Broken Loyalty

Seven

~Grace~

Grace felt the soft mattress under her body. Her senses were on overdrive as Lucas licked, kissed, and sucked on her neck. She gripped his arm and fought to keep the moan in that threatened to break free. Goosebumps broke out across her skin as she let out a shuttering breath.

Lucas' fingers grazed feather light across the skin of her stomach, and she fought back the urge to arch her back into his touch. His warm breath fanned across her face and she shivered. Reaching her hands around him, Grace ran her hands over his muscled back and smiled.

"Fuck, baby," Lucas groaned, "I can't wait to be buried deep inside you."

Grace froze. His words poured over her like a bucket of ice water. She moved her hands to his chest and pushed with all her might. What was she thinking? She wasn't ready for this and didn't plan on going through with it just to make Lucas happy.

"Get off," she whispered.

Lucas stilled over her before his hand slid down to her thigh, pulling it up and wrapping her leg around him. She could feel the bulge in his pants and swallow hard. He grunted before he pushed into her jean-clad opening and slid against her. Grace gasped at the friction, her hands gripping tightly against his chest.

"L-Lucas, please, stop."

Lucas let out a low growl and resumed his slow pace. Grace could feel her mind going foggy as warmth exploded throughout her body, the heat radiating from her core. Grace closed her eyes and let out a small gasp as Lucas applied more pressure.

Grace was vaguely aware of his wandering hands. She stiffened when he released the button of her jeans and began to slide his hands under the waistband of her lace panties. Gripping his wrist, she stopped his wandering hand from descending any further.

"No," she squeaked.

Lucas pulled back, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at her. "No?" He chuckled darkly, "what makes you think you have the right to deny me, Little Mate?"

"Please, Lucas. I don't want this." Grace sucked in a deep breath and said, "I'm not ready for it."

Grace stared up at him, begging him with her eyes not to do this to her. She had always thought that her first time would be with someone she loved, or at the very least, with someone she figured she could eventually fall for. Neither of which she thought was in her future with Lucas. She watched as he pulled himself away from her and ran an angry hand through his hair.

"Get out."

Eyes widening Grace sat there, unsure of what to do.

"I didn't stutter," he said through gritted teeth, "get out."

Stumbling to her feet, Grace rushed out of the bedroom. Fixing the button on her jeans and straightening her shirt, she glanced up and down the long empty hallway. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she let her feet carry her towards the sound of voices.

Making her way down the stairs, Grace listened in on the conversation.

"She looked so tiny."

"Maybe that's why he doesn't want to introduce her as our Alpha female. Do you think he is ashamed of choosing such a weak-looking mate?" The speaker laughed.

"I doubt it. You saw him. He looked ready to kill any male who looked at her when he walked in carrying her."

"He's an Alpha." The speaker let out an exasperated sigh. "They are possessive by nature. Their wolves are connected now so of course, he is going to react that way."

"I still think he made a mistake."

Grace couldn't listen anymore and quietly stepped around the corner and into the kitchen.

"Will you two stop?" a distinctly different voice shouted. "She is probably a sweet girl, and even if Alpha doesn't plan on introducing her, you still need to show her some respect."

Grace was shocked; that last part was said with a growl. Clearing her throat, she watched as three separate heads turned in her direction. Two faces held looks of shock at the possibility of being overheard, while the last speaker's face held a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Grace. My name is Beth."

Grace looked at the woman's bright smile and equally bright red hair that was held in a high ponytail. She reached out and took her outstretched hand before giving her a weak smile.

"Nice to meet you, Beth."

Beth gestured toward a seat before quickly placing a sandwich in front of her. "Eat, you must be starving."

Grace nodded and a blush covered her cheeks as her stomach chose that moment to let out a loud, unladylike growl.

Grace watched as Beth turned her face to the other two girls when they snorted, a scowl marring her face.

"Don't you two need to be somewhere? Like helping with some of the chores? Now." Beth snapped.

Grace watched in amazement as the two grumbled before heading out of the kitchen.

"Wow. How?"

Beth smiled, "my mate is Lucas' Beta. It gives me a bit of pull around here, but other than that, they both know I can kick their asses without breaking a sweat."

Grace nodded before taking a bite of her food.

"Not everybody shares the same thoughts that those two bimbos have. They are just a bit jealous. They were hoping they were in the running to be Alpha female." Flinging her hands in the air, Beth continued. "Honestly, I don't know what Lucas ever saw in either of them. They are more worried about gossip and who slept with whom. I just don't get it. Andy, that's my mate, isn't innocent in the slightest. He slept around, but at least he kept it with females that weren't expecting anything in return."

Grace watched as the redhead continued with her rant. She fought to hold in the giggle that was threatening to escape. She liked Beth, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind and put the lower-ranking wolves in their place if need be. That was something that Grace never had to deal with. Thomas prided himself and their pack on waiting until after the Mate Gathering when they found their mate. He wasn't stupid though, he knew that was an unenforceable rule. Therefore, he made sure to let the pack members know that if they were planning to mess around, the other participant could not be a packmate.

"Well?" Beth asked.

"Uh," Grace paused. Had Beth asked her a question?

Beth let out a snort, "that mind-blowing, huh? I asked about you and Lucas. How you met when you both realized the other was it." Beth paused, her eyes darting towards the mark on Grace's neck. "When and how he claimed you." Beth wiggled her eyebrows.

Silence followed, and Grace became increasingly uncomfortable. How was she supposed to tell her that Lucas didn't choose her because of some type of connection between them, but that it was out of revenge? How could she explain that there was no romance when he claimed her? The first time she met him was up on the stage in front of hundreds of wolves.

A silent tear slid down her cheek, and when she looked into Beth's eyes, all she saw was confusion.

"Did your family not like the match? I'm sure that if they get to know him, they will realize Lucas is an amazing Alpha and will make you an equally amazing mate."

Grace sat in silence. Beth thought highly of her Alpha and she didn't think she could bring herself to tell her the unhappy truth.

"Come on Grace, you can tell me. We she-wolves need to stick together. I'm your friend, or at least I hope we can be friends. You can tell me everything. Please." Beth begged, reaching out and placing her hand on top of Grace's.

Taking a deep breath, Grace let it out slowly. Before she could stop herself, she began recounting the events of the Mate Gathering from the moment she arrived until she fell asleep in the truck. Grace watched as Beth's face transformed from one of excitement to one of concern, shock, and then pure fury.

"That son of a bitch!" Beth shrieked.