They sat in silence, comforted by each other's embrace.

"You know all about me, I want to know about you." Brandon asked, slumping back lazily against the tree so he could look at Grace.

"There isn't much to know." She replied, shrugging as she picked at the hem of her dress.

"There is everything to know." Brandon nudged.

Sighing, Grace settled herself in between his legs, her back to the lake. Looking over at the man in front of her.

"No one has ever asked me for my story before." She mumbled, her still picking hands embraced by his and pulled to his lips.

"I want to know everything there is to know about you Grace Jackson." He said, pecking each of her knuckles before settling their still entwined hands in his lap.

She thought back, to as early as she could remember. Through the painful memories, to the ones that contained her, so innocent and unaware.

"I was only young when my family died as well. In a car crash." She took a deep breath, a comforting squeeze on her hands urging her on.

"My father died instantly, my mother begged the rescue team to get me first. She died on the way to the hospital. I was badly injured. Nearly every bone in my body had dislocated. It was only when I was in physio that someone picked up on the way my joints moved further than normal, the way my skin was super stretchy and I always complained of being tired.

I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. At the age of 11 I couldn't pronounce the name let alone understand what it meant. I was sent to live with my Grandmother. She was alright, but didn't understand the condition I had at all. She thought I was lazy, needed more exercise. I ended up in the hospital every month with one dislocation or another.

She died when I turned 15. That's around the same time I started fainting. My heart would start racing every time I stood up and I would just black out, collapse to the floor. I'm on medication for that, and it helps somewhat. Not enough for me to be normal though.

I was sent to a foster family, who were caring and understood the doctors a lot more than my Gran. They let me study from home when school got too tough.

My parents left me some money, so when I turned 18 I bought a ground floor flat near the hospital and I studied an open degree in art history.

I mainly do research now, for people wanting to see if their works of art are genuine or not."

Grace met Brandon's gaze, which had not left her for a moment while she was talking.

"That's why it never occurred to me that I could be your mate. In school we're taught that Werewolves are strong and weakness isn't tolerated, because it can be dangerous. You're an Alpha, you need to strongest mate there is."

"And I have her. There are different types of strength, Grace. You are by far the strongest person I have ever met, you know. Everything you have been through. Are going through. It sounds like a daily battle to keep yourself walking let alone get out of bed. Strength of mind and heart outweigh everything else. I'm so proud I can call you mine."  Brandon said, pulling lightly on her hands so she was laid on top of his chest.

"I do it because I have no other choice. My illness doesn't rule my life, I rule it. That's the way it has to be." She replied.

They laid again in silence, enjoying the warm sunshine and animals that fluttered around the lake.

A low growl reverberated in Brandon's chest, breaking the silence. Looking up questioningly, Grace figured he was talking to the pack. His eyes were staring off into the distance, his brows pulled together, a snarl on his lips.

"Brandon?" She asked quietly, not sure whether she wanted to break the mind link.

His eyes darted to hers before looking back into the distance.

Before she could ask again, she was swept off her feet and into his arms.

"Brandon!"

He walked, with purpose and speed through the forest and away from the lake that had been so serene.

She figured, by the way his muscles were tense, his eyes now darting about the forest, that something had happened.

"I will kill him. When I see him I will tear his head from his neck."

His sudden, violent burst took her by surprise.

"He's here?" She whispered, knowing what 'him' he was referring too.

"Not yet. I have orders to take you with me to see Thomas."

With that he fell silent, his eyes not wavering in their scanning of the trees that stretched for miles. They broke through the forests edge, and without relenting in his pace, he all but marched into the pack house and through the labyrinth of corridors.

The door was opened by a shocked and surprised Lily, who quickly moved out of the way.

Grace rolled her eyes as Brandon continued to hold her in his arms.

"I can walk around an office you know." She whispered in his ear.

"What?"

"Put me down Brandon." She replied.

"Oh. Sorry." Seemingly reluctantly he set her down on a sofa by the far window.

"You told her!" Lily asked, happily looking between the both of them, before noting the scowl Brandon now supported.

"She overheard us." Thomas replied, smiling ruefully at Grace who smiled apologetically back.

"Oh. But now she knows?" Lily looked over to Brandon, who nodded stiffly.

"What happened?" Grace asked, looking between the three people in the room.

Thomas was stood behind his desk, Lily still by the open door, both looking over to Brandon who was currently pacing the room.

Jake walked into the room, smiling broadly as he spotted Grace. Lily shut the door, going to stand by her husband.

"You told her! Congrats man!" He said, slapping Brandon on the back before dropping into the space next to Grace.

"Move before I make you." Brandon said, glaring at him.

With his hands raised in defence, Jake moved over to a chair by the desk.

"Alpha Hunt has asked for peace talks between us and the Arion pack." Thomas said, answering her question.

"Why?!" She asked, knowing full well that Thomas would never agree for the sake of his friend.

"Because he wants to scope out the inside of the pack house. Get a look at how many wolves we have around the place. He is basically scoping us out for an attack." Jake replied.

"Can you say no?" She asked.

"No. That would be an act of war in itself, and is prohibited by the council of Alphas. It would cause us far more trouble." Thomas said.

"Then what?" Grace said.

She knew what this must be doing to Brandon, the way he was pacing the room, flexing his shoulders and cracking his knuckles.

"We let him come, scope us out. We can be doing the same to him and the wolves that he brings. Keep it short, show him hardly anything, sign the agreement and then send him on his way. We have the support of the council if he is the one who brakes the treaty." Thomas replied.

"Brandon?" Grace said, standing slowly and walking over to him. He stopped his pacing, staring at her as though he had just seen her for the first time.

Wrapping her arms around him, she felt his body relax around hers.

"And when he does attack?" Jake asked, turning to his Alpha.

"We'll be ready." Brandon replied for him, getting a nod of agreement from both Thomas and Lily.

"And Hunt?" Lily asked, looking between Thomas and Brandon. "I take it we won't be capturing him for trial by the council?"

"No. I'll kill him. I will make him regret the day he ever thought he could take what is rightfully mine."

Brandon replied, hugging Grace closer to him, a shiver of fear flickering up her spine at his cold words.

"I agree. Though right now, we have a bigger problem." Lily said, looking over to Grace.

"What is it?" Grace asked, looking between a confused Brandon and a bemused Jake.

"Hunt and his pack will know that you're close to Brandon when they see you. You're covered in his scent. Brandon was right in worrying that you could be used against him." Lily replied.

Grace backed out of Brandon's arms, looking up at him incredulously.

Was his scent really all over her? She couldn't smell anything.

"How do we fix that? I can't just stay away from him until Hunt has come and gone." Grace asked, only to be pulled back into Brandon's embrace.

"I have an idea. But I don't think you're going to like it." Jake said.

His eyes wavered off into the distance, looking up at Brandon, Grace could see he had done the same.

Why Jake wasn't sharing the idea aloud she didn't know, until Brandon broke from the mind link to glare at him, a small growl forming at the back of his throat.

"I told you that you wouldn't like it."