Page 53 of Stargazer

The final Gray Knight of the task force—Bleu—seemed to also be holding back a laugh from where he sat at the dining table. He was tall, standing around the same height as Griff, but with longer, leaner muscles that made him appear even taller. The dining chair hardly seemed to contain his limbs with the way he lazily lounged on it. His dark braids hung around his startling green eyes that popped against his flawless brown skin, and his silver nose ring, multiple ear piercings and highly detailed tattoos basically marked him as a member of The Gray Knights. As did the little matching silver rings with sword and cross pendants decorating his braids.

Both these Knight males were positively dangerous and extraordinarily beautiful. And I didn’t think a single one of us females failed to notice.

“Typical.” Kit shook her head at Griffin’s behaviour, but humour danced in her eyes.

“Nice one,” Carter said with a satisfied smirk, and I thanked the gods that the girls were here to help me manage them all. I was surrounded by idiots.

Griff chuckled, casually putting his hands behind his head and leaning back against the armchair, his food forgotten. “They do have some bite to them though. I have to admit, it’s been quite entertaining.”

“Griff, you need to behave,” Billie half-laughed, half-scolded.

“Thank God you’re here,” I directed to my only reliable friend and the responsible one of the group. “Please help me contain him,” I begged.

“I’ll do my best,” Billie promised.

A snort sounded from Griffin’s direction, clearly holding the opinion that she would be unlikely to succeed.

I shot him daggers.

He smirked at me, using his fingers to draw an imaginary cross over his heart. ‘Best behaviour’, he seemed to say. A symbol and reminder of his promise to me.

At that, I relaxed a bit, then added, “He did somehow end up winning them over after battling with the Beta again in a contained environment. I think they somehow have some respect for each other now—not that I fully understand how that happened.”

“Boys will be boys,” Kit declared with a shrug, earning laughs around the room.

We discussed the training that would commence for them tomorrow as well as the patrols, informing the warriors of the offer to train with the wolves whenever they liked, but of course also ensuring them they could use the gym here whenever they wanted.

The rest of the night was a mix of general conversation, firsthand recaps of some of the Knights’ previous missions and a few ideas about how we could spend the next seven days to make the most of our preparations for the first full moon we’d face with the wolves.

I’d texted River to confirm he was fine with all of them coming past the pack house in the morning for introductions, training and a possible strategy meeting, which he promptly ensured me would be a great idea.

When nightfall hit, I silently got into Griffin’s car, ready to make our way back home.

The unnerving quiet after I buckled myself in made me uncomfortable and I was desperate to break it, so after a moment, I spoke into the silence.

“Well, that went well. I’m glad they're all settled.”

It was all my brain could come up with. I needed to say something—anything. As pathetic as that was.

He just smirked at me.

“What?” I asked. Confused by his suspicious smile.

“So only I get the special treatment of staying at the Stone household, huh?” He purred seductively, that gravelly voice never ceasing to do crazy things to my body.

“Don’t make me regret it,” I rolled my eyes, “Just drive.”

He chuckled darkly. “Aye aye, Captain.”

CHAPTER 18

VENUS

Pulling up with four blacked-out Jeeps felt like a scene straight from an action movie. A convoy of squad cars showing up to a large forest manor could only come across as suspicious and foreboding.

I’d be worried about the inevitable looks we’d get from the locals but thankfully the temporary Saint Claire HQ was not far from the pack house and was located in the quieter areas of the town. So only Griff’s sleek black Jeep ambled through the busier streets, and that wasn’t exactly odd in a well-off town like this.

While we were already tasked with an abnormal amount of introductions, I thought it only fitting that Celeste make her debut at the pack house too. With some convincing, she finally agreed, although she did grumble about it on the car ride over, particularly as the pack house neared and she began second-guessing her decision.

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