Moonlight's Peril (Moonlight Series Book 1)

by Ashlynn Monroe

  Kane’s truce with Tobias had cost him his pride. I might be stuck in town and forced to stay out of the fight, but at least, the bastard is dead now. Even seeing his corpse didn’t help my mood. He flopped back on his lover’s bed and gazed at the water spotted ceiling.

  “I love you,” Margot whispered.

  Kane’s anger escalated. He stood and reached for his pants, ignoring the sniveling woman. She knew what this was.

  Tossing a handful of cash on the bed, Kane looked Margot in the eyes. “I may not treat you like my wife, but I’d never treat you like a nameless whore. You’re mine, but no more than that.” He tried to cover his disdain, but couldn’t turn the grimace into a grin. “Buy yourself something pretty.” He started to get dressed. Fucking Margot hadn’t taken his mind off the night’s events. He’d hoped the release of his frustration would help. He’d hit his wife more than once tonight as his anger grew, so he’d gone to Margot. He didn’t love his wife but regretted hurting her when she pushed him. Nothing had helped his dark mood.

  Margot stood. Her whole body shook. She didn’t get him a nice warm, wet cloth to clean himself as she normally did. Instead, she glared at him.

  “Is there something else?” Kane asked.

  “You’re a monster!”

  “And that’s why you want me. That’s why you’ve deluded yourself that you love me. We both know why I pay your bills.”

  Margot’s lip trembled, and her shoulders slumped. Kane watched the reality of their arrangement sink into the woman’s simple mind. Margot looked enough like Joslyn that he could pretend. Her resemblance to a dead woman was all there was between them.

  A revelation about the past had arrived by phone earlier in the day. The news cut him all the way to his soul. There would never be a balm strong enough to heal the betrayal. Every woman he’d ever cared about had hurt him.

  He had to lay claim to Tobias’ territory and assets before another wolf tried. Foster didn’t want a fight and wasn’t looking to expand territory, Kane was sure, but he didn’t need another lower alpha cropping up. The three, like Foster, left in his territory were more than enough to contend with. He’d be busy for a very long time, so Margot would have a long time to cool off. Her temper was the only similarity to Joslyn he didn’t care for.

  ****

  Chessa smelled the blood as she entered the room. Trax was bleeding again. The lady wearing the robe looked up from Trax just long enough to give Chessa a kind smile.

  Janna pulled the covers back and took a look at the boy’s stomach. “This is good, very nice handy work, Peter.”

  “I was in my share of pack disputes back in the day. I’m glad, for the kid’s sake, that I haven’t lost my knack with a needle.”

  The woman turned to Chessa again. “You’re Bianca’s daughter?”

  “Yes,” Chessa replied.

  “Welcome home child. I’m Janna Foster, Law’s mother.”

  Janna seemed tiny compared to her son. Her chin and forehead were the same as his, but that was the extent of the similarity. Joy looked like her mother.

  “Thanks. So why didn’t Trax just heal?”

  “Sometimes they do. Running is good, letting the wolf out is good, but we can be killed. Your young friend isn’t able to let his wolf help because he’s unconscious.”

  “Why would a wolf want to run when they’re hurt?”

  Janna pinned Chessa with a poignant gaze. “Our kind can’t go to human doctors. Our bodies are different—wolf physiology is a gift. You’ll come to see that in time.”

  Chessa shrugged. “Is he going to be okay?”

  Janna’s smile returned. “I hope so, in time, but we’ll keep our eyes on him.”

  “Can I help?”

  “I’m sure your presence will be comforting.” Janna scooted a chair close to the bed. “Sit and take his hand. I’m going to apply some very old remedies wolves have used to speed healing. We were into natural medicine before it was popular.”

  Chessa grinned. She sat down on the chair next to the bed and took Evan’s hand. The room was small but smelled clean. An antique wooden dresser stood in the corner, and a few paintings of wild flowers hung on the yellow walls. Evan groaned, and Chessa’s focus returned to him.

  “Help me center him on the bed,” Janna said to Mr. Adams.

  Evan screamed as the adults moved him. His grip tightened painfully on Chessa’s hand, but she didn’t pull away. Janna checked the shallow wounds on his back and quickly applied a poultice and bandage before they laid him back down. His hazel eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at Chessa.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

  “Sorry?”

  “I wasn’t able to save you.”

  “But you did. If Gavin had kept dragging me, I wouldn’t have been found. I’m sorry you got hurt helping me.”

  He made a rude noise. “Don’t be.”

  Janna gathered up her supplies. “Well, it appears you’re in good hands. We’ll get you up for a run soon young man, but for now, I need to check on a few other injured people. If he needs anything besides company or nourishment, you get me.”

  Chessa nodded. Trax still hadn’t let go of her hand. Janna left the room, and Mr. Adams followed Janna.

  “Thank you,” Trax said.

  “For what?”

  He leaned forward so fast she didn’t have time to realize what he was doing. His lips pressed against hers for just a moment before he fell back with a groan. “For that.”

  Chessa fingers touched her lips lightly as she tried to process what had just happened. Oh, wow.

  ****

  “We should go clean that wound on your face,” Bianca said.

  “Later,” Law replied in a clipped tone.

  Bianca followed Law to his truck. He hadn’t gone in with the others. She could see Nic sitting in the driver’s seat. The truck window was down, and the door shut. Nik looked down at something. Law’s whole body tensed. His scowl deepened with every step. When they came closer, Bianca saw Nik cradling an unconscious woman’s head in his lap. He stroked the hair off her forehead. The man looked so—peaceful.

  “My sister. Joy,” Law said tersely. “She’s been gone ten years.”

  “Is she okay?” Bianca moved closer for a better look.

  “She tried to help Nik and hit her head. She watched over your girl.”

  “Then I owe her more than I can ever repay. I’m glad someone was there for Chessa when I couldn’t be.” Bianca’s throat tightened around the words.

  A tick moved in Law’s jaw, and his eyes narrowed at Nik as he shifted Joy, so she was closer to him. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

  Nik flinched and looked up. He dropped his hands away from Joy.

  Bianca put her hand on Law’s back. His muscles tensed. She rubbed his shoulder blade, wishing she could ease him. “Shouldn’t you talk to your mother? Ten years is a long time, this might not be a welcome surprise.”

  Nik’s head jerked up in surprise. “Joy isn’t like the others she wasn’t feral.” Nik put his arms around Joy again. “She’s staying.”

  Bianca didn’t know Nik well, but the strong emotion in his voice and fear in his expression told her he cared. She glanced at Law.

  “She’ll be placed under guard. Once the pack realizes she’s not a killer, like her mate’s pack, she’ll be welcomed back. I’ll kill Kane if he puts a kill order on her,” Law said.

  “I’ll do it,” Nik replied a little too quickly. “I’ll guard her with my life.”

  Law frowned. “She left for a reason, but I don’t believe she enjoyed the killing and chaos like the rest of those animals in Tobias’ pack. You hurt her.”

  “We were just kids.”

  The tension between the men was almost a living thing as it hung in the air between them. Bianca shivered.

  Most of the town pack trucks had left with the wounded, but other town’s people loitered around talking with Law’s pack in the yard. Law’s people seemed more at ease than they ha
d before they left. Bianca tried not to look at the truck containing the dead.

  “How many of your pack did we lose?” Bianca asked.

  Law grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Our pack. One. The town pack lost ten.”

  “I’ll never be able to repay this sacrifice.” Her throat tightened and her eyes burned.

  Law took Bianca’s face between his palms. “No death here is you or Chessa’s fault. Tobias made choices, and those people died as a result. This isn’t even on Kane or me. This is all Tobias.”

  A few of the women came out of their cabins carrying carafes and baking pans. She could smell the fresh coffee. The town wolves were ushered inside the common house.

  “Should I find your mother?” Bianca asked.

  “No. She’ll handle this.” Law opened the truck door and scooped his sister out of Nik’s lap. Something flickered in Nik’s eyes, predatory emotion, and Bianca held her breath. She was relieved when the beta wolf didn’t attack Law. She and Nik followed Law as he carried his filthy, unconscious sibling.

  She walked past the cargo of bodies, stumbling and turning away from the sight.

  “I have some families to talk to after we’ve taken care of the living.” Law’s gruff voice and the lines marring his handsome face tore at her heart.

  Bianca reached out and put her hand on top of his. He held his sister tight, but paused and hooked his thumb over the back of Bianca’s hand letting the contact linger.

  “We’ll burn them tonight, it’s our way,” Nik’s voice was kinder than she’d become accustomed to hearing form him. Dark images of Law or Chessa piled in the grisly cargo tormented her mind.

  The pack stared at them as they came into the common house. Some seemed curious, but others were openly hostile. Janna had dressed, and as Law approached, she showed no emotion. “Bring her up to my room,” Janna said. “Your girl is in there.” She pointed to a door on the left as she bobbed her head to the side in a dismissive gesture.

  Bianca stopped by the door, but couldn’t bring herself to go in yet. She sighed as her hand lingered on the doorknob.

  Janna paused just before the stairs and turned back to look Nik in the eyes. “Get some coffee,” she said. Then she and Law continued up, and they were out of sight. Nik stood silent and stiff. He appeared lost. Bianca wanted to reach out to him and comfort him, but she had no idea what the social dynamic of such a shunning meant to Law. She remained statue-still as Nik turned and stomped away. He didn’t even glance at her as he entered the kitchen.

  And here she stood holding a doorknob she didn’t want to turn. Pressing her lips together she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening the heavy wooden door.

  Chessa’s head rested next to the injured boy as she slept in a chair beside him. Her hand was on his. They both appeared to be dozing peacefully. Bianca grabbed a folded blanket off the dresser and draped over her daughter’s shoulders. She situated the fabric without waking Chessa. Her daughter sighed out a little sound that was something like a growl and a groan before she snuggled her cheek deeper into the mattress. Bianca pulled up another blanket at the foot of the bed to cover the boy. The fall air held a chilly promise of the coming winter, and the tiny room was cold. Both of the teens were breathing deeply, and oddly enough in unison. Chessa had never had a boyfriend. Bianca just wanted her to have a nice sweet boy, not some killer werewolf as a first love. Whatever today held, the first time in a long time, she was happy the sun rose again.

  ****

  Nik climbed the stairs. He found Law, Janna, and Joy in Janna’s room. Guilt tormented Nik until his stomach rolled. If he hadn’t pushed away his feelings for Joy and made his claim a decade ago, she wouldn’t have suffered.

  Janna and Law turned to him as he entered the room.

  “I give her my protection,” Nik said without hesitation.

  Janna’s eyes widened, then watered. Law scowled. Nik had never seen his friend so pissed off.

  “You sure as hell don’t!” Law yelled.

  “Keep your voice down.” Janna scowled. “You told me what Kane said. It must be done.” She was looking at Joy with a mixture of concern and hope. Her lower lip trembled as she placed her hand on her daughter’s cheek. Janna turned to Nik. “Thank you.”

  Nik’s expression grew grim. “It’s done. I’m not making the same mistake twice. You know she’s not safe from Kane without a mate.”

  “Do you think he’ll come for her? What about the boy your woman’s girl is infatuated with?” Janna asked as she pulled her gaze from Joy to look at Law.

  “Ma, I hope not. I’ll deal with Kane. Fuck.”

  “Language.”

  “Really?” Law shook his head and his mouth twisted as he glared at his mother. “That bastard has been at war with Tobias for a long time. It’s possible he’ll aim his need for more territory at us. I’m the closest alpha in his territory. We don’t have the resources to fight him, but he respects the old ways. He’ll want Tobias’ land, but I hope he’ll leave us alone.” Law turned. Nik wasn’t paying attention to him. “I witness your claim on my sister, but you remember that we don’t have any idea how much she’s endured. Don’t even think about touching her. She needs to heal. She’s going to be pissed when she finds out. No one even needs to tell her about this until we have to. Agreed?”

  Nik’s eyes glowed as he stared at Joy. “You want me to keep this from her? For how long?”

  “For however much time it takes her to be ready?”

  “Who decides when she’s ready?” Nik’s voice dropped to a growl.

  “Me.” Law’s tone matched Nik’s. “I’m your alpha and her brother.”

  “Boys!” Janna stepped between them.

  “Fuck you, Foster.” Nik turned and slammed the door as he left.

  Twenty-Six

  Law went outside without talking to anyone. He ran his fingers through his hair. How am I going to look Olivia in the eyes? He headed for the tiny cabin Olivia and Paul shared. She was six months pregnant. He raised his fist to knock, but the howling sob he heard inside made him pause. How the hell will I help make this right? Law knocked.

  When the door opened Olivia’s mother, Susan, gave him a sad smile. “Come in, Law.”

  Olivia sat on the floor holding Paul’s hand. His body lay on the couch. Her grief was palpable as her head snapped up as she caught Law’s scent and growled.

  “Honey no,” Susan chided. “This isn’t Law’s fault. Paul died a hero. Ethan said so.”

  Olivia’s big gray eyes watered as she glanced between Law and her mother. “He’s not dead, he’s going to heal, just give him time.”

  Susan glanced at Law, and he saw the panic in the older woman’s eyes.

  “Olivia, I’m so damn sorry. Paul was a great wolf. I bumped heads with him, but I always respected him. He stood up for what he believed and to protect you. I just want you to know you aren’t alone. The pack will make sure you and your baby have everything you need. I will make sure. No one will forget him, or what he did to protect his family, I promise. Tobias is dead. Paul died to keep you safe.”

  Olivia’s eyes went wild, and she threw herself on her husband’s body. “Don’t take him! Don’t burn him with the others.”

  Susan hurried over and put her arm around her daughter. She looked at Law and concern filled her sad gaze. Law understood for the first time what having a mate meant. I wish I could make this right for her. He resisted the urge to punch the wall. His heart constricted as the magnitude of what this woman lost settled in his soul. What would I do if Bianca’s body was on the couch? I haven’t even had her in my life that long and the idea of losing her is unbearable.

  “I wish I could bring him back. You let me know if I can help,” Law said to Olivia. He turned to Susan. “I’m here for you too.”

  Susan sagged in relief and nodded. Olivia howled a long wail of wolf/woman grief.

  “I’ll see myself out and check in with you in the morning.”


  Susan’s cheek pressed against the top of her daughter’s head, but she managed a nod.

  Law’s gut twisted as he noticed the wedding picture on the wall. The next picture was the ultrasound of the baby. That pup deserved his or her father.

  Law left. He ached physically and spiritually with each step, and he needed Bianca. For a human, she held herself together well. Pride twisted him up. Everything in my life feels so fucking messed up, everything except claiming Bianca.

  He used the backdoor of the common house. The smell of coffee took him in the direction of the kitchen. I need to get a read on the townies. He stopped short as he rounded the corner. Bianca sat on the floor next to the guestroom. Her eyes were rimmed red as she wiped her nose with a tissue. The primal, protective instinct in his brain roared to life.

  "What's happened? Did Nik—."

  "Nothing happened," Bianca interrupted.

  "Then why were you crying?"

  "My daughter, she hates me. I can't blame her for how she feels. I hate me too. She needed me, and I let her down."

  Law growled softly deep in the back of his throat. "Your girl doesn't hate you. What she's gone through has made what she is now difficult for her. I've heard human teens are hard to deal with, but were teens are—." He chuckled. "A whole different species. You need to give her time. She's adjusting. I'm here for you, for both of you."

  Fresh tears brightened Bianca's eyes. "Thanks.” She stood and peered up into his face as if she were trying to understand something. "I think I've gotten used to you. I’m getting too comfortable knowing you’re looking out for me.”

  He grinned. "That's what every male wants to hear his mate say."

  She paled. "I can't expect you to honor that protection stuff now that I have my daughter back. I'm sure the mayor was messing with us. If not, we can get the piece of paper annulled. I'm taking her home tonight."

  The quick stab of physical pain in his chest took him by surprise. Law stared at her. "You're going back to town?"

  "Chessa will need to get back into school. I need to get working so I can pay you back the money you helped me with."