Stranded with my mates: Rejected & Claimed

Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Grayson moved from his position over me. He landed with a soft thud on his back and chuckled into the cool air.

"It’s not funny," I scolded.

A smile spread across him that made me smack my hand at his chest before staring back down at the shimmering silk. Being in Grayson’s presence, especially while he laughed at my unfortunate circumstance, set me at ease. But worry still gripped my heart at how and why I couldn’t remove these clothes.

Questions trampled around my mind like wild horses. Would they ever come off? Who or what was controlling their enchantment? What if Dominic was the only one who could remove them?

The last question made a lump form in my throat that shook with the next boom of thunder. I jumped at the sound that cracked through the sky with god-like anger.

"You guys done in there?" Jax yelled from beyond the door.

"It’s getting a little wild out here."

A low rumble of chuckles came from the large lump of a man beside me. Looking at him, his arm was behind his head and his eyes were closed. Humor played at his lips with an inside joke I wasn’t privy to.

My lips pursed and nose scrunched at him before I called out for Jax to join us. When he opened the door, a gust of wind made me shield my face as small twigs and other debris flew in before he strapped the door closed behind him.

Water dripped from his blonde hair while he added extra ties to the door. Turning, he shook his head. spraying me with the salty water. Grayson didn’t seem to care as he lay solid in his place. Light flashed around the slats in the wall of our shelter.

Jax sat beside me, shedding his wet clothes until he sat in his boxers. Thunder cracked and I jumped again, this time grabbing Jax’s arm for comfort.

"Man, it’s crazy out there, like a hurricane. Think this’ll hold?" He asked to no one in particular.

Grayson grunted in acknowledgement but added no commentary. They had nestled the shelter between the strong trunks of trees, shielding it from the bulk of the wind. Rain pooled on leaves above and dripped onto the roof in occasional streams.

Jax settled himself into his spot, using his arm as a pillow the same as Grayson. I was the only one upright now, sitting evenly between the two of them. I couldn’t help but compare the two of them from how they were laid out in my view.

One light haired, one dark. One shorter with muscles that stretched over bone that worked better for speed and agility, the other bulging balls that gave him a strength that challenged every opponent. Jax was lighter, skin soft and smooth. Grayson’s dark in a tanned brown with rough skin from his extended stay on the island.

The heated passion from the unfruitful session with Grayson still lingered. I could feel his lips on me, his fingers trailing. My skin rose as I wondered what Jax’s touch might feel like, the stark differences from them like night and day.

His touch would be gentle, caring, and playful like his personality. Where Grayson would grip me, Jax would caress. My eyebrows raised at the thoughts of what each man would do to me if I weren’t trapped inside myself.

"Rebel..." came Grayson’s voice, amused warning in his tone.

My mind snapped closed, surprise at his presence making me curl into myself. He smirked with his cocky grin and I threw myself on the ground, trying not to touch either of them in the cramped space that was only large enough for the three of us.

Jax didn’t seem to notice and soon started snoring despite the raging storm and the fact it was only late afternoon. I turned to Grayson, set on memorizing his every detail while the hours passed. If he felt my gaze on him, he didn’t chide me as he kept his eyes closed, not sleeping as the hours passed in our silence.

Night fell and the walls and roof still shook as we lay in our shelter. Without insulation, a breeze blew through the hut that chilled my skin. Like they could feel my discomfort, each man scooted closer to me with each toss and turn of their bodies until I was happily cuddled by the both of them.

I fought sleep, enjoying the heat and comfort of their bodies but eventually let it overtake me while the dumping rain turned into a steady downfall.

By morning, the skies had cleared and the wind had calmed. Rain still fell from the trees, dripping on me from above as I exited the hut. Mornings were slowly becoming chillier and chillier with each passing day and I rubbed my bare arms with cold fingers.

Finding Marek would be a blessing for his leather making skills alone. He was talented and creative in ways that we needed for our little pack, but above all I missed him. He was too empathic to be poisoned by someone like Dominic and if anyone, I wanted to keep him from Dominics grasp first.

Nudging at Jax’s legs with my foot from the doorway, he stretched out. I didn’t understand how he could sleep so much but smiled at his playful, "good morning, sunshine."

Grayson left to hunt nearby, taking longer than usual as he refused to venture too far from my side. Jax and I went about trying to build a fire with the damp wood and lack of kindling. Finding dried moss and dead leaves hidden under a chunk of bark, we were finally able to start a small fire from his flint stone.

Soon, Grayson returned with fresh meat and breakfast was made while they discussed a plan for finding Marek. With the storm, his scent had faded and his tracks washed away. Wandering aimlessly could have us running into the wrong individual and there wasn’t any ideas on how to draw him out.

"We could climb a cliff," I suggested. "Get an aerial view to see if he’s made his own camp."

They looked at each other, considering before agreeing. I grew giddy at my successful contribution, bouncing as we packed up our camp. Before the day had warmed, we set off again with a new direction.

The walk was long but filled with Jax’s chatter. He was overly hyper with his long rest and hopes of seeing Marek. Grayson was moodily silent behind me, unbothered by Jax but with a look on his face like he woke up on the wrong side of the non-existent bed we shared.

We reached the chosen cliff, its face steeper than the last one I had climbed. Looking up at it, it towered over us as though it was laughing at us. Jax didn’t hesitate, tightening the sack around his back and gripping the first rock.

His feet followed and I watched as he scaled upwards with in-human ease. Grayson pushed me forward and I stared at him with obvious fear.

"You’ll be fine," he said as though my new found phobie was boring him.

With shaky hands, I grabbed the rocks and lifted myself the first foot off the ground. My breathing quickened and heartbeat hammered in my chest as I moved an inch more. Grayson’s hand reached above mine, his other wrapping around my waist while he lifted me upward.

I relaxed a little, knowing he was at my back to keep me from falling. I didn’t look down as we slowly ascended the face of the cliff. Jax reached the top quickly and sat to kick his feet over the ledge while he waited for us.

"You guys won’t believe what’s up here," he called down but I kept my pace as Grayson patiently allowed me to take my time.

A few times, my footing slipped. His arm was quick to catch me, pulling me back up to where I gripped the cliff with sore fingers.

When we were near enough, Jax reached his hand down to pull me up like I weighed nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

My feet kicked in the air before I landed on my knees against the smoothed ledge. I felt the dirt beneath my fingers, stretching them out after the scrunched tension. I crawled away from the edge quickly, looking around while Grayson effortlessly pulled himself up behind me.

The trees were sparse but a few stood out around the large lake that made up most of top of this mountain. I stared in wonder, making my way to wobbly feet while taking the sight in. It looked like glass with a grassy green around its edge before the ground turned to dirt then empty space as land fell away.

There were over a dozen spots where the water spilled over the cliff, creating sprays of mist where the waterfalls crashed below.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Jax said.

I nodded in awe. Grayson seemed unimpressed as he was turned the opposite direction, seeking our objective.

"There," he pointed in a deep voice.

I followed his finger to where a small line of smoke rose through the trees.

"How do you know it’s him?" I asked.

His brows lowered, "I don’t."

With beauty at my back and danger at my front, I took a deep breath, knowing we now had to make our way back down the cliff we had only just climbed.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!