Harvest Moon

by Lisa Kessler

Our flight number blasted across the PA system. Kilani got up.

  “Gotta go. Talk to you soon.”

  I dropped my phone in my pocket and jogged over. Kilani glanced up at me as we got in line to board. “How’d he take it?”

  “About how I expected him to. If I’m right and the twins are Severino’s biological grandchildren, we’re never going to get that bastard to leave us alone.”

  “But he doesn’t know, right?”

  “We won’t know for sure until we find Sebastian again.”

  To call Maui beautiful did it a disservice. The stunning views of the ocean on one side and the lush jungle on the other made driving perilous. Kilani contacted one of her cousins who loaned us his Jeep, saving us from paying for a rental and potentially alerting Damian and his team that we were on the island. Having the wind in my hair, the clean scent of the air, and Kilani’s tan legs bared in a pair of cut-off shorts beside me, shit, it was tough to remember we were in danger.

  Last night, I’d said the words. I love you. Out loud. Never before had I said that to anyone who wasn’t a relative. I glanced over at Kilani as she pulled her long hair around her shoulder, containing it with one hand. Shifting my gaze back on the road, a smile tugged at my lips. Last night she’d coaxed me into dancing, and later I fed her grapes while we basked in the afterglow of making love with the balcony door open and the roar of the ocean blotting out the rest of the world.

  I wanted more nights like that. More time to hold her in my arms, to hear her laugh and make her smile. I loved her.

  She didn’t return the sentiment. It probably would’ve stung, but her kiss was answer enough. I’d meant what I said about waiting for her. Unlike me, she’d spoken those words to two men before me, and they’d both broken her heart and her trust.

  I’d have to be patient, but she was worth every minute.

  She glanced my way. “Hopefully Nero is still sniffing around Grandma Nani’s house down by the beach. My cousin said they came by his surf shop yesterday, but he told them he thought she took the ferry to Molokai to treat a sick girl who couldn’t travel.”

  “I hope they bought it.”

  She nodded. “At least it’ll slow them down a little. Either way, the cabin is off the grid, so even if someone mentions it to them, there’s no address to enter into their GPS.”

  She directed me up winding roads with switchbacks and sudden drop-offs that had me tightening my grip on the wheel. The road to Hana was only about fifty-two miles on the map, but between the hairpin turns, sheer cliffs, and narrow bridges, we’d been driving for more than an hour and, according to the mile markers, we were only halfway there.

  After another twenty minutes, Kilani pointed to a turnout filled with tourists, Hawaiian artisans, and a cart full of fresh fruit. I parked the Jeep and turned toward her. For a second, I couldn’t speak. She stared at the jungle, the wind sliding through her silky hair. I memorized her profile, wishing I had my charcoal and a drawing pad handy. Every part of her, from the gentle slope of her nose, to her full lips, to the curve of her chin, called to me.

  I shifted in my seat. Memories of making love to her the night before crept into my mind. How in the hell did I ever get so damned lucky? Kilani was beautiful, strong, wild, and…mine.

  “Everything okay?”

  She glanced my way and forced a smile. “We hike from here.”

  “All right.” I climbed out of the Jeep, wishing I could lift the burden from her shoulders. What if her grandmother was still angry with her? There was no way that could be true. But why hadn’t she visited or called Kilani? It didn’t make sense.

  That uncertainty hurt my mate, which in turn agitated the wolf inside of me. It didn’t help that the full moon was so close. I took a deep breath, searching for any sign of Damian’s scent. Fruit, sunblock, Doritos, and humans. No hint of a jaguar shifter. Yet.

  I’d stay alert. They could be anywhere.

  I handed Kilani her backpack and she took off down a barely marked trail. I followed, ducking underneath branches and brushing past ferns. A light drizzle blanketed us. Not enough to wash the sweat from my skin but just enough to make my shirt even wetter. After we’d hiked about a mile, she slowed.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Good.” Did she sense my discomfort? “How did your grandmother make it out here alone? This isn’t a beginner’s trail.”

  “Grandma Nani knows this island better than anyone. She could make this hike in the middle of the night without moonlight overhead.”

  We crossed through a thicket of trees and Kilani pointed. “There it is.”

  I narrowed my eyes in that direction. Trees, vines, ferns, a waterfall, but no cabin. “I don’t see it.”

  “You will.”

  Her grin stunned me for a second. She hadn’t smiled since we’d been in bed last night. I jogged a couple of steps to catch up to her.

  “See it now?”

  And there it was. A little cabin, painted the same color as the forest, with yellow trim that blended with the tree bark. No wonder I hadn’t seen it. Camouflaged so perfectly into its environment, a trained Green Beret wouldn’t have found it.

  A woman came out onto the tiny porch, and Kilani stopped so fast I almost plowed right into her.

  The woman squinted. “Kilani?”

  She nodded, rushing for the steps as the older woman came down to meet her. They embraced, and I tried to figure out who this woman could be. There was no way she was old enough to be a grandmother to a grown woman. Maybe it was Kilani’s aunt? I kept my distance, allowing them some private time, while I took a closer look at the cabin.

  “You shouldn’t have come.”

  I turned as Kilani stepped back, crossing her arms, defiant. “That’s the first thing you have to say to me? Seriously? I’m here to take you someplace safe. I had to come.”

  The woman clucked her tongue. “I am safe here.” She glanced my way. “Who is this?”

  Kilani held a hand out to me. “Grandma Nani, this is Jason Ayers.”

  “This is your grandmother?”

  Grandma Nani chuckled. “I’m going to like this one.” She sobered and came closer. “You are not… You are…” Her dark eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she stared up at me. “You are a moon child. She calls to you.”

  I glanced at Kilani and back to her grandmother. “I guess I like the moon all right.”

  “Psh…” She shook her head and walked back toward the cabin. “Come inside. We need to talk.”

  I tugged Kilani to my side, whispering, “How could she know… You haven’t said anything about me to her…”

  “No, I haven’t, but I told you the island speaks to her. Maybe our ancestors told her about you? I didn’t stick around long enough to be her apprentice, so I’m not sure how it works.”

  “I can’t tell her about the Pack.”

  Kilani laced her fingers with mine. “Your secret is safe with me, but it sounds like the wolf is already out of the bag, so to speak.”

  The scent of eucalyptus, sage, and gardenia assaulted me as we sat down inside. I’d never be able to smell Damian and his team until they walked into Nani’s living room. Less than ideal.

  “Mind if I open a couple windows?”

  She rolled her eyes. “This is my only hope of covering your scent from the hunter who searches for me.”

  I got up, frowning. “How do you know all this?” Uncertainty didn’t sit well with me and quickly edged toward anger. “What the hell is going on here?”

  “Sit.” She went to the tiny stove and tipped the kettle into three Asian teacups. “Has my granddaughter told you nothing about me?”

  “She told me you’re a Kahuna.”

  “That I am.” She placed the handle-less teacups on a small bamboo tray. “Do you understand what that means?”

  “Not really.”

  She handed Kilani a cup of steaming tea and turned toward me, narrowing her eyes. “Do you understand what sit means?”

&nbs
p; Every culture had different rules and signs of respect, but this wasn’t my grandmother or my spiritual advisor, and I wasn’t going to be ordered around until I had some answers. “First tell me how you can possibly be Kilani’s grandmother. You’re probably younger than my mom.”

  She almost smiled and glanced back at Kilani. “He is as headstrong and demanding as you.” Sipping her tea, she met my gaze. “Kilani is the first of the women in our family to finish school and go to college. I had her mother when I was fourteen, and she followed in my footsteps when she had Kilani.”

  “How do you know I went to college?” Now Kilani was on her feet, too. “We haven’t spoken since I was eleven years old. You never even called.”

  Nani’s fire dimmed slightly, her shoulders dropping as she placed her teacup on the counter. “We have much to talk about.”

  “Damn straight we do, but we don’t have time now.” Kilani put her cup beside her grandmother’s. “Those men don’t want to question you this time. They want to hurt you to get to me. We need to take you back to Reno. Jason’s…family can protect us until the threat passes.”

  Nani shook her head. “You shouldn’t have come.”

  “Stop saying that.” Kilani pulled her hair back from her forehead. “You can be angry at me for leaving against your wishes later. It’s not safe for you here. We need to go.”

  Lightning arced through the dark clouds, followed by the deafening crack of thunder. I walked over to the screen door just as the angry sky opened up. Large drops of tropical rain pelted the roof of the cabin.

  I called over my shoulder, “We’re not going anywhere right now.”

  “Please, you two. Sit.”

  Kilani took a seat on the wicker loveseat, leaving a space for me beside her. Once we were settled, Nani took the rocking chair in the corner. Kilani popped her shoes off and shifted to tuck her feet up. I noticed Nani was also barefoot. My tennis shoes weren’t going anywhere. If we had to run, I’d be ready, even if I had to carry them both.

  “The reason I sent the honu with my message to stay away was to protect you, not because I didn’t want to see you. I have missed you, my little mynah bird.”

  Kilani’s grip on my thigh tightened. I covered her hand with mine in support, reminding my wolf this was not our fight.

  “I knew you didn’t want me to leave the island, but I was just a kid. I thought I knew what I was doing. You never called, never sent a letter, never visited.” Kilani broke eye contact, staring into her lap. “Did you even notice I was gone?”

  Nani opened her clasped hands, her fine fingers tapping out a silent melody on her legs. “Can your friend wait on the porch so we can talk freely?”

  Kilani shook her head. “I have no secrets from Jason.”

  My pulse jumped at her declaration. She couldn’t tell me she loved me yet, but she trusted me. I stared at our joined hands, the bruises fading from my knuckles. I loved her, but I still hadn’t answered her question about the fight club, the rage.

  “Fine.” The clouds blocked the setting sun, leaving us in shadows. Nani lit a candle beside her chair. “Do you still have visions of the future?”

  Kilani nodded.

  “Did your mother ever tell you that she had the gift, too?”

  Kilani stiffened. “No.”

  Nani sighed. “I failed her.”

  “What are you talking about? She was the one who left us.”

  The sour scent of fear stung my nostrils. What was Nani hiding?

  “She did, but not the way you think.”

  Kilani pulled her feet out from under her, leaning forward on the loveseat. “Please tell me what’s going on.”

  Nani’s gaze met mine for a moment, pleading, but for what, I had no idea. I ran my hand up Kilani’s back.

  “Your mother didn’t go to the mainland. She drove her car off a cliff on the road to Hana. She left me a note.” Candlelight sparkled in the tears welling in Nani’s eyes. “She was never strong enough for the visions. They terrified her and stole her free will. I tried to help her, but I couldn’t silence the gift. Nothing I did worked. She was my child.” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “A note? She…” Kilani shook her head and shot up from the loveseat, her voice choked. “You told me she had a job, that she abandoned me. She’s…dead?” She swiped at a tear on her cheek. “How could you lie to me about this? You made me hate her. I thought there must be something wrong with me.” She gulped in a breath. “I need some air.” I got up to go with her, but she caught my wrist. “Alone.”

  “Damian is out there with orders to eliminate you. I can’t let you go out by yourself.”

  She pointed at the downpour. “I grew up in this jungle, not them. They’ll never find me, especially not in the storm.”

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  Her gaze met mine. The raw pain in her eyes broke me. “You said you can find me no matter where I go. Just give me a few minutes’ head start. Please, Jason. I don’t have a death wish, but if I don’t get out of this cabin right now…” Her eyes fell onto her grandmother, her lips tightening. “I will hurt someone.”

  “Five minutes and I’m out that door to find you.”

  “Thank you.” She rose up on her toes to kiss my cheek and whispered, “They’re not coming up here yet. We’re safe for now.”

  I wished I could be as certain as she and her grandmother seemed to be. It wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. Kilani slipped out, the screen door slamming behind her.

  “I never meant to hurt her.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” I wheeled around to face Nani. “How exactly did you figure telling her that her own mother didn’t want her anymore wouldn’t hurt her?”

  Nani got out of her chair and straightened her back. “I was young and scared. My daughter killed herself because of the visions, and my granddaughter had the same gift. I couldn’t lose them both.”

  “But you did.”

  “At least she’s still alive.” She broke eye contact. “I did chase after her.” She collected the teacups. “When I got to Brightwood, they explained their mission to teach these girls to accept their gifts, to use them not fear them. I’d failed her mother. Who was I to think I could protect Kilani from the same fate?”

  I ran a hand through my hair, struggling to rein in my thoughts. “Why not send her a letter? All this time she thought you didn’t care, that you were angry with her.”

  Nani stared at her feet. “I never wanted her to come back here. After losing her mother, I was too frightened that I wouldn’t be able to save my little mynah bird, either.” She lifted her head, meeting my eyes. “The morning I found that note, I couldn’t save my daughter, but the ancestors deafened Kilani’s gift, sparing her from seeing a vision of her mother’s fate. I didn’t know what else to do. If she discovered her mother’s gift caused her to take her own life, what if Kilani did, too?” She shook her head. “Anger is stronger than fear. I’d rather have her hate her mother and me than worry her gift might drive her insane.”

  Was she right? Had Kilani’s anger and bitterness kept her alive, driven her to succeed on her own? I had no clue and no time to ponder it. “I’ve got to go find her.”

  “There is a waterfall not far to the north. It was her favorite spot as a little girl.”

  “Do you have a weapon here in case they show up?”

  She waved off my warning. “The ancestors will keep them away.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Kilani told me they’re not up here yet. I’m guessing she had a vision, but stay alert and get the hell out if they come knocking. I’ll be back soon.”

  The tropical rain pelted me, soaking my shirt in an instant. Finding Kilani’s scent through the wind and rain would be tough, but with the full moon so close and my mate nearby, my wolf would have no trouble. My sense of direction was unfazed by the storm. I headed north, listening for the sound of a waterfall.

  I found her clothes first. Adrenaline s
hot through my body like lightning. I started to pick them up when Kilani called my name.

  “I’m down here.”

  About four feet below was a pool, fed by the waterfall. And Kilani treaded water, naked, staring up at me.

  I frowned. “Did you forget trained killers are looking for you?”

  “I told you they’re not up here yet. I had a vision. They must’ve seen Lana’s hotel reservation in Honolulu. They’re on Oahu now.”

  Relief threatened to bring me to my knees. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You said you’d be five minutes behind me. I needed to get out of there.” She dipped her head in the water, smoothing her hair back. “Are you coming in?”

  She didn’t need to ask me twice. I stripped off my wet clothes and shoes, dropping them beside hers, and dove in. The water in the pool was slightly cooler than the rain, refreshing. I came up and pulled her into my arms. She clung to me, her lips against my neck.

  “I wish there was something I could do.” And I meant it.

  She leaned back, meeting my eyes. “Follow me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  KILANI

  I swam to the falls and waited for Jason. Shouting over the crash of the water, I pointed down. “There’s a cave behind the waterfall. Take a big breath and hold my hand.”

  He didn’t question. He took my hand, his gaze locked on mine, making it hard to catch my breath. I tightened my grip and turned toward the falls. The mouth of the cavern was only a couple of feet below the surface, but the rainy, twilight sky made it tough to see in the dark. I could find it in my sleep, but I didn’t want to leave Jason behind. Hand in hand, we found the opening and swam through, then pushed up, popping our heads up inside the rock cave.

  He scanned the chamber, his arm sliding around my waist. “This is cool. How did you find it?”

  “I spent a lot of time up here as a kid, and one day I was diving in the pond and saw the opening.” I kissed his chin, pulling his attention back to me. “I’ve never brought anyone here before.”

  He sobered and swam to the ledge. The muscles in his back tensed as he lifted himself out. He sat on the edge, his feet ankle-deep in the water.