Chapter 38

~Grace~

Life at the Black Lycan clan with Alex had been great. Every day felt like I was on vacation. I no longer had a crushing weight on my conscience of Liam bearing down on my every second of living.

I blocked him on my phone, just for good measure. I didn’t know if he would try to reach out to me, but it was stress I didn’t need. I had closed that chapter in my life and I was starting a new one.

Alex and I had been going out every day, call them dates or just an outing, but every one was filled with fun and adventure.

I honestly didn’t even know Alex could have fun. Sometimes Enzo would tag along, but I could tell he didn’t really want to be there, I think Alex just doesn't know how to interact with me sometimes.

It was cute.

Most nights I wouldn’t even sleep in my own bed anymore, spending most of my nights under the covers with Alex.

Tonight was one of those nights.

We had stayed up late telling stories about the worst people we had ever encountered when the mood shifted. Every night since the night I had gone into heat, we just so happened to find ourselves in the same bedroom at the same time every night.

I think we both chased the high from that event, and I wasn’t about to slow down one bit. This had been the most fun I’d had in years.

Alex’s shirt was already on the floor, and my pants were somewhere lost in the tangle of sheets.

His burning body pressed against mine as I ran my fingers through his hair, moaning into his mouth.

Everything about him turned me on, from the taste of his mouth to his heavy breathing to the firmness of his back.

I let out a sharp breath as he threw me down onto the bed, his eyes hungry with desire. I grinned back, challenging him. I wanted to test him, wanted to see how frustrated I could make him before he’d snap.

“That’s no way to treat a lady,” I said in mock disappointment, turning my head away from him as he tried to kiss me.

He growled under his breath, frustrated at not getting what he wanted.

“You didn’t complain last night,” he grumbled, and I blushed.

He’s right, he was always right. He always knew how to twist me around his finger better than I ever could with him.

“Well tonight is a different night. I want to be treated like a lady.”

He sat up, running his hand through his bangs, huffing. “And how is a lady treated?”

I gave him a mischievous smile as I moved my face close to his.

“A lady should be treated with respect and delicacy.”

He laughed deeply, grabbing my chin, tilting my head up at him. “If that’s what you desire, my lady.”

I blushed at his quick obedience. I hadn’t actually thought he’d play along!

“Alright, well… you may kiss me. Just once, though,” I told him, trying to act nonchalant.

He chuckled, but suddenly I saw him wince.

“What’s wrong?” I began, and he shoved me away suddenly, knocking me to the ground. I let out a small cry, hitting hard against the floor.

What kind of ladylike treatment was this?

I could hear him making strange sounds on the bed, and I scooted back toward the door, nervously trying to get a better look.

I knew this wasn’t just an act, something was seriously wrong.

He twitched and hunched forward, grabbing the sides of his head. My eyes widened as I watched fur sprout through his skin.

He was shifting! And it looked involuntary, too!

My heart froze. When a lycan shifted like that, it was never good. They can shift freely into their wolf form whenever they wanted, but at the risk of going feral.

A lycan can go feral without shifting, though, and forced shifts are usually a sign of that.

Fear struck me, and I quickly scrambled to my feet. I did not want to be in the room with a feral version of the most feared creature in the world.

I wouldn’t stand a chance!

Running down the hall in a panic, I ran right into Enzo’s arms, who caught me with surprise at my frantic state.

“Grace? Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” He started, his brown eyes full of worry.

Hurt me? Why would Enzo think Alex would hurt me? Unless he knew-

“No- no- what? No, he’s- Alex has gone feral!” I get out, panting, feeling my body shake with fright. He could burst through the door right now, and neither of us could stop him.

I trembled more, and Enzo pulled me in close.

“Don’t worry Grace, I’ll go to him,” he reassured me, and for some reason, that only made me feel worse.

Although Enzo was Alex’s Beta and he was plenty strong, he’d never be strong enough to take on Alex. I’d seen him fight, he was like a beast unleashed.

I cautiously followed Enzo down the hall, where I heard tearing and scratching inside of Alex’s room. It sounded like he was throwing things around, too.

“Stay here,” Enzo told me firmly, and I did. He wouldn’t have to tell me twice, I didn’t want to have to go in there with him.

Enzo slipped inside, shutting the door after him. After a moment of more banging and scratching, it suddenly stopped.

I heard the door click and it swung open. Enzo had Alex’s lycan form somehow… tamed?

Alex’s head rested on Enzo’s lap with closed eyes and short, quick breaths as Enzo pet behind his ears and muttered something under his breath.

“Wow…” I breathed at the sight. To tame a feral lycan…

“He does this every year,” Enzo said, and his voice sounded so sad. I looked at him, nervous to step any further into the room. Even though Alex was subdued for now, I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t suddenly go into a frenzy.

But what did he mean every year? It seemed like Enzo knew exactly what he was doing, he knew how to soothe Alex… and when I ran into him in the hallway… was that because he was on his way here already?

“Alex… he lost his family on this day, many years ago,” Enzo continued, his voice soft, as if he did not want to disturb Alex.

Oh my god! I clasped my hand to my heart in sympathy. I had also lost my parents, so I knew how that felt.

“I’m so sorry-” I began, but Enzo looked at me with something I could only describe as regret.

“His family… they were killed by werewolves. He goes feral every year on their death anniversary.”

I was stunned. That was truly a tragic case… but by werewolves? No wonder the clan hated me. But why didn’t Alex?

I turned my head, as if trying to get a better look at Alex.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and I gasped, falling back. Alex locked eyes with me, and just for a moment, it felt like he… saw me. There was recognition there. Maybe he wasn’t feral after all.

However, with a quick, strong motion, Alex leaped out of Enzo’s arms, and jumped right at me, his claws outstretched.