Page 18 of Griffen's Mate

Hope wanted children of her own. She wanted Griffen’s children badly. She couldn’t wait to see what their children would look like and what abilities they would have. She could be pregnant now. She gasped as she realized that. Griffen had broken through her barrier, and she knew for her people the barrier was what was kept in place until you wanted children. Her heart beat faster and she stopped walking and closed her eyes to concentrate on keeping herself looking human as happiness flowed through her. She could be just like her new friends and have a family of her own.

Soft, gentle fingers touched her arm, and Kirby’s sweet voice interrupted her concentration. “Are you okay, Hope? Can I help you, or do you need me to get you help?”

Smiling at her friend, a giddy feeling came over her as she realized all she now had. “I’m fine. No, I’m better than fine, I’m ecstatic. So happy. I have more than I could have ever dreamed of.”

Kirby’s smile brightened, and Hope beamed at her.

“Come on, you two,” Remy yelled at them. “I’m starving.”

Both she and Kirby giggled as they caught up to the group of women, because all Remy and Ava did lately was eat. If Hope didn’t know better, she would think Remy was having more than one baby too.

* * * *

Glaring at Griffen, Hope debated killing him in his sleep. She now slept in the same bed with him, and she loved cuddling up to him. She slept like a log every night, because he exhausted her. If he said ‘let’s try that one more time’ or ‘this time put a little more oomph into it’ or ‘this is for your own safety, and we’re not stopping until you get it’ one more time, she would kill him.

She ached, and every muscle protested each movement. She was an Enewu and wasn’t made for combat. She knew why her people were happy to remain peaceful and didn’t put up a fight when the demons came. For the last couple of weeks Griffen had been teaching her self-defense moves and some basic fighting skills. He taught her how to swim too, but he was a lot less aggressive with that.

“No more. I’m done,” she puffed out and dropped the sword. She knew she was her natural skin as she just didn’t have the energy to keep up a human appearance. She didn’t even think she could hide right now, she was dead on her sore feet.

“Let’s just try that move one more time. Pick up the sword.”

She did her best growl and glared at him, trying to burn him with her scathing look. He pouted, and she couldn’t even drum up an ounce of care for how hot he looked.

“I’m taking you to the base tomorrow, and I want you confident in your skills.”

Plonking down in the grass in the backyard, Hope laid back and ignored him, hoping he would get the message and leave her alone. When he hovered above her with his hands held out like he was going to help her up, she groaned and turned to her side.

“Griffen, no more. I’m done.” Hope closed her eyes, ignored the werewolf still hovering over her, and let nature surround her as she let herself be.

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