11. Grey

11

GREY

A t just after five, I walk into the penthouse and find Lexi sprawled on the couch watching a movie. My heart stutters at the sight of her in a pair of cotton shorts and a baggy shirt. Her hair is loose around her shoulders and her face is clear of makeup.

She pauses the movie in the middle of some car chase and looks over at me as if I'm a riddle she can't solve. "Hey."

"Hey," I say casually, as if coming home to her isn't the most meaningful thing I've experienced in years.

What would it be like to go to some boring, normal-ass job all day and come home to this every night? What would I give to find out?

"How was your day?" she asks.

I pour myself a drink. "Fucked up. How was yours?"

She watches warily as I cross to the couch. When she starts to move her feet out of the way, I grab her ankles with my free hand, lifting them so I can sit. Then I place her feet in my lap, massaging them as I sip my drink.

She relaxes slightly, still studying me. "Thoughtful," she finally answers.

I look over at her, something about her tone putting me on alert. "Did something happen?"

"You mean aside from last night?" She smiles ruefully, and I note that she's sitting in the exact spot I had her in.

My cock twitches at the reminder. I run my hand farther up her leg. "Is that what you thought about all day?"

"Well, some," she admits, her cheeks going slightly pink. It's arousing as fuck.

"And the rest?"

Her expression shifts to something more serious. "I don't think we're doing enough to trigger my wolf."

I frown. Whatever I was expecting, it's not this. "What makes you say that?"

"I know you're looking into it, but so far we've uncovered nothing."

"It's only been a few days," I point out, but my thoughts drift to my father's questions about Lexi's medical history.

He knows something we don't. I just wish I knew what. So far, Dutch's hacking has yielded nothing.

"Grey, this wedding's coming fast. We have no idea what your dad's planning to do after we take those vows. For all I know, he's going to kill me. And I need to be able to defend myself. Especially if I'm going to stay here. With you."

"You won't need to defend yourself. I'm not going to let anyone get close enough that you would even need to fight."

"You can't promise something like that."

I bite back my frustration. She's right. I can't promise that. If I could, my father wouldn't already have his hooks in us this deeply. Besides, she deserves her wolf. I can't even imagine not having access to mine.

Plus, explaining how mates work would be a hell of a lot easier if she could feel the bond too. But the only way I know to trigger her wolf is through a bite. And if it doesn't work… I can't take that chance.

"Did Dutch find out anything about the license plate?" she presses.

I sigh. "No. It was a dead end."

"Dammit." She sits back, clearly frustrated.

I frown, hating that she's so upset. "But—it just so happens, I already planned to take you out tonight and work on triggering your wolf."

"Really?" She pulls her feet off my lap and sits up straighter. "What's the plan? What are we waiting for?"

"Whoa, chill. We're going to meet the others and do a pack run."

"How can I run if I'm not a wolf yet?"

"Well, I'm hoping seeing the others in wolf form might help trigger yours."

Her excitement turns to wariness. "Is that safe for me? Being around them all in their wolf forms?"

"Of course. None of the others would ever hurt you."

She looks away.

I frown. What the hell am I missing here? "If you don't want to go…"

"No, I do," she says quickly. When I don't respond, she pushes to her feet, standing in front of me with her hands on her hips. I note her very short shorts and tank top.

"Bring a jacket," I tell her. "And leave your phone."

"Done."

She hurries down the hall to the bedroom. A moment later, she returns wearing a hoodie that threatens to swallow her whole. Her legs are bare, and the hoodie is large enough that it looks like she's not wearing pants. I drink in the sight of her bare skin, imagining running my hands over her body.

Oblivious, she walks to the elevator and slides her feet into a pair of sandals I bought for her. "Ready," she announces.

Her enthusiasm has an edge to it, but I don't say anything as we ride the elevator down to the garage. We both get into the car, and I stop long enough to snap an order at my guards. "Don't follow us."

They start to protest, but I gun it, squealing tires drowning them out as we peel off into the night.

"Will they tell your dad?" Lexi asks, looking perfectly calm about the fact that I'm driving like a lunatic.

"I don't know."

"What if they catch up to us?"

I press the gas a little harder, accelerating around a tight corner. "They won't."

I drive through the city way too fast, running two red lights before I manage to get us out of downtown. When I'm convinced we're not being followed, I speed down the empty road that leads out of town. I begin to calm once the buildings fall away and the suburbs disappear. By the time we hit the open highway, the streetlights are all behind us, and the darkness presses in.

My skin itches from the inside. Now that I've made the decision to run, my wolf is impatient to be free.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

"To the walls of this cage," I tell her.

It doesn't take long before the familiar sign comes into view. To anyone else, it's a normal mile marker. But those from Indigo Hills know better. I pull over just behind it, slamming on the brakes hard enough to kick up gravel in our wake.

Out here, we're finally truly alone.

"Where are the others?" Lexi asks.

"They'll be here soon. We're early. Come on." I climb out of the car.

Escaping the city has calmed me, but it doesn't appease the urge to let the beast inside me take over. He wants to feel the fresh air on his fur. To see his mate through his own eyes.

Soon.

Lexi climbs out of the car and rounds the hood, stopping before me. She looks so fucking small inside that hoodie—which I now realize is mine.

"That's my hoodie," I say.

"Yeah." She looks almost sheepish.

"Why are you wearing it when I just bought you all those clothes?"

"Because it smells like you."

I stare at her, relishing the answer. "You like the way I smell?"

"Yeah." She dips her head but not before I see her cheeks go pink. Her reaction is both sweet and sexy, and I'm getting hard just watching her.

Refusing to let myself get sucked in, I turn to the mile marker. "Do you know what that is?"

"A road sign marking the highway miles?"

"Walk over to it."

"Why?"

"I want to show you something." I wait until she gets to the sign then looks back at me. "Touch it."

She bites her lip but does as I say. The moment her fingertips touch the sign, it zaps her, and she jumps back, holding her fingers to her lips.

She stares at me accusingly. "What the hell?"

"Indigo Hills is surrounded by powerful wards put here centuries ago by witches. Hexerei, they called themselves. We're taught the wards are for our protection. To keep the rest of the world out of our business. And to keep them from trying to hurt us. But the truth is, the wards are just as good at keeping us in as they are at keeping the world out."

"This is what's trapping me here," she says.

"We're all trapped here."

Her brows scrunch. "How did you leave to get me then?" she asks. "And how did I get into the city in the first place?"

"The wards can be programmed to allow people in and out. But only an alpha can come and go freely, and only an alpha can alter them."

"Your father let you out," she says. "And let me in."

I nod.

She tilts her head. "What about five years ago?" she asks. "When you left town?"

"My father let me go," I say quietly.

"Really? He seems so angry about you being gone."

I hesitate as painful memories come rushing back. "It's a long story."

A pair of headlights winks into view along the highway.

"Maybe later," Lexi says as Dutch pulls up behind us with Razor and Crow in the backseat.

Behind them, Mia and Ramsey arrive.

The sound of their voices fills the night as they all climb out and greet one another.

"Who's ready for a night run?" Dutch calls out.

Razor howls. "I bet you fifty bucks I'm faster than you tonight," he calls out to Crow.

"You're fucking on, slowpoke," Crow shoots back.

Even Mia laughs and adds her bet to Crow's side of things. Their excitement sings in my veins. In my wolf's blood.

Lexi watches it all with wary anticipation.

"Hey, Lex," Mia calls out. "You feeling wolfy yet?"

Dutch snorts. "Is that the technical term?"

Mia flips him off. "As a matter of fact, yes."

Lexi shakes her head.

"You okay with this?" I ask her quietly.

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

She rolls her eyes. "I'm not going to faint again."

I grin and kiss her cheek. "Please don't. They'll never let you live it down."