Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Five
Graham caught Catherine as her body finally succumbed to exhaustion. He swung her legs up so he could cradle her fully against his chest. He looked down at the dismembered head of the man who thought to take her away from him. Lucas kicked the head and then held his hands up as if he scored a goal.
“What is that?” Graham asked.
Lucas held up the cut off paw in question. A wicked grin spread across his face. “Marty’s left paw. It’s a gift for Juno.” Lucas shrugged and swung the paw around. “I thought it could be lucky. You know, like a rabbit’s foot. Do you think she’ll like it?”
Graham started to say no but then stopped himself. He shook his head. “Goddess, I hope not cause that would mean having three deranged people in my life and I don’t think I could handle a third.”
“Who’s the second?”
“Hey guys! Oh, cooooool, dismembered head,” Theo beamed as he raced up next to him. Graham laughed and Lucas joined in.
“Ohhh, I see,” Lucas joked.
“What?” Theo asked, looking around.
“Speaking of deranged people, do you want to explain how Dane got here?” Graham asked, turning to Lucas. Now that the fighting was over and his men were rounding up the stragglers, there was time to get answers.
Lucas shrugged and kicked a few pebbles with his toes. “Turns out the idea of being alpha sucks less than the idea of losing Catherine.”
Graham wasn’t sure what to say. “We can find a way to get you out of it.”
Lucas smirked and patted Graham on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Man. Juno will make a great Luna.”
“If she decides to be with you,” Theo rationalized.
Lucas’ expression fell. “But I have a wolf’s foot for luck,” he said, holding his trophy up for emphasis.
Theo’s jaw dropped. “What the hell are you doing with…”
“Beta Graham,” Elliot’s beta said, coming up behind him. “We have everyone within Gerald and Dominic’s pack subdued. They’re getting ready for transport. Gerald himself fled but when he was cornered he decided to end his own life rather than face justice.”
“Pity.” “Shame.” Lucas and Theo said at the same time.
“Curtis’ body has been recovered and we are currently searching the tunnels for Morgan. When we were in the house we found two people claiming to be Catherine’s parents? We took them into custody for you to deal with. As for former Beta Stuart…” He kicked Stuart’s boot making him squirm in the wolfsbane drenched restraints he had been placed. “He’s hog-tied for your pleasure.”
“Thank you,” Graham said with a nod. “How many have we lost on our side?”
The lycan beta shrugged. “We’re still tallying the numbers. Looks like their numbers are far greater though.”
Graham looked down at Catherine’s misleading face of contentment. She would blame herself for every life lost on both sides. The darkness within her was practically nonexistent until he and Dominic brought it out in her. While things seemed settled now, the ramifications of these events wouldn’t fully present themselves until years in the future. With her in his arms, he couldn’t say he cared.
“What about Julia?” Theo asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
The beta scratched the back of his neck. “We found Muriel’s body. It was mutilated with the words ‘here lies a beloved father.’ As for Julia though…”
“Keep looking,” Lucas demanded.
Elliot’s beta gave a nod before rushing off.
“Wow, that was very alpha like of you,” Theo joked.
Lucas shrugged and brushed fake lint off his shoulder. “It just comes naturally to some, Theo. Something you’ll never understand.”
“Graham,” Henry called. Graham turned and the expression on Jensen’s guard’s face told him everything he needed to know. Henry bobbed his head in the direction of what was once forest but now looked like the aftermath of a tornado. “It’s Jensen. You need to come quick.”
Graham didn’t even consider putting Catherine down. Instead, he sprinted after Henry. While he ran, he couldn’t help but gawk at what his mate had managed to do with the energy she stored for three days. Every tree had been laid flat as if it were no more than a toothpick. He remembered the pain on the faces of every warrior. How her eyes glowed and stared out as if not seeing. He remembered her sneer when she thrust out more energy over everyone and knew she wasn’t in control. He hoped to never see her like that again.
They arrived at the clearing where he’d managed to surprise Dominic… and where Jensen had stepped in front of a bullet for him. Jensen laid propped up on a few blankets. Blood coated most of his chest and soaked into the ground around him. His skin was pale and the ink coating nearly every inch of his body was losing color. A silver bullet wasn’t always fatal. There were only two places that would effectively kill a lycan: the head and the heart. This bullet found its target… It just ended up in the wrong chest.
Elliot sat by Jensen’s head while Dane stood over him with his arms crossed. Graham reluctantly handed Catherine over to Theo so that he could sit down beside Jensen.
“Alpha,” Graham began, an odd hoarseness to his voice.
Jensen slowly opened his eyes and licked his lips. “Grey…” Jensen coughed. “Is she
“I got her. She’s okay,”
“Dom-Dominic?”
“Dead.”
Jensen closed his eyes and nodded. “The biggest mistake of my life was not cheating how and has mother Roberta.. I love Rebecca and…”
“I know,” Graham interrupted. He took his alpha’s hand and agreed. “I know what you mean, “
“Good.” Jensen’s eyes shot open and he tried to sit up “Sunt & groomsaud But.. A jomam olieaped his are to his chest and fell back.
“Stuart is still alive. What would you like to do with ham?*
“I promised Rebecca I wouldn’t…. I told her I wouldn’t let ham die…. I hada 1 Egurrid out what t… du, he explained.
Graham nodded, “I’ll figure something out.”
“I know,” Jensen said with a nod, “I was always so jealous of him… your father” fensen opened his eyes and they were glistening with unshed tears. “He had the perfect son.”
“He would be jealous that you have the perfect daughter, Graham tried to joke. Jensen chuckled but it ended with a fit of coughs. Elliot gripped Graham’s shoulder, telling him there wasn’t much time left.
“Tell Rebecca I’m sorry,” Jensen demanded. “Tell her I loved her as if she were my fated. She needs to know that. She needs to know it’s the truth.” Graham nodded and tightened his hold on Jensen’s slackening hand. “Tell Catherine how I wish… I wish I were different and that I’ll do my best to keep watching over her.”
“I’ll tell them. Don’t worry.”
Jenson nodded and his eyes closed again. Graham looked up at Elliot who gave a sad nod. Graham sat back on his heels. He went to stand when Jensen’s hand shot out and grabbed Graham’s wrist with the same strength he used to spar with. His blue and brown eyes, so much like his daughters, stared upward with determination.
“He was right,” jensen said. Graham’s brow furrowed in confusion. “If I could do it all over again, I’d choose her. Don’t make the same mistake as us, Graham Choose her. Above all else.”
Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Five
Graham stared down at his alpha in disbelief. Disbelief in hearing the echo of his father’s last words. Disbelief in how the life in the alpha’s eyes slowly
dimmed until he stared up at him with no life at all. Graham fell forward. He clasped their hands together and placed his forehead against Jensen’s.
“I vow to you that I will.”
Surrendering to Destiny
