Moonlight's Peril (Moonlight Series Book 1) (16 page)

Twenty-Four

Bianca couldn’t sleep, but she was drowsy. She sat out on the rickety porch of the common house drinking tea, wearing her pajamas. She’d pulled her favorite angora sweater on before coming outside and it was keeping her warm enough. The compound was as still as a tomb. Bianca looked down as a fluffy orange cat rubbed against her leg. She gave the cat a crooked grin and scratched him behind the ear. “Hey, buddy, I didn’t think cats liked canines. Where did you come from?” The cat didn’t answer. “I’m getting so used to weres I guess I thought you might be one too.” The cat purred.

In the distance, the chattering trills and chirps of insect song played. A whippoorwill cried. Murky gray pre-dawn light grew brighter as it pushed the darkness away. The distant sound of vehicles chased away any thoughts of sleep. A cold shaft of dread mingled with anticipation as her adrenaline spiked. The teacup tumbled from her shaking fingers, shattering. This was it.
Chessa.
Bianca ran.

****

“I can’t see my mom again,” Chessa’s lower lip trembled. “I won’t, not when I know I have to say goodbye.”

“Hand me that antiseptic,” Mr. Adams pointed next to Chessa’s leg. She nodded, handing the man the bottle. Mr. Adams was stitching up Trax, and she marveled at how he was able to do it while bouncing around in the back of a truck. A man leaned through the back window of the truck pointing a flashlight at Trax.

Ches looked in the back window of the truck. Joy was okay; she lay between the driver and the man with the flashlight. Chessa sat back and looked at Law and Mr. Adams carefully. They appeared human again, but looks were deceiving.
I don’t want monsters, like me, around my mom.

“You’re going to be safe now. You have my promise you’re going to be safe,” Law said. The conviction in his tone was hardcore.
He must really be into my mom. Yuck.

“I don’t want her to get sick. She doesn’t deserve to get this. You haven’t made her—sick? Right?”

Law reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. The crinkles by his eyes deepened when he smiled. He had a kind face, and even if he was a scary wolfman, he seemed just a little less terrifying.

“What you are isn’t a sickness or something to catch. Bianca can’t become a werewolf unless you bite her hard enough to draw blood. I will never hurt your mother. Do you bite your mom?”

“No, of course not,” Chessa said as the mental image played out in her head. “He…he told me I’m his granddaughter. Did he lie to me? He lied about me making mom sick.”

Law let go of Chessa’s shoulder. “I don’t know if he’s your family, but I do know your mom loves you. I know she can’t become a werewolf from just being around you. I’ve never seen someone fight so hard. Finding you has been her life.”

Unshed tears made everything blurry, but Chessa didn’t let them fall. “But I’m different.”

“It won’t matter. Give your mother some credit. She’s a tough lady.”

The way Law’s face lit up when he talked about her mom made Chessa smile, but she wasn’t completely sure why.
I never considered what it would be like for Mom to have a boyfriend. And Mom doesn’t do anything normal. Only my mom would go straight to werewolves.

“So you’re dating my mom?”

Law’s expression closed off. His brows drew together. Chessa thought she noticed a hint of a flush on his tan skin.

“It’s complicated,” he said.

Lame.
Chessa scoffed. “That’s what adults say when they don’t want to tell kids the truth. My parents were complicated. Mom’s job is complicated. My math homework is complicated. Mom is awesome, how complicated is that?”

“I swear to you I will never abandon your mother. I…she and I…I have declared she’s mine.” He paused as if that should explain the whole relationship. “I made my declaration to the pack. What’s hers is mine to protect. That makes your safety my responsibility.”

Crazy, but hearing him say it makes me feel better.
“Uh, thanks.”

“I mean it. I will protect you both.”

“Good, now promise me you won’t let me hurt Mom.”

Law gave her a firm nod. “I know being the wolf can be tough at your age, tougher for a bitten. Anger is an emotion all weres have to fighter harder than humans to suppress. I will help you, but only if you can be brave enough to push the darkness away.”

“Hold this.” Mr. Adams handed her some folded gauze. “Press it here.” He indicated Trax’s stomach wound closest to her. She nodded and did as asked. “Law is a good man. Your mother couldn’t ask for a better mate.”

Chessa’s head snapped up. “Mate?” she squeaked. They approached a farm. She didn’t have time to ask more about her mom having a mate because her throat tightened as she smelled her mother’s orchid perfume. Before Chessa saw her mother, she knew Bianca was there. When the gate opened, Chessa saw a figure running. She also noticed no one was sleeping in the grass. There were little houses and other buildings. Everything looked clean and well cared for. Law’s pack weren’t savages.
Maybe Mom will be okay.

“You live here, right?” Chessa asked looking at Law.

He nodded solemnly. “And your mom and you if you both want. I have a house, and there’s a room that’s pink. It was my sister’s when we were kids.”

“How about Trax?” Chessa glanced down at her prone friend.

Law sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “And Trax, if he’s willing to obey our rules and swear his loyalty to our pack. I’m guessing he’s not going to fight you for the pink room.”

Chessa giggled. She hadn’t giggled in a long time.

The running figure came closer, and Chessa knew who it was. Judging by the soft look in Law’s eyes, he did too. The gray sky proclaimed dawn lingered near.

Chessa and Law were in the last vehicle. The driver stopped as her mother jogged up near the truck bed. Tears streamed down her mom’s face.

“You brought her back,” Mom gasped between sobs. “Thank God you brought her back.”

Law pulled her mother up as if she weighed nothing. Chessa chuckled at the goofy look of surprise on her mom’s face.

“Mom,” Chessa couldn’t find the rest of her words. She had so much to say, but she just couldn’t say a thing.

Bianca reached out, and Chessa leaned into her embrace.
I’m safe.
Her mom smelled like home. Chessa rubbed her cheek against the soft material of Bianca’s sweater and closed her eyes. She just wanted to be herself again.
Mom, just hold me until all the monsters are gone.
Bianca pulled a dry leaf out of Chessa’s long tangled mess of hair. The lopsided grin on Bianca’s face tugged at Chessa heart.
I love you, mommy.
A quiet, piteous groan pulled her away from her reunion. Chessa looked down at Trax. “He needs a doctor.”

“What happened?” Mom asked.

“They didn’t give up; the fight was messy. We need to get the boy to my mother.”

“What aren’t you telling me Law? You look worried,” her mom asked.

Law scowled. “Nothing.”

“Bull,” Mom said.

Law breathed out a sound caught between a growl and frustration. He ran his hand through his hair. “My sister. We have her.”

Mom gasped. “That’s wonderful. Is she okay?”

“I hope. After that long there I have no idea.”

“Who’s your sister?” Chessa asked.

“Her name is Joy.”

Chessa bit her lip. “She’s my friend.”

Law’s shoulders relaxed, and he sighed. “So she’s not like the others?”

Chessa nodded. “She’s nice. Joy took care of me. The man, her mate, he hurt her.”

Law looked ready to murder.

“Did anyone hurt you?”  Her mother asked in a stilted way that made the fearful innuendo of her question clear, even for a thirteen-year-old.

“No. They locked me up for a long time in some weird bunker thing, but other than the bite I wasn’t hurt.”

Bianca’s eyes widened.
Does being reminded of what happened to me make her love me less?

“Yeah, I was bitten, and now I’m a freak,” Chessa spat. She gazed at her mom waiting for rejection.

****

Bianca reached out and pulled her daughter close.
I can’t imagine what she’s going through.
Chessa went stiff in her arms.
How much did she suffer out there?

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was keep you safe and happy,” Bianca wiped tears from her cheeks.

“It’s not your fault. Geez.” Chessa pushed her away so hard that Bianca would have tumbled out of the back of the moving truck if Law hadn’t grabbed her arm. Her shoulders ached were her daughter had shoved her.

“Chessa, please, I…”

“You don’t get it, Mom.” Chessa growled low in her throat.

The hair on the back of Bianca’s neck rose, she looked at Law hoping he could clear up her confusion.

“This is a rough age for a were, and harder for a bitten,” he said.

Bianca stared at her daughter. “Ches, I love you so much.”

“Whatever.”

The truck stopped, and Chessa climbed out first. Bianca didn’t understand why Chessa was angry. She and her daughter were close.
What am I doing wrong?
She’d focused so much energy on finding Chessa she didn’t consider what she should do once her child was home.

Janna rushed towards the truck. She wore a fluffy white robe and tennis shoes.

“They said you have one with a bad stomach wound. Bring him inside, the first room on the left off the kitchen,” Janna pointed toward the side door with the rickety porch. “How many others?”

“Just a few injured and our dead. Most have already gone towards town. This one was one of Tobias’, but he’s young, and he tried to save the girl,” Peter Adams said. “We’re all the help he’s going to get.”

“I promised Chessa we’d take care of him. Kane said all of Tobias’ die. Say nothing to the town wolves.” Law turned to Peter. “I know we can count on you.”

“Definitely, there’s no reason for an innocent kid to die, no matter who his alpha was.”

Janna nodded. “He could be in worse hands. Looks like you’ve already done a lot for him. Thank you, Peter.”

Law and Peter picked the boy out of the truck and gingerly handed him down to Ethan and Kort.

Chessa teared up. “Be careful with him.” The men ignored the emotional teenager, but it was clear they were gentle. Chessa followed the group.

Bianca reached out and took her daughter’s arm, but Chessa shook off her touch. “I’m going in there to see if I can help. Trax tried to save me,” Chessa said. She hurried away to catch up.

Bianca stood dazed. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but she’d anticipated a more joyful reunion.

t

Twenty-Five

Kane closed his eyes.
So close
. Margot screamed with pleasure.
She’s faking it, but I don’t give a shit.
Fucking his mistress with all his strength, Kane closed his eyes and pictured the first woman he’d ever loved. “Joslyn,” Kane whispered with reverence as his cock erupted.

Margot stiffened and stopped crying out. She knew better than to speak until he finished. Kane grunted out and collapsed on the petite blonde. Her hair color was as phony as her nails and breasts. He’d paid for all of it. She owed him his moment in the past.

Kane’s truce with Tobias had cost him his pride.
I might be stuck in town and forced to stay out of the fight, but at least, the bastard is dead now. Even seeing his corpse didn’t help my mood.
He flopped back on his lover’s bed and gazed at the water spotted ceiling.

“I love you,” Margot whispered.

Kane’s anger escalated. He stood and reached for his pants, ignoring the sniveling woman. She knew what this was.

Tossing a handful of cash on the bed, Kane looked Margot in the eyes. “I may not treat you like my wife, but I’d never treat you like a nameless whore. You’re mine, but no more than that.” He tried to cover his disdain, but couldn’t turn the grimace into a grin. “Buy yourself something pretty.” He started to get dressed. Fucking Margot hadn’t taken his mind off the night’s events. He’d hoped the release of his frustration would help. He’d hit his wife more than once tonight as his anger grew, so he’d gone to Margot. He didn’t love his wife but regretted hurting her when she pushed him. Nothing had helped his dark mood.

Margot stood. Her whole body shook. She didn’t get him a nice warm, wet cloth to clean himself as she normally did. Instead, she glared at him.

“Is there something else?” Kane asked.

“You’re a monster!”

“And that’s why you want me. That’s why you’ve deluded yourself that you love me. We both know why I pay your bills.”

Margot’s lip trembled, and her shoulders slumped. Kane watched the reality of their arrangement sink into the woman’s simple mind. Margot looked enough like Joslyn that he could pretend. Her resemblance to a dead woman was all there was between them.

A revelation about the past had arrived by phone earlier in the day. The news cut him all the way to his soul.
There would never be a balm strong enough to heal the betrayal.
Every woman he’d ever cared about had hurt him.

He had to lay claim to Tobias’ territory and assets before another wolf tried. Foster didn’t want a fight and wasn’t looking to expand territory, Kane was sure, but he didn’t need another lower alpha cropping up. The three, like Foster, left in his territory were more than enough to contend with. He’d be busy for a very long time, so Margot would have a long time to cool off. Her temper was the only similarity to Joslyn he didn’t care for.

****

Chessa smelled the blood as she entered the room. Trax was bleeding again. The lady wearing the robe looked up from Trax just long enough to give Chessa a kind smile.

Janna pulled the covers back and took a look at the boy’s stomach. “This is good, very nice handy work, Peter.”

“I was in my share of pack disputes back in the day. I’m glad, for the kid’s sake, that I haven’t lost my knack with a needle.”

The woman turned to Chessa again. “You’re Bianca’s daughter?”

“Yes,” Chessa replied.

“Welcome home child. I’m Janna Foster, Law’s mother.”

Janna seemed tiny compared to her son. Her chin and forehead were the same as his, but that was the extent of the similarity. Joy looked like her mother.

“Thanks. So why didn’t Trax just heal?”

“Sometimes they do. Running is good, letting the wolf out is good, but we can be killed. Your young friend isn’t able to let his wolf help because he’s unconscious.”

“Why would a wolf want to run when they’re hurt?”

Janna pinned Chessa with a poignant gaze. “
Our
kind can’t go to human doctors. Our bodies are different—wolf physiology is a gift. You’ll come to see that in time.”

Chessa shrugged. “Is he going to be okay?”

Janna’s smile returned. “I hope so, in time, but we’ll keep our eyes on him.”

“Can I help?”

“I’m sure your presence will be comforting.” Janna scooted a chair close to the bed. “Sit and take his hand. I’m going to apply some very old remedies wolves have used to speed healing. We were into natural medicine before it was popular.”

Chessa grinned. She sat down on the chair next to the bed and took Evan’s hand. The room was small but smelled clean. An antique wooden dresser stood in the corner, and a few paintings of wild flowers hung on the yellow walls. Evan groaned, and Chessa’s focus returned to him.

“Help me center him on the bed,” Janna said to Mr. Adams.

Evan screamed as the adults moved him. His grip tightened painfully on Chessa’s hand, but she didn’t pull away. Janna checked the shallow wounds on his back and quickly applied a poultice and bandage before they laid him back down. His hazel eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at Chessa.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered.

“Sorry?”

“I wasn’t able to save you.”

“But you did. If Gavin had kept dragging me, I wouldn’t have been found. I’m sorry you got hurt helping me.”

He made a rude noise. “Don’t be.”

Janna gathered up her supplies. “Well, it appears you’re in good hands. We’ll get you up for a run soon young man, but for now, I need to check on a few other injured people. If he needs anything besides company or nourishment, you get me.”

Chessa nodded. Trax still hadn’t let go of her hand. Janna left the room, and Mr. Adams followed Janna.

“Thank you,” Trax said.

“For what?”

He leaned forward so fast she didn’t have time to realize what he was doing. His lips pressed against hers for just a moment before he fell back with a groan. “For that.”

Chessa fingers touched her lips lightly as she tried to process what had just happened.
Oh, wow.

****

“We should go clean that wound on your face,” Bianca said.

“Later,” Law replied in a clipped tone.

Bianca followed Law to his truck. He hadn’t gone in with the others. She could see Nic sitting in the driver’s seat. The truck window was down, and the door shut. Nik looked down at something. Law’s whole body tensed. His scowl deepened with every step. When they came closer, Bianca saw Nik cradling an unconscious woman’s head in his lap. He stroked the hair off her forehead. The man looked so—peaceful.

“My sister. Joy,” Law said tersely. “She’s been gone ten years.”

“Is she okay?” Bianca moved closer for a better look.

“She tried to help Nik and hit her head. She watched over your girl.”

“Then I owe her more than I can ever repay. I’m glad someone was there for Chessa when I couldn’t be.” Bianca’s throat tightened around the words.

A tick moved in Law’s jaw, and his eyes narrowed at Nik as he shifted Joy, so she was closer to him. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

Nik flinched and looked up. He dropped his hands away from Joy.

Bianca put her hand on Law’s back. His muscles tensed. She rubbed his shoulder blade, wishing she could ease him. “Shouldn’t you talk to your mother? Ten years is a long time, this might not be a welcome surprise.”

Nik’s head jerked up in surprise. “Joy isn’t like the others she wasn’t feral.” Nik put his arms around Joy again. “She’s staying.”

Bianca didn’t know Nik well, but the strong emotion in his voice and fear in his expression told her he cared. She glanced at Law.

“She’ll be placed under guard. Once the pack realizes she’s not a killer, like her mate’s pack, she’ll be welcomed back. I’ll kill Kane if he puts a kill order on her,” Law said.

“I’ll do it,” Nik replied a little too quickly. “I’ll guard her with my life.”

Law frowned. “She left for a reason, but I don’t believe she enjoyed the killing and chaos like the rest of those animals in Tobias’ pack. You hurt her.”

“We were just kids.”

The tension between the men was almost a living thing as it hung in the air between them. Bianca shivered.

Most of the town pack trucks had left with the wounded, but other town’s people loitered around talking with Law’s pack in the yard. Law’s people seemed more at ease than they had before they left. Bianca tried not to look at the truck containing the dead.

“How many of your pack did we lose?” Bianca asked.

Law grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “
Our
pack. One. The town pack lost ten.”

“I’ll never be able to repay this sacrifice.” Her throat tightened and her eyes burned.

Law took Bianca’s face between his palms. “No death here is you or Chessa’s fault. Tobias made choices, and those people died as a result. This isn’t even on Kane or me. This is all Tobias.”

A few of the women came out of their cabins carrying carafes and baking pans. She could smell the fresh coffee. The town wolves were ushered inside the common house.

“Should I find your mother?” Bianca asked.

“No. She’ll handle this.” Law opened the truck door and scooped his sister out of Nik’s lap. Something flickered in Nik’s eyes, predatory emotion, and Bianca held her breath. She was relieved when the beta wolf didn’t attack Law. She and Nik followed Law as he carried his filthy, unconscious sibling.

She walked past the cargo of bodies, stumbling and turning away from the sight.

“I have some families to talk to after we’ve taken care of the living.” Law’s gruff voice and the lines marring his handsome face tore at her heart.

Bianca reached out and put her hand on top of his. He held his sister tight, but paused and hooked his thumb over the back of Bianca’s hand letting the contact linger.

“We’ll burn them tonight, it’s our way,” Nik’s voice was kinder than she’d become accustomed to hearing form him. Dark images of Law or Chessa piled in the grisly cargo tormented her mind.

The pack stared at them as they came into the common house. Some seemed curious, but others were openly hostile. Janna had dressed, and as Law approached, she showed no emotion. “Bring her up to my room,” Janna said. “Your girl is in there.” She pointed to a door on the left as she bobbed her head to the side in a dismissive gesture.

Bianca stopped by the door, but couldn’t bring herself to go in yet. She sighed as her hand lingered on the doorknob.

Janna paused just before the stairs and turned back to look Nik in the eyes. “Get some coffee,” she said. Then she and Law continued up, and they were out of sight. Nik stood silent and stiff. He appeared lost. Bianca wanted to reach out to him and comfort him, but she had no idea what the social dynamic of such a shunning meant to Law. She remained statue-still as Nik turned and stomped away. He didn’t even glance at her as he entered the kitchen.

And here she stood holding a doorknob she didn’t want to turn. Pressing her lips together she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening the heavy wooden door.

Chessa’s head rested next to the injured boy as she slept in a chair beside him. Her hand was on his. They both appeared to be dozing peacefully. Bianca grabbed a folded blanket off the dresser and draped over her daughter’s shoulders. She situated the fabric without waking Chessa. Her daughter sighed out a little sound that was something like a growl and a groan before she snuggled her cheek deeper into the mattress. Bianca pulled up another blanket at the foot of the bed to cover the boy. The fall air held a chilly promise of the coming winter, and the tiny room was cold. Both of the teens were breathing deeply, and oddly enough in unison. Chessa had never had a boyfriend. Bianca just wanted her to have a nice sweet boy, not some killer werewolf as a first love. Whatever today held, the first time in a long time, she was happy the sun rose again.

****

Nik climbed the stairs. He found Law, Janna, and Joy in Janna’s room. Guilt tormented Nik until his stomach rolled. If he hadn’t pushed away his feelings for Joy and made his claim a decade ago, she wouldn’t have suffered.

Janna and Law turned to him as he entered the room.

“I give her my protection,” Nik said without hesitation.

Janna’s eyes widened, then watered. Law scowled. Nik had never seen his friend so pissed off.

“You sure as hell don’t!” Law yelled.

“Keep your voice down.” Janna scowled. “You told me what Kane said. It must be done.” She was looking at Joy with a mixture of concern and hope. Her lower lip trembled as she placed her hand on her daughter’s cheek. Janna turned to Nik. “Thank you.”

Nik’s expression grew grim. “It’s done. I’m not making the same mistake twice. You know she’s not safe from Kane without a mate.”

“Do you think he’ll come for her? What about the boy your woman’s girl is infatuated with?” Janna asked as she pulled her gaze from Joy to look at Law.

“Ma, I hope not. I’ll deal with Kane. Fuck.”