Riley's Secret (A Moon's Glow Novel # 1)

by Smith, Christina

  I snuck out of bed, trying not to wake him, retrieved the doughnuts and climbed back in before he opened his eyes. I sat up and leaned against the headboard.

  He looked up at me and smiled.

  “Doughnut?” I asked, holding one out to him.

  He reached for it, but I pulled it back. “Should I toss it in the air for old times’ sake?” I teased.

  He reached up, yanking it out of my hand. “Funny.” He took a bite. “Mmm. These are just as good as I remembered. Did Mona make them?”

  “Yes, she’s an amazing cook. My favorites are her banana pancakes and homemade chocolate doughnuts. I stole a bunch of these for you yesterday because I felt guilty about how I reacted when I saw you.”

  “Oh, so these were a bribe for my forgiveness?”

  “They were, except you said you already forgave me. Of course, now I feel bad about the whole mate thing. I’m sorry it bothered me.”

  “I will forgive you anything, as long you supply me with doughnuts,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. He bent over to bite into the chocolate doughnut I was holding. When he finished chewing he said, “Seriously, though, there is nothing to forgive. Never apologize for what you feel. You had a lot to take in yesterday. I’m lucky you’re still here.” He wrapped me in his arms, nuzzling my neck. Shivers crawled up my spine.

  I pulled his head to meet mine and touched his lips softly. “Are you going to the shelter today?” I moved away to sit back up against the pillows.

  He leaned up beside me, taking another doughnut out of the container. “No, Julia is covering for me until I find Rowan. I’m going to go out today and see if I can catch his scent. While I’m gone, I want you to go up to the main house, so I know you’re safe.”

  I nodded my head in answer as I leaned down to take a bite of the doughnut he was holding, as he had done to me.

  “Hey,” he snarled. “Never steal food from a wolf.”

  I laughed, taking another one out of the container.

  Nate climbed out of bed and slid into a pair of jeans. He had been wearing boxer shorts. His muscles bulged as he pulled a T-shirt over his head. I was still staring as he turned around. “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing, just admiring, is all.”

  His smile was cocky. “I’m going to make some breakfast. Do you want some?”

  “No, these will do.” I lifted the doughnut to my lips.

  “I’m going to make some eggs if you change your mind.” He turned around and walked out of the room. After I swallowed the last bite and wiped the crumbs from the sheets, I headed for the shower.

  When I was finished showering and getting dressed, I went out to sit down on the couch. The album was still where Nate had tossed it before I fell asleep. I bent down and touched the smooth silk cover. It was the color of red wine with little pearls sown into the padding underneath. The pearls were in a pattern of four in a row and the words Nathaniel Riley were embroidered in the center with cream-colored thread. The material was wearing thin in some places and fraying along the edges, showing its age. But it was obvious someone took a great deal of time to make this. A picture of Nate’s mother sitting by a fire sewing the pearls and embroidering his name popped in my mind. The image was in black and white, since that’s the only way I had seen her.

  I picked up the album and opened it to the first page.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to make you something? It’s no trouble,” Nate asked, scraping the last of his eggs off his plate and shoveling them into his mouth.

  “I’m sure. I’m going to read these now, if that’s all right?” I rubbed my hand softly along the pearls while I waited for his answer. They felt bumpy against my skin.

  “I’ll give you some privacy. I’m going to get cleaned up.” He strolled into the bedroom. I felt so comfortable here. It almost felt like we were living together. I secretly hoped after Rowan was out of the way, he would ask me to move in permanently. There was no need for me to stay at home. I was eighteen, no longer in school and my parents couldn’t care less if I was there or not. I needed to be where I was wanted. I could suggest it to him, but it would mean more if he asked me. Which probably stemmed from feeling unwanted my whole life.

  The sound of running water from the shower drifted from his room.

  I turned my attention back to the letter on the first page.

  Dear Riley Descendant:

  My name is Emmaline Riley. I am the proud mother of Nathaniel. If you are reading this letter you know what he is. Please do not judge him for what he cannot change. Judge him for what he has done.

  If I know my son, he is helping people and making a difference in this world. Nathaniel constantly takes care of others. Even as a child he cared deeply for the animals on the farm. He became so upset when it was time to sell or slaughter the cows. He always grew attached to any kind of creature. I cannot tell you how many stray cats and dogs he brought home with him, hiding them in the barn so his father wouldn’t find out. He is the strongest and most compassionate person I know.

  When that woman changed him, he tried to take his own life to protect our family. That is the person whom you know. He would risk his own life to help others. For this I am proud to call him my son. I hope in your lifetime he is happy and has found a woman to love. He deserves happiness. Treat him with respect and love, for that is how he will treat you.

  Yours, Emmaline.

  The letter made me smile. I could feel the love and pride radiate out of the page. For a parent to speak with so much awe about their child was foreign to me. I was glad Nate had parents who loved and cared for him so much they wanted to take care of him after they died. I knew my own parents never spoke of me like that. I pictured his mother sitting beside me on the couch talking to me. Her love for her son was visible and it was obvious where Nate got his kindness and strength from.

  The next one was from his father. I wasn’t ready to read it yet. They were emotional and I needed some time to absorb his mother’s loving words. I flipped the pages, not really looking closely, but stopped at one that was written in messy handwriting. There were little drawings of dogs in the corners that were actually quite good, considering they must be from a child. I looked at the top and saw Emmaline’s handwriting; it said: William’s letter, age eight. I hadn’t intended to read any more at the moment, but the urge to read a child’s letter from so many years ago was too strong. I laid the page down and read:

  Dear person in the future,

  I’m supposed to write about my big brother Nathaniel. My mama and papa just told me what he is, except I don’t believe it. They say he is a werewof and even though I don’t know what that is, I know it can’t be true. It sounds like a monster and my brother is not. All I know is that he is the best big brother around. I don’t see him very much because he lives far away and works a lot. But when I do, he always smiles and calls me captain. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel important.

  One time when I visited him, I snuck outside and watched him change into a big dog. I sat down on the grass to wait for him to return but I must have fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes later, he was still a dog and he was lying over me to protect me from the cold winter weather. I remember being really hot and sweaty and the doctor told my mama that it was a miracle that I didn’t die. I had something called nenomia and even though I didn’t know what that was, it sounded bad. I never told anyone that it was Nathaniel that saved me or that he changed into a dog and he never mentioned it. But the next time I opened my eyes he winked at me and said it was our little secret.

  If what they said is true, then I want to be a werewof too, because I want to be just like him when I grow up.

  I’m supposed to write something like yours truly, as mama did, but I don’t want to so instead I’ll write,

  Captain William (Will for short) Riley

  It was probably the cutest thing I had ever read. For some reason I had the urge to cry for the little boy who couldn’t comprehend what was happeni
ng to his big brother. A tear threatened to escape when I heard a knock at the door.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Joseph

  I placed the album on the coffee table and wandered over to the door, first peeking out the window to make sure it wasn’t Rowan. A man about six feet tall with reddish-brown hair stood watching the water, with his back to me. He seemed to sense me watching and turned around, giving me a friendly smile. I opened the door. “May I help you?” I asked, blocking the doorway.

  “Good day to ya. You’re Nathaniel’s mate, then?” He spoke with an accent, Irish maybe?

  I cringed. Hearing the word over and over was not helping me get used to it. “How did you know that?” I asked suspiciously.

  “I can smell him on you.”

  Werewolf! I pushed the door, starting to slam it shut, when I heard Nate’s voice.

  “Joseph! What are you doing here?” He came up behind me, touching the small of my back gently. “It’s okay, Meg. He’s a friend of mine.”

  He guided me back a few steps to let Joseph in. I sat down on the chair I had vacated earlier, a little wary at meeting another werewolf.

  They embraced in a quick hug. “I thought I was supposed to call you if I needed help,” Nate said to Joseph.

  “I’ve just wrapped up the last opening and it was time I moved on anyway. When you called, I thought I’d come here and stay with you for a while, help you out, if you’re needing me. I’m in the mood to kick some werewolf ass.” Joseph nodded to me. “Pardon the language, Love.” His eyes sparkled with mischief and I knew instantly that I was going to like him.

  Nate gestured with his hand for Joseph to take a seat across from me. Sitting down on the couch next to my chair, Nate reached out to rest his hand on mine.

  “Joseph, this is my girlfriend, Megan.”

  Joseph gave me a crooked smile. “It’s grand to meet you, Love.” His smile turned to a look of confusion as he leaned in and sniffed me. I pulled away from him and stared at Nate.

  “What’s wrong?” Nate asked him.

  Joseph sat back in his chair, looking around. “Is there someone else in the house with you?”

  “No, it’s just us. Do you smell Rowan?” Nate was suddenly worried.

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “Never mind me. My nose must be off after being cooped up in the car for the last nine hours.” A grin spread across his face as he turned to me. “Megan, I’m so glad Nate found you. I’ve never seen anyone as miserable as he was when I met him. He wasn’t cut out for this life. Me, I didn’t want it either, but I accepted it and moved on. No sense whining about what you can’t change. I thought I might as well have fun, right, Nate?” He looked over at his friend with a wink.

  “Yes. Joseph was a bad influence, always trying to get me into trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “The female kind,” Joseph answered with a grin.

  Nate rolled his eyes. “He used to drag me to bars and pubs and then abandon me to flirt with girls only to eventually break their hearts.”

  “I made a few smile once or twice before any hearts were broken.”

  Nate laughed. “So you’re going to stay for a while, where’s your suitcase?”

  “What kind of a bum do you take me for? I’m not going to assume you’d invite me stay.” His expression was wounded, quickly changing to a grin. “But it’s on the porch just in case you did.”

  “Of course you’re welcome to stay with us, right, Meg?”

  I felt a shiver of goose bumps when he said “us.” “Yes, of course. I would like to hear about this lady trouble you got yourselves into.”

  Joseph’s wicked smile returned. “Ah…don’t you worry, Love. Nate was a perfect gentlemen, as much as I tried to change him. I’m surprised he’s with you though. He never wanted to form attachments, worried that the blasted Rowan would find out.” He turned to Nate. “Why did you finally give in? Is it because she’s yours?”

  I opened my mouth to object to being called Nate’s, but Nate spoke before I could. “How did you know? Did you smell me on her?”

  “Yes.”

  Nate scowled, a look I hadn’t seen on him in weeks. “I was afraid of that. No wonder Rowan found her.”

  “How long did Nate ignore you before he made his move?” Joe asked me.

  “Three years. You know him well, I see. But he didn’t make a move. I kissed him.”

  He looked impressed. “Good for you.”

  Nate stood up, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation. “Why don’t we go up to the main house and visit with Will?”

  Joseph stood up, following Nate to the door. “I haven’t seen him since I beat him at poker and that was what, twenty years ago?”

  Nate nodded. “About that. Get your suitcase, I’ll get the gun and we can discuss our plan.”

  The main house was quiet when Nate opened the door. “Will?” Nate yelled.

  “In here.” Will’s voice floated out from the office. We took a few steps toward the door when Joseph breathed in deeply. Nate and I watched as he wandered around the foyer, sniffing. He followed some scent until he got to the staircase. He was about to climb it when Nate called to him. “Joseph, what are you doing? Is it Rowan?”

  Joseph spun around. His eyes were glazed, his nostrils flared. He seemed disturbed about something. He looked back up the stairs and then back to us. He shook his head with a furrowed brow. “Nothing, let’s go.” He hurried to the door that led to the office, his shoulders tense. Something was bothering him. He pushed it open and Nate and I followed him in.

  “You still owe me twenty grand, old man,” Joe bellowed, his words dripping with laughter.

  Will, who was hovered over papers on his desk, looked up. His face held a look of surprise then quickly turned to pleasure. “Joseph! Nate didn’t tell me you were coming.” He stood up and walked toward him with his arms out. They embraced quickly then pulled apart, smiling at each other. “How did the opening go?” Will asked, leaning against the desk.

  “Good, I don’t think Frank really liked me at first. I’m guessing he was jealous of how young and handsome I am.” He showed a lopsided grin that I was guessing he used a lot. “Taking orders from a fellow of nineteen was the root of it all. But after a call from Richard everything was right as rain.”

  Will nodded. “He’s a little bull-headed, but a good businessman. He didn’t take the secret as well as others did. But there’s nothing he can do about it. If he doesn’t like it he gets disowned.”

  I turned to Nate and raised my eyebrows, asking silently what Will meant. He shook his head, holding his palm up. I took that to mean he’d tell me later. “Um… Mr. Riley, is Lauren in her room?” I asked, realizing she might know what her father was talking about.

  “Call me Will and yes. She’s upstairs.”

  “Thank you. I’ll leave you three to discuss business while I go see Lauren.” I glanced at Nate, making sure he didn’t need me for anything.

  He paused, looking unsure if he should let me out of his sight. “Stay away from the windows.”

  I rolled my eyes at him before walking out the door.

  My flip-flops made a slapping sound on the marble as I climbed the stairs heading to her room. Her door was almost vibrating from the loud music behind it. I knocked, knowing she wouldn’t hear me and then pushed it open.

  She was lying on her bed, on her stomach. Her feet were dangling up in the air behind her as she thumbed through a magazine. She was dressed in a pink Hard Rock Café T-shirt and white shorts. Her sand-colored hair was in a loose ponytail, as if she threw it up quickly just to get it out of her face. Lauren never followed the trends like most of the kids in our school. She dressed nicely but didn’t care if the jeans she had on cost one hundred dollars or twenty dollars. Fashion wasn’t important to her. Like me, it was clothes to cover the body. It was rare to find someone like that in our world.

  She glanced up from the magazine. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t hea
r you.” She leaned over to her stereo, turning the volume down to low. “What’s up? You and Nate come for a visit?” she asked, sitting up and leaning back on her headboard. I stepped over and sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Actually, Nate brought Joseph over to see your dad.”

  “Joseph. Who’s that?”

  “Apparently, Nate’s best friend. He came to help look for Rowan and he’s staying with us. It sounded from the conversation down there that he works for your dad’s company.”

  “Joseph; it doesn’t ring a bell.” She shrugged and lifted her arms behind her head, leaning against them. “Is he hot?”

  I grinned. It was nice to talk to a teenage girl, now that I was on lockdown and sure to be surrounded by nothing but old werewolves. “Yeah, if you like rugged, shaggy-haired guys with accents who seem to be always up for a good time. He’s not as serious as Nate is. Which is a nice change, but he’s a werewolf.”

  “So? Nate’s a werewolf.”

  “I know, but I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t know until I was already in love with him.”

  “Would it have mattered?”

  “Maybe.” I shook my head. “I don’t know…Probably not,” I said with a sigh. “Hey, have you ever heard of any members of your family not taking the secret as well as others?”

  She frowned. “Yes. But it all comes down to money. My father is the head of the company, since my grandfather retired to Florida. When Granddad dies, my father will be in charge legally. He will also own half of the company. But then, of course, there’s shareholders and stuff about the business that I don’t understand. But no one in our family will ever own the whole company. Nate’s father wanted to be sure Nate would be taken care of after he died. So, in his will and all wills after his, it states that if someone tells the secret, he or she will be disinherited. Cut out, no money ever from Riley Department Stores. The estate is huge. Nate’s father was responsible for a lot of the stores, but after he died, Nate and his brother William bought a lot of land and buildings. So between the stores, the company, real estate and other things I don’t know about, there is a lot of money to go around. Except if you tell his secret, you get nothing.