Riley's Torment, A Moon's Glow Novel #2

by Christina Smith

  Joe nodded; his head hanging low, no doubt mourning the sister he couldn’t love and one he himself had killed. The room was silent with both shock and respect as the family members of the dead werewolves mourned in silence.

  It was Nate that finally ended the quiet. “Lauren, why don’t you take Joe and your father into the living room, and pour them a drink. I’ll take care of the bodies.” And by take care, he meant burying them where they wouldn’t be found. It was the only way to dispose of a werewolf. We couldn’t have anyone looking too closely at their DNA.

  She nodded and stepped up to her boyfriend. “Come on,” she encouraged with a soft voice, taking his hand to drag him away.

  Will followed, with one last look at Nate. He smiled at his uncle. “Thank you,” he said, sounding appreciative, and once again proud. It was the least he could do. Nate had taken a bullet for him after all.

  Nate returned his smile. I was thankful that their relationship would be okay. Once his nephew exited the room, Nate turned to Adrian. “There are wood and tools out in the shed. Could you fix the window while I take care of this?” He pointed to Charlotte and James.

  “Do you need help? There are a lot of bodies there.” The wolves outside would need to be disposed of as well.

  Nate shook his head. “I could use some time alone.” His gaze swung to me and frowned. He was still upset about my reaction upstairs.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and headed for the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Trading Places

  I didn’t know where I was headed, but I needed to get away. The whole day had been emotionally draining. Actually, the last few weeks had been one suck fest after another. I wished I could blink and erase it all. But life wasn’t that easy, was it? We didn’t get do-overs, as much as we might want them.

  I found myself up in the library. The food was still out, and the fire still simmered in the fireplace. I fell into the sofa and stared at the red coals at the bottom of the hearth. I needed a distraction from the hurt look in Nate’s eyes as he said he wanted time away—obviously from me.

  I reached for the remote and flicked on the movie, allowing myself to be swept away from my troubles.

  Sometime later, after five mini egg rolls, six mozzarella sticks and countless nachos, Adrian appeared at the door. “Is there room in here for me?” He sounded just as tired as I was. When I nodded, he moved to the couch and fell into the soft cushions near my feet. A soft whooshing sound puffed out as air rushed out of the cushions.

  “So how was your day?” he asked cheerfully, like we hadn’t just been through a battle with four werewolves and killed the only person who knew the whereabouts of his sister. He smiled, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

  I kicked his leg, and he laughed softly, as if it was all he could manage.

  He grew quiet, focusing on the movie that played on the small TV in the corner. After the zombie mother ate her third brain, Adrian turned to me. “What the hell are you watching?”

  I laughed at the expression on his face. “Zombie Mama? What, you’ve never seen it?” He shook his head with a quirked brow. “It’s a classic, cheesy, horror flick.”

  He watched for a few more seconds as the mother zombie fed her children pieces of brains that looked like shriveled up green grapes. He turned back to look at me, his face was expressionless. “It’s really stupid.”

  I snorted. “I know, but are you stressing about your life?”

  His lips twitched as he bent his head. “You’re right, I’m not.”

  I smiled as he began watching again, leaning over to grab a cold chicken wing. The food had chilled while we were gone, but I didn’t have the energy to heat it up. That would involve moving, and I was quite content tucked away in the library, hiding. The cheese for the nachos had congealed, but I was lazy enough to overlook it and gulp it down.

  “Are you and Nate fighting?” he asked, breaking though my much needed silence. I was supposed to be getting lost in the movie, not discussing my messed up life.

  I ignored him, never taking my eyes from the TV screen.

  “I know that you said you were apart when we met. But when I saw you two in here earlier, I thought you must have made up. That was until I saw the awkwardness between you before he left.”

  I debated whether I should continue pretending that Adrian wasn’t speaking to me. I hated reliving my issues with Nate, but Adrian was now my friend, and if he was going to stay, he would probably guess our problems sooner or later. I took a deep breath and jumped in.

  “The night before Charlotte kidnapped us, Nate asked me to marry him.” I glanced at Adrian to see his reaction, but all he did was raise a brow. He stayed silent while I told him my very private story on what happened that night. My cheeks flushed several times, but the only reaction he gave me was the occasional nod of his head.

  He waited until I finished before commenting. “If you didn’t know he turned you that night, how did you know it wasn’t Charlotte? It had only been a few hours. You wouldn’t have been fully turned yet.”

  I reached over to grab a garlic knot and dipped it in the marinara sauce. I waited until I finished chewing before I answered. “Lauren couldn’t change fully, but I could.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I sat up and crossed my legs, turning to face him. “She couldn’t change. Hair would grow, and her limbs would crack and reform, but then the hair would retreat and she’d start to turn human again.” I shivered at the memory. Her screams still haunted my sleep. I picked at the tassels on the throw pillow next to me as I explained Nate’s theory about the drug diluting Charlotte’s DNA. When I finished my explanation, he looked a little green.

  Rubbing his hand through his hair roughly, he sighed. “I feel awful for my part in this.”

  I lifted a shoulder dismissively. “You couldn’t help it. You were just one of Charlotte’s minions. She’s the one I blame.”

  “Minions?” he asked with a crooked a smile.

  I nodded. “Yeah, that’s what we called her werewolves.”

  He scoffed, his eyes turning cold. “That pretty much sums it up. But I want you to know that I never attacked you or Lauren that night at the cabin. I admit I should have intervened, but I never wanted to hurt you.” The remorse was visible on his face, and I knew he felt guilty for his part in our kidnapping.

  I was going to say something comforting, but the words just wouldn’t come. I know it wasn’t his idea, but he didn’t try and stop her either.

  “I have one question,” he said, sitting up straight.

  “Go ahead.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, waiting.

  “If Nate hadn’t changed you by mistake, you would have gone through hell like Lauren did, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Then why are you mad at him? He saved you from having to go through what sounds like an incredibly, excruciating experience, even more painful than a normal change.”

  I was silent. Of course I had thought of that, but it didn’t get me past my anger. “But what if she hadn’t kidnapped us, I still would have become a werewolf.”

  “But she did kidnap you,” he pointed out matter of factly.

  “I know that! But if she hadn’t, I would still be a werewolf.”

  He just stared at me blankly. “But she did kidnap you. There is no point in what ifs. Look at the facts. He changed you because he lost control. Charlotte kidnapped you. Yes, you went through pain, but nothing compared to what you would have suffered.” He stood up and looked down at me. His dark eyes, filled with compassion. “Before you punish him anymore for something he didn’t mean to do, I’d ask Lauren how she feels. I bet if given the chance, she would have taken your place.” And with that he left the room, leaving me feeling confused and guilty. A second later his head popped through the doorway. “I’m going to head out. I want to go look through Charlotte’s things. Hopefully, I’ll find my sister’s location.”

  When I smiled sadly and nodded,
he disappeared.

  I sat for a while longer, thinking about what he said, and then finally decided to do what he suggested.

  I left the room leaving the movie playing. I could hear shrill screams from behind me as I turned the corner and headed to Lauren’s room. I knocked once and then opened the door to see Joe lying above Lauren. Her hands were on the back of his head grasping his hair.

  “Oh god, I’m so sorry,” I gasped, backing out into the hallway.

  They flew apart. Both of them had the deer-in-the-head-lights look. When Lauren saw it was me, she smiled. “No, that’s okay, come in.”

  I glanced at Joe for clarification.

  “It’s fine. I’ll go see if Nate’s back yet.” Joe stood up and rushed past me, a slight hint of red on his cheeks.

  I laughed when the door closed behind me.

  Lauren sat up and patted the spot next to her on the couch. “What’s up?” she asked.

  I sat down and leaned back in the comfy sofa. “How do you know something’s up?”

  “Your face is all serious. You should be happy. The witch is finally dead and out of our hair.”

  I grinned. “Why didn’t you want me to tell her about your ordeal on the island?”

  “Because I didn’t want her to know how much I suffered. She thrives on that. I wasn’t going to make her happy knowing she succeeded.”

  I nodded in understanding and then asked the question I had come here for. “Knowing what happened to me with Nate and going through what you did at the island, would you have changed places with me?”

  Her smile vanished. “You mean, would I have rather been turned ahead of time by someone I loved without my knowledge, preventing me from going through that pain?”

  When I nodded, she sighed.

  “In a heartbeat,” she said. “I understand why you’re upset, I really do. And if circumstances were different, then yes, I would feel hurt and betrayed. But the way things actually are… I’d be in that cottage sucking up to him for saving me from the pain.” She paused taking a deep breath. “I’ve changed into a wolf almost every day for the last three weeks, and yes, it’s been painful. But it’s nothing compared to what happened at the cabin. Nate saved you from that, and I’m glad he did because I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” She paused again and tilted her head. “Well, I wouldn’t mind seeing Charlotte in agonizing pain. I think she got off too easy.”

  I pressed my lips together, thinking about what she said.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, concern was evident in her voice.

  I nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I just have a lot to think about. Thanks for being honest with me.”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  I turned to go, spinning the knob on her door.

  “And for the record, the whole stupid mate thing aside, he doesn’t carry the weight of the world on his shoulders when he’s with you. And he makes you a better person. You two are meant for each other.”

  I had nothing to say to that, so instead of commenting, I slipped out into the hallway and headed down the stairs to the front door. I had to think, and I needed to be alone to do that. I found myself walking aimlessly. The sky above me was riddled with stars, and the air was cold and bitter. I was thankful I had thought to grab my jacket. The moon appeared to be full, although I knew I had two days before I had to change.

  I ended up at Joe’s place, a small cottage nestled in the woods not far from the main house. He had taken it over when the gardener retired to Florida. But it had originally belonged to my ancestor, Lucy, who was killed the night Nate was turned into a werewolf. I didn’t go in. I just stood on the front lawn and gazed at the small house nestled in the trees. It was a two-story, stone building with a small porch. Two rocking chairs sat on either side of the door.

  Memories of my last visit here came flooding back. Nate showed me this house, and he gave me a silver brush and mirror that had belonged to her. The gift was so thoughtful; I didn’t expect him to also give me the gemstone necklace that he had given to her soon before she died. My heart swelled with love from the memory of that day. I kept the feeling in my heart and also thought of why I had fallen for him in the first place. He was kind, giving, and very sweet. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the cold crisp air, and pictured pale blond, wavy hair and dimples that popped out of both cheeks when he smiled lovingly at me. Could I stay mad at him, never see that face again, or feel his touch? The answer was a resounding NO! We would always have issues, and complications that might come up, but that was life. Nobody was perfect, and I realized that was my problem. In my mind, Nate was flawless, and it was shocking to find out that it wasn’t true. He made mistakes just like the rest of us. But that was my issue, not Nate’s. He never said he was perfect. He admitted to his mistake and was sorry for it. Was I going to punish him for the rest of our lives or finally let forgiveness into my heart?

  As those thoughts flowed through my mind, I realized that I was wasting time away from him. I needed to remedy that as soon as possible. I took off in a run to our cottage, knowing for some reason that he would be there. The ground under my feet was bumpy and at times, rocky, but I never lost my footing. I was too focused on my destination and who was waiting inside.

  As I pushed open the door, he looked up from a book. He was sitting in an armchair, with a small fire burning in the fireplace we usually never used.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He gazed at me in confusion. “For what?” he asked, folding his page over and tossing the book on the table in front of him. It hit the surface with a smack. He had changed, wearing blue plaid pajama pants and a light blue long sleeved t-shirt.

  I closed the door behind me, feeling my limbs begin to thaw. I pulled off my coat and tossed it on the bench. I ignored it when it fell to the floor. “For taking my pain away.”

  I took a few steps closer, until I stood above him. His brow rose slightly. He didn’t understand. “If you hadn’t bitten me, I would have gone through what Lauren did. So, thank you. You are always trying to protect me.”

  He closed his eyes briefly, pressing his lips together, and breathed deeply. “You know I didn’t mean to do it. I couldn’t have known what Charlotte was planning.”

  I shrugged. “I know, but it doesn’t change that it did happen and that you stopped me from suffering.”

  “But I didn’t mean to,” he repeated.

  “Doesn’t matter what you meant to do, all that matters is what happened. You. Saved. Me.”

  When I thought of the pain and misery that all four of us had gone through, I just wanted it all to stop. No more heartache, no more drama. We were together, and I wanted to be happy.

  “I’m sorry I took so long to realize that. When I think of what I put you through...” I couldn’t finish the words. My eyes burned with tears at the thought of him suffering through all of the guilt alone. The thought vanished as I was suddenly pulled against his hard chest. I didn’t even see him stand up. The scent of leather and pine overwhelmed me, waking up feelings I had been suppressing. I couldn’t hold back any longer. A fire erupted inside me and every nerve in my body screamed for his touch. I leaned up and kissed him. He breathed in deeply and then wrapped his arms around me. I may have started the kiss, but he took it so much deeper. He kissed me hungrily with desperation. It felt like so long ago since his soft lips touched mine. I craved him more than I ever thought possible. My heart ached for more of his touch, and it felt like an eternity since his fingers brushed my skin. My hands moved under his shirt and over his firm skin and hard muscles. Before I realized what was happening, I was being lifted up into his arms and carried into our room. We fell onto the bed wrapped around each other. All reason left our minds. We were mated werewolves that were meant to be one. His kisses were soft, and his touch was so right. Our clothes were quickly disposed of, and we were finally able to continue where we had left off so many nights ago.

  This time there were no interruptions.
>
  Afterward, I lay back on the bed with Nate’s head lying on my stomach. I twirled my fingers in his soft silky hair, feeling content and happy.

  “Can I ask you something?” he asked lazily.

  “Sure.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  I laughed. It seemed like years ago that he asked me the first time. “Yes,” I answered without thought. I was meant to be here, and yes, I had every right to be angry with him for what he did. But I had learned that loving a person was easy—it was forgiving that was the difficult part. And I did forgive him, with all my heart.

  Epilogue

  “Are you ready?” Nate asked coming up behind me as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

  “Almost.” I was just hooking the last earring into my lobe. Once it was in place, I examined my appearance. This was a special occasion, and I wanted to look perfect. I took a deep, nervous breath and smoothed out my outfit. I had bought it just for today from a new boutique in town. It was a black and white sleeveless floral, lace dress with black sheer shoulder straps and an oval cut out in the back. I had curled my strawberry blond hair and left it loose, falling around my shoulders. The makeup I chose set off my green eyes.

  “Do you I look okay?” I asked Nate, gazing at him through the mirror.

  He stepped closer and placed his hands on my shoulders, leaning over to nuzzle my neck, his scent swirled around me. “You’re stunning.”

  “Are you just saying that because you’re my fiancé?”

  He looked up, his intense blue eyes still holding mine in the mirror. “Why are you so nervous? It’s just going to be our family and friends.”

  Maybe, maybe not. I may have invited someone extra. After we announced our engagement to Nate’s family, Will insisted on throwing a small engagement party. He had said we needed something to celebrate after everything the family had been through. Carolyn and Nathan were back, and some of the uncles and cousins were visiting so they could make it to the party. We hadn’t settled on a wedding date, but I wasn’t in a hurry to do that. I just wanted to enjoy my time with Nate and be with him without holding on to the past.