Thank you Cheyanne for this banner! She didn't leave her username, but you did an awesome job!

Word Count: 1829

~Lexia

I stare blankly at Grayson, while he winces, waiting for me to respond to the information he just dumped on me. Phantom Wolf. Phantom Wolf. Phantom...

And as I sit there, as I let it sink into my skin, I believe him.

For some reason the idea of him being a Phantom Wolf, like Jasper, fits so perfectly. The picture of the wolf plastered to his wall. That has to be him. That's the reason why he wandered out into the forest at night. What would have happened had I followed him?

"You can't read minds, can you?" I ask, remembering the abilities Jasper has. Grayson frowns, taken aback by how calm I'm being about this.

But I can't explain it. I almost feel...Numb to the news. As I stare into Grayson's eyes, I feel nothing but understanding, and I don't know why. The idea of him being almost dead in some strange, almost magical way should have frightened me beyond belief. I think he's more worried about this than me.

"I...No, I can't read minds," he says carefully. "You seem okay with this."

I shrug, almost too casually. "You could say I know another-"

"Jasper," he finishes for me. I gape at him.

He knows Jasper. My mouth hangs wide open, and I stare at him as if he's lying to me. I can't believe I didn't see their alliance coming from a mile away. Now this is shocking me more than the idea of Grayson being a Phantom Wolf.

"You did see him at the party?" I question, wildly scraping the surface for some type of elaboration on this.

Grayson only nods.

"So if you're a Phantom Wolf...You're basically dead..." I say, hinting for clarification. Grayson reaches out, placing a hand on my knee that is still buried under the blankets.

"No. I have been cursed for a little amount of time. Unlike Jasper, I have not matured into my possible powers, whereas he has had centuries to perfect the art of magic. But neither of us are truly dead. But we can not be alive, at the same time."

My eyebrows crease instantly in confusion. What?

Grayson seems to notice my expression. "Jasper told you about his repent. Well, our forms of recovery are different."

Clearly.

"I shall allow you to kill the man behind the uprising, who Jasper has been wanting dead for a very long time. Once he is dead, Jasper's heart will beat again. And then, I will mark you, and I will contain the wolf in me forever," Grayson explains.

The wolf. The crazed, hungry for vengeance looking creature on Grayson's wall. Just by he look in his eyes, I can tell the Alpha is pained to even mention it. This is a part of him he doesn't want anything to do with.

"I understand," I tell him. Maybe I don't fully, but all I know is that I have to agree. I have to help.

This is where all my training to be a leader comes in, and I want nothing more than to use it against the man behind the uprising. It is my duty to kill him, because I was the one to start it.

But still, despite the determination written clearly across my face, Grayson expresses nothing but surprise.

"I still can't believe you're not screaming in fright, or telling me to go to hell," he muses, looking at me as if I'm an ancient artefact that was just dug up from the ground. I can't believe it either.

"I trust you," I tell him, admiring the way the sun through my window illuminates his entire being, showing every curve and dip of his beautifully structured face. I reach out, cupping the side of his face to feel his cheek smooth beneath my finger tips.

He smiles softly. "There's something else."

I want to roll my eyes. What I committed to with Grayson yesterday hadn't once been mentioned, and quite frankly, I think as I remove my hand from his face, all I want to do is drag him into my bed.

To think, a few weeks ago, I would have been laughing at the idea of a mate making me feel good. Little did I know...

"I need you to leave to the Devotion Pack, with Jasper," Grayson tells me, his words coming out so quickly, it doesn't bother to hide the clear insinuation that he doesn't want to be saying those words.

And quite frankly, I didn't expect them to come from his mouth either.

"The man behind the uprising is named Cyprian. He was once a member of the Love Pack, but turned volatile. The only way we are going to find him is-"

He breaks off, but I understand.

He wants me gone, because he's going to be working with Alphas. Important Alphas that I shouldn't be around.

"You'll be safe in Jasper's Pack," Grayson promises, speaking as if he doesn't want me to be offended. I'm not. Far from it. But the idea of leaving this Pack is unnerving. I'm starting to see this place more as home...

Grayson's hand clenches on my thigh suddenly, tightening over my leg through the sheets. I'm naked under these sheets-my body still unable to handle the heat-and I don't want the young Alpha to have the image of me naked in his head just yet.

So when he slides his hand further up my thigh, as if the fabric between us is no bother, I press it to my body nervously.

"Since when were you shy?" He questions, but his voice is suggestive, his eyes a flicker of teasing amusement.

He leans his body over mind, bringing our faces closer. Just looking at him could replenish a tired soul. But I want to do more than just see my mate.

I want to touch him, feel him-

"Patience is the key to success," I whisper, slapping the hand that hovers too close to the edge of my sheet. One simple tug on his end could have me completely revealed to his eyes.

He smiles, a hint of amusement from my answering tease dancing across his expression. He brushes his lips against my jaw, the feeling having me arch my back ever so slightly, my eyes closing automatically.

He notices. I can tell by the way the free hand not used to brace him over me grabs onto my hip, squeezing ever so slightly.

"When you're back, I'm going to have you in every way I can...And I will see that beautiful body under me," he purrs in my ear, pulling away enough so I could almost taste his lips on mine.

My whole body practically blushes at the promise in his words.

Before I can pull his lips to mine, he jumps away, winking as he stands. "Get dressed, and meet me downstairs."

I want to growl at him, as I sit up, still holding the sheet protectively to my chest. I'm not going to give him satisfaction of hearing me beg for him.

But the way he looks at me as he wander out the room as me considering it.

❤️••❤️

"I don't know why I didn't freak out more," I voice my feelings to Jasper, as we drive down a narrow straight road.

Already, we are heading to the Devotion Pack. Across the land, the drive will take us a good 27 hours. And five minutes out of the Freedom Pack, and I'm bored. All I have to think about is the sad departure from Grayson...

"Freak out about what?" Jasper asks, using his gentle, soothing accent to coax words from my mouth. It doesn't take much. Anything to pass the time is something I don't mind investing in.

"Grayson...Being like you," I say, not wanting to say Phantom Wolf.

Jasper chuckles, and I glance at him. The sun is high in the sky, beating in through the window. Jasper driving a car is an amusing sight. It's just too... normal for him.

"The Alpha of Freedom and I are nothing alike. Dead, we may be, but stronger I am," Jasper tells me smoothly, no hitch in his voice. I narrow my eyes at him.

I was about to mention something about being humble, but Jasper was already quick to respond. Damn his mind reading tendencies...

"If I were not strong, would I have been able to entice a spell over you?" He asks, as if it's serious question I shouldn't be reacting to. I just stare at him, unable to speak.

He gives me a sideways glance. "It was a simple spell to ensure the transition of Grayson's information about being a Phantom Wolf into your mind went smoothly."

I can't form words still.

"It will only last for another few hours. It was to open your mind up a little. Help your body accept the idea," he explains. I want to ask him why he did that, but I can answer it myself.

And to think, my mind is currently processing the information he is telling me easily. Everything slots into it's rightful place in my mind, and I hardly question it. The spell. Jasper smiles knowingly.

"That is simple magic...I am much more powerful than a simple mind manipulation," he says breezily.

My own mind wants to ask more questions about his powers, but I hold back. I'm positive he wouldn't tell me anyway, and I don't want to receive any more information until I'm in my right mind anyway.

So without worrying, which I couldn't be more confused about, I leant my head back, hoping to sleep the time away.

💚••💚

Guys! I have some super awesome exciting news to tell you all! (:

Ive been accepted into the invitation only writing community Radish, and I'm dying!!! I didn't think I was popular enough!

This means Alpha Jasper is going to go up like 6 months earlier than I planned, except this time, on another app!

More information will be available later, but for now, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! (:

I really want to thank you all for the current success of Alpha Grayson! Obviously it's all because of you, so I can't not thank you a million timeS! You're like my family now!

My reads per chapter are growing, which means new people for me to love. (I call you all my Bae's, or my Queens)

I just want to meet you all and hug and kiss you, but unfortunately, in stuck hoping my words are enough to say THANK YOU!!

I hope to make a video soon to thank you all!

Snapchat: midikacrane

Radish: Midika

YouTube: Midika Crane

~Midika 💜