Moon Chosen Box Set (BBW Werewolf / Shifter Romance)

by Mac Flynn

  "You're joking, right?" I asked her.

  She shook her head. "No, Mama said it was that one, and I've seen him come out of there before."

  "Were you supposed to out here after dark?" I asked her.

  "I wasn't out here at night. He came out on a cloudy day," she explained.

  I cringed. "Great. A vampire who doesn't mind a little sunburn."

  "Thank you for your assistance," Greg spoke up. He took Eva's hand and bowed his head to her. "We will be fine from here on out, and your parents need you to watch the house while they're away."

  Eva smiled and curtsied to him. "It was my pleasure. Good luck. Oh, here." She handed Greg a flashlight. "You'll need that. The caves are nearly as dark as the Braille. Bye!" She scampered back up the path like a billy goat and was soon out of sight.

  I trained my eyes on the cave entrance. "I think we're going to need it. That cave's a little bit out of my reach."

  "But not outside your werewolf ability to climb," Greg assured me.

  "So are werewolves part spider now?" I mused.

  He chuckled and shook his head. "No, we merely have a good grip and balance. Do as I do and you'll reach the entrance." He raised his hands and my eyes widened as I watched his fingers lengthen into claws.

  I pointed a finger at his hands. "So I can do that?"

  "Yes."

  "Does it hurt?"

  "Not in the least."

  "So-um, how do I do that?"

  "Hold up your hands and concentrate on transforming your fingers. Instinct should do the rest," he assured me.

  I breathed out. "Okay, here I go." I raised my hands and concentrated on my fingers. They did-nothing. Lots and lots of nothing. I glanced past myself and at Greg. "I think my instinct is broken. Is there some sort of a cheat code I can use?"

  A sly smile slipped onto his lips. "There is. Hold still and I'll show it to you."

  The look in his eyes was all I needed to see to know he meant trouble. I held my hands in front of me and backed up. "Oh no. Whatever you're planning leave me out of IT!" Greg picked me up and lifted me over his head so I was on my back. I flailed and kicked the air. "Let me go!"

  "As you wish," he replied.

  Greg tossed me at the cliff wall. I flew fifteen yards up the air and hit the hard rock above the entrance. My hands dug into the cliff wall and I clung shivering to the rocks. I glanced over my shoulder at the ground far beneath me. Greg stood at the foot of the rocks and had his hands don the wall. The world spun in circles, so I shut my eyes and hugged the rocks.

  "Get me down!" I yelled.

  "Use your instincts," he called back.

  "Right now they're telling me to kill you!" I growled.

  He chuckled and began his ascent towards the cave entrance and me. "Use your other instincts. The ones that allow you to cling to the wall as you are."

  I opened my eyes and looked at my hands. They were long claws now, and they clung easily to the various rocks that protruded from the wall. My feet sat atop more rocks beneath me. "You're-you're right! I did it! I did it!" I got a little carried away and leaned back. My fingers slipped over the rocks, but I gripped them tight and returned to my hugging of the wall. "Kind of."

  "Climb down and I will assist you into the cave," Greg told me.

  "All right. Ready or not, here I come."

  I eased myself down and along the side of the cave entrance. Greg waited for me there. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me inside. I collapsed onto my knees and kissed the cold, hard, damp ground.

  "I'm never leaving you again," I vowed to the earth.

  "You may on the climb down if we find ourselves unsuccessful in acquiring the vampire's help," Greg pointed out.

  I snorted. "From what I've heard about vampires and werewolves we'll be lucky to make it out with a few pints to spare. How strong are vampires, anyway?"

  "Inhumanely strong. Ancient ones can defeat many werewolves at once," he told me.

  I gulped. "And isn't this guy supposed to be old?"

  "The name Methuselah does imply that, but we should see with our own eyes." Greg clicked on the flashlight and we shuffled forward through the low cave.

  The cave led us deep into the earth beneath the farmlands. Sometimes we were forced to crawl on our knees, and other times it was tall enough we could stand straight and walk. The cave slowly descended, and sometimes it made a small backtrack on itself like a spiraling staircase, but without the useful steps. The floor was soaked by the ground water that flowed through the earth, and more than once I was forced to grab a rough stone that protruded from the wall to save myself from a nasty fall.

  This was not my idea of fun. The close quarters made my heart beat like a hard rock band drummer on meth and every step was an adventure in slipping and sliding. I ducked and dodged large rocks that stuck out from the walls. My head, arms and legs scraped and collided with those I missed, leaving some nice scratches and cuts. If the vampire needed a trail to follow us, my blood would lead the way.

  After an hour I got sick of the whole thing. My voice echoed off the thick walls and bounced around us like a mad bouncing ball. "How far does this thing go? It feels like we should've reached Wolf Island by now," I quipped.

  "The length of time is deceptive because the cave has forced us to walk back many times," Greg replied. "It seems this vampire, if we find him in this cave, doesn't appreciate visitors."

  "A simple Keep Out sign would've worked. . ." I mumbled.

  A few minutes later we reached a tall spot in the cave. The walls widened to ten yards and Greg's flashlight revealed a large chamber with a domed ceiling that rose fifteen yards above us. It was like a birdcage, but no natural light penetrated the deep depths we found ourselves in, though there were half a dozen other passages to escape through. There was a small wooden table with an oil lamp on its top between two passage mouths. A chair sat near the table, but it was empty. Beside the oil lamp sat a small metal bell like those you'd see in a hotel.

  "We should be very careful here. There may be traps," Greg warned me. I'd had enough of this place. I strode past him over to the table and slammed my hand on the bell. "Or perhaps we could ring the bell," he added.

  The ring echoed around the small chamber and down the passages. Greg's flashlight shone across the walls and my eyes tried to penetrate the deep darkness without success. We waited with baited breath. There was only the sound of our breathing and the drip of some infernal water down one of the passages. Ten seconds passed. Twenty. A minute. Then it came.

  "What do you want?"

  CHAPTER 8

  The voice came from all around us, but Greg's eyes widened and he whipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. I followed his gaze and gasped when I beheld a pair of dark eyes looking at us from a hole in the ceiling. The shadow jumped down from his perch and landed with perfect silence between Greg and me. The person stood to a full height of six feet and his red eyes flickered between us.

  Greg shone his flashlight on our host. The light revealed a man of forty with skin as pale as a corpse and hair as black as coal. It was long and pulled back in a tail that ran halfway down his back. His clothes were something from a Pride and Prejudice play, complete with tailed coat, buttoned shirt, and buttoned shoes. For its fashion, the ensemble looked new.

  "Turn off that light," he snapped.

  Greg turned the light away from him. "You must excuse me if I don't follow your command," he replied.

  Though the light was removed, it still allowed me to view the man's facial expressions. He frowned and the tip of his long teeth glistened against his lower lip. "A polite guest would humor their host with such a small request."

  "Are we guests?" Greg wondered.

  "A good question." The stranger turned his eyes on me. "You rang the bell. What do you want?"

  My fear was superseded by anger against the haughty tone in his voice. I straightened to my full short stature and glared at him. "We need help. My-um, mate is trapped in
the Braille and we wanted to know if you could get him out for us. That is, if you're the same creepy vampire guy we're looking for."

  The man's red eyes narrowed. "I am called Methuselah by my few acquaintances, but you are not among them. By what right do you invade my home?"

  "By the plight of desperation," Greg spoke up. "If we don't free my Master he may come to a bad end."

  The vampire snatched the chair from the opposite side of the table from where I stood and placed the seat against a wall between Greg and me. Methuselah took a seat and crossed his arms and legs. "What is the squabbling between werewolves to me?"

  "He's the son of Cassandra Greenwood, Lady of the Islands," Greg explained.

  The vampire froze and his voice lowered. "Are you in earnest?"

  I marched up to his chair and put my hands on my hips. "Do you really think we'd come all this way down to hell just to lie to the devil?" I retorted.

  The vampire raised an eyebrow. His eyes swept over me and I noticed his nostrils flared. "You are of the Greenwood blood."

  I folded my arms across my chest. "Yeah, so what?"

  "That gives evidence in your favor. You mentioned this man was your mate, did you not?" he asked me.

  "Yeah," I replied.

  The vampire stood and towered over me. "I will help you, but not for free. I demand a willing sacrifice of blood."

  Greg stepped forward and pulled up one sleeve. "Then I offer mine."

  The vampire sneered and shook his head. "Not yours. I can take someone of your class any time." His eyes flickered back to me and he nodded at me. "I want hers."

  I felt the color drain from my face. "Mine? Why mine?"

  "I distinctly recall the flavor of Cassandra's blood was very sweet. I wish to see if it is in the blood or if she alone possessed such purity," he explained.

  I took a step back and instinctively covered my neck with one hand. "Uh, how much were you thinking about taking?"

  "Not enough to render you unconscious, if that's what you fear," he replied.

  "We refuse your demand," Greg spoke up. He slipped himself between the vampire and me and held out an arm to keep me back. "You requested a willing offer, and I give mine to you."

  Methuselah closed his eyes and chuckled. The dark sound rang off the walls and sent chills across my skin. "Your affection for her is noted, but your protection of her is pointless. If I wanted to take her-" All I did was blink and he was gone. Cold fingers slithered across my neck and grabbed my throat. I was pulled back into a firm chest and another arm wrapped around my waist.

  "Greg!" I yelped.

  Greg spun around and shone the flashlight over us. I tilted my head up and looked into the bemused face of Methuselah. He clutched me to himself. "-I could do so without you even knowing."

  Greg took a step forward, but Methuselah raised a hand. "Ease your concern. I asked for a willing sacrifice of blood. I won't take it from her, but if she refuses than I won't help you and your precious master."

  I shuddered against the feel of those cold, clammy fingers. "I-I'll do it," I whispered.

  "Sophie," Greg warned me.

  I managed a small smile for him. "It's just a little bit of blood," I pointed out. I raised my head to the vampire. "Right?"

  Methuselah grinned and his sharp teeth glistened in the weak light. He dove down and sank his fangs deep into my neck. I yelped and tried to jump away, but his arm held me tight. Never was Erik's hold so strong as this vampire's. I couldn't so much as twitch my arms that he held pinned to my sides. He pressed his lips to my neck and sucked the life blood from me.

  Greg jumped forward to save me, but Methuselah leapt backwards and upwards. We flew off the ground and landed on a small rock that stuck out from the ceiling ten feet off the ground. His feet stood on the rock while mine dangled in the air in front of him. My vision began to blur and I felt my heart slow. Only then did he remove his teeth from my neck.

  "A different kind of sweetness, but very pleasurable in its own way," he commented.

  "Lucky. . .me," I gasped.

  "Bring her down, vampire!" Greg demanded.

  Methuselah jumped off our perch and we landed three yards from Greg. The vampire released me and I stumbled forward. I would have fallen, but Greg caught me in his arms and lowered me to the ground so I sat on my knees.

  "Sophie?" he whispered.

  I clutched my head and bit my lip. "A hangover has nothing on this. . ." I murmured. That got a grin out of my companion.

  "Can you stand?" he asked me.

  I nodded and, with his help, stood. I twisted around to catch the vampire's eyes. "Next time mind letting me keep a pint or two more?"

  He chuckled and bowed at the waist. "I must admit I did get carried away."

  Greg turned his attention to the vampire and his humor vanished. "Keep what little honor you have, vampire. Take us to my Master," he demanded.

  Methuselah strode over to the lantern and lit it. Its weak, flickering light illuminated the wall behind the table. He picked it up and turned to one of the half dozen passages. "Follow me and we will free your master."

  He swept down the tunnel, and Greg and I followed. It was like keeping up with darkness. The vampire was incredibly fast. Even if I'd had my full strength I don't think I could have kept up with him. Fortunately the tunnel ran straight and his lamp showed us where he was. Greg helped me along by being my crutch.

  Another two hours of walking and I noticed the lantern had stopped ahead of us. We reached the light to find ourselves with Methuselah in a small five-by-five chamber with a flat ceiling. A short metal ladder was nailed to the wall in front of us and led to the ceiling eight feet over our heads. The ladder ended at a large rock.

  Methuselah set the lantern down and grabbed the ladder. "Wait for us here," he ordered us.

  "A moment," Greg spoke up. He leaned me against a nearby wall and he nodded at the ladder. "Where does this ladder lead?"

  "To the floor of the Braille. I grew bored one month several decades ago and set myself to building an escape should I ever be thrown into the cell," Methuselah explained.

  "And how has this not been discovered before now?" Greg asked him.

  Methuselah stepped off the ladder and gestured to it. "If you would dare try to lift the stone," he invited. Greg pursed his lips, but climbed the ladder. He placed his shoulder against the stone and pushed against it with all his strength. The rock didn't budge, and Greg dropped back to the floor. "The rock weighs more than any werewolf can lift, and is deep enough there is no hollow sound to detect," the vampire explained. "Now stay here." He grabbed the ladder with one of his pale hands and swung himself up.

  The vampire lifted the boulder with one hand and revealed impenetrable darkness. He slipped into the room above where we stood. I trained my ears and nose on the opening. My heart beat quickened when I recognized the sweet scent of my mate as it wafted into the small chamber.

  There came a muffled sound and a brief struggle. Feet appeared through the hole, followed quickly by legs and the rest of my mate. Methuselah lowered him through the opening, and I saw the vampire's hand was over Erik's mouth. Erik's legs kicked and flailed, and Greg grabbed them.

  "Be still, Master!" Greg whispered.

  Erik turned his head and in so doing Methuselah's hand slipped from his face. "What are you doing here?" he questioned us as he dropped to the floor.

  I jumped into his arms and snuggled his chest. "Trying to rescue you, you idiot."

  "Quiet!" Methuselah hissed.

  We stilled and heard a rustle of chains from above. Methuselah slipped onto the ladder and replaced the stone in its hole. A second later there came the dampened sound of feet above us followed by excited voices. Methuselah dropped onto the ground and picked up his lantern. He turned to us with a glare.

  "Your escape has been discovered," he informed us.

  CHAPTER 9

  "You think?" I quipped as I grabbed Erik's hand. The voices and footsteps above us grew loude
r. "Stop telling us what we know and start telling us how to get out of here!"

  "Follow me."

  Methuselah swept down the passage. I followed and dragged Erik along with me, and Greg brought up the rear with his flashlight. Methuselah's quick steps quickly outdistanced my blood-drained speed. Erik swept me into his arms and raced after our guide.

  "Where did you find a vampire?" he asked me.

  "We found him in a hole, and I do not want to keep him," I quipped.

  Erik's eyes glanced down at my neck, and their depths took on a noticeably yellow tinge. "He bit you?" he growled.

  I patted his chest. "Easy there. I let him so he'd lead us to you. Besides, he's an old friend of your mom's."

  "He's what?" Erik asked me.

  "Less talk and more running, my Master," Greg advised.

  Erik focused on moving his legs and not his mouth, and we kept Methuselah's flickering flame within sight. The farther we traveled the more my ears picked up on familiar sounds.

  "Is that the lake?" I spoke up.

  "Yes," Erik replied.

  Methuselah's light stopped and we found him standing at an unfamiliar exit that led outside. Erik set me down and I breathed in deep the sweet, cool lake air. It never smelled so good, and yet so horrible. There was a pungent smell in the air that forced me to clap my hand over my nose.

  "What the hell died?" I asked the group.

  "Fish. We are near one of the warehouses that processes the fish," Methuselah explained.

  "Why did you bring us here?" Erik questioned him.

  Methuselah turned his red eyes on Erik and studied him. "If they find you you will be immediately executed. I have brought you as close to your vessel as I dare. The rest of the journey is under your management."

  "Thank you for your help," Erik grudgingly replied. Methuselah bowed his head and stepped out of the way.

  We three stepped out of the cave and found ourselves on the narrow strip of rocks that separated the cliffs from the water. Our long day of adventure meant night had fallen and darkness blanketed everything. To our right lay the rough rocks, but to our left shone lights from the city and its small port. Torches and flashlights traveled along the streets and cliff paths in a desperate search to satiate the blood lust the townspeople sought.