New Moon Howl

by Zenina Masters

  “Yeah. My mom died to have me, and my dad died in a trucking accident. He was driving, and a drunk driver crossed the line. They both went over a cliff.”

  “Ouch. I didn’t know.”

  “Well, I was left with the bitch, and she got married as soon as the death certificate was wet. Mr. Baker had been sniffing around me for months, and this was his chance.”

  “Whatever happened to him?”

  Kenzi smiled and wrinkled her nose. “He was given every lash he had ever delivered to me, all at the same time. His skin came off. It was a little messy.”

  “Did they make you watch?”

  “I wanted to watch. I wanted him to see that his work hadn’t stunted me. I saw the light go out of his eyes, and I felt safe for the first time in a long time.”

  “The nightmares stopped.”

  Kenzi bumped into her. “Yes. The nightmares stopped. Sorry about that again, by the way.”

  “It’s okay. I still got a ninety-six percent on my exams the next day.”

  Being plagued with dreams of being trapped in her own skin as her beast tried to claw its way out followed her for years. It was only after his appeals had run their course and his sentence served to him that she had slept normally again. Four years of screams had been taken in by her pillows. When she slept the night through, she had burned them and started with new pillows. It had been a fresh start that she had desperately needed.

  “Do you miss the human world?” Kenzi asked it as they started down the hill toward the Isthmus.

  “Not really. I miss my family, but friends are good, too.”

  “Do you want a trip home?”

  “I do, but the couples who come here for a binding need me. I want to be able to do my job and see my family.” She chuckled. “Like any modern woman, I want it all.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Just unattainable. I am sure I will build a new list of wants and needs given time. How are the niece and nephew?”

  “They are fine. Growing like weeds. They got your presents for Christmas, and Morwiss is getting them to start writing you letters. Very old school.”

  Melwiss laughed. “I like letters. They give me something to touch, and you know how I like tactile stimuli.”

  “I do. Would you like me to be your pen pal?”

  “Please! That would be so much fun. I could tell you about the folks that I was balancing and what I am eating.”

  “Deal. I have a lot of off time, so prepare for letters.” Kenzi stepped away from her friend and ran down the hill, her skirt fluttering around her as she moved.

  Melwiss took up the challenge and soon sprinted past her, unhindered by sandals. Her laced leather boots fit her like gloves, and the ease of running was apparent.

  They raced through the Isthmus, laughing, until they reached the tower.

  The moon was positioned on top of the tower, glowing and balancing daintily as it waited to continue its journey.

  “Come on, I will introduce you to Juno. She and Derix are buddies with the tower.”

  “The tower is sentient?”

  “Yeah, when they did the renovations, it was easier to have something that would do its own maintenance, though they did have to install Wi-Fi.”

  That was funny to her for some reason. “Did you want emails or letters?”

  “Letters, please. Emails are hard to touch.” Melwiss grimaced.

  “Righto.” Kenzi followed Melwiss inside and was introduce to the caretakers of the tower.

  A final hug to her friend and they parted ways. The amused Juno led Kenzi to her room, and Melwiss left to go wandering around her home.

  Juno glanced at her. “That is the most focused I have ever seen her.”

  Kenzi raised her brows. “Melwiss? She can focus when she wants to, she just rarely wants to.”

  “I see that. She is quite powerful.”

  “That she is and very vulnerable. Her magic makes her brittle, and her family is worried.”

  “We are taking care of her.”

  Kenzi sighed. “And she will exhaust herself to make herself worthy of your attention. The charm her sister sent will be a stop-gap measure, but something more permanent needs to be done.”

  They paused next to a door.

  Juno smiled sadly. “Let me know if you have any ideas.”

  “I will. Can I go for a run?”

  “Sure, just open the door, shift, and go for your run. When you come back, the door will open on its own.” Juno smiled. “Whatever you need, ask for it, and the tower will provide it.”

  “Thank you. I feel a little guilty taking a space you could use for a guest.”

  “Don’t be. The tower has enough space to house dozens if it wants to. Right now, there are less than ten. Enjoy your stay.” Juno winked and left her alone.

  Sighing, Kenzi opened the door to her room and had her breath taken away. The wide-open space was painted in greens and yellows, the windows were huge, and the breezes off the salt water were brisk. It was a perfect night for a run, and her beast was delighted.

  She kicked off her shoes and pulled her dress over her head. She was only wearing her cuffs and the small charm on her wrist.

  Kenzi walked to the door and opened it just enough for it to press against her hips. With a quick move, she let her beast take over, and they were trotting down the coil of stairs and pacing through the lobby in a few seconds.

  Juno and Derix froze in their conversation and watched her pass. Kenzi nodded her canine head to them before aiming at the door and bursting into a full run.

  The smooth pathway restricted her speed, but the moment she could dig her nails into the turf, she was off.

  Running was one of the great pleasures for her beast, and the feel of the wind rushing over her did wonders for Kenzi’s state of mind. Sure, she was a wolf the size of a pony, but she had teeth, claws, and a tail, and it felt wonderful to be herself.

  The direction she took was random until she found a familiar scent. She tracked the source of the scent to what could only be considered a snug castle.

  There was a drawbridge, but she didn’t want to cross it. She paced back and forth for several minutes before she lay down with her head directed toward the open archway.

  He was in there, and there were several other scents in there, so she didn’t want to interrupt his visit. She settled and closed her eyes for a nap.

  “Kenzi? Is that you?”

  She opened her eyes and got to her feet, shaking her fur out before she paced to Roman’s side.

  She leaned against him, and he dug his hand into her fur.

  “How long have you been waiting?”

  She huffed and leaned harder. His fingers dug down, and she shuddered happily, huffing again.

  He slapped her side in a friendly manner. “Come on. This has been an eventful night.”

  They walked together through the woods and back to the Isthmus. The moon was ready to set as they crossed the threshold of the tower and started up the stairs.

  She paced at his side, content to be with him at long last. It was amazing at how settled she felt with him at her side.

  She paused outside her room and looked at him with puppy-dog eyes.

  He blinked. “Would you like me to join you?”

  She huffed the affirmative and stepped toward her door. It swung open, and she pattered straight to the bathroom, wishing for a robe as she went.

  She entered the bathroom, shifted, and took the robe off the door, slipping into it and tying it as she returned to the main space. “Apologies for stalking you, but it is her favourite thing to do.”

  He grinned. “I don’t mind. I am glad that I have had a chance to see you again.”

  She pulled her hair out from under the robe and draped it over her shoulder.

  “I must say that I was a little startled when I realized that she was seeking you out with so much affection attached.”

  He grinned. “I am glad that she did. It gave me a
chance to see the one person who could become my match.”

  She smiled and thought about water. A carafe and two glasses appeared on the table. Roman inclined his head and walked to the table, filling the glasses and offering her one.

  She stepped forward and took the proffered offering. “Thank you.”

  “You are very welcome. So, tell me about yourself, your work, your life.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I am a shaman, a wolf shifter, and I am on call most days. My life is an endless round of transports and witnessing life and death. What about you?”

  He grinned. “I own an aquatic farm.”

  “What?”

  “I grow pearls.”

  She blinked. “How do you grow pearls?”

  “I grow oysters and then make sure they are irritated by sand, and they form pearls around them.”

  “Do the oysters survive the process?” She sipped at her water.

  He chuckled. “Do chickens? No, they die when we remove the pearls, but the shells are reused, and the meat is ground and fed to fish at local fish farms.”

  “Wow. Are you happy with it?”

  He nodded. “I am. The oysters filter the water, and everything is used. It is a fairly tight system.”

  She nodded and walked to the couch to sit. Using all of her bravery, she patted the seat next to her.

  “So, Roman, tell me what you want in life.”

  He settled next to her, and he took her hand in his, kissing her palm again. “I want you.”

  Her breath left her lungs, and she fought her beast for control of her body. Jumping her merman was becoming an urge shared by the woman as well as the wolf.

  Chapter Eight

  Kenzi sat on the bank and watched Roman swim and flick his tail. She was perfectly content to stare at his acrobatics for hours.

  Melwiss thudded down next to her and offered her a donut. “He’s showing off for you. If he breaches or flips, he is exceedingly aroused.”

  Kenzi smiled and took the treat, picking it apart bit by bit. She was about to reply when Roman shot out of the water, twisting around and around before diving straight into the waves. She choked on the donut.

  Melwiss chuckled. “You two are mates. I can see it every time I look at either one of you. You are on his frequency, and he is on yours.”

  “And I am stuck in my position.”

  “Not really. I got authorization to balance you two if you ask me.” Melwiss continued to eat.

  “Authorization from where?”

  Melwiss laughed out loud. “Everywhere. Shifter council, Elder Killian, fey court, Dira, even Teal and Tony threw in their vote.”

  “Does he know?”

  Melwiss snickered. “Probably. He was petitioning Dira last night after the babies were in bed. Well, he is coming, so find me later if you want me to balance you. I think you could use someone to come home to.”

  “My beast wants him.”

  “This is the Crossroads. Listen to your beast.” Melwiss got to her feet and left as silently as she had arrived.

  Kenzi watched her merman swim toward her and walk out with water coursing down his very naked body. He materialized the wrap that he had worn down to the water’s edge.

  “So, are you ready to get some lunch?” His gaze slid up the expanse of her legs, and then, he smiled brightly at her.

  She was flustered at his direct look. “Sure.”

  He helped her to her feet. “Where did you get the donut?”

  “Ah, Melwiss stopped by with some news.”

  He offered her his arm, and she took it, nibbling at the donut as she went.

  “What kind of news?”

  “Surprising news, actually. Apparently, there have been petitions for me to choose my mate.”

  He smiled slyly. “You don’t say.”

  “Yeah, it is odd. It seems everyone is in favour of me having my choice of mates. Even Elder Killian.”

  He stumbled; he turned to her and gripped her arms. “Really?”

  “Really. I have also been reminded of one particular thing that I seem to have forgotten.”

  He was wary. “What is that?”

  “At the Crossroads, your beast picks your mate. Well, as we both know, my beast picked you nearly fifteen years ago.” She exhaled slowly. “What are you going to do about that?”

  His kiss cut off her question. She dropped the remains of the donut and wrapped her arms around his neck, jumping slightly to wrap her legs around his waist. There was no reason to do things halfway.

  He pulled his mouth from hers. “Did you still want lunch?”

  She grinned. “I just had a donut.”

  He laughed and walked with her clinging to him, back to the tower and up to his guestroom.

  Kenzi had never been comfortable with the idea of casual contact with men. It had seemed to her to be too important to give it less than her full involvement. Having her beast tear apart a casual lover had also been a concern.

  Kenzi smiled as he stepped toward his bed and lowered her to the surface. “I guess that this is a proposal of sorts.”

  He stroked her cheek and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I have waited a very long time for you. I promise to make you a good mate, and I will be a proud husband, no matter what time you get called out for your shaman duties.”

  She grinned. “That is more than enough. Now, I haven’t done this before, so can you take your time?”

  His entire body shook. “I will do what I can. If I rush, I will make it up to you later.”

  She leaned up and wrapped her hand around his neck, pulling him down to her. “Good enough.” She kissed him, teasing his lips with her tongue, licking carefully as she would if she had her muzzle.

  Her beast took over, removing her clothing and pinning her mate to the bed. He looked startled, but when she pinned his hands over his head and growled against his throat, he seemed to get the hint.

  She could feel wet heat seeping from her as she writhed against him. His body was delightful, and he was definitely fit enough for her wolf.

  The wrap around his waist was enchantingly tented, and a few tugs released the fabric. She wrapped her fingers around his erection, releasing his wrists.

  He took the opportunity to flip her, and in a moment, she was on her hands and knees with his body over hers, his chest against her back, and his hands cupping her breasts.

  He licked and bit at her neck. Her beast let out a growl as she moved her head to one side. He bit again, and her limbs quivered.

  He held one breast and moved the other between them, sliding his fingers against her. They slipped and slid as he assessed how ready she was and when two fingers entered her, she backed against his hand to take him deeper.

  He groaned and removed his fingers from her, straightening and gripping her hips as he pressed the head of his cock against her.

  Kenzi gasped as the heat and pressure of him answered a call inside her. He moved in, and she leaned back in a beat that took on the same cadence as her heart.

  Their bodies slapped together in a primitive ritual of advance and retreat. The crackle of power began to build between them, and the smell of ozone overrode the musk of sex.

  Kenzi closed her eyes and rocked back against him, her body focused on the building pleasure inside her. When she opened her eyes, her skin was glowing white, and Roman’s arms were radiant blue on either side of her. He thrust into her with bucking frenzy, and her body’s control over its pleasure broke loose.

  The long, low howl announced her beast confirming that it had found a worthy mate. Kenzi gasped as fire and power flooded every inch of her. Roman grunted and held himself against her as she shivered and bucked around him.

  Panting, she let her body lower to the bedding. Roman surrounded her as she flattened on the bed.

  He kissed her neck and nuzzled her hair. “Next time, can I be with you instead of your beast? She was exciting, but I would rather take my time.”

  Kenzi chuckled. “That is an
excellent idea.”

  He kissed her temple. “Good.”

  Roman rolled to one side, pulling out of her and leaving her feeling cold, empty, and wet. She grimaced and rolled to the edge of the bed, heading for the bathroom.

  The warmth of the wet washcloth was soothing on her hot and swollen skin. Friction was not normally a problem in her life, but now, she appreciated how important lubrication was.

  Roman leaned in the doorway, watching her. “Sorry. I should have taken more care.”

  She chuckled. “She wouldn’t have let you. She has been waiting for over fourteen years. This wasn’t something you could put off.”

  She rinsed out the cloth until all traces of blood were gone.

  Roman took the cloth and wiped the same traces from his cock and the surrounding area. He rinsed the fabric out as thoroughly as she had, and then, he coaxed her back to the bed.

  The tower had changed the sheets, and Roman tucked her in before curling around her from the back. She smiled. “This is more like it.”

  “Comfortable?”

  “Yes. Good thing shifters heal fast.”

  “I look forward to finding that out first hand.”

  She paused. “Right. The balancing. Are you going to be happy with a shorter lifespan?”

  “Will you be content to be with me for centuries with the humans considering you a fey? Not that you don’t look it already.” He squeezed her.

  She sighed. “You are talking about the hair, right? I know you aren’t talking about the figure. Fey women are far lither than I am.”

  “I love every curve and every angle of you. You are my mate and no one else. And I love your hair.”

  She chuckled. “That is the right answer, and my hair colour may change. Hell, I may lose my position as a shaman.”

  He turned her to face him. “What?”

  “If I am no longer a pure shifter, I may not qualify as a shaman. All my work would be ditched, and I would have to start over.”

  He threaded a hand through her hair. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “If they don’t accept me, I am good with it. I have my new family, and I am content with them.”

  He smiled brightly. “I am your family?”

  “You will be, but I have Morwiss, Melwiss, and the other mages I have worked with over the years. If I have to fall in between the species, I would like to still be able to use my magic on a daily basis.”