Chapter 64

~Grace~

“You’re beautiful,” Alex whispered into my neck, and I shivered.

It was a little cold in the hotel room. There weren’t many options to choose from, and we ended up staying in a small, lodge motel to spend the night out of the rain.

While here, Alex had been able to use the front desk’s phone to call Enzo, who would pick us up early the next morning.

My body pressed against Alex’s, I wiggled closer to absorb more of his body heat.

A small radiator produced the heat for the room, but it wasn’t working fast enough for me. I had been cold and wet for far too long, and I felt cold to the bone, like my body had lost the ability to warm itself up.

Exhausted, I nestled my neck into Alex’s chest and breathed in deeply. He smelled like seawater and fish.

I probably did, too, even after the shower.

Alex kissed my neck, and his warm, hot breath against my skin made me shiver once more.

“Hmm… you missed me that much?” He mused, and I blushed.

“You’re one to talk. First night back together, and you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”

He chuckled, but he didn’t deny my accusation.

“You just smell so good,” he breathed, and I felt his tongue slide up my neck to my jaw.

I heard my breathing become faster. I closed my eyes.

“I didn’t realize you liked the smell of seaweed and fish,” I joked, but my voice wavered.

He growled and pulled me closer. I lifted my chin up and he nibbled at the sensitive skin there. I trembled at his touch.

“You know what I mean,” he breathed, his voice gravelly.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, running my fingers up the back of his neck and into his hair.

“You’re mine, Grace. I’m sorry I let things get between us–it’ll never happen again. I want you to be my mate, my wife, my Luna,” he whispered into my ear, and I smiled.

“I want that, too, Alex.”

I felt his hands slip underneath my shirt and rest against my hips, drawing circles with his fingers into my skin.

His heavy breaths filled the air, and I nibbled his ear.

Soon enough, he tugged at the edge of my shirt, and I felt him sliding it up.

I put my arms above my head to help him pull the shirt off, my heart swelling.

Oh, how I’ve missed this.

Enzo picked us up just as the sun’s rays were beginning to shine above the horizon.

I shivered. I still hadn’t gotten to change my clothes, and I wanted nothing more than to get home and take a hot shower and a long nap.

The ride home was… awkwardly silent.

I saw Enzo say something to Alex when he first arrived that made Alex’s jaw stiffen, but I couldn’t hear what they said.

And they didn’t seem to be interested in talking about anything on the long ride home, either.

So, I took to staring out the window, watching my breath fog up the glass.

It was oddly quiet as we rolled in through the beautiful Black Lycan clan gates.

No birds chirped, no guards were present, no one was outside.

Where was everyone?

Was this a result of me running away? Had there been a large uprising?

My heart skipped a beat, and my stomach turned. Oh, no. Was this why they didn’t want to talk in the car?

Had I caused something bad to happen?

Enzo opened the door for me, and I got out, looking at him anxiously.

He looked… pale. Paler than normal.

Without thinking, I reached up and placed my hand against his forehead, and gasped.

He was burning up!

“Enzo, are you sick?” I asked, grabbing his arm.

He smiled weakly at me.

“I’m just a little tired from the drive, that’s all. But-”

Alex stepped between us.

“Show me,” he demanded, and I looked between Enzo and him, confused. Show him what? What had they talked about that I wasn’t in the loop of?

Enzo sighed, and gave me a sympathetic look before walking toward the castle. Alex was right on his heels, and I followed shortly after.

Whatever was going on, I wanted to know.

The castle was cold and silent. Still no guards, even inside.

What happened? Had an attack taken place?

I looked around, but couldn't find any evidence of such a thing happening.

Enzo led us into the dining hall, which had been turned into a makeshift hospital.

Stunned, I stood in the doorway as Enzo and Alex walked further in.

Oh, my god… What happened while I was gone?

Lycan after Lycan were laid on white mattresses under thin sheets, each looking pale and sweaty.

Most had their eyes closed and were panting heavily, others were twitching and thrashing around.

There were a few Lycans who looked to be of better health that were trying to take care of the others, providing food and water to those who would take it.

I watched the clan’s doctor meet Alex and Enzo, but I was too far away to hear what they were saying. My knees felt weak.

It was like a plague had swept through the clan.

How widespread was this?

Were werewolves affected as well?

Was it a disease? Was it deadly? Was it contagious?

Finding feeling in my feet again, I quickly stepped forward, rejoining with Alex.

“-they just won’t show any signs of improvement, it’s like they’re in a trance,” I heard the doctor say. I grabbed Alex’s hand. It was sweaty.

“When did this happen?” Alex asked, his voice sharp.

“Only a day ago. It happened all at once, but as you can see, it’s affecting some more than it is others. I’ve run diagnostics on everyone affected, and I can’t find anything that could have caused something like this,” the doctor answered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Alex nodded stiffly.

“Where is the Elder Lycan?” He asked, and the doctor sighed.

“He’s been holed away in his room. Nobody can get him to come out. Maybe it’s better that way, though. He’s so old that if whatever is going around got to him, he might not-”

“I understand,” Alex cut him off.

He looked down at me, and motioned for me to follow him, taking quick steps out of the hall.

I did, but it was hard to keep up. His legs were much longer than mine, and he seemed to be in a hurry.

The Elder Lycan? I remember seeing an old man around here, but I didn’t know he had a title or importance.

What did Alex want with him?

We reached a door at the end of a hallway and Alex knocked on it.

“Elder Lycan?” He called through the door, and there was shuffling inside.

After a moment, the door opened, and a short, wrinkly man appeared, looking grumpy.

He didn’t look pale and sweaty like the rest of the Lycans… Maybe holing himself up like this really was keeping him safe.

“So now you decide to come back,” the old man said, his bony fingers gripping the door, still holding it slightly closed.

Alex sighed.

What was this about?

“I was always going to. Now, do you know what’s going on with the clan?”

“Of course I do,” the Elder Lycan snapped. “Because of your inaction to restore the clan’s honor, the clan has been cursed!”