by Michele Hauf
“And he named Liam the new principal,” he explained before she fainted. “Lexi? Stay with me, sweetie. That means I’m going to stay here. With you. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“Oh, my gods. Father is stepping down as principal? But of course, he’s had such wanderlust of late. Oh, I’m so happy for him. And Liam. He’s the only possible choice for leader. And you? My handsome lover, the new scion?”
“What do you think?” Tryst flexed a muscle then assumed a stoic yet commanding pose. “Scion material?”
“Oh, yes.” She tugged him into the bedroom and pulled off his shirt. “Let’s celebrate.”
“Lover, I would love to, but—”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be a workaholic and leave me alone in my room all day now that you’ve a title?”
“No. But I intend to do whatever is required of a scion, though I’m not entirely sure what that is yet. I have…an errand to run. Your father wants to party tomorrow night. Before that, I need to pick something up.”
“Like what?”
“Top secret.”
She crossed her arms and affected a pout. “It’s getting late.”
“It is, but I haven’t forgotten our date out in the forest.”
“Wolfed-out sex?”
He winked at her. “I’ll meet you under the moon.”
Chapter 22
Tryst tromped over the snowpack and through the forest, following his lover’s gorgeous scent. He mapped the world by scent, and Lexi’s was the only scent that made his skin warm and effected a smile before he even knew he was smiling.
He pulled off his shirt and loosened his jeans, thinking he should have left his clothes in the outbuilding, but he hadn’t seen Lexi’s in there, and thought it better if their clothes were kept close at hand.
After a good walk through the pines and ash spearing the land, he saw her standing in a clearing corralled by beech trees. What was it that Shakespeare’s faeries said? “Ill met by moonlight?”
Tryst had to admit, when in werewolf form, none of his breed looked too sexy. They were hairy and distorted, a human’s lengthened form with a wolf’s head. Mortals screamed at sight of them, and other paranormal breeds were never too thrilled to stare too long.
And yet, Lexi’s werewolf was the sexist thing he had laid eyes on. Moonlight beamed over her form. Her sleek dark fur shimmered almost blue and her tail curled teasingly when her head turned and she spied him.
Tryst grew instantly hard. He stopped, kicking off his boots and shrugging down his jeans. His body began the shift before he’d even tugged off the pants, and he tumbled, ungracefully landing the snow in half-shifted form.
Lexi’s werewolf howled in their version of wolf laughter and she took off through the trees.
Coming to his feet, Tryst’s werewolf kicked aside the abandoned clothes and tracked after his female. Her scent glittered in the air and affixed itself to his fur, luring him on. Swiftly he tracked through the forest, deftly avoiding the trees and taking the snowpack in long, sure strides. He slapped a tree trunk, dragging his talons across it. A mark. This land was his domain now. He would hunt here. He would live and help rule the pack here.
And tonight, he would bond with his mate under the moonlight.
* * *
Hours later, Trystan leaned against the rough, cool trunk of a white beech. Steam wavered from his sex-hot skin, cooling him nicely. Lexi had wandered off for a nature call, and she walked back now, her hair swinging around her elbows and her sexy gait taking the snow in delicate steps. Her skin steamed as well, and she looked like a moonlight goddess, her pearly skin framed by the lush black hair.
He tugged her to him and twisted her hair about his hand, holding her against his chest. “You’re mine now.”
“Yes.” She kissed him above the nipple. “Always. We did it. I did it,” she said in excited tones. “I never thought I’d know what it was like to mate in werewolf form. Thank you, Trystan. For everything.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. Pride filled him. As well as a humble thankfulness. He caressed Lexi’s head to his chest, her hair spilling like silk over his hand. His werewolf hadn’t bitten her, and he suspected perhaps when in werewolf form he wouldn’t experience the blood hunger. Only when in were shape. Fine with him. At least he wasn’t like his father, where his vampire ruled his werewolf and forced him to carry out evil deeds.
With Lexi in his arms, he knew he could accept what he had become, and make it his life. A normal life. A perfect life, with his werewolf lover by his side.
* * *
The following night, Lexi left Tryst on his own to prepare for the celebration while she oversaw the event to be held in the keep. The cots had to be removed and the room decorated and chairs and tables put out. She’d assumed chatelaine mode, and he wasn’t about to get in her way.
He’d managed to find some decent clothes while in town last night, and fussed in the bathroom with his hair, when he realized the party was going to start without him. Slapping a hand to the secret something he’d bought last night, he shoved it in a pants pocket and ran out the door, buttoning up his shirt as he took the hallway toward the keep.
He passed a group of very familiar faces along the way and stopped abruptly. Turning around, he put out his arms and received his mother in an embrace. “Mom? And Dad?” Vail stepped up beside Rhys and cast him a wink. “What are you guys doing here?”
“You made no mention of a party when you called last night,” Rhys said. The half-breed wore his salt-and-pepper hair beyond his ears now, and he looked a little scruffy with the beard stubble. “You weren’t going to invite us?”
“I didn’t think you’d be allowed. How are you here?”
“Edmonton called and said it wouldn’t be a party without your family at your side. How are you, son?”
“I’m good. Great! The best I’ve ever been.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We’ve much to talk about, I’m sure.”
“Yes. I need your wisdom, Dad. But later, when we can find a few minutes alone.”
“We’ll figure it out. Together.” He slapped Tryst across the back and hugged him.
He kissed his mother’s cheek and smoothed aside her rich black hair. Her blue eyes beamed brightly at him. She looked lucid, too, which was always a good thing. “My little Chucklebelly is all grown up and leading a pack,” she said.
“I’m not the leader, Mom, just the second in command. And if you ever forget that silly name you called me as a kid, I’ll be so happy.”
“Chucklebelly, eh?” Vail said. “Hadn’t heard that one before. Nice.”
“If it crosses your lips one more time, you’ll be bleeding,” Tryst said.
“Boys, don’t fight,” Viviane said. The exotic beauty laid a hand tipped in wicked, long black fingernails over her chest. “It hurts my heart when you are cruel to one another.”
“We’re just teasing each other, Viviane,” Vail said to the beautiful vampiress. He hadn’t gotten comfortable with calling her mom or mother after only being in the mortal realm a year. “Trystan knows I love him.”
“You do?” She inspected his eyes.
“Of course I do, Mom. Best vampire brother a werewolf could have.”
She stroked his hair. “Your father tells me you’ve the blood hunger. I’m so sorry. You’ve always feared that from me. I’m better now. I ask your forgiveness for scaring you when you were a child.”
“Mom, you’ve nothing to be forgiven for. And don’t worry about me. I’ll get it all figured out. I have two awesome parents to learn from, don’t I? Now, let’s forget all that stuff and go celebrate, yes?” He hooked an arm in hers and led his family into the keep. “I want you to meet Lexi.”
“She is the werewolf that you love?”
“Yes, and I need to tell you a secret.” The announcer was calling everyone to quiet, so Tryst whispered in his mother’s ear the secret he was bursting to tell.
* * *
Edmonton Connor, dr
essed in a stylish gray suit with a crisp white shirt and diamond cuff links, explained his wanderlust to pack Alpine, who had gathered in celebration this evening. Most were aware of the elder wolf’s desire to travel, and nodded in understanding. He had led the pack for over fifty years. A long time in any pack’s history. Retirement was his due reward.
All cheered heartily as Liam was announced as the new pack leader. He would make an excellent leader for their close family, and would restore order after the mess created by Sven.
Lexi had been told before the party the announcement her father planned to make, naming Liam as leader, and as well, his new fiancée.
She gave her sister a hug, feeling her minute trembles, and whispered in her ear, “He is kind, and will love you,” as Edmonton announced the engagement of Liam and Lana.
“I know that.” Lana, holding her head bravely and forcing a smile, clasped hands with Liam and stood before all to renewed cheers.
In truth, Lexi figured her sister was one step away from being a basket case. She had just come out of a horrible relationship with Sven, and needed time to breathe, make sense of what had happened and to reorder her life. But Father wanted things to move swiftly, and couldn’t leave the pack until he knew Liam had assumed control and that his daughters were protected. It made sense. Most packs would do the same. But she could sympathize with Lana’s fears and heartbreak. On the other hand, Liam had been puppy-eyed over Lana for years, so Lexi knew he would treat her well. So long as Lana didn’t wear him down, as was her manner, she expected the couple would thrive.
Tryst’s hand slipped into hers, and he kissed her amidst the hooting and howls of celebration. A moment just for the two of them. The man’s caring heart only seemed to grow wider.
Beside him, his mother, Viviane, peeked around Tryst’s shoulder and gave Lexi a smile. She’d briefly been introduced to his family when they arrived half an hour earlier, and had to say she liked them. Even if they did look uncomfortable—vampires standing amid the pack. Tryst had gotten his blue eyes from Viviane, and his build and square jaw from his father, Rhys. The vampire, Vaillant, was an interesting character, and she looked forward to getting to know him better.
“It gives me great pleasure,” Liam called out, “to announce the new scion our former principal has named—Trystan Hawkes.”
Lexi kissed her lover again then gave him a shove to approach the front where Liam and Lana stood beside Edmonton. Her father gave him a hearty hug and gestured he shake hands with Liam. The two new leaders stood the same height, and were the same build, though Liam was a bit broader in the shoulders. Together they presented a powerful front, and Lexi’s heart warmed as she imagined the pack would grow to something amazing under their command. It would become a fruitful and loving pack. And she looked forward to every moment from this day on.
Tryst called the room to silence and said, “I’ve an announcement of my own. Well, it’s not really an announcement. It’s something I need to do before all of you, before this new family that welcomes me with open arms, and with my family present who have loved me over the years. Yes, I’m sure you’ve all heard about my mixed heritage. I hope it doesn’t offend, and promise I will work to prove myself to all of you.”
“You already have!” shouted out from the crowd.
Lexi nodded and clapped along with the rest in agreement.
“So here it is.” Tryst walked up to Lexi, and she couldn’t interpret his broad grin. She figured he’d kiss her and declare before all that she was his—which he had better do. But when he dropped before her onto one knee and took her hand, tears loosened in her eyes and her heart stopped beating for a few seconds.
“Alexis Conner,” Tryst said to her, “I love you. I would love you if you never shifted again. I would love you if you shifted every hour just for the joy of it. And I love that you accept me for what I am, even though I’m still not sure myself.” He tugged out something from his pocket and slid it onto her finger. The gold ring clasped a diamond that glittered madly. “Will you marry me, Lexi, and be my mate forever?”
Overwhelmed with happiness, she plunged into Tryst’s arms. He swung her around, and she whispered in his ear, “Yes, forever.”
“So what did she say?” Vail called out.
Tryst kissed Lexi then pumped a triumphant fist in the air. “Yes!”
Epilogue
Three months later…
Lexi stood before a floor-length mirror in her bedroom while her sister adjusted the veil pinned to her head with a simple diamond tiara.
“I don’t know,” she said, looking over the white lace dress that clung to her body and swept out at her knees like a mermaid’s tail. It was a hand-me-down from Lana. “I think it’s too fussy.”
“This is the dress you helped me pick out,” Lana said. “If you’d wanted your own dress you should have said something. Tryst is standing at the altar waiting for you. Everyone is waiting!”
Indeed, they’d set up a celebration tent out back, behind the castle. Actually, it had been set up a month earlier, for Lana and Liam’s wedding. Snow had still been on the ground then, and Lana had looked like a winter queen in this very dress and veil.
Lexi thought she more resembled an escapee from a lace factory gone wild. She shook her head and tugged off the tiara, handing it to Lana. “Rip off the fluffy part of the skirt.”
“What?”
“Please? I can’t walk down the aisle looking like a white Popsicle coated with hoarfrost. It’s spring, and the buttercups are in bloom. I want this to be simple.”
Lana wielded a pair of scissors. “Hold on. I’ll figure something out.” She went at the skirt. “Did you see Daddy’s suitcases are already packed?”
“He’s wanted to go off adventuring for months now. No reason for him not to. I’ll miss him.”
“I hope he finds a woman and has a wild and crazy affair. He deserves that.”
“He will. Don’t worry. He’s headed to Brazil. Land of bare bodies and endless nights.” Lexi smoothed a palm over her belly and grimaced at her reflection, turning to the side. “Do I look fat?”
“You look pregnant,” Lana said with a chuckle. “Lucky girl.”
“It’ll happen for you. Soon.”
“We haven’t had sex yet.” She tugged the extra fabric from the bottom of Lexi’s skirt and stood back to look over her sister.
“Lana, it’s been a month. What’s wrong?”
Lana shrugged. “He’s nice and all, but I still need some time. And Liam understands that.”
“He’ll be a good father.”
“Oh, I know he will. I just—I’m afraid, I guess. Afraid to give my heart away again. You know?”
Lexi pulled her sister into a hug. “Take all the time you need. The marriage was a rush job. You have to let your heart catch up.”
“Thanks for being such a great sister.”
They both turned to the mirror and Lexi asked, “So how do I look?”
“Like the princess you were meant to be.”
* * *
When prompted, Tryst repeated the words, “I do,” loud and proud. He couldn’t take his eyes from Lexi. Who’d have thought a woman could look so sexy in a frothy white lace dress and with that gorgeous little baby bump swelling across her middle? Lexi was the hottest, sexiest woman he’d laid eyes on, and she was all his.
The officiator directed them to kiss, and Tryst grabbed the stupid bouquet of white roses from Lexi’s hand, tossed them over his shoulder into the audience, and swept his wife up into the kiss he’d been wanting to give her since seeing her walk down the aisle toward him.
Toward their future. Toward their life together.
Lexi gasped as he pulled back. “I love you,” he said, and then he knelt before her and kissed her belly. Smoothing his hands over the firm bump, he said, “And I love you, too, little one. Can’t wait to welcome you to this world.”
* * * * *
To learn more about Vail, Rhys and Viviane,
stop by clubscarlet.michelehauf.com for
information on their stories.
Moon Kissed
For Lyda Morehouse because she rocks.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Chapter 1
The asphalt blurred under Bella’s running shoes as she abandoned her casual evening jog for a lung-bruising sprint. In the tropical humidity this sweltering midsummer night, her chest, back and face dripped with sweat.
Aware of the frenzied breaths close in her wake, she forced herself to push through the pain of exertion.
Escape. Don’t let them get you.
She wasn’t familiar with this neighborhood, yet she knew it formed the line of demarcation where the suburbs met the industrial north side of the Twin Cities. Not the best jogging spot for a lone young woman, especially with the streetlights out of order. The only light came from the distant neon of a string of nightclubs that peeked between four-and five-story warehouses.
Taking a long stride and ignoring her burning hamstrings, she made the curb. Thank God, she hadn’t slipped. They’d be on her. To rob her or bite her or—
What were they? They had teeth. Long teeth. They had snarled and flashed fangs.
When she’d taken off running, they’d given her a head start, laughing, as a group of men will do when they wish to frighten a woman. She’d prayed they would simply stand there, not pursue her. But that prayer hadn’t been answered.
Close by, the ta-thum, ta-thum of a train rolling over the iron track matched the heavy labor of her heartbeats.
