Grayson's POV

I smiled, hugging the figure next to me tighter. Taylor sighed, snuggling deeper into me. A feeling similar to satisfaction and contentment filled me at the sight of her. After we had chased those three nosy, little pests away, Taylor fell asleep in my arms on the couch in my bedroom.

Hey, there, Mr. Alpha Man. Jason's voice filled my head.

I rolled my eyes. What do you want, Jason?

What? No "Hello"? No "How's your day going, best friend?"? No "I LOVE YOU, JASON STONE, YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF MY L--

I thought that was Michael's line.

Please, Gray, you know it was always you.

What about your mate?

What about YOUR mate? He shot back. I looked down at Taylor, who was softly snoring. The corner of my mouth tilted upwards. I found it incredibly adorable how she breathed in through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.

She's perfect, I murmured dreamily.

Jason snorted. Whatever, you know you love me. SAY IT, he demanded.

I love you...

You actually SAID--

Taylor Collins, I finished, smirking. She had my last name. Yeah, it was a thing. We got married. Very brief wedding. Not worth reading about. It was more paper signing than anything.

You guys are SO cute! Jason laughed. Any whore, I just came to say that the rogues are attacking again.

WHAT THE HELL, STONE, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING BEFORE?

We were having a conversation.

With those words, he cut me off. I rose from the couch. Taylor snatched my arm she was lying on, her face pulling into a frown.

"Taylor." I gently shook her shoulder. Her eyes flew open.

"Huh?" She said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Wh-What's wrong?"

"The rogues are--" She shot off of the couch, fully alert. Taylor grabbed my hand, pulling me with her out the door.

"Let's go!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Where's Michael?" Taylor asked her ex-Beta, John, as we came down the stairs.

"He's already at the border."

"Jason?" I inquired.

"With Michael."

"What about my dad?"

"Alpha Collins," John addressed me. "Everyone's already there."

"Except us?" Taylor's eyes went wide "How long was I asleep?"

"Taylor." A familiar man entered the room, his voice admonishing. "Sleeping on the job? Have I taught you nothing?"

Taylor snarled, her eyes darkening. "You didn't teach me anything, Dad." His eyes softened as he approached us. He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. Taylor tensed beside me and I protectively stood in front of her.

"What do you want?" My question came out clipped, tone brusque.

He held his hands out. "To help." James Gale turned to Taylor, his eyes pleading. "Taylor, I know I've done so many things wrong in the past, but I'm trying to fix them. Starting with you. I should've never sent you away. But, when your mother left, I was broken." Taylor's dad looked at me. "How would you feel if your mate, if Taylor, left you?" I growled at the thought, pulling Taylor into my arms.

"That wouldn't happen," I replied confidently.

He nodded, approving of my answer. "That's what I thought too. But my mate did run away." My mood dampened. I actually sympathized with the man. If Taylor ran away from me...forever..I'd...God, I'd...

"Why are you just now doing this?" Taylor softly asked, her silver eyes tearing. I rested my head on top of hers, wrapping my arms around her waist. She leaned into my embrace.

"Because I finally realized that I was wrong. Chasing a shadow, when I should've been taking care of you." James came closer. "Taylor, I'm sorry. If you could ever find it in your heart to forgive me, I--" He never finished. Taylor let go of me and jumped into her dad's arms, hugging him.

"You're already forgiven," she whispered. James was startled but slowly hugged his daughter back. I smiled. "I wanted my mom back too, but I accepted the fact that she wouldn't return. I didn't expect that I'd lose my dad as well." She straightened, giving her father a harsh glare that anyone else would have wilted under. "You have a lot of groveling to do, don't think I'll make it easy for you."

He laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less from an Alpha." She grinned broadly, chest puffing out proudly at his words.

Walking over to them, I patted James on the back. "Hi, Dad." He glowered at me and I nervously laughed, backing away slowly. "Uh...bad time?"

"We'll talk later," he promised, his eyes glinting in a way I didn't quite like.

"Dad." Taylor rolled her eyes, but she had a smile on her face.

"I don't mean to interrupt or anything--this is real sweet--but are we gonna go? We have rogues we need to kill, people we need to save...just the usual." John said from the side, pointing at the door.

"Oh, yeah. Let's do that."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"How many are there?" Was my first question to Jason.

"About two thousand."

"How many do we have?"

"Seventeen hundred, give or take a few hundred."

Fuck. They had double our numbers, we'd never win -

"Make that an even two thousand." Taylor emerged from behind me. When had she left what the fuck? "Another pack's here. They have over three hundred members."

"So we're about even," I noted, nodding. That gave us a better fighting chance. Jason paled beside me.

"Do you think we'll all survive?"

"If you don't..." Michael walked up next to Jason, placing a hand on his shoulder. His face was oddly serene, clear of any worry and he looked off into the setting sun as he spoke. "...I'll kill you."

Jason became tearful, his green eyes becoming glassy. He threw his arms around Michael shouting, "I knew you cared!" Michael awkwardly patted him on the back, but his expression was soft and I turned away at an attempt to give them some privacy.

Looking at Taylor, I grinned wolfishly. "Aren't you gonna hug me, too - "

"Forget it, Collins, we've had multiple moments today alone, I'm sick of all this sap."

I pouted. Taylor's silver-colored eyes rolled at the action and she held open her arms in a very much defeated way, sighing.

I grinned and embraced my mate.

 ~Author's Note~

 I know I haven't said this yet, but..THANK YOU! TO ALL YOU AMAZING, FABULOUS PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGED ME ON "Time With Archer", THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU ALL MADE MY DAY AND WHENEVER I'M FEELING BLUE, I READ THOSE AWESOME COMMENTS YOU GUYS WROTE! It made me feel so great and loved and THANK YOU.

  Sorry, this is more of a filler, but I know you people like your MJ ship ;) Sorry it didn't happen. AND DELFINA IS A BEAUTIFUL NAME.

  I LOVE YOU ALL. 

 SONG TO THE SIDE IS "Wrapped Up" by Olly Murs ft. Travie Mccoy....cause that's what Grayson is...sorry he's not so manly...XD He just...BECAME that....I swear my other books with the main male character shall not be like that.

 But, to remind you of his manliness, pic to the side is the sexy ass Grayson Collins. I FUCKING LOVE YOU, COLTON HAYNES.

 Love you all!

 Love,

 4everAloneAnAwkward