LOGINThey tried to break her with their lies, so instead, she used the pieces of her shattered life to make herself strong. Grace couldn't wait to tell her fated mate that she was pregnant and expecting their first child. But when she catches him in bed with her best friend, her life shatters. After rejecting her mate, Grace leaves her pack and everything that she ever knew. All alone in a brave new world, Grace must find the courage and strength to raise her baby by herself, and she vows never to return to place and pack that stole her happiness. But when her father dies years later, Grace is forced to return and to face the rejected mate who broke her heart. As unexpected truths are revealed, Grace must decide whether to go back to the life that she built for herself and her son. Or stay and find a way to forgive the man that almost ruined her for good.
View MoreGrace's POV.
"I think I might head out soon." Rhyder turned to face me, he immediately looked concerned. "Why? What's wrong?" I reached for his hands and held them in mine. I smiled sweetly up at him as I spoke. "Nothing, I'm fine - really. I'm just tired and want to call it an early night." Rhyder reached down and gently stroked my jaw with the very tip of his thumb. The concern in his velvety eyes turned to adoration. "Okay, let me just grab my jacket real quick and we can go." I stopped him before he could walk away. I was feeling tired and I did want to go to bed early, but I also had another very important reason for wanting to leave. And it was something that I had to do alone. "You don't have to come with me, I'll be fine, really. Stay - hang out with your friends, and have a good time. I'll see you again in the morning." He looked hesitant as he wrapped his muscular, tattooted arms around my waist and pulled me into him. "Are you sure, babe? I really don't mind going home with you." "I know, and I love you for it. But I'll be fine. I'm going to take a hot shower and then crawl under the covers until the sun comes up." "I could take that shower with you - it'll be way more fun." Rhyder only half teased as he nuzzled my neck. A delicious chill spider-walked down my spine and settled in my core. I threw my arms around his neck and allowed myself a moment to breath in his scent and enjoy the warmth of his skin against mine. I could feel his desire for me growing as he pressed his pelvis into my torso. He bit the base of my neck, sending my entire nervous system into over-drive. A low growl echoed deep in his chest as I threw my head back and tilted my hips slightly toward him. "As tempting as that sounds," I breathed, "we both know that I won't be getting much sleep if you're there." He grunted his defeat softly at that moment as he stepped back just enough to look at me - his seductive eyes swimming with passion. "Fine, I'll let you go. But you know that I won't have half as much fun when you're not here." I stood up on my toes to give him a quick peck on the lips before winking teasingly. "Oh, I'm counting on it." It was at that moment that Alexis, my best friend, rounded the corner. She was a little unsteady on her feet with a drink in her hand and her long black hair flailing aimlessly behind her. When she reached us, she threw her slender arms around both our necks and pulled us close. "You guys are missing all the fun, standing over here alone like little love-sick puppies." She slurred her words slightly, but her eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy. Rhyder and I shared a quick glance and a hidden smile that stated how much we both cared for Alexis even though she could be exasperating at times. Rhyder tucked his one arm under hers to keep her from swaying too much. I stroked back a lock of dark hair from her face as I spoke. "And I'm afraid I'm going to have to miss a lot more. I'm headed home." Alexis straightened immediately and looked at me with a mixture of shock and disappointed. "What!? Why!?" "I'm just tired. But Rhyder is staying, so you have to promise to keep an eye on him. Okay?" Alexis clicked her heels together and pretended to salute me. "Yes ma'am. You have my word." I rolled my eyes as Rhyder chuckled softly. "Yeah, right. We all know who will be looking after who for the rest of the night." Alexis pouted as I shook my head at her. "See you tomorrow. And try to keep her out of trouble. Please?" I gave Rhyder another quick kiss before turning to leave. I barely made it a step when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back. He drew me into his embrace and closed his arms around me before seizing my mouth with his. Our kiss was deep and slow, and passionate. I didn't want it to end. "Oh, come on. That's enough already!" Alexis's voice sliced through the moment. Rhyder pulled away but rested his forehead against mine. "I love you so much." "I love you more." I said. "I love you most." He gave me another gentle kiss before heading back into the party with Alexis by his side. A few moments later, I was sitting on the closed toilet with the hot water from the running shower steaming up the bathroom. My hand trembled slightly as I waited for the tiny lines to appear. I've suspected for a few days that I might be pregnant, but I wanted to be absolutely sure before I told Rhyder. When the pink lines finally appeared, I couldn't help the massive smile spreading across my face or the warm feeling of absolute joy washing over me. I stood up, wiped the mirror with my hand, and then placed it gently over my belly as I stared at my own reflection for a few seconds. Tears welled up in my eyes - I was still smiling stupidly. "Well, little one. This might be a little sooner than your daddy and I planned, but I'm so excited about you." I had to swallow the lump that was forming in my throat as I was overcome with emotion. "And I just know that he's going to feel the exact same way when we tell him tomorrow." I ended up taking that hot shower and crawling under the covers. 'Sleep sweet, little one. Mommy loves you so much already. We're going to be the happiest little family." I fell asleep with a full heart and a smile on my lips.Grace's POV.A few months later:"She's absolutely perfect, Grace."Rhyder's eyes brimmed with tears as he held our daughter in his arms.She in turn, stared up at him with big, round eyes.My heart grew so much that it felt like my chest would rip open and it would burst out."She is..."I smiled at them as he held her tiny little hand between his fingers.He was completely in love with her already."What are we going to name her?"He spoke to me without taking his eyes off of her."I was thinking that we could call her... Hope."He finally looked at me. He had a gentle softness in his eyes and the curves of his face."Hope..."He tested the sound of it on his lips. The corners of his mouth twisted up."I love it... it suits her perfectly.""Is it my turn to hold her now, daddy?"Tate looked up at Rhyder with hopeful eyes. Rhyder looked over at me, waiting for my consent.I nodded my head with a happy, but tired smile."Sure it is, Tate. I think Hope will be very happy to finally mee
Rhyder's POV.The three heartbeats were very different from each other.One was fast, eratic, and shallow - Alexis.The second sounded like I was listening to it under water - my pup.And the third worried me the most: it was faint and fading - Grace.She was hurt - badly. And she was barely hanging on.I had to get to her before it was too late. I had to get her out of there and away from Alexis.I strained my ears, trying to listen for any sign of movement from inside the shed. I was trying to figure out where exactly Alexis was and what she was doing.The shed was quiet, but I could hear them breathing.By the sound of Grace's breathing I could only assume that she was unconscience.Alexis sounded out of breath. Like she had exerted herself physically.A thousand horrible possibilities flashed across my mind as I tried not to come up with all the ways that Alexis could have exerted herself to leave my mate, my wife - the mother of my children in such a state.My wolf clawed at my i
Rhyder's POV. I leaned down to pick up the bouquette of flowers that Grace and Tate had been making for her mother's birthday. It was ruined: the flowers were all trampled, the delicate petals crushed and soiled. Some of the leaves still clung to the broken stems. "She has to be around here somewhere, Alpha..." Jackson's anxious voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked a few times and let the ruined bouquette slip from my hand and fall to the ground. "It's not possible for her to have just disappeared without a trace." I turned to look at him. His expression was strained, his shoulders and back rigid, and a dark shadow hung across his face. He had his hands balled into fists by his sides - his knuckles had turned white. "She hasn't..." Even to my ears my voice sounded strangely calm. It didn't reflect what I was feeling on the inside. The truth was that I was losing my mind: my chest felt painfully constricted, it felt like I could hear my own blood coarsing through my vein
Grace's POV."No! I won't let you! You can't have my baby!"I strained against my chains, forcing my body forward, fighting against whatever it was that made me feel so weak."Let me go, Alexis! Or so help me God..."I pulled my hands forward over and over again. The rusted metal dug into my skin, burning my raw and exposed flesh.I didn't mind the pain. It made my adrenaline pump. My heart pounded in my chest. My breaths came in quick shallow bursts. My mind struggled between thoughts of what Alexis was planning, ways for me to get away from her - back to Rhyder and Tate, and all the possible ways that I could end her miserable life once and for all."Untie me, Alexis! Right now! You know that Rhyder is already on his way here! Let me go!"I was feeling desperate, scared, and frustrated. My chains wouldn't give no matter how much I struggled.My wolf was unresponsive.Rhyder would never find me in time without my scent to track.There was nothing I could as long as I was tied up.An
Grace's POV. Eight years earlier: Rain slammed down on the stained windows of the cozy little coffee shop. Slow jazz music swayed softly across the air. A fire burned brightly in the far corner, casting a comforting warmth throughout the entirety of the space. The delicious scent of freshly b
Rhyder's POV. Jackson and I flanked her from both sides, snapping at her hawks as we caught up with her. Alexis had been sneaking back into packlands ever since I shunned her. I had no idea why or what exactly she was doing when she did. My best guess, she was keeping an eye on Grace and me, wa
Grace's POV."Yes! Yes, of course I'll marry you!"Rhyder grinned from ear to ear as he removed the stunningly beautiful ring from its soft, silky pillow and slowly slipped it onto my finger.Tate had the exact same grin on his face.I took a second to appreciate just how much they looked like each
Rhyder's POV."Heeey... you're back... finally... I was beginning to think that... I was going... to be... alone aaall... night."I found Alexis sprawled out on my bed. She was only just supporting her weight on her elbows. Her words were slurred and her head lulled lazily on top of her shoulders.






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