Nik’s strong jaws clamped onto the rogue’s neck. The terror in the interloper’s yellow eyes made his defeat clear as Nik’s teeth shredded his opponent’s throat. Bianca screamed. Joy turned and saw her brother in his human form holding his woman tight. Bianca pressed her face to Law’s chest. Shock kept Joy in her wolf, and she contemplated at the carnage. Blood dripped from Nik’s jowls. He stood panting as he surveyed the dead wolf. The body changed, and the human form wasn’t anyone Joy recognized. Her wolf receded.
“Come back to me, Nik.” The wolf looked at her. Joy ignored the pain of the rough wooden floor under her tender feet. “I shouldn’t have rejected you. I’m yours.” Humanity returned to Nik, and he gazed up at her. Pain clouded his eyes and his brow furrowed. Joy went to him. She collapsed to her knees and wiped the blood off his face with her hands. “Don’t ever leave me again.”
Nik held her face between his hands. “Do you mean it? If I give you my protection, you’ll accept me?”
“Yes, Nik. Yes.” Tears obscured her vision. Thunder rumbled outside so loudly the barn shook.
“When I felt your fear it didn’t matter that you didn’t want me. I can’t live without you.” Nik pulled her into his arms. “Let’s go clean up.” Joy didn’t resist as Nik picked her up and carried her out into the rain. The force of the deluge pounded against her nakedness. Nik looked up, his eyes were closed, and he let the water pour over his face. Joy rubbed her hands together. The red ran pink until all traces of death was gone. Headlights flashed. Randal was still there. Nik opened his eyes and looked too he put her down and stepped in front of her, protectively.
“He’s the one who brought us here,” Joy said.
Randal got out of the car. He put his hands up as he sloshed through the mud toward them.
“What the hell was this about?” Nik screamed over the storm’s fury.
“Is she bitten?”
Joy glared at Randal. Nik growled.
Randal stopped a few feet in front of them and put his hands up in front of him. “Is she bitten?”
“Why do you want her dead?” Joy fought her primal urge to eliminate the threat.
“Kane,” Randal shouted. “Bitten not dead.”
That figures. Joy and Nik exchanged a look. Nik motioned for Randal to follow them.
When they entered the barn, Law wore Bianca’s sweatshirt tied around his waist. He held the stranger’s feet in his hands as he dragged the body toward the door. Bianca sat on a musty old hay bale, shell-shocked. She stared ahead at the puddle of blood. Joy stayed between the humans, making sure Randal couldn’t try anything. He took off his wet coat and handed it to Joy. He was much bigger than she was, so the coat came down to her knees. She zipped it up and rolled the sleeves back, freeing her hands. She went over to Bianca and rubbed her back. “You okay?”
Shaking her head, Bianca glanced up at Randal. Her expressionless face changed to anger. “Where’s Kloe? Was she ever here?”
Randal didn’t look Bianca in the eyes. “No. She doesn’t know anything about werewolves or where I am. I—I did this for her.”
“Does she want me dead?” Bianca’s hurt expression tugged at Joy’s heart.
Randal shook his head. “Never. My family owed Tobias a blood debt, but when he died, Kane inherited our damn obligation. He promised I’d be free if I brought you out here for a bite.” Randal sighed. “I wanted to give Kloe a child.”
Bianca’s mouth fell open. “Are you unable to have children on purpose?”
“Yes. I had a vasectomy, but once I’m free I’ll have it reversed.”
Joy listened to his heartbeat. He was telling the truth. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re already free. The old ways say that debt should go to a child and Bianca would never hurt her friend—unlike you.”
Randal frowned. “Kane told me the DNA test proved Tobias isn’t your father.”
Bianca’s eyes widened. “Who is? What did the test say?”
Shrugging, Randal looked down at the floor. “I don’t know who he is, but Kane made a good point about a bite. You’ll be safer if you let a wolf change you. What if your werewolf dad has enemies?”
Law came over and growled at Randal. “I should kill you.”
“You should bite her—not me.”
Joy stepped between the human and her brother. “Stop it! Bianca will decide if she’s bitten. Why did Kane want it done so badly?”
Randal’s heart raced, Joy could hear the change, and it made her suspicious. He shifted his weight and took a step back. “You know how Kane is.”
“Tell me,” Joy insisted.
Randal frowned. “He’s an asshole who thinks everyone in this town should do what he wants.”
Law’s face elongated. Hair sprouted from his cheeks and forehead and his fingers curled in a transition between human digits and animal claws. “If you ever endanger my wife again,” his voice rumbled deeply with the change. “I. Will. Kill. You. Get out of your debt another way.”
Nik came back into the barn, water dripping from him. “Body’s in the truck.” He was the only one remaining naked. Randal took off his shirt and handed it to Nik, who quickly tied it around his waist.
The human shivered. “I’m sorry, Bianca. I won’t hurt you again. Please don’t tell Kloe about werewolves. The secret is too dangerous.”
“That’s why I’ve been keeping my distance,” Bianca said. “I’d never hurt Kloe. I want you two to have a baby, but not at the cost of my humanity. It’s too much to ask.”
Disappointment crossed Randal’s face. “I understand. I’ll give you and Law a ride back, and there’s not enough room for four of you in that truck.”
“Thanks,” Bianca said, but tension lingered in the casual response. “I miss her.”
“She misses you too,” Randal mumbled. Law and his mate followed the human out of the barn.
Joy watched her family leave and that sense of panic that always inhabited the surface of her emotions rose up. I’m okay. I’m not being abandoned. I’m going home. She did her best to calm down, but fear made gooseflesh rise on her arms and the back of her neck. Thunder rumbled, and rain beat a steady rhythm on the decaying roof, but the storm seemed to be dying down. I’m not alone. I have Nik. Gazing up into Nik’s handsome face her breath caught. “What now?” she whispered.
“I give you my protection. The rest of my life is for loving you. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to do my damnedest to ease your pain.”
“I feel you with me, sharing it, loving me. There’s just so much fear inside of me. I don’t know if I can ever let the memories die, yet when you’re near there’s enough reprieve that I can breathe. I can’t explain it, but you’re a miracle.”
“Our bond is the miracle. I’m just the lucky son-of-a-bitch who gets to share a soul with you.”
That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. Joy’s throat tightened. “I love you.”
Nik grinned. “I live for you. I’m going to love you hard enough to chase the shadows away.” He pulled her close, kissing her. Nothing mattered but his mouth. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “You’re mine.”
Joy closed her eyes as he kissed her again. Yes, I am. Always.
Look for Moonlight’s Destiny, Book Three in the Moonlight Series by Ashlynn Monroe. If you’ve missed book one, Moonlight’s Peril buy it here:
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Ashlynn Monroe has been dreaming up stories all her life, but didn’t share them with anyone until she was thirty. She's a busy mom with a full time job, great friends, and a unique sense of humor. She's just a regular girl, who's in love with the idea of happily-ever-after. She's honored to be multi-published by some of the best publishers in the industry. Ashlynn survives each day by dreaming up her next tale of romance. Visit her on the web at http://www.ashlynnmon
roe.com/.
Thank you so much for purchasing Moonlight’s Gift. I can’t express how deeply your support has touched my life. I am so grateful to you. My greatest hope is that you’ll enjoy reading Moonlight’s Gift as much as I enjoyed writing it. You are amazing. I’d appreciate you taking the time to leave a review here on Amazon. *SMOOCHES*
I have two special prequels coming out. Check out my website for more details on Kane and Joslyn’s story.
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Moonlight's Gift (Moonlight Series Book 2) Page 13
