Moonlight Betrayal: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Witch and the Wolf Pack Book 5)

by K. R. Alexander

  Oh, yes. Kage had told me Zar, Jed, and Jason were the truest Sables, dating back untold generations and having the old family names passed on through the maternal side. Mugraturs and Incallio—though I couldn’t remember what Kage had told me Jason’s name meant.

  “So, any sign of the princess and her pet? Sparky was in a nark heading out of here.”

  I sighed. “I think they’re okay. Jason is trying to get Kage to come in.”

  “And how about the beast? Leaving him for a good romp with the sheep?”

  “We didn’t see any more sheep than we did faie. They must gather in certain areas at night and we didn’t cross paths. The only thing we saw were a few deer.”

  “How very delicious—”

  “But I do hope they come in. Jed’s just sleeping out there. I don’t know what Kage might be up to.”

  “You know, I can’t think why you haven’t been Belle all along.”

  “I don’t need more nicknames from you, Andrew.”

  “Really? You fancy them well enough from your Arctic prince.”

  Andrew must have heard Isaac call me arä—roughly translating to “beloved”—this evening when he’d said goodbye for our faie search.

  I blew out my cheeks. “I’m going to bed. If they haven’t come back in an hour…”

  Andrew cocked his head as a slow grin crept across his face. “It’s cold at the top, isn’t it?”

  Yes, it was. If they didn’t come back, I, the supposed silver of this expedition, really should go out to find them. They were my flock and Kage, at least, was in distress. But I could hardly keep my eyes open. The idea of going to bed for an hour, only to drag my carcass once more outside at, say, 3:00 a.m., made me want to cry.

  “If, in an hour, they have not come back,” I said, “I will go find them. Yes. I’m concerned about both of them being out there and need to know they’re safe. Preferably in here in bed.”

  Andrew’s gaze flickered, he looked away down the hall.

  Had I surprised him?

  Why?

  Which reminded me. I’d wanted to ask Andrew what had happened with the Sable Pack on Friday when five out of my six pack, all those present, had performed the vow to me. This had somehow shifted the dynamic of the rest of the pack against me. Afraid, it seemed. Horrified that a wolf would offer such a gesture to a human. Was that it? All there was to it? Or more?

  But I was so, so tired. We’d have plenty of time to talk until dinner with the mage translator.

  So I didn’t ask, but Andrew sighed. He turned back into his own doorway to grab his boots. He’d been standing on the hall carpet in his socks but now pulled on his heeled motorcycle boots one by one while leaning into the doorframe.

  “Going somewhere?” I asked.

  “To find the strays,” he mumbled. “What do you think?”

  “You don’t have to. I think Jason is bringing him in.”

  “So you hope. But you do not seem to have grasped one of the key factors of your position, darling.” With the second boot yanked on, he straightened up and shut his door, leaving it unlocked and pocketing the skeleton key. He met my eyes. “Delegation.”

  As he started past me for the stairs, Zar’s door opened again and Isaac looked out.

  “Thank you, Andrew,” I said, watching him go, really meaning it.

  Andrew didn’t look around, jogging down the steps.

  Isaac stepped into the hall. “Everything all right?”

  “He’s going to find Kage.” I rubbed my eyes, suppressing a yawn.

  “Sorry you didn’t meet any kindred, Cassia.” He walked over. “You need sleep.”

  “So do you. I don’t even know why you’re all up.”

  “Just making sure our pack is together before we curl up.”

  “Is that it?” I looked up with a weak smile, surprised to find him right in front of me in the doorway. “We’ll try again. Now the translator is more pressing anyway.”

  “Did you hear back? Do you know for sure we’re meeting Monday evening?”

  I shook my head. “He said anytime so I hope he sees the email by morning and lets us know. Were you able to get any work done?”

  “Don’t worry about us.” He kissed my brow. “Get some sleep, arä.”

  I needed him with me. It was a double bed—actually a queen but they called it a double here. Of course, it made more sense for one of them to share with me than be crammed into two rooms together. But … Zar. Maybe if Jed had still been in the room with them. With various circumstances the way they were right now, though, it felt like slapping Zar to invite Isaac to my bed.

  What about Isaac? He had convinced me there was no other reason he shouldn’t be with me. And what about me? Much as I wanted nothing but sleep by then, I also didn’t want it alone. Falling asleep against him last night had been blissful.

  Worth tormenting Zar for?

  I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head. “Good night, Isaac.” Again, I looked up.

  He kissed my lips. “Moon bless.”

  I slipped away, shutting the door before I could change my mind.

  Soon after, ready for bed, finally climbing below the duvet, I heard half my wayward pack returning upstairs. Muffled voices and steps, the door. Andrew had brought them back.

  Thank you.

  I was just about out, so tired I could hardly think of wanting Isaac here, or another try with Zar where we could both win, when I heard the raised voices.

  No, not in here. This isn’t a hostel.

  Or even a big, busy hotel.

  Something thumped, quick voices, Kage, I was sure, a door, open, shut, then all was quiet.

  I waited. Nothing. And still nothing. No steps downstairs, no door opening again.

  Shivering, dazed with my own fatigue, I dragged myself from bed to check the hall. Sure enough, someone was out there alone.

  Chapter 6

  In my bathroom flip-flops, pajama bottoms, and tank top, I stepped out, leaving my door ajar.

  Jason sat on the hall carpet, against the dark, maroon and gray striped wallpaper, his knees drawn up, arms around them and face against them. He had on his boots and leather motorcycle pants—or trousers here. Nothing else.

  He glanced at me as he heard my door, then leaned his head back into the wall, chin tipped up, eyes shut.

  “Jason?” I hesitated, having almost called him Jay without meaning to—so used to hearing that from Kage in the past few days. “What happened?”

  He sniffed and dragged a hand down his face, eyes still shut. “Sorry about the noise.”

  “Did he throw you out again?”

  “Oh … sort of. More … elective this time. And Andrew told him to belt up so he’s not waking everyone in the place.”

  “Come on in with me. Don’t sit out here.”

  Jason glanced around. Who did he think I was talking to?

  “Cassia? I’m sorry about the ball. I didn’t mean any—”

  “Come on, Jason.” I went out to him, offering my hand, and he came with me.

  Back to bed. For the night.

  I had the window wide, but pushed it to just a few inches. The Yorkshire summer night had turned sharp.

  Shivering worse than ever, I slid over in bed. “Sometimes he needs space, Jason. It’s okay. He’ll settle down. We’re all angry and hurting about what’s happened.”

  And Kage was already angry and frustrated before his sister’s murder. Part of which was my fault. If anyone should be with Kage right now, it was me. I was too tired and too much of a coward, though. I couldn’t take him venting his feelings on me anymore than Jason could right now.

  Jason sat on the edge of the bed with only moonlight showing the curve of his bare back and arms as he hunched over his knees, head in his hands.

  “I want to be there for him. Sometimes that’s what he wants and sometimes he doesn’t and says I’m just trying to get his attention. He’ll go in a second—” Snapping his fingers. “From curling up with me to bitin
g my head off. And I’m really, really sorry, Cassia. Kage had snapped at me and I was feeling down. When I saw you and Jed playing with that ball of his … you were right. It was just a laugh to me, pretending I had it. But it wasn’t to him. He really cares about that ball. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. The important thing is what we take away. Working together.”

  “No fights,” Jason said.

  “No fights,” I repeated. “I’m sorry about Kage. I’ll spend time with him tomorrow if he’ll tolerate me. He does need us right now. He just also needs us to be understanding since he’s not at his best.”

  Jason rubbed the heel of his palm across his eyes, nodding.

  “Sleep. You can go back in a while if you want to try again.”

  He rubbed his neck, sniffed, and got up.

  In the bathroom in the dark he splashed his face and rinsed his mouth out before returning. After pulling off the boots and leather pants he crawled into bed, facing me, his breathing shallow.

  I kissed his wet eyelashes as he ducked his head on the pillow, shutting his eyes. For a long time we lay with our foreheads together, Jason’s arm around my back, my hand in the short hair at the base of his neck, gradually relaxing into each other.

  I was nearly asleep again when I rolled over to face the window and moon, thinking of faie. Next time we’d find them.

  Jason’s arm around me was reassuring, his body warm and solid along my back, knees bent, spooning in close contact all the way down.

  The bookkeeper below the castle in Germany looked up by the light of the single black candle. Thieves, thieves, thieves. You think we do not know?

  I shivered and recoiled, but stepped in something wet. I looked down to find black water reaching to my knees, my waist, then up to my chin. I opened my mouth to scream and the water poured in, choking me, my voice gone. It wasn’t water at all. A hot, thick, coppery tide of blood.

  I rushed down a waterfall, crashed into stones, and looked up to see the same glittering spirits who had gifted me the heart made of light.

  The faie moved forward, holding out hands and paws and claws and leaves and puffs of fog. Help.

  I am. I’m trying. We can’t find you. You must make the first move.

  Help.

  Tell me how.

  Help.

  Just show me how, what to do, and we’ll do whatever you need. We’ll help you. Show me.

  Help.

  Their faces melted into streams of blood, their eyes carved out of their sockets, their hearts ripped from their chests, and they fell, along with me, into a river of blood.

  With a yelp, I jumped, this time against a real, living someone who held me.

  “Shhh, it’s all right, Cassia.”

  I blinked and rubbed my eyes. It had seemed all in a flash, all instantaneous. Yet…

  “It’s morning,” I murmured thickly.

  The sky beyond the curtains was lavender and gray with nearing dawn.

  “Not enough to fuss about,” Jason said into my hair.

  I smiled, which at once made me feel more settled. “No … five or six at most. Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. They serve breakfast until nine, don’t they?”

  “Thirty.”

  “Even better.”

  “And it’s fine,” he added. “I wasn’t asleep.”

  “Then I’m sorry about that instead.”

  He chuckled and kissed my hair.

  I snuggled back against him, Jason’s arm still around me, thinking once more of Zar last night—the unsatisfactory encounter—as I felt Jason’s partial erection. I wouldn’t have dwelt upon this—waking up and all—only Jason had just said he hadn’t been asleep.

  Birds… Through the open window drifted the sounds of a dozen early songbirds that I’d missed at the last dawn, when they’d been scared away from the mobile home park by all the sobbing and shouting.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I whispered, realizing as I listened how much I’d needed someone to wake up to this morning.

  “Me too. Cassia? I’ve been thinking about Kage. I…” He hesitated, stealing himself or trying to sort out the words. “I don’t mind anything between him and you. That’s your life. Right? We all love you. You must know that. The only thing is … he thinks … when you left before…”

  Jason swallowed. “It’s not your fault that he was mad at me. It’s just that, when you left, and he was so angry, he said … you turned him down because of me. Because he was in a relationship with me and you didn’t like—or that you weren’t comfortable with that. I know it’s not personal or anything. You’d probably feel that way about any couple. I get that. Only … you wanted some space when you got back and stayed with us and Kage … he’s still blaming me that you’re more interested in Isaac and Zar than him. That I’m … the only reason you are.”

  “Jason—”

  “I’m sorry for that. Whether it’s true or not, I’m sorry he feels that way and you’re caught in the middle. I don’t want to hurt either of you but that’s what I’m doing just by being—”

  “No, Jason, you’re not. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I’m fine with you and Kage. Maybe you know that now, but he still thinks you and I are…” He let out a breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t know if this makes sense from your perspective. But, if we had more of a relationship, Kage would see things are all right there. That we’re not enemies and you’re fine with him being with me. If you happen to run with anyone else at the same time, that’s your affair. But he’d know then it’s not just about you and me.”

  “I’ll talk to Kage. His lashing out at you because he’s frustrated with me is just redirected anger. It’s not fair and I’m sorry it’s been happening to you.”

  “I don’t mean you to be in the middle either—”

  “It’s all right.” I squeezed his hand.

  “It would be a help to him now, emotionally, something to lift his spirits a little, that we’d slept together and were comfortable together.”

  I smiled. “Which is weird, but you’re probably right.”

  “I don’t know if you’re interested in me the way you are him. It’s all right if you’re not. We’re attracted to whoever we are. It’s not really something we can help.”

  I don’t know why it took me that long to understand what he was asking me. Although pre-dawn and half asleep seemed reasonable excuses.

  “I’m not sure I’m the one who should be questioning that aspect of our relationship. Have you ever had sex with a female?”

  “Uh…”

  “In skin form?”

  “No.”

  “Then you’re the one who should be considering if you’re comfortable trying something that’s not your thing. And are you sure about Kage? He wouldn’t be upset that I pushed him away and then we were more … intimate?”

  “Why?” There was almost a laugh in Jason’s voice. “He thinks the divide between us is the reason there’s one between you and him. I want him to know we’re both on his side. That we love him. And each other. That might be the only way to prove it to him.”

  This would have sounded like the loopiest idea I’d ever heard a week ago. Knowing what I did about Jason and Kage now, though … it kind of made sense.

  I pulled my shoulders away from him so I could roll my upper body and look into his eyes in the gloom. “You’re sure? On various levels?”

  “I’m sure.” He smiled—looking rather nervous, though. “I only feel… I don’t want to … uh… I might be … inept.”

  I laughed. “Sorry, Jason. I thought you were worried about Kage. But you’re worried about your performance?” I almost told him I couldn’t get less out of the encounter than I had with Zar a few hours ago, but that would have been incredibly cruel and it was only a fleeting thought.

  Instead, I kissed him and turned my back to him again. “It’s all right. We’re all only … well, ‘people,’ shall we say?”

  It crossed my mind, as he kissed the
back of my neck and I slid down my pajama bottoms, wriggling out of them under the duvet, that Jason and I had our own grieving happening as well. Was our judgement clouded? Would I regret this? It was certainly likely to cheer Kage up, which all of us needed. Living in this Moon, anyway. But would it for sure? It felt so counter-indicated from my own world views. Yet Jason was the one who knew Kage so well, not me…

  “No lubricant needed, don’t put all your weight on me, and remember I’m not as strong as you are,” I said softly as Jason eased a bit lower against me and I drew up my knees, both still on our sides.

  There was no need for the warnings. Unlike the sometimes volatile encounters I’d seen, or heard, between himself and Kage, Jason was especially gentle. He didn’t seem interested in fondling my breasts or much else, but stroked my arm and thigh, kissed my neck, sans teeth, and sometimes murmured in my ear.

  “You’re wet,” he breathed, catching his breath along with me when he eased inside. “It feels good, Cassia.” He kissed me, breathing through my hair.

  I pressed back and he rocked his hips, drawing us in closer.

  “Is it good for you? Some of the females in fur like it and some don’t. But it can be stressful in fur.”

  “Stressful?” Again, I almost said something about someone else—Andrew having told me it was horrible—and again stopped myself. “Why?”

  “Because of the tie. Being locked together. It’s a very different experience. Not like this at all. This is like massage and long afternoons. That’s like a battle.”

  I didn’t ask for details, though the idea sounded terrifying. Maybe a little canine anatomy research some other time. Or maybe best not to know. Not my life.

  Jason moved a bit faster, kissing me, saying how good it was and how sorry he was that things hadn’t been going well for Kage and me. Kage had been furious with me on Saturday and crushed by his own grief yesterday. “Not going well” might have been a massive understatement. So was this the cure? I hoped, yet reservations remained. A strange way to make up with someone’s lover.

  “What about you?”

  Drowsy, loving the gentle feel of him, perfect tempo just then, I hadn’t been paying much attention to Jason’s murmuring to me.