Stranded with my mates: Rejected & Claimed

Chapter 65: Chapter 65

I held my own hand, rubbing the lines in the palm. The feel of his fur still held its memory on the tips of my fingers.

"I’m sorry," I told him in a small voice.

To feel his struggle, his pain, left me filled with a sorrow that I could cause such emotions. He let out a huff through his nostrils, sitting on his back legs. A feeling filled my chest like everything was going to be alright. It took me a moment to realize the feeling was coming from him like he was communicating his reassurance.

Jax and Grayson had relaxed behind me, the tension easing without the threat of immediate attack. I reached my hand back out, rubbing into Marek’s cheek and scratching behind his ear.

"We should get back to camp. Do you think he’ll go with us?" Jax asked.

His answer reached inside me, vibrating on my veins like the strings of a violin.

"He says yes," I told them.

Their eyes bore heavily onto my back as their baffled silence followed. I continued to pet the giant beast, his head turning to get a better angle against my nails.

"You... can hear him?" Grayson asked.

A touch of jealousy ran through him that I felt within our bond. HIs possessiveness didn’t like sharing my mind.

"In a way."

It was hard to explain it out loud, it wasn’t like the bond but something that felt like it was built through nature whereas the connection with Grayson was more divine.

Marek raised to his feet again and I took a step back. He shook his fur, increasing in speed until it violently snapped back into the rigid skin that made up his human form.

"He’s back!" Jax cheered.

A yell came out of Marek as his snout and claws retracted. I quickly looked away as the naked man stood in front of me. My eyes met Grayson’s who had an amused smile at my discomfort. I sneered at him while waiting for Marek to retrieve his pants.

"Damn," he remarked in his low, bass-like voice. "That hurts more and more every time."

When I was confident he was dressed, I turned back and lept into his arms. I felt small against his giant body as I attempted to wrap my arms around him in the biggest embrace I could muster.

"I’m sorry I did this to you," I told him again, now that he could respond with words.

He sighed, returning the hug before responding. "It’s ok, little bird."

When I pulled back, Jax wasted no time in taking my place.

"You had me worried you big lump."

Marek smiled against Jax’s affection and I felt nearly whole again. I hadn’t known how empty parts of me truly were without more of my pack around me. Pieces still felt missing, but with Marek’s presence it was more bearable.

I fell back to Grayson’s side, taking comfort in all the men that were mine here. He wasn’t feeling the same emotions I was. Marek was still a stranger and didn’t hold the same trust he had built with Jax.

Things would be different in this pack. Dominic led the pack before but didn’t claim alpha status, whereas Grayson demanded it and wouldn’t allow anyone to be by his side without obedience.

I interlaced my fingers through Grayson’s, silently communicating my worry over the challenge that was rising in him. Being this close to the old base and Dominic was making him on edge. He wanted to head back to camp but needed to know where Marek’s allegiance would lie first.

Grayson stepped forward, pulling his hand from mine. Marek’s conversation with Jax paused as he felt the tension radiating through the air. The challenge was obvious in his stance and Jax took several steps back, anticipating a fight.

"Will you answer to me?" Grayson asked simply and Marek’s eyes fell on me.

A question formed in him, the look making Grayson tense. He was questioning my own loyalty, wondering if Grayson was the one I was choosing. I nodded slowly at him and he understood. He refused to look away from me as he knelt in front of Grayson.

"I pledge my loyalty," he said, only briefly looking at Grayson before setting his eyes back on me.

Grayson glanced looked over his shoulder, giving me a royally pissed off look that I was usurping his power but ultimately accepted Marek’s fealty. He grunted in approval, walking away as if all of this meant nothing to him.

"We should go," I told him and a light lit in him.

He began collecting his things in a rush, handing trinkets to both Jax and I. I chided him for having so much stuff and no transportation for carrying them. Once Jax and I were carrying more then we were capable, we set off back towards camp.

Grayson was empty handed as he led the way, making me sigh at his rudeness. I kept a close eye on my bond with Dominic, making sure he wasn’t near while also keeping him from entering my mind. The task was easy since he hadn’t tried to connect with me since the full moon but with Marek now tethered inside of me as well, the room was beginning to feel crowded.

When we reached the sand of the beach, I struggled not to drop the full load in my arms. Being the only path that avoided the river, we had to stop a few times for me to rest. My balance in the sand was poor with all that Marek had me carrying and Grayson finally gave in, taking the items before continuing on our journey.

With another person for Jax to talk to, his ramblings were neverending as he told Marek about our every adventure. He praised Grayson in a way that made Marek concerned that he may be brainwashed.

Grayson kept a dismissive and stern face, refusing to let anything show to the newest member of our pack.

Relief washed over me as we entered our camp. It was completely undisturbed from the previous day’s storm and we piled Marek’s things together. Marek mused about when we would return for the remainder of his stuff while Jax and I sprawled out together in the grassy area.

"You can just make new stuff," Jax called out as Marek walked around the camp.

He picked up and observed everything we had to offer, looking unimpressed and exasperated. He’ll have his work cut out for him, I felt him think and chuckled. This was better than I could have hoped for. Grayson had accepted him, Jax made him feel at home, and he hadn’t changed since we left his camp.

Maybe being a lone-wolf was what was causing his spontaneous changing. Now that he was a part of our pack, things would be better for him. I moved onto Jax’s chest, using it as a headrest while I watched Marek explore his new home.

Grayson sat by the fire, adding wood and kindle before working a flame into the mix. We would need to find food soon, the venture of finding and retrieving Marek had taken the entire day leaving no time for meals. Dusk was approaching and my stomach growled.

I hoped food storage would be the first task on Marek’s list. Jax’s laughter shook my head, breaking me from my thoughts.

"What?" I asked.

"I can hear your stomach from here," he teased.

He moved to stand and I lifted my head to let him go.

"Marek. Want to go do some hunting?" Jax asked while bouncing around him, fake punching at the air around Marek’s stomach.

He grinned a wide smile and agreed. Grayson stayed quiet in his task as the others began to head out of camp. I liked it this way, some fears over my safety had left him with our growing number. His tension was also relaxing with the idea of being alone with me and my heart melted at the feeling.

A noise made me jump to my feet.

A yelp had come from Jax as growls fell from the wolf version of Marek at the edge of the treeline. My shoulders slumped at his uncontrolled transformation. His eyes were wild and panicked with anger.

How would I ever be able to fix him? Jax stepped back, catching Marek’s attention from the surprise of his new form. He bared his teeth, snarling at Jax. I moved to step forward and Grayson stood with anger, warning me with his look to stay away from the danger. My feet felt glued in place as I turned my attention back to the others.

Another step from Jax and Marek followed, inching back towards camp. Grayson’s claws grew and the gold of his eyes flared.

Another step and Marek’s wolf yipped before he fell into his human form again.

He panted heavily on his hands and knees, and I struggled against the urge to run to him. He stood on shaky legs then, head down with a grimace on his face.

A single leg stepped back for balance and he cried out as it changed into a paw.

It was as though there was a line that he crossed, marking where he would transform and he jerked his leg towards him. It was instantly human again and he stared down at it confused before the awareness of the situation clicked in both of our minds.

I was the one controlling his wolf.

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