Moon Crossed (Werewolf Hunter Series): Season 1 (Episodes 1-6) (Crescent Hunter) (33 page)

“Hey, I said if
it wasn't you.” He pulls his lips into a tight line.

“Lift your arms,”
he requests. I suck in a sharp breath when I try.

“What's wrong?”
he asks curiously, glancing at my stomach. “Um, Claire, you're
bleeding.”

“Yeah, on the
last full moon Brogan got a little moon-crazed.” I hitch my
thumb toward the outside.

“Show me.”
I pick up my shirt.

“Whoa, have you
tried to heal it?” he asks, inspecting my wound.

“A couple of
times.” I pull my shirt back down. “I'm not sure why it
won't heal.”

“This happened on
the last full moon?” He plays with the scruff on his chin. “It
doesn't even look like it's healing naturally. We should try again.”

“Please. Maybe
this time it won't open back up,” I complain, and feel the
pain.

Ki puts his hands on my
shoulders, channeling his energy through me and envisioning the
healing light. The wound closes up. I wipe away the blood that was
there. I'm left with four pink scars.

“I'm glad it
healed.” Ki blows out a breath.

“Me too. It's
been a real bitch.” The coffee's finally done brewing.
“Coffee?”

“No thanks.”
He sits back down to get into the bag. He pulls out a tape measure.
“Let's take some measurements and get you a bodice to protect
your chest.” He tilts his chin down.

“What kind of
bodice?” I ask, never knowing what to expect from Ki. Even
though he was my father's friend, that didn't stop him from bringing
me gear that was a bit on the risqué side or hitting on me
when I turned twenty. Of course, he's never been serious; it's just
the wolf in him.

“Something that
will protect you in battle and hopefully keep something like this
from happening again.” He points to my stomach.

“Sounds like a
plan. Will it hinder my movement?” I have to ask the important
questions.

“No, it
shouldn't.” He fiddles with his goatee again. “Not if I
make it right.”

“You will.”
He finishes taking my measurements.

“Okay, how are
the pouches working out?” he asks while writing down my
measurements.

“They're awesome.
They aren't in the way of any of my holsters and the sample
containers fit in the loops perfectly,” I say with a smile.

“Soon enough,
I'll have you completely outfitted in leather from head to toe.”
He laughs and looks me up and down hungrily.

“Yeah, I'm sure
my dad would just love that.” I widen my eyes.

“I want you to be
safe
and
efficient.” He tips his chin downward. “So
would Aengus.”

“That's how I
like it.” I play with the scabbard and stick my finger in one
of the sheaths for the daggers. “You know, I don't think I
could ever need this many daggers. I'm so used to just having the
dagger and the sword. It's always been enough.”

“I think you can
adjust to having a few more daggers. You know, you can have a full
array if you ever have to disable a moon-crazed wolf. It could happen
to me, and I would prefer you didn't kill me.” He raises an
eyebrow. “You know, show an old man some mercy.”

“Ha, that's
funny. You, an old man!” A seriousness crosses my features. “If
I ever have to come after you, there will be no mercy.”

“Killer instinct,
I like it. Sexy.” His expression becomes serious. “But
really, if you could not kill me, I would like that better.”

“You got it.”
I tilt my head down to let him know that I'm serious.

“Deal.” He
extends his hand and we shake. “Now go get your sword and
dagger to try it out.”

“I'll be right
back.” I run to my room and come back in under a minute. “No
place for the guns.”

“I don't know why
you bother with those.” He grimaces.

“Because if I'm
in a situation where there are too many, I can disable them without
killing and get away.” I pause for a second. “But,
obviously, because of the noise I prefer not to use them, but they
can be good in a pinch.”

“I can see that.
I just don't know of any other hunter who uses them.” He takes
the harness off and starts adjusting some of the buckles by the
sheaths. “There, you can try that for now until I can modify
it.

The harness slips on
pretty easily, and I load it up. “Ooh, it puts me off balance a
little.” I wiggle around, trying to adjust the weight.

“That's okay, I
think I can fix that.” He reaches into his duffel bag. “I
have a surprise for you.”

“Oh, I love
surprises.” I clap my hands together with glee.

When I see what he
pulls from the bag, my entire being fills with admiration and
emotion. My mouth hangs open; I'm covered in chill bumps, and it
takes a moment for me to find the words. “I didn't know you had
my father's sais.”

A loving smile takes
over. “Your father asked me many moons ago that, if he were to
die, take and hold on to them for you.”

I'm totally speechless,
gripping the hilts in each hand. They are so beautiful, and I was
always in awe of them as a child. The balance is perfect. Spinning
them in the air, the limited training my dad gave me comes back, like
riding a bike. “I can't believe it. I always wondered what
happened to them.”

“He wanted you to
be ready before you had them. With some training, you'll be able to
slice and dice us lupines like sushi.” He winces.

“I don't know
that I'll be able to wield these as effectively as my sword and
dagger.”

“You never know,
with more practice and the right teacher...” He trails off.

“Aunt Rain was an
awesome teacher, but I've reached the limits of her ability.” I
slide the sais into the scabbard to try out the weight of it. “Wow,
it balances perfectly.”

“I was hoping it
would; that's why it's positioned that way in the harness.” He
adjusts another strap. I take two steps backward,
remembering what Hayden said about my mom. I look hard into Ki's
eyes. “I have a question for you about my mother.”

He shifts uncomfortably
in his seat. “Okay.”

I have to take a
moment, because I know that right now, I may find out that everything
I once believed to be true was a lie. I inhale to ask, and my skin
begins to burn with that tingling I get when Cole is nearby. The
doorbell rings. Shit.

“I'll be right
back.” The door swings open, and immediately I'm feeling at
ease, just looking up into his blue eyes that I could get lost in
forever. “Hey,” I say in almost a choking voice.

“Hey,” he
says, handing me a bouquet of wildflowers.

“Aw, thank you.”
They are the same ones my dad used to bring for my mother. “Oh,
come on in. I've got a friend I want you to meet.”

Cole and I walk into
the kitchen and Ki's expression falls. “Cole?”

Cole looks at me, then
Ki. “How's it goin'?”

“Fine,” Ki
answers cautiously. “What are you doing here?”

“You guys know
each other?” I don't know why I'm so surprised; many wolves do
know one another, but I didn't see this connection.

Cole hangs his head,
almost ashamed by his answer. “I came to see Claire.”

“Why is that?”
Ki stands from the table, putting himself between Cole and me.

Cole exhales a
cleansing breath. “To bring her some flowers to put on her
parents’ grave.”

“No, that's not
going to work.” He looks at me. “Claire?”

“What?” I'm
not going to defend my friendship; there's no reason.

“Claire, can I
speak with you outside?” He looks at Cole with fire in his eyes
as he drags me out to the back porch.

“Let go of me.”
I pull my arm away.

“Clarice Arianna
O'Conlan, tell me this isn't the wolf you were all moonie-eyed over.”
Crap, he pulled out the whole name. He looks at me and takes my lack
of response as my answer. “You are playing with fire.” He
flashes me a scolding look.

“We're
just
friends,” I tell him.

“I'm not blind or
stupid. I smell the hormones coming off both of you, and the way you
looked at him, the way you froze up when you felt him coming,”
he hisses, ticking each sign on his fingers.

“I know this
whole hunter/wolf thing isn't supposed to be. I've got it,” I
insist.

“That's not what
I'm talking about. I would prefer you didn't pursue a wolf, but if
that's where your heart takes you, so be it.” He shakes his
head. “I know this kid. He wouldn't know sincerity if it bit
him in the ass.”

“Ki.”
Cole's voice is deep and resonant coming from the kitchen door. “It's
not like that with her. We
are
just friends. I like talking
with her and spending time. That's it.”

Ki goes to Cole and
gets closer to him. He's much leaner than Cole, but just as tall.
“This is my goddaughter. I love her like she's my own, and
I'll not have you hurting her.”

“Yes, sir.”
Cole nods, then offers me a sweet smile.

“Locke,” I
interrupt as the words spill from my mouth.

Cole and Ki glance at
me questioningly.

“He and the boys
are home.” I don't want these two to be squaring off when they
come out here. I'm getting enough crap from all of this. I can feel
the house fill with life as the boys come in, then spill out onto the
porch.

“Mornin,'”
Locke says sarcastically, coming over to give me a hug. He turns to
Cole. “'Hey, girl.”

Cole blows him a
sarcastic kiss. “Hey.”

“Ki!” He
offers his hand in some weird secret handshake thing. “How've
you been, man?”

“Awesome,”
Ki answers, watching all the boys file out onto the porch.

Tor punches me in the
arm. “Hey, snot face.” He tips his head at Cole and Ki.

I rub my arm. “Dick.”

Tor laughs and sits up
on the railing, leaning against one of the beams. Rabbit comes out
eating an apple. “Hey, Claire, glad to see you've decided to
join us during daylight hours.”

“Ha ha, Rabbit.”
Sometimes, I have to remember that they don't know I've been up most
nights.

“No, really, why
all the vampire sleep lately?” Trevor asks.

“Because I've
been putting in a lot of late nights,” I snap at him.

“Trevor, I swear
you get hairier every time I see you!” He looks Trevor up and
down.

“It's No
shave....whatever, I'm just never going to shave again.” He
shrugs and takes a drink of soda.

“What debauchery
were guys up to?” I ask.

“We went down to
the game trader to see what they had,” Rabbit answers. “Which
was nothing.”

Ki pulls Locke to the
side. I'm trying not to look like I'm listening. Cole and I exchange
a look, and I hear his voice in my head.
Sorry for all the heat.

It's fine,
I
answer.
I can handle this. It's one of the hazards of being loved,
right?

I'd like to talk
with you later about everything that everyone's saying.
He looks
at me with concern.

It's fine. I really
don't think you're as bad as everyone makes you out to be.

His only answer is a
sad smile across his face, laced with shame.

“Hey, guys.”
Lili pops out onto the porch.

“Hey, when did
you get here?” I ask, curious as to why she's here.

“I went to the
store with the boys. I was just grabbing a sandwich.” She takes
a bite.

“Lili,” I
warn.

She rolls her eyes.
“Don't get your panties in a bunch, Claire.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“I know. Why is
it any different now than it used to be hanging out with them?”
she asks earnestly.

“Because, now
you're sort of closer into the fold since you know. I don't want you
to get caught up.” Aw crap, now I sound like everyone else who
is talking about Cole and me. “Whatever, do what you want.”

A satisfied smile
crosses Cole's lips.
Well said
.

I return the grin and
roll my eyes.
Am I that transparent?

Yup.

The presence of more
wolves comes over me, with a threatening edge. I'm compelled to go
into the house and get my weapons.

“Claire?”
Cole questions when I come back outside, armed. “What's wrong?”

“Wolves,” I
say with biting apprehension.

“Well, yeah,”
Lili says like I'm stupid.

“No,
more
wolves.” I shake my head. “Ki?”

Three men come around
to the backyard. Ki turns in time to see them approaching the porch.
My wolves create a wall in front of me. Cole stands by my side.

“Riker?” Ki
questions.

Riker?
I think
to myself.

“Hey, Ki, long
time no see.” Riker tries to maintain a serious tone.

“Yeah, been
busy,” Ki says in a tight voice. “What can we do for
you?”

“We need
Clarice,” the one with long brown hair says insistently.

“Clarice? Why so
formal?” I ask with a hint of humor in my voice.

“For what?”
Cole growls.

“She's
responsible for the death of two of our pack,” the other one
says.

“What?”
They can't be serious.

“Cole, you need
to hand her over. That's an order,” Riker demands.

“I don't follow
your orders anymore.” Cole shakes his head.

I push through the
barricade of boys. “I am Clarice O'Conlan, seventh generation
hunter. The two lives I took were both moon-touched, therefore it was
my duty to destroy them.” I puff myself up, holding tight to my
weapons. “Be warned, I also have a right to protect myself from
any aggression. You've come to my home; at least have the decency to
announce yourselves.”

“Claire, you can
stand down.” Ki puts his hand up, then turns to face me. “I've
got this. You need to go into the house.”

“There are rules,
Ki. They have to follow them just like I do.” I stand my
ground.

The three visitors
exchange a look, and Riker nods at the one with long brown hair and
golden eyes. He steps forward. “I'm Lex, third to Pike.”