Wolf Moon (Moon series)

by Lisa Kessler

  He took the bag from me and placed it in the cart. “All right.”

  “Is it true your Pack only has seven males including you?”

  He frowned, crossing his arms. “Of my generation. My dad and Jason and Jared’s dad are still in the Pack, too.”

  “Can they still fight?” I reached for a box of folded hand towels, but he caught my arm. The warmth of his touch burned through my shirtsleeve, my heart racing in answer. I met his eyes.

  His tone was deep and low, so humans wouldn’t overhear us. “What did Sebastian tell you at the Pack meeting?”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “We have you outnumbered at least two to one. Our newly bitten males are being trained to track, shoot, and fight.” His expression darkened, but he didn’t say a word. “Caldwell wants to kill the men in your Pack and bring the females back to Sedona to be mated as he sees fit. Except for the Alpha’s wife and all the children. Sebastian said they’re not to be harmed. He’s taking them back to Nero.”

  That shook him. Luke stepped back a couple of paces. “Shit.” He met my eyes again. “Did Sebastian say why he wanted the kids and Lana?”

  “Not that I remember.”

  “When will you start being missed?”

  I checked my phone. “If I’m not at the bar in an hour, Caldwell will reach out to find me.”

  “All right.” He stretched up to grab the hand towels, treating me to a nice view of his biceps. When he turned toward me again, heat rose up my neck. God, when was the last time I blushed? He made it so easy to remember being human, being me.

  He started to smile. “I don’t think I told you before, but you’re beautiful.”

  I chuckled, trying to brush off the compliment, but the truth was, when he said it, I believed him. “Pretty sure I’ve looked better when I’m not sporting a split lip.”

  We finished loading up my cart with essentials and bar snacks. So weird, but being with him didn’t feel awkward. I wasn’t constantly on the defensive. Being with him…for the first time in a few months, I felt safe, valued even.

  He left me at the checkout line. “I’ll meet you at your car.”

  I frowned. “You don’t know what I drove.”

  “But I know how you smell. I’ll find you.” His crooked grin made my knees weak.

  I spent the rest of my wait in line bolstering my emotional defenses. This was no time for infatuation. There was real danger, and I needed to make him understand. He should go back to Reno and warn them. If they were ready, or even better if they left Reno, they’d have a chance. Plus, it was the best hope for the women of this Pack to escape this hell.

  By the time I got back to the white minivan and lifted the hatchback, he was right there, helping me load the flats of supplies.

  “You’re fast.”

  His eyes sparkled. “I’ve been a wolf longer than you have.”

  I nodded, reminding myself of my plan. “You really need to go back and warn your Pack. I don’t know when Caldwell will be headed your way yet, but I could text you once I hear something. Maybe you can convince them not to be in town when Caldwell comes calling.”

  “I’m not turning my back on you and your sister. If I can get Caldwell to accept me into this Pack, I can find his weak point.” He paused. “Did you tell him you found me and I wanted a meeting?”

  A pit festered in my stomach as I shook my head. “No.”

  He leaned against the bumper, obviously collecting himself. I could almost smell his frustration. “That’s why he hit you, wasn’t it? You wouldn’t tell them where you were.”

  “It wasn’t Caldwell who smacked me.” I crossed my arms. “But none of that matters. I can’t let you get messed up in this snake pit, Luke. This Pack isn’t your problem. I don’t want you risking your life.”

  I steeled myself and choked out, “Go warn your Pack and find your mate. Hopefully your Pack can defeat Caldwell, or at least avoid him, and we’ll all get out of here without messing up your life, too.”

  He straightened, his jaw tight. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

  “It’s the safest for everyone.” He didn’t look convinced. I lowered my hands to my sides. “The last thing I need is another wolf going all Alpha on me. Please go. Be smart, not brave.”

  I reached for the handle on the van just as he did.

  And the world tilted on its axis.

  His rough hand covered mine, skin to skin, and somewhere in the shadows of my soul, my wolf howled. The sound deafened me from inside out. I lost my balance, but he caught me before I fell. Staring up at him, my vision blurred as my pupils dilated and contracted. His scent filled my lungs. And from the core of my being, every part of me recognized him.

  Mine.

  I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came. It didn’t make sense. I barely knew him. But none of that mattered. On a primal level, there were no doubts.

  His eyes searched my face, and finally he bent to kiss me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him like a lifeline as my lips parted, our tongues tangling until I moaned into him. He tightened his hold on me, and his heart pounded like a sledgehammer in my sensitive ears. He felt it, too.

  Whatever it was.

  He growled against my lips and stumbled backward.

  I struggled to catch my breath, unable to tear my gaze off his. “What the hell was that?”

  “Fuck.” He ran his hand down his face, chest heaving. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “I’m not going anywhere. I can’t let you go back there alone.”

  I frowned. “You don’t have a choice.”

  “You’re right, I don’t.”

  I shook my head, completely confused.

  He took a slow breath, his voice deep and dangerous. “I can’t get you and your sister out yet, so I’m going in. I’m not leaving Sedona without you.”

  “No.” My pulse raced at breakneck speed. “They’ll kill you.”

  “Only if they think I’m still with the Pack in Reno.”

  At the moment the only thing I cared about was keeping him safe. I’d survived in this Pack so far; I could hang on a little longer. “It’s too risky. You’re not thinking straight.”

  He caressed the edge of my jaw, the simple touch sending tingles through my entire body. “They will never hurt you again.”

  “Luke, this is nuts.” Just the thought of them killing him was making me physically ill. “Please.”

  He kissed my forehead and whispered, “You’re my mate, Raven.” When he moved back, intensity darkened his eyes. “And if any of them ever try to touch you again, they’ll have to kill me first.”

  That was exactly what I was afraid of.

  Chapter Six

  Luke

  From the passenger seat of her van, I could tell Raven wasn’t happy with my decision to come with her. She didn’t look at me, and her grip on the steering wheel was impressive.

  I sighed. “You felt it, right? The pull of the wolf, the web of instinct and destiny weaving between us.” I shook my head. “It pisses me off that those dicks hit you, but now…” I blew out a breath. “I can’t explain it in words. I need to protect you from that. Your safety is all that matters.”

  She turned my way. “You know what drew me to you before we ever touched?”

  I wanted to say my good looks, but I got the feeling she wasn’t in the mood for humor. Plus, she wasn’t really asking.

  Her head bumped the headrest as she stared up at the roof. “When I’m with you, I feel like me again. The real me, not this werewolf I got turned into.” Her dark eyes pinned me in my seat. “Please don’t turn into one of them. I’m not a thing to be possessed or protected. I’m Raven Wood. You’re the one who helped me remember that.”

  I ground my teeth, struggling to think before I spoke. “You’re not seriously putting me into the same category as that excuse for a Pack you’re stuck in, are you?”

  “No.” She faced forward again. “But it’s a really fine line. A
nd it goes both ways.”

  “What does?”

  She let go of the wheel, her hands dropping into her lap. “I want to protect you, too. And I know these guys better than you do. If you ride in this van and go to the bar with me, Caldwell is going to kill you.” Her gaze rose to my face. “I’ve managed to stay alive for the past three months. I can take care of myself. What I need is help getting me and my sister out. You should focus on that and keep yourself safe in the process.”

  I fucking hated that what she said made sense. I was thinking with my heart, so damned stoked to have finally found my mate, that I wanted every wolf in the world to know she was mine.

  But she wasn’t a trophy to put on a shelf.

  And as much as it killed me to think one of those assholes might touch her, I’d be no use to her dead.

  I cleared my throat, searching for my voice. “There’s a good chance you might be smarter than me.”

  That almost made her smile. “Nah, I just like being around you while you’re still breathing.” She glanced my way. “I’m pretty selfish like that.”

  I laughed. She amazed me. Changed into a shifter against her will, stuck in a sick Pack, and through it all, my mate made me laugh.

  Years of searching, worrying I’d never find her. And she was worth every minute of it all.

  I reached across to caress her cheek; my fingers slid into her hair as I drew her closer. This time, my lips brushed hers slowly, savoring the softness, drinking in every shared breath, until my blood pulsed below my belt. I’d never been so turned on by a simple kiss.

  But nothing about this was going to be simple.

  I straightened, basking in the smile spreading across her face. God, she was a miracle.

  And we needed one. I rubbed my hand down my face. “I can’t focus.” I barely knew her, but I wanted the chance to change that. “Okay, first off, drive back with the windows down. I don’t want you in danger because they caught my scent in your van.”

  She nodded, starting the van. The windows lowered as she glanced my way. “I’ll text you everything I know about Caldwell’s schedule. We need to hurry. He said he had a special project for Isabelle. I don’t want to think about what that could mean.”

  “We’ll get her out.” She didn’t respond, so I went on. “Adam sent me some backup, so we’re not alone in this. I’ll check in with Sasha and call Adam and let him know about your Pack numbers and Sebastian’s plans for Lana and the kids.” I took her hand, and her fingers laced with mine. “And we need to figure out when to tell Caldwell I want to join his Pack.”

  She tightened her hold. “I’ll work on it…”

  “Make it soon. I can’t let you go home with those bastards tonight.” I needed her with every fiber of my being. The idea of letting her drive away in a few minutes was already tearing me up inside. “Text me.”

  If I didn’t get out of the van now, I’d never let her go. I dropped her hand and opened the door. I slammed it shut and rested my forearms on the open window. “I didn’t think I’d ever find you.”

  A barely there smile curved her lips, almost shy. “Sorry my Pack is trying to kill yours.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Those assholes are not your Pack. I’ll prove it to you when we go back to Reno. They’re going to love you.”

  She gripped the wheel, facing forward, but her words were plain. “I wish I didn’t have to drive away. Be safe.”

  I stepped back, and the van rolled toward the exit. Clenching my fists, I struggled to keep from chasing her down, watching her until the taillights vanished down the street.

  She was going to be pissed when I showed up in the bar tonight, but Bo and Blake were never going to touch her again. Ever.

  …

  By the time I got back to the ranch, my entire body ached. My muscles were tight; the rush of finding my mate had mutated into a bitter rage that I’d let her go back to that twisted Pack. I went into my cottage and hit Adam’s number on my phone.

  “Hey, Luke.”

  “I found her.”

  A pause. I waited.

  I didn’t understand how my Alpha’s Pack instincts worked, but he’d seemed to know when Jason bit Kilani and brought her into our Pack. I hadn’t bitten Raven, so I had no clue if he’d still be able to connect her to me. I was about to find out.

  The Alpha push filled his voice. “Your mate.” Another pause. “Bring her home.”

  I started to smile. “That’s my plan.”

  He hesitated. “She’s already a wolf.”

  I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah.”

  The pacing began on the other end of the line. “She’s in that Pack. You have got to be shitting me, Luke. Don’t do anything until I get there.”

  I shook my head. “You can’t come down here.” I sobered, leaning forward on the chair. “This Pack outnumbers us by two to one, and Caldwell is training them as we speak. Sebastian filled them in on our numbers. Caldwell is anxious to finish his commitment to Severino.”

  “They’re coming for us.”

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “And couple odd things. Sebastian didn’t tell Caldwell about my dad or Wyatt. They were both in Caldwell’s Pack when they went to Nero for Operation Moonlight. He would have remembered them. Why would Sebastian not mention them?”

  Adam was slow to respond. “With Sebastian there’s always a reason, but we probably won’t find out until it’s too late.”

  “He also told them Lana and all the Pack children aren’t to be touched. He’s planning on taking them back to Nero.”

  “Like hell he is.” The pacing stopped. “What about the rest of the women?”

  I swallowed the bile in my throat. “Caldwell is going to mate them to men in his Pack.”

  “He’s going to what?”

  “He doesn’t think fate chooses mates, he thinks the Alpha makes that choice.”

  “So he’s fucking insane.”

  “You called it.” A sad chuckle escaped my lips. “I have a plan, but you’re not going to like it.” I took a breath. “I’ve got my rifle and my scope, and I’m going to take Caldwell out, but I’ve got to find the right angle.”

  “Does she know she’s your mate? She believes it?”

  I frowned, surprised by the turn in the conversation. “Yeah. We both felt it when I touched her hand.”

  “Then she’ll protect you with her life.”

  I hadn’t given it that much thought. “I guess so?”

  “I know you want to go in and save her, but you need to keep in mind it goes both ways. Kilani took a bullet for Jason.”

  “I remember.”

  “So before you do something crazy, think about that. If you walk into danger, you won’t be walking alone.”

  I groaned. “You’re saying if I put myself in a risky situation, I’m putting her in the sights, too.”

  “Sucks. But yes. She’s already a wolf. Everything you’re feeling about protecting her, she’s got the same urges toward keeping you safe.”

  I rubbed my forehead, trying to slow my thoughts from spinning. “Caldwell has her staying with these brothers, and one of them smacked her around. I can’t leave her in there alone.”

  He didn’t fight me. His tone softened. “How are you going to protect her without getting killed?”

  “All I can think of is to convince them I’ve turned my back on my family and my Pack. I’ll give them some intel, gain Caldwell’s trust, beat the shit out of the two brothers, and prove I’m her mate. Then once I find the right spot, I’ll take out my target.”

  “Does Sasha know about your plan? She can be your backup shot.”

  “I don’t know if Sebastian is still around, or anyone else from Nero, and if they recognize her, my cover’s blown. Sasha’s my last resort. I’m not pulling her into this shitstorm unless I have to.” I shook my head. “I can do this on my own, Adam. I’m not the baby of the Pack anymore. Trust me.”

  “I do trust you. I just don’t want anything t
o happen to you.”

  I stared at the ceiling. “I’ll be careful, and Raven will be watching my back.”

  “Raven. Pretty name.”

  I nodded. “She’s amazing. And when this is over, I’ll bring her home.”

  “Keep me posted daily. If I don’t hear from you, Sasha’s going to drag your ass out. No lone wolves in my Pack. Understand?”

  I chuckled. “Yeah. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  Since my day on the ranch didn’t start until after lunch today, I didn’t climb up onto Sabrina’s back until just after five o’clock.

  I’d gotten a text from Raven about an hour ago. Caldwell took the deposit from the bar to the bank on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but the Monday trips he took alone. She said the times varied, but usually he waited until four o’clock in the afternoon. Good information, but not enough.

  While I worked the mare in the arena, I tried to focus, but it was tough with my wolf so close to the surface. Our mate needed us—we should be with her, protecting her. My pure animal instincts didn’t understand our mate was capable of watching out for herself.

  I pushed Sabrina into an extended trot, the cold air stinging my face. As we came around the far end, Gabby stood at the other, leaning on the railing. She smiled as we passed by, and I tipped my head. On the second pass, she was still there in spite of the temperature dropping. Shit. I was going to have to be social.

  Sabrina slowed to a walk as Gabby called out, “You’re working late today.”

  I nodded, patting the side of the mare’s neck. “Yeah, I didn’t get started as early as I usually do.”

  “She’s going to kick ass at the Carousel charity show in March.”

  “That’s the plan.” I rode Sabrina out of the ring toward the barn, and Gabby followed.

  When I jumped down, Gabby was right there, closer than I intended. I glanced her way. “Sorry about that.”

  As I inched past her to lift the reins over Sabrina’s head, Gabby’s hand touched my back. I tensed, turning slowly.

  She stared up at me, her teeth working her lower lip. “So I was wondering if you wanted to go out for some coffee. My treat.”