Moonlight Desire: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Witch and the Wolf Pack Book 1)

by K. R. Alexander

  Have you questioned the wolves in London?

  There are no wolves in London.

  Of course there weren’t. Unless they were not like other werewolves. So altered, in fact, they may have found some reason for eliminating those who they no longer thought of as their kin.

  I waited in the archway until the others reached us. I’m not sure what had happened to Andrew. He just showed up beside me after a minute. With the uncomfortable feeling that I was the only teacher guiding a field trip, I took stock to make sure everyone still had their rucksacks, or messenger bags, then explained the plan that we needed lunch and a park to sit, eat, and decide how we were going to do this.

  It should have taken less than ten minutes to walk to Saint James’s Park, which I looked up on my phone to keep us from getting lost.

  It took about forty-five.

  By the time we arrived at the pond, however, everyone seemed more collected. Whatever coping mechanisms they used—zoning out, becoming acclimated, or even their desire to show off for me—must be kicking in to calm stretched nerves.

  Andrew did not seem especially troubled. And Isaac was only stiff and watchful. Everyone else, aside from Jed, looked more normal as we found a picnic spot in midday July sun that was growing rapidly hotter, making London—even to my nose—stink. They, however, were sniffing much more, clamoring for the steakhouse they claimed we’d passed, though I’d neither seen nor smelled such a place.

  “Do you know how much it would cost for us all to go in a steakhouse?” I demanded of Kage.

  “Diana sent more money. They keep a savings for pack emergencies like this—”

  “It’s not an emergency for you all to get four steaks each in London. How about pizzas?” I found such a place on my phone.

  Grudging agreement.

  Kage—our treasurer, disturbingly enough—and I walked back to Victoria Street through a maze of winding roads, black cabs, pedestrians, and confusing intersections and turns. Kage jumped when someone hit a sandwich board and it grated on the sidewalk. To avoid having to come into contact with a gaggle of tourists he stepped into the street and a cab driver blew his horn, slamming on the brakes. Kage spun to face the car, growling.

  I grabbed his arm and yanked him on. “You live outside of Brighton. I know you’ve been in cities.”

  “This isn’t Brighton.”

  Something else about those autistic kids: familiarity. Hang a new painting in a familiar room and you might induce anything from surprise and curiosity to terror or a total breakdown. Kage was probably comfortable in Brighton.

  Thinking of those kids, I rephrased how I was speaking to him.

  “I know it’s overwhelming,” I said and took a breath. “I don’t know London at all either. I only day-tripped in with my sister and brother-in-law when I was here last year. A couple days of tourist stuff and back and forth to the airport—that’s it. It’s a lot to deal with when you’re not used to it.”

  He nodded and his head jerked around as a pigeon flew past.

  We crossed a last street and had to wait in a queue, giving time to read the menu, then ordering the carryout pizzas.

  A much longer wait after this, sitting at a bar-type table in windows, watching outside. Kage’s gaze kept darting to people eating slices.

  After a while, I said, “Did you talk to Jason on the train?”

  “A few words in passing. Why?” He looked around at me, but his attention was at once caught by a little dog trotting past outside—on a pink rhinestone leash with matching harness.

  “For real?” I asked.

  He looked at me again. “Oh … no. There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “Okay.”

  “And I wish you’d stop doing rubbish like that to me.”

  It took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about, then remembered his throwing a bag over my head and me kneeing him.

  “You stop doing stupid stuff to me and I will. I don’t usually try to hurt people I’m around—believe it or not.”

  “Not as if you were acting like you didn’t want—”

  “I’m sorry. That was … momentary poor judgement on my part. Not a deliberate ploy to lead you on.”

  His tall chair was pushed out: prepared to make a break for it. He crossed his arms on the table and rested his chin on them. His hazel eyes kept darting back and forth with activity in the street and sidewalk through the glass.

  I almost told him I was sorry again. Instead, we looked out the window together as if at a movie.

  A short time later, we returned to Saint James’s Park toting six large meat lover’s pizzas with extra sausage and extra bacon, and one Italian salad.

  Chapter 35

  I knew better than to think we could sit in a circle and discuss our plans while we ate. Everyone grabbed a box from Kage—Andrew taking two and being kicked in the backs of his knees by Jed, sending him flying. Once pizzas were distributed the pack dispersed to a fifty yard radius to sit down and inhale their meals.

  I sat on a bench with my salad, overlooking the pond, and had gotten through five bites when Zar stepped slowly up to my bench.

  “Cassia? Would you mind terribly if I … joined you?” Keeping a little distance. Clearly, Zar thought getting in someone’s face while they ate was a dreadful idea, yet he’d watched Andrew get away with this move in Cornwall.

  “Not at all. I’m happy for you to.”

  He smiled and sat inches away, presenting me with his box, which I’d assumed was empty. He lifted the lid and there was a very meaty slice, still warm, smelling of savory sausage, pepperoni, garlic, and basil. Zar smiled from it to me, then my green meal.

  “You don’t have much,” he said. “It’s going to be a long day. And probably night. Don’t you eat protein?” Hopeful and anxious and eager at the same time.

  He had a fair point. I’d wanted the salad because I still felt so unsettled, almost nauseated. But, now, maybe I was feeling sick because I hadn’t eaten anything but a cup of macaroni and cheese in twenty-four hours. I hadn’t even gotten coffee in the train station because of my stomach. I would find an iced latte for dessert, though. My head hurt and, as he’d said, it would be a long night.

  Even so, it wasn’t Zar being right that surprised me. He was a smart guy. It was everything else about what he was doing.

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “That’s yours. I can get something later.”

  He held the box closer, the slice under my nose. “I’d like for you to have it. And something later too.”

  “Thank you, Zar.” But I didn’t need the greasy sausage mound at the tip. I used my salad fork to saw and pull the first inches of the slice off and offer it back to him, taking the rest. “That was considerate of you.”

  He beamed even more. Again, I had that feeling of him wagging his tail as he swallowed his returned prize.

  I’d just started on the slice when Andrew came up behind the bench, dropping his empty box.

  “Uh-oh.” He flopped in grass at my feet. “You’ve got a critical case on your hands when a wolf starts showing you what a good provider he is.” Andrew idly unlaced my walking shoes. “He’ll be digging you a den next.”

  Zar did not look embarrassed, or even seem to notice Andrew. Still smiling in his adorable way, his focus never left my face. “You eat like a swan—slow and gliding. I wish I were elegant like you, Cassia.”

  What do you say to a comment like that? Actually, I was just thinking how graceful you all are?

  I was distracted anyway. “Andrew, that’s enough. Don’t take my—Andrew.”

  “You need attention, darling. You’ve been tense as the Queen’s Guard all morning.” He removed a sock after the shoe and started massaging my foot, thumbs on the top and fingers kneading the sole.

  “This is not the time or place.”

  “No.” He arched an eyebrow, looking up to meet my eyes without shifting the downward angle of his face. Contact lenses in today. “I’d lead you to a feather
bed but I looked and…” A sigh. “None around, I’m afraid.”

  “We need to talk about that—” I started.

  “At long last.”

  “No, about accommodation.” I looked at Zar. “Do you have a plan?”

  Zar leaned in, starting to turn his head.

  “Not a plan about me,” I snapped, sitting back before his lips could reach mine. “A plan about our mission in the city?”

  “Oh.” His smile finally faltered. “I … don’t think so.”

  “Who would know if you do?”

  Andrew chuckled.

  Zar frowned. “Well, we’re looking for wolves. So … that’s a plan…?”

  “No, that’s a goal,” I said. “A plan would be a way we could reach that goal.”

  “But…” Shaking his head slowly. “There’s only one way we might find wolves in London. We already know that. So … not much to plan.”

  I waited. “Are you going to tell me? Because I had no idea you already knew how to go about this.”

  “We have to track them.”

  “Track them how?”

  “With our noses.”

  “Noses?” I looked between them. “Your sense of smell is so good you can tell if there’s another wolf in London? For real?”

  Jason and Isaac walked up to join us, dropping their pizza boxes on top of Andrew’s.

  “Not like this,” Andrew said. “We’ll have to change.”

  “Change?” I asked in horror. “You’re kidding. You can’t change in London.”

  After a pause in which Jason and Isaac also settled on the grass, Jason by Andrew and Isaac a bit apart, Andrew asked sarcastically, “Then how, exactly, do you expect us to learn if there are wolves here?”

  “You’ve been thinking you’d come to London and put on your fur so you can scout the area for other wolves? Are you out of your minds?”

  “That’s why we can only look at night,” Zar said.

  “Because you’re invisible at night? You can’t dodge people. You’d be lucky not to be seen in a park at night, much less sniffing up and down every street. Cities this size don’t sleep. There won’t be a time you could have the place to yourself if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Not all of us, of course,” Isaac said. “Perhaps two? We could split into two groups and cover more ground, each with one tracker. We may be able to do something about our appearance…?”

  I thought about that. But what? Paint them to look like huskies? Collars and leashes? Nothing short of throwing a sheet over them was going to make them look less like wolves. There were two, though, that were so dark they might not be noticed in the city at night with a group of people around them…

  “Jason and Jed are black, or nearly for Jed,” I said slowly. “If we put leashes on them and they stayed close, we might be able to get away with it. Jason’s not as big. We’d say he’s a cross between a black German shepherd and a black … bear,” I finished lamely.

  “The wolf who tries to put a lead on Jed will be lucky to get away with all his fingers,” Zar said. “He might not be best…”

  “He’s right,” Isaac said. “Jed’s not safe. What about Andrew?”

  “If you want a collar on me, darling, you’re welcome any time.” Andrew told me. He had both my feet exposed, cross-legged and taking turns kneading each.

  Kage and Jed walked up, neither sitting.

  “What about him?” I asked Isaac.

  “He’s the smallest,” Jason said.

  “You could say he’s a new breed,” Isaac said. “If it came to that. Something out of Russia that’s meant to look like a wolf?”

  “He has big ears,” Jason said. “And a shorter coat. He does look more Alsatian-ish than the rest of us.”

  “Do you?” I looked down at Andrew.

  “At your service.” He looked up with a lazy smile. “My ancestors were Australian.”

  “There are dingo shifters?” I asked.

  “There used to be. I hope there still are. European mates had advantages. I’m mostly wolf now, but still not like the others. As you’ve noticed.” Lips curving below those hooded eyes.

  “Ever seen a North American red wolf?” Zar asked. “That’s what he looks like.”

  “I can’t say that I have, but okay. Jason and Andrew then? And you think you can find wolves in this city, with millions of people and animals and sewers and food, by your noses?”

  Jason nodded. “If they’re here. But…” Shrugging.

  Which was another point.

  “And if we don’t find anything?” I asked. “What about the vampires? We need to talk with them.”

  Silence.

  Kage curled his lip. Many expressions darkened.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Oh, vampires aren’t so hard to find,” Zar said. “But, like I said, we’ll have to wait until night for that also and … once we do find them…”

  “You’ll wish we hadn’t,” Andrew said.

  “Will they attack us? Do we have to take stakes and crosses to meet them? Or are those myths? I’m not much help here.”

  “They won’t go for us in a group,” Isaac said.

  “Not their style, the scheming maggots,” Kage said. “They’ll wait until your back’s turned, won’t they? Wait until you’re alone?”

  Zar was shaking his head. “It can’t be vampires. There are no vampires in the countryside. It’s the old truce.”

  “You’re barking,” Kage snapped. “What’s that mean to anyone anymore?”

  “What’s the old truce?” I asked.

  “It’s a long story,” Zar said.

  “If you want to find them, we likely can,” Isaac said. “If we stay together, they’ll watch themselves. They don’t want trouble from the caster community and they won’t take on a pack.”

  “You think everyone is so rational,” Andrew said quietly, not looking up from my feet. “If they were, your assessment could actually be right.”

  “Vampires are not rational?” I asked.

  “Off their trolleys,” Andrew said. “Mad as hatters, the whole lot.”

  “Wolves and vampires are old enemies,” Zar said. “Nothing about these killings has been their style, though.”

  “Could be their plan to throw us off,” Kage cut in.

  “Also,” Zar plowed on, “there are none in Brighton or the whole area. We’d know it.”

  “A year ago, if someone had told you we’d be losing family to a serial killer, wouldn’t you have said then that we’d know with no trouble who that was?” Isaac asked.

  Zar didn’t answer.

  “The truth is, we don’t know,” Isaac said. “If we knew for a fact there were no wolves in London and no vampires on the coast, we wouldn’t be here. That truce was agreed hundreds of years ago.”

  “But you do have a bad history with vampires?” I asked, glancing around at them. “It seems like you hate them even if you don’t normally meet?”

  “Like to see you spend two seconds with one and not hate it,” Kage muttered.

  “I’m going to give it a try. If you all can find one, I’ll do the talking. So there’s a bit of a plan. That leaves us needing to be here in the city overnight. Maybe for a few? We need a hostel if we can find space on such short notice. Can you all stay in dorm rooms with humans sharing?”

  “Of course we can,” Zar said. “But we need to stay with you also. We can’t leave you alone in a room when we’re supposed to be watching out for you. What if our hunters know we’re looking for them?”

  “Let’s figure out if we can even find beds first. Then we’ll worry about placement.”

  Soon, we moved on. It took me a while, having to pull my socks and shoes back on—although my feet really did feel much better, lighter somehow.

  Kage stood on the boxes to smash and roll them up for a bin. They didn’t fit so he wedged them in, blocking the whole thing. At least it was an effort.

  Chapter 36

  Isaac and I
called hostels with frustrating results—all booked. We finally found one with space across town by Saint Pancras and King’s Cross stations. This meant the Underground—I thought. They refused. We got cheap Oyster Cards and took a double-decker crimson bus instead.

  The not especially well-rated Midland Hostel on Midland Road had scattered beds to offer in four different dorm rooms, one of them all female. This started such an argument about me not being off on my own I backed down and we took every bed they had available in the mixed dorms. Two rooms with three beds each and a third with one bed.

  They let us leave bags in lockers, then back out into what was beginning to feel like an inferno of mid-afternoon London.

  Zar tried to soothe my irritation, telling me they only wanted to protect me.

  “It’s fine, Zar. It was going to be a dorm anyway. Not like they had anything private left. Two of you can stay with me this way.”

  “Which two?” Andrew asked at once.

  Everyone else looked interested.

  “You’ll draw straws.” I walked back to the bus stop. “Let’s find something cold to drink and go to Hyde Park. We could all use some peace.”

  I wasn’t the only one starting out tired. Jed sat with his eyes closed on the bus. Zar looked dazed. Kage kept yawning.

  Off the bus, we went in Marks & Spencer at Marble Arch for cold drinks. It quickly turned into a grocery shopping trip.

  Kage found a watermelon. Jason, Andrew, and Zar wanted ice cream bars—a box each. Jed picked up a dozen packages of cold cuts and I gently talked him into just two, suggesting that since we’d be up, he could get a late burger. Isaac, staying on track, got us all bottles of water. I ordered an iced latte from the coffee bar and grabbed paper napkins.

  I knew better than to stop early in the bustling park. We walked all the way down Carriage Drive, around to the west side of The Long Water, in view of the lake and the Peter Pan statue. Here, we found a quiet stretch to settle in the grass and shade with scattered trees as well as the edge of a patch of woods.