Stranded with my mates: Rejected & Claimed

Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Leaving camp made my pulse quicken. Every step into the unknown making my skin crawl and my eyes dart around. Jax held my hand as we walked, providing a comfort that Grayson was too rigid for.

I was beginning to grow accustomed to the routines around camp, enjoying the simplicity in the confines of day to day life. Leaving felt like the dream had ended, like I was returning to worry and danger and responsibilities I never asked for.

Grayson had equipped me with a knife that I would never use. The wood handle splintered perfectly to engulf the sharpened stone with jagged edges. It was neatly wrapped in corded rope that felt strong in my hand.

Without a place to put it on my body, I held it awkwardly in my empty hand as we ventured down the path. The morning weather was beginning to shift, heavy morning fog that drifted away with wind that blew stronger in the treetops. Autumn crept in with each passing day.

The nights temperature was starting to drop slightly, letting me cuddle closer to Grayson by the fire. The hut had been abandoned as we all made our beds together on the ground outside each night.

Jax felt the tension between Grayson and I but without any privacy from Grayson’s watchfulness, we hadn’t been able to talk about it.

Finding Marek, I hoped, would ease some strain from Grayson’s shoulders. With him to help share watch against Dominic, then maybe I would be able to return to more normal days.

Grayson kept looking back at me as we walked, constantly checking to make sure I was still there and hadn’t been pulled away by demonic hands.

I felt the tightness in his chest, the fire in his soul, and the fears he held that he would never speak. It pained me to see him like this.

We moved slow, the wind that swayed the trees above making it harder to hear danger. It felt as though a storm was coming, the sky darkening and moisture accumulating densely in the air.

Forest sounds made me jump at every bend, a scurrying rodent or bird jumping away through branches sent gasps through me. Grayson and Jax seemed unphased, their attention fixed on something I couldn’t sense.

Once we arrived at where Jax claimed to last see Marek, they looked around for the start of any tracks. Grayson looked to catch a sent as he nodded to Jax before we left in another direction.

A short walk later, we neared the beach where it became harder for the trees to break the wind. My hair whipped around and I tied it up a string that Jax pulled from the sack he carried.

The waves were as rocky as the cliffs on the outer edge of the island and they chopped back and forth in the harsh winds. Jax pulled at my hand, indicating me to follow them back into the safety of the trees.

We traveled inland, following trails that made me feel like we were walking in zig zags. There was no pattern to the path we followed and after a few hours, Grayson stopped to discuss a new plan with Jax.

"He’s hidden himself well," Grayson said.

"It’ll take longer than we thought and the storm is coming. We should head back to camp," Jax added.

Grayson eyed me, making me wonder what thoughts plagued his mind.

"And start all this over? No, we’ll build shelter and hole up for the night. Wait for the storm to pass and continue the search after."

Jax nodded, not daring to dispute Grayson’s command.

"I’ll gather supplies for the shelter, you find a good spot?"

Grayson nodded, eyes still on me. Jax glanced at me for a moment, his apprehension over staying outside of the safety of our home too long matching mine. Pulling off his sack, he handed it to me before heading between trees to forage.

Grayson reached his hand out, making my eyebrows raise with surprise. I took it quickly as he turned towards the path again.

Within minutes, we reached a glade that looked too familiar. I went about helping Grayson gather sticks for the fire while trying to remember when I had been in this space.

"I’ve been here before," I told Grayson who only grunted.

It wasn’t until I bent over a fallen log that I remembered Jax leaning up against it, tossing knives at the tree stump beyond.

The markings still littered the stump, and I felt the small holes with my finger. This is where the pack was trying to teach me how to hunt, when we were whole except for one, before I escaped to find Grayson’s grave.

Jax returned with sticks and palm leaves piled so high it obscured his face. Setting the pile down, he looked around the glade with a quiet amusement.

He looked to me with a giddy face to see if I remembered but nervousness took over mine. We were too close to our old base for comfort.

"Remember this spot?" He asked, drifting into his own memory of it.

"I do, this is where I hypnotized you all."

"Get out of here, that didn’t happen," he teased.

Jax and Grayson worked together, one tying the wood together while the other held them tight.

I told them both the story. How I wanted to see the gravestone Julien lied about. How I brought up my powers and froze them in time. How only Dominic knew my plan that day.

They shared a look, unease obvious. If I hadn’t seen the way they fight, I would almost think they were scared of me. Jax made no snarky remark at my story and only silence followed.

They placed the final leaf over top the others, completing the roof. They both stood back, admiring their quick work. It was a small shanty, but I found myself proud of their teamwork.

Grayson shook it, testing its hold against the coming storm. Satisfied, they both turned towards the fire and joined me where I sat.

I understood their fear, my powers were uncontrollable and unpredictable. Even with training, I failed to understand them.

I couldn’t trust myself in any way and after the last full moon, I swore to myself that I would never use them again.

I gripped the knife tighter as I remembered every time my powers had hurt one of these wolves, had controlled them.

The looks Grayson and Jax gave me only strengthened my resolve. I could surround myself with a pack but Dominic was bound to want me back again, his claim inevitable. I would protect myself this time without my powers. I would kill him if I had to.

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