An Unlucky Moon

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Becca sighed then rubbed her temples. “It’s not fair. I mean, we’ve spent so much time together, and I know I really like him. And, yes, my body hurts, my souls hurts, and well…everything hurts to be without him because of fate and all the crap, but I wanted more time.”

  Lily stood up—with Shade’s help—and gave her a hug. “I know, honey. I didn’t know the consequences of what would happen if I slept with Shade, but you know what? I don’t regret it for a minute.”

  “You better not, Lily.”

  Becca smiled as Shade growled under his breath, and Lily rubbed small circles over her baby bump.

  “I’m going home to shower and pack a bag. Then I’m going to call Hunter and see if I can stay with him and his Pack. I need to know more about the wolf, not just the man.”

  Lily hugged her hard. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

  Becca let out an exasperated snort. “Really? Really. After all of this warning about hurting Hunter, you ask me if I’m ready?”

  Lily kissed her cheek then tugged on the end of Becca’s long red hair, making her wince at the sting. “I wouldn’t be one of your best friends if I didn’t make sure you weren’t ready for this. You’re about to give up part of your life for a man, you know, but you want to know more.”

  “I’m not giving up everything. Right?” Becca backed up and ran into the coffee table. She rubbed her leg, annoyed at her clumsiness. Again.

  Lily gave her a small smile. “No, not everything. You’re gaining so much more. Fate, though, is tricky. You’re not going to be able to stay in the human realm, or at least outside the den, as much as you do now I wouldn’t think. Hunter is the Beta, and I’m pretty sure that means something more than hanging out every once in a while. You’ll have to ask him. Plus, if you do mate, you’re going to turn into a supernatural creature. I mean, that’s the running theory anyway.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to change everything like that.”

  “I think the lightning chose for us, dear.”

  Becca nodded then hugged her friend one last time. “I’m going home and showering then calling Hunter. I’ve made my decision, and if I keep second-guessing myself, I’m only going to hurt us more. It’s not like I’m saying I’m going to actually mate with him, but I want to get closer.”

  Shade gave her a knowing smile then hugged her. He’d melded into their circle of friends nicely, the same as Balin and Ambrose had. Well, at least the men had made friends with most everyone. Faith would always be protective and a hard nut to crack.

  Becca smiled as she drove home, thinking about the look on Faith’s face when she finally found her mate. Oh, yes, that would be fun.

  When she got home, she quickly packed up a bag that could last her a week then called Hunter. They might have talked every night on the phone like a couple of teenagers, but she didn’t care. She loved listening to the soft growls of his voice and the deep resonating tones while he spoke. Her body would thrum for hours after speaking to him.

  When she got his voicemail, she closed her eyes and let his voice wash over her. Thankfully the beep at the end was loud enough to startle her, or she would have just left a breathless moan or two on his phone.

  Oh yeah, that would be a great way to start the new phase in their relationship.

  “Hi, Hunter, it’s Becca. I just wanted to see…uh…” Oh great, she really should have practiced this bit. “See if you minded if I went with you to the den. I want to see your place and your people, you know? I’m sorry, Hunter.” She closed her eyes, willing her emotions to keep in check. “I’m sorry I’ve stayed away. Call me back.”

  She pressed End on her phone then stripped down to take a shower. Hopefully he’d call back soon, or she’d be stuck bouncing on her feet, all ready to leave with no place to go. Though she had a feeling Dante would be able to show her where the Pack was, she had a feeling going there unannounced with a dragon, who, for some reason, Hunter didn’t care for too much, wouldn’t be the best thing to do.

  So instead she turned on the water as hot as it would go—which wasn’t scalding or even too hot considering the age of the water heater—and left her phone on the counter in case Hunter called.

  Maybe she should call again, just to hear his voice.

  Okay, enough of that. Talk about becoming a stalker.

  He’d call soon enough, and then the next part of her not-so-planned-out plan could work.

  Becca jumped in the shower and wet down her hair, letting the water take away the aches and stresses of the day. She might have been done with school and officially a college graduate, but she still had to put in long hours at the bar to save money, though, now, after talking with Lily, she’d have to think about what she’d do.

  Could she stay with Hunter half the time and stay in the human realm the other half? How did wolves make money? How did they live?

  She shampooed her hair, annoyed with herself. Asking herself all those questions really didn’t help matters. She needed to talk to Hunter. Even if he didn’t have all the answers, at least he’d be able to help her with the easy questions.

  Hunter’s face was on her mind and his voice a growl that made her ache. She tried to control herself, but all she could think about was the sound of his voice and the touch of his hands and body when he’d scent-marked her.

  Damn.

  That had been the hottest thing ever.

  She’d almost come right there, knowing he was holding her, marking her, needing her. Her hands circled her nipples, and she imagined them being Hunter’s, pinching, pulling. She gasped as she did what she wanted him to do then let her other hand fall to between her legs. Her fingers rubbed against her clit, and she moaned. Letting her one hand pinch and play with her breasts, she let her other hand spread her labia then circle her opening.

  Hell, she couldn’t wait to have his rough hands rasp against her skin, his forceful muscles holding her against a wall as he fucked her hard from behind.

  She wasn’t sweet like Lily or Nadie.

  No, she wanted it rough.

  She wanted Hunter.

  She finger fucked herself, letting the images of Hunter wash over until her inner walls clamped around her fingers and she came. Stars burst behind her eyelids, and her legs grew heavy, weak. She leaned against the shower wall, grateful for the bath mat she’d put in the shower. Without that, she’d have fallen for sure.

  The last thing she needed to explain to Hunter or the paramedics was that she’d knocked herself unconscious by fucking herself with thoughts of the man she might just have a chance with.

  Oh, yes, that would go over well.

  She quickly soaped herself up, being careful with the newly sensitive areas, then got out of the shower. After she dried herself off, she put on her bra and panties then her tank and an old pair of jeans. She’d get dressed up more when Hunter called, but right now, she just wanted to be comfortable.

  The sound of breaking glass didn’t register at first. Neither did the feel of something…off in her apartment.

  Later, much too later, she turned, ignoring the hairs rising on the back of her neck, only to come face to face with a fist.

  Two pairs of feet came into her line of sight and she groaned.

  She hit the ground, a whimper escaping her lips, then nothing.

  Becca opened her eyes but saw only darkness. She screamed, or at least tried to, but something was over her mouth. Her body shook as adrenaline surged through her, but she forced herself to calm down.

  She felt the warm rush of tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to figure out what had happened.

  Two men, or at least two pairs of feet and one fist, had come into her home and taken her. She was pretty sure she had a canvas bag over her head because she could breathe, so she knew it wasn’t plastic. She could feel the sharp edges of tape on her cheeks where it covered her mouth. Her hands were tied behind her back, and her legs were tied together as well.

  She lay on her side, her clothes
still on—thank the gods—and she knew she was in deep shit.

  Hunter, Dante, Jamie, someone, please come for me.

  She’d never felt so helpless in her life.

  Finally the sound of footsteps reached her ears, and she stiffened. She had a feeling they weren’t the steps of the cavalry, but those of the men who’d taken her.

  What were they going to do to her?

  “Do you know why you’re here, girl?” a muffled voice asked.

  She couldn’t tell exactly what his voice sounded like considering she heard it through the bag and also because he must have done something to it. He almost sounded like that masked dude from Batman.

  Didn’t the man know he’d duct taped her mouth? How the hell was she supposed to answer? She didn’t know why the fuck she was there.

  She was glad for the tape. Knowing her, she’d say the wrong thing and end up in worse trouble.

  “Her mouth is taped, you idiot,” another muffled voice spat.

  Oh good, at least one kidnapper wasn’t an idiot. Well, maybe.

  The two men, and then a third, started yelling at each other about plans and rules, but Becca couldn’t follow. Her head still ached like a bitch from the man’s punch, and all she wanted to do was go home.

  She had a feeling, though, that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.

  Oh, sweet gods, she was so not ready for this.

  Why hadn’t she told Hunter how she felt? For that matter, she should have thought about what she felt more. She’d been running from it because she’d been scared.

  She’d always been scared.

  Now she’d never have the chance to find out what Hunter looked like in his wolf form. She’d never know what she’d turn into, never find that other part of her she knew she wanted. Oh, she might be scared about the change and not want to think about it, but she wanted it.

  Badly.

  She’d never be able to see what Lily’s baby would look like. Never hold that baby—or her own—in her arms. Never tell Dante how much he meant to her as a friend. He’d been there for her through all of her pain and her struggle to find who she was, even when she wasn’t sure she’d ever get there.

  She’d never be able to see Faith’s reaction to finding her mate. Gods, that one hurt. Hard. She wanted to see her friend fall in love and be with the one—or two—persons who would break through her shell. In fact, Becca wouldn’t be able to see any of her friends make that bond and find their inner supernatural.

  She’d never see what would happen when Nadie and Dante finally found each other and figured out what the hell they were doing.

  She’d never see Hunter again.

  “Girl? Aren’t you listening?”

  Someone kicked her in the ribs, the sharp pain and crack of something snapping causing her to want to vomit.

  She’d been so deep in her thoughts she hadn’t been paying attention. What had she missed when she’d been acting like an idiot?

  “Don’t kill her yet. We need to make sure we have everything secure.”

  Yet?

  What did they mean by yet?

  “You can’t be alive, girl. You shouldn’t have found the Beta. Now, because he’s announced his plans to mate with you, we’re fucked. Can’t you understand that? We can’t allow this mating to take place. You have two options. We kill you now. Or you promise to stay away.”

  “Don’t believe anything the bitch says. She’s human,” another voice spat.

  Beta. This had to be because of Hunter. So they had plans against Hunter, and she wasn’t part of them.

  Well, hell.

  They’d just have to get over it.

  Or something.

  “That bastard shouldn’t have made it out of hell alive, and now look at the shit he’s brought down. We’ll just have to kill her. That way he’ll be so despondent he’ll be useless, and we can finish our plans.”

  Becca cried in earnest then. Gods, they couldn’t kill her. They couldn’t hurt Hunter. Who the hell were these people?

  “We can’t kill her yet. He’ll know. We just have to hide her for a bit, then we can kill her.”

  Oh good, they’d kill her later. The sarcasm going on in her brain at the moment really wasn’t helping things.

  “She doesn’t have to be whole to be hidden,” another voice said, this one deeper, more dangerous.

  They came at her as one. They kicked, punched, and clawed. She knew they were wolves and were holding their strength back from killing her, but it hurt.

  She felt her skin tearing, bones breaking, bruises forming, and she couldn’t fight them off.

  Finally, the pain sliced through her head, and darkness came.

  Well, not before she had one last thought of Hunter and how it would kill him to see this.

  Then it was no more.

  Chapter Seven

  The fist to the face should have been the first clue something was wrong, but Hunter hadn’t been thinking clearly since hearing Becca’s message.

  She wanted to come to the den.

  She wanted to be near him and his Pack.

  The joy that had spread through him at those words nearly felled him to his knees.

  The fist ten minutes later almost did again.

  “What the fuck?” Hunter growled at Gregory Lloyd, the council member and pain in the ass.

  Lloyd struck again, but this time Hunter pulled back, catching the other man’s wrist before he could contact. Lloyd snarled then tried to pull back, but Hunter tightened his grip. The other man’s face blanched, the bones beneath Hunter’s hand grinding.

  “Why the fuck are you challenging me, Lloyd?”

  The other wolf spat at him, and Hunter ducked. Now he was getting annoyed. At first, he could just call it a bad day… now? Now, he was about to kick some ass.

  “I’m more dominant that you, Lloyd. You know this. We already went through this shit and did our battles over a decade ago. Why are you fighting now?”

  “You don’t deserve to be Beta.”

  Hunter blinked. The crowd he hadn’t noticed gathered around them gasped. It was one thing for the council to try and get him out of his position with the initial Beta circle, but it was another to outright attack him.

  “You have no say in that, Lloyd. I was nominated by our Alpha.” He stressed the our part considering the council seemed to have a different take on what exactly it meant to be Pack. “I won the battle against your wolf. I’ve done all the council has required, yet you fight me on this?”

  “You’re nothing. You’re just a lowborn wolf with a fucking human for a mate. One you haven’t even shown us. What are we supposed to think? That you’re actually proud of being with that bitch? No, you’re shaming yourself being with her and shaming us all. The more we dilute the bloodlines, the more we dilute our power. Look around. We’re nothing. We could have been so much more, but instead, we want this so-called peace?” He sneered the last word, his face red and his eyes bulging. “We have nothing. We could have been at the top of all Packs. We still can be.”

  Hunter shook his head. What the hell was the council thinking? He leaned down close to the other man’s face so his voice wouldn’t carry. He had a feeling that some of the stronger wolves would be able to hear, so he made it short.

  “Watch your step, Lloyd. The Alpha can only handle so much disobedience then he’ll have to take matters into his own hands. The council is relatively new to our culture. It can die. Just like you.”

  “You dare to threaten me?”

  “I dare, and I’ll do it one step further. You come near me, my mate, or my people, I’ll gut you where you stand.” Hunter had had enough of this Pack and their issues.

  In his absence, most of the dominants had learned to treat submissives like shit. They were slowly starting to withdrawal completely from the human realm. Though they had Pack money and the ability to live within the den and sustain themselves for long periods of time, they still relied on the humans for most things. In fact, most w
olves had human jobs and had been, before he’d been taken, completely ingrained within society.

  Now they were working within the den, some never leaving excerpt in odd emergencies. Hunter was working on changing that, along with Liam and Alec, but honestly, he had no idea how to fix such a widespread issue.

  Now Lloyd stood in front of him, a glare on his face, spouting shit about wanting to rule the other Packs?

  How the fuck were they going to do that?

  Each Pack worked on its own. There wasn’t an ultimate Alpha or council. There had never been a reason to have one wolf with all that power. That much power would be too much for one man. Fuck, it was already almost too much for Josiah, hence Hunter’s responsibilities.

  He didn’t know what Lloyd and the others had planned, but he’d have to find out soon and take care of it. He wasn’t about to let anyone die or get hurt because he couldn’t handle all the problems of the Pack.

  This was what he wanted to bring Becca into?

  She’s called wanting to get to know the Pack and find out more about him—hopefully because she wanted to take one step closer to mating—but he wasn’t sure he could force her into this turmoil.

  Fuck.

  Another fist came at his side, this time from a different person, bringing Hunter out of his thoughts. He twisted to duck the punch, but had to let go of Lloyd.

  Hunter growled and let his claws break through his skin, ready to fight back.

  Two of Lloyd’s wolves stood by their leader’s side, panting, shirtless, and looking generally fucking useless.

  “I’m not going to kill you,” Hunter drawled. “Not when only a beating will do.” He couldn’t kill them. Not outright and not right now. Technically, all Lloyd had done was try to start a battle for dominance. When the other two wolves had joined, however, it crossed the lines. Hunter could hurt them, kill them if he wanted, but as Beta, if he started killing everyone that pissed him off or wanted to try to hurt him, things would get tricky real fucking fast.

  “I’m tired of having this same conversation with you,” Hunter continued, keeping an eye on the growing crowd. He had a feeling that things could go badly at any moment if enough people got involved.