Under a Darkened Moon

by Jane Hinchey

  "Enough!" Rhys growled. He leaned across the counter and clamped his hands on her shoulders, forcibly holding her on the stool. "This is because I'm the Alpha, isn't it?"

  She didn't move.

  "Obviously you're in some sort of trouble. With your pack? You were running when I first met you, and you're still running now, so my question to you is...why?"

  She shook her head, voice trembling. "I can't involve you in this."

  "I'm already involved and I have NO intentions of butting out. So you may as well fess up."

  "He'll kill you," she whispered, miserable and broken and hating herself.

  "Are you his mate?" His voice was low, lethal.

  "NO!" Shocked, her eyes met his. Shaking her head, she added, "No, I'm not his mate."

  "Okay. Anything else, I can deal with." He released her, straightening up he pushed the plate of food back at her.

  "Eat up. You need to regain your strength. And don't be fooled into thinking I'm letting this drop, because I'm not. But I'm also not stupid. You're recovering from a car accident, you're upset and vulnerable, and while some Alphas might like their women like that, I'm not one of them. We'll talk about this later. In great detail. You'd best prepare yourself, because I will get the truth out of you."

  Silently, Kasie picked up the sandwich and ate. She had no doubt he meant every word he said.

  After lunch, Rhys excused himself, saying he had work to do, and retreated to his home office, calling back over his shoulder that she should make herself at home. Once his overwhelming presence was gone, she let out a breath, trying to calm her muddled brain. Think, think, think, she scolded herself, pacing across the kitchen floor. Okay, first thing, she'd need to find some work and make some money. Then get a car. As long as she had enough left over for fuel, she'd be able to head out for Stipton.

  Finding work was going to be difficult stuck out here on the farm. Maybe Rhys needed a housekeeper or cook? She'd have to ask him. Which brought her screeching to a halt. She needed to make it clear to him that she wasn't here to pick up where they left off. That offer was off the table. No more sleeping in his bed. She'd move into a guest room; given the size of the place, she was sure he had several. She was also reasonably confident that he wouldn't like the idea, but she had to stay strong on this. He was an Alpha. That changed everything.

  Straightening her shoulders, she went in search of him, finding his office tucked away at the back of the house. The door was open. He was sitting behind a large desk, tapping away on a laptop.

  "Sorry to interrupt." Suddenly nervous, she wiped her palms on her thighs.

  He stopped typing and looked over at her.

  "No problem. What's up?"

  "Well. I'm kinda stuck here, what with my Jeep totaled. And I'm experiencing some cash flow issues." She flushed with embarrassment. It was hard admitting such things. "I was wondering if you needed a cook or housekeeper?"

  "Ah." He nodded, understanding. "Don't worry, I can spot you."

  "No! No, I don't want a handout or a loan. I need to pay my own way and I can't be...indebted to you."

  "You can't be indebted to me?" His brows drew together in a frown. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. C'mon, Kasie, spit it out. Tell it like it is.

  "What happened with us before? When we first met? It can't happen again," she rushed out, avoiding his eyes.

  "You mean the sex? The hot, incredible, mind-blowing sex?" He was on his feet now, stalking toward her.

  "Yes. That. It can't happen again."

  He was in front of her now. She could feel his heat. Her knees threatened to buckle.

  "Why not?" Perfectly reasonable question. Why not, indeed? Right now, this close to him, she was struggling to remember her reasons. His broad shoulders blocked the light and she knew that beneath the dark t-shirt he wore, his abs were rock hard. Her fingers itched to trace them, to scratch her nails down his sides.

  "Because you’re an Alpha." It annoyed her that her voice came out in a squeak.

  "So?"

  "It's just not a good idea. I don't want it." She needed to get away from him before her body betrayed her and he picked up on her building arousal. Calling herself all kinds of a coward, she spun on her heel and rushed away.

  Rhys watched Kasie tear down the hallway as if the hounds of hell were after her. Shaking his head, he returned to his desk, still coming to terms with the fact that the woman he'd been trying to find for the last three months was now here. In his home. And she'd just told him she didn't want him.

  He didn't believe her for a second. He'd seen the flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes had dilated when he got close. He could almost hear her heart rate accelerate. And last night, in her sleep, she'd curled into his side and stayed there all night long. Oh, she wanted him all right, but for some reason, she was fighting it. It didn't match up with the passionate woman of three months ago, who'd given herself to him with such fire and abandon, no regrets, no hesitation, no fear. He didn't understand why him being an Alpha should change anything, but he had every intention of finding out.

  He returned to the laptop, where the Redmeadows PD database was open on the screen. His fingers typed out the name Kasie Jackson. His lips quirked. Smith, indeed? It probably hadn't occurred to her that he'd go through her gear while she was unconscious. It wasn't something he'd ordinarily consider, but with the blanket of secrecy she'd wrapped around herself, she'd left him with little choice. He'd found a wallet in her backpack with a driver’s license and her face smiling out at him.

  Hitting the enter key, he held his breath as the system searched for her. It went against the grain to go behind her back, but since she wouldn’t cough up any information willingly, she’d left him no choice. He’d go about his inquiries discreetly, though; he didn't want her pack to know he was asking questions.

  4

  Kasie watched from the front deck as a truck sped up the long dirt track toward the house. Rhys had told her the pack was running tonight and that they'd start turning up in the late afternoon. He'd been right. It had just turned four. The truck skidded to a halt, a cloud of dust blooming up and floating away on the breeze. She watched, leaning against the veranda post with a casual posture that belied her inner tension. If the pack didn't like her, Rhys would turn her away. As Alpha, he had a duty to protect his pack, and if they didn't want an interloper in their midst, he would make her leave.

  "Hey! You must be Kasie." A stocky male jumped from the truck, slamming the door behind him. He approached at a leisurely pace, a big grin splitting his face. "You're looking better than last time I saw you." He climbed the steps and stood in front of her, holding out his hand. "I'm Levi West. Rhys's second. I was with him when we found you the other night."

  "Thanks for that." She smiled, shaking his hand, relaxing at his friendly demeanor. Her pack had distrusted outsiders instantly. They'd never be welcoming to a stranger in their midst.

  "Happy to oblige, ma’am." He released her hand.

  Rhys stepped outside and the two men began talking business. From what she could make out, Levi worked for Rhys, managing the construction business, and had been taking care of things on site while Rhys was here with her. It rankled that she'd needed babysitting, and she felt bad that she'd kept him from his work.

  More of the pack arrived and she lost track of names. Dr. Dwayne McKinney, she remembered, and gave him a warm smile when he came right up to her to give her a light hug before quickly checking her head wound.

  "Reckon we can get these stitches out tomorrow. Means you can't shift until then, though, so no running with us tonight."

  "Oh, I hadn't intended to run!" She was shocked. Strangers never ran with a pack. It was against the rules.

  A sporty red two-door car pulled up, out of place amongst the trucks and SUVs that were parked haphazardly in front of Rhys's house. She'd heard Levi mention they were waiting on someone named Sophie, who wanted to finish up something in the office before heading out. She ass
umed the tall, black-haired beauty who unraveled herself elegantly from behind the steering wheel and sauntered across the yard was she. Dressed in a short pin-striped skirt, stilettos, and a white blouse, she looked every inch the glamorous, polished professional. A small smile tugged at her crimson lips as she climbed the stairs, eyes locked on Rhys. Then a frown pulled those perfectly arched brows together as her gaze followed Rhys's to alight on Kasie.

  Her chin lifted and Kasie watched as she sniffed the air, testing the scent. Clearly, she didn't like what she'd smelled.

  "This is her?" she spat. Rhys swung his head toward her, eyes narrowing. Sophie strode up to him, and although she was taller than Kasie, the top of her head only reached his shoulder. She was forced to look up at him, her body rigid with anger. "You reeked of her when you came back from your last trip. You flaunted the bitch’s bite on your neck for all to see."

  "Sophie," Rhys warned, voice low.

  "I heard you'd taken in some stray who trashed their car out on the highway. I had no idea it was your whore."

  It was so silent they could've heard a pin drop. Kasie flushed crimson. Rhys grabbed Sophie by the arm and dragged her inside, his Alpha power pulsing out.

  "C'mon, Kasie, I could use a hand making the salad." Kasie allowed herself to be led away by Ana Mills, the gorgeous brunette grasping her hand and leading her inside to the kitchen.

  "We try and get a run in for a couple of hours on a Friday night," Ana explained as they stood at the kitchen bench, shredding and slicing cabbage. "It gives everyone a chance to blow off steam at the end of the week and for those of the pack who want to hit town later, well, it helps keep a level head on their shoulders."

  "The pack likes to fight?"

  "On the contrary. Rhys works hard to keep order, but he does protect his own, and if some knucklehead in town insists on being a dickhead and provoking us, they get what's coming to them."

  "Right." Kasie didn't know what to think. This pack operated so differently than the one she'd grown up with. Bar room brawls had been a regular thing; her Alpha never tried to dissuade his wolves from engaging. She'd had it drummed into her that blood and violence was the life of the wolf, that this was her lot in life and she'd better damn well get used to it. Whenever she rebelled, a blow across the face was delivered to remind her of her place.

  "What about you, honey? What brings you all the way out here?"

  "On my way to Stipton."

  "Is that where you're from?"

  "No. I'm from Athel Tree City initially." She clammed up. She really didn't want to talk about herself.

  "I can see you're all tensed up, honey." Ana patted her hand. "Whatever's wrong, there's a fair chance we can help."

  "Doubtful."

  "Try us. You might be surprised." Her chocolate brown eyes were kind and warm, as was the hand patting her own. Ana had a good heart. Kasie gave her a smile.

  "I know you mean well. But I can't drag any of you into this."

  "You running from the law?"

  "No!" As if.

  "I take it you know our Alpha is a lawman?”

  Kasie nodded, keeping her attention on the salad.

  “Then my next guess is your pack."

  Kasie ignored her, stirring dressing into the shredded cabbage and carrot they'd dumped in the bowl. Ana let it drop. Opening the fridge, she pulled out a tray of steaks and headed out the back to the grill. Kasie followed with the coleslaw.

  Outside, three picnic tables were placed along the back deck, the grill at the far end surrounded by the men of the pack. Placing the salad on the trestle table beneath the kitchen window, she grabbed a can of cola from the cooler. Popping the top, she took a long swallow and moved to the railing, taking in the magnificent view. A hundred meters or so from the back of the house, the woods began and stretched as far as the eye could see. Beyond that, the mountains rose majestically into the sky. She breathed in the country air, the earthiness, the freshness. Maybe she'd sneak a run in before she left this place.

  A large hand wrapped around the back of her neck, making her jump.

  "Everything okay? You look...pensive."

  "I'm fine." She gave Rhys a small smile, but he wasn't buying it.

  "Sorry about Sophie. It turns out she's a little...possessive of me."

  "As she should be," Kasie snapped, stepping away from his touch. "Look, I didn't realize you were mated before we—before Violet. I'm sorry for causing her pain and distress."

  "Hey!" He moved in, caging her against the railing. She refused to look at him, knew he’d be able to sense the anguish pouring off her in waves. She’d always been terrible at hiding her emotions.

  "First up, I'm not mated. And secondly, if I was, I would never cheat on her. There would be no need. She would be my world and I would be hers. End of story."

  "Right," Kasie scoffed. "So Sophie acted that way because…? If you’re not mated, then there’s definitely history. Past or current."

  She had him. She saw it on his face. There was definitely something going on with Sophie, and the mere thought of it made her stomach turn. When he wrapped his fingers around her hand, she tried to pull away. But he held tight.

  “Let me explain,” he muttered, his voice low. This was personal, this was something he didn’t want his pack listening in on, she realized. Relenting, she let him lead her down the stairs and towards the barn, which was set back and off to the right of the main house.

  "Yes. There's history with Sophie and me." He talked as he walked, tightening his grip when she would have pulled away. "Eighteen months ago, we had a one-night stand. It was before she joined the pack. And she knew it was one night only—I made that very clear to her going in, or I wouldn't have gone there in the first place. She said she could deal. Then six months later, she petitioned to join the pack. I was reluctant, but the pack voted and convinced me to give her a chance. That was a year ago. I haven't touched her, kissed her, looked at her sideways since then."

  "She must have reacted when you came home with my scent on you."

  "When I came home covered in your scent and your bite on my neck?" His wolf growled at the memory. "She didn't say anything to me. To be honest, I was so caught up in you and trying to find you that I wouldn't have noticed anything about her."

  "You tried to find me?"

  "You didn't leave me a whole lot to go on, sugar."

  "Okay, well, if what you say is true—"

  "It is."

  "Then I don't get the hostility or bitchiness from her. Surely you've had other lovers since her?"

  "Between you and her? No."

  "I'm the first person you've slept with in eighteen months?” she scoffed. “I find that hard to believe."

  They'd reached the barn. He leaned back against the side wall, the wood still warm from the day's sun as twilight settled around them, hiding them in the shadows.

  "Why is that hard to believe?"

  "Because you have this—" She paced in front of him, waving her hand up and down, indicating his body. "—this animal magnetism thing going on that just calls a girl to..."

  "To what?" He pulled her off balance, making her fall against him.

  "Run her tongue all over you." Her voice dropped, seductive. She felt his body tighten against her, guessed he was remembering the husky things she'd whispered in his ear months ago. The naughty promises she'd made.

  "Funny. I felt the same way the second I laid eyes on you." At his admission, she grabbed his head and brought his mouth to hers, the move bold and aggressive. His wolf growled in approval. She kissed him roughly, taking control, and he let her. She set the pace, and he willingly followed, tongue clashing with hers almost violently, then pulling back, lips barely touching, the soft whisper of swollen lips against flesh.

  "Food’s ready!" someone shouted from the back porch.

  Kasie stepped back, breath shuddering as she strived for composure. He gave her space, clearly needing a moment or two himself. Silently, he captured her hand once
more and, fingers entwined, they joined the others.

  Kasie laughed and chatted with Ana and her husband Billy, who'd joined their table along with Levi. The mood was light, and jokes and banter flew through the air.

  "What do you do, Kasie?" Levi asked, passing the basket of bread rolls around the table.

  "As in for work? All sorts of things, really." She shrugged. Mostly, she'd worked for the pack, doing manual labor for the Alpha. Since leaving the pack, she'd taken up any odd job she could find—babysitting, cleaning, fruit picking.

  "Which do you prefer—indoors or outdoors?"

  "Out."

  "Princess or tomboy?"

  "Tomboy."

  "Paintbrush or computer?"

  "Paintbrush."

  "Hammer or sewing machine?"

  "Hammer."

  "Gardening or cleaning?"

  "Gardening."

  "Now we're getting somewhere. So, Rhys." Levi suddenly switched direction mid conversation. What? Another confusing man. "I was about to put up a notice in town for some help in the workshop, light stuff like prepping the joists and such. I'm thinking Kasie would fit the bill. What do you reckon, boss?"

  Kasie sucked in a breath, waiting for Rhys to explode. It was dangerous to tell an Alpha how to run his business, and any ideas or suggestions should be offered behind closed doors. Never in front of the pack. She tried not to flinch when Rhys placed his beer on the table. She'd been expecting him to slam it down, but then, she'd never seen him lose his cool, so she wasn't sure what to look for.

  "I like it, Levi." He smiled at the other man before looking at her. "What do you say, Kasie?"

  Her eyes were as big as saucers as she looked between the two men. They didn't behave the way she’d expected them to. It was confusing and unsettling, but she wasn't about to let go of such an opportunity. With no car and no money, she needed this job.

  "Ummm. Sure. That'd be great. Thank you."