Mund came up and flanked me on the right. Oh good, I came with my own personal bodyguard. Just what every boy wants in a girlfriend—an over-protective brother. I tried to stifle my hysteria, but a small giggle escaped. They both turned to look at me, only to catch each other’s glances and continue their stare-off.
If I actually had known where I was supposed to go, I would have walked away from them both, but I had no idea where to go. Luckily Beth ran over, smiling.
“Good morning, Ashling!”
“Hi, Beth. How are you?”
“Great! Ask me why!” she said.
“Why?”
She beamed back at me like a child at Winter Solstice. “Clint asked me to the dance!” she said. “I’m so excited . . .” And she was, so much that she hadn’t even noticed my good-looking brother standing next to me, staring at her as if she were possessed.
“That’s great, Beth.” I smiled back, ignoring him. “But what dance?”
“The homecoming dance, of course. I’ve never gone before, but it’s supposed to be awesome,” she said. “You’re coming, right?”
“I have no idea,” I replied.
“Hey, what’s your first class? I have English.”
“I don’t have my schedule yet. Where’s the office?”
“I’ll show you,” Grey said, smiling and taking my hand before Beth could reply.
“Show the way,” Mund said.
“Beth, if I don’t see you before, I’ll see you at lunch. Okay?” I said.
“Definitely!”
I walked across campus with the two most important men in my life. The hostility rolled off them both, but they turned on the charm as soon as we entered the school office. Not stupid, over-protective boys, but charming, good-looking men. The transformation was disturbing. Two middle-aged women sat behind the counter, already being enchanted by their antics.
“What can we help you with this morning, Grey?”
“These are new students, Ashling and Mund Boru,” he said, gesturing toward us. He gently pushed me ahead of Mund.
“Welcome to York Harbor,” she said, placing a stack of papers in front of me. “Here you go, dear. It looks like your first class is with Grey. He can show you the way.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And for you, dear,” she said, turning her attention to Mund. “Here is your schedule. You are in World Events this morning, across the quad. Here is the map, from where we are standing now.”
Grey and I turned to go.
“Oh wait. Grey, you’ll need this pass, so you aren’t tardy.” She handed him a pink slip of paper and turned back to Mund, who wasn’t listening at all. He was watching me. I smiled big, waved, and walked out. I knew I would pay for that later, but right now I was escaping with all my skin still intact.
“What class do we have first?”
Grey glanced down at the schedule. “We are both in English with Ms. Erickson.”
The halls were empty, as classes had already started. The idea of walking in late made my stomach churn. Everyone would notice us and have a long time to stare at me before I could hide. I wasn’t looking forward to that.
“Do we have any other classes together?”
He leaned up against the lockers, looking rebellious, and glanced over our schedules. “Yep, fourth period,” he said, pulling me toward the door. “They’ll hardly even notice us slip in.”
The teacher was already doing introductions when we entered, and everyone stopped and stared at us. The only person I recognized in the class was Lacey sitting in the front of the room. All the other faces were new to me. Grey walked to the teacher and handed her his slip. “Sorry I’m late, Ms. Erickson. The office asked me to show Ashling to class.” I smiled on cue. “Where should I park?” Grey asked.
She looked down at her seating chart. “Grey, you are assigned to the back table, by the window. As for you, Ashling,” she said, turning her attention back to me, “how about you tell us a little about yourself while I decide where to seat you.”
I turned red under the class’s scrutiny. I wanted to die. This was far worse than any execution in all of history. I just wanted to sit down, but my path to freedom was paved by my story, so I quickly summarized. “My name is Ashling. I’m from Ireland. My brother and I moved here this summer to live with our uncle.” Hopefully that was enough information to earn myself a chair.
“Welcome,” Ms. Erickson said with a smile. “Why don’t you take the seat next to Grey at the back table.”
I wanted to run, but that would only make them stare more. I slowly took my seat next to Grey, and the students were forced to turn their attention back to Ms. Erickson. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. One down, six periods to go.
I had my next two classes with Beth and Kelsey, which was a friendly relief. Fourth period was with Grey, as promised, but I wasn’t as lucky this time. I had to sit next to Lacey. At least they were individual desks.
Mund caught up to me at lunch. Grey took his seat at the table, and I tried to sit next to him, but Lacey shoved me out of the way as I started to set my tray down. She took the seat next to Grey.
I wanted to reach over and smash my lunch tray into her face, but I calmly walked around the table to sit across from Grey.
“Grey,” Lacey said, “would you like to take me to the homecoming dance?” She batted her hideously perfect blue eyes at him. I couldn’t believe this was how she was going to play this. She was going to ask him out right in front of my eyes. She was a banshee.
Grey continued looking into my eyes as he answered the pest, “Lace, I’m in the band.” My heart fell. That wasn’t a true no. He was intentionally not answering the question. “Ashling, you’ll be there right?” he asked.
What did that mean? How could I answer? He had doomed me to no date, but if I said no, then Lacey would be there and I wouldn’t. High school was harder than I thought it would be.
“You will, right?” Emma said.
Now I was trapped. “Yep. Sounds fun,” I lied.
“Great!” Emma said.
Mund was openly staring at Grey. Knowing Mund, he was sizing him up, deciding how to fight him. In case the time came. Though I don’t know why he was concentrating so hard. A fight between a wolf and a human—the human didn’t stand a chance.
The bell rang, and we were sent off to our afternoon classes. They went by in a delightful blur, but seventh period was just what I needed, art class with Beth.
High school was painful. How did they do this every day and not die inside? The constant judgment of peers and boring nature of the classes was excruciating. I had no real interest in any of what they taught. Mund and Mother taught me, and I had a tutor for many years. The stuff they were teaching here for juniors was stuff I’d learned when I was ten.
“So you’re dating Grey?” Beth said.
I smiled.
“He never really said much before you showed up. He was incredibly quiet for someone so popular. I mean, he dated Lacey on and off, but he never paid attention to her like he dotes on you. It’s cute.”
I blushed. “Oh . . .” Changing the subject because of all the ears around us, I said, “So this dance thing—what do you wear?”
“We’ll need to go shopping and buy dresses. Not super formal, but semi-formal. Cocktail dresses and suits for homecoming, and gowns and tuxes for prom in the spring. Can you help me pick one out? I’m no good at dresses.”
“Only if you help me,” I said. “We should invite Emma, Kelsey, and Kate.”
“That’d be fantastic.”
“You should mention it to Emma.”
The final bell rang, and we were free. Beth and I darted out of the class, running right into Grey, who had been waiting in the hall. I shivered, whether from impact or the mere sight of him, I wasn’t sure.
“Bike’s parked out the side door,” he said. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins, and my skin tingled with delight.
“Beth, be sure to talk to Emma. H
ow about Saturday?” I waved and ran out the door with Grey.
12
Promises
I yearned for Grey’s touch and wanted so much more. I loved the way he smelled, the mischievous look in his eyes, the little smile that played at his lips. I couldn’t stop kissing him. I had permission to date Grey, but I was certain Mund would be furious that I ran off. But Mund couldn’t contain our love, and it was my life.
Grey drove us deep into the forest down a dirt path worn by his tire tread. He parked in front of a giant old oak tree. It was maimed and misshapen, but to me the old oak was perfect. It was one with the river, fed by it as well as threatened by its power. A beautiful relationship they had taken many years to create, the little details humans never saw. Grey was different. He saw them too.
“My mom used to bring me here. We’d climb up high as we could and hide for hours,” he said.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I don’t know why I keep returning here, but I feel like I’m closer to her,” he said, running his fingers over the gnarled bark.
“Care for a climb?” I asked.
He leapt up onto a branch, farther than a human should be able to jump. I noticed it, but chose to ignore it and carelessly leapt up after him. We climbed up high into the tree. He stopped on a worn branch, and we both lay down, looking up into the sky, with our legs intertwined. Grey was different today—quieter but yet protective and aggressive around Mund.
“Grey, what did you and your father fight about?” I asked.
“He came home angry, and then he found your shoes in my room,” he said. “So he took out his frustration on me. I’m not supposed to bring anyone to the house.”
My face burned bright red. I hoped his father wouldn’t tell Baran. I was already in enough trouble for letting Grey in the house, much less spending the night at his house unsupervised. I wish everyone would just trust us to make the right decisions instead of always assuming the worst.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t mind being in trouble, for you.”
I leaned in to kiss his lips, rubbing mine lightly over his, tempting him to move. He leaned in, but we lost our balance and fell toward the ground. He wrapped his arms protectively around me and tried to grab the passing branches. His hand was being ripped up by the rough bark. I should have been protecting him—he could die from a fall like this.
His hand locked on to a branch twenty-five feet from the ground. His shoulder cracked as it popped out of the joint, but he didn’t cry out in pain. His other arm was wrapped around my waist, and my legs were wrapped around his waist as well. Adrenaline raged through my veins, and I felt myself becoming a part of him. Every part of me wanted more of him.
“Let. Go. Of. My. Sister. . . .” Mund said below us.
“Mund?” I said. I hadn’t realized anyone else was out here. He was a great tracker and unusually quiet, but I was shocked that he found us so quickly.
“Ash, get yourself out of that tree immediately.”
Before I could respond, Grey let go of the branch, dropping us down to the ground with ease. He set me back on my feet, placing a hand on each side of my face, kissing me on the forehead, heating my entire body.
Mund cleared his throat.
“Bye, Grey. See you tomorrow at school,” I said.
I could feel the anger rippling off Mund, and I could smell his fear. I grabbed Mund’s arm, pulling him back down the dirt path. He wouldn’t turn around or take his eyes off Grey. What kind of man-issue was this? Was he threatened? Grey was human, what threat could he pose against Mund, of all creatures? But Mund was more territorial and defensive than I had ever seen him before.
“I’ll be there,” Grey called after me.
The tension between them was unbearable. In the blink of an eye, Mund shoved Grey into the tree with his forearm at Grey’s throat, nearly crushing him. My brother had lost his mind. My lust was replaced by panic.
“I don’t trust you,” Mund said, pushing harder into Grey’s throat. Grey stared back at him, unfazed. “Stay away from my sister.”
“That’s up to her,” Grey said.
“Mund, this isn’t funny,” I said.
“Did you not hear me?” Mund asked.
“Oh, I heard you,” Grey said.
“Mund, come on. Let him go. Mund, please!” I cried, pulling at his arm, but he was stronger than me. Mund released his grip on Grey and took a step back. “Grey, are you okay?” I said, checking for injuries, but Grey stilled my hands and kissed my palm. “It’s okay, love. He was just looking out for you.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.
“Sure thing.”
I didn’t delay getting Mund out of there. I pushed him all the way to the parking lot as he growled. It was dangerous to be that close to an angry werewolf, but I didn’t care about myself—I just wanted them to both be safe. Thankfully, Grey hadn’t tried to fight back. I would figure out what was going on later, then I would kill them both myself.
Once Mund had me on his motorcycle, he ripped through town to add as much distance as he could between me and Grey. Baran looked furious, pacing on the front porch as we pulled in the drive. Mund followed me up the stairs, blocking my exit. I had no choice but to walk toward Baran. He opened the door, but I was afraid to go in. On the porch, they couldn’t kill me, but inside I was a goner. My feet disobeyed my brain and led me in to my execution.
My palms were sweaty with fear, but I was equally mad. “Mund, what the bloody hell was that about? You had no right to behave like that. If Mother would have seen you . . .” I shook my head in disgust.
“Mund, what is this all about?” Baran said.
Mund’s hands shook as he spoke. “I don’t know how, but their souls are binding.”
“He’s human,” Baran said.
“It’s impossible, I know—a werewolf can’t bind with a human, but they are.”
“You must be mistaken,” Baran said.
“It’s not complete yet, but we have to keep them apart. If she binds with him, eventually he will die and she’ll be alone for eternity. No wolf will marry her after her soul is bound to another. Especially a human.”
They talked as if I weren’t even in the room. As if they were deciding the fate of a prized cow for breeding. I could bind with whomever I chose. I loved Grey, and I knew our souls connected. He would age and leave this earth, but a short time with him was worth a lifetime alone.
“There’s something about that kid, Baran. He smells human. But he moves like an animal. I saw him drop eighty-plus feet from a tree with her in his arms, like nothing. He grated his hands on the bark, but when he landed, his hands weren’t bleeding. There was no damage to his skin. And you should have seen the look in his eyes when he kissed her. He was challenging me.”
I looked at my clothes; there should have been blood all over me, but there wasn’t a drop. Mund was right, there was something different about Grey, but it didn’t change the way I felt about him. So what if he was some kind of creature from children’s stories? So was I . . . except I didn’t know what kind of creature Grey was yet.
Baran sat down on the edge of the sofa. “I’ve seen it too. He does things no human can do. The question is, what is he and what do we do about it?”
“Do about what?” I said.
They continued as though I hadn’t said anything.
“The real question is, which parent did he get it from?” Mund asked.
“Yes, that is the real problem,” Baran said. “He could have any number of strengths from her, but without the proper supervision, he could be a threat.”
“What are you two idiots babbling about?” I said.
I slapped my hands over my mouth. I shouldn’t have said that. They glared at me.
“Ashling . . .” Mund said. He was clearly disappointed.
“Don’t you dare scold me, Redmund Boru! I’m not a child. I deserve to know what the bloody hell you’re talking about and why you be
haved so poorly today. He’s my friend. You had no right to attack him. I trusted you.”
They both looked astonished. I was already in trouble, but this time, I was getting my answers. I steadied myself for a fight.
“Ashling, there are things you don’t know and can’t understand about Grey and his mother. That I don’t even fully understand yet,” Baran said.
“Well, maybe I’d understand if you would just tell me what was going on.”
“Ashling, it doesn’t concern you right now,” Baran said.
“Doesn’t concern me? Are you stark raving mad? This is my life you’re discussing. My happiness. My forever! This does very well concern me.”
Baran gave me a dirty look, but I didn’t care anymore.
“My life.”
“May as well tell her, Baran. She’s too stubborn to let it go,” Mund said. “You haven’t seen her angry yet. Trust me. It isn’t pretty.”
“Can she keep it secret?” Baran asked.
Mund nodded.
“Very well. Grey’s mother, Brenna . . . was my sister.”
He waited for it to sink in. I kept my face as calm and plain as I could, but I’m sure my eyes revealed my confusion. Grey’s mother was Baran’s sister, I repeated over and over to myself, but it just didn’t make any sense.
“She was the only other survivor of the attack in Scotland. During the attack, she was raped. She was only eighteen years old. I tried to protect her, but there were too many. Your father and his packs saved our lives. But it was too late—Brenna was pregnant with Willem.
“Knowing the right her attacker had by our laws, that he could claim both her and the child, Brenna hid in the United States while I raised Willem. We saw Brenna from time to time, but I lost touch with her for about two decades. When I finally found her in York Harbor, I was too late—she was already dead.”
Baran continued, “I found her in her human form—dead in the river, decapitated, and all the blood was drained from her body. It was the worst thing I’ve ever endured. She’d fallen in love with a human, Robert Donavan, and I found two-year-old Grey hiding up in a tree. He had her eyes and her mischievous smile. I stayed here in York Harbor to keep an eye on him. I think it is what Brenna would have wanted. I was afraid he’d become a werewolf and have no one to trust, but puberty came and went, and he never changed. He has extraordinary strength, precision, and speed, even advanced healing like a wolf, but he never shifted.”