CHAPTER 8

GRIFFIN

Ialready felt on edge being in such proximity to these mutts without having the go-ahead to put them down. But I followed Venus into the thick of the trees where the beasts would be less likely to hear us. I knew we were technically on the same side, working on a truce or whatever, and I'd need to get used to their presence. Plus, I'd stumbled into their territory. Wolves were territorial by nature—something we apparently had in common, as well as eyesight, strength, speed and possessiveness.

Fuck. I was more like them then I cared to admit.

But I'd never really been around them without needing to attack before.

It was entirely unnatural to me. So it made sense that I was a bit volatile right now.

That bulky giant one especially pissed me off. And no, I didn't have to attack him. But he was asking for it.

When I pulled up to that hippy commune and was met with that hulking brute, I demanded to know where Venus was. The dickhead called me a ‘glorified pig' and then told me that she was off with their Alpha before proceeding to tell me to get off their property.

Hearing that she was outwith him already put my possessive nature into overdrive. What the fuck did that even mean and where were they? But then when I asked as such, the asshat told me that he didn't answer to me and that it was none of my business where his Alpha took his girl. That sent me off the fucking edge. So I lunged at him, barrelling at the barbarian and knocking him clean off his feet.

I had to admit, it was fun. The most fun I'd had in a while, especially after the slump I'd been in. And I couldn't stop the wicked grin that spread across my face at the challenge when he snapped his canines at me.

We tousled. Throwing punches with superhuman strength and speed.

I sensed a few other wolves arrive to see what the commotion was, but none of them got involved after the oversized German Shepherd growled that I was his, which egged me on more. He only managed to get me down once.

I would have been shocked, but he was a big guy. Bigger than most wolves I'd delt with. So I had to admit, I was impressed. But I couldn't let him get away with shit like that.

Throwing a wolf his size across the clearing was utterly satisfying and the thrill of the interaction brought me a sense of joy I hadn't felt in a while.

Hopefully, I'd get a chance to fight with the wolves again soon, maybe we could make it part of our sparring if I was going to stay for a while. It could help all the Knights if we could somehow convince the wolves of its benefits—and all manage to get along well enough to not kill each other.

It would be a struggle not to give into the urge to do some real damage, but I'm sure the wolves would be able to take a mean punch, as well as a dagger or two … as long as they weren't silver. Benefits of supernatural healing and all that.

I'd have to learn to control my urges and blatant dislike towards them if I was to lead a task force and set some sort of example of what working together would look like. If I couldn"t do it, how could I expect my team to? Although, I probably had a slighter larger ego than the rest of them. As well as an extra variable that fuelled my bitterness—my Supernova being entangled with them, in more ways than one.

Maybe I was slightly jealous … slightly.

Pausing my train of thought before I got too violent, I focused my attention on the beautiful distraction before me. Fuck I missed her. Just being in her presence again made me immediately calmer, her proximity soothing my restlessness.

I noted the sparks that trailed along my arm, radiating from the spot where her tiny wrist tightly held mine. I liked how firm her grip was as she pulled me further along into the forest that was growing more and more dense with every step. She must have know her way around here pretty well; a thought that I had to admit annoyed me. How many times did she frolic or whatever in these woods with that pompous ass? Had they done the deed out here? Fuck, that was not a train of thought I wanted to go down.

Speaking of the ass, I was not okay with how beautiful the prick was. I knew he was a supernatural and everything but fuck, did he have to look like that? I was not usually a self-conscious guy, not in the least, but this girl had me feeling things I'd never experienced before.

I understood how she fell for his whole ‘golden boy' image. And it pissed me off to no end. He was all wrapped up in a pretty package with a nice, big bow. He seemed diplomatic too, even when it was clear he wanted to punch my face in.

At least I knew I got under his nerves too. I saw him size me up. Noticed the way his jaw ticked before he called off his guard dogs. I drove his beast wild; I could see it in his eyes. The threat of any man taking her away from him would drive his wolf crazy. Not to mention, someone that he knew would be better for her. Someone that she had more in common with, who looked out for her all these months after he'd broken her heart. It couldn't have been easy; seeing me at his home.

I was half curious to see if his beast would come out to play, and a small part of me was a tad disappointed that it hadn't. I knew he did it for her though. And honestly, I didn't know if that made me hate him more or have some ounce of respect for the guy.

Either way, I wasn't going to back down. Not when it came to my girl. I wouldn't just sit back and watch her go back to him. He might have been fine to do that when she left him, but that wasn't in my nature, even if it took me a minute to remember that. I was fighting for her with everything that I had.

Besides, I knew she felt the same pull towards me that I felt towards her. The one that dragged me across the fucking state to see her again. To get her back.

Halting, she turned to me now, seemingly deciding we were far enough away from the others.

"Griff, what on earth are you doing here?"

Her sweet yet husky voice infiltrated my senses. It wasn't meek or scared. Perhaps confused. But it was strong. She was strong. And I loved that I got to witness her come to that realisation. That I helped foster and coax it out of her.

There was also a hint of attitude to her tone that made me want to push her up against the nearest tree and punish her lips with mine. It was so fucking sexy.

Shewas so fucking sexy.

My eyes trailed down the cropped cream tank top, brown shorts and bright white sneakers she wore—a practical outfit to combat the late June heat but she looked hot as fuck, the tones bringing out the warmth in her delicious caramel skin. I had to force myself to ignore the fact that she had worn this outfit out with him, to wherever they had been together.

At the intensity of my look, her strong demeanour wavered and she seemed to shy at my gaze, her golden skin flushing ever so slightly with the briefest hint of colour as she dropped her eyes.

"I came for you, Supernova." There was no arguing with the conviction in my tone.

Her eyes snapped back up to mine.

"Wh-what do you mean?" She countered, nervousness taking over. Whether it was from what I had said or being in my proximity again, I wasn't sure. But it was fucking cute.

"I mean …" I took a step towards her. And then another one, closing the distance between us. "That you are here. And therefore, it only makes sense that I be here."

She swallowed deeply, her face tilting up to look at mine towering above her.

"You came for me?" She repeated, not quite believing it.

"I did," I reassured. I slid my hands in my pockets, trying to keep my composure casual and unfazed when all I wanted to do was grab her. It took all my effort to keep them firmly pocketed.

She picked up her posture and schooled her face into one of annoyance that I knew too well and loved too much. "You attacked the pack," she accused.

"They seemed fine to me," I shrugged.

"These are still my friends, you know." She seemed exasperated at my nonchalance.

"I know, Cosmo. But the brute asked for it."

"Knowing Zander, I'm sure he did. But that didn't mean you had to entertain it."

"Oh, come on, baby. You know I can't walk away from a fight." I hoped she picked up on the double meaning there: that I couldn't walk away from her.

That I'd fight for her.

Crossing her arms, she rolled her eyes and I almost got hard at the sight of my favourite expression on her glorious face. The smirk that reached my eyes could not be stopped. Nor could the heat in my gaze.

"Did Thea send you? Is the rest of the task force here too?" She fired questions as her mind worked to figure out what my presence here meant. "I didn't hear anything from Kit or Billie about it?"

I shook my head casually. "No, she didn't. And no, they are not."

Her eyes sparkled with slight confusion. "But you came anyway?"

"I'll always come for you."

She swallowed as she took in my words. I needed to get them out, these … feelings … that I had. They were taking over all reasonable thought. So I continued, "I know I didn't make it clear before. I know we fought it, but this isn't some causal thing between us. I think we both know it. Both feel it. And have felt it for months. I didn't mean to act like a prick when you said you were coming here. I was an idiot. But I don't want to fight it anymore. I've never been one to shy away from fear and I won't do it anymore. I want more … from you. From us. I'm willing to try for you. I'm willing to fight for you."

She attempted to turn her face away from mine but I stopped her, no longer able to keep my hands to myself. My thumb and forefinger gripped her chin, directing her back towards me. I held it firm so she couldn"t look away while I reiterated my point.

"I will always come for you."

The words were slow and firm. I wanted her to know it—to feel it—with every fibre of her being.

Those stunning eyes widened, glistening slightly like she was holding back tears. Her expression was soft yet still unbelieving as she gave me a subdued smile. But then she looked in the direction of the house, as if she could see the wolf that waited there for her. I watched as her brows crumpled. She looked distressed. Confused. Torn.

For a second, fear rippled through me at the thought of her rejecting me. Of choosing him instead. But fuck fear.

I wanted to rip the dog's head off for even having that hold over her—that she had to think about him in this moment between us. But seeing her, being around her again, it fully grounded me. And I didn't want to stress her out. I watched her heal from him. Saw how much that furball meant to her.

She needed to deal with it all and make her decision. I knew I was the right choice, but I'd let her come to that conclusion on her own. Even if it went against my possessive nature. I'd do that for her.

"Supernova." I said her nickname as a gentle command and her attention snapped back to me. "It's okay. I get that all of this is probably unexpected. But I'm not going anywhere. You can do what you need to do and we can talk about this later." My words, the fact that I wasn't forcing her to choose right now, seemed to calm her down.

She nodded and I pulled her into me, wrapping her in my arms. Her head rested on my chest, and she seemed to gently nudge it as she hugged me back—tightly. I felt her breathe me in and her body visibly relaxed. A gesture I took no small amount of satisfaction in. Even though there was clearly some initial hesitation there, her body let its guard down around me. It reacted to mine, just like mine did to hers, clearly comforted in her presence.

All the pent-up energy—the dazed state I was in—it all dissipated into nothing, and I let the energy between us sustain me.

I took my fill, breathing her in.

"I'm happy to see you," she let out with a small sigh.

"You sure?" I laughed, low and deep. "Didn't seem like it before."

"You scared me," she swatted my chest as she pushed back a bit. But her eyes danced with humour and lightness. I just smirked down at her. "You need to behave if you're going to stay, okay?" She pressed.

I forced one hand to let go of her—keeping the other firmly on her waist—and raised it to my heart.

"Scouts honour," I mocked.

Her eyes rolled again and I swear I groaned.

"What do we do now?" She stepped out of my arms.

"We'll figure it out."

"Where are you staying?"

"I'll find a hotel or something. Surely this tiny town has somewhere decent to stay?" I hadn't thought that far ahead. Hadn't thought past the burning desire to come to her.

"No."

"No?" I quirked a brow.

"You can stay with me," she said firmly.

"Can I now?" I gave her a suggestive look, humour causing my mouth to twist into a devilish smirk at how quick her reply had been.

"Don't get any ideas. I mean you can stay at the house. The one that my mum and sister also happen to live at. We have a guest room. I'm sure mum won't mind. Especially for Thea's son."

"Ahhh, so she knows about me then? I wonder what incredible things you've told her."

She glared at me. "You're unbelievable."

"I know. It's one of my many charms." I folded my arms across my chest, looking down at her with giddy amusement from the bickering that I had missed, even if it had only been a few days.

"Good to see nothing has changed," she declared.

"Why change what works?"

"Oh my god."

I grinned at her. A pure, delighted grin.

Fuck I missed this girl.

She sighed. "Okay, well I don't think hanging around here for the rest of the day is an option given how you greeted the pack. So let's head home and get you introduced to mum and Celeste and then settled in. We'll need to make amends with the pack on your behalf at some point, since we'll be working with them." She eyed me with adorable annoyance. "But we might need to give Zander a day to simmer down. Hopefully that will help him not want to kill you."

"Please, like he could."

"So not the point." She glared at me.

"Alright, alright." I grabbed her face again. "I missed you, Supernova."