Moon Kissed

by Donna Grant

  The pain of the shift was indescribable. It battered them from all sides, taking their breath and ripping them apart from the inside out. Myles’s wolf rose up quickly. Urgency pushing him, driving him.

  He fell to his hands and knees. For the first time, he didn’t feel any pain. His thoughts were centered on Addison. And killing Delphine.

  When he opened his eyes, he watched his brothers finish their transitions. He saw the solid white fur of Solomon. Next to him was a wolf of inky black – Kane. On the other side of Solomon was Court with his tawny fur.

  Another wolf trotted up. Myles eyed the mottled gray fur of Griffin. Griffin stared at Myles for a moment as Gage joined him before swinging his gaze toward the cemetery.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Myles saw Solomon’s ears flick. Myles lifted his head and listened. Only one other time in the history of the city had wolves descended upon it en masse as they were now. Tonight, the wolves weren’t there to claim dominance but to free two innocents and stop a priestess.

  It felt like an eternity before Myles smelled the first flames. Soon, sirens from the fire department and the police rang out through the city.

  Myles and his brothers hid behind the building, the shadows deep enough to conceal them thoroughly. He peered around the corner and spotted one of Delphine’s men dressed in all white come to the entrance of the cemetery to see what was going on.

  Beside Myles, Kane growled, the sound rumbling through his chest. Solomon nudged Kane with his head to silence him.

  The man ran back inside the cemetery, and just seconds later he and three others ran out and got into a car to drive off. That lessened who they had to fight by four, but Myles wasn’t concerned with Delphine’s followers. He was apprehensive about her.

  One wrong move would seal all their fates.

  He hadn’t forgotten Minka’s prediction of his death. If it happened that night, Myles wanted it to be after Addison was freed. He had to be smart, cunning, and ruthless. Those were the only traits that would save his woman.

  Myles looked at his brothers. They lined up side by side and walked out of the shadows, through the parking lot, and across the street. They each had their destinations. Once they passed through the tall iron gate, they split up, slinking quiet as death around the tombs. Delphine’s evil stench was suffocating, but it made her easy to track.

  Myles went all the way to the back of the cemetery and then made his way toward Delphine, hoping he’d be the one to find Addison. His steps slowed when he heard Delphine’s voice chanting. He shifted to his right and moved stealthily toward the sound. Myles leapt atop a tomb and crawled on his belly to the edge.

  Delphine was without the white turban. Her hair was loose and hanging around her deep mocha skin. Where she was normally covered almost head to foot in white, this night she wore a white tank top that was thin enough to see her nipples through. Her skirt was long but sheer.

  Myles had to force himself to remain still when he heard Addison’s voice. A second later, she came into view with a man on either side of her, holding her. Minka was also held by two men as she was brought after Addison.

  Delphine slowly raised her hands above her head. Flames surged, encircling the seven of them. Minka kicked one of the men, who then backhanded her so hard she fell to the side, narrowly missing the flames.

  “Minka!” Addison yelled.

  The men hauled Minka back up with blood running from her lip. Delphine began to sway, her eyes closed and the words coming faster. One by one, her followers appeared seemingly out of nowhere to form a large circle. They clapped slowly and hummed. Delphine’s eyes suddenly opened, shining with an unholy red light. She pointed first one hand at Addison and then the other at Minka.

  Myles growled in fury when Addison’s entire body jerked and her lids fell closed. Minka mimicked her a second later. The men stepped back and out of the flaming circle since Delphine controlled both girls now.

  Delphine’s voice grew louder, her words incomprehensible. Myles could only watch as both Addison and Minka fell straight back. But they never hit the ground. They were stiff when their legs lifted, tilting their bodies horizontally.

  “Our temple is on fire!” shouted a male voice.

  Delphine stopped chanting and slowly looked around. “Go. Our home must be saved.”

  There was a commotion as half of the men and a few women rushed out of the cemetery to help put out the fire. By the way Delphine studied every shadow, she suspected the fire had been a diversion.

  Myles hoped to catch her unawares, but that was no longer an option. She would be on guard now, prepared for whatever came at her.

  She focused on Addison and Minka again and walked to stand between them. Delphine touched Minka’s forehead and skimmed her hand down her body to her toes. Then Delphine repeated the movement with Addison, unintelligible words spilling from her lips all the while.

  He snarled, his lips lifting. The hate was unbearable. It consumed him, devoured him. It had kept him going for years, but if he let it take him completely now, there would be no room for any other emotion like...love.

  Delphine held her hands out in front of her, palm up. Out of nowhere, a curved blade made of bone appeared in her palms. Holding it in one hand, her other traced it as if it were an object to be worshiped.

  When she held the bone blade high, her remaining flock sent up a cheer and continued clapping in a rhythm. Delphine turned to Addison first and gripped the bone in both hands above her head, preparing to plunge it into Addison’s chest.

  Myles leapt from atop the tomb between the worshippers and the fire, growling fiercely. Kane, Solomon, and Court each walked from their hiding places, their growls mixing with his. Delphine’s people quickly moved to make paths for his brothers until they also stood at the fire facing the priestess.

  “I knew you would come,” Delphine said as she looked at each of them. “Which one of you is Myles?”

  It was Court who snapped his jaws at her in response.

  Delphine laughed. “Oh, this is just too simple. How silly of you LaRue boys to think the four of you could stop me. I’ll kill these girls, and then I’ll make sure to end the LaRue line once and for all.”

  Myles looked at Solomon from across the fire and nodded. Myles, Court, and Kane turned and charged Delphine’s followers. Their screams filled the air. Though they never sank their teeth into a single one of them, their screams said otherwise.

  With their signal to the Moonstone pack literally shouting from the rooftops, Myles turned back to Delphine, who stood glaring at Solomon. Just as Myles expected, the bitch was taking the bait. Because in her mind, only he would be the one to stand guard watching over Addison.

  And Myles was, just not in the way she expected.

  The screams of her followers intensified as Griffin’s pack filled the cemetery with the witches right behind them. Myles threw his head back and let loose a howl.

  Delphine turned in a circle staring in confusion and anger at the witches and wolves closing in on her people, standing atop tombs and filling the spaces.

  “Enough!” Delphine shouted.

  One young witch with dark red hair standing atop the tomb Myles had been on spread her fingers as she held her arms out at her sides. “You don’t rule us. You’ll never rule us.”

  The other witches spread their arms wide until they made one huge circle. Their eyes were locked on Delphine while they focused their magic. Delphine had no choice but to fight them.

  It was time for the wolves. Myles was the first to launch himself over the flames and tackle Delphine to the ground. Right before he turned to go to Addison, he felt something sharp sink into his shoulder. Myles turned and snapped, but Solomon, Court, and Kane were already atop Delphine. Griffin and Gage soon joined in the fray.

  Myles limped to Addison. He watched in surprise as both the girls dropped to the ground. Delphine had to conserve her power for herself, which freed Addison and Minka. He saw the blood on Addison’s wrists a
nd licked them to help spur the healing. When he lifted his head, her hazel eyes were open and looking at him.

  “You came.” She smiled and ran her hand over his head, sinking her hands into his fur. “I knew you’d come.”

  Myles nuzzled her until she had both hands around his neck. Then he stepped back and helped her into a sitting position.

  “Nice trick there, wolf,” Minka said with a groan. “Who the hell is going to help me?”

  Addison reached over and helped Minka. Myles took the hem of Addison’s cut off sweats in his mouth and tugged, trying to tell her they needed to go.

  “I think that means we’ve got to go,” Minka said.

  Addison glanced at the wolves attacking Delphine. “Yeah. The sooner, the better.”

  Solomon bumped against Minka and loped away. Minka quickly followed him. Myles ignored the pain of his wound and waited for Addison. As he ran behind her, he ensured there wouldn’t be any other surprises from Delphine that night with the Moonstone clan and the witches attacking her.

  While Solomon ran them down quiet streets until they were out of the city and into the bayou, Myles saw Griffin and his wolves with them. The girls would never make it to the Moonstone camp, and Myles didn’t want Addison there anyway. He let out a sound that brought Solomon to a halt.

  Minka and Addison stumbled to a stop, their hands on their knees as they bent over sucking in air. Myles circled them trying to think of a place to take them, because he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep going. His wound was weakening him significantly. Something that would only happen if silver were used.

  Myles looked at Addison. At least she was out of Delphine’s grasp now. There was no sense in telling his brothers about his wound. Nothing could help him now. He was dying, slowly but surely.

  Griffin and his wolves spread out, checking the bayou while Solomon remained on point, too concerned about an attack to realize anything was wrong.

  After a moment, Minka lifted her head and looked at Addison. “I know a place we can go.”

  “Where?” Addison asked breathlessly.

  Minka straightened, a sad look coming over her. “The old Gilbeaux plantation. Or what’s left of it.”

  Solomon let out a low growl and shook his head. Myles had to agree. That place wasn’t fit for animals, much less the girls.

  “It’s where I’m going,” Minka stated determinedly. “There’s no other place for me. I can’t go back to the Quarter.”

  Addison looked up then and shoved her short champagne locks out of her face. “No. There’s no going back to those who betrayed you. What about one of the other covens?”

  Minka was shaking her head before Addison finished. “Not possible.”

  “All right then.” Addison slid her gaze to him. “We need to go to the Gilbeaux plantation.”

  Myles sighed and turned west, their course set.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Now that they had escaped the Quarter, Addison’s feet were throbbing. She was afraid to look down and see the damage done. They had been walking for another hour, and she was weary to her bones.

  Myles suddenly bumped against her, halting her. Was it her imagination, or was he limping? Addison looked up from the ground and heard the roar of an engine. Suddenly, wolves closed in tightly around her and Minka. She tried to hold onto Myles, but he slipped away, going to stand in front of the pack with a white wolf and a gray one.

  A 4x4 truck drove through the pasture they were crossing and came to a sliding stop. The headlights blinded her, but Addison was able to shield her eyes enough to see the door of the truck open.

  “Which of my asshole cousins thought it would be a good idea to leave me out of things?”

  “Riley?” Addison said with a smile. “Is that you?”

  “Addison? Are you all right?” Riley asked and jumped from the truck. She raced to her, the wolves instantly moving out of the way. Riley wrapped her arms around her and held tight.

  “Yes, thanks to Myles and all the other wolves.”

  Riley stepped away. Her smile dropped as she glared at Myles and the white wolf. “That was shit. If I hadn’t seen the group of witches walking down the street talking about all the wolves, I’d never have known. Then I found these two jerks,” she said with a thumb over her shoulder.

  Just then, a black wolf and one with tawny fur loped up.

  “But that’s family business,” Riley said taking notice of all the other wolves. “Y’all must be from the Moonstone pack Kane talks about. Thanks for helping.” Riley then shifted her eyes back to Addison. “Where are y’all headed?”

  “The old Gilbeaux plantation,” Minka said.

  “Y’all look like death warmed over. Get in the truck. I’ll drive while you give directions. There’s some bottled water inside.”

  Minka didn’t have to be told twice. She hurried to the 4x4 and climbed in the passenger side back door. Addison took a step and winced at something sticking in her foot.

  “You don’t have shoes?” Riley asked in consternation.

  Addison shrugged. “I was taken without them.”

  Riley linked Addison’s arm around her shoulder and helped her limp to the truck. Addison got in and saw Myles standing by her door.

  “Want to ride?” He took a step back, causing her to laugh. “I’m fine. Let’s just get to the plantation.”

  Once Myles trotted off and all the wolves disappeared into the trees, Addison closed her door and let out a sigh. She shut her eyes while Minka directed Riley through backwoods roads to the plantation. Addison didn’t need to look. She knew Myles was near.

  The certainty of that, of knowing that he would be there for her was as calming as it was wonderful. She’d never been able to say that about anyone before, and she was hesitant to even think it with him.

  It wasn’t because he was a werewolf and changed with the moon. It was because of who he was, what he did. He fought for the innocents of the Quarter, which meant he put his life in danger every day.

  Her father had done the same, and look how he’d ended up. As much as that bothered her, Addison knew she couldn’t walk away from Myles.

  He was everything she hadn’t even known she wanted or needed. His gentleness with her, coupled with his unwavering loyalty and defense of her against someone as evil as Delphine was staggering.

  She didn’t know where their relationship might lead, but she certainly wanted to find out.

  “How does it feel to be the woman of a wolf?” Riley asked.

  Addison opened her eyes and smiled. Minka shoved a bottle of water at her that she opened and drank deeply from. “It feels...right. Is that how it’s supposed to feel?”

  “I don’t know,” Riley said. “I think that could be the right answer for any couple.”

  “I just don’t want to read too much into things. I suppose Myles was just doing his duty as a hunter.”

  Minka gave a snort of laughter. “Girl, I’m seriously about to knock you in the head. Didn’t we have this conversation in the cemetery?”

  “Yeah,” Addison said. “It’s just, everyone I’ve ever wanted in my life has left me. I don’t want to lose him.”

  Riley shot her a smile. “The only way you would lose Myles is if you told him you didn’t love him, and even then, it would take months of him attempting to get you back and you refusing before he thought about giving up. Once a wolf chooses who is his, there’s no going back.”

  “Really?” Addison asked as she sank further into the seat.

  Minka leaned up between the two front seats. “Really.”

  Addison let that knowledge settle into her mind – and her heart. It was almost too much to hope for, to think that she found someone who wouldn’t leave her.

  “Chiasson blood runs through his veins just as much as LaRue,” Riley said as she continued to drive. “It was a Chiasson who left France and settled in Nova Scotia for awhile, bringing his sister and two brothers with him. They eventually made their way down to Loui
siana. He settled in Lyons Point while his brothers decided to go different directions to see what the country held.”

  Addison was transfixed listening to the history of the Chiasson and LaRue families.

  Riley smiled as she glanced at Addison and then at Minka. “His sister came to New Orleans with him on a trip and fell in love with a LaRue. She married and taught her husband how to hunt the paranormal.”

  “I wondered how the LaRues came to be hunters,” Minka said as she sat back.

  The truck bounced over some deep holes on the dirt road as Riley shrugged. “Being in New Orleans has its perks, but also its drawbacks. Namely, all the beings with some form of supernatural ability.”

  “I take exception to that,” Minka said, but there was no heat in her words.

  Addison turned in her seat and said, “Yeah, but you’re not trying to kill people. I think Riley is talking about them.”

  “I am,” Riley said. “We have witches in Lyons Point. Hell, Beau is dating one. But I think it’s the mix of all the beings in New Orleans that is so different. You see, one of the LaRue children did something to incur the wrath of a Voodoo priestess.”

  “Oh my God,” Minka said with a sigh. “What is it with the LaRues and the priestesses?”

  Riley shook her head. “I wish I knew. I don’t know what happened to cause the Voodoo priestess to become so angry, but in response, she placed a curse on all LaRues to become werewolves.”

  Addison turned the water bottle in her hand. “How long will the curse be in place?”

  “Forever,” Riley and Minka replied in unison.

  Addison was outraged. “Are you kidding? That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

  “Damn straight,” Minka mumbled.

  Riley twisted her lips. “My cousins have managed to use it to their advantage. They’ve befriended witches who have used spells to help them be able to shift whenever they choose instead of only on a full moon. It comes in handy while they hunt in the Quarter.”

  Minka leaned up again and pointed out the windshield. “There’s a live oak with its branches growing on the ground. Take a left there.”