Indianna groaned as she awoke. The sound of footsteps rang clearly in her ears.
"Morning," Greyson said from beside her.
She smiled tiredly up at him.
"It's so loud," she grumbled.
"What?" Greyson frowned before nodding once he realised what she meant. "It's Kal walking up the stairs."
"Tell him to tiptoe," Indianna mumbled and buried her face in Greyson's chest. She just wanted to sleep.
"We have school."
"I'm tired," Indianna whined.
"And I wonder why that is?" Kal yelled as he dramatically entered Greyson's room.
Indianna squeaked in surprise, and Greyson growled as he quickly grabbed the bedsheets and pulled them up around them.
"Fucking knock!" Greyson yelled. "Jeez, Kal, get out!"
"I just wanted to say that it's great you two are together now, but please don't be so loud in the early hours of the morning in a silent house full of werewolves with extremely good hearing," Kal said with a cheeky grin.
"Kal!" Indianna gasped.
"You had a go at Harry and Brooke for being loud. You two took it to another level."
"Get out," Greyson growled.
Kal grinned, winked at both of them and exited the room.
"Fuck," Indianna groaned. "We weren't that loud."
"It's Kal. He likes to exaggerate," Greyson shrugged. "Even so, this is my house, so if people want to complain, they can leave."
"That is so embarrassing," Indianna grumbled.
Greyson laughed and shifted on the bed until he was hovering over her.
"You know, Kal said not to do anything while everyone was asleep," Greyson said with a smirk. "Everyone is awake and getting ready for school, so?"
"You're the one who said we have to go to school," Indianna said and pushed Greyson away from her. "That can wait."
"Do you really want to, sugar?" Greyson called as Indianna pulled one of his shirts over her head and stood up from the bed.
She didn't answer, and Greyson smirked.
"Don't say a word!" Indianna said, reading Greyson's thoughts. "I'm going to get ready, and you aren't going to stop me."
"Oh, really?" Greyson wondered.
He jumped up from the bed and reached Indianna in a few strides, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I could distract you so thoroughly that you wouldn't be able to do anything," he said lowly into her ear.
Indianna's eyes widened in surprise. She gasped when he spun her around and kissed her, pushing her backwards until her legs touched the side of his desk.
"I could keep you right here, and you wouldn't even complain," he murmured.
"Greyson," she groaned. "Stop! We have school."
"I thought you were tired?" Greyson smirked.
"For some reason, I happen to be very alert now," she gasped, gripping his hair as he kissed her neck.
"Stop," she stuttered.
She didn't want him to.
"I need to get ready," she whispered.
She didn't care about getting ready.
"I need to—Greyson!" she gasped when he kissed her mark.
She just wanted him to—
"Greyson, Indie, dear!"
Greyson cursed under his breath when his mother knocked on the door. His eyes widened when the handle started to turn.
"Fuck, Mum, wait!" he yelled.
He quickly pulled Indianna in front of him, hiding behind her.
Indianna couldn't help but laugh as Laura walked in, smiling at the two of them.
"Oh, Grey, don't be ridiculous. I've seen you without clothes before. I used to breastfeed you, for goodness' sake!" Laura said with a shake of her head.
Greyson cringed.
"What do you want, Mum?" he asked bluntly.
Indianna smirked to herself as an idea came to her.
Sugar, now is not the time to tease me, Greyson growled as Indianna leaned back against him deliberately. My mum is in the room, Indie!
Indianna ignored him and casually folded her hands behind her back.
"I just wanted to ask Indianna how she likes her eggs. I'm making breakfast," Laura said, smiling at Indianna.
"Any way is fine. I'm not fussy," Indianna said politely.
You dirty little tease! Greyson muttered.
"Fantastic. It will be ready in about ten minutes," Laura said, oblivious to their exchange.
"Thank you, Laura," Indianna smiled.
Laura exited the room.
As soon as they were alone, Indianna turned around and smiled innocently at Greyson.
"You shouldn't have done that," Greyson said lowly, pulling Indianna towards him. "Now I have to get you back."
"You can try," Indianna grinned.
She wriggled out of Greyson's grasp and left the room before he could catch her.
Indianna walked out of the bathroom and jumped when she saw her mother sitting on her bed.
"Mum," she said. "Is everything all right?"
"Everything is fine," Iris smiled. "I just wanted to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"What do you want for your birthday?"
Indianna frowned and looked at Iris in surprise.
"My birthday? But my birthday isn't until October—"
"It's the end of September, Indie," Iris said.
"Oh, wow. I didn't even realise," Indianna gasped as she walked over to her wardrobe. She wondered how she could have forgotten her own birthday. "So much has happened, I guess I just forgot about it."
"That's understandable," Iris nodded. "Can you think of anything you want?"
Indianna shook her head.
"I don't think I want anything," she admitted.
"Think about it," Iris suggested.
Indianna nodded. "I will."
"Good. I'll leave you to get ready, then."
Iris headed towards the door, but Indianna frowned and called for her to stop.
She hurried over to her mother and gripped her towel tightly so it wouldn't fall. Then she hugged Iris.
"I'm glad we're trying," she whispered.
"So am I," Iris breathed, hugging her only daughter tightly. "So am I."
Indianna coughed and pulled back. It was still strange with her mother. They hadn't been close for years. When she was growing up, their conversations had been short and usually about mundane things, such as food.
It was strange trying to build a relationship again.
"I've got to get ready," Indianna said.
Iris nodded, kissed her daughter on the cheek and left the room.
Indianna took a deep breath and made her way back over to her wardrobe. She changed into a simple, fitted navy dress and pulled on a pair of sandals. She quickly brushed her damp hair, grabbed her leather jacket and made her way downstairs into the kitchen.
She could smell the food from her room, and the smell became more intense as she got closer.
"Hey, Indie!" Ace called, stopping her as she walked down the stairs.
"Yes?" she wondered, looking up at him.
"Speed," he said. "Be careful. Remember Kimberly is around. You can't walk around at the pace of a wolf."
Indianna sighed and nodded.
"Sorry. I'm finding it a little difficult," she admitted.
"It's fine," Ace smiled. "It's something you'll get used to."
"Hopefully," Indianna murmured.
She continued towards the kitchen, trying to focus on her speed as she went.
"Hi, Indie," Laura greeted her when she entered the kitchen. "You look lovely."
"Doesn't she just?" Greyson agreed as he walked in behind Indianna.
He admired his mate from behind, appreciating how the dress showed off her curves. He ran his hands down the soft cotton and kissed her head.
"Sit down, guys. Breakfast is nearly ready," Laura instructed.
Greyson and Indianna sat at the large dining table.
Soon, more pack members joined them, and Indianna spotted Harry and Brooke among them. Harry looked calm, which was a good sign. He wasn't angry, so that meant they weren't arguing.
Brooke had puffy eyes and gripped Harry's arm tightly. She caught Indianna's eye and forced a smile.
Ellie walked past Indianna's chair and took a seat farther down the table beside another younger pack member. Indianna smiled at Ellie, who smiled back.
"Greyson, I fucking love your mother," Kal said, sitting opposite Greyson and Indianna. "Her food is fucking divine."
"Language, Kalum!" Laura scolded, hitting Kal on the head with a dishcloth as she walked behind him.
She began placing plates in front of everyone, and soon they were all eating.
"Greyson, where's your dad?" Indianna wondered during breakfast.
"He's gone to visit the Elders to see if they can help us with the Rogue problem," Greyson said.
Indianna raised her eyebrows.
"Elders?"
"Basically, they're the government of the werewolf world," Greyson shrugged. "They're the oldest and wisest werewolves in the world."
"Oh," Indianna said. "How come he went?"
"Considering I'm the Alpha, I should have gone. I was the one who contacted them, but they thought it best that I stayed with you. My dad took my place. He was the previous Alpha of this pack, so I trust his judgement completely."
Indianna nodded and looked up just as Kimberly entered the kitchen.
"Kimberly, I put your plate in the microwave so it would stay warm," Laura called.
Kimberly looked at everyone's plates in disgust.
"Do you know how fattening bacon is?" she scoffed and picked up an apple. "I'm not eating that calorie-filled food."
"Dibs on hers!" Kal called as he rushed to the microwave.
Greyson rolled his eyes.
"Sugar," he said quietly, placing his hand on Indianna's thigh. "Just a warning: today was not a good day to wear a dress. You teased me earlier, but I will always be the better tease."
Indianna swallowed and looked up at Greyson.
"Oh, really?"
"Really," he whispered. "I'll prove it to you at school."
Indianna and Greyson walked into school hand in hand. Students still stared at them, shocked that Greyson had settled down with a girl and that he hadn't scared her off.
Indianna didn't understand why people were so interested in them. She and Greyson had been together for a while now, and she thought the excitement about them would have worn off.
Stacy walked past them while Indianna was at her locker. She smiled at Indianna, who smiled back.
Greyson narrowed his eyes at Stacy but didn't comment.
He was going to keep his promise. He was going to try to be less controlling and more equal.
"So," Greyson said, leaning against the lockers. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared accusingly at Indianna. "Why didn't you tell me about your birthday?"
"How did you—" Indianna stopped herself and rolled her eyes at the stupid question. "I forgot about it."
"You forgot about it?" Greyson repeated and scoffed. "Sugar, how do you forget your birthday?"
"By learning about a new and confusing world that comes with a lot of shit," Indianna said with a small shrug.
"And a lot of good," Greyson added, smirking when Indianna rolled her eyes. "When is the exact date?"
"October 3rd," Indianna said and shut her locker.
Greyson pursed his lips and frowned.
"We're away then."
Indianna arched an eyebrow at him.
"We are? Since when?"
"Since yesterday evening."
"And may I ask why?"
"I have a friend—"
Indianna scoffed when Greyson said this. He narrowed his eyes playfully, pulled Indianna towards him and messed up her hair.
"Oi!" she said and swatted his hands away.
Greyson chuckled, wrapped his arm around Indianna's shoulders and started walking down the corridor.
"So, this 'friend'?" she teased.
"He's a very powerful Alpha," Greyson continued. "He's also a good friend of mine. We're travelling to his pack on October 3rd."
"Why?"
"Like I said, he's a friend, and it's been a while," Greyson said.
Indianna frowned.
"There's something else."
"No, there isn't."
Indianna focused on Greyson and entered his mind before he could shut her out.
"Greyson, don't push me out!" she groaned when she hit a wall. "You can't do that!"
Greyson sighed and gritted his teeth.
"Fine," he muttered. "What did you read?"
"You shut me out before I could make sense of anything. All I got from you was that this Alpha has found his mate," Indianna said.
"Correct," Greyson nodded. "He has found his mate. She's human but aware of werewolves. Her father and younger brother are shifters."
"Why did you try to hide that from me?"
Greyson pursed his lips.
"Because she isn't exactly with him willingly."
"What?"
"She hates werewolves. She hates everything about our world. She wants to find love on her own. She wants to choose, not have someone chosen for her."
Indianna frowned.
"I understand where she's coming from. We should have the right to choose who we love—"
"Please don't turn all feminist on me," Greyson groaned.
"Shut up," Indianna said and shoved his arm. "I understand why she thinks that, but they're mates. There's no denying or ignoring the bond. Doesn't she feel anything for him?"
"She's human, so it isn't as strong for her," Greyson shrugged. "It will take much longer before she starts to feel even a fraction of what you feel for me."
"Oh."
"She has tried to run away many times. She has to be watched twenty-four-seven."
"That's not fair! The poor girl deserves some space," Indianna gasped as they entered their first class of the day. "He could at least let her go home."
"But he can't," Greyson said. "Janson is a powerful Alpha, but he isn't as powerful as he wishes he could be. He has enemies who think they can take him down."
"Through his mate," Indianna said in realisation.
"Yep."
"So why do we need to visit him?"
"He knows about our story—how we were in the beginning," Greyson said.
"You mean when you marked me without consent, were more of a controlling dickhead than you are now and—"
"I get it," Greyson cut Indianna off before she could start a full-blown lecture. "But we're different now. We're happy. Janson wants his mate to see that. He wants her to see that she can be happy if she accepts the bond. He hopes you can convince her that having a mate isn't a bad thing."
"So this Alpha, whom I've never met, wants me to manipulate his mate into being with him?" Indianna said in disbelief. "Greyson, I'm not going to convince a girl who doesn't want a mate to want one, especially if he's keeping her with him against her will!"
"Please, sugar," Greyson groaned. "He doesn't want you to manipulate her. He just wants you to make her see that having a mate can be one of the best things that ever happens to you."
"One of the best things that can ever happen to you?" Indianna repeated, raising her eyebrows at Greyson.
He shrugged dismissively.
"Yeah," he said sheepishly.
Indianna couldn't help but grin.
"I'm not going to spout romantic nonsense and act drunk in love," Indianna warned. "I'll be honest with her about how I feel about you and how you make me feel, but that's it. I'm not going to pressure her if she's strongly against having a mate. I couldn't do that, Greyson."
"That's the best I'm going to get from you, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"So it's a definite yes to coming?"
"Looks like it," Indianna sighed and looked up at Greyson. "You'd better get me a good present to make up for us travelling on my birthday."
Greyson's eyes darkened, and he smirked.
"I'll make it up to you, sugar. Don't you worry about that."