Moon Dancer - Hidden Wolf 1

Ares

Grayson snores softly from on top of my chest. I hold her closely to me, my arms locked around her small body. Occasionally, she twitches and her breath hitches, and I tighten my arms around her and send soothing down our bond.

When the link had suddenly given out earlier, I swear my heart stopped. Having it wrenched from me was the worst feeling I had ever experienced. I hadn't known if she was okay or not.

I nuzzle my nose into her hair and take a deep breath. Nothing calmed me like Grayson's scent. Which I found kind of frightening. I had only ever let three people in my life see the real me. Let them see all of my rough edges and shortcomings. And now with Gray in my arms, I found it hard to breathe. Air struggled to get in my lungs as I looked down at this small wolf, knowing that I would do anything to keep her safe and make her happy. What would happen if I opened up to her? I can't imagine she would accept me. We were so different.

Jagger stirs from the chair across the room.

He sleepily lifts up his head and gives me a knowing look. "You two are the two peas in a pod of you ask me."

I startle, causing Gray to snort at the abrupt shift. I look back down at her, bringing a hand to smooth her hair.

Looking back to Jagger, I scowl at him. "What are you talking about?"

He just smiles sleepily and lowers his head again. Jagger was curled in a ball on the chair, as he had been since I took over watching Gray. He refused to leave the room.

I sigh at his stubbornness. "Come to bed."

Jagger opens one eye. "Miss me?"

I roll my eyes. "There's room for you. And maybe being next to her will calm your nerves some."

Jagger sits up and stretches his arms above his head. "If you insist."

The blackout curtains had been drawn for the whole day, and the room was already set in darkness as the sun set in the sky.

Jagger crawls into bed beside me, and delicately wraps an arm and Grayson as he nestled in.

"This little wolf is ours." He yawns. "I'm not letting anything take her from me."

Something in my chest glows with his statement. But there was still that dark smidge at the pit of my stomach. If only I could feel as confident as he did.

Jagger peeks one eye at me. "Just let go. Whatever's bothering you, just let it go. Be in the moment. Easy."

I roll my eyes. "It's not that easy for me."

"I know." He smiles and closes his eye.

I let out a breath of air. "Asshole."

Jagger's smile grows.

-

By the time Gray is fluttering her eyes open, Jagger has had at least a couple more hours of sleep. A groan slips past my mate's lips as she stretches.

Jagger had left the room a few minutes ago to continue patrolling. We usually patrolled every morning, but with all the chaos, we weren't able to. So now we were catching up with it. Finn had volunteered to take the South for me.

I was eternally grateful for how my pack was supporting me right now. If they weren't doing everything they can to keep me by Gray's side, I might be a little worse for wear. They could tell that my choices earlier were riding me with guilt.

When the four of them had taken my bedroom, I was angry.

I was so completely angry at myself at how I had reacted.