Stranded with my mates: Rejected & Claimed

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

He had integrated himself so deeply into my soul, I didn’t know where I ended and he began. He was the side of me that smirked, that scowled, that stood strong in the face of danger.

No matter how much time I spent with the others or who else I shared my body or bond with, he was the one that held my gravity. In a world that spun on the point of a needle, it was Grayson I as anchored to.

Jax may have helped break my curse but in the days that followed, I only belonged to Grayson. His freedom to consume me was insatiable and we took every opportunity to escape into what privacy we could afford.

The smell of smoke from the fire outside drifted around us. The dark room filled with his musk, erasing the memory of crackling wood and cooked meat. An arm wrapped around the line of my spine and gripped the back of my neck, pulling me down onto where I sat on top of him. I tasted the salt on his skin as our naked bodies wrapped together.

My time with Jax was delicious but with Grayson, I was made whole. In this space, he showed me more of himself than he would with any other soul. I knew him deeply as he pushed himself inside of me, trying to feel my own secrets with the parts of us that fit together.

Heavy breathing and closed lids with amused smiles filled the day after every release. No matter how much I had of him, it wasn’t enough. His hunger matched mine, insatiable in the calm that filled the camp.

Julien was ignored by Grayson and he fell into a quiet omega role that kept him at the edge of camp whenever he was near. The longer I kept Grayson in the confines of our hut, the more Julien as able to relax into the new dynamics of our pack life.

The joy over gaining control over one aspect of my life had been overshadowed by Grayson’s hands caressing me, inside of me. I shook the thoughts from my head before I dragged him back to the hut.

Breakfast had long been over but I sat by the slowly dying fire, munching on scrambled eggs with Grayson while the others were already busy with their daily tasks. He tempted me again with the curve of his lips but I fought the urge.

As much as I relished my break from reality and all the problems that came with it, there were still things that needed fixing and relationships that needed building. We needed to discuss the Dominic problem, I needed to fix the Marek changing issue, and Grayson needed to find a not-so-hostile relationship with our newest pack member.

A wind had picked up through the trees and clouds washed over the sun like a flickering light. A storm was coming, we could all feel it and needed to prepare for it. I could hold up in Grayson’s hut, continuing our exploration adventures of each other’s bodies. Or I could stay in the bunkhouse, forcing Grayson to be near Julien.

It wouldn’t hurt if I spent some time with him, as well. Julien and I had been through a lot and there was still a long way to go before tension would ease. He had broken my trust before but his efforts to reconcile that played at my heart along with the blame Dominic had placed on me for Julien’s behaviour.

I did feel like I had an unspeakable control over every one of them. Whatever I asked felt like an inevitability rather than a request. Except when it came to Dominic. I begged him to leave my mind but he remained like a fly that wouldn’t stop pestering my skin, no matter how often I swatted him away.

I leaned into Grayson’s leg, resting my head on his knee and his hand dug into my hair. I let out a sigh, contemplating which task I should start on first for the day. I desperately needed to bathe, Grayson’s sweat sticking to every part of me.

Watching the others go about their work gave me a sense of security. Marek and Jax continued working on their contraption. It had grown twice in size with a large bowl-like structure at its top. They often argued over it construction and more than once, took it apart only to put it back together the same way.

Julien sat by a tree at the edge of camp, his new favorite spot that kept him away from judgement and anger. It was so comforting to see him working on his writing and I wondered if the writing was sad or happy.

Wanting him to fit in and feel welcome slowly began to take presidency in my mind over all other concerns. He was a pack member now, and not just a pack I was a part of but one I felt like Grayson and I led together. I had brought him in and I was responsible for him.

"I want to talk to Julien alone," I told Grayson and his glare dropped to me.

I could feel as well as see the twitch in his eye. He had been making every effort to keep Julien’s presence away from his mind and mine and I needed that to change. ’Hello, no’ shook through our bond and I clenched my teeth together.

"He’s with us now, Grayson. We need to talk to him, see where his loyalties lie."

"I know where they lie," he said with seething anger as he looked me up and down where I sat beneath him.

I rolled my eyes, just because all of them wanted in my enchanted pants didn’t mean I would let them.

"I’m going to the waterfall with him and Marek, I want you to stay here."

A growl rose along with an unsettling dread that fell over him, making me want to change my mind and take him back to bed just to comfort his bruised ego. I fought the feeling. He was unnerved by me wanting to help others but I was determined.

If it were up to him, I would want nothing more than to stay in the confines of the hut day in and day out as I waited for the prize of his cock and nothing more. But I wasn’t his slave and I wouldn’t let the others be left out because of his pride.

I sat patiently, pushing my reason with the look I gave him. I could feel his frustration falter and changed the way I looked up at him. He wanted to break away even turning his head to do so but his eyes were trapped in my stare.

Looking up at him with a gentle please curling in my iris, he took a deep breath as his brows softened. He didn’t want to tell me yes but I could feel my victory with the relaxing of his shoulders. Dominic had accused me of changing the men of the island. Maybe that wasn’t all that bad, I thought.

Blinking, he nodded his head and I jumped up with glee. I kissed him on the cheek, a gesture that only seemed to annoy him, and turned to join the others. I felt his eyes on me, his restraint controlled in a delicate way.

I went straight to Julien first, passing Marek and Jax who paused their bickering to glance between me and Grayson. Sensing my advance, Julien peaked up from his weathered booklet with a surprised and apprehensive look.

Squatting next to him, I gave him the warmest and most welcoming smile I could and reached a hand towards him.

"I was hoping we could talk and I need a good swim. Would you join me on a walk?"

His eyes darted to Grayson and I turned back as well. He stayed still, fighting the urge to reach for me and snatch me away. He filled his lungs, puffing out his chest, then let go of his attention. He turned back to his breakfast, ignoring our questioning stares as though we were all beneath him.

Pleased with the response, I turned back to Julien with a bounce from where I sat on my heels. He flickered his focus back on me. He reminded me of a fawn freezing in tall grass, cautious of every noise and ready to run.

I reached my hand a little further and he stared down at my fingers, wondering if they were a trap.

"I don’t bite," I told him softly.

His eyes again moved to Grayson who very much so, does bite. But when Grayson remained in place, Julien finally placed his hand in mine and rose to his feet with me. I happily called Marek, feeling slightly bad that he was tethered to me in such a way, but wanting to exit quickly before Grayson changed his mind.

I could tell he wanted to stay working on his project, but with no other choice, he warned Jax not to mess with anything on it and turned to follow ulien and I before the barrier of his control reached its limit.

The three of us set off, Marek catching up with a panicked jog. Julien first, I told myself. I needed our pack to be strong again before I could test my powers again. Then I would find a way to sever the leash that cinched tight around Marek’s neck.

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