! I thought only Fang Claw members were allowed back there! Or do you just not care-"

"That's enough Gray, you must learn to control your anger. Remember what I told you, we all come from the same paw. However, Orchid is a different type of paw...she's unique."

She began to explain as I felt her place her hand on top of my shoulder. Trying to calm my nerves, I pulled my hand back from the wall as I turned around to face her. At least I wasn't the only one that caught something off about Orchid, that girl just confuses me...

"I'm sure you noticed, as well as Marissa. But that girl, she isn't fully human...but she isn't exactly a full-blooded wolf either-"

"How is that possible? No, there's no way. A human and a wolf could never breed together. The child dies immediately in the womb from the non-compatibility in our genes. This is why it's always been taboo and forbidden for thousands of years. And quite frankly, I'm grateful for that, a wolf mating with a human...it's disgusting. Just the thought of it sickens me, so there's no way in hell that Orchid is part wolf and part human. We wolves have been cursed to take the shape of these human forms to cover our scent so we wouldn't be hunted down by humans in the past. But now, throughout time...we have to wander around the streets looking like this, just to keep our secret hidden from the world."