Grace had dreamed of such lovely things. Something which rarely happened to her. Either she had no dreams at all or she woke with a feeling of anxiety, as though a dream had turned into a nightmare. She could never remember those dreams either.

Her eyes flickered open, taking in wooden beams, old stone walls and a large, comfortable bed which she was currently tucked up in.

Light poured from a window behind her as she remembered where she was. Had she slept for only a few hours or had it been a full evening and night?

Glancing to the side of her, rumpled bed sheets and a pair of discarded jeans hanging over an old armchair answered her question. She had spent the night.

A faint blush began to spread across her cheeks, she could feel the heat of it and that made her blush even more.

A crash of pans and prolific swearing from downstairs made her jump, then laugh as she heard Brandon start to talk to himself. How she wished for werewolf hearing in that moment, as she couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Brandon?" She said loudly, knowing with his hearing he would be able to hear her.

"One second, don't get up!" He shouted back and for minute more pots being banged together was all that she could hear.

Her heart began to race as she heard his footsteps on the stairs. She raked her fingers through her hair to try and tame it, straightening her crumpled dress.

"Morning." She looked up to see Brandon stood at the top of the stairs, a laden breakfast tray in hand, staring at her in the bed.

"Good morning." She replied, a shyness taking over her. "I'm sorry I fell asleep." She sat back in the bed, pulling the covers up as he walked forward, placed the tray down in front of her and got back into the bed beside her.

"Don't be, you were tired." He said, pulling her close to him.

She rested her head comfortably on his chest, looking down to the food on the tray.

"You woke up early." She laughed, taking in the pancakes, bacon, waffles, blueberries and French toast, along with two glasses of orange juice.

"I didn't know what you liked, so I just made everything I could think of- if you don't want any of this, I can go out to get something else, or there is cereal or-"

"This is perfect, thank you." Grace said, leaning up to peck him on the cheek before taking a slice of bacon.

"Good."

They ate together in silence, occasionally catching each other's eye. Grace was hyper aware of every time his arm and hand brushed hers, the way his fingers would linger on her hands when they rested on the bed or tray.

"Why didn't you come and find me yesterday?" Grace asked. The question had been playing on her mind for a while, the fact that he had disappeared into the woods and just gone back to this cottage without saying goodbye or giving her an explanation stung a little.

Brandon set the tray down onto the floor, staying silent as he turned to look at her. Before she knew what he was doing, he had pulled her in so she was straddling his lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her as he nuzzled her shoulder.

Sighing contently at his touch, she almost forgot that she wanted an answer to her question. Then he pulled away. And the cold air between them brought her back to her senses.

"Jake. The idea of you wearing his scent instead of mine. My wolf was going crazy. If I had stayed in that room I would have attacked him, If I had come to find you I would have marked you." He explained.

She remembered how Lily had explained to her why Brandon had shifted, but she didn't realise quite how little control he had truly had.

Jake's plan- to have her wearing his jumper covered in his scent while pretending to be his mate. While Brandon is stood a few hundred yards away, hidden in the midst of the other warriors having to watch it all.

Her heart sunk as she watched the pain in Brandon's eyes as he too remembered the plan.

"What else can we do?" She whispered, pecking him on both cheeks before curling up on his lap.

He sighed, defeated, his arms tightening around her.

"It's only for a few hours while Hunt is here. The pack will know I am not his mate, according to Amy they already suspect I'm yours." She said, trying to make him a little happier about the plan.

"You are mine. I want to shout it to everyone. And soon I will." Brandon said, before a low growl rumbled in his chest.

"What is it?" Grace sat up slowly, seeing he was mind linking with someone.

"Hunt has just called to say he is on his way. We have about two hours until he arrives." He glowered at the ceiling. "That's it then. We don't have time for another plan that will keep you safe."

"So you will be ok with me wearing his jumper and standing next to him?" Grace asked, not sure whether he really meant what he was saying.

"I am going to have to be. You should stay away from me for a while though. I don't want to think about what my wolf will do if he sees you soon after."

The thought of his wolf marking her so soon brought both chills of fear and excitement down her spine.

"Well, I guess we should make the most of this hour then." She said, matter of factly, sitting back to look at the confusion that washed over Brandon's face.

"What do you-." He said, before Grace rolled her eyes and brought her lips to his.

"Oh!" He mumbled before lacing his hands through her hair, bringing her closer to him.

She wrapped her hands around his shoulders and with her knees hurting from kneeling on either side of his legs, she collapsed down onto his lap.

With groans of pleasure and a frenzy of hands, lips, and whispers she was rolled onto the bed, Brandon above her. Kissing and nipping her neck, ear, lips.

For how long they stayed wrapped in each other's embrace, Grace could not tell.

The sound of someone hammering at the front door finally breaking them from their drunken frenzy.

Her dress had slipped down to her waist, his shirt completely discarded.

They were panting, staring at each other as though they did not want to break their moment completely.

The hammering persisted, before stopping.

They grinned, their lips almost meeting again. The sound of the door flying open and steps through the downstairs rooms and up the stairs stopping them in their tracks. Brandon turned to shield her half-dressed state from whoever had interrupted them.

"Seriously?"

Lily stood at the top of the stairs, her arms folded eye brow quirked at the sight in front of her.

"Did you mark her?" She asked, walking around the bed to look at Grace, who was busy pulling her dress back up and smoothing her hair.

"No, I didn't." Brandon scowled at her, before climbing out of the bed and pulling a t shirt and the pair of jeans from the back of the chair on. "What are you doing here?"

"Good morning Lily." Grace mumbled, her blush back on her cheeks for being caught in such a position. She gratefully accepted a bobble Lily held out to her, gladly tying back her hair that seemed to now be more of a mess than when she first woke up.

"I came to get you. Hunt will be here in an hour, you have to shower." Lily said, helping her up out of the bed.

Grace stared at her shocked. "An hour!" She squeaked. Had they really been totally absorbed in one another for so long?

She looked over to her mate. His hair was tousled, lips red. The sun through coming through the window highlighting his cheekbones, his eyes shining as they looked back at her.

Oh she could definitely loose herself with him for an hour she mused. He seemed to have read her mind, smirking back at her mischievously.

"Come on love birds, you can see each other later." Lily said, laughing as Brandon glowered at her.

Slowly Grace climbed down the stairs, Brandon rushing down before her to get her shoes for her. He watched her every move as she walked over to a chair and slipped on the shoes. Standing, she lifted a jumper off of the back of the chair.

"May I borrow this?" She asked, the sun not warming the air that early afternoon.

"Yes, of course." Brandon replied, walking over to her, helping her slip it on.

Lily cleared her throat awkwardly. "I will wait outside."

As soon as the door shut, Brandon had cupped her face in his hands.

"Don't do anything rash, or stupid. I will be fine." Grace said, placing her hands on top of his.

"It's Hunt. He is evil to the core. Power is all he wants. He won't think twice about hurting you. It isn't too late. I could drive you back to the city right now." Brandon looked at her, his eyes pleading.

"I can't do that. I can't leave you here without knowing what is happening. I belong here with you." Grace replied, determined to show him she wasn't going anywhere.

"This is how it should be. You in my jumper." Brandon said, wisely dropping the subject.

His hands moved from her cheeks, down her neck to her shoulders, his thumb caressing the part of the neck he should have marked by now.

"Soon." She whispered, holding his moving hand so he would look at her.

Brandon shook his head. "I know how you feel about the process. I will wait as long as it takes for you to be ok with it."

"I know how much it hurts you not to do it. I understand now." She replied, realising how her comment about what an awful ritual it was must have hurt him.

"You're amazing, did you know that?" Brandon smiled down at her, catching her lips with his.

"You're not too bad yourself." She replied, almost breathless, as he drew away.

"You better go now before I decide to just stay here with you, dammed the consequences." He murmured.

"Soon." She reminded him, the smile that flickered onto his lips telling her that her attempt at cheering him up had worked.

Shutting the door behind her, Grace walked slowly to the end of the path where Lily was stood waiting. The walk was long and slow, her muscles sore and aching from being asleep so long and then... Brandon.

"It is so lovely to see him smiling. I am glad he found you when he did." Lily said as they walked towards the pack house.

"We need each other just as much, I think." She replied. He had the physical strength she lacked. He made her happy. Didn't look at her and see her illness, her limitations. He was everything she had dreamed of and more.

"It is also nice to see you smiling, when you are thinking about him." She said, offering her arm and supporting her as they walked up the stairs.

"He makes me happy. I never thought I would have that." She replied.

"Jake has left a jumper for you on your bed. Get a long shower and get changed. He will come and get you when Hunt arrives. We have to greet him on the lawn, as is customary with other Alphas. We will rush him inside to the office quickly. I would advise you wait in your room before you go back to Brandon- at least until they all leave." Lily said as they walked to her room.

"I understand, thank you for walking with me." She replied, waving good bye to the Luna before slipping inside the room.

As quickly as she could she showered, changed and tried to make herself look as presentable as possible. She would be standing next to Jake and the Alpha and Luna, though she didn't want to make an effort for Hunt, she knew she had to keep up appearances.

There was a brief knock at the door before it swung open and in waltzed Amy, who picked up the jumper and threw it at her.

"Come on, Jake asked me to get you. They will be pulling up soon."

Pulling the jumper over her head, she followed her friend out of the pack house, and down the steps to where the Alpha, Luna, Hannah and Jake were stood.

Jake pulled her close into his side as Hannah waved hello.

"You doing ok?" He asked.

"Ask me that when this is all over." She replied.

Looking around, she saw around two hundred werewolves grouped together on either side of the pack house.

One side consisted of those who resided in the pack house and the other side were the warriors.

Straining her eyes, Grace searched the crowd for Brandon, to no avail.

"Get ready. Here they are!" Alpha Thomas shouted out, and both of the groups stood a little taller, focusing on the four sleek black cars that were currently pulling to a stop in front of them.

She didn't have to guess who the rogue Alpha was, that was made obvious by his aura of entitlement and superiority. Even to his own people he didn't spare a second glance as the door to the second car was opened and he stepped out in an Italian tailored suit.

He looked around the people stood either side of him, his eyes roaming. Jake squeezed her waist, knowing what she was thinking. The brute was looking for Brandon.

Her blood boiled as he sent Thomas and Lily an easy smile, sauntering up to them with an undeserved swagger.

"Hello- my friends."

---

Shout out to to natsaninja - this chapter was half written during one of his writing sprints with his YouTube show 'The Corner Booth' on twitter! the second half was written in the hour afterwards... much love for the motivator!