Willow came rushing over. “What’s going on? What the hell did he mean, he’s not going to hurt you? Should I call the police?”
“No, it’s okay, Willow.” She glanced over her shoulder. Through the two-inch gap in the lounge door, she saw Grayson pull Luna into an embrace. Her heart turned to mush. She returned her attention to Willow. “Luna went missing,” she explained. “She showed up here, so I had to call Grayson. She travelled on her own.”
“Is Luna okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine.”
“It still doesn’t explain why Grayson said that.”
Jamie sighed. She couldn’t tell her it was because the last time she’d seen Grayson he’d been a wolf. “I… I think I might have made a mistake about Grayson…”
Her concerned friend regarded her. “You told me he broke your trust, and what about this marriage of convenience stuff?”
“After something Luna said, I’m not sure he did say those things now.” She rubbed her face. “Oh God, I’ve made a mess of everything, but I have to at least try to sort it out.”
“Are you sure, Jamie?”
She nodded. “I love him.”
Willow smiled. “Then go get your giant of a man. Send Luna over to mine. I’ll look after her while you two talk.”
“Thanks, Willow. You’re a true friend.”
Jamie closed the door and went into her lounge. Grayson and Luna stopped talking when she entered.
Grayson leapt up, as though he shouldn’t be sitting on her sofa. “Thank you so much for ringing me, and for keeping Luna safe.” Spoken politely, like he was addressing clients at a business meeting. “We were about to go. Come on, Luna.”
Luna frowned. “But you said you wanted Jamie b—”
He cut her off. “Luna, enough! We’re going.”
Jamie stepped in front of Grayson. “Not so fast.” She pressed her hand against the wall of his chest, acting all brave and confrontational when inside her belly was doing somersaults. “I have something to say to you.”
Grayson looked at her hand on his chest, then slowly moved his gaze upwards until he met hers. His chest expanded and stayed there, as though he was holding his breath.
Jamie dropped her hand, the heat emanating from his muscular body sending tingly signals between her legs. Signals she could not allow herself to succumb to until she’d said her piece.
She turned to Luna. “Would you mind popping over to Willow’s? She said she wanted to see you.” She threw Grayson a defiant look, lest he object to her subtle attempt to be alone with him.
“Oh, I get it,” Luna replied with a grin. “You two need to talk. Alone.”
Jamie suppressed a smirk. Maybe she hadn’t been so subtle after all.
Grayson tilted his head. “Go on, Luna. I’ll be over soon.”
Not if she had anything to do with it.
Luna gave Jamie a wink and skipped off towards Willow’s, taking Cujo with her.
She faced Grayson, blinking like some dumb bimbo. Now she could speak freely, she had no idea how to start.
Grayson glanced at the pile of tissues and her discarded engagement ring on the side table. “Have you been crying?”
She almost tutted in frustration. She would have thought it was pretty obvious with her puffy eyes. “Yes, I’ve been crying.”
His broad shoulders dipped. “I’m so sorry, Jamie. For everything. I never wanted you to see me like that… that monster.”
“Monster?” She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“When I morphed into my wolf last night. You have to understand you were never in any danger, but I know how terrifying it must have looked. I don’t blame you for leaving. I was a fool to think you would want any part of that.”
She tried to process. He thought she left because she was scared of him as his wolf? Nothing was further from the truth. Jamie shook her head. “I didn’t leave because of your wolf.”
“What…?” His bear-like hands trembled.
“To tell the truth, I was kind of in awe when I saw you shift.” And a little aroused. She focused. “I left because of what Imogen said.”
“I thought…” Grayson shook his head, as though he couldn’t believe what she was saying. His jaw tightened. “What did Imogen say to you? Tell me everything, Jamie.”
“First of all, she said you expected me to become a wolf like you.”
“Hell, no! I would never, never want you to become like me. Besides, it’s forbidden for a werewolf to bite a human.”
“I didn’t know that.” Something else he hadn’t mentioned. She let it slide in favour of more pressing matters—it wasn’t as if she had any desire to become a werewolf. “Anyway, it was when Luna said she was half wolf, I put two and two together. I realised Imogen might not be telling the truth about anything she said. Why didn’t you tell me Piper was human?”
“Didn’t I? I thought I had.” He blew out a breath and scrubbed his face. “What else did Imogen say? I asked her, but she refused to tell me.”
“She said you wanted a marriage of convenience and a mother for Luna, and that was the only reason you asked me to marry you.” Tears threatened. “She told me you’d even discussed your plans with her.” Her voice broke. Everything depended on his answer.
Grayson’s jaw dropped. He perched on the edge of the sofa, shaking his head. “None of it is true, Jamie, I swear it with all my heart. Yes, I did tell Imogen those things, but it was to get her off my back. She’s a jealous, conniving bitch and I wish I’d never met her.”
Her knees buckled. She sat on the sofa next to him.
Silence echoed around the lounge.
He turned to face her. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that bullshit, but why would you believe her?” The hurt in his eyes seared right through her. “How could you even think I would do something like that to you?”
He was right. She couldn’t fathom it either. “I’m sorry too, Grayson. I shouldn’t have listened to her. I should have known she was lying, but I panicked and went into self-preservation mode. It was like everything that happened on my wedding day was happening again. I put my trust in you and I thought you’d let me down.”
“I would never let you down. You have to believe me.”
She did. “That’s why I left the gathering, not because you turned into your wolf. I know you had no choice when you shifted to sort out that fight. It’s part of your duty as alpha and I accept that.”
He took her hand and stroked his thumb over her ring finger. “I’m not alpha anymore, or I won’t be soon,” he told her. “Xander has proved himself worthy and I’m going to hand the title over to him. I’ll be an everyday werewolf.” His voice was husky and emotional. “Who’s totally in love with a beautiful human being.”
Her heart sang. “I don’t care if you’re an alpha or not, Grayson. I love you and your wolf.”
He reached over and picked up the sapphire engagement ring. “Jamie, will you wear this ring again?”
Happy tears welled in her eyes. “Yes.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, brought her hand to his lips and administered a light kiss on her knuckles like a medieval suitor. Grayson gave her a wicked smile and her stomach did a backflip.
She giggled. “That was very chivalrous, but get over here and give me a proper kiss, my gorgeous wolf man.”
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
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ABOUT ABBEY MACMUNN
Abbey MacMunn writes contemporary, paranormal and erotic romances. She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband and their four children.
When she’s not writing, she likes to watch films and TV shows – anything from rom-coms to superheroes to science fiction movies.
Ab
bey is a proud member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Find Abbey Online:
Website: http://abbeymacmunn.com
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Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/MacMunn_Abbey
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Dating a Werewolf Page 11