Chapter 25

Slowly rising and declining, Greyson's chest heated against the palm of my hand. Earlier, when I came back, Laura held his hand between hers snuggling it under her chin. She hummed quietly staring at his face with deep concern.

Seeing me, she quickly helped herself out.

"You can stay," I had told her.

She shook her head. "You two need time alone."

I didn't understand why she forced herself to leave. Being Greyson's mother, she could have given him more comfort than me. Deep inside, I felt sort of jealous by that fact. She had the capability of helping him, while all I am is the girl that's always caused him more trouble than he disserved.

Fatigue made my body feel limp. Too much happened today and I just wanted to close my eyes and forget all about it. I had to run out the room after Bennett told me about what the final part of the mating pertained.

Mentally I groaned. I'm not ready to get married and neither was I ready to be a mother.

I just realized I liked the guy, for heavens sake!

Greyson slept like a baby right in front of me completely oblivious to the outrage I felt right now. Even when he was unconscious he fumed me with a burning passion, but he had the ability to cool me down with just a touch, a gesture or soft kind words.

My free hand was tucked in the pocket of the jacket I wore. My hand lay against my flat stomach and I shivered just thinking about being barefoot and pregnant.

I wasn't ready to be a mother.

Greyson knew about the mating-how could he not-yet he didn't tell me. Most likely he was afraid that I was freak out like I am doing now.

Sighing, I told myself not to get upset too much. Being angry wasn't going to solve anything. My mom was an example to that fact. As soon as he wakes up, we were going to have a good talk. Maybe if I could reason with him, he wouldn't push me to marry him or have kids right away.

Looking back, Greyson never forced me to do anything. He always put my safety and happiness before himself.

Suddenly, a cold breeze blew past me and my body shivered. The thin blanket that lay across Greyson's bandaged chest cascaded to the floor and Goosebumps formed on his arms. Greyson stirred and I looked at his face to see his brows pull together in discomfort. Quickly, I snatched the sheet and covered his chest, tucking the sheet securely so that it wouldn't fly off again.

I saw the window across the room had opened and the wind outside welcomed the cold night air. Getting up, I made my way to it so I could close it. Suddenly the floor creaked behind me and the sound of nails tapping the floor made my heart skip.

I froze.

The lights powered off.

"Greyson." I whispered, begging that he would respond.

The wind blew once more and rattled the window. The glass swung further open and leaves flew in, swaying back and forth until they landed on the floor. One leaf glided down under Greyson's bed. I watched it, looking over my shoulder.

As I did, the floor creaked again, but this time, the noise was from right next to me.

Scream! I told myself, but my lips pressed together. I couldn't get a word out, not even small peep. My eyes landed on Greyson still peacefully sleeping and I hurried to his side.

"Who is there?" It was too dark; my eyes haven't adjusted to the blackness yet. "Show yourself! This isn't funny."

There was an odd smell in the room. It smelt metallic, but there was a mix of dirt, woods and wet concrete. The smell didn't appeal to me and I felt like vomiting. It was revolting.

"Don't you look like the perfect little angel?" A dark deep voice rumbled.

I gasped and my heart picked up pace. Fear engulfed me and I reached for Greyson as if he could somehow shield me.

Please wake up! I pleaded mentally. My hands shook as I tried to wake him. He swayed back and forth like a log on a riverbank. This time, Greyson couldn't help me.

He was unconscious, hurt and injected with drugs to knock him out like a light. Nothing could wake him up.

"Who are you?" I whimpered at the intruder.

The voice chuckled clearly amused by me. "I'm not surprised that you don't recall me, sweetie. However, I am kind of crushed." He pretended to weep.

The humor in his voice made my fear double. What was this man planning on doing? Was he going to kill me> Kill Greyson?

"You're that rogue, aren't you? How did you get in here? This place is securely guarded."

"Rogue...what a horrible word. I consider myself an adventurer. What do you think?" His words rolled against his tongue like a snake. He remained invisible behind the shadows, but the sound of his voice imitated an individual of pure evil. "I've been in this shit hole almost half my life. I'm kind of revolted that I was a part of this stupid years ago."

I could imagine the look of disgust in his face without having to look at him.

"You were part of Bennett's pack?"

He snorted. "That brat thinks too much of himself. NO. I was part of his father's pack. Hated that guy...so I killed him." He said flatly, like it didn't even matter.

I held Greyson tighter. My thoughts were more concerned about keeping a far away distance from the rogue as much as possible. The problem was, I didn't know where he was. It was like he was part of the shadows and his voice came from every corner of the room.

Where were Bennett and the rest of his werewolves when you need them?

"I'm not going to let you kill Greyson, if that's your plan."

"I almost did though. He jumped right in front of you just like I planned." He chuckled. "Though, he didn't die like I wanted him too." He pretended to weep. "It was so close...it could have hit his pathetic little heart."

The man was psychopathic!

"Get the hell away from him!" I yelled.

The floor creaked again and I could feel his presence getting closer. I reached back behind me yanking whatever was closest. My hand grabbed a paperweight that was holding a stack of papers together. The wind blew and the papers scattered to the floor. I raised the paperweight above my head ready to throw it if the rogue got anywhere closer.

He laughed. "You haven't changed one bit. Sweet little Celeste; always so protective about everything."

"How do you know my name?!" I screamed.

"Why wouldn't I? I watched you grow up." He smirked.

The news weakened my knees and I slid down against the side of the bed. He had watched me grow up...I couldn't believe it. How could this monster have been part of my life without me knowing it?

"How..." I said under my breath.

"You were only a few meters away from my grasp." He chuckled. "Watched you, your siblings and your irritating mother from outside your house. Your father was an idiot." He spat.

I turned my head towards the voice wide-eyed.

"He fell in love with your mother when I told him to stay away." His tone got more vicious.

"You knew my father?" I asked horrified.

"He's my son."

This was bigger than anything I've heard in the past few weeks. It was the mother of big secrets. It totally rewrote everything about my life. I feel like I don't know who my father really was.

"By the look on your face, you don't seem to be that happy about the news. Aren't you glad to finally meet the human face of your granddaddy?"

The voice leaned closer and with the light coming from the window, he revealed himself to me.

I practically broke inside when I saw the face of my father, except this guy looked older and his hair was slightly longer. He had my dad's dark brown hair and eyes, but nothing about him was kind.

"The name is Remington, or Remy for short. I was part of this pack 50 years or so, before I was run out because I killed my Alpha. My father -your great-grandfather-was the beta of this pack many years ago, but for some stupid reason the alpha of that time wouldn't let me inherit the position to become his Beta. So he chose that pipsqueak, Robert's father, and his third in command. That little mutt wasn't supposed to be the next Beta. My father shunned me so I killed him before killing the Alpha.

"I escaped with my life and swore vengeance on this pack. They stole my rightful position and now I want to destroy this pack."

I clutched the paperweight tighter.

"I waited. Even made myself a kid to keep me company with some human, but because I wasn't part of a pack, my son was useless." He hissed.

Dad wasn't a werewolf, because he wasn't near a pack. A part of me was relieved, but still...I doubted who my father was. Was he really that kind man I knew or was it all an act?

He continued in his rant. "I kept track of this town; took note of who left and would eventually come back. Your mother left when she was eighteen and I knew she would come back one day to see her mother-Diana, that crazy woman. I was going to use your mother for revenge. I tossed my son at her.

"I told him to convince her to go back to this retched place, but your father grew infatuated with the damn woman. He was too kind hearted, spending too much time with humans. It was my fault for not molding him the way I wanted. Gave him too much freedom. When your parents married, she treated me like a dog. Your father made me live like a domestic dog for almost 5 gruesome years, as he played the perfect house dad. I didn't see why Nicholas liked her so much. He was so obsessed with that woman; it eventually led him to his death. Since he was out of the picture, I didn't feel like staying with you brats anymore-I thought my plan had been ruined, until your grandmother gave me hope when she called faking her illness. I could kiss her for that." He laughed.

"And it was perfect timing too! The Taking was on the exact time you would be in town! Even more amazing, you were the next bride!" He laughed harder.

"So now what." I spat.

"I'm going to kill him." He pointed at Greyson. "And I'm going to take your brother and train him to be the next Alpha of this pack. I'm too old to take up the position, but I would die a happy man, if my kin completed my revenge. I can't have you breeding with that mutt, my sweet. I want to completely wipe out the pure breeds so that none of their blood will ever look down on people like myself again! I'm going to create a revolution!"

This man needed to be stopped.

"Help!" I screamed, my voice finally finding itself.

"That's not going to help. I made sure to make my move when Bennett and his mutts decided to leave on the wild goose chase. They are scouring the woods looking for little old me when I'm right under their nose."

I gritted my teeth. "You'd have to kill me first before you can kill Greyson!"

His lips turned down. "That would dishearten me, but if you really wish to die with that boy than it can be arranged."

"If you kill me and him and the rest of Greyson's family, how do you know that the pack would freely answer to you?" I asked.

"A pack without an Alpha is like an army without a leader. Either they become rogues, or they can choose the nest strongest leader. If I killed the Alpha, that would make me their next leader."

"I'm not going to let that happen." I seethed.

Deep inside me, I wanted to protect everything Greyson worked hard for. He dedicated all his life for this pack and he would be crushed to see it be destroyed by this man who I didn't want to call my blood relative.

He wasn't my relative.

Someone this evil is not considered my family.

"What are you-a human-going to do?"

"This." I flung the paperweight at him, which he easily dodged, but I quickly reached back behind my pocket and produced the silver switchblade I had kept all this time. I had once thought of using it to escape but never had the heart to use it.

Until now...

I plunged the knife into his stomach making him growl. His voice was so load it probably made an echo out the open window. I hoped that it was load enough to attract Bennett and the rest of the pack back to the house.

"You brat-

His fingernails elongated to claws and I barely avoided them from clawing into my shoulder.

"Help!" I screamed again.

On the other side of the door, I can hear mom, Charlotte, Lexie and Laura screaming and pounding against the door.

"Why is this locked?"

"Celeste, open the door!"

It was impossible to open the door with a monster blocking it!

"I can't, there's a rogue blocking the door!" I screeched.

"Oh god!" Laura exclaimed. "Lexie, inform the guards downstairs!"

Remington growled and grunted when he grasped the knife in my hand.

"That's no way to treat your grandfather, sweetie."

"You're nothing to me." I spat.

He made another attempt to attack, but his hands caught on the heart monitor wires and the stickers attached to Greyson ripped off his skin. The monitor beeped when it disconnected.

Greyson wasn't dead, but he was still asleep.

Remington growled with annoyance and kicked the machine to stop the noise.

"Celeste, get away from the door! We're going to kick it open!"

"Okay!" I yelled.

They kicked it once and Remington took one glance at me then the open window. My eyes widened when he made a couple steps towards me.

"Some here sweetie, gramps won't harm you...much."

"Stay away from me. Don't touch me!"

"Celeste!" Mom and Charlotte screamed from the other side.

The men on the other side grunted as they hit the doors again. "One more." They said.

When they were able to open the double doors, the light from the halls illuminated the scene inside. Blood that belonged to Remington smeared the floor. My knife was on the foot of the bed.

"Nicolas!" Mom cried when she saw Remington's face.

"No you stupid woman, I'm his father!" He roared.

While I was distracted, he grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder.

Believe me, I kicked and screamed with all my might.

"Celeste!" Everyone screamed at once.

Remington headed towards the window and jumped, taking me along with him. I watched hopeless as, once again, I had been kidnapped for the second time.

NOTE: Dec 24, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS YOU FREAKISHLY AMAZING PEOPLE!!! I'M BACK!!! I've graduated and I'm ready to write again after a year of constant chaos. I have edited this book again so you will find some changes to the style of writing. This book has been closed off from the public but I have made it visible once more. SO YOU BETTER BE GRATEFUL, you marshmallows! Let's make one thing clear though IF YOU COPY MY BOOK...I WILL FIND YOU.

BE WARNED. xo