Hearts Eclipsed: A Beautiful Nightmare Companion Novel

by L. C. Son

  Still, I’ll allow nothing to sully my good mood. In fact, I’m thankful for this dreary morning. The forecast of rain and cloudy skies ensures I can spend daylight hours with Damina without the sun’s interruption. And should the sun sneak its way out, I’ll summon every bit of the Altrinion Force within me to bend nature to my will. Nothing is going to keep me from her. Not today—or ever again.

  Whipping my Audi in the middle of the courtyard in front of the Tavern with Imagine Dragons blaring through my system scares most of the locals as they set up their curbside stations. While I hate causing such a stir, I can’t get to her fast enough. I only hope she’s outside so that I don’t have to make a scene. Although when I see Melvina, with her hands on her hips giving me a disapproving maternal glare upon my arrival, I know I’ve already made a scene. At least a little.

  I’m just glad that Melvina likes me; even if she has to barter the peace between Bessie and me. And from the looks of the admirable smile, she dotes on Damina as she exits the Tavern, I can tell she’s quite fond of her too.

  Unfortunately, she’s not the only one.

  Calvin’s cagey eyeballing of Damina’s rear as he holds the door open for her doesn’t go unnoticed by me. For a couple who claim ardent devotion to their marriage covenant, both he and his wife Bessie could use a lesson or two in restraint. I’m certainly not opposed to giving Calvin a refresher course.

  He glowers quickly in my direction when I get out of the car, but I refuse to let him sour my mood. Watching Damina’s graceful stroll toward me is enough to ward off any mal intent from Calvin or even the beast within me.

  She looks lovely in her creamsicle peplum top and white capris. The way her blouse accents her curves and perfected waistline coupled with how her pants caress her curves in all the right places, almost makes me jealous. What I wouldn’t give to trade places with her clothes!

  “Now don’t you look tasty this morning,” I say, twirling Damina around and pulling her into my arms. She nestles her head at the nape of my neck and it’s the best feeling—ever. It feels like home. It’s where she belongs. “I could just eat you up,” I add with a peck on her forehead.

  Damina tucks her hair behind her ear and smiles wide. Her big, bright eyes gaze at me with an innocence that almost makes me want to repent of any evil I’ve done past or present and vow in this moment to be a better man. Staring into her eyes and trusting smile, I take in her delectable smell and savor it, knowing I will do whatever I can to be the best I can be. She deserves that and so much more.

  “All right you two, there won’t be any eating anybody up this morning,” Melvina says as she walks up behind the two of us with her hands of her hips.

  “Miss Melvina!” I laugh while taking her in my arms for a hearty embrace.

  “Oh, now don’t hurt this old bag of bones!” Melvina says, pulling from my grip. “How have you been, sugar? Have you been misbehaving?” She gives me a knowing glance and I hear her thoughts drift between my recent misadventures at the Tavern and my beastly onslaught a few days past.

  “Well, I have been on good behavior as of late, Miss Melvina,” I reply almost bashfully. Although I’m more than twice her age, I respect Melvina wholly. She’s the only one who has shared any maternal-like affection toward me since my mother’s passing. Even when she rebukes me, I have no doubt she not only cares for me but sees the good I’m trying to do.

  After Melvina gives Damina a bag of breakfast pastry and coffee, I help Damina in the car because I know what’s coming next.

  “Are you sure you can do this, dear?” Melvina asks in a mild but censuring tone.

  “Do what?” I reply coolly, looking over my shades into the car and see Damina stuff pastry into her cheeks. She must be hungry. I send a quick text to Khalil and tell him to set up the courtyard at the Hall for lunch for me and Damina.

  “Now don’t you go ignoring me, fooling with your texting and such!” Melvina reprimands, pushing my hand down, with her hand tight around my wrist. “I know you hear me talking to you!”

  “Yes, Miss. Mel. I hear you. And no worries, I can do this!” Loosening my hand from her grip, I hold her shoulder tight and smile, tipping my eyes over my shades once more. “Besides, I’ve never felt like this before—ever!”

  “Like what?”

  “Like this!” I quickly reply, bringing her hand to my chest, allowing her to feel the thumping of my heart.

  Melvina steps back, with her mouth gaped open at my revelation. “Is she?” Melvina sputters, looking back and forth at me and Damina.

  “Yes, I think she is. No, I know she is. She’s the one!”

  “You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am! It means I must stay on my best behavior!” I give Melvina another quick hug, and she smiles wide as I jump in the car

  She is happy for me.

  “Are we ready to go?” I ask, squeezing Damina’s shoulder. Damina nods briefly as she continues chewing her food and I marvel at how adorable she looks with her stuffed cheeks. I sincerely doubt this woman can ever look bad; not even when she’s eating.

  I truly wish I were a better driver, but I’m not. Perhaps it’s because I abhor the restraint of using an automobile instead of taking flight. Cars are so slow, and the drivers move with no sense of urgency which is one of my main gripes with driving. Altrinions are made to move with lightning speed, not limited to the confines of some tethered piece of scrap metal. But alas, for today it is my lot.

  “Really trying to beat the morning rush, eh?” Damina questions with a half-worried grin. I can tell she’s not a fan of my driving skills, but that’s only because she doesn’t understand I could never let any harm come to her.

  I do my best to distract her from my rickety navigation by naming points of interest along our route. Thankfully, she obliges my rant and is genuinely attentive to my leading. That’s a good sign.

  Before I can ask if there were any things she wanted to see while New Orleans, the phone rings and Titan’s name appears on the screen. Crap! This can’t be good.

  “You don’t mind if I take this call, do you?”

  “Sure no problem, take your call,” Damina answers sweetly.

  “I’m busy. What is it?” I snap at Titan, although he has no idea what he interrupted.

  “We had another breach,” Titan responds immediately while also ignoring my harsh tone.

  “Where?” I mutter under my breath as I glance over at Damina. She’s texting someone. Who is she talking to? I wonder.

  “At the Crescent Star hotel in Baton Rouge.”

  “What’s the damage?”

  “About twenty-three dead; mostly human and Altrinion.”

  “Well, fu—” I catch myself as I peek over my shoulder at Damina once more. Her eyes catch mine and I see in her that my disposition is a bit unnerving. I have to be better for her. Try harder! “Look, Titan, this is what I hired you all to do. Clean this up!”

  “And what of Decaux?” Titan questions, still snubbing my brooding.

  “Just worry about cleaning up this mess! You can worry about him another day,” I shout back, ending the call.

  Taking a deep breath, I try to shrug off my growing irritation with my brother. He’s insistent on starting a war for no reason other than his feeble claims of retribution from wrongs committed long before now. His incessant thirst for bloodshed has almost become unquenchable. But now with Damina in my life, I almost hate bringing her into this world.

  Yet, my annoyance with Decaux seems almost insignificant at the sight of Damina’s now pale face as her phone buzzes against the windowpane. Her expression is frozen and lips quiver slightly at the sight of a name that seems to torment her entire being.

  A raging fire kindles inside of me and I press hard to force feelings or inerrant jealousy to the far corners of my mind. My thumping heart seems to fall to th
e pit of my gut and only one concern raises my brow.

  Who in the hell is Jackson?

  Chapter 17

  Jackson

  “There he is! Turn left now!” I shout to Gregory, pointing to Tye as he sprints through a narrow alleyway. Shawn finally got a beat on Tye’s hideout in Georgetown. We’ve waited outside the loft where he’s staying waiting for him to come out. While a part of me is surprised he’s stuck around as long as he has, I’m also curious as to what he’s been doing since his betrayal.

  “No worries, Jack-O! He’s got nowhere to run,” Gregory quickly replies, whipping his car in the tight space of the alley.

  Jumping out of the car, I wince as Gregory’s car doors crash against the metal trash cans along the corridor. Shawn pops out from the backseat in a flash and he and Gregory race toward Tye and begin pulling him down from the tall iron fence. Gregory flings Tye across the alley, slamming him into the windshield. Tye gazes up at me through a thick bloody film dripping past his eyes and he smiles, showing equally bloodied teeth and laughs.

  He coughs up blood, tugging at his ribcage and it’s evident he’s more hurt than he’s letting on. Nothing but insolence is what I see as he stares back at me.

  “Is there something funny?” I roar, pulling his collar and throwing him to the ground.

  Tye squirms on the pavement, writhing in pain. Shawn lifts Tye’s chin up to meet our glaring eyes, “Answer him!” Shawn demands.

  “I. Will. Not,” Tye answers dismissively, turning his head toward the trash can, anything to set his sights apart from us.

  “Speak, dog!” Gregory barks, kicking him in the chest, almost folding him into the large trash container.

  “Why should I? I’ll only speak to the real leader of the Primes, not some impotent, lovesick, puppy!” Tye sneers.

  “Watch your words, mutt!” Shawn orders.

  “You know that I’m right, Gregory! He’s been so enraptured by that Altrinion he’s forsaken his duty to his own pack and kin. He is not fit to be an alpha, a prime and much less, an Alpha Lord!”

  “Shut your face, traitor!” Gregory lashes back at Tye, forcing the weight of his foot deeper into his chest.

  “You know I’m right,” Tye scoffs with another leer, before spitting out a glob of blood on Gregory’s pant leg.

  “Gregory, my friend,” I say pulling him back from Tye. “This is not our way,” I add with a firm hold at Gregory’s shoulder. In my grip I feel Gregory’s muscles relax, but he keeps a watchful stance over Tye with Shawn aptly at his side.

  “And now you see,” Tye begins with his head leaned against the receptacle and his breathing sketchy. “Can’t you see why we couldn’t let his lack of leadership endure? We’d all surely perish. Look at him! Never ready to do what is necessary. I suppose his little curvaceous wench has taken whatever remains of his manhood!”

  At his words, a deep, blaring growl resounds through me and my head whips to his direction. Cream-coated fur instantly rises beneath my skin along my forearm and jawline. My canines protrude and my nails lengthen. With the exception of a reflection of my sun-spun eyes, all I see is the purest level of fear staring back at me. New sweat forms at Tye’s brow and more drips from his face. Even Shawn and Gregory jump back at my roar.

  Stooping to meet his frightened eyes and gaping mouth, a noxious growl spits through me and Tye curves himself between the brick building and trash can, likely fearful of his demise.

  “Look at me!” I demand.

  Turning slowly, he circles his head toward me, but his gaze is set on Shawn and Gregory still flanked at my sides.

  My wolf form recedes, and I watch as he marvels at my transformation. Though not a complete phasing, it’s now evident to him that I am no longer the alpha he once knew. I am becoming something more.

  “Think whatever you will of me. But you will not disrespect Damina! Not in my presence! Not ever!”

  Tye’s scowl lessens, and he pulls away from the wall and continues searching my face. I hear the racing of his heart subside and I witness a small smile form at the corners of his bloodied mouth. For a moment, I see a trace of the man I once called my friend peering up at me. I even detect the hint of a kindness behind his eyes that once established our bond long ago.

  A loud, menacing yelp breaks through the dissonance of our forming reconciliation from behind and dark, threatening eyes stare back at me. Once more, Tye’s face is marred with a malign grin which dimly resembles the friend I once knew.

  “Jack-O, we’ve got two rogues in the building!” Gregory shouts.

  “We’ve still got some sunlight! They won’t come out yet,” I yell over my shoulder as Tye cackles behind me.

  “We’re not all rogues!” Keiron calls from the edge of the alleyway.

  “Brother, what are you doing here?” Even the shadowy outline of my brother’s form enrages me from afar.

  “Well, not everyone was invited to your little lunar-light shindig at Sophie’s place. So, I thought I could introduce you to a few friends of mine. I hope you don’t mind, I brought a few guests,” Keiron’s spite laced words jar my rage and I no longer see my brother.

  I only see my enemy.

  Two hulking figures drop from the top of the buildings down onto the rooftop of Gregory’s car. Shawn and Gregory snarl in their direction as another four men crowd the entrance of the alley behind Keiron. Tye heckles both Shawn and Gregory, taunting them through his painful bouts of laughter and groans.

  “Well, brother, I do hope you’ll treat my friends with better care than you did Damina. Speaking of her, I best run off and go check on our little fated damsel. Have fun!” Keiron’s threats hardly go unnoticed by Shawn and Gregory and both men shoot worried glances at one another before staring back at me.

  The two scoundrels on Gregory’s car lunge at Shawn and Gregory but both are snatched in midair as my men slam them into the brick cavity walls of the alleyway. I’m not sure what the fools hoped to gain in their attempt, but neither Gregory nor Shawn lack brawn or might. For most, the sheer size of them alone is intimidating enough. My brother’s thugs have obviously been drinking from the same foolhardy spicket as Keiron.

  Still, I don’t have time to marvel their feat when Tye yanks my leg from below causing me to press against the wall, using it as momentum to lay a sidekick into his chest, knocking him out cold.

  Turning to face the alley’s edge, I spy Keiron one last time before he runs off, leaving those in his employ to fight his self-imposed battle.

  Coward.

  As he makes his escape, his urchins’ race in toward us. Meeting them head on, our brawl is effortless! They are no match for us as we wrangle them like silly putty.

  “This would go a lot faster if you’d just turn into the Big Bad,” Gregory taunts over his shoulder as he plunges his knee through the abdomen of one of Keiron’s goons and kicks him into the car.

  “What is the Big Bad?” Shawn shouts back while ramming together two heads of a smaller pair.

  “Stay focused! More are coming!” I yell at both Shawn and Gregory when I see another three men race into the alley. Hissing, snarling sounds grow louder as the sun’s light is overcast by darkening clouds, and the rogue Skull wolves make their way closer to the threshold. Gazing up at the crescent-like slither of the sun that remains, I pray for the sun to reclaim its position and pierce its way through the thick, cloud-covered sky if only to keep the Skull at bay.

  “The Big Bad Wolf,” Gregory yells back to Shawn, and they both set their gaze on me. I knew what Gregory wanted when he first opened his mouth. But he understands not what he asks.

  I can’t phase here. Not now. Not like this.

  Ever since my last talk with Sophie it’s become clear that I must be careful who I reveal my truth to. As an alpha, transparency is a must and I cannot lay myself bare just in front of anyone. There’s too much
at stake. Too many secrets and far too many lies.

  So for now, the wolf must remain silent. Dormant.

  As much as I would like to, I can’t call on my wolf for help.

  I must do this on my own.

  Dalcour

  I’ll make her forget the name Jackson soon enough.

  At least that’s what I tell myself as I walk her through the Hall of Isis. Seeing her exuberance as she marvels at the art I’ve collected throughout the centuries makes my newly beating heart flutter. Not once when I gathered these things, did I think how it might impress the one who would capture my heart. But now I find myself blushing at her admiration of my accomplishments.

  Even as I introduced Damina to Mikkel, our resident director of the Hall, my chest swelled with pride. While her beauty and intelligence alone are enough to make any man proud to have her at his side, I think it’s knowing that even though she could be somewhere else; she is here with me; wretched soul that I am.

  So, it’s no wonder why no sooner than she confessed, “… I’d rather you’d just kiss me and get it over with already,” I plunged my mouth to hers. Sure, I might have compelled her to tell me how she really felt about me, but I needed her confession to be her own.

  I can’t afford to be wrong about us.

  Now with her body pressed between me and the marble columned wall, there’s no doubt our attraction is mutual. The passion I feel for her is all consuming—like a fire. From the way she walks to the sweet manner in which she talks, I am wholly enraptured by her. But it’s the current sweet entanglement of our tongues, locked together like magnets, sending shivers up my spine and strength to my manhood. Her tight hold on my shoulder blade and the nape of my neck is strong, forcing our bodies so close making me ravenous with shameless abandon.

  I could make love to her right here. Right now.

  Even more, I can tell she wants me to. She surrendered to my embrace as if I erased all her cares and supplied all her needs. Her body is screaming for a release and I know I am more than capable of assuaging all her desires both sensuous and otherwise.