Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2

by Bella Roccaforte

  Silence ensued for several seconds before Asher felt a dull thud on his shoulder. Hell, Jagger just punched him, and it wasn’t gentle either.

  “Don’t Sir me, Ash. Those days are long gone. We’re just plain ol’ friends now. I’m telling you how things are here because I don’t want you starting off on the wrong foot with the pack. You can have a good life here if you want it. All you have to do is settle down and keep your nose clean, at least to begin with. You can do it, can’t you?”

  Of course he could. He’d spent years in the military, surely this would be a breeze? Or would it? Suddenly being on the outside seemed harder than ever. No structure to his days. Nobody to order around, or to order him around, and he felt … adrift, off-kilter, and alone. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone though, especially not the man who’d helped get him a new job, home, and position within his own pack. Hell to the no on that.

  His mind must’ve wandered and he obviously didn’t reply because Jagger sighed heavily. “Well? What’s up, Asher?”

  “Sorry, yes, I’ll be fine. I won’t let you down.”

  Again, Jagger sighed. Why? He’d just said he’d be fine, what more did he want?

  “This isn’t about me. I don’t care about that, Ash, I only care about you. I want you to have a life, a proper life. One you should’ve had all along, in a pack that’s run properly, where everyone supports one another, and looks out for each other. Where the Alpha is someone you turn to for help, and not someone you fear. I can’t begin to explain what it’s like having the support of them behind you … but it’s pretty damn amazing. When Storm came into my life, it wasn’t easy. She was kidnapped by a crazy fuck, and I thought I’d lost her. It was the pack who helped me get her back. If it wasn’t for them, I swear, I would’ve gone insane, and I’m certain things wouldn’t have turned out the way they did. You deserve that life, too, you’re like a brother to me and I want you here, with me.”

  Jagger stopped talking, but the emotion in his words filled the cabin, causing a lump to appear in Asher’s throat. He’d never felt anything like it before. He wasn’t a sensitive type of person, hell, it was soon knocked out of him as a kid, and it wasn’t something required of him in his position in the military either. But, now, in the confines of his vehicle, with the one person who’d cared a shit about him, he suddenly felt a host of feelings rushing through him. Most of them he had no fucking name for, but his belly filled with a sickly sweet feeling, and his chest tightened, then his throat thickened so he had to swallow several times before he could get any words out to fill the awkward silence.

  “Some fuck kidnapped Storm? I hope you tore him apart, Jag. I know I sure as hell would’ve.”

  Was what he came back with, nothing soft and fuzzy, even though he wanted to tell his friend so much more, he just couldn’t manage to get the words out. What the hell was wrong with him?

  Jagger guffawed, loud, long, and hard, his hand hitting off the dash. It took him several moments before he regained control of himself. “I did. I surely did. But the point is, it was Elias, Levi and his team, as well as Barnett, who helped me get her back. Without them, I can’t even think of what would’ve happened to her. So, you crazy ass, just remember we’re all part of a family here, and any single one of us will help you if you need it. Okay?”

  Asher thought on what Jagger said, but found it difficult to process. Depending on others definitely wasn’t his forté, hell, even his last few years in the service he usually worked alone. He’d been undercover for some of the time, and during others, he was the leader of whatever team in whatever department he was in, so, in effect, he was alone. He liked it, the silence and not having to depend on anyone, yet here Jagger was telling him the opposite and he wasn’t sure how he felt about any of it.

  He liked Jagger, well, more than liked. After all, it was Jagger who helped him out all those years ago and made him into the man he was now. If it wasn’t for him then, Asher would’ve crashed and burned those first few weeks, hell, he would’ve been thrown out and never made it through boot camp. Shoot, where would he be now if he’d been thrown out? A shiver ran through him when he thought of the scenario … not a good outcome that’s for sure.

  Jagger hit it on the nail, they were more like brothers than anything else. If Asher knew what brothers were like…

  “Left at the next turn.” Jagger prodded him, “Don’t miss it.”

  Asher noted his friend’s tone was different now, he was back to friendly and none of the earlier deep, meaningful, or intensity behind it. Thankfully. He’d had enough of that shit for the day. He wanted to just relax and get to know his friend again after not seeing him for years.

  “I’m not blind,” he shot back, slowing to take the side-road. “Anyway, tell me more about your mate. Storm’s a rather unique name, or is that a nickname you gave her?”

  Jagger laughed, again, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. “No, it’s her name. Storm Earp, and she’s amazing, and yes, I know everyone says it about their mate, but she is. She’s an author, and she’s even writing stories about shifters now. Apparently, I gave her inspiration when we met, so she started a new series and she’s written quite a few books already. Says living here is the perfect place for her … creativity.”

  Asher glanced over to see Jagger blushing, he tried to hide it by turning to look out his window, but Asher saw it clear as day and couldn’t help himself from teasing. “Well, I do believe I know what kind of creativity she’s talking about.”

  Jagger cracked his neck, then speared Asher with a fierce look. One telling him to back off. “Don’t, Ash, she’s my mate and I don’t take kindly to that kind of talk.”

  Well, damn, if Jagger hadn’t gone all Alpha because of a woman.

  “Sorry, but you do know you were blushing. Right?” Asher smirked. “I couldn’t stop myself.”

  “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Ash.”

  “I see it.”

  “Anyway, you’ll meet her soon enough because she made me promise to ask you to dinner.”

  Dinner with his friend and new mate? Shoot, he wasn’t sure he was up to socializing. Not yet anyway. He was still trying to adjust to having a home and a pack. The thought of sitting through a dinner with two lovebirds wasn’t something he thought he could manage. Not right now.

  “Can I take a rain check? I’ve driven all day and I didn’t get much sleep last night either.”

  Jagger tipped his chin, his eyes narrowing. “Sure, but she won’t take no for an answer. If you don’t show up soon, she’ll come and drag your ass over.”

  Asher couldn’t hide the smile playing over his face at the thought of the small woman he’d caught a glimpse of earlier attempting to drag him anywhere. He’d like to see her try. Nobody made him do anything he didn’t want to. Not anymore anyway. The days of having his ass ordered around were gone and he liked the freedom to spend his hours as he liked.

  “I’ll come.” He shrugged. “When I’m settled.”

  Jagger bristled beside him. His friend’s body stiffening before he let out a long sigh. “She won’t like it. Storm was set on you coming over with a welcome dinner in mind.”

  “Wait a minute.” Asher glanced at him. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of her? Shit, you are, aren’t you? You’re scared of telling Storm I’m not coming. Damn, Jag, what’s going on?”

  Jagger’s frown puckered, his eyes squinted, and then he growled. “What? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not scared of anyone, especially not Storm. I just don’t like disappointing her, that’s all, and I know she’s been looking forward to meeting you.”

  “Yeah, right.” Asher’s brow quirked.

  “Take the side road up ahead, on the right, it’s a little bumpy.” Jagger nodded. “Your place isn’t far.”

  Asher slowed to turn, noting the lush greenery all around. The place looked perfect to him, far enough from the town for privacy, yet close enough to not cause him any problems getting to work quickly if required.
Plus, the forest around seemed to be peaceful, with no other dwellings visible. Just what he dreamed of all his years in the military.

  He hoped his cabin wasn’t too small, though. He couldn’t bear the thought of being cooped up. If it had a separate bedroom and living area, he’d be happy. Surely it would have? Then again, it was free, so he couldn’t complain, and he could build onto it to make it how he wanted. All it’d take was time and effort … if he liked his job and the area. He still had to make his mind up about those.

  He shouldn’t complain, not when he was surrounded by such beauty. If he could’ve pictured a setting for a home … this would be it.

  “Just around the bend and we’re there,” Jagger told him. “There’s another road leading from yours, taking you straight to ours. It’s less than a mile away and we’re set right on the edge of the river.”

  Asher held his breath as they approached the turn, his new home and life waiting for him, and all he had to do was drive another few hundred feet, and he’d see for himself…

  Chapter Five

  “Speed up! For fuck’s sake, get to her now!” Jagger roared, desperation, anger, and fury in every syllable.

  Asher tried to process what he was seeing, his eyes locked on a woman with a mop in her hands, swinging it around in the air in front of her … trying to fend off a wolf. A shifter wolf. There was no mistaking it by the sheer size of the beast snarling and snapping at the feeble piece of wood separating them.

  “It’s Storm! Ash, it’s Storm. Get a fucking move on!” Jagger’s voice rose, fear and despair filling the vehicle.

  Asher’s foot pressed down so hard he wondered if it would go through the floor as they careened down the bumpy road, the engine roaring, and the wolf heard them. Its head turned, saw them, then ran like the wind to disappear into the forest. What the fuck?

  He slammed the brakes to pull his Jeep to a stop, clouds of dust flying up around them, but Jag was already out before Asher managed to halt the vehicle. His friend slapping a hand on the hood, then leaping up and over in his haste to reach his mate. Storm still held the mop, her face white as a sheet, her body shaking, with her eyes glued to the trees where the wolf disappeared.

  Asher slipped out, his head turning to scan for signs of the beast, but there were none. He didn’t expect any either, the beast wouldn’t hang around, not when he and Jagger were on the scene now.

  “Storm, babe, are you okay?” Jagger wrapped his arms around her, tugging her into his body.

  “I think so,” she stammered. “Who was he? He appeared out of nowhere, sniffing around, then asking where she was, and when I asked who he was, and who he was talking about, he got angry and shifted.”

  “What? He was asking for someone?” Asher stepped closer, his training kicking in, his eyes examining the area at the same time his nose inhaled sharply.

  Scents abounded everywhere, from squirrels, rodents, and even a deer or two passing nearby, and, of course, the shifter, Jagger and Storm … but there was another. One pulling at something inside him, causing the hairs on his arms to rise, and inexplicably his heart rate to increase until it thundered inside his chest. Asher took a deep breath, inhaling sharply, trying to calm it down. He didn’t understand what was happening, and he didn’t like it one bit. Always calm under the most extreme circumstances, yet here he was with no threat anywhere and his heartbeat like a fucking drum inside him. What the actual fuck?

  Several moments later, with him focusing to still the madness inside him, he finally regained control. The mysterious scent lingering in his nostrils, he barked out, “Who is that? Who’s been here?”

  But when he turned around, he was alone.

  “Jag?” he called out, his head spinning to find his friend and the woman who’d have the answers he wanted: Storm.

  “In here,” Jagger answered from the cabin.

  Asher strode inside to find Storm perched on the edge of a sofa with a glass of water grasped tightly in her hands and Jagger kneeling on the floor in front of her. His friend looking angry and worried at the same time, hell, it was a weird thing to see, but it was exactly how Jagger was, and Asher felt it too. The emotions rolling from Jagger filled the room, cloying the air with his fury and his concern for his mate.

  “Storm, who was here? I can scent someone else.” Asher got right to the point as he walked over.

  “Hey.” Jagger rose, scowling. “Don’t use that tone with her, Ash. She’s just went through an ordeal and you’re talking to her like a damn suspect.”

  Was he? Shit, yeah, he probably did use a harsher tone than he’d meant to, but … he needed to know who belonged to the damn scent. But pissing off his friend and upsetting Storm wasn’t what he’d meant to do. Shit, he was a prick.

  “Sorry, old habits, Jag.” He shrugged, then smiled at Storm. “I apologize, Storm, I didn’t mean to bark at you, but we need all the information we can get in order to get to the bottom of this. The guy wasn’t after you, you’ve already said as much, and I know someone else was here, so can you tell us who it was?”

  Storm’s hands shook and her face paled. “Oh no, does it mean she’s in danger, Jag? Shit, you have to go and check on her.”

  “Baby, we can’t do anything unless you tell us who you’re talking about.” Jagger reached for her, cupping his hands around hers to still them. “Calm down and I promise we’ll do whatever we can, but first, who was here?”

  “Savannah, she came to help me get the place ready for Asher. She left about half an hour before the shifter showed up. Please, someone has to go and check on her.”

  “I’ll go,” Asher butted in. He had to. He needed to meet the owner of the scent, and if she were in trouble, he’d need to go ASAP. “You take care of Storm. Where is she, Jag?”

  Storm’s eyes turned to him, pleading. “You must find her, Asher. If the beast gets to her, she won’t stand a chance.”

  “Follow the road to our place, about half a mile down there’s a turning on the left, take it and you’ll find a place just off the road. That’s where she is. Storm wanted her close because this is a working trip, but Savannah insisted she wanted her own space and refused to stay with us. This was the closest we could get her. Go.”

  Asher heard the last few words when he was at the door because he was already moving, fast. His legs pumping to propel him to his vehicle, annoyed he didn’t know the area yet. He’d be faster going through the forest, but he didn’t know where the hell anything was, and he couldn’t take the chance he’d miss the cabin if he didn’t follow Jagger’s instructions. Not this time anyway. Not when she could be in danger. Not when the rogue could, at this very moment, be on his way there … fuck no.

  He had to get to her. Had to reach her in time, and using his truck was the best use of his time right now.

  Seconds ticked by in his head, counting them off while he drove like a maniac and fought to control his heartbeats. His mind focused on his mission and that alone, his eyes trained on the dirt track he’d turned onto, and knew he’d be at his goal within moments. He’d lowered his window to inhale regularly for signs of the rogue and, so far, found none. Thank fuck for that, because if he had, he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done.

  “There,” he groaned out when a small, boutique looking house came into view. Cabin it was not, although made from wood, it was the only comparison, and he was certain Storm had a hand in its design.

  Sliding to a stop, Asher slammed on the brakes before securing the vehicle and jumping out. “Savannah? This is Deputy Stone, are you there?”

  At the door in seconds he pounded hard, repeating himself. “Savannah, please open the door. I’m Deputy Stone from Dark Moon Falls Police Department.”

  “You don’t look like a deputy and I know the uniform. Go away or I’m calling my friend, who IS in the department.”

  Aww shoot, he was dressed in civvies, and of course she knew Jagger. “Jagger sent me. Storm was attacked after you left her at my place. We have reason to believe the
perp was after you and you’re in danger, Savannah. Please open the door. I’m Asher, a friend of Jag’s, and it was my cabin you were helping Storm get ready.”

  “Storm’s been attacked? Is she hurt? What the hell happened?”

  The door swung open to reveal … the most gorgeous being Asher had ever seen in his life. His reaction to the vision before him was immediate and visceral, but he couldn’t understand it. His mind couldn’t catch up to his body’s reaction … his heart thudding, his beast prowling inside him, and his nostrils flaring to inhale her scent to imprint it inside him. Fuck! The scent was intoxicating, like…

  “Well!” She prodded him in the chest, over and over. “Tell me, right now! Is Storm hurt or what? Don’t just stand there with your mouth hanging open or I’ll … I’ll slap you silly.”

  His training kicked in, albeit late, his hand reaching to snatch hers in a firm grip. “Stop. Calm down and stop yelling.”

  Her eyes flashed with anger before squinting into slits. “You bang on my door shouting I might be in danger. Then you drop the bombshell Storm’s been attacked, and you’re standing like a statue, looking like you’ve seen a ghost or something when I’ve no clue whether she’s okay or not. So, Deputy, don’t tell me to calm down because I’m pretty riled up, and if you don’t start talking, I’m gonna yell so loud you’ll be popping pills to get rid of the headache I’ll give you for days!”

  Each time she’d jabbed at him, a shiver of something ran through him, but there was something else, something strange, Asher strained to catch what it was. Certain his eyes were deceiving him because he thought he saw Savannah’s face shimmer … no, not just her face, her entire body, as if, well, he wasn’t sure, but it looked strange and he couldn’t latch onto what he saw for only the briefest of moments. Certainly not when he couldn’t help reacting to her in other ways, like her eyes, her lips, her…