Page 19 of Griffen's Mate

Chapter 6

Hope

Hope sat in the car, staring at the gates of the military compound. For the last two weeks Griffen had been training her. Their sessions were hard and exhausting, always ending with her letting nature heal her. She was one with nature when she let her Enewu part out, and when she had no energy left to move, she was all Enewu. Many times she had wanted to give up and stop, but every time she woke from her rejuvenating sleep, Griffen came to her, showered her with kisses, and they made love, which helped her to want to learn more when he rewarded her with such satisfaction.

She was now ready to join in the training with the other women. She wouldn’t be at the same level as them as she’d just started, but she would be training with Nara and some of the other women who’d only just begun learning. Faith helped teach some of the lessons, and Hope was interested in seeing her in action and not just a vision.

Visions.Her lips curled up, and she couldn’t help the smile. She hadn’t had any daytime visions. She’d had some dreams which she knew were visions, but nothing like what she’d had before. She had a life, and from what she’d seen, and what Griffen had told her, Faith had one too. Hope was proud of herself for helping the prophecy come true.

None of that was why she stared at the gates, apprehensive about going inside them. It had to do with showing more people what she was. Humans. The military. She knew what they did to things that they didn’t understand. She’d seen in visions how they shot and threw explosives at the demons, not knowing that it had the opposite effect of what they were going for and fueled the demons, giving them more energy and strength. That had been one of the reasons why the demons were willing to stay and destroy Earth; they liked the destruction the humans made.

“You have nothing to be scared of.” Griffen squeezed her hand, and Hope darted her gaze from the gates to him. “I can’t get over how quickly you pick things up. You’re becoming a remarkable opponent. I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to show how well you’re doing.”

“That’s not what has me nervous. I’m scared of what will happen when I show the men what I am and can do.”

Griffen leaned over and pressed buttons on a pad and then talked into a mic, and the gates opened. He turned back to her. “Trust me. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. If they tried, they’d have to go through me.”

He drove through the gates, seeming confident that he’d soothed her fears. Hope trusted Griffen, and she believed what he said, but it was other people she didn’t trust, and she didn’t want to be responsible for Griffen getting hurt.

Griffen parked his car next to a bunch of others and got out, but she stayed inside, still unsure of what she was about to do. Her door open, and Griffen held out his hand. She undid her seatbelt and stared at the extended hand for a moment before she placed her hand in his and he helped her out of the car and shut the door. She trailed behind Griffen, his fingers threaded through hers, as he guided her along.

Hope could hear the yelling and noise of the men, and she reminded herself that she was helping Griffen and he would protect her and she trusted him. They entered a large building, and Hope was assaulted with the smell of human sweat. Her senses had been as good as shifters, but when she gave some of her power to Faith she lost some of them. However, her senses were still stronger than that of a human. When she’d been with the demons her abilities had come in handy, helping her feel the moods and sense what had happened before she’d been summoned. It had also been a hindrance as she could smell the unwashed body of the demons and the captives. Right now, the smells weren’t pleasant. She wrinkled her nose and moved close to Griffen so she could focus on his scent.

Hope almost felt like she jumped out of her skin when she heard a chuckle and a deep voice at her side. “Cute. I guess you can smell as good as we shifters can.” She realized she was looking at Grayson, Nara’s mate, and knew she had lost her human skin and gone her rainbow translucent. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Remy is right, you’re awesome.”

Raising a brow, Hope waited to see if he said more, like why he thought he wouldn’t like agreeing with Remy.

“Don’t look at me like that. Remy already has a big head.” He shook his head, but the huge grin on his face was unmistakable. “She’s a whole lot of fun, but damn, I’m glad Nara is my mate and not her, because Remy is a handful.”

Hope nodded in understanding, because she had heard of Remy’s adventures, and she had seen her in action, both in visions and when she’d been there herself. Remy had been one of her first real friends though, so Hope adored her, and she was so happy Remy had found her family, even if her mother was different than Remy wanted her to be. Hope knew Remy was ecstatic at having a sister and loved Nara.

“I love Remy. She’s a lot of fun,” Hope said.

“Oh, trust me, she’s something.” He sighed. “I know Nara hasn’t had the easiest life, but Remy gives her way too much advice and takes her places I’d rather she not.”

They entered a room with a bunch of men in the leather pants and tops that helped to protect from the demons’ blood. They were working out on machines. Hope realized that since Grayson had arrived he’d distracted her from her worrying. She was calmer now that she was thinking of her friends.

Griffen let go of her hand, but his arm slid around her waist and brought her next to him. “Attention,” he yelled. The men all gave him their focus and stood straight. “You are all in for a treat. My mate is going to show you something that will give you a glimpse of what you will be up against. Mind you, the demons are no way as cool as my mate. They rely mostly on their strength and use their body as a weapon. Move. I want you all outside.”

Griffen turned and led Hope toward a set of doors. He opened them, and with his arm still around her waist, he guided her outside. The ground was concrete, but as Hope looked around she saw grass, trees, and a couple of obstacle courses. Other groups of men were in the middle of completing them. Devlin and Jamie, Griffen’s brothers, stood by some, and Logan and Rane stood by watching another.

Kane strolled toward them, and her stomach sank and she shrank against Griffen. She still wasn’t comfortable in Kane’s presence even though she knew he was happy with her for the power she’d given to Faith.

“If she’s ready, I’ll go gather all the new recruits,” Kane said. “Faith should be here soon. She’s eager to kick one of their arses, to show how bad arse she is.” He groaned. “Those are her words, not mine.” He was grinning, and it had her straightening and some of her anxiety leaving.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Hope spoke up, although she wasn’t sure if she told the truth.

Griffen had sure put her through her paces. She would kill him if he taught her any more. Well, when she gained some of her energy back she would. Thank nature for its healing qualities. She still hesitated though, because she wasn’t sure if she was ready to show other people what she was. She didn’t know if she would ever be ready to do what she was about to do.

Griffen tightened his hold on her waist and leaned down and kissed her ears. She shivered in pleasure. He knew her ears were sensitive.

“Not now. You know what that does to me,” she said. His chuckle had her body heating, and she groaned. “Stop, or I won’t be able to do this. It’s not the same as showing shifters I’m different. Humans kill what they don’t know.”

“I’d never let the humans hurt you.” Griffen kissed her neck, and she leaned back against him. “She’s ready.”

She nodded her head at Griffen’s statement.

“Good. I’ll gather them,” Kane said before he marched off to get everyone.

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