Page 58 of Forsaken Fate

And Theo. The accusation in his eyes tore at me, but it’s what he did next that gutted me. He had straightened his back and brushed past me, never saying a word. His wolf eyes flashed pure silver. Did he hate me that much already? I had the urge to stop him. Beg him to let me explain. But what are you supposed to do when ninety percent of what people say about you is the truth?

The hunt lasted for hours. Grayson had told me to stay inside and out of sight when the shifters started to come back. They were sated, but still wild. They set up camp all through the woods. They would be out in force tomorrow for the marking ceremony.

Grayson came back first. Ragged. Drunk with borrowed magic.

I walked past Diana’s bedroom door. Grayson lay face down across the mattress. Passed out again. If I left now, I could be halfway to California before he even woke up. I walked into the room and stood over him.

Grayson.

He was as much a victim of Diana’s as I had been. If he grew up someday, if he stopped blaming everyone else for his own shortcomings, if he stopped believing how special his mother told him he was ... he might have a chance. I could pity him, almost. In another lifetime, under different circumstances, maybe we could have even been friends.

“I’m sorry, I guess,” I said as I stood at the edge of the bed. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, too, Grayson.”

I turned to walk away. His fingers closed around my wrist and squeezed. I stumbled as my heart raced and he pulled me back as he rose from the bed.

“My Brynna,” Grayson said. His head weaved as he righted himself; his eyes were red rimmed and unfocused. He kept a death grip on my wrist and my fingers started to tingle. Drunk as he was, he still had shifter strength. I twisted my arm to try to loosen his grip but he held on, finally drawing me down until I sat in his lap. Grayson reeked of dark magic.

“I want you. I don’t want to wait anymore,” he said as his head snapped back. He tried to focus and failed. He pawed at my shirt. I’d changed into a plain white t-shirt and jeans. Brynna’s clothes again.

“Grayson,” I said, trying to stand. He held me firmly. “I do!”

“Mine,” he said, moving in to kiss me. “You’re mine. They were all looking at you tonight. Did you see that? Every Alpha in the state. Theo too. Don’t think I don’t see it, Brynna. He wants to fuck you, did you know that?”

My heart beat a furious pace behind my rib cage. Grayson had to feel it too. He crushed his lips against me.

“Theo, Theo, Theo!” Grayson said. Mercifully, he pulled away but he didn’t let me off his lap. “I should let him watch. We should have him over here and I should fuck you loud and with the door open because you’re MINE!”

“Grayson,” I said. Every alarm in my body went off. He was bigger, he was stronger. He could hurt me.

Grayson stood. He let go of my arm for a split second and I lunged away, meaning to run for the door. In his condition, he would pass out again any second. He had to. But he was still quick enough to grab me by the waist before I took two steps. Grayson picked me up and threw me to the bed in a heap. He landed on top of me and caged my head with his hands. I was pinned under the weight of him, barely able to breathe. His whiskey-laced breath came hot in my face.

“My Brynna,” he said. “I’m going to give you everything, you know that. Sexiest bitch I’ve ever seen and you’re mine.”

“Grayson,” I struggled beneath him. Thank God, he rolled to the side, letting me up.

“Fuckers!” He yelled it at the top of his lungs, and I winced. “Didn’t even show up. Sent a fucking card.”

“Who?” I said, trying desperately to distract him.

“A card signed by his secretary!” Grayson put his forehead down on the mattress and his muscles went slack. It lasted for just a second though and he reared his head again.

“Fucking Padgett!”

Padgett. Padgett?

“Abraham Padgett!” Grayson heaved himself off the bed and staggered backward until he hit the wall and sank down to his knees.

My arms were numb, my chest ached but I managed to get myself off the bed. I inched my way toward the door, hoping to make it there before he lunged at me again. I stepped back, out of his line of sight. His head bobbed as he stared straight ahead.

“He has no idea what I know. He thinks his secrets died when my mom did. I’ll bury him, Brynna. In the ground.”

Grayson did make a lunge for me, but I stepped back. He crawled forward, his eyes finding me again, filled with hate. He shimmered between wolf and man, not able to fully control either.

“What secrets?” Anything to take the focus off me.

Grayson laughed and brought himself up so he rested his weight on his ankles.

“He’d be in a fae hell dimension if it weren’t for us. Not just my mother ...” Grayson thumped his chest.

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