by Belle Harper
There were screams as another fallen wolf was brought inside, but the screaming was coming from Ada. I turned to see Noah carrying in the limp form of Huxley. How? He was protecting the children… “oh god.” I screamed out. Were they that close to our door that they got in? I didn’t understand. I felt dizzy and weak., nausea rose, and my stomach rolled.
Zara called out over and over, until someone replied that the children were safe, that Huxley had tried to stop some of them from breaking in and Noah was already there trying to stop them. But why was Noah on his own? Where was Saint? They were matched to fight together; my throat was tight and I couldn’t breathe. I felt a sob rising in my chest again.
We had three packs fighting together as one, plus some others from Pack Bardoul and Keene’s pack, but it wasn’t enough. We were outnumbered, and I didn’t factor that in today. I just saw a huge gathering of wolf shifters and three vampires and I felt safe. Like we would be fine, this would end hours ago. But I was wrong.
We all were.
Ada dropped the knife to me as she ran over to Huxley. I looked down at the large kitchen knife as Zara reached for it. I stopped her.
“Zara, can you please help me sit up? I want to do this myself,” I had to, as it was all I could do to help, and I would make this work. It had too. With the cold steel of the knife in my hand, Zara placed my arm over a large bowl that Kiara had brought, and she had towels… white towels. All I could think about was how bad I wanted my mates with me right in the moment. I needed the strength from the four of them to get me through tonight. Inside the living room, red stained all the white tiles, bedding, and towels, turning everything red and pink. So much blood, and I was about to add mine to it.
I closed my eyes and, with all my strength, cut through my wrist. The pain caused my body to shudder, and I felt the warm liquid running down my wrist and hand, into the bowl. Zara and Kiara kept telling me how great I was, how strong I was to do this on my own.
But I didn’t feel strong, I felt so weak. There was nothing I could do to stop this, if only I had run away sooner… not let Galen talk me back into coming here. All the “if onlys” hung there, choices I could have made that didn’t lead to this. The massacre of Kiba, Rawlins and Kenneally packs.
When the blood started to slow, Kiara wrapped a towel around my arm. I felt lightheaded as I looked into the bowl. I’d given a lot of blood, and my body was healing itself, like I knew it would.
But was it enough to save them all?
Chapter Forty-Six
Lexi
I couldn’t feel my body as it lay there crumbled in a heap. It was as if I was looking down on everyone, on the chaos around me, so many dying right before my eyes. Zara wiping a wet towel across my forehead, Ada racing back and forth trying to get the unconscious shifters to drink my blood. Noah was standing guard at the doors, looking over to Ada, she was covered in so much blood, sweat and tears as she raced to another shifter dying of a vampire bite. Begging him to drink my blood. I closed my eyes and felt myself drift back into my body.
The pain was so great as my body burned from the inside. At first, I thought it was from lack of blood, but I realized it was my healing power, working so hard to heal my body, and anyone near me, I didn’t have to be touching them I could heal them. My mind drifted in and out of consciousness, trying to block out all the pain.
“Lexi, Lexi… We have to move. They’re breaking in.” My ears were buzzing as I tried to listen to Ada’s words.
I wanted to tell her to leave me here. I wanted it to stop, my life wasn’t worth all this…death. My whole life had been surrounded by death. My mom, the man I called dad. The man who was to adopt me, all dead. Was it all because of me? Because of the blood that ran through my veins? If so, I didn’t want it, all of it. I didn’t want to be an angel anymore. I wanted someone to take it back. I wanted to just live a normal life, one without death and sadness.
My body hummed, and I started to feel like myself once again. I pushed myself to standing, Zara helping me and took in the chaos all around me—wolves fighting panthers, a mountain lion ripping at the leg of a Kiba man as he screamed in pain. Everything was red as they slipped in their own blood.
This had to end. Now.
“They want me, Ada. This can be stopped.”
She held onto my arm, crying and screaming at me to run with the others upstairs, but I couldn’t. I grabbed her by the shoulders, everything was now clear to me what I had to do.
“Tell them I love them. I love you. Being here was the best time in my whole life, and I will never forget you.” Before she could respond, I ran, my bare feet slipping on the blood as I ran outside into the full moon’s light. All around me, the fighting still continued, seeming as if it would never end. And it wouldn’t end, not until they had me.
If they wanted me, they had to catch me first. I took off towards the trees, I had a plan, and it involved the cliffs overlooking the rocks below.
I screamed with everything I had, my voice hoarse and dry as I flew up through the trees. Over and under branches, the mud slowing me down. I fell to the ground when I heard a howl nearby, my heart thumping hard as I pressed on. This was the only way to end it. There was no way I could survive that fall. I wasn’t like the shifters, I didn’t heal that fast. My wrist was still leaking after the knife.
If I did this, my family would be safe, and no one could use my powers against them or anyone.
“Lexi… Come here, pretty girl.”
My heart hammered in my chest at my name being called. I screamed as a figure burst through the trees and darted to the side as a wolf barreled through, cutting them off and sinking their teeth into the vampire while I kept going.
This was it. I was saving them all. I kept telling myself that, the tears making it harder to see. I wiped them away, but it didn’t help. I couldn’t stop crying. I’d only just started living. I didn’t get enough time. I needed more time.
When the small clearing came into view, I slowed as I approached the end. The cold breeze from the sea sent chills through my body, my skin prickling, and I heaved in huge gulping breaths of air between the racking sobs.
This was it—the ultimate sacrifice.
I stood there, glancing up at the moon. It was tainted now, stained with the blood of my family and friends.
I heard low growls, then a roar came from behind me. I didn’t want to look back, I knew they had found me. It didn’t take long, since my blood would’ve called them here, and soon there would be more of them. At least with them drawn here, it gave everyone a fighting chance back at the Lovell house.
“Pretty girl, what are you doing over there? Come with us. We won’t hurt you.”
That I already knew. I took a step closer to the edge, the sounds of the waves crashing to the rocks below like a slow song, over and over.
“Come here. Don’t be silly, girl.”
I closed my eyes, listening to the wind as I stretched my arms out wide.
“Rafferty, Ranger, Maverick and Galen… you will always have my heart.” I whispered into the wind as I tipped myself forward. The wind on my face was strong as it whistled past my ears. This was the right thing to do.
I was an angel without wings, and now for the first time…I was flying.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Ranger
Raff had taken Galen to be healed by Lexi, only to find she had left and the house was overrun by rogue shifters and vamps. I didn’t wait for Galen, I raced as fast as my four legs could push me. I could hear Ada, she had Lexi blood and would give it to Galen healing him, and once again, Lexi saved his life. And now, I needed to save hers. Mav was right behind me, howling out over and over, begging Lexi to stop. We were coming.
The clearing came into view as I watched Lexi drop from the cliff, my wolf crying out in pain. Galen ran to the cliff’s edge, but Maverick grabbed him before he jumped on him, pinning him to the ground. The bear shifter roared before turning on us, batting Rafferty away like he
was nothing but a toy. My wolf, angry, hurt, and devastated at the loss of his mate, jumped at him, ripping and tearing until a bright light flashed above. The bear fell to the ground under me, unmoving but his eyes, like he was frozen.
“Lexi?” Galen called out, his voice sounded almost relieved. My head turning to the light, I stared up in pure awe at large golden wings, glowing like the sun. I shifted back, as did Mav and Raff and just stared.
“Lex? Is that you?” was all I could muster. The light was so bright, I couldn’t see clearly. When they landed on the ground in front of me, the glow lessened until it was a faint light around a man standing there, and draped in his arms was my Lex and my body almost crumbled beneath me at the sight. Her arm hung low by her side and she looked dazed, but it was her. I felt sick and relieved, my heart hammering as Galen stepped hesitantly up to the man and took Lex into his arms.
I moved up closer to them, as we watched the man with the golden wings.
“Lexi, oh god. Why would you do that? Why would you leave me?” Raff sobbed into her chest, and her hand stroked his hair. Mav was there too, holding onto her tightly.
I just… this was so much, and the night had already taken too much toll on me. I wasn’t going to think about it. My feet moved to her, and she reached out for my hand, squeezing it tight.
“I’m so sorry, I just wanted to help you all. It was the only way I could think to stop this. I’m so sorry,” she pleaded to us, and my heart broke then for her. She didn’t deserve this. So much bad had happened in such a short time and she was trying to do what she thought best. But it wasn’t, it was never the answer. We would have worked this out.
Then the man, the angel, flew up and away without a word. Who was he and where did he go?
The sun was slowly coming up over the horizon. It was beautiful as we all sat together, holding each other, breathing in each other scents, and being grateful to be living one more day with each other, with Lex. My mate, my love.
“Sons,” a loud voice from behind us called out, and I turned to see my father, Nash, Jett, and Lyell standing at the edge of the clearing. “It’s over.” The way his body sagged, I felt a need to reach out to him. This was so hard, this fight. But I would never want to be and alpha, that was hard. And I could tell that tonight was the hardest he had ever had to fight.
We hadn’t heard any fighting after the angel left. The bear had disappeared while we were watching the sunrise, and I didn’t want to worry where he had gone as he didn’t come for us or make a sound. He was just gone. Holding Lex was more important than to worry where a bear shifter ended up.
I smelled him before he landed—the angel. I realized then that he smelled like a much stronger version of Lexi. But he didn’t call to me as his mate. It was a little different, but not unpleasant.
Everyone watched as he stood before us, his eyes the color of amber, his hair a rich golden brown. He looked like he was Lexi’s older brother. His large golden wings were on display again as he eyed us all, then to Lex. His wings curled back behind him, and I just stared at him in awe. He was…an angel.
“Lexi Turner.” His voice was smooth and almost hypnotic.
Galen and Raff helped her to stand, and she stared the angel down. Oh fuck, Lex. I wouldn’t want to fight him.
“I am Tobias, I heard word from my sister that I had fathered a child and to find her here. But I am confused as to how…” Tobias looked to all of us. I could sense more of our pack were coming through the woods, but my father growled low, telling them to hold back.
“You’re too young to be my dad,” Lex responded. Tobias looked at her and smiled, then held out his hand, palm up.
“Please come here, Lexi.” She stepped out from our protection, Mav took a step forward with her, but Galen held him tight. She walked into the glowing ring of light that surrounded Tobias and took his hand. He closed his eyes, his head looking to the sky as Lex gasped.
“You are my child, but I do not understand. Your mother, Elizabeth Black,”
Lexi made a sound and nodded. “That was my mom’s name. Elizabeth, Black was her maiden name.” He dropped her hand and took a step back, almost as if he was examining her.
“Was… Is there something wrong? Did you know about me?” she asked, but it sounded sad with a mix of hope laced in there.
His eyes landed on mine and I stood taller, then they drifted to Raff, then Mav, and finally to Galen.
“I did not know, or I would have been with you. I still do not understand how. Where is your mother now?”
Oh god…
Chapter Forty-Eight
Lexi
“Where is your mother now?” He asked again.
My heart couldn’t take all of this in. He was my father, this man with amber eyes, the same color hair, but didn’t look a day over twenty-five, if that. My mother…
“She’s dead,” I told him. There was no other way to tell him. Just that she was dead.
I could see the flash of hurt in his eyes, I wasn’t sure if it was for my mother or me.
“She died when I was five. I lived in foster care after that, until now. Now I’m here, with my family. My mates.”
He kept looking back at them, I worried about what he was going to say next.
“You have wolf shifters and a daylight vampire as mates?” he questioned, and I nodded but I could feel the thick lump forming in my throat. I didn’t care if he didn’t like them. Just because we shared the same DNA, didn’t make him my father. You had to earn that title with me.
But he didn’t say anything further. He just nodded and looked down to me again, his fingers went to his chin as he tilted his head. His eyes not reaching mine, it was if he was thinking. But I could feel the rising panic in my chest, but before it could get any further, he spoke.
“I still do not understand how Elizabeth birthed a child. My child. That is just… unheard of.”
I heard movement behind me, as Galen asked, “because you’re an angel?” Tobias looked to Galen, then back to me. His eyes were swirling again, and I wondered if they always did that and if mine would too. It was almost like looking in a golden whirlpool. He cleared his throat.
“My father is an angel, and my mother was… a wolf shifter. She was one of the only females born before— ” Everyone gasped, and I think I almost fainted. His mother was a wolf shifter, his father an angel. “I can father children with any living being. But this does not answer the question as to how Elizabeth had my child.”
“Why?” I asked, what was so wrong with my mom being pregnant with me, because that made no sense if he can father children. Why couldn’t she have his child? She was a human, the scientists back in Bardoul tested her DNA, they said she was human. So yes, she could have half angel wolf shifter babies too.
“Because, my child,” he leant down and gently touched my shoulder, his eyes now focused solely on me.
“Elizabeth was a vampire.”
Rising Sun… Book Three and the final book in the New Moon series is out October 30th 2020.
Acknowledgments
Thank you Readers for taking another chance on me especially after having to push back Blood Moon by two weeks, was such an amazing, yet challenging journey to write this story for you all. Also if you find any spelling mistakes please email me, I’m and Aussie and different spelling/words/phrases sometimes slip through and I try my best.
I love vampires and shifters, and I am so grateful that you all love them too. And now Galen has had his cake… I know there is some very happy readers out there. I for one am very happy.
I know I have left you on a cliffhanger… again. But that’s my favourite part of writing a series. I usually know the ending before anything else. As I did for Twice bitten, I knew this ending before I even put a word down. Rising sun… well it will be the biggest book by far. I know Blood Moon was a little smaller than Twice Bitten, it just had a smaller timeline to work with.
For all of those readers who were holding those fingers crossed f
or Lexi to give Jett some cake… wink wink. I am so sorry to disappoint. But I already had a book planned for him long before I finished writing Twice Bitten. So he and Mekhi will have their story. That will be a standalone.
So sign up to my newsletter because that will be coming out in 2021 and I am also very excited for a New Series starting then too. “Full Moon” Ada’s story, that’s right, she needs her happy ever after too. You might have a small hint as too who might be in her Harem from the title…
If you have a chance, would you please consider leaving a review? All reviews, good and bad help other readers find their next book. And I am very grateful to all the reviews I have received.
I want to thank my amazing PA Andi Jeffree, Sam Hall, and all my amazing Awkward Noodle Authors. xx
I want to thank my new editor, Meghan, you have been amazing. And all the stress I had been under with lockdowns in my state and homeschooling my kids full time and dealing with me sending chunks of book to you. Haha, you have seriously been a champion. I am so glad to have you on my team.
Thank you all so much,
Belle xx
Also by Belle Harper
Pre Order Rising Sun Here
Lexi is an angel, her father is too. But her how was her mother… a vampire?
** Coming late 30th October 2020*
Buy it Here
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