Stranded with my mates: Rejected & Claimed

Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Marek’s first week with us was filled with projects. Jax and I ran around together, gathering sticks and logs while Marek worked away. Grayson watched with an amused and unhelpful look while we hurried to help.

A new bunkhouse was erected, along with a smoke hut and a pantry. In a normal life, Marek would have been a carpenter. Or maybe an inventor. The only issue was he had a hard time finishing his projects, leaving Jax and I to add the final touches to incomplete designs.

In the evenings we would relax, spending time together by the fire telling stories the same as we did with Dominic’s base. The only difference was Grayson didn’t join in, only listened with a quiet enjoyment. He was beginning to soften, to ease into this life despite his reluctance to fun.

Marek wasn’t becoming Grayson’s shadow like he had been with Dominic, but a friendship was forming with their mutual respect. They admired each other’s strength and intuitive nature.

My heart filled with how well they all got along. Every moment spent with them felt like I belonged to something I had longed for my entire life.

I missed Julien and my feelings for Dominic were complicated. There were also the enchanted clothes that prevented me from satiating my growing compulsions. But things still felt good.

Every laugh with Jax, or lesson from Marek, or kiss with Grayson felt like color had returned to the world. I was happy in the only way I knew how to be.

But good times were always followed by bad, waves of luck would crash down with misfortune. The grief and worries would return and pretending they no longer existed would vanish as they plummeted down with a gruelling force.

So, when Dominic’s voice echoed in my mind I wasn’t surprised. I had been expecting it. His call for my return, his haunting presence that refused to leave until I was claimed over and over again.

I was leaning against Grayson’s chest, lounging by the fire that evening while Jax told a story. He used his hands to express himself in an animated display, making even Grayson give a soft chuckle as he described the night of his most embarrassing hunt.

Dominic eased his way in and I felt him as hot and heavy as a breath on the back of my neck, sending chills down my spine. I hid the sensation, shielding Grayson from knowing.

Looking up at him, I knew he couldn’t know. The last thing I wanted was for him to act on his anger. If he did, we might lose more than Dominic could ever destroy.

A noise beyond the trees made me jump, Grayson’s arms tightening around me as though he could contain me without asking. Thoughts of the pitch black void that made up his eyes hiding in the dark made my heart begin to race.

Jax’s story had paused as he shared a look with Marek. It wasn’t just me who feared the noise. I could feel Grayson’s attitude tighten with his muscles that held me in place.

"What was that?" I asked, knowing their superhuman senses already had identified the danger. If it were Dominic, wouldn’t they be more concerned?

"Nothing," Grayson said with a flick of his tongue.

Jax stared at his feet and Marek rolled his shoulders and locked his gaze in the dancing flames of the fire. I looked up at Grayson who gave nothing away. Was he lying?

I reached into his mind, searching for answers when his eyes snapped to mine. Infuriating anger filled him as he blocked my intrusion, but it was too late. I had seen what was creeping around in the darkness and why Grayson didn’t want me to know.

"Julien’s out there," I stated.

His eyes closed as he sucked in a slow breath. I yanked myself free and stood, glaring down at him.

"How long has he been outside of our camp?"

He didn’t answer and I looked to the others who avoided me at all costs. I threw my hands in the air and dropped them dramatically.

"If no one tells me, I’m just going to go get him."

Grayson jumped to his feet at that. "You will not," he seethed.

Temperature rose in my cheeks as my own anger built. The uncomfortable conflict was obvious on the faces of the two who refused to stand by my side at this moment. Grayson may claim to be their alpha but they were supposed to be here for me.

I turned to Jax who fidgeted with his fingernails. A demand flourished in my chest that told him to look at me without me needing to speak the words.

"Tell me." My voice was thick with my command.

"A few days," he answered plainly and Grayson growled behind me.

He gripped my arm, turning me towards him.

"You don’t give orders here."

I scoffed, "just because you are an alpha doesn’t mean you’re my alpha. This isn’t my first day on the island anymore, I don’t need your help and I don’t need you making decisions for me."

Ignoring the fury lighting every corner of his face, I turned to the others.

"We should vote. Decide together if he gets to join our pack."

A charged silence followed, the ground seeming to tighten as the others turned into themselves. I could sense the shock in Grayson and looked back to realize it was much more dangerous than that. I had challenged his rule in front of his pack and his tolerance broke.

"You think this is a democracy? The only order you’re good for is getting on your knees and taking what I give you. Everything else is my decision."

His eyes narrowed with that slow, satisfied gleam, just enough to say he’d already won.

Rage and embarrassment twisted together until I wanted to scream, to hit him, to tear that smug look off his fucking face. My hands curled at my sides, nails digging into my palms, but my feet stayed rooted, locked by the heaviness in the air.

The humiliation burned, but underneath it something colder settled in. I’d get what I wanted, and I’d make him regret the way he spoke to me.

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