Dating a Werewolf

by Abbey MacMunn

Grayson answered the phone. “Alice, what’s up?”

  The colour drained from his face as he listened. Fear swept across his handsome features, bringing on an odd sensation of nausea on her side.

  “I’ll be right there,” he said into the receiver, his voice strained, on edge.

  He shoved his phone back into his pocket and began to throw the food back into the hamper.

  They hadn’t even taken a bite, but it didn’t matter; Grayson was clearly unfocused as he frantically lobbed plates and cutlery into the picnic hamper.

  “What’s happened?” she asked.

  “It’s Luna. She’s missing.”

  Her stomach lurched.

  “I have to find her. I have to… Oh God, what if she’s hurt…?” He swallowed. “What if she tried to follow us and fell in a ditch somewhere?” His damp hair tumbled across his face as he chucked yet more food into the basket.

  “Grayson, stop!” She grabbed his arm. “Look at me.”

  Finally, he paused long enough to meet her gaze.

  “Leave the picnic. It’s not important.” She cupped his angular jaw, tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “We’ll find Luna. Together.”

  Chapter Nine

  Grayson stilled, fraught with worry over his daughter. He couldn’t bear to think of her hurt, her body broken and bloody.

  Pain twisted in his gut.

  Jamie’s words hung in the air between them. ‘We’ll find Luna. Together.’

  Rain trickled down her porcelain cheeks as she looked at him, her huge eyes brimming with concern. Concern for his daughter, whom she hardly knew, but it was as though Jamie was sharing his pain, easing his anxiety, if only a fraction. The knots in his shoulders unravelled a little.

  Together.

  Somehow, he believed her. He couldn’t even begin to analyse what her kiss had done to him. Made his heart beat faster for one, but it had blown his mind and done something to his soul too. What that meant, he had no idea. It was something magical and beautiful, that much was certain, but what if he allowed it to go further?

  What if he lost control of his wolf?

  He had to focus on one problem at a time. Namely, Luna. “Ever since I lost Piper, I have this fear that I’ll lose Luna too.” Grayson slammed the lid on the picnic hamper and stood. “It eats me up inside sometimes.”

  Jamie stood too, tugging at the picnic blanket beneath his feet. “Let’s get back to the manor and we can start searching for her.” He stepped off the blanket and she shoved it into the basket. “For all we know, she could be burrowed away in the library, or studying somewhere. She did seem overly enthusiastic when Alice said her tutor was coming.”

  He frowned. He’d thought that too.

  Jamie picked up Cujo, who’d decided to join them after spending most of his time by the edge of the clearing. “If we run, we can get there faster.” She didn’t wait for his answer as she sped off towards the woods.

  Grayson picked up the basket and followed, easily catching up with her in a few seconds.

  He overtook her, the need to find his daughter paramount. He skirted a tree and glanced behind. Jamie was running full pelt, but she couldn’t keep up with him. He knew these woods blindfolded, and knew a shortcut too, but it was steep and treacherous, especially in this rain. He’d get to the manor a hell of a lot sooner if he shifted. His surefooted wolf agreed, but what about Jamie?

  He stopped to let her catch up.

  Jamie lost her footing and slipped on the mud, her legs flying in the air as she fell backwards, still managing to hold Cujo.

  He raced back to pick her up. “Are you okay?”

  She refused his help and scrambled to her feet, her cheeks crimson. “Yep, all good. I’m slowing you down, aren’t I?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “It’s not. If you want to go wolf and run off ahead, I’m sure you’ll get there faster than me and Cujo.”

  Could she read his mind, and his wolf’s too?

  But to wolf out in front of her could frighten her, and there was no way he was going to jeopardise what was happening between them—whatever that might be—especially since she seemed to be warming to him in ways he’d only fantasised about up until now. “No, I won’t leave you, Jamie.” A sudden thought struck him. Turning his back to her, he said, “Hop on. I’ll give you a piggyback—”

  “Carry me?” she interrupted. “You have to be kidding.”

  “I can run fast. We’ll get back to the manor in half the time.”

  She regarded him for a moment. Rain plastered her hair to her head and her dark eyelashes glistened with raindrops. Slowly, the corner of her mouth curved. “Okay, I’ll do it for Luna.” She climbed on his back like a monkey, Cujo tucked safely under her arm. “Not for you to re-enact a scene from Twilight.” Her breath tickled his neck as she clung to him, her thighs wrapped around his waist, the heat between her legs pressing against the small of his back.

  He inhaled, trying to focus as he weaved through the trees. “I’m no vampire, Jamie.” No, he was a hot-blooded werewolf who yearned for a mate.

  “Good, because I prefer werewolves myself.” She nuzzled into his neck. “I might even get a sweatshirt made with Team Grayson on it—once we’ve found Luna, of course.”

  Grayson stumbled on a loose tree root. How the hell could he concentrate on finding his daughter when she was giving off all kinds of signals?

  A sudden rustling from a thicket to his left focused his wayward thoughts.

  He dropped the picnic basket and froze.

  Jamie’s grip tightened around his neck. “What is it?” she whispered.

  “I heard something… Wait…” He sniffed the damp air. Equal amounts of anger and relief flooded his system as he caught a scent.

  Luna.

  His daughter climbed out of the thicket, leaves in her hair and mud smeared on her face.

  Jamie slipped down his back. “Luna! Thank goodness you’re okay.”

  Grayson raced to his daughter. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Luna’s expression showed nothing but innocence, infuriating him more.

  “I followed you. I wanted to have a picnic with you and Jamie.”

  He shook her shoulders. “Have you any idea how worried I was?” He hated that he had to shout at her. “I’m confiscating your iPad for two months. Do you hear me? Two whole months.” Of course she heard him, he was yelling.

  Her iPad was how she spent most of her time, watching Willow’s makeup tutorials, among other things, like funny voice-overs with animals.

  “I thought you’d be happy, Dad.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I practised my tracking skills like you showed me, stayed downwind and everything so you couldn’t pick up my scent.”

  Jamie’s shoulder brushed his arm as she came to stand beside him. “Two months is a little harsh, Grayson. Don’t be too mad at Luna. She’s safe, that’s all that matters.”

  She held his hand and he wanted to shove it away, but something stopped him. He glowered at her instead.

  No one ever questioned how he disciplined his daughter, not even Alice, and yet as Jamie stood shivering in the rain, her cold hand in his, her elfin jaw set in a defiant tilt, he knew she was right. Two months was a little extreme.

  His whole body reacted with a jolt. What a woman. At last he’d found someone brave enough to stand up to him, to challenge him, and he liked it.

  Grayson looked to his daughter and shook his head in despair, his heart melting at her ingenuity, albeit misplaced and disobedient. He’d taught her well. He hadn’t once picked up her scent. “I’m sorry I shouted at you, Luna.” His face cracked into a smile, his concerns washing away with the downpour. He picked up his darling girl and clung to her like he never wanted to let go. “You’ll be the death of me, little pup, you know that?”

  Luna returned his embrace, and all was right with the world.

  After a few moments, not long enough, Luna wriggled free. She stroked Cujo, still tucked under Jamie�
�s arm. “Aww, poor Cujo, he’s shivering. Can I hold him to keep him warm?”

  Jamie gave her dog to Luna. “He’s soaked, too. We all are. How about we get back to the manor and dry off?”

  “Sounds like a great idea. I’ll text Alice first to let her know Luna is okay,” said Grayson. “I’m sorry the picnic got ruined.”

  “It might not be ruined.” She looped her arm around Luna’s shoulders and walked along the track that led back to the manor. “Come on,” she called back at him. “I have an idea.”

  He followed—why wouldn’t he?

  They reached Beckett Hall in less than twenty minutes, but they were all soaked to the skin.

  Alice came hobbling out of the manor, her expression full of relief when she saw Luna. “Where were you, you naughty pup? You had me so worried I couldn’t think straight. Your tutor’s gone home, and he wasn’t happy, I can tell you.”

  “Sorry, Auntie Alice.”

  Alice flapped her arms. “I’m just glad you’re all right. Now come on in and we’ll get you dry, and Jamie too, the poor woman looks frozen to the bone.”

  Alice was right. Jamie was human and they were more susceptible to the elements, but the cold and rain never bothered him, or Luna either, thanks to the wolf half of her genes.

  Some perfect date this turned out to be—not. The downpour hadn’t helped, and neither had the drama with Luna. He wouldn’t be surprised if Jamie insisted he took her home right away.

  “I’ve lit the fire in the lounge, and I’ll bring some towels and a hairdryer,” Alice continued, “Then I’ll boil some milk for hot chocolates all round.”

  Jamie smiled. “That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Alice.”

  Maybe she didn’t want to go home after all.

  Grayson took Luna and Jamie into the manor.

  “Hold it right there, you lot!” Alice yelled. “Get those muddy shoes off. You too, Jamie.” She winked at her. “I’m not having my lovely clean floor ruined, thank you very much.”

  Jamie’s smile widened. “Yes, ma’am.” She slipped off her shoes and placed them neatly on the mat by the front door. Luna put Cujo down and did the same.

  Alice grinned. “Oh, you cheeky scamp. I’m going to like you, Jamie, better than that awful gold-digger, Imogen, with her bleached hair and fake fingernails.”

  Grayson toed off his boots and left them on the mat too. He threw Alice a glare as they all headed towards the lounge, little Cujo following behind them.

  His aunt smiled sweetly then scuttled off to grab the towels. He placed the ruined picnic by the lounge door.

  Jamie made her way straight to the roaring fire and rubbed her hands in front of it.

  Alice soon reappeared, carrying towels and a hairdryer. Grayson handed Jamie and Luna a towel before taking one for himself.

  “Thanks.” Jamie rubbed the ends of her dripping hair, the glow from the fire picking up honey-coloured highlights in the tresses.

  He slipped off his sodden T-shirt, threw the soaking garment on the sofa and dried himself with the towel.

  “Grayson, what have I told you about putting wet clothes on the sofa?” Alice scolded him like he was a child again. “It’ll stain the fabric.”

  Jamie stopped dabbing her hair. Her cheeks reddened as she gawped at him. She snapped her mouth shut, much to his amusement. He’d merely removed his top to dry off quicker, but if he’d have known it would have caused such a reaction, he might have done it sooner. He had a sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss her until she gasped for air.

  Grayson reprimanded himself; Luna was here.

  He yearned to make Jamie his, but he had to be careful—it had to be on her terms or nothing. If she was willing to consider entering a relationship with a dangerous werewolf, then he’d happily oblige, but he would not force anything on her that she didn’t want.

  “If you’re trying to impress me with all those bulging muscles, Mr Beckett, it’s not working.” The mischievous smile that graced her lips implied the opposite.

  He suppressed a smirk. How did he get so lucky to find a woman like her? Who would have thought he’d fall for another human, like his dear wife Piper?

  “You can take yours off too if you like.” He offered Jamie a cheeky wink.

  “Dad!” Luna exclaimed, her eyes wide.

  He feigned innocence. “What? Wolves have no place for modesty; we get used to being naked when we shift.”

  Jamie’s cheeks turned crimson, to his delight. “Well, I’m not a wolf, so I’ll pass, thanks.”

  Grayson chuckled.

  She squared her slight shoulders and walked over to the picnic basket. “So, I had this idea that we could have our picnic inside. What do you think, Luna, would you like to join us? And you too, Alice.” She lifted the hamper and brought it in front of the fire.

  Luna clapped her hands. “That’s a brilliant idea, isn’t it, Dad?”

  He grinned. How could he refuse?

  Jamie got down on her knees and took out the blanket. “It’s soaked. Do you have another blanket?”

  “We could use this.” Grayson fetched a throw from one of the sofas.

  She laid it on the carpet and undid her wet hoodie.

  “Let me hang that up for you, Jamie,” said Alice, picking up his soaking tee from the sofa too. “I’ll go and make the hot chocolates, but I’m not sitting on the floor. With my hips, I’ll never get up again.”

  Jamie laughed. “Okay, you can sit on the chair.” She patted the throw beside her. “Luna, sit next to me. Some of the food’s got a bit damp, but an indoor picnic is fun. I used to do this sort of thing with my dad when I was a kid.”

  Grayson stared at Jamie, hardly believing how amazing she was. If Imogen were here, she would have thrown the entire picnic in the dustbin, and insisted he take her to an expensive restaurant to make up for ruining her day. Not that Imogen would have never agreed to a simple picnic in the first place.

  He banished all thoughts of the vile she-wolf from his mind and sat cross-legged on the other side of Jamie. Cujo jumped on his lap and he patted the dog dry with his towel.

  Jamie served up the food and Alice returned with four mugs of steaming hot chocolate. “Perfect, thanks, Alice.”

  And it was perfect. Jamie was perfect.

  The four of them tucked into the delicious food. Five, if he counted Cujo, who after finishing the titbits Grayson fed to him, had settled down, lying half on his leg and half on the throw, and was now asleep.

  When they’d finished, Jamie smoothed her hair. “Is your hair still wet, Luna? Mine is.”

  She nodded.

  “Would you like me to dry it? I’m a dab hand with the hairdryer.”

  Luna’s face lit up. Grayson had never been any good at doing his daughter’s hair, despite trying his best. Alice managed to get Luna’s thick hair in a ponytail, but that was all, and his daughter was always going on about having different styles.

  “Hair I can do,” Jamie went on. “Not makeup though, hence the orange face when I first came here.”

  Grayson grinned. “I never noticed,” he said to be polite.

  “Liar.” She grinned back. “I looked like an Oompa Loompa. In my defence, I didn’t do it. Willow was practising with some new foundations and I forgot I was wearing it.”

  “Can you make my hair straight like yours, Jamie? I’d love to have straight hair but mine goes frizzy most of the time.”

  “You have lovely curls, Luna, you just have to know how to dry it the right way. Do you have a round hairbrush?”

  “I have a set of brushes upstairs, but I don’t know how to use them.” Luna leapt up. “I’ll get them. Won’t be a sec.”

  “I think you’re about to make a little girl very happy, Jamie,” he said.

  “She’s not that little. She’s turning into a young lady. Luna wants to grow up—you can see it in her face.”

  Yet again she challenged him with how he saw fit to bring up his daughter.

  “Don’t worry, I
won’t make her look like one of those dreadful beauty pageant kids.”

  Somehow, he knew she wouldn’t.

  Chapter Ten

  Luna skipped back into the lounge, her arms full of hairbrushes and makeup bags.

  Jamie chuckled. What have I let myself in for?

  The girl sat in front of her on the throw and they rummaged through the bags together. Jamie found a suitable brush, plugged in the hairdryer, then used them to style Luna’s hair, smoothing the frizz into soft, bouncy curls.

  When it was dry, Jamie brushed it through and asked, “Would you like me to put some plaits in it? I think your hair would look really pretty if we do a half-up, half-down style.”

  “Ooh, yes, please. I’ve tried to plait it myself, but I can’t do it. Dad tries, but he’s rubbish at doing my hair.”

  “And what about me?” asked Alice from her chair by the fire.

  “You do brilliant ponytails, Auntie Alice.” She whispered to Jamie. “She can’t do plaits either.”

  “Okay, plaits it is.” She got to work styling Luna’s gorgeous thick hair, so like her dad’s. The girl talked non-stop, but Jamie found it oddly relaxing.

  Grayson watched them for a while, then went over to a side table and brought out a sketchpad and pencils. He sat on the floor, leant his back against the sofa and began to draw something.

  “There, all done,” she said, securing the last plait with a hairband.

  Luna fetched a hand mirror from one of the makeup bags and admired her hair. She gasped. “I love it, Jamie; thank you!” She threw her arms around Jamie, the move so fast they both lost their balance and landed on the floor in a fit of giggles.

  Grayson laughed too, the sound a deep rumble somewhere in his chest.

  “I’m glad you like it, Luna. Thanks for staying so still.” She sat back up.

  “Can you teach me how to do plaits, please?”

  “I’m not sure if I can. It’s difficult to explain. I need to show you.”

  Luna leapt up, her eyes alight with mischief as she grabbed a brush and stood by her dad. “You can show me on Dad’s hair.” She brushed his long hair. “You won’t mind if Jamie plaits your hair, will you, Dad?”