The Ash Moon (The Ariane Trilogy Book 1)

by Michelle Dare

  “You will always come first, Ari.”

  I turn to hide my blush. I still can’t grasp the enormity of the feelings he has for me or put into words what I feel for him. There is one thing I know for certain, I don’t want to let him go. Good or bad. Pack war or not. I want Rion in my life.

  “I should probably get inside.”

  “I’m going to park the Jag a few blocks away and be back to watch over your house. Since you had a premonition, I’m worried about something coming to fruition sooner than the pack war.”

  “I wish you were the one who could watch my dreams instead of Ford.”

  “So do I. If only wolves had that ability.”

  “Why do vampires?” I love getting these little tidbits of information.

  “They can willingly transfer powers from one to the other. It’s what makes them a strong race. Some keep the power to themselves and never share it. Those are the dangerous ones. They want to rule over everyone. But there are others who give their gifts freely to other paranormals to help them.”

  “Couldn’t Ford share his dream walking ability with you?”

  “Technically, he could try, but I’m not sure if it would work. Dream walking is a skill that takes time to hone. You have to be able to seek out the dreamer, know how to invade their dream. It’s very complicated.” Interesting. This is all going in the manual I’m mentally putting together about each paranormal race. I can’t write any of it down for fear of someone finding it, but I have a pretty good memory. “Plus, I don’t want that vampire’s fangs anywhere near my skin.” Do all wolves feel that way about vampires? Not wanting them to bite them, even if it means they could gain new powers? More questions for another day.

  “Let’s hope I don’t have any more premonitions.”

  Rion brushes his lips over mine. “I’ll be right outside all night if you need me.”

  “When will you sleep?” I ask breathily as the remnants of our connection from the kiss slowly fade.

  “I’ll sleep. Don’t worry about me.”

  He kisses me again. This time, every part of my being wants to climb over the console and hold him against me. I want his warmth and his protection. I’m afraid… very afraid. I don’t want this pack war to happen. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Why can’t I just have this relationship with Rion and explore it? Have fun while getting to know each other? No, instead I have to worry about impending doom and how I’m smack dab in the middle of it. Me. Ordinary Ariane is somehow going to fight wolves. Uh huh. Sure.

  Rion walks me to the door and kisses me once more. I can’t seem to get enough of him. I also didn’t know it was possible for a relationship to go from zero to a hundred so quickly. Maybe that’s what happens when you date a wolf shifter who calls you his mate and determines there will never be anyone else for him.

  Inside, I listen to the throatiness of his Jag as it drives down my street. Before I climb into bed, I take a peek out my bedroom window. There, in the dense trees behind my house, a pair of emerald green eyes stands out amongst the darkness. Those eyes will be watching over my house all night, keeping me safe. There’s something very comforting about it. Now, if only I knew Ford would be there in my dreams to look after me. I’d love not to have another premonition. If I do, I hope he can rescue me from any threat. I’m not ready to die tonight.

  I'm back in the clearing. Oh, no. This can't be good. This stupid clearing and the stupid moon above. This time it's a bright white. No ash moon. What does that even mean? Is the pack war going to take place on another ash moon? How many of those moons are there in a year? Or is the moon simply here to illuminate what’s going to happen in my premonition? To give me a light to watch what’s going to unfold? Again, I have more questions than answers.

  Glancing around, I scan the tree line surrounding me for any wolves. At first, I hear nothing, but then… Then there is a low growl. Slowly, four wolves step forward. Their heads low, ears back, and teeth bared. I don't stop to evaluate the situation. Instead, I take off in the opposite direction. Maybe if I run, it will give Ford time to find me in my dream. Not that I think I can outrun wolves, but you never know.

  My feet are bare again. Sticks on the forest floor slice into them as I run. I don't stop. I can't stop. Not when there is a wolf so close behind me I can hear his breathing.

  All of a sudden, a flash of black charges in from the side. A wolf races by me, rushing toward one of the wolves chasing me. I hear a loud yip and keep moving. Three wolves left. I wonder if that was Rion who took the wolf out. There's no time to stop and figure it out.

  Another wolf closes in. This time, it gets a hold on the long shirt I'm wearing and tugs. I falter in my steps but am able to keep myself upright. Before I can spin around and try to free myself, a burning pain in my left thigh has me faltering again. I've been bitten.

  16

  I can't believe this wolf bit me. It prowls around the front of me, staring at me with emerald eyes. It's dark, but not completely pitch-black. The trees above block out some of the moon. It’s hard for me to make out any markings, but it’s a grey wolf. A big one.

  “Why did you bite me?” I yell. “I've never done anything to you. You're attacking me while I sleep? How dare you!” I'm done running. Normal human or not, I'm not going to stand here and let some wolf kill me. Not without a fight. “That's it. It's on now!”

  Arms like steel wrap around me from behind. Both of my arms are pinned to my side. I thrash around, but it's of no use.

  “Calm down, princess,” Ford whispers in my ear. “That's enough playing with the wolves for tonight.” He snaps his fingers.

  I'm transported back to my room. Ford releases me and I spin on him.

  “Why did you do that? You could have at least let me kick that wolf in the head or something.” I’m seething. My chest rises and falls with each breath I take.

  “With your wounded leg?”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  “We can't keep meeting like this, princess. I knew something was off. I felt it. I quickly searched for you in your dream state, only to find you squaring off with one of the wolves of the Diaminsey Pack.” He walks to the wall and flips on the light.

  “He deserved for me to kick him! No one bites me and gets away with it.”

  Ford sighs. “You would have been dead had I not intervened. We can't have this happen again.” He steps closer to me, our bodies almost touching.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Do you trust me?”

  I roll my eyes. “This again? You saved my life for the second time a minute ago, so sure, I trust you.”

  Faster than I can track, my hair is brushed aside and teeth are sinking into my neck. My body goes instantly lax as Ford holds me up. His body is pressed to mine. His warmth enveloping me, quickly heating my skin. A sense of euphoria settles over me unlike I’ve ever felt. As quick as it happens, he releases me and I'm sitting on a towel on my bed. My head is foggy. My body tingles all over.

  “What just happened?” I ask. Even my voice seems a million miles away, completely unattached to me.

  “You can now teleport.”

  “I can what?” I yell and lurch to my feet. My body sways, still in a vampire-induced haze. Ford catches me before I fall to the floor and then I'm back on the bed again.

  “You have to give it a few minutes for the effects to wear off. Any time a vampire bites someone, we give them a little something extra to help numb the pain and dull the senses. I tried to keep it as short as possible so you wouldn’t get too much of it.”

  “Great. Now tell me again what power I have.”

  “You can teleport. I'm not always going to be able to get to you in time, Ariane. You'll need to be able to leave your dreams, or premonitions as they are, if I can't get to you.” I don’t miss his use of my name. He likes calling me princess. His tone was firm this time, nothing playful in it.

  My eyes are finally able to focus on him. Everything in my room is clear again. “You're serious
, aren't you?”

  “Absolutely. I don't want your life in danger any more than you do.”

  “Awww, you like me.” I laugh, loving that I can finally tease him back about something.

  “You're crazy. I tolerate you.”

  “Uh huh, sure.” I wink. This is fun, being on the giving end of this little game we play.

  A howl pierces the night sky outside my house. “That would be your boyfriend. Can you stand? I need to take you to him before he storms the house and wakes up your parents.”

  “I'm surprised my yelling didn't do that.”

  “You and me both. Luckily, both of them are still sound asleep.”

  A thought occurs to me. “If I can teleport, that means I don't need you to get me to the backyard, right? I can do it myself.” I line up my fingers to snap but Ford lunges at my hand, stilling me before I can do it.

  “You will not be teleporting without me until you get the hang of it. You could end up in the Sahara and I wouldn't be able to find you. No snapping yet.”

  “Buzzkill.”

  “I'm starting to regret my decision to give you my power.”

  I smile wide. “I'm not. Look out world. Ariane Sanderly can teleport.”

  Ford gives me a hard glare. “You better listen to me.”

  “Whatever, Dad. Can you take me to Orion now? I don't want my parents waking up to a wolf and a vampire in the backyard.”

  “Wouldn't that be interesting?” He chuckles.

  “Sure. Then, I really would need my new ability to ever leave the house again.”

  Ford grabs me gently around the waist and with a snap of his fingers, we’re in the backyard, standing in front of a very angry wolf. He bares his teeth at Ford a second before shifting into a human. Rion's hand is around Ford's throat immediately.

  “What did you do? I heard her yell!” he grinds out through clenched teeth.

  “If you were listening to our conversation instead of raging out here like a rabid animal, you would have heard everything. She yelled because a wolf bit her.”

  Rion releases Ford and swivels to face me. “Where?”

  I had almost forgotten I was bitten. I have to remember to thank Ford for putting a towel on my bed before I sat on it. The whole fact that I can teleport put my bleeding leg on the back burner. Turning, I show Rion my injury. Blood is running down my bare skin from my thigh.

  Rion drops to the ground behind me and tears off his shirt. He shreds it into a long strip then wraps it tightly around my leg. I'm swept up into his arms before I can bat an eye.

  “I need to get her to Desmond. Do you have someone who can fill in?” he asks Ford. Fill in? What’s he talking about?

  “One second.” Ford snaps his fingers and disappears. He's back before I can ask Rion where he went. Ford brought a thin blonde back with him.

  “This is Kiara. She's going to change to make herself look like you, princess, and take your place in bed, in case your parents come knocking before you're back.”

  “Say what now?”

  Kiara laughs. “Ariane, it's nice to meet you. I promise I'll only speak to them if necessary. This is so you can get your leg mended.” How fast did Ford talk for her to get all that information? He wasn’t even gone a minute. In the darkness I have a hard time making her out, except for her hair and slender frame.

  “Thank you, I guess. I'm not sure why I can't go to the hospital and get stitches there.”

  “You've been bitten by a wolf, Ari,” Rion states. “How would you explain that?”

  “Dog bite?”

  “That’s no small bite on your leg. No one would believe a dog did that.”

  “Uhhh... I could tell them it was an enormous dog who had all its shots.”

  “And when they want to call your parents?”

  I smile. “I'm eighteen.”

  “This is stupid,” Ford states. “You're going to the pack’s doctor and that's all there is to it. Kiara will cover for you. I’ll clean up any blood in your room. I’d offer to teleport you, but your mate wouldn’t like that.” Rion growls at him.

  “Since when do I take orders from you?” I ask.

  “Since you and I have a lot of work to do.”

  Rion’s eyes narrow. “What's going on that I don't know?” Ford’s right. If Rion were paying attention to us talking, he would have known all this already, thanks to that super strong wolf hearing of his.

  I pat his chest. “I'll fill you in when we’re inside the car.”

  Kiara steps forward and takes my hand in hers. Something passes through us and then she's me. Literally my replica. My mouth hangs agape as I take in as much of her as I can under the moonlight.

  “How do I look?” she asks while twirling around.

  “I really need to brush my hair,” I mumble.

  I can't believe this is what I currently look like. Rion is holding me. My face is inches from his. I'm not sure this could get more embarrassing. Oh, wait, it can. I have no pants on and he's holding my bare legs in his arms. Yup, it's worse. You'd think I'd learn to put pants on before I sleep. That's going to change after tonight.

  Ford and Kiara teleport into my bedroom as Rion carries me through the woods to keep us hidden until we get to his Jag. We break through the trees, and the next thing I know, I’m gently placed on the seat. We're speeding down the road in the middle of the night as he places a call to Aries through the car.

  “Orion, what's wrong?” he answers through the car’s speakers.

  “Ari's been bitten. I need you to wake Desmond. Tell him I'm bringing her in.”

  “Will do, but Rion? A wolf bit her?”

  “Yes, one of the Diaminsey did in her dream.” Aries starts to say something, but Rion cuts him off. “I'll fill you in when we get there.”

  “See you in a bit.”

  Rion ends the call. “You're going to be okay, Ari.”

  “I figured as much. I haven't passed out yet or anything, and I’m not foaming at the mouth. It's just a bite.” I’m not concerned. It doesn’t even really hurt, which is odd. Shouldn’t it hurt or burn or something? Maybe the little bit of vampire juice Ford gave me numbed it.

  “It's not just a bite,” Rion states harshly. “A wolf bit you. It's not something to joke about.”

  “I'm not! I know a wolf bit me! I was there! I would have handled him, too, if Ford hadn't shown up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was ready to kick his mangy butt. Ford teleported me away.”

  Rion turns briefly to me. “Never again, Ari. Don’t ever try to confront one of them.”

  I cross my arms. “I will if I have to. They were chasing me. It wasn't the other way around. And I was alone. There was no way I was outrunning them.”

  “I understand that.”

  “No, I don't think you do. I had to run for my life through the woods. Again. I had to do what I needed to so I could defend myself. Although, now I have something else I can use.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can teleport,” I say with a wide smile. I’m pretty proud of my new skill. Not a skill yet. I still have to learn how to use it.

  Rion's mouth hangs open for a moment then slams closed before opening again. “That vampire!” He smacks his hand hard on the steering wheel. I’m surprised he didn’t break it right off the steering column.

  “I'd think you'd be happy knowing I’ll be able to take care of myself. I won’t need Ford to visit my dreams.”

  “He bit you, Ariane! That vampire had his fangs in you!”

  “I know. I was there.” One of us has to stay level-headed. I should have known he’d react this way. A part of me thought he’d be happy I now have a way to get out of a bad situation. I won’t have to depend on anyone to rescue me.

  Rion hits the gas hard, accelerating the car to well over a hundred miles an hour. At least we’re still on the highway. “Did he drink your blood, too?”

  My hand instinctively flies to my neck where Ford’s teeth su
nk in. Thankfully, I don’t feel any mark. “What? No! I wouldn't let that vampire suck on my neck.”

  “You let him bite you!”

  “Not the same thing, Rion. One, I didn't know what he was doing until he did it. Two, it was for three seconds then it was over. He only shared his power with me. He wasn’t getting his fill on my blood.”

  “So you didn't have any effects from his fangs being in you?”

  “I didn't say that.”

  “I'm going to kill him,” he growls.

  I squirm in my seat, ignoring the pure hatred pouring off of Rion for Ford. The seat! I’m sitting on Rion’s gorgeous leather seat and probably bleeding all over it. Once I’m stitched up, I’ll try to clean it. This is so embarrassing. Rion’s car is gorgeous, and I'm sure I’m bleeding on the leather. Even with his shirt around my leg, blood has to be seeping through. Maybe if I shift to lean on my good leg, I’ll be able to keep my bloody one off the leather.

  “Ari, please stop moving. The more you do, the more blood you'll lose. We don't have a blood bank like hospitals do. Wolves repeatedly shift to heal. Our bodies rapidly regenerate what is lost.”

  “I’ll clean the car after I’m patched up.”

  “You will not. I don’t care about the car. I care about you.” How could he not care about this car? It’s a work of art and worth more than some homes.

  “What happens if I need blood?” I ask, trying to get my mind off of me ruining the Jag’s interior.

  “You'll get mine.” Interesting. I wonder...

  “Will I turn into a wolf if I get your blood?”

  “No. You'll get nothing but blood.” Hey, it was worth a shot to ask. This goes in my mental paranormal manual as well.

  I squirm again. My leg is starting to throb in pain. So much for the vampire juice numbing it. I hope we're almost there. I haven't been paying attention to the scenery, unless you count what's inside the car. I've been fixated on Rion's profile. It's like he's carved from stone. He's so perfect. And here I sit completely flawed. A mess, based on the look of Kiara as me. I have no idea what Rion sees in me.