"I'll take her home and tend to her wounds," he offered without hesitation.
"Actually," Damon interjected, "I can do it." The tension between them was palpable, but Grant held his ground, adamant that he would be the one to escort me.
"Please, both of you," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "This isn't necessary,"
"Only been here a couple weeks, and already got two guys fighting over you," Heidi snarked, cutting me off. She paused for dramatic effect before delivering the final blow:
"Were you this much of a slut in your old pack too?" Rage coursed through me, and I lunged at her once more, but Grant was quick to grab my arm, pulling me back before I could reach her. Grayson, obviously displeased with Heidi's behaviour, ordered a couple of guards to take her to the cells. She begged him not to do it, but his decision was final.
"Grant," Grayson said sternly, "Take Erica home."
"Of course, sir," Grant replied, sending Damon a smug grin as he led me away from the chaos and towards my apartment. I looked back to see Damon storming off into the pack house.
Chapter 27
Erica
AsIstumbledintomy apartment, Grant's strong presence followed closely behind me. The place was empty; Gen and Frankie were still at the party, after me telling them repeatedly to go back and enjoy themselves. My emerald evening dress clung to my body, torn and ruined after my fight with Heidi.
"Let me take a look at those wounds," Grant said, his voice laced with concern. He began rummaging through the cabinets, searching for first aid supplies. I couldn't help but think how werewolves like us usually heal pretty quickly, but there was still a need to clean the wounds or the dirt would get trapped. It was times like these when being unable to shift was a frustrating reminder of my limitations.
"Erica, you should remove your dress so I can get to the wounds on your back," Grant suggested, trying to be gentle about the request.
"Fine, just give me a minute." I retreated into my bedroom, closing the door behind me as I peeled off the tattered remains of my once stunning gown.
"Come in," I called out to Grant. As he entered the bedroom, his strong hands gripped the first aid supplies, and I felt my heart race with anticipation.
"Thanks for doing this," I said softly, not meeting his eyes as I stood with my ruined dress removed, wearing only my black lace panties and matching bra.
"Of course, Erica." His voice was gentle and reassuring. He approached me, and I turned around, allowing him to see the extent of my injuries.
Without a word, he began cleaning my wounds, his touch surprisingly soft and tender. Despite the pain, a warmth spread through my body at his touch, and I found myself leaning into it. As Grant continued his ministrations, I felt him lean closer, his breath warm against my neck. He inhaled deeply, and I could hear him sigh contentedly.
"You smell so familiar, Erica," he murmured. "I can't explain it, but I feel incredibly protective of you." His words sent a thrill down my spine, and I couldn't help but agree.
"I feel something for you too, Grant. It's confusing and powerful, but I don't know what it is."
"Maybe we should find out," he suggested, his blue eyes locking onto mine. Slowly, he leaned in, his lips hovering just above mine. My breath caught in my throat, and my body screamed for me to close the gap between us. But something held me back.
"No, Grant, we can't. Things are complicated, and this isn't right."
"Complicated? How?" His brows furrowed in concern, but before I could respond, a thundering bang at the door startled us both.
"Erica!" The voice boomed from outside, and I knew immediately who it was. Liam.
The bedroom door burst open with a violent force, and Liam stormed in, the muscles in his shirtless torso rippling as he growled with fury. His grey sweatpants clung to his hips, accentuating his fine-tuned abs. My heart raced at the sight of him, torn between fear and desire.
"Get your hands off her!" Liam roared, grabbing Grant by the collar and hurling him against the wall. The impact made me wince, but Grant was quick to recover, springing to his feet with a snarl.
"Back down, mutt," Liam snarled, his brown eyes blazing. "Get out of here! That's an order from your Alpha!"
"Fuck that!" Grant spat, his blue eyes defiant. "I'm not leaving Erica alone with you while you're like this. You're dangerous!"
"Grant, please," I pleaded, my voice shaking. "It's okay. Liam won't hurt me."
"Really?" Grant looked at me incredulously, his distrust for Alphas written all over his face. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Enough!" Liam snapped, his anger boiling over. "Erica is my fated mate, and I would never hurt her!" My breath hitched at Liam's confession, and I could see the shock etched into Grant's features. Rage and betrayal flickered through his eyes, but he refused to back down. I clenched my fists, feeling both overwhelmed and caught in a storm of emotions I couldn't control. Horrified, Grant's eyes flickered between Liam and me, desperate for an explanation.
