Chapter 1 An Unholy Reunion
Ginger’s POV:
Grayson Blackwood is my soon-to-be stepbrother. Forbidden fruit.
Yet he's had a taste of me.. And I honestly haven't stopped wanting more ever since.
I tried to run away; to ignore the ‘thing’ between us. And for a short while, it worked.
But much like a twisted form of fate, gravity has a way of drawing me right back to him. Sort of like it is now.
Because currently? We're set to return to Darkwater. Per his father's ruling.
Of freaking course.
“I hope that’s everything?” my mother asks, hands cupping her phone as I wrestle the last of my belongings to the living room.
It doesn't take a genius to know Roman Blackwood—our Alpha and her lover—is on the other line.
“Yes Mom,” I reply, loud enough for him to hear. “Though I really don't understand why we have to leave.”
“Darling, we've already gone over this. Your father—”
“Stepfather-to-be.”
“Roman, has sent for us.”
I roll my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. “Great. Just what I needed—another reminder of who’s in charge here.”
Mom sighs, cutting the call. “Really?”
“I'm not wrong now am I?” The strap on my duffle bag snaps free and I let out a groan in frustration.
Honestly, when Ignius had suggested the repair visit to Silveridge Pack three moons ago, I had been more than happy to volunteer.
But now that he's asked us to return, I kind of want to strangle him.
“Honey, don't be like that,” she says, “You know he's probably just missing us.”
“Or maybe he just misses having control.”
Her face falls, and I immediately regret saying that last part.
I know I'm being a total bitch to her right now, but I can't help it. It's the only way I can think of to get her to do something about this. To maybe tell me to remain here at Silveridge, where I can be safe. Away from him.
From his touch,
From that fucked up smirk,
And God, those hands..
“Come on.” Mom grabs her suitcase, voice clipped. “Let's load our bags into the trunk.”
I don't argue this time, knowing I've already pushed her enough.
A black Rolls pulls up beside us just as we finish. One I instantly recognize to be Heather Rosewood's; the Luna of Silveridge.
The second the doors open, two identical but stunning brunettes rush out, tackling me into a hug.
“Hey, Hey,” I laugh in spite of my mood, embracing my best friends; Letisha and Kaia Rosewood.
“Heather,” Mother beams, going over to embrace her.
The twins eventually release me from their monster grips.
“Urgh! I wish you didn't have to leave,” Tisha groans.
“Same here,” I respond, already dreading the thought of parting ways with these two.
Goodbyes have never been something I've liked very much.
Not since Dad.
“Make sure you facetime as much as possible,” Kaia says the same time mom calls, “Alright darling, we need to get going.”
“I will,” I tell them, moving towards the backseat when Tisha grasps my arm suddenly.
“And don't forget to give us all the juicy Grayson deets.”
She mutters it so our mothers don't hear, but the damage is done already.
Cheeks flaming, the nerves I had been struggling to suppress all morning come bottoming out.
I may or may not have let my silly… attraction to my potential stepbrother slip during one of our sleepovers. Thankfully they were chill about it. Tisha in particular, found it—in her words—“Hot.”
Not sure our parents would have the same sentiments though.
Mother's voice breaks through again. “Ginger, hurry up!”
“Coming!”
Tisha and Kaia pull me in for one last hug and then I’m hurrying into the SUV. The engine sparks to life as mom puts the car into drive.
I plug in my earbuds and lean against the window, trying to distract myself from thinking, though thoughts of Grayson invade my mind regardless, seeping through every lyric.
Mom catches my eye in the mirror, motioning me to take off my buds. “What's on your mind darling?”
“It's nothing.”
“Well you’ve got that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The one where your brows are tightly knotted together. It's not nothing.”
I exhale slowly, knowing she's not going to let this go.
“Do you think that…” I trail off, unsure of how to approach this topic, and then shake my head. “Nevermind.”
“For pete’s sake sweetie, I'm not a mind reader,” my mother prods. “Speak, I'm listening.”
“Okay, do you think that maybe…Ignius plans to propose this time around?”
It's been a little over a year since they got together. And with Grayson and his father being less than thirty miles away, I'm guessing this might be the best time to ask.
She glances at me, brows creased, shoulders tense.
“Honestly honey, I don't know.”
I have no idea how long I slept, or even when I did, but Mom shakes me awake. “Wake up. We're home.”
The sun is setting by now, painting the sky in electric shades of golden orange and purple, but I barely notice any of that over the way my stomach twists at the knowledge that we're back in Darkwater.
The Blackwood Mansion looms tall ahead; all modernist-style with stone pillars, vast gardens and a damn water fountain in the midst of it all like we're a normal family.
It's almost suffocating.
“You can leave your luggage behind,” Mom says, heading inside. “The servants will come for it.”
I reluctantly grab my backpack and slip out of the car…only to freeze at the door.
“Okay, Breathe Ginger.”
The knob twists easily. I make a beeline for my room, heaving a sigh in relief when I don't run into Grayson.
I toss my bag onto the bed and step out of my clothes, grabbing some fresh ones on my way to the bathroom. I could kill for a shower right about now.
When I return to the room though, I find…Grayson. Casually leaning against the doorframe.
My heart stops.
He looks exactly as I left him: Messy dark hair falling over his piercing grey eyes, veiny hands folded between his bulging biceps, and that darned black shirt clinging to his body like a second skin.
Except this time he's more guarded.
And for some reason, my chest tightens knowing I'm the cause.
“Look who's back from oblivion,” Grayson taunts, his voice bitter and low yet somehow seductive. “Missed me?”
“You wish,” I retort, voice coming back.
“You sure about that?” Grayson raises a brow, pushing off the door.
He closes the distance between us in three strides, hitting me with his familiar scent as he steps behind me.
“G-Grayson, what are you doing?” I try to turn, but Grayson grabs onto my hips, freezing me in place.
“Shh, princess.” His lips graze my earlobe, and heat coils in my lower region.
The atmosphere around us shifts as I am suddenly made aware of two things; the feel of his skin on mine,
And the fact that I am not wearing a bra.
My ears burn hotter when Grayson's hands sneak under my shirt, teasing me. “Really though… You didn't miss me even a little?”
His warm mouth drops to my neck, kissing it. My breathing slows and my head parts to the side on instinct, granting him further access.
“Grayson..” I whimper, feeling his left wrist snake upward.
Grayson softly kneads my breasts even as his right hand trails between my thighs, sliding dangerously close to my panties. My back arches and I suck in a sharp breath at the sensation, grasping for common sense.
His fingers find my arousal, cupping my center. He growls in approval when he finds me wet and my face instantly flushes.
“Answer me Ginny,” Grayson whispers in my ear, his hand slowly circling my clit.
An embarrassing moan slips past my lips and I shamelessly attempt grinding down on his palm, wanting more friction, but he pinches my nub in warning.
“I…I did,” I gasp out, squirming under his touch.
“Good.” He moves away from me, licking my juice off his fingers, and I nearly whine at the loss of contact. But a knock sounds shortly after, changing my train of thoughts.
My attention shifts to the still-open doorway, and the blood leeches from my face on seeing Roman, Grayson's father and our pack's Alpha standing there.
Roman glances between us, expression unreadable. “You two. Downstairs. Quick.”