Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
About
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Sneak Peek: Romancing the Alpha
Other Books by Alicia Montgomery
Blood Moon
Book 2 of the True Mates Series
A Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance
By
Alicia Montgomery
Copyright © 2016 Alicia Montgomery
All rights reserved.
Sisters before the misters, and so this book is dedicated to my most loyal sisters of the heart, J, L, M, and Z!
Blood Moon is Book 2 of the True Mates Series. Although a standalone romance novel, it may be helpful to read Fated Mates: Book 1. It's available on exclusively Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!
Don't forget to keep reading after the end to find out how to get a FREE bonus chapter for this book AND so you can get a sneak peek at Book 3.
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Prologue
"Please, Master! Don't!" The man pleaded, getting on his knees and cowering in front of the tall, pale figure dressed in black robes.
"You know the price of failure, Gregor." The voice was raspy, but cold and imposing.
"But Master, I didn't know! The poison was supposed to work!"
"Do you think I care about your excuses?" The voice sent chills down the man's spine.
"Lord Stefan, give me another chance! I'll find a way! I'll cut off her head if I have to!"
"Shut up, you fool! You've had two chances and it's too late now!" Stefan's voice now thundered through the dark, almost empty hall. "She has found her True Mate and well on her way to start spawning more of those disgusting creatures!"
Gregor flinched at his master's words. He tried to plead his case, but all that came out of his mouth was a short shriek. He knew what was coming next.
Stefan stood tall over Gregor, his finger pointed at the man on his knees. "Goodbye, Gregor." And with those words, the man burst into flame in mere seconds, the blue fire burning hot as it consumed the body until it left nothing but dark ashes smeared on the floor.
"Idiot!" Stefan roared. With a snap of his fingers, the ashes disappeared, leaving the floor clean as if Gregor was never there.
"We should have struck and struck fast."
Stefan looked to his left. "Are you saying I was mistaken, Daric?"
The figure on the left stepped forward from the shadows, revealing a tall, imposing man with long blonde hair. "No, of course not, Master. But Gregor was a fool."
"But he was loyal," Stefan countered. "Perhaps my most loyal lieutenant."
"Yes, loyalty is hard to teach, but so is intelligence."
Stefan almost gave a smirk. "And you would have just attacked the Lycans, Daric?"
The man shook his head. "Of course not. But, Gregor's plan was too convoluted. Trying to blame another Lycan for the death of the girl. Pitting them against each other while we hide in the shadows. What would that have done? It's inevitable that the Lycans would know of our existence anyway. His plan was too random, and the girl herself is smart. We should have just gotten rid of her, before she became too significant, too precious to the Alpha and now, her True Mate. Killing her now would only mean taking on the entire Lycan society."
Stefan tapped one of his thin fingers on his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose a more direct approach would have been better. But it doesn't matter now. We will do what we can and take the next part of the plan into action."
"Yes, Master," Daric bowed his head respectfully, but his jaw set tight. "What should we do now?"
"You already know the next part," Stefan reminded him. "But first, bring her in."
Chapter One
Cady Gray sighed softly as she watched the newlyweds on the makeshift dance floor. Alynna threw her head back and laughed as Alex picked her up and twirled her around. She smiled as the young couple embraced and began to slowly dance when the DJ put on a more subdued love song.
Was it really just five weeks ago when Alynna Chase arrived in their lives? The young private investigator had thought she was fully human for 21 years and that she was virtually an orphan. Alynna was at Blood Moon, a club that catered to Lycans, when she met Alex Westbrooke. Apparently the young woman transformed into her Lycan form accidentally upon meeting the young man and ran away, but Alex tracked her down. Of course, she was brought in to see Grant Anderson, the leader and Alpha of the New York Clan. They initially thought she was an intruder, someone from another clan who had come into their territory without permission. They discovered, however, that not only was she a full Lycan, but also Grant's half-sister by his father and his True Mate, Amanda Chase. Unfortunately, Michael had died in a car accident before he could bring Alynna into the New York Lycan society. Although it was a difficult adjustment for the young woman, she managed it masterfully, and it also turned out Alex was her True Mate.
It was a beautiful reception and she had to give herself a mental pat on the back, since she put everything together in about two weeks. Alynna had left all the planning to her, giving her free reign on what to do for decorations, music, and food (except for her strange pie request). Cady went to work the moment the couple came back from Chicago and announced their engagement. There was much to be done, and she did have some help from Callista Mayfair, Grant's mother, who was more than happy to lend a hand. The older lady seemed disappointed Alynna didn't want a big wedding with all the fanfare, but was quickly appeased when she learned why the couple didn't want to wait months to get married (and overjoyed at the prospect of being a grandma, which Alynna had confessed weirded her out still, given that the baby would technically be her former husband's grandchild by his mistress.)
She truly was happy for Alex and Alynna, not just because they were True Mates, but because they found each other and what seemed like real happiness. They also were already expecting a Lycan pup - with instant pregnancy an effect of being True Mates. Although Cady might have projected a pragmatic image, she was a romantic at heart. But, would she ever find someone of her own? Not necessarily another person who would hold the other half of her soul, but someone she could come home to after a long day, and maybe a child or two to bring more joy into her life. She shook her head. No, I shouldn't think about it.
"You look like you're still working."
Cady froze at the familiar voice. One that never failed to make her nervous. Or
giddy. Or both. "I am working. Aren't you?" she answered without taking her eyes off the dance floor.
"Of course," Nick Vrost stepped up to join her where she stood right beside the dance floor. He was dressed smartly in his formal black suit, cut in the Italian style that suited his long, lean, but powerful frame. His blonde hair slicked back with gel, though a tendril had fallen over his forehead. "My work is never done. But that's the nature of being Beta and head of security."
"We are in The Enclave," Cady replied, turning her head up to look at him. "I'm sure you can relax while we're in here."
Ice blue eyes regarded her. "I will if you will."
She laughed. "Fine. I'll have a glass of champagne." Cady turned to head towards the refreshment table, but a warm hand wrapped around her upper arm. "Actually, I was thinking we could dance, Ms. Gray."
"Oh," Cady gasped quietly. In all their years working together, she couldn't remember Nick Vrost ever touching her. His large hand was calloused and warm, the grip strong, yet gentle on her arm. The sensation of his bare skin touching hers shot tingles through her, spreading heat along the line of her body. She sucked in a breath, his cologne filling her nose. She thought back to that night he brought her home after the incident at Blood Moon. Hmmm...fir trees? She wondered what brand he wore that made him smell so....different and sexy. The scent reminded her of Christmas, her favorite time of the year.
Suddenly, a dizzying feeling overtook her. Her knees buckled slightly, which only made Nick grab her with his other hand, his arm wrapping around her waist. "Are you ok?" he asked. His face was mere inches from hers.
"I'm fine. Just overwhelmed, I guess." Cady straightened up, which only brought her closer to Nick's broad chest and she got another whiff of his cologne.
"Not too overwhelmed to dance with me, Ms. Gray?" Nick asked hopefully.
"No. But only if you call me Cady. Which I think you can do, after all these years."
"Ten years, to be precise, Ms.-- er, Cady," he faltered. "Alright, but you should call me Nick, then."
Her name sounded strange coming from his mouth. She realized he had never said her first name aloud.
"Of course, Nick," she replied, giving him a smile. She let him lead her to dance floor, and when they found an open spot, he placed his left hand on her waist and took her small hand in his right one. They swayed in time to a slow song the DJ had just put on. Small tingles shot along her left palm where their bare skin met.
Nick was surprisingly a good dancer, able to keep with rhythm and lead Cady along. "I didn't know you danced, Nick," Cady remarked. "I'm usually at the same parties you are, I don't think I ever saw you dance with anyone."
"We hardly have any parties where I'm not working. Didn't think it was appropriate."
"And now?" the redhead inquired.
"As you said, there's nothing to be worried about. We're inside The Enclave, and we are here as Best Man and Maid of Honor. I think it's actually our duty to have a good time." Nick twirled her efficiently, and when he pulled her back, Cady found herself pressed up against him even closer.
"You do that quite well," she breathed out slowly.
"Thank you. My grandmother insisted I learn to dance when I was younger," he said wryly.
Cady was a little bit surprised at the revelation. That was perhaps the only personal thing Nick ever revealed to her in all the years she worked alongside him. "Well, I'll have to thank her for making sure you didn't step on my toes."
Nick cracked a sad smile. "She passed on, some time ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry." She couldn't help herself when she saw the sadness in his eyes, and touched his cheek softly.
He turned towards her hand and closed his eyes, his lips barely touching her palm, his breath warm tickling her skin. Her head felt light and she was afraid she'd faint. Cady swallowed a gulp of air, trying to steady herself.
"It's alright, it's been a while. She--"
"Can we cut in?" A bright, cheery voice interrupted Nick. Alynna Chase (now Westbrooke) and her new husband stood behind them.
"How could I say no to the bride?" Cady quickly disentangled from Nick. She was partly relieved, feeling somewhat nervous at how close she and Nick had been. But, a small part of her was disappointed.
"Thanks, Cady," Alynna turned to Nick. "May I have this dance, Nicky-boy?"
The taller Lycan gave her a wry smile. "Of course, Mrs. Westbrooke."
Alynna laughed. "C'mon and show me those moves."
Cady watch as the young woman took Nick's hand and dragged him away to the center of the dance floor.
"Sorry, you're stuck with me for a bit, Cades," Alex joked. "I'll try not to step on your toes too much."
"You should have warned me, I would have put on my hiking boots!" Cady laughed as the younger man took her hands.
The DJ had put on a slightly faster songs this time, much to Alynna's delight and she laughed aloud when Nick spun her. Nick was an excellent dancer and twirled her around expertly.
"You're not half bad," Cady remarked to her current dance partner. She and Alex had an easy friendship, and she had been drawn to his good nature, despite him being an outsider.
"Yeah, well I'm no Nick Vrost," he teased. He turned his head to watch his new wife and his Best Man / boss dancing. "Did you know he could dance like that?"
"I didn't, actually." There's lots of things I don't know about him, she realized.
"Really? After all this time?" Alex seemed surprised.
Cady shrugged. "I was as clueless as you are."
"Not that clueless," Alex smiled down at her. "But you can be slightly dense."
"What?" Cady asked incredulously.
"I'm joking, I'm joking," Alex defended. But then his voice turned serious. "But you know, if there's something you want, you should just go for it." He looked over at the other dancing couple.
Cady's eyes widened and then her mouth opened to say something, but quickly shut it.
A spark lit up in Alex's eyes. "So you do have feelings for him?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Cady retorted in a slightly deflated voice. Despite not truly knowing Nick Vrost after almost ten years, she couldn't help it. She guarded herself and her feelings carefully, and even though his disposition towards her all these years remained formal and chilly, she knew it was truly too easy to fall in love with him. If she wasn't halfway there already.
***
"We shouldn't," Cady whispered, closing her eyes as she breathed in his wonderful scent.
"Why not?"
She held her breath as he pressed his, long, lean body against hers, her back against the wall.
"You know why, Nick," she said breathlessly. She placed her hands on his chest, as if to push him away, but he countered by gripping her wrists and pinning them over her head with one hand.
"I want you. You want me. It's that simple," he murmured as he nuzzled the column of her throat with his lips.
Cady gasped, but bent her head back as if offering her neck to him. Nick responded by grazing her delicate skin lightly with his teeth.
"Nick!" she cried out softly.
Nick pushed one leg between her thighs, pinning her harder against the wall. She responded by pushing her hips against him, seeking out the friction that made her body shiver deliciously.
"I can smell you, Cady, you're wet...I can make you feel so good. Make you scream out my name as you come over and over again," he promised.
"Nick..." she whimpered, riding his thigh harder. Her pussy flooded with wetness, soaking her silky undergarments. He released her wrists and placed one of her hands between his legs, over the bulge in his pants.
"See what you do to me, Cady? I only have to think about you like this, warm and wet against me, and I get rock hard. Hell, I only have to smell you..."
He lifted the layered fabrics of her skirt, grabbed the waistband of her panties, and pushed it down her thighs. Warm fingers trailed up higher, between her legs as he touched the slick seam of h
er nether lips. His fingers ran along the damp seam, pushing between them as he found her clit with his thumb. Pushing one finger, and then two inside her, he rubbed her clit and thrust his digits into her slick, tight passage.
A small cry tore from Cady's throat as Nick fucked her with his fingers harder, and it didn't take long before her body tightened, then convulsed in a small, yet powerful orgasm.
"Oh, god!" she managed to call out before Nick covered her mouth with his to muffle the noise...
Cady's eyes flew open, at first startled by the darkness. It took her a second before she realized she was in her own bed, alone. She let out a groan and rolled onto her stomach, hugging her cool pillow to her overheated body.
The dream was so vivid, she could still remember the way his lips felt, his strong, callused hands gripping her delicate wrists and the smell of his delicious aftershave. She took a deep breath, willing her brain to find traces of him, but she could only smell the usual lavender-scented linen spray she used on her sheets.
While Cady was pretty sure it was a dream, her body wasn't quite convinced. She squeezed her thighs together, and realized she was wet. Her body burned from the imagined orgasm, and she was craving for more. Tempted to reach down between her legs to give herself some relief, she resisted and instead rolled over her side to look at the clock on her bedside table.
5:15 am. The party had ended about 3 hours ago. She went to bed sometime after the last guest had left, slightly disappointed that after their dance, she hadn't seen any trace of Nick. In fact, he all but disappeared. She supposed that he'd been caught up in other business, and so had she. After all, she had to make sure all the guests were taken care of, caterers paid, and everything packed and cleaned away. The couple had been whisked away to their suite at The Plaza and she supervised the last of cleanup effort.
Cady closed her eyes, willing herself to go back to sleep. Maybe she'd pick up where the dream left off, but only darkness took over her as she fell asleep.
Blood Moon: Book 2 of the True Mates Series: A Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 1
