Page 27

Six months of demon-free peace should feel like a victory. A win. But here I am, sitting in yet another meeting, and the restless energy in the room is almost enough to set my teeth on edge.

The discussion has already dragged on for over an hour. Despite Gray’s repeated attempts to keep things on track, the conversation keeps circling the same arguments. Should we stay, or should we go? Should we risk bringing more witches into the fold, or uproot the packs in the area and start over somewhere else?

I lean back in my chair, tuning out Damien’s booming voice as he goes on about the risks of staying put. Again. For someone who’s been an alpha as long as he has, you’d think he’d have more creative solutions.

“What do you think, Jaslyn?” Alec’s voice cuts through my thoughts, dragging me back to the present. “You’ve been quiet.”

I tilt my head, letting his question hang for a second while the room falls silent. All eyes are on me now, and I can practically feel Gray’s gaze burning into the side of my face. I keep my expression neutral, refusing to let them see how much the attention bothers me.

“I think that we’re all dancing around the real issue,” I finally say.

“And what’s that?” Damien asks, clearly unimpressed.

“That no matter where we go or how many witches we bring in, we’re always going to be a target as long as supernatural energy is involved. Shifters. Witches. We’re like a damn buffet to anything drawn to that kind of power.”

“Then we should leave,” Damien snaps. “Find somewhere remote, cut ourselves off—”

“And what?” I interrupt. “Spend the rest of our lives running? Waiting for the next threat to find us? Because it will. Maybe not demons, but something else. It always does.”

The room falls quiet again, and tension is thick enough to choke on. Gray shifts in his chair beside me. I can tell he’s biting back whatever he wants to say. Good. Let me finish.

“There’s another option,” I continue, sitting up straighter. “One that doesn’t involve running or isolation. But it’s not going to be easy.”

Alec raises a brow, his interest clearly piqued. “I’m listening.”

I take a deep breath, glancing at Gray before turning back to the room. “Malcolm.”

The name lands like a bomb. Damien’s lips curl in disgust, Jade’s eyes narrow, and even Theo stiffens beside Gray. No one likes talking about him, let alone entertaining anything that might involve him. But this isn’t about liking it.

“Malcolm is running a slave system,” I say, forcing the words out. “We all know it. And we all know he’s been hoarding witches for years—training them, using them. Who knows how many are under his control or how strong they are?”

“What are you suggesting?” Jade asks cautiously.

“I’m suggesting we take him down,” I reply bluntly. “Topple his entire operation, free the witches he’s enslaved, and bring them here.”

Damien scoffs. “That’s a suicide mission. Malcolm’s forces are huge. His influence—”

“Is built on fear and lies,” I snap. “We’ve dealt with worse. Hell, we’ve dealt with demons. Are you telling me Malcolm scares you more than that?”

Damien’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue.

“Think about it,” I press. “If we can free those witches, give them a choice—help them rebuild their lives—we’re not just strengthening our defenses. We’re making it clear that no one gets to exploit people like that without consequences.”

“And what happens if those witches don’t want to join us?” Theo asks.

“Then we let them go,” I say simply. “This isn’t about forcing anyone to do anything. It’s about giving them a chance and a choice. Two things Malcolm never gave them.”

The room falls silent again, and I let my gaze sweep over the gathered leaders. Damien looks unconvinced, but Alec seems thoughtful. Jade and Isadora exchange a glance. Their silent communication is something I’ve grown used to over the past few months. Finally, it’s Gray who breaks the silence.

“She’s right,” he states. “Running won’t solve anything. And bringing in more witches without addressing Malcolm’s influence is like patching a dam with duct tape. It won’t hold.”

Damien snorts. “And you think marching into Malcolm’s territory will?”

“I think it’s better than sitting here arguing about the same damn things every few weeks,” Gray retorts. “We’ve been playing defense for too long. It’s time we took the fight to him.”

The room buzzes with uneasy whispers. Alec leans back in his chair with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Bold move, Gray. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

Gray’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he turns to me, his blue eyes meeting mine with a quiet intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.

“You’re serious about this,” he says, not a question but a statement.

“Dead serious,” I reply. “Malcolm’s been a problem for years. We all know it. But no one’s been willing to do anything about it because we’re too busy worrying about our own problems. It’s time that changed.”

“And you think our packs can lead that charge?” Damien asks, his tone skeptical.

“I think our packs are already leading it,” I shoot back. “We’ve faced demons, sealed a portal, and come out stronger for it. If anyone can take down Malcolm, it’s us.”

Damien doesn’t respond, but the tension in his shoulders eases slightly. Alec, on the other hand, looks downright amused.

“Well,” he says, standing and stretching his arms overhead. “This should be interesting.”

Jade shoots him a glare, but he ignores it, turning his attention back to me. “If you’re serious about this, Jaslyn, you’ll have my support. But I hope you’ve got a plan, because this isn’t going to be pretty.”

“I wouldn’t expect it to be,” I reply, standing as well. “But I’ve spent my whole life dealing with ugly things. What’s one more?”

The meeting wraps up shortly after that, and I let out a slow breath as the alphas and witches begin filing out of the room. Alec claps me on the shoulder as he passes, muttering something about how much fun this is going to be, while Damien offers a curt nod before disappearing through the door.

Gray lingers beside me as he watches the others leave. When we’re finally alone, he turns to me with a faint smile.

“Bold move,” he says, echoing Alec’s words.

“You’re not mad?” I ask, raising a brow.

“Mad?” He chuckles, shaking his head. “No. Proud, maybe. Impressed, definitely. But not mad.”

“Good. Because I’m not backing down from this, Gray. Not for you, not for anyone.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he replies. “And I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way.”

His words send a thrill through me. I can see the determination in his eyes, the same drive that fuels my own, and I know without a doubt that we can do this. Together.

He reaches out, resting a hand on my hip and pulling me closer. “Hungry?”

“You mean emotionally drained and plotting Malcolm’s downfall didn’t count as dinner?”

He smirks. “Not quite. Come on.”

I follow him out of the hall, my curiosity piqued as he leads me toward the forest. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

We walk in companionable silence. The moon is high overhead, casting just enough light to guide our way. The trees part as we reach a small field, and I stop short at the sight in front of me.

A blanket is spread out on the soft grass, surrounded by glowing lanterns that send a warm, golden light over the scene. A wicker basket sits in the center of the blanket, and beside it, a bottle of wine and two glasses gleam invitingly. The entire setup is simple, but it’s perfect. Intimate and romantic in a way that makes my chest ache.

“Gray,” I whisper, turning to him.

He shrugs and rubs the back of his neck. “I figured we could both use a break. Just us.”

A smile tugs at my lips, and I shake my head. “You’ve been holding out on me. I didn’t know you were capable of this level of charm.”

“Stick around,” he says, his voice dropping to a low, teasing rumble. “I might surprise you.”

I settle onto the blanket as he pours the wine and hands me a glass before sitting beside me. The basket is packed with an assortment of fruits, cheeses, and crackers, along with what looks suspiciously like a batch of cookies he baked himself. I raise a brow at the sight, and he chuckles.

“Don’t look so skeptical,” he jokes, nudging the basket toward me. “You’ve eaten my cookies before.”

“Once,” I remind him, reaching for one. “And I’ll admit, they were good. But if these are subpar, I reserve the right to mock you.”

“Deal.”

We spend the next hour talking and laughing. For once, there’s no urgency, no looming threat. Just the two of us and the quiet of the night. Every now and then, I catch him looking at me—really looking at me—and it sends a pleasant shiver down my spine.

At one point, I lean back on my elbows and let out a contented sigh. “You know, this is dangerous territory, Gray.”

He turns to me, his brow furrowing. “How so?”

“You’re setting the bar ridiculously high. How are you going to top this next time?”

His lips curve into a slow, wicked smile. “Who says I have to top it?”

“Are you implying this is a one-time thing?”

“I’m implying that you should appreciate the effort I put into this before demanding an encore.”

“Effort appreciated,” I reply, my voice softening as his face inches closer to mine. “But I might still demand an encore.”

His laughter is warm, low, and entirely too tempting. “You’re impossible.”

“You like it,” I shoot back.

“I do,” he admits. “More than you know.”

My heart stutters in my chest as he leans in. His mouth brushes against mine, sending sparks shooting across my skin. When his tongue darts out, coaxing my lips apart, I melt against him, letting him deepen the kiss.

My pulse races, and the scent of pine and smoke surrounds me. I shift closer, pressing my body against his, and he groans. The sound is enough to make my stomach clench, and suddenly, I can feel the desire coursing through me.

I break away, breathless. My cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are glassy as I meet his gaze. He stares back at me, his expression a mix of adoration and need, and I trail my fingers down his shirt, savoring the feel of his muscles underneath the fabric. When I push against him, urging him to lie back, he lets out a low chuckle.

He follows my lead, lying back on the blanket with his hands behind his head. His blue eyes sparkle in the lantern light as I climb on top of him, straddling his waist.

He reaches up, tangling a hand in my hair, and pulls me down to kiss him. I lean into it, losing myself in the heat of his mouth and the feel of his body beneath mine. He breaks the kiss, nipping at my lower lip, and I whimper.

As he drags his mouth across my jaw, down the column of my throat, I tilt my head back, giving him access to every inch of bare skin. His hands slip up the hem of my dress, teasing and tormenting as his fingers ghost over my thighs.

I grind my hips against him, feeling his hard length press against my core. I let out a soft moan, and he growls. The sound is so primal, so animal, that it makes my knees weak.

It takes everything in me to pull away, but the look in his eye when I sink down between his legs makes the effort worthwhile.

I unbutton his jeans, taking my time and enjoying each new inch of exposed skin. As his pants slide down, his erection springs free. I wrap a hand around the thick base, stroking slowly.

He hisses in a breath, his abs tightening. I lean down, swirling my tongue around the head of his cock. His hips buck involuntarily, and I grin.

I love seeing him lose control.

I take him in my mouth, teasing him with my tongue and lips until he moans. His fingers tangle in my hair, and his breathing grows ragged as I move faster, taking him deeper. My tongue swirls around the base, and his grip tightens.

He tastes like salt and smoke, and his scent is so intoxicating that it makes my head spin. I suck harder, picking up the pace, and his moans become low, desperate groans.

When he pulls at my arms, urging me up, I release him with a soft pop. He reaches down, dragging my dress over my head before tossing it aside. The night air is cool against my heated skin, but Gray is hot and firm as I sink back onto his lap.

His eyes burn into mine as he trails a finger across the edge of my bra. The simple touch is enough to send shivers rippling across my skin. He cups my breast, squeezing lightly, and my nipples harden beneath the lace.

With his free hand, he reaches around and unclasps the garment, freeing me. His gaze is intense as he takes in the sight of my naked chest. His thumb brushes across one nipple, making me gasp.

He grins, the expression somewhere between wicked and tender, and then his mouth is on mine again. He kisses me fiercely, hungrily, and I can feel his restraint slipping. His hand travels lower, down my stomach and across the curve of my hip. His fingers dance along the edge of my panties, and the anticipation is almost too much.

When he finally slides them down, I lift my hips, letting him remove the final barrier between us. When I hover my entrance over his cock, he groans.

He slides his hands down to grip my waist, steadying me. I can feel the tip of him pressed against me, hot and hard and ready. When he tilts his hips up, filling me in one long stroke, I cry out.

The feeling is indescribable.

His length stretches me, filling me completely. My toes curl as I bounce on him, riding him faster and faster as he cups my breasts and teases my nipples. His teeth graze my collarbone, and his stubble scratches against the sensitive skin of my neck.

He grips my waist, lifting and lowering me in time with his thrusts. The friction is exquisite. It only takes a few moments before my whole body starts to tense. My orgasm builds, hot and fast, and I grind down on him, chasing it.

He leans forward, sucking a nipple into his mouth, and the combination of sensations is enough to send me spiraling over the edge. I throw my head back, crying out his name.

He thrusts into me once, twice, and then his whole body shudders. His grip on my waist tightens as his cock pulses inside me. I lean forward, collapsing onto his chest as the aftershocks of pleasure wash over us.

He wraps his arms around me, holding me close. Our hearts beat in tandem, and the moonlight bathes us in its cool glow. For a moment, everything is perfect.

I could stay here forever.

*****

THE END