Blood Moon: Book 2 of the True Mates Series: A Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance

by Alicia Montgomery

  THE END

  Turn to the next section to get a sneak peek at the next part of the True Mates series, which features Grant Anderson and feisty New Jersey Alpha, Francesca "Frankie" Muccino! It's not just one but TWO free chapters!

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  Sneak Peek: Romancing the Alpha

  Francesca Muccino let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed her eyes as she sat back in her chair. It was another Sunday night and she could hear the kitchen crew finishing up outside, cleaning and scrubbing away, making sure everything was spotless. Meanwhile, she had just finished with the books.

  Another depressing month, she thought glumly, trying not to look at the spreadsheet on her screen. As manager and part owner of Muccino's Italian Restaurant, it was her job to make sure all the books were balanced. While they weren't going under, profits were down for the fifth straight month and they barely broke even again for this one. At least everyone gets paid, she mused. She herself had taken a pay cut to make sure everyone could at least got their full salary this month, but the servers were definitely balking at the lack of tips. Hopefully the summer slump would be over soon and the students from the nearby colleges would soon be packing Muccino's on weekend nights.

  "Yo, Frankie!" Dante, the eldest of her younger brothers, popped his head into her office. "I'm headin' home." He worked in the kitchen as head chef. "And so's Matt," he said, referring to their half-brother.

  "And Enzo?" she asked, crossing her arms, referring to Matt's twin.

  "Where do you think he's headin'?"

  Frankie rolled her eyes. "Right. He's going out clubbing with his friends 'till morning. Tell him I said to drink plenty of fluids before he goes to bed!"

  "Yes, mom!" a voice from behind Dante called. "See ya Tuesday, Frankie!" Enzo shouted right before the back door slammed shut.

  Frankie shook her head. "That boy!"

  Dante chuckled. "C'mon Frankie, give him a break. He's young and he's got no responsibilities yet, what else is he gonna do?"

  "I know, I know," Frankie sighed. "I just hope he keeps out of trouble."

  "You know him," Dante sat down in front of his sister's desk. "The last time we had to bail him out, he got into a fight protecting some girl. He loves girls, can't stand to see 'em in trouble."

  "And the women sure do love him," she smirked. Her middle brother was a true charmer, which was why he was the perfect host for Muccino's. Enzo could effectively charm little old ladies into having dinner at their restaurant as much as he could charm the younger ones out of their pants. No woman between the ages of 18 and 90 could resist his handsome face, tall, toned body, sandy blonde hair and those chocolate brown eyes. "I just wish he'd grow up. Like Matt." Despite their identical looks, Enzo's twin brother Matt was his complete opposite. He preferred to stay at home and tinker on his computer, though he did help out in the kitchen on weekends.

  "We all know Matt's your favorite!" Dante joked.

  "He's not!" Frankie tossed a wadded up post-it at him. "I hate all of you equally!" she joked.

  While growing up with four younger brothers wasn't easy, Frankie took her role as oldest sister seriously. Matteo had always been a painfully shy and awkward child, overshadowed by his more boisterous and outgoing twin. That said, she paid him a lot of attention to make up for it. She even encouraged him to go to college and take up computer engineering. He was the first one to graduate with a degree in their family, just last year and on a full scholarship. Frankie was so extremely proud of him. He was currently working freelance for a bunch of companies, but he still helped out at the restaurant out of loyalty.

  Dante glanced over at the screen and then looked at his sister. His mismatched eyes - one blue, one green, a hereditary quirk in their family that he shared with Frankie - looked worried. "Not another good month, huh?"

  She shook her head. "Afraid not."

  "How bad is it?"

  "Bad enough to worry," she confessed.

  "I told you, Frankie, we gotta start using the Internet to bring in more people! Set up a website, go on social media and stuff! Matt could help!"

  "Matt is busy and he should have his own life," Frankie stated. "Besides, the college kids will be coming back soon, we don't need to advertise or go online! People already know us and we'll do it like mom did and nonna did - by making great food!"

  Dante threw up his hands. "Frankie, we can't just stay stuck in the past! Yes, mom and nonna were able to start and build up Muccino's all those years ago! But we need to take it into the future! We'll get some reviews and--"

  "Basta! I don't wanna talk about this now!" She slammed her palm on the table.

  Her brother sighed and shrugged, then glanced at the spreadsheet on the screen.

  "I'm sorry Dante...I'm just worried," she slumped back into her chair in defeat. "Fine. Talk to Matt, but only if he has time! We can get one of those Facethingys."

  "Facebook," Dante corrected. "Geeze, are you really 28 or 68? Are you gonna start talking about that time when soda pop was 10 cents?"

  "Yes, Facebook," she stuck her tongue out. "Whatever. You guys work on it."

  "Thanks, Frankie!" he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Oh and by the way, cousin Eddie called again."

  "What is it now?" she asked in an irritated voice.

  "He keeps saying that Gary Fontana is encroaching on his land again, poaching his chickens."

  "And why is this my problem?"

  "Well, he says he caught Gary in Lycan form on camera this time."

  "Argghhhhhh!" Frankie let out a frustrated groan. Aside from being head of the family, she was also Alpha for the entire Jersey Lycan clan. There weren't many of them and most were related to her as well and so there wasn't much to do except settle small disputes like this. Of course, she also had to send "incident reports" to the Lycan Council whenever there were any problems. She wondered how many of the reports the council actually read and if they were as tired of her redneck cousins as much as she was. "Fine fine, I'll deal with it tomorrow. Now go," she shooed him away. "You've been on your feet since 3 pm, go home and rest."

  "Yes, Primul," he joked and he ducked another flying object before heading out the door.

  Frankie let out another sigh, leaned back in her beat-up leather chair and looked at the two portraits on her right. The first was a beautiful older woman with white hair and the second a middle-aged version of the other. Both had the same features - thick, wavy hair, dusky olive skin, an oval-faced shape and thick brows, plus of course, the blue and green eyes. Frankie herself was a third doppelgänger for the two women, though she always thought her features weren't as striking and her hair was more curly and unruly. Her mother especially was a great beauty, and she remembered all the men who would flirt with her and try to date her when she was a single.

  "Oh mama, Nonna, I miss you both," she said sadly. Her grandmother had been dead for almost a decade, while her mother passed two years ago, leaving Muccino's and the clan to her care. The Jersey Clan had always been led by women, that's just the way it was. And as the eldest in her family, she was of course, expected to assume that mantle, but she always thought it would be much later. Nonna was Alpha for 36 years and she knew her mom would have had another 30 years or so had she not died so early. Frankie sighed, leaned back in her chair and sighed. This was what life had given her, and so she would just have to cope with it as best she could.

  ***

  After locking up the restaurant, Frankie got into her car and drove back to her house. She lived close the restaurant, just a ten-minute drive. Barnsville, New Jersey was a typical small college town, usually bustling with activity during the school year, but since it was summer, it was quiet, with on
ly the locals living there year round.

  Frankie knew the route home from the restaurant by heart, having worked there since she was 15 and basically growing up at Muccino's, either playing in the office or hanging around the kitchen and pantry. Drive down Main Street, go past the old mill and then turn into the driveway of her childhood home. She still lived in their old, 5-bedroom Victorian-style home, which had belonged to her grandmother and then her mother, and now, to her and her brothers. Dante, Enzo and Matt had moved out a while back preferring to have their own bachelor pads, but their youngest, Raphael or Rafe, was still living with her at home while he finished his political science degree at the nearby NJU. Tonight though, he was out studying late with friends as he was taking summer classes this term, so he could get a second degree in business. He would be the second Muccino ever to graduate college, and while Matt was naturally brilliant, Rafe was hardworking and whip smart, determined to go to Harvard Law School as soon as he finished his degree and become a lawyer.

  Frankie slowed down as she approached her driveway. As she turned in and her house came into view, she suddenly slammed on the brakes. "Cazzo madre de dio!" she shouted as a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere, bounced off the hood of her car and rolled down to the ground.

  She bounded out of her car and rushed to the front. There was a large man - a very naked man, she realized - slumped down on the ground. "Oh merda!" She grabbed her purse, took her phone out and dialed Dante's number. It rang a few times, then the call was sent to voicemail. "Dante! Where are you? Please come to the house now! I think...I ran over someone and I think I killed him!" she shouted, her voice panicked. A low groan made her gasp. "Wait, I think he's alive! But anyway...I'll call you back!"

  Tossing her phone back into her purse, she ran back to the man. No, wait...She sniffed the air. "Lycan!" she said aloud. Kneeling down, she inspected the figure on the ground. Taking another whiff, she sought to identify the scent. Ocean spray, sea salt, sugar and fried dough, like going to the boardwalk. She froze, stunned as the image the scent brought her felt almost real, with the ocean roaring in her ear. Strange, she thought. Although Frankie met few new Lycans, she never had that type of reaction to scent before. Shaking her head, she put a hand on his shoulder to shake him awake. He was hot, normal after transforming back from Lycan form, which explained his naked state. But the touch of his skin sent tingles of heat through her own body and she nearly jumped back in surprise. However, she kept her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it and shaking him.

  "Hey...you! Mister!" she called. "Wake up! What are you doing here? You're not one of us! This is Jersey territory!" She flipped him over onto his back. Knowing he was Lycan, his body would heal much faster, even without medical attention. When his face came into view, she bit her tongue, trying not to gasp. From what she could see, the Lycan was very handsome, with dark hair, high cheekbones, a straight nose and sensual lips. His muscled, well-defined chest was covered in a soft matt of dark hair, a line trailing down a tight six-pack, teasing to what lay below. Frankie blushed and turned her head away, but not before she had a glance at his impressive package. He let out another groan, his lids opening for a moment, revealing emerald green eyes.

  "Hey! Can you open your eyes again?" she asked.

  The man opened his eyes, but they were unfocused.

  Frankie paused, gathering her thoughts. There was no way she could call 911, as the police and the ambulance would ask her tons of questions she wasn't prepared to answer, like what a naked man was doing in her driveway and why was he healing so fast after being run over. Of course, she couldn't just leave him there were her neighbors could see him. Squaring her shoulders, she decided she'd have to take him in for now and figure things out later.

  "Ok, if you can get up, let's get you into the house, ok? What happened?"

  He seemed to nod, but his eyes remained glassed over. "Hurt...can't see..." he managed to moan. "Drugged..."

  "You were drugged?" she asked. "Ok, well you can shake it off at house." She helped up get up, placing her shoulder underneath his left arm. "Jesus, you're huge!" The man was probably around 6 feet tall and towered over her own petite, 5'1 frame. His upper body was broad and compact, his shoulders bunched with well-defined muscles. It was difficult, but she managed to brace him as they walked towards the house.

  It was a feat to get him up the porch and prop him up against the door while she opened the lock with her key. There was no way he was going to get up to the second floor, so she guided him to the guest bedroom on the ground floor. She foisted him off her and onto the bed, then opened one of the lamps on the bedside.

  Looking at him in the soft lamplight, she realized just how much more handsome he was. He had his eyes closed again, but she could clearly see all his features, his tanned skin, the slight stubble growing on his strong jaw. Something in her was mesmerized at the sight of him and her hand caressed his cheek gently, brushing away a streak of dirt.

  A strong hand caught hers, and she instinctively pulled back, but he was much stronger. He pulled her down, and then rolled her under him, pinning her on the mattress with his body.

  Frankie gasped as his nose nuzzled the spot under her ear and he breathed deeply. "You...almond cookies..." he said incoherently. She opened her mouth to speak and struggled to get out from under him, but was silenced as his lips captured hers. At first, she remained frozen, unable to move from shock. But soon, desire and heat shot through her body and she wasn't resisting at all, but returning his ardent kisses. His lips moved over hers, devouring them, his tongue seeking entrance. As soon as she parted her lips, he delved his tongue into her mouth, warm and delicious, seeking hers out.

  Hands slipped under her shirt, yanking down the cups of her bra. Large, warm palms cupped the generous globes of her breasts, squeezing gently, fingers playing with her nipples until they turned into hard little buds. Something hard pressed against her hips, and he shifted his body so he was cradled between her legs. He was definitely fully erect, his naked and engorged penis pressing into the seam of her jeans.

  Frankie pushed her hips up at him instinctively and he groaned. Moving his hands away from her breasts, he trailed lower, over her belly, and his fingers clumsily clawed at the buttons on her jeans. She pushed at his hands impatiently, and unbuttoned them herself. He yanked her hands away and pushed his own hand under the thick fabric and her panties, his warm fingers seeking out the wet folds of her sex. Slowly, he probed a finger inside her and finding her already wet, let out a low, feral growl as he continued his fervent assault on her lips.

  Suddenly, the sound of the front door unlocking and opening brought Frankie to her senses. "Fuck!" she cursed and tried to push the man away. It wasn't an easy feat, but she braced her hands on his chest and then mustered all her strength to push. She must have caught him by surprise, because he quickly rolled over and fell back on the floor with a loud thud.

  "Frankie! Frankie where are you?" came Matt's voice from the main hallway.

  "Frankie, what happened!?" Dante called.

  Fuck! Frankie buttoned up her jeans, straightened out her bra and shirt, then tried to brush her long, black hair back into some semblance of order. "I'm coming!" she said, scrambling quickly out of the guest bedroom

  Matt was running down the stairs and she nearly collided with him. "Frankie!" he grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her. "Dante said you called in a panic and that you killed someone! What happened?" Matt's brown eyes were filed with concern.

  "Frankie, there you are!" Dante called as entered the main hallway from the kitchen.

  "What are you guys doing here?" she asked, her voice high and tense.

  "You leave that message on my phone and then don't call back? What were we supposed to do?"

  "Er...sorry, I got distracted."

  Dante's eyes scanned her from head to toe, his nose wrinkling and when she blushed at his gaze, his eyes widened. But before he could say anything, Matt spoke up.

  "Tell us what ha
ppened! Where's the guy you ran over! Is he dead?"

  She shook her head. "No, no...he's ok...just drugged." She sighed and then relayed to them what had happened, at least up until the part they got into the house.

  "A Lycan? Here in Jersey? Aren't they supposed to ask you permission before entering your territory?" Matt asked. Although he was one of her fully human half-brothers, he was well-versed in how Lycan society worked.

  "Usually, but it looks like he was drugged and maybe dumped here. He was uh, naked, which makes me think he shifted to protect himself, and then wandered off," Frankie thought aloud.

  "Where is he?" Dante asked.

  "I put him in the guest bedroom," she explained.

  "Is he dangerous?" Matt asked, a worried look on his face. "Did he try to hurt you?"

  "He's too weak to do anything, I think," Frankie assured him. Dante shot her a knowing look and she looked at him with silent, pleading eyes. "Matty, can you please uh...go and get him some clothes, please? I think he's about Dante's height, but a little broader in the chest. Maybe he's got some extra sweatpants lying around."

  "Check my old room," the other Lycan instructed. Matt nodded and bounded up the stairs.

  Dante turned to his sister. "Too weak, huh?" he sniffed the air around her. "You know you can't hide anything from me. Not when when you smell like--"

  "Shush!" she held her hand up. "Can we please not...I'm ok, he didn't hurt me...we just..." she stammered and Dante raised a brow at her. "Let's now do this now, ok? I'll explain later." If I can find a logical explanation, she thought to herself.

  "Fine. Let's go take a look at this guy."

  The two of them went to the bedroom and Dante flipped on the main light switch so he could get a closer look. The large man, still naked, had somehow hoisted himself up onto the bed again and he lay on his back, his eyes closed.