For a moment Luna thought they had lost their connection for the silence on the phone was drawn out but then Pierre’s honeyed voice came back. “I spoke to Adam as soon as we hung up and he seemed shocked there was a painting of Lyulf in your parent’s house. He is an early character in Celtic mythology, ancient, even by ancient standards.
“Legends tell that Lyulf was the grandson of the creator goddess, Eiocha, who fashioned both humans and giants from the bark of a tree. The humans worshipped the gods who would then reward them for their devotion. Sometimes it was a bountiful harvest, sometimes it was an enchanted weapon or even being granted their blessing when clans went to war.
“Thousands of years ago, long before the birth of Christ, the king of one clan wanted to go to war and asked for the god’s blessing. He was refused and became angry with the gods. He ordered his men ready and marched towards the enemy’s lands. The two clans fought each other, soaking the land in the blood of their fallen soldiers. Eventually, the king faced the leader of his enemy and they began fighting with each other. The fight went on for a long time, with neither king overcoming the other. After so long, exhaustion had weakened the enemy and the king plunged a dagger in his stomach, before ripping his throat out with his teeth.
“The battle was over, but the loss of life had been great. The gods mourned for the amount of death and so Eiocha went to the king, demanding that he make amends for the savagery. But he refused to do so. In anger, Eiocha transformed him into a wolf. She told him he could transform back into a human only when he had performed enough good deeds.
“No one knows exactly what happened next or what deeds he performed, but after seven years the goddess returned and partially removed the curse, allowing him to transform into a wolf on the nights of the full moon. The king married and had children, with the eldest child sharing in his father’s abilities”.
Luna gasped. “The first werewolves”.
“That’s right. The first werewolves were born. The dagger the king had used to kill his enemy with was full of power, a symbol of what he was. Eventually, there were a number of werewolves in ancient Ireland and Britain. They possessed great magic and equal strength, often helping the gods and the Fae with tasks. One Fae wanted the magic of the werewolves for himself, so that he could rule over the land and the humans without the interference of his brethren”.
“Lyulf?” Luna asked, barely noticing the door closing behind her. Michael had left.
“Oui. Lyulf ordered the werewolves to submit to him. With the power of the werewolf king, the alpha, he could control the wolves. Somehow he managed to possess the dagger, and the wolves had no choice but to obey him. The lands were drenched in blood, the rivers ran red and the human population dwindled. Lyulf was betrayed by his wife, Halfryta, who convinced the other Fae to stop him before he killed the entire world. A trap was set, Lyulf was captured, his powers imprisoned within him. His power was inside him, it couldn’t be removed, but they were able to cut him off from it, as it were. Lyulf was banished and was never heard from again.
“The alpha died soon afterwards, but not before he entrusted his son with the task of hiding the dagger from potential danger. There was always the possibility that Lyulf, or another like him, would return and steal the magic for themselves. Agreeing, his son took the dagger and it was never seen again, preventing another blood bath”.
Pierre paused. “The wolves fled in all directions across the world. Stories are found throughout Europe of humans being able to transform into wolves when the full moon rises. There are even stories of a tall, silver-haired man searching, searching for something that will make him strong once more. Adam tells me the last time Lyulf was painted was in fifteenth century Russia. He wishes to see this painting of yours, Luna. He would like to see your Lyulf”.
Fifteen
Pierre’s words were still swirling around Luna’s head fifteen minutes after they had said their goodbyes. She had promised to ring him later after Pierre had finished celebrating the grand opening of Adam’s art gallery. Her voice had been flat, devoid of anything but helplessness, but still she forced herself to sound normal. Luna didn’t think that Pierre had bought the act, but she couldn’t worry about it now.
Lyulf wanted to harness the power of the werewolves for himself and to do so he needed the dagger. Could the dagger be the ancient artefact? And why did her family hold it in their possession?
“More to the point”, Luna whispered to herself, rubbing a hand over her tired eyes. “Where is the dagger now?”
“What dagger?”
Luna jumped once again at the voice.
“Jeez, Chase, I’m going to put a bell around your neck or something. Why do you have to be so quiet?”
Chase stood at the door, smirking at her. “Werewolves are usually shown to be loud monsters in movies but in reality we’re silent. Now what dagger are you talking about?”
Luna quickly told him what Pierre had told her. Chase’s eyes darkened, his jaw hardened, but he remained quiet until she finished. “So basically, this Lyulf is a really bad fairy with a god complex and wants to steal our power to take over the world. Is that right?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Luna replied, “That’s what Adam told Pierre. Adam loves anything to do with the supernatural. Seems to prefer vampires instead of werewolves and the Fae”.
“And what do you prefer, princess?”
Looking up, Luna saw the look in Chase’s eyes. Dark and hungry, they stared at her with an intensity that she felt all throughout her body. Looking away, she whispered huskily, “I don’t know”.
Even without looking, Luna knew that Chase had stepped forward, coming towards her. His face was suddenly in front of hers, his breath warming her skin. Soft fingers cupped her chin, making her look up at him. Lips shouldn’t be that red, she thought.
Chase brought his face closer to hers, his mouth almost touching but not quite. “I’d prefer if you weren’t here, princess. You’re too close to danger; you’re too fragile for this lifestyle. It’s hard, it’s bloody and people can get killed if you’re not careful. You’re human, Luna, and you shouldn’t be able to tempt me like this. Here I am, the big bad wolf, the stuff out of legends, and yet you have this hold over me. How do you have this power?”
All Luna could do was look at Chase. All her breath had been stolen, her body immobilised by his words. Time stood still for Luna, endless moments where he stood watching her face, his brown eyes dark with naked passion, tiny amber flecks peeking through the chocolate hue. His wolf was just behind them, the realisation sending shivers along her skin, but not of fear. A second later, those red lips descended on hers.
Chase groaned against her mouth, his tongue seeking hers. This time there was no hesitation. Luna wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed him inside. His hands reached around, settling on her hips, drawing her body closer. Luna melted against him, giving in, exploring his mouth. Lowering her hands, she bunched Chase’s t-shirt up, aching to touch his skin.
Quickly pulling the black material over his head, Luna had a moment of panic thinking that she was drooling. Chase was certainly worthy of a woman drooling over him. He looked as though his skin had been stretched across his body, allowing every muscle to be put on display. Even Michelangelo’s David couldn’t compete with Chase’s body, she thought, the last coherent thought she would have.
Chase ripped his mouth from hers, both of them breathing as hard as the other. Inhaling deeply, Luna reached out for him, her fingers touching his tanned skin softly, tracing the contours of his sculptured chest. When her fingers brushed against his nipple, Chase let out a groan and started to unbutton her shirt. His mouth trailed down the side of her neck and collarbone as his fingers worked on the clasp of her bra.
Her breasts exposed, Chase moved his head downwards, kissing the pale mounds before finally taking a pale pink nipple into his mouth. Each tug by his mouth caused her lower portions to twist, as though his tongue had a direct link to her groin. T
he sensations left Luna breathless but wanting more, so much more.
Lifting his mouth from her breasts, Chase gazed up at Luna’s flushed face, her green eyes sparkling like emeralds. Dropping to his knees, he kissed down her stomach, pulling her jeans and underwear down so that her entire body was naked. Luna lifted a foot so that the clothing could be thrown to one side before Chase planted a line of hot kisses up her thighs to that sweet spot where she ached for him to go.
Clutching his hair, Luna gave into the sensations Chase created. He rolled that tender ball of nerves around his mouth, sucking gently but triggering her into crying out and gripping his hair so tight she thought she would pull it all out. The waves of pleasure intensified.
On the crest of that final wave, Chase pulled away, smiling, knowing that he had almost brought her over the edge but stopping just before she fell. He swiftly tore off his clothes and brought them both down to the floor.
“Is this what you want, princess? If not, tell me now because this is the point of no return”.
Luna looked at Chase, his toned body raised over hers, his member thick and hard and long. His voice was deep, heavy with passion and matched her own. “Yes, I want this”.
That was all he required. A second later, Chase thrust inside her. Luna arched her back, her hips meeting each thrust. Chase bent his head down, devouring her mouth completely. He tasted like wild herbs and honey, fresh herbs which grew in the forest and had been drizzled with the sweet nectar. The taste of his kisses, and the pressure of his mouth, was exquisite.
Tearing his mouth away from hers, Luna looked up to see his eyes locked on hers, shining like molten jewels. Chase continued to thrust inside, a fast rhythm which stole both her breath and sanity. Moans filled the room but Luna didn’t have ability to distinguish whose was whose. He began to drive himself into her, faster and deeper, the top of his member reaching the end of her. Waves of pleasure built up and with one last thrust, sent her cascading over the edge. Screams of exquisite joy were ripped from her mouth and Chase shuddered above her as his own release exploded from his body.
Luna was blinded by white light, the sensations still rippling throughout every nerve. Lying on her back, Chase collapsed on top of her, still inside her. Panting in her ear, they stayed there, trying to draw in breath.
When they were finally able to breathe properly, Chase gently withdrew from her body and lay next to her, closing his eyes. Luna rolled onto her side, stroking the smooth hardness of his chest. “Will you show me your wolf?” she asked when her mouth was finally able to form words.
Chase opened his eyes, watching her face intently. The liquid amber had receded, the warm chocolate brown colour was back, although flecks of amber could still be seen just peeking through, letting her know that the wolf was still there. “What?”
“Your wolf”, she repeated, her voice full of satisfaction. “Will you let me see him?”
“Why do you want to see, Luna?”
Her brow creased in thought. “I’m not sure. There’s a part of me that’s curious, a part that is still in denial and a part that’s scared. When Michael transformed I was in shock and terrified. It’s a part of my family and while I know I could never change into one, I’d like to see what happens when I’m not being attacked by an ancient mythological creature”.
Chase regarded her, an emotion she was unable to determine quickly darting over his face before fading. “It’s one thing to be curious, princess, but another to actually deal with it. Humans shouldn’t really be dealing with the supernatural”.
Luna traced a finger along his jaw. “Why don’t you get involved with human women, Chase?”
Tearing his face from her gentle caresses, Chase closed his eyes and sighed. “You don’t want to know”.
“Yes, I do.”
“Fine, but it’s not a pretty tale”, he replied, a trace of bitterness coating his words. “My mom was originally from Montana where she met my dad. They were young at the time and they met at the bar where she worked. They fell in love, blah blah blah, and to everyone else it looked as though they were happy. What no one realised that my father was abusive. He’d beat her every time a guy hit on her, every time she talked to someone. She’s still got a scar by her ear where he pulled a knife on her.
“Eventually mom had had enough and she finally found the strength to pack up and leave his ass. But he came home early that night and caught her trying to escape. He threw the suitcases back in the case, dragged her back in and beat her. When she started bleeding he Changed in front of her. She won’t tell me exactly what happened but he did something, something that still scares the shit out of her every time she hears one of us howling. When he Changed back he told her that if she ran away then he’d just find her, that he could follow her scent wherever she went. The first time he left her on her own she ran. She didn’t take a damn thing apart from her purse, not even the jewellery her mother had given her or the baby booties she had been making.
“She took the Greyhound and found herself in Virginia a few days later. Mom had been here a few weeks when your parents came across her. They taught her that not all werewolves are abusive, that yes, while they are dangerous at times, they can be beautiful and gentle. It took some persuasion but they convinced her to come and visit them. Your parents and my mom became friends and then dad had to tell her that I’d become what she feared, that I’d Change into a wolf. She was scared of her son, that I might become the monster my father was”.
Luna watched Chase’s face as the pain of what a man he had never met had done to his mother’s life before he was even born. “When I was older, I started dating a girl from school. Nothing major had happened between us but it was heading that way. When mom found out she sat me down and told me what happened to her. You have no idea what that was like. It was pure hell, listening to how he had treated her. I understood then that I shouldn’t get involved with humans, that they’re just too fragile compared to us. The next day I broke it off with my girlfriend, said we were too different. She didn’t take it too good either, but it was better than the alternative. I never dated any humans after that, just other shapeshifters. Until you came along”.
Chase stared at Luna, a look of intense confusion on his face. “Until I saw you standing in the house I had never wanted a human before. The way you moved, the emotions raw in your eyes, that sexy French-British accent you’ve got going on, they just drew me like a moth to a flame. You burn me, princess, and I don’t know why. I know you had a boyfriend back home but I don’t care. I just want you”. Chase inhaled deeply, his voice low and raw with feeling. “But I don’t want you getting hurt because of my wolf”.
“You don’t want to hurt me the way your father hurt your mother?” she asked, realisation dawning.
“I don’t want to be like him”, whispered Chase, a muscle vibrating his jaw. “I’d rather kill myself than become that”.
They remained in silence for a few moments, stroking each other’s skin, allowing their heartbeats to return to normal. “Did you ever see my dad treat my mother badly?”
The question surprised Chase who quickly shook his head. “Nope. Your dad treated your mom like a queen. They were inseparable apart from when there was pack business or if Sherrie was visiting you in France. Werewolves tend to get real protective of their mates”.
Luna peered down at Chase, her face covered with an expression of seriousness. “So if my werewolf father treated my human mother well, why couldn’t you? Not all men are abusive, Chase, werewolf or not”.
Chase didn’t say anything, just nodded a few times, a look of intense concentration spread over his features. Luna continued, “You’re not him and you can prove it to yourself. Show me your wolf. Let me see him”.
Perhaps it was the determination in her voice that reached through to him, or perhaps it was something else, but Chase nodded in agreement, although Luna could plainly see the hesitation behind the movement. “When?” he asked.
“Now”, sh
e told him. “Let’s do it now whilst we both have the nerve”.
Chase sat up, and started reaching for his clothes. “Damn, you’re a stubborn woman. Fine, fine. Let’s go into the woods, it’s private property so no one will see us”.
Half an hour later Chase and Luna found themselves walking in the forest surrounding the house. It was evident that he was leading her to a specific spot. Twilight in the woods was something incredible, something almost magical. The sky was drenched in crimson and vibrant purple hues, the trees darkening to almost black, with the last sunlight causing shadows to play on the ground. Birds sang in the thick canopy and a rustle in the undergrowth suggested forest creatures were scurrying about.
They found themselves in a clearing with a beautiful pond surrounded on all sides by trees. The sky had lost its scarlet colour, the last of the sunlight a brilliant gold fading into rich tones of purple. Looking upwards, Luna could see the first twinkling of the stars, the dark silhouettes of the trees standing out. Faint starlight was reflected in the still waters of the pond, an indistinct ball indicated that the moon was starting to emerge in the amethyst-coloured sky.
Chase led her by the hand and took her around to one side of the pond where a wooden bench stood. A little grove of yellow roses grew on the right side of the bench, their scent strong and fragrant. Mother’s favourite flower, Luna thought. On the left hand side, grew a patch of bluish-purple flowers, but Luna couldn’t tell what type they were.
She reached out to touch one but Chase stopped her. “Don’t. That’s wolfsbane. If the poison gets into your system you’ll die. Don’t ask me why your mother planted it. Sherrie just said it was the perfect flower”.
Luna stepped back from the deadly plant. Her history lessons at school had told that Medea used the poisons from Wolfsbane, also known as Monkswood and woman’s bane, to create a deadly drink which she presented to Theseus. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the poisonous plant came from the saliva of the monstrous three-headed dog Cerebos, who guarded the entrance to the underworld. She agreed with Chase; why on earth had her mother planted such a deadly flower in an incredibly beautiful place?
Temptation of the Wolf: A Silver Moon Novel (Book 1) Page 9