Surrendering to Destiny (Allison Franklin) novel Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

To say Catherine was nervous would be an enormous understatement. Ever waking up curled into Graham while he snored above her wasn’t

enough to quiet the nausea she’d been feeling since Graham told her she would be meeting the alpha. Everything they wanted was riding on this meeting going well.

Graham sauntered out of the shower wearing a towel and she allowed herself a singular moment to admire her mate through the reflection of

the mirror. His scent flooded the room with the steam from the shower an she inhaled to help calm her nerves. He walked up behind her and

ran his nose along her shoulder. He slid his hand up her black dress to res flat on her belly.

“Do you need help relaxing before we leave?” he asked against her ear. She looked up at his reflection to find his eyes swirling with black and a

slight tilt on his lips.

“Right, that’s just what I need. To go meet the alpha smelling like sex,” she responded, pushing him off.

“Better than going smelling like a horny teenager,” he reasoned, walking toward his closet.

“Why would I…I am not.

“I wasn’t talking about you,” he said and winked at her.

She rolled her eyes and donned her heels. She stepped into the bathroom and looked around for her contact case. After several minutes of

futile searching she returned to the bedroom and sucked in a breath at Graham in a suit. He wanted to dress to impress and impressive he was.

The top few buttons were undone on his white dress shirt, his jacket flexe against his wide shoulders as he buckled his belt. When she was

finally able to tear her eyes from his figure and look up at his face she found a knowing smile lingering there. He lifted his nose and sniffed

the air, now filled with her desire.

“You sure I can’t help you?” he asked. She swallowed and shook her head. Then changed her mind and nodded. His eyebrows shot up.

“Not with that. I was looking for my contacts. Have you seen them?”

His face changed and he scowled. He turned to pick up some cufflinks from his bedside table. “I threw them out.”

“You… what?!”

He turned to her again and his face was stern. “I don’t like you hiding you eyes. It’s a rarity in lycan culture as much as human or wolf but for

lycans it has a different meaning. Alpha Jensen has the gift himself. You should be proud of your blessing, Catherine, whether you understand

it or not. Your eyes are beautiful and when you hide them it pisses me off He shrugged and picked up her shawl from the bed. He stood in

front of her, shawl extended for her to take.

“People stare and ask lots of questions,” she said, blushing at his declaration. His assertiveness should have angered her, instead his authority

turned her on.

“People stare at you even with those things in. You’re beautiful, Catherine Your eyes merely amplify that fact. People ask questions because

they sense your gentle, approachable nature. Now come on, we don’t want to be late… Unless…” He winked and she smacked him.

‘They took Graham’s mustang to the packhouse. With each second her pers grew and grew until she felt they would suffocate her, Graham placed his hand on her thigh and squeezed. She wrapped both of her hand around his and gripped him tightly, He parked in front of the

house, turned the car off and faced her. He lifted their hands to his mouth and kissed the backs of hers.

“It’s going to be okay,” he told her and she smiled.

Graham and Catherine walked hand in hand into the packhouse. She kept step behind him and gripped his upper arm with her free hand. He had yet to give her a tour of the building. He’d made it clear he wanted her to stay away from the packhouse whenever possible. When she asked why he only told her it was a den of vipers and he didn’t trust a single person Inside.

The house was four stories high, covered in stone and boasting numerous ireplaces. It had to be at least two centuries old. The front entryway made her gasp. The floors were the same stone as the house, covered in wrm rugs. A large chandelier hung above her head, casting the wooden beams in a soft light..

the alpha’s command continued to wash over her.

“Enough Jensen,” Graham said. The alpha growled and the command dropped. Catherine sucked in a breath and shook against him. “It’s okay,

baby. I have to set you down now. It’ll be okay.” He set her down but she ung to his collar.

“Explain yourself,” the alpha ordered.

Catherine glanced around and noticed everyone but Stuart had cleared out. Then she realized the alpha was speaking to her.

“I…”

“She doesn’t know anything, Jensen,” Graham said.

“The hell she doesn’t. Who’s to say she hasn’t bewitched you too?” he asked. Graham growled.

“You may be my alpha but she is my mate and if you accuse her of witchcraft one more time I’ll turn rogue, Jensen,” Graham warned.

The alpha shut up and she wondered how Graham was able to talk like that to an alpha who’s aura had knocked her to her knees. The two

stared at each other for several tense minutes.

“Get her out of here. I want to speak with you alone,” the alpha commanded.

Graham nodded and turned to Catherine. Panic surged through her body and she shook her head violently. “Graham, please, I want to stay with you.”

He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I’m going to talk to the alpha and then come get you. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

The door opened and the luna woman stepped in. She nodded at Graham and then held her hand out for Catherine. “Come on, Honey. Let them talk and we can go find something to eat.”

Graham smoothed some hair down her back and walked her to the door. “I’ll only be a few minutes, I promise. You can trust Rebecca.”

Catherine took Rebecca’s hand and took a few steps out of the door. She turned in time to see Graham nodding at her and the door close.