A whole chapter from our favourite werewolf's point of view :) It's a rough edit, but I hope you enjoy it.

Two days and I'll be married! 3


G POV

I couldn't go into the building, but I couldn't smell her on the outside. When I was able to slip inside, her scent led to a dead end. It was like she vanished into thin air. I hated leaving her there, but I had to get Micheal back to his parents. I knew that she would want that, and that was the only reason I could force myself to leave.

Sheila appeared to be beside herself as she stroked Michael's hair. He was thrilled that her baby was home, but Rose was still missing.

"Her scent just…ended?" Martin asked.

"I've never experienced something like that before," I sighed, "Bronwyn said one minute she was there, the next, she was smuggling Michael out. When she went back for Rose, she was gone."

Bronwyn didn't stick around long after getting Michael out, and I didn't blame her. She was at risk by helping us, and she needed to keep up the pretences that Christian had hired her. So, he was taking her on as his Guardian, and she was helping him get out of Court, all while getting out herself.

"I don't like this," Croft whispered as he rubbed the back of his neck, "You can't just disappear inside that building."

"That's not true."

We all jumped when the front door shut, Rose standing in the doorway. I breathed a sigh of relief, my body sagging slightly. She looked exhausted and dirty, but I was elated to see her.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Guardians came in while Bronwyn was smuggling Michael out. There was an air duct in the room they were holding him in. I was small enough to get inside it. When I managed to get to the basement, there was another tunnel. I thought it would have been sealed off, but it was still open. I barely got out though, the last bit of it had collapsed in. Hence the gash," she explained, gesturing to her shoulder. Taking in a small breath, I could taste her blood in the air.

I walked towards her and gently guided her towards the island that separated the living room and the kitchen. She sat down and she sighed, leaning against the stone with tired eyes. I slipped into the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit.

"I'm shocked that it was so easy for me to get out. I expected it to be more of a fight," Michael whispered, his head resting on his mother's shoulder.

"There wasn't much of a fight?" Dimitri asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Rose shook her head. "No. It was too easy. I think they were waiting for me instead of Michael. But I guess they didn't anticipate me finding another tunnel," she explained, pulling her arm out of her sleeve so that I could tend to the cut. She had some scratches down her ribs too, but they weren't as bad as the one on her shoulder.

Dimitri inched closer and I met his eyes, nodding to him that the cut wasn't as bad as it looked.

"Did you see anyone you recognized?"

Rose shook her head. "No. Bronwyn waited until the exact moment they switched guards on Michael. It was honestly, the strangest thing I've ever seen. I wonder what the real purpose of it all was."

"To frighten us?" Sheila asked.

"To show us they can take any of us?" Martin piped up.

"To see how far we are willing to go. They still want to use us; we all know that."

Rose shook her head as I dabbed at the cut. She flinched ever so slightly, but I could tell that her mind was far away. After a moment, her eyes shifted to the side, her lips pursing slightly. she was listening to someone.

"What is it?"

"Lissa said that there's been talking. There is a Moroi that has been feeding information to the Royals."

"Who?" Croft asked.

She bit her lip, and her eyes flicked up.

"Tasha Ozera."

Croft cocked his head, but I glanced at Dimitri. His face was stone cold, but I could see something in his face that I couldn't understand.

"No."

"I'm sorry, comrade," Rose whispered but Croft spoke up.

"How would Lady Ozera know anything about the program? Only a select few knew."

"Because I thought I was talking to my friend," Dimitri whispered, running his fingers through his hair. He paced behind the island, muttering to himself as he did, shaking his head ever so slightly.

"Comrade; you didn't know. You didn't think she'd betray you," Rose placated but he shook his head. I could see the conflict in his eyes. I didn't know much about Tasha Ozera, but I knew that she almost came between Rose and Dimitri while they were at the Academy.

Dimitri shook his head again.

"Are you sure?"

"Lissa went to check on her and overheard a conversation. Because Lissa is still recently deceased, she is fluctuating in her power," Rose explained, "She was telling Nathan Ivashkov."

Dimitri nodded and quietly excused himself, slipping out the back door. Rose frowned, biting her lip as she watched his figure move down the stairs.

"I don't blame him. I mean, we're fairly open about what goes on here, we couldn't expect Dimitri to not express what he's experienced with a friend," Sheila said, her sympathy clear in her voice.

"I know that, and I think he does too. I think its mostly betrayal he's feeling, not guilt," Rose explained, hissing when I pressed a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol against the cut.

"Hey!"

"Easy, kitty, I'm done," I teased as I pressed a bandage over the cut. She thanked me quietly as she stood up, excusing herself as well and slipping out the back door.

I sighed and collected up the garbage from the first aid kit.

"What a mess," Eddie groaned.

"Yeah," I whispered, tapping my fingers against the counter, "Now we just need to figure out what to do next."


My paws dug against the ground, kicking up dirt in their wake. The more in control of my wolf form, the more I enjoyed being in it. I felt at home in my wolf form. I felt at ease. I felt at peace. It felt natural, like breathing. It was as if I should have been in wolf form all the time.

There were perks to being human too, but I was starting to enjoy this as well. I liked the way everything smelled. I loved the smell of the wet sand, and the way the wood in the forest would smell after the rain. The crispness of the water. The smell of Sheila's baking that would waft out towards the shoreline.

The smell of Rose's shampoo.

I skidded to a halt, the smell hitting me like a brick wall. I hadn't heard her leave the house. I slowed to a trout, following the smell of waterlily and cedar. Another smell mingled in and I huffed, at least she wasn't out here alone. The two of them were strong and smart, but I was still shaken up from Michael being abducted.

"How's your shoulder?" Dimitri asked Rose, his voice carrying through the trees. I kept my distance, but I was close enough that I could see them.

"It's fine, comrade. Really, it's just a scratch," she placated. It wasn't just a scratch. I had to put steri stripes on it, but I could see why she was playing it down. She didn't want to worry him.

Dimitri wrapped his arm around her, pulling her to his side as he kissed her head.

"Have you spoken to your mother?" Rose asked.

"Not in a few weeks. I'm planning on calling her this weekend. She misses you."

Rose wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him, her head resting against his bicep.

"She's an amazing woman."

"She is…but I believe we came out here for a reason," Dimitri said, turning to face Rose. I slowed my pace. I didn't want to eavesdrop, but…instinct was a bitch.

"We did," Rose said, a hint of coyness in her voice.

"I love you," he said softly, leaning down and resting his head against hers.

"I love you too, I always have," she whispered back. I carefully laid down, resting my head on my paws. Most of their conversation was whispers, but there were a few I caught.

"I feel like I'm always waiting for the time to be right, but I don't want to be without you. And I've spent enough time without you."

"I don't plan on getting rid of you any time soon," Rose teased. Her voice was light and cheerful, but I could feel the tension behind his words. They weren't just words that were spoken out loud. They were words that meant something.

"When things calm down, I want us to get a place. I want to really start our lives together. And, I don't have a ring, but you're also not a ring kind of woman," Dimitri said, kneeling. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Not just from running, but from excitement. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, and I didn't want to pry on a private moment between them, so I did the only thing I could think of. I tried to cover my ears with my paws. It wasn't perfect, but it muffled their exchange.

I could smell the change in the air, something that I had become used to when there was a sudden change in emotion. But it didn't smell the way fear usually did. It smelled sweeter. I actively tried to block the two of them out. If I moved now, they would hear me. And I didn't want to be that person to ruin a proposal.

I was so caught up in my own head that I jumped up when a hand touched my fur.

"What are you doing?" Rose laughed, her laughter getting caught in her chest.

I growled quietly and whined, bumping her with my nose before looking at Dimitri. He had a smirk on his face as he looked at me, his hands tucked into his pockets.

"What exactly were you doing? Did you get stuck?"

I rolled my eyes and nuzzled my snout against Rose's left hand, jerking it up with my nose aggressively.

"Oh," Rose said with a blush, stroking her hand with the other while looking at Dimitri.

"Were you trying to…cover your ears?" Dimitri asked with a chuckle. I scoffed and turned around, heading back towards the house so I could shift. While it was closer to October and the days were still warm, the night got cool fast. And while it was glorious right now, the minute I phased back and was human, I'd be blasted with the cold air.

The two took their time coming back to the house, and I waited outside on the deck. The air was still, but I felt my hair ruffle against my neck. I smiled softly to myself.

"Hi, Ma," I whispered. It seemed like since I acknowledged her presence in the house, I felt her more often. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I like thinking that the feeling I had when I woke up in the middle of the night was because she was watching me. Or that the brushing sensations on my shoulder were hers too. Whenever it happened, Rose wasn't around, but I liked to believe that.

I heard their footsteps before I saw them, but when the two of them broke through the treeline, I turned and smiled at them.

"Did you follow us?" Rose asked, her hand linked with Dimitri's.

"No. I was out running. I just happened to catch your smell. By the time I realized what you guys were doing, I just stuck my head under my paws to give you some privacy," I explained as I stood up, and walked down the stairs towards them.

Rose nodded and glanced at Dimitri again, her cheeks tinged slightly. it could have been the cooler air, but my curiosity was killing me.

"Okay, you have to tell me. Did you say yes or not."

Rose smirked at the same time Dimitri laughed.

"Yes, I said yes. But don't go nuts, I intend on having a long engagement. I can't exactly get married while the Moroi are still trying to use us as weapons," Rose explained. I grinned and scooped her into a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"I figured you would have known before he asked," Rose laughed as I set her back on her feet.

"What, like he asked me permission?"

"Well, technically I'd ask your father for permission," Dimitri pointed out.

"But Gabriel's my mate. You'd think you'd talk to him about it."

"He didn't need to. He already knew I would be more than happy for you," I said, clapping Dimitri's shoulder.

"But we don't want to make a big deal out of it right now. We don't want to put a target on either of us," Dimitri explained and I nodded.

"Of course. If they know you're engaged, they'd try using each of you against each other. But I'm very happy for the both of you."

Dimitri and Rose looked at each other before grimacing.

"We have to tell my parents."

"Actually. You have to tell your parents. I have to tell my mother," Dimitri teased.


It was unspoken that Dimitri and I worked out every morning. It was something I had gotten used to over the last few months. This morning I was up before he was, which wasn't unusual, but I was waiting for him outside.

I heard his footsteps move through the house before the back door opened. I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him.

"Hey," I said.

"Morning," Dimitri greeted, tying his hair in a knot.

"So, how do you feel? Being an engaged man and all?" I chirped with a grin.

"We haven't told the rest of the house yet. But I'm happy. I know that to some it may seemed rush."

I held my hands up. "Hey. I know what it's like to feel a connection to someone so strong. Mine is just platonic," I said with a smirked.

Dimitri grinned as we climbed down the steps, stepping off across the beach.

"I'm surprised you didn't tell me beforehand. I'm a little hurt."

Dimitr rolled his eyes.

"I didn't plan on doing it so soon. I would have liked to have waited until I had a ring to propose, but we'd be waiting a long time for that. I'm not exactly getting an income right now," Dimitri said with a small shrug.

"But you didn't want to wait any longer?"

"With how crazy the world is, I don't want to spend any more time waiting for the 'right time'. I lost Rose because I waited too long to show her how much I loved her."

"Hey. She gets it now. You were victims of circumstance."

He nodded and exhaled loudly. I turned the topic to something happier.

"Did you have a ring in mind?" I asked.

Dimitri looked excited and sheepish as he pulled out his phone. He turned it towards me and I smiled softly. He was right when he said Rose wasn't a ring person, but she was someone who liked class. This ring was beautiful, simple and elegant. It was a square-cut diamond that was in a low setting. It was what jewellers called a low-profile setting. There were two smaller diamonds on each side in a white gold band. Simple, but had a flare.

I scrolled a little below the photo and raised my brows.

"Damn. That's not the price I was expecting. And it's a diamond?"

Dimitri nodded. "Yeah. I was shocked at the price too.

I handed him back his phone.

"What if I lent you the money?"

Dimitri looked taken about.

"No. I couldn't possibly do that."

"I just mean, you pay me when you can. I don't need it all upfront. Besides, I got a lot of money from the trial when my mother was killed. I give Sheila money every month to help with food. I know she can write the rest of it off with taxes, but it makes me feel useful. And Rose's my mate. If you want to buy her the ring, I'm more than happy to loan it to you, I explained, "But it's up to you, man. But just know you're stuck with me now. You got me for life."

Dimitri snorted and ran his fingers through my hair before tying his hair up.

"But to be fair, if she tells Abe you proposed without a ring, he will finance it. And probably a ring way bigger than what either of you would want."

Dimitri made a face.

"I didn't think of that."

I laughed. "Just promise me something."

"What's that?"

"I'm the best man?"

It was his turn to laugh.

"And what if Rose wants you as her Man of Honour."

"Well… I guess it will be one of the very few times I've told her no."


Rose called what we had a 'bond'. She explained that it was similar to the bond she shared with Lissa, except we couldn't communicate telepathically. Sometimes I wish we could.

That way I could tell her that I could feel her eyes digging into the back of my head.

I had to resort to a text instead.

Can you make it any more obvious that you're watching? – G

. . .

No. You're lucky I'm not sitting at the table with you. Take it or leave it. – R.

I smirked to myself and glanced over my shoulder, looking at Rose and Dimitri as they sat at the table a few feet behind me. Far enough they weren't eavesdropping, but close enough to be noticed. It was a compromise. I wanted to have a meeting with my father. Rose insisted on being here. Dimitri thought that I deserved some privacy. So, we ended up here.

Take a deep breath. Relax. You look like you're going to explode. When Roe is satisfied enough, I'll bribe her with ice cream. Got to find a place to repropose. – D

I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips. Best seven hundred dollars I ever leant someone.

I sighed and tapped the corner of my phone against the table, my eyes scanning the tourists. It was the last few weeks of nice weather, and the small town was booming. I recognized him as he approached, and I cleared my throat as he came to the table.

"Gabriel," Greyson said as he pulled a chair out.

"Greyson," I said politely, canting my head at him as he sat down. Our waitress wasn't far off, coming over and taking a drink order after a moment.

"Ice coffee, thank you. And you?" Greyson said, looking at me.

"Same, please. With Caramel."

The waitress nodded and walked away, leaving us alone. Greyson smiled politely as his eyes moved behind me.

"If looks could kill, your mate would have killed me by now," he chuckled. I glanced over my shoulder, noticing Rose's pinning stare before I relaxed and she looked at Dimitri.

"She's protective," I shrugged, "Could you blame her?"

Greyson shrugged. "And who's the giant? Another member of the program?"

"The third wheel in this pack."

"Excuse me?"

I smirked. I forgot that that was an inside joke between me and Dimitri. But neither of us defined who was the true 'third wheel'.

"My mate's fiancée."

Greyson nodded before his face lit up in remembrance.

"Before I forget. Happy birthday. I found this a few weeks before I moved here. Thought that it was time it belonged to you," he explained, setting a small box on the table.

I took it and pulled the lid off the box. Inide the box was an old watch. It looked brand new, but I could tell that it was older than me.

"Why do you say that it should have belonged to me?"

"Your great-grandfather gave this to me. It was his. His wife gifted it to him when he returned from the war in 1946"

I took the watch out of the box and inspected it.

"Thank you. A lot of my mom's family possessions were damaged because of mould, so I don't have much that belong to my family."

"I have a few things. You can have them if you want them. They're part of your history," Greyson explained. I nodded and carefully set the watch back into the box.

"You knew my birthday?"

Greyson nodded.

"Your grandmother told me when you were born. I sent money to her every few weeks, and she'd give it to your mother. Sav never knew that the money was actually from me but…I know that doesn't make up for years of not being there, or years of being in foster care. I made mistakes, and I will admit that."

"Rose mentioned that you're gifted?"

"Psychic vampire. I left because I hurt your mother, and I was terrified that I was going to hurt her again while she was pregnant. I wasn't in control. I was hoping to come back when I was in control, but I lost track of you, and then you both disappeared without a trace…but that was because your mother was murdered and you were put into the system," Greyson explained further, pausing when the waitress came back with our coffees.

"So it wasn't because you didn't want to be a father?"

"No. when your mother told me I was thrilled. And then fear set in. but I know I can't change the past."

I nodded and ran my hands through my hair, unravelling a few curls. Sometimes it would be straight, but I found if I spent too much time in the ocean it curled.

"Your look just like your mother," he said and I stilled.

"I do?"

"Yes. I mean, you have my skin tone, but her hair? And her eyes? Of course."

I nodded and cleared my throat, reaching for my coffee. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I couldn't think of any.

"I feel a little awkward. I thought this meeting was going to be big and monumental. But it feels anticlimactic."

Greyson snorted.

"I understand. Is there anything that you want to know? Or is everything just stuck?"

"Sort of," I said almost sheepishly.

"Well, we can enjoy the nice weather, drink our coffees and let the conversation flow naturally. If you remember something after, you are more than welcome to call or text me."