by KB Anne
She lives in Northeast PA with 3 goblins, a task master, and a hell hound overlord. To find out more about here visit KBAnne.com
The Goddess Chronicles and Silver Fae Series are ready for your consumption. Warning: May cause book hangovers.
Visit her website for more information or to contact her at kbanne.com.
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Also by KB Anne
The Goddess Chronicles
Wide Awake: The Goddess Chronicles Book 1
Blood Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 2
Dark Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 3
Shadow Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 4
Oak Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 5
Storm Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 6
The Goddess Chronicles Books 1-3 Boxset
* * *
The Silver Fae Series
Throne of Silver: Silver Fae 1
Silver Fae Hunter: Silver Fae 2
Heirs of Wings and Shadows: Silver Fae 3
Court of Wings and Shadows: Silver Fae 4 Coming Fall 2020
Acknowledgments
Wide Awake began four years ago when I wrote what I thought was a standalone. At the first night of my first writing class at the Highlights Foundation with Harold Underdown, he said, “Oh, you’re the scary story in the woods writer?”
I responded, “Yes, I guess I am.”
He soon followed with, “It needs to a trilogy.”
Three years later, I returned to the scary story in the woods ready to tear it down and build it back into a series. Thank you Harold. Wide Awake is better for it.
* * *
My Middle, you are my Ideal Reader. Thanks for encouraging me to listen to the voices inside my head. I can’t wait to co-write with you.
My Big, your belief in me makes me believe in myself.
My Little, Cowgirl up! Hours of riding keeps this mama happy!
Alison Green Myers, you’ve read more versions of Wide Awake than anyone I know. Thank you A. You are beautifully fierce.
Meggan Turner, you’re my first official fangirl. Thank you for your continued support and your willingness to read drafts of my stories. Even quickly, terribly written chapters. You will go far!
Laura Parnum, you rolled up your sleeves and wielded your fingers with broad strokes to fix my grammar, discover inconsistencies, and appreciate my humor. (Or I least I hope you did.) Thank you Laura. Any tipos or punctu@tion errors are mine @lone.
Nif, I can never thank you enough for not laughing at me. You are my Fierce, Beautiful Friend.
Donna Boock, you always give me positivity and focus when I need it the most.
Lorraine Blough, thank you for reading early early versions of my first books. They’re not called the vomit drafts for nothing. Thank you for your strong stomach.
Donna D, my mega-reader high school friend, you will always be the shit.
Sera Rivers, thank you for letting me pick your brain about Jehovah Witnesses. Lizzie rocks because of it.
Stephanie Keener, how could I forget my Twilight buddy? Thank you for reading an early version and making it a better story.
Anika Willmanns, Ravenborn Covers, when I saw your Darkest Days cover I knew that I had found Gigi’s cover soulmate. Thank you for being so incredibly talented!
My Rising Starrs, present and future, thank you for joining me on this journey. My favorite Rising Starrs include Meggan, Heather, Shahna, Jade, Reilly, Gurlay, Kelsey, Carolina, Dawn, Candice, Sophie, Angie-Lee. A million thank you’s! You are my Insta-friends!
Last, but certainly not least, You. Never forget that you are an amazing human being. You are unique. You are special. You are fierce. I can’t wait to hear you roar!
Blood Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book Two
Prologue
I’ve tempted fate one too many times not to be surprised as the killer stalks toward me, but still I am. An ocean separated us. An ocean for god’s sake. But still he’s here. Ready to rip out my throat.
Chapter 1
Hanging from the Gallows
My best friend is dead. Dead. It doesn’t seem possible that the world continues to rotate around the sun without her in it. It certainly isn’t fair that I continue breathing while she gets shoved into a coffin and dropped into the ground.
How did I, Gigi Brennan, release Clayone, the Original Werewolf?
Oh, that’s right, because Gram and Uncle Mark—or really “Dad”—believe I’m the Celtic Goddess Brigit reincarnated.
The last time I checked, goddesses don’t break into their neighbors’ houses, or lie to the school principal on a daily basis or, well, make out with anyone with a pulse.
Do gods and goddesses even kiss? Zeus went far beyond lip locking with mortals. Ever hear the term “demigod”? During his prime, Zeus had armies of them. But he’s a Greek god. Are Celtic gods and goddesses just as horny as him?
Though, honestly, being Brigit is the least of my worries.
The moment Lizzie stopped breathing, I stopped breathing. I stopped believing in everything and everyone. The lies Gram and Uncle Mark told me confirm that the world has gone insane. That it’s a world not worth living in anymore.
A world I don’t want to live in anymore.
Knock. Knock.
“Gigi, honey?” Gram calls out from the other side of the door. “Some officers are here, and they’d like to speak with you and Scott about what happened up at the church.”
Do I even know what happened? It feels like a bad trip, and one I don’t want to repeat.
“I’m not talking to anyone,” I mutter into my pillow.
The door clicks open, and she walks in. “Dear, you have to talk to them.”
The mind reading stuff is really a pain in the ass, especially when it’s my own grandmother reading my freaking mind.
I flip over to face away from her. “I don’t want to.”
The bed moves as she sits down next to me. Her presence alone calms me more than any tea or smell ever could.
“Gi, you owe it to your friends to make sure no one else goes up there and gets injured. Or worse.”
I stare at the wolf statue on my nightstand. Wolves are innocent. Pure. Good. How could someone turn them into a killing machine?
“I don’t even know what to tell them.”
Scott’s the storyteller. He’s the entertainer. He’s the good one.
“You will,” she says.
She’s always given me far too much credit. Credit I do not deserve.
“You do deserve it, Gigi. You do.”
* * *
The climb down the stairs feels like I’m approaching the gallows. Not that the thought didn’t already cross my mind, but Gram, Scott, and Dad shouldn’t have to endure my death. The longer I live, the more I’ll suffer, and I should suffer for what I’ve done.
When I enter the living room, Scott’s leaning against the wall and Dad’s standing at the door in quiet conversation with the two officers. In my heart, I know it’s right to call him Dad. He’s always been there for me, always watched out for me. Just like Scott. We might now officially, or at least metaphysically, be related by blood, but they have always been my people. They are my family, and I will do everything in my power to protect them.
“Gigi, Scott, this is Officer Lamberton and Officer Smith. They’d like to talk to you about what happened yesterday. Shall we?” Dad says, gesturing to the sofas. The same sofas we passed out on last night. The same sofas where we discovered the shocking truth that I unleashed the most evil werewolf of all time.
A werewolf who bit Ryan and killed Lizzie. A werewolf who will kill anyone who comes near the church in order to feed. In order to gain strength. In order to kill me. I don’t fear for my own life, but I fear for Gram, Scott, and Dad. I fear for these officers.
“We’ve already been to the hospital to talk to Ryan,” Officer Smith says.
I recognize him. He’s Tom’s dad. Tom plays football with Scott and Ryan.
The flame of possibility blooms within me. “He’s conscious?”
“He is, but he’s completely delusional. His version of the events yesterday are pretty outrageous. He claims some type of beast attacked the two of them. We’re hoping you two can help us figure out what we’re going up against when we go up there.”
I raise my hand. “That won’t be necessary.”
Everyone turns to me, and unfortunately, I know what they’re thinking. I know what they’re all thinking.
“It won’t be necessary to go up to the church. There isn’t anything up there.”
“Gi?” Scott says. He wants to tell them everything. Every last stinking detail.
Don’t.
His forehead bulges, but he keeps his mouth shut.
“We were camping in the woods Saturday night, and we were telling ghost stories. We decided to hike up to the old church the next day. When we got there, we were messing around, trying to scare each other. It was dark inside, and it was covered with cobwebs. Then all of a sudden, the floor collapsed, and Lizzie and Ryan fell down to the basement or something. Everyone was screaming. Ryan lifted Lizzie, and Scott and I pulled her up the rest of the way. Blood was everywhere.”
I babble on and on, unable to stop. Knowing if I do stop, even for a breath, I won’t be able to continue.
“Then we pulled Ryan up. As soon as he was out of the hole, Scott lifted Lizzie, and we ran out of the place as fast as we could. We were so scared. When we were far away from the church, we stopped. That’s when I cleaned Ryan’s cut and bandaged him. I tried to find a pulse on Lizzie, but she was already ... she was already …” A wave of sobs eliminates my power of speech.
Scott wraps his arm around me, immediately calming me. “When we got them out of the woods, we drove to the hospital, but it was too late for Lizzie,” he says.
“Ryan said they were attacked by some type of beast,” Officer Lamberton says. “Do you know what he’s talking about?”
We know exactly what he’s talking about.
“The building was really old, and the floor was covered in animal droppings. A rat probably bit him when he fell.”
A freaking giant rat.
I cringe at the memory of Ryan’s blood-curdling scream. If someone lights a match near my mouth, I will burst into flames.
Lamberton’s eyes shine as he caresses his holstered gun. “You’re sure there’s no rabid animal we need to hunt down?”
We nod our heads in agreement.
They buy our story hook, line, and bullshit.
Officer Smith stands up with Officer Lamberton following. “Appreciate your time. We’ve got everything we need. If we have more questions, we’ll give you a call.”
Dad shakes each of their hands. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
“Ma’am,” they say together, nodding at Gram before Dad closes the door behind them.
Gram wraps her arm around me. “You did great, Gigi. I knew you would.”
Dad agrees with her, but there is one person in the room not in agreement.
“Why didn’t you tell them the truth? Why did you lie to them? They’re going to think Ryan’s a complete nutjob now.”
Dad crouches down in front of us. “Scott, that’s enough. Gi did the right thing. If you told them what really happened, do you think they’d believe you anyway? And what would happen to them if they went up to the church?”
Before Scott can answer, Dad continues. “They would be killed. Clayone would feed on them and grow stronger with every death. Right now, he’s trapped in the church until the next full moon. That evening, he will leave his prison to feed. When he builds enough strength, he will come here. The spells we have in place and the others we will cast should keep him out, but in just over a month, he will be more powerful than he has been in a thousand years.”
“Why’s that?” Scott asks quietly.
“On October 31, the eve of Samhain, there will be a Super Blue Blood Moon during the lunar eclipse. The strong oak doors of this house and the enchantments placed upon it may not be enough to protect any of us,” Dad whispers.
Shit. What have I done?
* * *
To keep reading, grab your copy today…
Blood Moon: The Goddess Chronicles Book 2
