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

by Christina Smith

  Two weeks had passed since Charlotte’s death, and we were finally getting back to normal. I had returned to the shelter, and Nate was back to work. Lauren had even joined Allison at school. She had survived the full moon and was confident she could handle the whole werewolf thing on her own. Joe had decided to move with her and was working in the store near her school. After Adrian found the address to his sister’s new family, he took off to Philadelphia. I hadn’t heard from him in a week, and I was starting to get worried. His plan was to go get her and bring her back here. He was going to take over Joe’s house and wanted to start volunteering at the shelter with me. He had control of his inheritance again and could live off that for a while. He wanted to give back to the community to make up for all that he had done. He reminded me of Nate, and I think that was why we had hit it off so quickly. I started working out again, more for fun than anything else, but it didn’t hurt that I could now flip Nate over my shoulder. It was a good knowledge to have if he ever got out of line. It wasn’t the same without Adrian and Lauren, but they both would be back soon.

  “Megan, did you hear me?”

  Nate’s question brought me back to the room and out of my thoughts.

  “Hmm?” I gazed at him through the mirror. He looked so handsome in his dark gray suit, and blue dress shirt. He wasn’t wearing a tie, which only made him look rebellious and sexy. His shaggy pale blond hair, vivid blue eyes, and dimples set off the look. I was so lucky to have him.

  “I said don’t be nervous, it’s just our family and friends.” He brushed my shoulders with his hands sending his warmth into me.

  “I know, but you never know who might show up.”

  His forehead crinkled. “What does that mean?”

  I stepped away from the mirror, heading for the bedroom to put on my shoes. “Nothing,” I answered, hoping he wasn’t suspicious. I wanted to surprise him. I bent over to strap on my black heels and stood up. Glancing through my jewelry that was displayed on my dresser, I gazed longingly at the gemstone necklace. I had found it on the floor under the couch. Charlotte must have just thrown it after ripping it off my neck. I really wanted to wear it, but when I thought about it, a necklace was just a necklace. But Nate was forever.

  With that thought, I picked up the delicate white gold chain that Nate had given me on the night he told me he loved me, and held the half-moon in my hand. He finally explained that it had belonged to his sister Rose. It was a gift from him while he was away trying to deal with becoming a werewolf on his own. He had also given one to his sister Mary, but he told me he had given that to his favorite niece. I put the necklace on and gazed down at my hand. My gorgeous ring sparkled on my finger, making me smile. It was a symbol of his love, and I would cherish it always.

  “Are you ready?” he asked, taking my hand, and kissing each finger. He lingered on the one with the ring, and when he glanced up, his eyes were shining with joy. I nodded my head, his beautifully happy face taking my breath away and rendering me speechless. He laughed softly and squeezed my hand before leading me out. We were happy again, and it felt fantastic.

  “Why do we always drive to the main house?” I asked as I slid into his black sports car. “It’s not that far.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I like to keep the car handy just in case I need to go somewhere.”

  I smirked. “Who are you, a superhero?”

  “Well, yes. Yes, I am.” He smiled widely, his eyes sparkling. “And you can be my sidekick. It feels pretty good to save someone, doesn’t it?”

  I grinned at him. “Yes, it does. But I’m no sidekick. You know I can kick your butt any day of the week.”

  Nate grinned back as he pulled onto the road. “Remind me not to run into you in a dark alley.”

  The main house’s driveway was filled with cars. Butterflies were doing the mambo in my stomach at the thought of being the center of attention. At least I’d have Nate at my side sharing the spotlight with me. Taking a deep breath, I climbed out.

  I followed him to the front door, and we were greeted by Ursula, the Rileys’ housekeeper. She smiled at both of us and led us to the large living room. It looked different. All the furniture had been removed, replaced with small tables and chairs to accommodate the extra guests.

  Everyone we loved was in the room, even my parents, and Mona and Ben. I spotted my friends and their boyfriends in deep conversation. When Lauren and Lilly spotted us, they approached, leaving Eddie and Joe on their own.

  “You two look great,” Lauren said, smiling widely.

  “Thank you,” I replied with a small grin. “Is Allison here?”

  Lilly grinned. “She’s on her way, and she’s bringing a date.” That wasn’t surprising; she went through guys like I went through tissues.

  When I spotted Julia in a conversation with Will, I smiled. Hopefully, she was explaining our plans. I had been talking to her about Adrian. He had a background in construction. Before his death, his father had built houses. Adrian wanted to help with the renovation. He seemed interested in the whole concept and wanted to assist wherever he could. Nate had even suggested that Adrian could help expand some of the other shelters in need of more beds.

  Since Adrian was a werewolf like us, he’d have to move on in a few years. When it was our time to go, it was good to know I’d have something to do. There were charities and Riley stores everywhere.

  Eventually, we moved on to mingle with our guests. My mother made a show of acting like she knew Nate well and that we were such a close mother and daughter duo. I used to get annoyed with her antics, but I was so happy these days, I refused to let her get me down. I knew the truth and that was all that mattered.

  Just before dinner was served, there was a knock at the door. I was in the middle of a conversation, talking to Julia about another resident who was about to leave the shelter. But at the sound, I froze and rushed to answer it myself. I knew who it was, and I couldn’t wait to meet her.

  When I pulled the door open, a woman with sandy blond hair pulled up in a twist, smiled shyly at me. She was wearing a slick, black, trench coat over a black cocktail dress with silver accents. A necklace hung around her neck, and I smiled, seeing a half moon pendant that matched my own. I knew she was in her forties, but she looked young for her age. She was blessed with the Riley genes.

  “Megan?” she asked shyly.

  I nodded my head, and stepped back so she could enter. “I’m so glad you could make it,” I said as I took her coat.

  “I’m glad that you contacted me and that Nate has found someone special to share his life with.” She reached out and held my hand. Her skin was a little chilled by the cold weather. “Thank you for this chance.”

  I smiled, feeling warmth spread through me. She had kind eyes, and I knew I did the right thing.

  “Meg,” The butterflies were back as I heard Nate’s voice get closer. “Who was that at the door?” He froze as he rounded the corner, and came face to face with our guest. “Emma?” he whispered hoarsely.

  She nodded; the small smile was back on her face, but now her eyes were filled with uncertainty.

  By now, a small crowd of Rileys had gathered. I hadn’t told a soul of what I had planned, just in case it didn’t work out. I also wanted to surprise them as well. This group was all about family, and they had felt her loss just as much as Nate had.

  He turned to me, his face clouded with sadness. “Did you do this?” he asked, and I knew he was upset with me. And I knew why, he was afraid she would reject him again.

  I wanted to explain, but before I could, Emma moved forward and wrapped Nate in a hug. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

  His eyes went wide with surprise at her words, and then he closed them, his face overwhelmed with emotion as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “No, I’m sorry,” he gasped.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. I overreacted, and I’ve regretted it ever since.”

  Will cleared his throat, as he took a step close
r to us. “Perhaps we should move to my office,” he suggested softly, glancing around the room at the curious guests watching us.

  Emma and Nate pulled apart. Nate took my hand as we all headed to the room at the end of the hall. When the door closed, all that were present were Will, his wife Carolyn, Richard, Lauren and of course, Emma.

  Will gaped at her, his eyes wide with shock. He looked like he was staring at a ghost. “Why are you here?”

  She glanced at me and smiled. “I made a new friend, and she asked me to attend her engagement party.”

  I could feel Nate’s gaze on me, but when I turned to face him, I wasn’t sure how to interpret it.

  “How have you been? Where have you been?” Richard asked, with the same expression on his face as Will’s.

  “I’ve lived in Renwood, a city about an hour from here, ever since I left. I married an art dealer and have three beautiful children named Jason, Jacob, and Mary.”

  Nate smiled at her at the sound of his sister’s name. “So, you don’t hate me?”

  She shook her head. “No, I never did.” Her voice broke as a tear trickled down her cheek. “I was just scared. When I calmed down, I wanted to return home, but I knew what happened to family members who reject the secret. So I stayed away, thinking that the family hated me, until I started getting deposits in my bank account.” She turned to focus on Will. “I wanted to call and thank you, Will, but I was too afraid.”

  Will’s eyes widened. “I didn’t send you money. I didn’t even know where you were.”

  Her brow creased. “I assumed since it began when you took over for your father that it was you. If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

  Nate stayed silent as he shuffled his feet, gazing down at the wooden floor.

  “It was Nate,” I answered, knowing it was true. Only he would want to help someone after they rejected him.

  All eyes turned to him. He smiled timidly and shrugged.

  We weren’t alone, but I couldn’t resist hugging him and planting a big kiss on his cheek.

  He blushed and mouthed the word “thank you” to me. I knew what he meant. He might have refused to speak about Emma all these years, but deep down, he needed to know how she really felt.

  Eventually, we wandered out to the rest of the group, and Will introduced our new guest.

  Soon after, the rest of Emma’s family arrived. It was a day of celebration and forgiveness. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as we rode home hours later.

  It was late, after one in the morning, but the last of the visitors had just left.

  “So Allison’s date was interesting.” Nate remarked, as he parked the car and turned the ignition off.

  I grinned. She had finally shown up with a guy with pink hair and more piercings on his face than me and all of my friends’ ears combined. “Did you see my mother when she saw him? I thought her jaw was going to hit the floor.” I laughed as I opened my car door and stepped out.

  He held out his hand for me, and I took it, stepping up the porch steps together. “She sure does go through a lot of guys, doesn’t she?”

  I only grinned in response. I followed Nate inside the cottage. As he went into the kitchen to set up the coffee to brew in the morning, I went into the bedroom to change. I took off my clothes and pulled on a t-shirt. Glancing down at the floor, I noticed a pair of jeans under the bed. Picking them up, a piece of paper fell out of the pocket. Nate came into the room as I opened the note.

  “What’s this?” I asked. “I found it in these jeans.”

  His forehead creased. “I don’t know. It was inside Charlotte’s coat pocket when I buried her. I think it was what she was reaching for when Joe shot her.”

  I opened up the wrinkled lined paper and gazed at the name sprawled on it—Isaiah King.

  “What does it mean?” I asked, looking up from the paper.

  He shrugged, pulling his suit jacket off. “I’m not sure, but I think it was meant for me.”

  Since Charlotte was dead, we wouldn’t get any answers tonight, so with that thought in mind, I placed the paper on the dresser and grabbed Nate’s hand. I was in a good mood, and I wanted to show him just how much I loved him.

  ###

  Here’s a preview of Fated Dreams, Book One in the Affinity Series

  Prologue

  Brownridge, Vermont

  Three years ago

  “How did I get here?” I asked myself for the fourth time, although I already knew the answer. My voice was muffled inside the closed, confined space.

  It was Saturday night, and instead of hanging out at a party with Derrick and Emma like I was supposed to be, where was I? In a closet, and not the proverbial kind either. I was literally in a closet, fluffy towels and all. Why? That’s a good question, and the only answer I could think of was my own stupidity.

  Stephanie Brown, honey-blonde hair, vivid blue eyes, and a body every boy drooled over, had it out for me. And again the question was, why? Well, the obvious answer could only be Ryan Crenshaw, her ex-boyfriend. Not that he wasn’t worthy of her attention—his wheat-colored hair and soul-deep blue eyes would make male underwear models envious—but he just wasn’t interested in her anymore.

  He told me once that the only reason he liked her in the first place was because he was new to the school and didn’t know any better. But once he did, he dumped her right on her cashmere-covered ass. And when Ryan started eating lunch with me, she decided that I was her enemy. She even convinced the entire school to hate me, and the social-climbing drones of the student body listened to her. Ever since I started at Hadley Academy six months ago, the only friend I’d had was Ryan, and he was only a friend. As much as Stephanie, the self-proclaimed queen of the school, thought differently.

  Not that I was desperately in need of extra friends. I had two of the best ones anyone could ask for, but since they attended a public school on the other side of town, my days were filled with cold stares and the occasional prank.

  I thought my luck had changed a few days ago when the queen witch herself asked me over for a slumber party with her two best friends. At first I was skeptical, considering her obvious dislike for me. But since she had made the effort, I hoped it was the start of a normal life for me at school, so I agreed against my better judgment.

  The evening started out okay. She showed me around her enormous mansion, making sure I noticed all the expensive-looking furniture, rich silks, and classic artwork that were displayed throughout the rooms.

  After a gourmet dinner, I followed Stephanie up to her room. It was painted red and white, with photos placed perfectly along the walls. Above her bed was a portrait of the queen herself, which I thought was tacky.

  The distinct scent of an expensive perfume filled the air; it was such a strong odor I figured she bathed in it or spilled the bottle. Either way, the smell was overpowering. I used to like that particular scent, but now I feared I could never use it without thinking of her.

  She sat on her bed with her puppets, as I now called Trudy and Tara, while I took the plush, wine-colored armchair near the closet.

  “So Sarah, do you think you’re pretty?” Stephanie asked.

  “Uh…I don’t know, why?”

  She scowled. “I asked Ryan why he was talking to you all the time. And do you know what he said?”

  I didn’t like where this was going. “No,” I answered quietly, afraid to look into her eyes.

  “He said that you were sweet and pretty. And that he liked your dark eyes and your long brown hair.”

  I glanced at Trudy and Tara, hoping for help, but their smirks told me I couldn’t count on them. This wasn’t good.

  She didn’t wait for a response before continuing, and really, what was I going to say, she was obviously up to something. A knot of trepidation formed in the pit of my stomach. “I can’t do anything about your eyes, but I can do something about that hair.” She bent down and picked up something hidden under her bed.

  I had a feeling I knew wha
t was about to happen, and I hoped I was wrong.

  She turned back around, holding a pair of industrial-size, shiny, silver scissors. Oh shit. Her smile was all steel as she glanced at me, and then at the shears.

  Now I knew why they invited me here, and it wasn’t to become my friend.

  God, I was so stupid. Why would I think that after months of her ignoring me, the frost queen would suddenly be nice to me? I should have known that a girl like her, rich, snobby, and just plain mean, was incapable of change.

  Glaring at the scissors, I gulped, making the only decision I could think of. I took off out the door of her bedroom.

  As I ran down the hall, I heard her yell, “Get her, girls.”

  This was so cliché. I was living a horror flick, and I couldn’t believe I fell for it.

  So now the question was, how did I get myself out of this odd situation I suddenly found myself in?

  It was so dark in the closet I couldn’t see the hand I held out in front of my face. If there was a light bulb in here, I wasn’t going to turn it on for fear I’d give away my position. A floral scent wafted around the tiny cubby. I stretched out my hand and felt the soft towels that were folded neatly on a shelf beside me.

  With my head pressed against the door, I sat down on the floor, trying to think of what to do next. My eyes were closed as I listened carefully, hearing only my own breathing and the faint sound of footsteps as they searched another part of the house. I was safe, for now. Although I knew I couldn’t hide forever.

  Since I had nothing else to do, I tapped my knee with my finger to the tune of the national anthem. It must have helped my thought process, because I remembered something. I had seen a phone sitting on a stand in the hall on my way to this closet. Maybe I could crawl over to it while the crazy girls were occupied, and call my mom. Then I could sneak outside and wait behind some bushes. I really didn’t want a haircut. I couldn’t believe she was going to chop off my hair just because her ex-boyfriend talked to me and became my friend.