Unconditionally, Inevitably, Forever Yours.

Darkness

--Chapter 40-

Grayson's POV.

April's eyes glinted and flickered dividedly. Perhaps she was actually getting through to her wolf. Maybe this would be easier than he'd expected. Every so often, she'd shake her head uncertainly or her eyes would narrow indignantly towards an unfocused position on the ground. She was now resembling the true form of a 'schizophrenic werewolf', her personality differing majorly from her wolf's, making them both equally conflicted. At least, that was Grayson's theory.

Guardedly, prepared for a sudden launch of attacks, Grayson hesitantly ploughed onwards, his tail cocked side-to-side, offering no harm, with his fairly laidback-like attitude. April's ears perked at his movement, although she gave little away as to whether she planned on attacking or felt threatened by him. Rather than pausing in front of her, Grayson continued around her, nuzzling his face into her smooth, soaking, stringy black coat, inhaling her scent- which had strengthened since shifting into this form. He revelled in the smell and the feel, wishing he could just entangle his limbs with hers and fall asleep like that.

Like they had last night- before she left, that is. He may or may not have had something to do with the drastic shift in their position together. It wasn't intentional...at least- not exactly. April had been snoring quietly on his shoulder as he strained himself to fall asleep. Grayson wouldn't have minded trying all night; he found a sense of security in the sound of his mate's light breathing on his neck, offering him the knowledge that she was right there next to him, alive.

Only, subconsciously, April broke the fatigued moment between the two when, stirring, her head fell onto his lap, her arms then wrapping around his leg and clutching onto his thigh like a pillow. It would've been comfortable if not for the position in which her head was right beside his- crotch. Grayson hated to imagine the look on his mate's face when she woke up so intimately pressed against him.

Of course, Grayson couldn't have April feeling any more uncomfortable than already. He wasn't that terrible. Plus, if she hadn't recalled their little chat the night before, then who knows what conclusions April may have jumped to. So, rather than leaving her there, vulnerable, and him squirming uncomfortably in his tight, restrictive black jeans, Grayson lightly balanced her head on the palm of his hand and manoeuvred her onto the array of plush pillows beside them. As for her arms around his leg; he skilfully replaced the position his leg was in with his arm before wrapping it around her torso and pulling her to his chest. April whined softly, but she failed to stir herself awake- thankfully- and instead clutched tighter onto his arm.

It couldn't have been that long, in their new position- entangled with one another- until Grayson drifted into a slumber that he hadn't experienced in a long while, inhaling the scent of April's freshly washed hair that tickled his nose and cheeks.

But then came the nightmares. The recollections of the topics which Grayson had confessed to Maxwell not too long ago.

Rather than dwelling in the fabrications of the darkest pits of his memories, Grayson dug himself out of that rut and dragged himself back to the present. He'd stopped in his tracks, gaze casted towards the soiled ground. He didn't dare look at April just yet.

When rounding her front, after doing a full circuit around her, Grayson took a risk. Had he not just willingly handed all control over to his wolf, then perhaps he wouldn't have done it. Although, as of right now; Grayson didn't know what would go right and wouldn't. His wolf had the courage that he didn't. Surprisingly, they occasionally worked well together as a team. Probably because they'd grown up with each other- and had learned to tolerate one another's irritable quirks.