I stir, smiling as I wake up from a good night's sleep. I go to roll over but realise I'm trapped under a very solid arm.

Grayson.

I smile and gently rub his arm, causing him to stir and curl his arm in, pulling me closer to him. I laugh and wriggle, trying to escape.

Eventually, I break free and shakily head to the bathroom. I come out a few minutes later to find a very worried Grayson sitting upright in the bed.

"Are you okay? Why'd you leave?" he signs, frowning.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just had to use the toilet" I sign back with a small smile as I make my way back to the bed.

He watches me carefully before pulling me back into him. He rests his chin on the top of my head and sighs. I gently push away as I remember the previous night's events.

"We kissed last night" I sign, nervously.

"We did," Grayson replies, grinning.

"I'm sorry. It was wrong, I shouldn't have done it" I sign as all the thoughts of Zane come rushing back. I start to feel dizzy and tears well in my eyes.

Suddenly, I am back in Grayson's arms, his thumb rubbing a gentle pattern into my back.

"Don't be sorry" he signs after I eventually calm down and he lets me go.

"But, but, I kissed you. You're the Alpha and you're in charge and I crossed the line because we only agreed to marking and-" I sign but Grayson grabs my hands before I can finish.

"You can kiss me whenever you want to, Acacia. You're my mate and you can do whatever you want" he signs after a while.

"But you're the Alpha?"

"Yes, but you're my Luna. We are equals, Acacia, and you can do whatever you want because the rules don't apply to you like they do to everyone else. If you were just a normal wolf then yes, kissing me would have been wrong but you're my mate, you can kiss me whenever you feel like it."

I stare at him in shock.

"I'm sorry," I say as tears rush down my face.

"Why princess?" Grayson asks before gently wiping them away.

"Because I forget that you're not him. You're so nice to me and no one in ten years has ever been this nice to me. I'm so in tune with being abused that I expect you to do it too and I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, Acacia. I promise. I understand that it's hard and it will take time but I don't mind. I'll always be here no matter how long it takes."

I nod and watch as he reaches over to the bedside table and grabs the glass of water. I have a few sips before handing him back the glass. He put it back on the table before picking up the little bottle containing my antidote pills, rolling it around in his fingers for a moment, a frown set on his face.

"I'm sorry that they hurt you Acacia" he signs after a while, placing the container back on the bedside table before doing so.

"It's okay," I sign shakily as more memories flood back.

I breathe deeply, trying to calm myself and I feel Grayson's fingers interlock with mine. He smiles and I instantly calm down.

How does he do that?

Eventually, he lets go and without telling me, scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bathroom. He gently sets me down on the sink counter before watching me.

"I figured you might like a bath, but would you like my help?" he signs with a small smile.

"I think I'll be okay today," I reply nervously. He nods emotionlessly and goes to head out before turning back to face me.

"If you need me, I'll be in the guest bathroom down the hall" he signs before heading out the doors and closing them behind him.

Okay, that was weird. He went from warm to emotionless within seconds.

I shrug, hopping down from the counter and turning to look in the mirror. My mouth drops open as I notice the big purple bruise on the side of my neck.

My mark.

Welp, everyone is gonna know he marked me now. I sigh and undress before getting into the bath. I wash my hair and start to clean myself when I brush over the bruises on my arm. Except, they are hardly bruises at all.

They've almost disappeared.

I look down at my lower abdomen and see that the massive bruises have faded considerably too. They are still large and purple but not nearly as bad as they were.

Confused, I quickly finish cleaning myself before getting out and heading to the wardrobe to get changed. I pick out some comfy-looking clothes and put them on before heading out of Grayson's room and towards the guest bathroom.

I go to knock when suddenly the door opens and I come face to face with a half-naked Grayson, wrapped only in a towel. I gulp and nervously back away a little, watching him carefully.

"Are you okay, Princess?" he signs with a worried expression on his face.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"What's up?"

"Well, I was washing myself and I noticed that a lot of my bruises have faded or almost disappeared completely. I don't understand how that happened because the antidote couldn't have worked that fast."

"It will be the mate bond. You're mine and when I marked you, something must've stirred in your wolf, causing you to heal slightly faster."

"Oh, that's cool. And umm, speaking of my mark."

"Yes?"

"It's huge."

"Oh, umm, sorry," Grayson says sheepishly.

"It's okay, I just didn't expect it to be so big" I reply with a small smile.

"Yeeaaahhh, I'm sorry" he signs with a frown.

"Grayson, it's okay" I reply again. He nods before scooping me up and walking me back into his bedroom.

He sets me down on the bed before disappearing to go get dressed.

Within a few minutes, he reappears wearing grey plaid dress pants, with black dress shoes, a black belt and a tight black crew neck t-shirt that shows off his muscular figure.

Oh god. He looks stunning.

I think he noticed me staring at him because he smirks before stalking over and planting a soft kiss on my lips.

Even though I'm caught off guard, my insides still turn to mush.

Within seconds, his lips disappear from mine and he steps back and winks at me.

"I have Alpha duties to attend to this morning, but I figured we could still have breakfast together?" he questions, smiling.

"Sure thing" I reply back with a small smile.

He nods and takes my hand, leading me out of his room and down the stairs.

I close my book and look over at the big grandfather clock standing by the door. Turns out, Grayson's house has its own library so I've spent pretty much the whole day here instead of going to the actual library.

I frown as I realise that it's seven pm.

Still no Grayson.

I place my book neatly on the coffee table in front of me and slowly make my way down the stairs. I eventually get to the kitchen and look around for some food. Frowning, I realise that I'm going to have to cook something. A skill I have not practised since I was a child.

I look through the cupboards again to try and find all the things after deciding that I want to make spaghetti carbonara as it is one of the only things I can remember how to cook.

I manage to find everything and within half an hour, I have two bowls of pasta made. Seeing as Grayson still isn't back yet, I start to eat by myself.

Grayson left on Alpha duties just after breakfast this morning and I haven't seen him since.

At first, I liked having the place to myself but now I'm starting to get worried. I continue to ponder while I eat. I stare at Grayson's bowl for a while before deciding to put it in the microwave for when he gets back.

I then wash up and put everything away. I go to head back upstairs when suddenly Bella is in front of me, having burst through the front door.

"Hi, Acacia" she signs smiling.

"Hi, Bella" I reply, startled.

"I'm sorry if I scared you, Grayson wanted me to come and tell you that he's caught up in something and won't be back till tomorrow morning."

"Oh, okay," I reply, frowning.

"But the good news is that we can have a sleepover and I can get to know you better! If that's okay with you of course?" she asks, grinning.

I nod, smiling and she jumps in excitement before running up and hugging me.

"Yay, I'll just go get my stuff. Gimme five minutes," she says before running out of the house again.

True to her word, she walks back through the door five minutes later, dumping her stuff in the hallway.

"Have you eaten?" I ask her, smiling.

She shakes her head and I grab her hand and lead her into the kitchen. I grab Grayson's bowl of carbonara out of the microwave and hand it to her.

He won't be needing it if he's not coming home until tomorrow.

She grins and begins to scarf down the meal. My jaw drops as I watch her eat with incredible speed.

She finishes a few minutes later and laughs at my expression.

"That was delicious! Thank you Acacia" she signs before getting up and washing her bowl.

"It's okay, it's one of the only things I remember how to cook. I believe it was one of the last things my mother taught me before I was taken."

"That's sweet of her. Well, it was lovely but it looks like imma have to teach you how to cook more things."

"Yes please," I reply smiling.

She grins and puts away her bowl and cutlery before turning to me.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" she signs.

I frown at her.

"Don't worry, I'll put the subtitles on for you."

Ohhhhh, right. I nod, smiling and we make our way into the lounge to watch a movie.

"I see you let Grayson mark you?" Bella signs after putting the movie on.

I nod and blush. "How'd you know?"

"Well for starters, you've got a giant purple bruise on your neck" she signs smirking.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that."

"Right haha. Well apart from that, your scent has changed."

"It has?"

"Yeah. You used to smell of dirt and blood. But you also had a hint of vanilla on your scent."

"Oh."

"Now you smell like Grayson though, so vanilla and musk. But I'm curious, why was there dirt on your scent? I know blood is a common smell for rogues but dirt isn't"

"Umm, my only guess would be from the rogues that kidnapped me, probably? I think vanilla was my old pack's scent and being around the rogues for so long must have added the dirt smell. I'm really not sure though."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," she signs, smiling.

I nod and watch as she nods in the direction of the TV. I turn my head in that direction and see that the movie is starting.

And with that, we settle in for the night.

"When do you think he'll be back?" I sign to Bella.

"I'm not sure" she replies, frowning.

"He said yesterday he was supposed to be back this morning but I guess he's staying longer than planned?"

I nod frowning and look at the time on my phone.

Five pm.

He had told Bella that he wouldn't be home last night either so I'm glad that I had Bella as company but now I'm starting to worry.

We spent the evening watching a movie before I had my medicine and we headed off to bed.

Bella had cooked me breakfast this morning and helped me to run a bath and Beckett came over for a little bit too.

I really like the twins. They tell me cute stories about Grayson and their family and are both really funny.

I snap out of it as Bella gently touches my hand.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon" she signs with a small smile.

I nod and watch her as she walks over to the DVD cabinet.

"Wanna watch another movie?" she asks grinning.

I nod smiling and watch as she looks through the movies. She picks up a box and shows it to me.

"Yes? No?" she signs, raising her eyebrow at me.

"Yeah, sure. Looks interesting". I reply smiling.

She opens the box, takes out the disc and goes to put it in the player when suddenly, it slips out of her hand and falls to the floor.

She turns around and I see all the colour has drained from her face.

My heart starts to ache and my head starts to pound as I feel the colour drain from my own face.

"Grayson's hurt" she signs shakily.

I stare at her in shock.

Suddenly, I grab my chest as a wave of pain shoots through me. I grimace and manage to look up at her.

"It will be the bond. He marked you so you can feel his pain now" she signs before rushing over to me.

Out of nowhere, Beckett appears, looking as stressed as ever.

"What's happening?" I manage to sign before another wave of pain rips through me.

"Grayson's hurt, Acacia."

"Oh god."

"Levi, Grayson's beta wolf, has gone to find him because he's not in our territory yet and he can't make it by himself. Hopefully, he'll find him and bring him back to the hospital because, by the sounds of it, it's really bad" Beckett signs, kneeling in front of me while Bella sits next to me.

Pain shoots through my side and I cry out in pain. Tears started to fall down my cheeks and the twins look at each other.

"What happened? How did he get hurt?" I manage to sign after a while, my heart throbbing while tears still run down my face.

"Hunters. With silver bullets" Beckett signs, the colour draining from his face too.

"Shit."

I know all too well what silver can do to wolves.

"We need to go. Levi found him, they'll be back soon and he's not doing good" Beckett signs before scooping me up and walking to the door, Bella in tow.

Sadly, it's not the same as when I'm in Grayson's arms but Beckett still makes me feel safe.

We make our way to the hospital and walk inside. There is no one to be seen.

Beckett continues to walk down the hall until we make it to the room that I had previously stayed in.

He sets me gently down on the ground but keeps a hand on the small of my back to make sure I don't fall over.

"He's in there," Bella signs, looking at me nervously. I nod and bite my lip.

She gives me a worried glance before pushing open the door and walking in. Beckett and I walk in after her and my mouth drops open as another wave of pain shoots through me.

There, on the bed in front of us, is a very bloody Grayson, having a seizure.

I watch in horror as Teresa struggles to get him to stop convulsing enough for the other doctor, who I haven't met before, to try and get an I.V. drip into his arm.

It's then I notice that Grayson has two bullet wounds that are oozing dark crimson blood, the smell of burning flesh filling the air.

One in his arm and one in his gut.

The silver bullets are still inside him.

Shit.

_____________________________

Hey Guys,

So I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Thanks, for sticking by me through all this and feel free to leave me a comment below letting me know whether you liked this chapter!!

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Thanks,

- Allamy xx