Hidden Moon (Hot Moon Rising #4) (15 page)

Rita placed a stack of pancakes on the table. “I’ll come back to clean up when you’re

done.”

“You’re never going to stop feeling sorry for yourself, are you?” the old man asked,

eating a pancake with his fingers.

“How can I?” Alan ripped his pancake in half and dragged it through a puddle of

syrup. “This fucked-up wolf almost killed his mate. At least give me the dignity of

leaving before the pack throws me out.”

“I hate to break it to you, but nobody’s perfect. Isn’t being born and enjoying life

worth the flaws we have to put up with?”

87

“For most people and wolves,” Alan replied. “Not me.”

“Well, you’re not that damn special,” Don groused. “It’s high time you got over

yourself and made the best of things.”

Alan left his breakfast half-eaten on his plate, and bolted toward the phone. He had

the number for the airline memorized. Closing his eyes, he imagined himself suspended

in the sky, getting away from this place. He’d deal with the loneliness. It had to be better

than this gut-wrenching misery of not belonging.

As soon as he touched the phone, it rang. The vibration raced up his arm, making the

beast in him jump.

“Alan?” As soon as he heard Shelley’s voice, he wished he hadn’t answered it.

“I didn’t mean any of it!” she cried. “I was testing you.”

“I know.” He whispered the words so softly, he wasn’t sure if she heard them.

“I’m so sorry.” The emotion in her voice reached through the phone and caressed him

like a gentle hand. “You know I love you.”

When tears leaked from his eyes and raced down his cheeks, he batted them away. “It

doesn’t change anything.”

“Of course it does,” she protested. “It was the only way to prove
your
pack is immune

to the anger.”

“But you weren’t immune. You still got caught in the crossfire.” He paced. Dishes

clinked in the kitchen as Rita cleaned up. “I’m too violent, and it won’t change as long as

I’m here.”

“It’s a violent world, Alan. Look at what a rival pack did to us three years ago.”

“I’m not a rival pack. I’m supposed to be safe.” He let out a raspy sigh. “Come north

with me, Shelley. We could build a new life.”

The silence on the other end lasted so long, he wondered if she’d not heard him or if

the line had gone dead. Memories of holding her drifted through his mind, her orange-

sweet scent so intense he almost smelled it. Would they fade as the years without her

passed by?

“Shelley? Please say yes. Dad refuses, but I could take him along for his own good.”

“Don’t do this,” she answered with a sob in her voice. “Don’t make me choose.”

“Virginia has farmland, too. We could live in the country and have an apple orchard.

The winter nights are colder, but I’d keep you warm.”

88

She sniffed. “You know I can’t leave the pack.”

“I’m leaving.” Alan squeezed the phone while a new layer of sweat covered his head.

“With or without you.”

“Wait,” she called out before he could hang up. “The Starwood pack called Derek after

you left. They said if we don’t evacuate our homes and businesses, they’ll be destroyed.”

“Then you have to come with me. Have your mother pack you a bag. She can come,

too.”

“No, you have to stay and fight. The pack needs you!”

He gripped his forehead. “What the pack needs is to get rid of internal threats like

me. It needs to focus on the external enemy.”

“Then don’t come over. Just go.” She hung up, the dial tone sounding like the flat line

of a once-beating heart.

***

Two days later, the Moonlight pack gathered at Citrus Lake. Shelley swiped back a

hank of hair as she helped set food on the outdoor tables. With Alan’s help, The

Defenders had taken out Starwood’s Alpha and second-in-command yesterday in a raid.

Pack members threw tonight’s party to celebrate a new era of peace and to wish Alan

farewell. His flight left tomorrow. With swimming in mind, she’d worn a pink bikini

under her shorts.

Nothing mattered more than the pack’s safety, she kept reminding herself as she lit

the centerpiece candles and set out beer glasses. She’d barely slept last night, wondering

what it would be like to go north with him and live the life of a human.

She couldn’t leave the pack if she wanted to. It was part of her. Without it to care for,

she’d be dead inside. It would kill their love. And if it didn’t kill her spirit, it would

eventually sicken her and kill her body. Of course, being without her mate might do the

same thing.

After she lit another candle, she coaxed the tiny flame along with the hope struggling

to take root inside her. Tonight’s farewell included a ceremony to officially claim Alan as

part of the Moonlight pack. If he felt the sincerity deeply enough, maybe he would stay.

When Derek left the barbecue hog spit, he caught her eye and nodded. The ceremony

89

was on. Alan pulled up in his rental car. He and Rita helped his father out. The older

man wore a short-sleeved shirt with a bright tropical print Shelley hadn’t seen him wear

in years. She led them to a table while country rock played in the background.

“Something smells damn good,” Don said. “I could eat a horse.”

“We have a whole pig on the spit,” Rand replied, “but we’ve got something planned

first.”

Shelley squeezed Alan’s lean waist and gave the end of his black bandana a playful

tug. In his matching black tank top and jeans, he looked like a sexier-than-sin bandit.

How could she ever let him go?

He kissed her on the cheek. “What’s going on?”

Derek motioned him to the center table and handed him an unlit candle. “Hold this.”

“Why?” he asked.

“I’m inducting you into the Moonlight pack.” Derek picked up a lit candle and held it

in front of him.

“Are you sure?” Alan asked. “I was never really part of the old pack.”

“That’s been the problem the whole time,” the Alpha said.

“What is this?” Alan narrowed his eyes at Curtis, who stood with crossed arms but a

neutral expression on his face. “Another joke? Can’t you people let me leave with a little

dignity? I promise I’ll never bother you again.”

Shelley clasped her hands together as Alan plopped the unlit candle on the table and

headed toward the car.

“Eat up, Dad,” he muttered. “Rita, bring him to the car when he’s ready to go home.”

“No, no, no,” Barbara said, darting from the crowd to grab his arm. “The guest of

honor is not allowed to leave the party.”

Pinching her lips together to keep them from quivering, Shelley stepped in front of

him.

“I can’t stop you from leaving, Alan, but let the pack do this for you. Please. I swear

it’s not a trick.”

A heavy sigh shook his shoulders, but he headed back to the table and picked up the

unlit candle.

“Do you accept this pack as yours, wherever you are, and me as your Alpha?” Derek

asked.

90

When Alan’s dark gaze—vulnerable and questioning—sought Shelley’s face, she

smiled at him with all the love she felt in her heart.

“I do,” he said hoarsely.

Derek lit his candle and picked up a small knife. Everyone watched as the Alpha ran

the blade across his forearm, leaving behind a red line. Moonlight glistened on the drops

of blood. When he handed Alan the knife, the other man hesitated a moment. Shelley bit

her lip, tasting her own blood.

Finally, he rolled up his sleeve and sliced—ever so slowly—his own arm. After turning

it face up, he held it toward Derek.

The other man covered the wound with his. “We are one pack, one blood. Curtis?”

Shelley held her breath as everyone stared at Alan’s rival with expectant eyes. What

was going on? The pack bonding ceremony usually occurred between a wolf and its

Alpha.

After standing still for several long seconds, he finally walked over and took the knife

from Alan.

“Well, this won’t be the first scar I’ve borne for you.” With a grunt, he cut his flesh.

The sight of his blood reminded her of prom night, making her stomach rebel against

the party food she’d snacked on earlier. Alan stared at it, too, his lips twitching. Would it

incite the beast in him? If Derek had discussed this part of the ceremony with her, she

would have talked him out of it. It was too dangerous.

To her surprise, the men rubbed their arms together, smearing their mingled blood.

One pack. One blood.

“We’re brothers now,” Curtis declared.

Shelley rushed forward to wipe their wounds with a wet cloth Barbara supplied.

Because the other woman had saved her life and helped plan tonight’s ceremony, their

friendship was stronger than ever.

“Oh, Curtis. Alan.” She wiped tears with the back of her arm. “I’m so amazed. So

proud.”

“Let’s get the party started,” Curtis said. “I’m going to snag some pork before your

father eats it all.”

Shelley slid her arms around Alan and squeezed. “Thank you. That was the most

beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

91

“I’m still leaving,” he said.

Her heart fell to her knees. “I know. Eat quickly. I want to do some things to you

underwater.”

And a lot more after that. He might be leaving, but she planned to make love to him

until the moment his plane left the ground.

He smiled against her temple. “Promise?”

Under the moon, the Moonlight pack danced to southern blues and rock. They tore

into the roast pig, leaving nothing but a carcass, and washed it down with cold beer.

Before long, splashes filled the air as they flung off their clothes and raced into the

warm, dark lake water.

She only ate a few bites of food because she wanted Alan more. They clung to a

thicket of reeds at the side of the pond. He slipped his hand down the back of her wet

bathing suit. Loving the possessive way he caressed her buttocks, she looped her arm

around his wet shoulders.

When he eased a finger into her depths, her head dropped back. The moonlight

flooded her eyes as his lips grazed hers. His breath and beard tickled and teased,

igniting a fire brighter than the one that had claimed part of her orchard.

Her mate. Her man. If only for tonight.

He slid another finger inside her, expanding and tightening her core at the same time.

“I need you,” she muttered. “All of you.”

“Here in public?”

“Who cares?” she laughed. “We’re all family now.”

The surface of the water between them ruffled as he fumbled with himself below. In

seconds, the hot, smooth head of his cock entered her folds. Not stopping. Not asking.

Taking. Her knees drifted toward the surface while each muscle in her body went slack.

Every nerve centered on the spot where they joined. She would have slipped below and

drowned if his unique energy didn’t fill her body, making her feel so hot and full.

“Alan,” she said, followed by a sigh. Forming a tight seal around his flesh, she felt

every ridge and vein. Would never forget…how he felt. How he sounded when a growl of

pleasure vibrated his throat. He may have bonded with the other men in blood, but this

was how they joined.

Grasping her hips, he held her immobile and helpless to resist his pounding thrusts.

92

As if she wanted to. His mouth tasted so delicious, better than any barbecue. Her tongue

went wild, exploring every inch of his full lips. He sucked it deep into his mouth while he

seated himself even deeper in her womb.

He couldn’t leave! It wasn’t physically possible when they were so close.

Hopefully, no one suspected what they were doing. Not that she cared. He was her

man, and she’d never felt more primitive. More like a wolf. For the first time in years,

she didn’t give a damn about farming or taking care of others. The last thing she wanted

was to be a shallow, self-centered teenager again. She simply wanted to fill her needs,

and what she needed was him. His cock, his love, his presence.

She locked her legs around him and rode him hard. Taking, taking, taking. Her

fingers, as frantic as her swollen cleft ringing his cock, roved over his scalp, memorizing

every curve.

Mmm…. Maybe she could visit him often. The pack didn’t need her here every minute

of every day, did it?

Each nerve in her clitoris pulsed, so raw and sensitive it nearly drove her out of her

mind. Her hair, damp from the water and their sweat, slapped against her neck. As they

moved, her hard, achy nipples rubbed against his hot, wet chest. Nothing had ever felt

more perfect. More right.

A sharp yip escaped her throat when her pelvis exploded. She mashed her chest

against his. Dug her nails into his shoulders to keep from drowning. His teeth scraped

across her neck and closed around a tendon, mimicking the mating bite he’d once

etched there. The teasing sensation made her buck even harder, hammering herself onto

his cock. When his hot seed bathed her, she gasped and gazed up at the moon.

It was three-quarters full—close enough to her fertile time to be risky.

He grasped her chin, possessively like a true mate. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” If she couldn’t have him, she might have his child, but she wouldn’t tell

him so to keep him here. The new pack could use some pups. How she would love to

have the first.

He let out a breath. “That was incredible.”