Four Moons: The Complete Collection: (Books 1 - 4)

by Amos, Richard

  The savior. Their savior. Our savior.

  Why the hell me? I wasn’t some noble knight.

  Didn’t matter, though, did it? Because even though I needed to process this, I knew what I had to do. This silver moon that was coming wouldn’t kill me, but it’d take out every full-blooded wolf, including G. I wasn’t gonna let him die.

  I pocketed the necklaces. “Thanks for your help. Sorry to have bothered you.”

  “You must be joking, Akira. This is the most fun I’ve had since King Henry VIII was alive.”

  “Sorry?”

  She chuckled. “I know I have a dark heart. But I haven’t had anything interesting come my way since those days. He had some extremely bizarre dreams, never listened to my advice, and was a brutal man. No matter. I still found him entertaining.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “The king?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Long forgotten to the dusty past. Before the world knew what it knows now. Look him up.”

  “Oh.”

  “Goodbye, Akira. It is time for you to leave now. Your friends are waiting.”

  “Erm, okay.”

  “Do not look sad to leave here. Why would you want to hang around this smelly old place?”

  “I—”

  Zenya clicked her fingers, and I was out of there, standing outside the portal again.

  “Hello, sunshine,” he said. “How did it all go?”

  I told him.

  He looked dumbfounded but did speak about twenty seconds after receiving the lowdown. “What an interesting turn of events.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “Destined for greatness,” he said.

  “Can we get out of here?”

  “Sure, sunshine. The girls have left.”

  “Wait. Was that safe?”

  “Don’t worry, they got out of the park without incident. I kept watch. Mama Rita isn’t sniffing around at the moment.”

  “Okay. Cool.”

  “I know this is such a horrible place, isn’t it? I’ll never complain about my tunnels again. Let’s go.”

  “Yeah.”

  Man, oh, man. My head was a fucking helter-skelter.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mount Tate. A trial. Save the wolves. My journey to make. Break the curse on the moon. Man, the moon was cursed. It’d turn silver and kill every wolf on the planet it touched. That’s how that shit worked, right? First, it got stuck, then it turned red. Four moons. If silver was number four, what the hell was gonna be number three?

  I was on Xavier’s bed, having some processing time while the next move was figured out. I had to get to Japan, find Ryoka Takeda, but also get G to come with me. Strolling up to the gates of The Spire wouldn’t go well. My dad wouldn’t listen, and he’d lock me down for sure. That’d be a proper ball ache trying to bust out of there.

  How much did dear old papa know about this? He couldn’t know much. No. But it got me to think about my other half, the secrets of me, of my mum.

  What. Did. He. Know.

  I sent a prayer to the tenshi, no candles to hand, asking them to send me a sign to help me out with this.

  My journey.

  Yeah, great.

  Ugh.

  Look at me, all world-saving. ‘Cos if the wolves went down, a mega shit storm would come on a shitty scale we’d never seen before. Whatever people thought of the werewolves, myself included, they kept world order.

  The bedroom door opened. I sat up as Xavier came in holding a tablet. The look on his face freaked me out.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Here.” He handed me the device.

  Oh, tenshi. What the fuck now?

  A news report. Breaking news. Sarah Murakami has been rushed into Hitoshi Hospital.

  “She’s in labor,” I whispered.

  * * *

  The time to move was now. Screw resting. I wasn’t tired, so didn’t need to. What I needed was action. Plus, I didn’t have any clue about timescales for this silver moon. And getting into the hospital would be much easier than any dealings at The Spire. Easier to break out of if I needed to.

  G would be there with Dad. I’d have to convince him to break free of the chains that bound him to his High Alpha, kill all the birds with stones, or whatever.

  Hitoshi Hospital was down by the Thames, just in front of Waterloo station. It always served my dad and his family, with a special ward just for the Murakami’s. I never used it, but it was there.

  Xavier’s caravan pulled up at the Waterloo trading point. Just us.

  “Okay, sunshine. Here we go again. The same principle as before when we get to the surface. Stay behind me until we get to the hospital. Once I get you inside, you’re on your own.”

  I was going in there to talk to my dad. I could get myself noticed on the streets to get picked up, but there was a real risk of being taken to The Spire and locked up until my dad came back. You had to anticipate this shit. Plus, Xavier had it in his head that he needed to give me some protection in case Mama Rita showed up.

  No worries. I liked his company.

  “That’s cool.” I stepped onto the empty platform—a good spot for getting herbs when everything was running normally. Had scored myself some awesome basil here a few times.

  “Sorry to be a coward,” Xavier added, “but I can’t step foot in that hospital. The risk is greater than in Hyde Park.”

  “Yeah. I get that.” He was right. Soon as a wolf clocked him, he was done. All those fancy elf tricks wouldn’t do well, seeing as there was a load of SCU security peeps in the hospital at all times.

  So, we got to it, sneaking out of the guarded main entrance to the Waterloo trading point on the surface. To get through the gates, Xavier lobbed something which went bang and released confetti all over the road that ran along the side of the huge Waterloo building—home to Skytube lines and regular rail connections. One Skytube train rolled overhead, leaving behind a silver trail of light.

  The guard now distracted by the paper rainbow all over the place, Xavier took his cue to unlock the padlock, so we could slip through, lock it back up before anyone noticed, and stand still for a few minutes.

  When he was ready, he threw the pebble like before.

  “Hello?”

  “Freeze,” Xavier hissed. “Do not move until I say.”

  The same wolf guard came over, sniffing the air, checking the gate a few feet behind me. He rattled it, sniffed the air again, then walked round to my side, his golden-flecked eyes boring into me. The red lights of his collar blinked, reminding me he wasn’t far from going loco.

  I couldn’t breathe. He could smell me. We were screwed. Shit. I didn’t wanna fight this guy. Not here. Not now. Motherfucking complications! Gah!

  But he stepped back, shaking his head. “I’m losing the plot.” He went back to his post.

  “Now we can move,” Xavier whispered.

  I followed him from the station, down the road to another, turning left and crossing the busy road over to the huge glass box that was Hitoshi Hospital.

  So much of London’s architecture had become glass over the last decade, particularly around this part of the city. Made it look all gleaming and expensive. You could defo see where the money was.

  The main entrance was surrounded by the press. Barriers were up to hold them back, guards everywhere, both wolf and SCU, reporters ready for any scoop they could get.

  Xavier’s magic pebble didn’t land there, but down the side of the building past A & E, then down to a locked staff entrance at the top of a stairwell.

  It was darker down this part, not so well lit as the rest of the building’s perimeter. A porter came out the door, heading down the stairs. Looked like he was heading home. Phew! No fag break. Hanging around to wait for him to puff away would’ve pissed me right off. But off he went with his backpack, making a call on his phone.

  At the top of the stairs, Xavier touched a credit card to the electronic access panel. It fla
shed green, and the door popped open. I held it open a crack.

  “You’re in,” he said. “This is where we part.”

  “I went from hostage to this.”

  “I know.” He pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Akira. For everything. For wanting to use you as a bargaining tool.”

  I patted his big back. “It’s cool, bruv. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Things are different now.” He ended the hug. “How many times do I need to say that, though?”

  “It’s alright.”

  “You don’t need to be so understanding, sunshine.” He touched my cheek with the back of his hand. “I need to go. You need to go.”

  “Yeah.”

  He headed down the stairs, pausing on the last step and turning back. “Go and save the world, sunshine.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  I was pounced on before I reached the phlebotomy department.

  “Akira!” It was Ally, followed by Drew. They both had collars on, and it never stopped being weird.

  “Thank the tenshi!” Ally cried. “You’re okay.”

  Drew was on his phone. “Yes. He’s here. He’s here!”

  “What’s with the celebrity treatment?” I quipped.

  Ally quirked an eyebrow. “Cocky as ever.” She gave me a hug. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, I’m good.”

  “Where have you been?”

  “Long story.”

  Drew was off the phone. “We need to take you to your dad right now.” He hugged me too, slapping my back. “Nice to see your face.”

  “You too, bruv.”

  Hugging over, I followed them. This was the plan, after all. Get in, relay this stuff to Dad, get G. Stage one done. Now, for all the other hardcore stages. I was in the really annoying middle levels of the video game, several wanker bosses on my way to leveling up.

  Baking and a gaming sesh were so needed. Maybe a cool beer to go with it.

  “You look well,” Ally added as we strolled through the corridors, peeps gasping as I walked past. “What’s wrong with your nose?”

  Still crooked. “Nothing much.”

  “Looks different.”

  “Stop judging the poor lad’s face,” Drew cut in.

  “I’m not.”

  “You are. So judgmental. Always judging. Who cares if his nose is a little bit wonky?”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks for the support, bruv.”

  “Ha!”

  A flash—a woman with her phone pointed at me. “It’s you! Akira! Everyone’s been looking for you.”

  “Stay back,” Ally warned.

  Another woman joined her, carrying a sleepy-looking infant on her hip. “You excited for your baby brother or sister?”

  Two brutish wolfmen came up to them. “Ladies, you need to back off,” one said.

  “We ain’t doing anything wrong.”

  “Put the camera down, miss.”

  “Alright, alright. Well?”

  I looked the woman with the camera’s way.

  “Answer her.” She gestured to the woman carrying the kid. “Are you excited to have a new sibling? Hope Sarah’s well and not in too much pain.”

  “Guess so,” I responded.

  “You guess so? Tenshi help us that you don’t give a shit.”

  “Don’t forget he’s a spurned child,” the woman with the kid added.

  “Not surprised. Moody bastard.”

  “That’s it!” one of the two wolves barked. “Out of here. Now!”

  Ally and Drew had already led me into a lift.

  “Ignore them,” Drew said. “You know what people are like.”

  I didn’t say anything. What could I say? I didn’t give a fuck what they thought. None of their business at all.

  I had a High Alpha to see.

  Up to the Murakami floor, walking past midwives and nurses and doctors, past guards, and SCU agents, until finally, I reached the private suite.

  I nearly collapsed when I saw G. He was suited and booted in black, the collar fixed firmly around his neck.

  “Aki!”

  He was standing on the left side of the closed door, Colin on the right.

  “Akira,” the wanker chimed in.

  I ignored him, going straight for my buddy. I fell into his arms, taking in his Christmas scent, holding him tight. Fuck! My eyes were watering, ready to leak. He was here and safe and okay, and I was in his arms.

  I wanted to kiss him.

  Don’t be stupid!

  “You’re okay,” he breathed. His collar was digging into the side of my head that rested on his shoulder. G had a really comfy shoulder.

  He held me tighter, smoothing a hand down my back. I was getting so lost in him.

  “So are you,” I replied. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”

  “Same to you, Aki.”

  “Aw, how romantic.”

  We parted like two magnets repelling at Colin’s stupid voice.

  I carried on with ignoring the dickhead, wanting so badly to fill the gap between me and G again, get back in those arms, place my head on his pillowy shoulder. My skin was missing him.

  Yeah?

  Yeah!

  Focus!

  “Does Daddy know about all this hugging?”

  I turned to scowl at Colin, but he was looking at G.

  “Not another word from you,” the beta ordered the prick.

  Talk about killing looks. “Yes, sir.” Ha! Dick! Had to bow down! That’s right! Fall in fucking line, you piece of the slimiest pond scum. Wanker! Absolute wanker! Fucking take it! Take all of it and choke! Choke to death, and then choke some more!

  I remembered to breathe, sucking air in deep.

  “Come on, Aki.” G opened the door to the private suite. “Your dad is expecting you.”

  “You have to come with me.”

  “I—”

  “I need to talk to you and Dad.”

  “Then come in, both of you.” Dad’s cold, icy voice. No one could be Mr. Frosty like him.

  Stand straight. Be calm.

  Man, my hands were trembling.

  The softly furnished room was all peach and pink, with an extremely comfortable hospital bed over on the left wall. Sarah was sat upon it, looking completely knackered with a bundle in her arms.

  Shit.

  Dad was standing by the bed, as regal as ever. Sarah looked up from the bundle, smiling at me. “Akira,” she said. “You’re here.”

  “I am.” My mouth was proper dry. “You’ve had the kid?”

  “I have. We’re keeping the fact a secret from the press a bit longer. Let them wait.”

  I nodded.

  “Akira.”

  I bowed to my father. “Dad.” It came out squeaky. I cleared my throat.

  “Where have you been?”

  Oh, so we weren’t talking about the baby in the room? “It doesn’t matter. I need to talk to you about something.”

  “It does matter.”

  “Not compared to this.”

  He stared at me. “You’ve been missing for a week. I thought you were dead.”

  “I’m here, Dad. I’m fine.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes. I’m fine.” I looked to Sarah, to the baby wrapped up in her arms. Boy? Girl? I should ask. Any normal person would ask, right? Be happy. Bring balloons and flowers.

  “Hitoshi?” Sarah whispered.

  My dad looked down at his wife, his expression warming. “Yes, darling?”

  “Can Akira meet his baby brother?”

  Wham! Rusty nail hammered into the fucking soul. Another brother.

  Ground swallow me now.

  “Brother?” I managed. “A boy?”

  “Yes, Akira,” my step-mum answered softly.

  Dad’s cold, dark eyes were back to me again. “Well? Come and meet Riku.”

  Slowly, I put one leaden foot in front of the other, leaving the safe space of being beside G, heading over to the bed, and
the baby boy making soft sounds.

  Inside the swaddle of blankets, was a tiny creature with black hair, eyes closed, new to the world. I was about to faint.

  “Your brother,” Sarah whispered.

  I immediately backed off.

  “Do you want to hold him?”

  I shook my head.

  “You won’t hurt him,” Sarah insisted. “I promise.”

  “No. Thanks. Sorry. I—”

  “Come with me. Both of you.” My dad pushed past me, heading to another room joined to this one. This private space had a posh bathroom, two bedrooms, plus this main part we were in at the moment. He entered one of the other rooms. Waiting.

  Sarah smiled weakly at me. “You’d better go. If you ever want to hold Riku or see him, you can.”

  I nodded and left her to it.

  So needed to get my shit together.

  Riku.

  Brother number two. My blood.

  The other room was dark, only a lamp casting light on the ornate furniture, leaving most of the space dark apart from my dad’s face.

  “Close the door,” he said.

  “Dad—”

  “I want to know where you have been, Akira. You are hiding something from me.”

  “I…can’t.”

  “Is that so?”

  “But I have something else to tell you. Something mega important.”

  He was such a statue! “Then tell me.”

  Wow. Really thought he wasn’t gonna let it drop about where I’d been. Way too dangerous to tell him. He’d go gangster on their elf arses, and I wasn’t gonna do that to them. Even though they’d wanted to use me as a hostage, they’d also helped me and were my friends. I didn’t fuck over a friend. And I wasn’t a snitch.

  “I’m waiting.”

  Shit. I licked my lips. He was throwing me off. How the hell was he gonna take this?

  “Well?”

  I dove straight in, telling him all about the stuff in my dreams, how I needed to find Ryoka Takeda, do some mountain trial, and break the curse on the moon.

  “So, yeah,” I said at the end, “I need to get to Japan.”

  It took him a whole two minutes. I counted them by the second as he stared at me.

  Hold your ground.