Wild Moon: A Rejected Mate Romance

by C. R. Jane

  Not at date…a distraction.

  I was a horrible liar, even to myself.

  “I meant to ask you earlier how you’re feeling after the fall?” He stared at me so intently, I almost forgot what he asked. How was Daxon still single?

  Then his question repeated in my mind. The fall… I wasn’t sure that was what I’d called it, but how did I argue a point when I had no evidence of the bite?

  “I’m better,” I answered. “Though I keep wondering if I’m going crazy with what I imagined I saw.” Instinctively, I reached down to touch my leg, still half expecting to feel the bite. But the skin was smooth, not a bump or scratch. “You must be thinking I’m crazy. A wolf turning into a man…”

  Daxon looked at me without judgment, and I had to remind myself not to push it. While I might have grown up around wolves, humans had no clue we existed, and he would think I was an even bigger idiot if I continued to press the point.

  He reached his hand across the table, and the tips of his fingers grazed my arm. There was something so tempting about his action, so captivating as he looked at me. I’d noticed lots of pretty girls when we’d walked in, but none of them seemed to have distracted him. His touch sent a buzz right to the core of my body.

  At first, I didn’t react. I wasn’t sure what to do. Did I take his hand? Was this moving too fast? Or was it a simple touch of reassurance? My heart beat so fast while I tried to decide what to do.

  “What else do you remember before you passed out? Did you hit your head when you fell?”

  I shook my head and decided this wasn’t a topic I wanted to keep discussing. “I’m sure you’re right and I just dreamed it all when I passed out,” was all I said, even if in my mind, I was still convinced of what I’d seen.

  Maybe there was a shifter living in the woods, or a nearby pack, which scared me. I wanted no connection to them or anything that might make a link to Alistair. The man knew a lot of influential people.

  The waitress arrived, and I was thrilled for the interruption. She carried a massive serving tray she lowered onto the edge of the table before placing the dishes in front of us.

  My eyes bulged at the array of meals ranging from stews, to fried fish and chicken pieces, shrimp in a tomato sauce, to a steak that looked like it once belonged on a dinosaur.

  Ten dishes, and I could swear that suddenly, the whole restaurant was staring at us.

  “Enjoy your meal,” the young woman said, only looking at Daxon, waiting for his thank you, the smile just for him. When he gave her an answering grin, she practically swooned on the spot before hurrying back toward the kitchen. There she started whispering to another waitress, both of them glancing our way.

  “You have a few fans here,” I said.

  But Daxon just laughed and started serving me a bit from every dish to try out. He then carved into the dino steak, which was almost completely raw on the inside. Maybe the menu wasn’t wrong after all. He placed a small portion on my plate and sat back and began to dig in.

  “They’re just young girls,” he finally answered blandly, not looking their way. I glanced at them. They weren’t that much younger than me.

  “Try the food,” he urged me eagerly as he swallowed a piece of steak.

  I collected my fork and started with the fragrant stew packed with chunks of meat and shrimp as that looked delicious.

  “It’s gumbo. My favorite,” he told me as he continued to scoop food into his mouth.

  I took a mouthful, and an explosion of earthy flavors burst over my tongue. With it came a burning taste that ran down my throat as if I had swallowed a whole chili.

  “Oh geez, that’s spicy!” I picked up my cocktail and began to gulp it down as he laughed and poured me a glass of water.

  “I probably should have mentioned the food here carries some heat.”

  “It’s still good, but I may lose feeling in my lips.” It didn’t stop me from eating and trying the rest of the dishes, including the steak. Surprisingly, it was perfectly seasoned and almost melted on my tongue.

  “You never told me what brought you to Amarok,” he asked, then took a bite out of the garlic bread, the crunch making me reach over to take a slice as well.

  “You know about my car accident.” I took a bite into the garlic treat, realizing instantly that my breath would be garlic now, but so would Daxon’s.

  “That’s not what I mean. Why were you in this vicinity in the first place?”

  I shrugged and stuffed my bread into my mouth, unsure how much I should be revealing. Alistair wasn’t a topic I enjoyed talking about to anyone, let alone him. Daxon continued eating and waited patiently for me to respond, giving me enough time to decide to go with the semi-truth.

  “I had a bad breakup…from a really bad guy. And I needed to get away. So I left,” I said, shrugging forlornly. “I know it makes me look like a coward for running. But I don’t care.” I sipped from my cold, refreshing water, keeping my gaze on Daxon for his reaction. I remembered Miyu’s reaction in the hair salon when she saw the bruises on the back of my neck. I didn’t want that kind of pity from Daxon.

  I took a deep breath, trying to push the past out of my head for at least tonight. It was always a shadow, a blemish…just waiting for me.

  Daxon wiped his mouth with a napkin and sat back. “My mother once told me that no one facing darkness feels brave in the moment. It’s about what we learn during the struggle that’s important. I faced betrayal, and it took me a long time to walk away. What you did was a lot braver than me.”

  I almost wanted to laugh out loud, as he made it sound easy. “You want to know the truth?” I leaned in closer. “It took me a long time too, and it was only when a close friend pushed me that I was able to wake up and leave. And your mother sounds wise.”

  He half-laughed. “She was that and so much more.”

  With what Miyu had told me about Daxon, he would very much understand the sting of betrayal. It kind of felt liberating to talk to him about something we both shared where I didn’t sense him judging me.

  I grinned and kept eating. “Let’s talk about something happier.” I nudged him. “And you better get to work. You ordered enough to feed a small village. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten this much food in one sitting, by the way.”

  “Then you are definitely going out to meals with the wrong people.”

  He had no idea how right he was.

  “You did the right thing,” he said as he drained the last bit of his beer.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  He glanced around for someone to order another drink, and I guessed he hadn’t heard me as he was getting to his feet. Suddenly, he looked over to me, his gaze lingering on my face, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

  “I’m glad you came to our town, Rune,” he said sweetly. With that statement, he straightened and wove through the busy restaurant toward the bar area.

  His words spun through my mind, working their way into my fractured heart. It was nice…to feel welcomed. Especially after most people, including Wilder, seemed to want me gone. Daxon and Wilder couldn’t be more opposite to each other.

  A female’s loud cackling laughter caught my attention to a table all the way across the room near the window.

  She had her back to me, dark hair falling in waves down her back, laughing uncontrollably. And across from her, my attention landed on… Sweet fuck.

  It was Wilder.

  Was he on a date?

  I nearly choked.

  As if sensing my stare, his head jerked up, our gazes collided. His jawline tightened. I wanted to slide under the table, to vanish. Of course he and his stupid chiseled face had to be at the same restaurant as me.

  I dropped my attention quickly, studying the dishes on our plates, while the food in my stomach protested. My traitorous brain began to remember the way his lips had felt across my skin.

  Daxon returned just then and flopped down onto the bench across from me. “They usually aren’t this b
ad with service. But it’s a full house tonight.”

  I couldn’t help but glance at Wilder. He was standing up, wearing a casual top and dark pants, looking way too handsome for such an asshole. The phantom memories of him kissing me, touching me…they continued to wash over me. Why was I thinking of that right now?

  My stomach sank all the way to my feet, and I stiffened in my seat.

  “You okay?” Daxon asked, and I broke into a laugh like somehow, he’d said something funny. Of course, I regretted it the moment the ridiculous sound leaked past my lips.

  Daxon stared at me strangely, his brows rising up his forehead. I was convinced my cheeks were red as the chilis I’d been eating.

  Wilder had disappeared.

  I straightened in my seat, struggling to get a hold of myself as I shot what I hoped was a cute smile at Daxon. I leaned towards him, trying to distract myself from searching for Wilder in the room. I even started serving him more of the gumbo.

  “Maybe the cocktail is going to my head faster than I thought. It’s been a while since I drank alcohol.” I cleared my throat. “So what kind of things do you like to do around here?”

  He studied me, and I knew I was coming across strangely. I was pathetic. Wilder had only looked at me, and here I was self-sabotaging in front of the golden god I was lucky enough to be dining with.

  “I ordered you a mojito, but if it’s too much, I’ll finish it off for you.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  “Speaking of things you like to do… I noticed you’ve been taking up running.”

  Before his words finished, a shadow fell over our table.

  I cranked my head back, somehow not surprised to find Wilder standing there. He towered over the table, hands stiff by his side. My whole body heated up under his attention, the summer dress I wore no longer keeping me cool. It clung to my back as perspiration slid down my skin.

  Wilder didn’t say a word. He just stood there, watching me.

  “Can we help you?” I asked just as Daxon looked ready to stand. Considering the number of people in this restaurant, it would turn to chaos if these two broke out into another testosterone battle of who was the biggest bad boy in town. There was no doubt that these two powerful men were both type A personalities.

  I stiffened my shoulders, trying to look unaffected by his presence. His gaze was knowing as he stared at me though, like he knew what I tasted like.

  Which he did. Fuck my life.

  “Fuck off, Wilder,” Daxon growled out under his breath.

  The air thickened around us with tension, making even breathing a struggle. They were going to fight again, weren’t they?

  “What are you doing here?” Wilder snarled, ignoring Daxon, his glare slicing through me.

  “Um, having dinner,” I answered, holding myself tight, even as another drop of perspiration ran down my spine. “That’s what happens at a restaurant.”

  He leaned closer to me, and Daxon had evidently had enough. He jumped to his feet, and suddenly, they were now face to face. My heart pounded at a million miles an hour, and the whole restaurant seemed to fall silent, anticipating the violence that was coming.

  “Please, not here,” I whispered loud enough for them to hear.

  Wilder growled deep in his chest like he was an animal. “She doesn’t belong here, and you know it.”

  “Get the fuck out of my face and get the hell out of here,” Daxon answered. He leaned forward, a smug smile appearing on his handsome face. “Not this one,” I thought he murmured.

  Whatever he said, Daxon’s words had Wilder fuming.

  I was glued to my seat, my breath wedged in my chest.

  “Be very careful, Daxon. This situation of ours won’t last much longer.” Wilder spat the words in his face before he abruptly pulled away and marched back towards his table.

  The voices around us started to slowly climb back up, and Daxon took a deep inhale before taking his seat. “Sorry you had to see that. He’s an asshole on the best of days.”

  “Yes he is,” I murmured. “I’m just glad the waitress took our knives earlier,” I joked, looking over to see Wilder back with his date.

  Daxon laughed. “I try to draw the line at murder.”

  I shrugged, smiling, glad that we were somehow moving past what had just happened.

  The rest of the night passed on without issue, but once we made our way back to the inn, I felt the effect of having eaten more than I should. So much for my health goals and all of that.

  Daxon walked me to the entrance around the back of the inn that led right into the bar area, and I paused there. Only the light from the inn shone around us, while night swallowed everything else in sight.

  “That was a great night,” I said. “The best I’ve had in a long time. Thank you.”

  “I’d gladly accept the challenge to make the next one even better?” I felt his hand slide over to mine, taking hold and drawing me closer. My cheeks heated up with anticipation. I felt like a schoolgirl, waiting for her first kiss.

  My gaze fell to his perfect mouth.

  “So, is that a yes to a second date?” His hands found my waist, and I stumbled toward him, my hands finding his firm chest. His muscles underneath his shirt still astounded me.

  “That depends,” I purred, unable to believe how forward I acted. This wasn’t me, but then again, I didn’t know who I was anymore.

  Daxon pushed his body closer to me and guided loose strands of hair behind my ear. “Depends on what?”

  I tingled all over, my heartbeat soaring, unable to focus on anything but exactly where our bodies touched. Part of me screamed I shouldn’t be doing this…but the other part craved so much more.

  Desire coursed through me. I was well aware of where this was going, but also that Daxon hadn’t once pushed me into anything I didn’t want. Let yourself go, I told myself. I closed my eyes and lifted my chin.

  His lips pressed against mine then, the touch electrifying, my body shivering in response. I inhaled his musky scent and curled my fingers in his shirt to hold him close, kissing him back as hard as I could. We spiraled into an urgent kiss I realized I was desperate for. My clit tingled with heightened sensitivity, pulsing from his incredible kiss alone as his tongue plunged into my mouth.

  I whined in my throat, pulling him closer.

  “If we keep going this way, I’m not letting you go all night,” he promised, the arousal thick in his voice. It danced between my thighs too, drenching my underwear.

  Through my foggy brain, I searched for a response, finally coming up with, “We should stop.”

  Words weren’t needed as the disappointment washed over his face, as my own body protested from the slow build that had just begun.

  “Goodnight, Rune,” he said reluctantly as he leaned in and placed one final kiss on my lips before drawing back.

  I instantly stepped forward as though there was an invisible pull between us that demanded I keep him close. That delicious smile crawled over his sexy mouth, and with a nod of his head, he disappeared around the corner of the inn.

  Moments later, I bounced inside, excited, lost in the kiss, my lips slightly bruised from the hunger of his mouth against mine. The explosion he unleashed inside me had been powerful, life-changing.

  There was just the matter of Wilder…

  I blew the hair out of my face when Jim emerged from the kitchen.

  “Evening,” he said. “You’re looking very happy.”

  Short of spinning on the spot, I shrugged. “I just had an incredible night.”

  “That’s wonderful,” he said as I started up the stairs to get some sleep. “We’ve got the Town Run coming up in just a few days by the way,” he called after me. “Expect everyone to be out and about. It’s one of our busiest nights.”

  I stopped on the stairs and looked back at him. “All right, I’ll plan for that.”

  He nodded and headed back into the kitchen, and I raced up to my room, thinking to myself that my life ju
st might be on the upswing.

  I should have knocked on wood.

  9

  Rune

  I was walking back from a luckily uneventful run when Miyu suddenly popped out from behind a door.

  “Get your butt in here and get some breakfast with me,” she ordered. Looking up at the sign above her, I realized I was in front of a coffee shop that I’d been meaning to try.

  “I smell,” I warned her.

  She just laughed and pulled me inside.

  It felt like I’d stepped into the past as I walked through the door. The place was eclectic, with bright red walls, black and white movie posters in frames all around the room, and a black and white checkerboard floor. Fifties style tables and chairs, of black leather and silver, were set up by the window, and I could see fancy silver coffee presses set up behind a counter laden with various assortments of baked goods.

  And the smell. It was like I’d stepped right into heaven. I wasn’t mad about my stronger than normal senses at the moment as I took in a deep whiff of chocolate and roasted coffee beans.

  There were no other guests in here besides Miyu and me.

  In short, it was perfect.

  I walked up to the counter, and Miyu rang an old-fashioned silver bell that was sitting there.

  A few moments passed, and then I heard the shuffling of feet as a man who looked older than Father Time himself appeared out of the back room. He had white hair…everywhere. Tufts of the stuff were even sprouting out of his ears it looked like. It was endearing and a little concerning all at the same time. Giant watery blue eyes stared at us from inch thick silver rimmed glasses. He was wearing a red apron with ‘Mr. Jones’ embroidered on it in a sprawling script. Underneath the apron was a well-pressed suit that wouldn’t have looked out of place in one of the scenes of the movie posters he had around the room. And right on top of his head was a black bowler hat.

  “Welcome, madams, to my humble abode,” he said, bowing so low that I thought he was going to fall over. I giggled nervously, but Miyu just shook her head like she was used to it. “What would you like today? A latte? An Americano? An affogato? I’ve got anything but a PSL, as you young folk like to say,” he said, sniffing disdainfully, as if the very idea of a pumpkin spice latte was offensive to him.