Moonlight Lovers: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Witch and the Wolf Pack Book 7)

by K. R. Alexander

  “Cass? What would you like to do? Cass? Are you…?”

  “Cassia? Are you all right? We should leave you alone…”

  “No, I’m fine, Jason. Have you ever heard ‘Barbies’ by P!nk?” I looked up from blinking at my travel notebook—where I’d meant to start a list of things we needed to get done today before hitting the road for Wales in the morning.

  Jason, beside me in the train seat on the Heathrow Express toward Paddington Station, shook his head.

  “Just … thinking of it,” I said. “You don’t know who P!nk is, do you?”

  “That’s a person?”

  Andrew rolled his eyes.

  “Or Barbie…” I slipped the notebook into my backpack on my feet, pushed hair behind my ear, and stood up. The rest were standing in the aisle or leaning over the seat backs in front of us, all having formed a close circle around me in the gently swaying train car. “Excuse me. I should have stopped for the bathroom in the airport. I’ll be right back.”

  It was only 10:00 a.m. on the first day of September. Yet in my time zone it was 2:00 a.m. How did they have the energy for these debates after the day they’d had? A day that was still going on and on. It would take us an hour to reach The Abyssinian and get my bag. Wait for a train, then another hour to Brighton. Twenty minutes to the mobile home park where they lived.

  Then it would still only be the middle of the day. Time to see Diana and Atarah and prepare for the next day.

  Travel was made to test us. So was this summer.

  By the time I returned to them, having chewed down a couple pieces of ginger and now sucking on a ginger candy, stomach settling, they were listening to something on earbuds from Andrew’s and Isaac’s phones. Isaac, Jed, Zar, and Jason all had one in an ear. Kage was saying something to Andrew, who held his phone on the back of the seat while Jason and Zar listened.

  It reminded me I needed to turn on my own phone and attend to things I’d been neglecting for those couple rushed days in Portland. Mostly, catching up with Gavin and Rowan, plus a nice long, partly lying email to my sister.

  How could I tell Melanie I wasn’t starting the job after all? But how could I not? It was time to come clean about at least a few things with her. Turned out, I was going to need to pick her brain about how the legal situation worked for her having married Henry and living over here. There were still certain restrictions. Marriage was no free ticket to live overseas these days. But she’d managed and Henry had never seemed to think it was a big deal.

  Perhaps he could help with advice as well. Henry was a good sort—my inspiration for hoping for an Englishman of my own after I’d first met him a few years ago. A bit of one-upmanship wasn’t it? Big sister finds a handsome English chap to marry? I got six.

  Melanie still thought I was in Portland. Thought I’d been back in Portland ever since early August. She also knew I was involved in dodgy stuff—some kind of secret society. The truth would have to be sparse, more lies invented, but it was time. I had to tell her I was over here and I was going to need help.

  Add it to the list.

  I took my seat and Zar, brows furrowed, pulled the earbud free and moved around the arm of his seat to rest on his knees in the aisle beside me. He gently took my right hand in both of his, face a picture of worry. Goddess … he did the best Bambi eyes I’d ever seen. Big, deep brown eyes in an elegant yet masculine face, coppery skin framed in long, wavy black hair. Looking upward added an extra punch of sorrow. Puppy indeed.

  Yet, I knew better now. I remembered talking him off his calculated throat hold when he could have killed his brother in the Rocky Mountains, and the blood streaming from Jed’s nose in Wyoming after Zar had broken it in skin. Yes, it had been a long trip, expensive, time consuming, frustrating, riding off charity from Gabriel. But it had been an endless classroom—the best kind of travel; the best kind of life.

  “Cass? I’m sorry. Do you want us to leave you alone?”

  “You don’t owe me an apology for anything, Zar. What’s wrong?”

  “We’ll get you back home and you curl up wherever you fancy.” This from Kage, startling me into turning in my seat to see him looking down over the back of it. He didn’t sound testy or sarcastic.

  “Are you feeling all right?” I asked him.

  He looked away to the window and view of endlessly graffitied brick and concrete walls flashing past outside. “Didn’t mean to pressure you. Just … wherever you want to land is fine. Be on the road tomorrow again anyway.”

  Jason pulled the other earbud from his ear. So did Isaac and Jed with Isaac’s phone.

  “Where do you want to be, Cass?” Zar asked. “We’re fine with that, wherever. All of us.”

  “What is wrong with you?” I glanced around at them. “I’m not upset about the rooming debate. We’ll work it out. I really did need the bathroom.”

  “It’s not that. It’s a … sad song.” Zar spoke quietly. “We’re … making things hard on you at an already hard time.”

  “The song? You were all listening to that song? Zar, I’m okay. Yes, that was rough getting such a short time in Portland, and there’s a lot going on for me right now. But … life happens. Growing up and making tough choices and stress … they all happen. You don’t need to feel bad about that. I just want to be with all of you. A cozy beach house and a martini would be nice, but … I’m happy simply being with you.”

  I sighed and pressed his hand. “In the interest of logic and helping to settle the situation, I’ll admit I think Kage has a point. Your pack already thinks I’m a dangerous witch with sketchy motives in my relationships with all of you. I’ve stayed with Kage and Jason before. Going home with anyone else right now would just add more weirdness. I could go to Atarah’s, but I’d rather not. I don’t want to crash on her out of the blue when we’re just going to get up the next morning and head out. There’s no need to impose on her. I would love to talk to Diana but I’m really out of it right now and I’m not sure what to expect as far as a welcome when we get there. The lowest profile I can keep the better. Maybe a nap and see her, discuss what’s happening and our plan, then bed and go in the morning. I don’t know, Zar. I just … I’m really, really tired.”

  Zar pulled my hand up to the armrest to kiss my knuckles. “That’s all right, Cass. You stay with them and we’ll talk with Diana. You can see her and Atarah in the morning before we go. It’s less than five hours to Snowdonia.”

  I laughed, making everyone stare. “I’m sorry. I forget that. We’re driving to a different country tomorrow, England to Wales, the south coast to Snowdonia National Park. US mindset. I had it in my head that we’d be on the road for about fourteen hours tomorrow.”

  Most of them smiled at that.

  “We’ll set it to warp speed just for you, darling,” Andrew said. Probably no one else even got the reference.

  “Thanks. Five hours? Okay, then yes. Just let me go to bed and make some notes and write to my sister and Rowan and so on. A snack, maybe a shower. Then I’ll sleep and see Diana in the morning. Since we don’t need to worry about leaving before dawn.” I smiled.

  “That will be fine,” Isaac said. “If there’s pressing news we need to discuss today we’ll bring it to your place. Otherwise, get your own affairs tended tonight. Plenty of time for politics in the morning.”

  Politics indeed, with some of the pack wanting me run out of town—or dead.

  “I’ll bring your snack,” Andrew said. “The parents have human-worthy nibbles in the fridge.”

  “I’ll tell Diana and Atarah about the shamans.” Zar glanced up at Isaac. “We can have them mostly filled in tonight.”

  Jed said something. I missed the first part due to his being by the window in the row behind Jason and myself, plus muttering. “—to keep watch.”

  “Keep watch?” I looked around at him. “You want to guard Kage and Jason’s place?” I was exasperated, but not really surprised by the overprotective thing from him. I was amazed, however, when everyone
else seemed to find this perfectly sensible.

  “You shouldn’t be there at all,” Jed growled. “Zacharias—”

  “I’ll pull out the cooker,” Kage said. “It’s an unplanted bed there. Supposed to be growing carrots and sterk.” He shrugged.

  “You know better than to start a fight in fur, though,” Isaac said calmly, also like this made sense. “You’re only camping there for a warning if anyone’s meaning to make trouble for Cassia. To alert all of us in skin.”

  Jed nodded.

  “You’ll be fine with us for a night, Cassia.” Jason touched my shoulder, reassuring. “It’s just a precaution.”

  I wasn’t worried. Rather, I thought they were out of their minds taking this protective thing in their own pack so far that they all agreed I should sleep with two of them and have a third stationed outside the door like a fanged security system all night. But it wasn’t as if Kage and Jason minded having me, and Jed would be proud to do something for me in fur. Even sleeping in the dirt was his preference anyway.

  “That’s fine, you guys. Whatever we need.” I had to pause as the announcement burst over the intercom that we were arriving at Paddington. Finally, I added only, “Thank you.”

  Chapter 22

  The best laid plans. Turned out, they didn’t need to worry about my human snack. Gabriel wanted to hear about the trip and our progress. He arranged a private lunch for all of us in his decadent two-bedroom flat on the top floor of The Abyssinian.

  My bag and things were untouched from the time I’d spent staying in his guest suite. I was grateful to wash my face, change to a blouse instead of travel T-shirt, and generally clean up before we had to sit down and be social.

  Still just as exhausted, but so much calmer, taken care of, glad to be back with Gabriel and facing only the last leg of the trip, I was even able to enjoy a soup and salad lunch with my stomach behaving itself.

  They feasted on steaks and chips—fries—and roasted vegetables like carrots and cauliflower in a sweet balsamic glaze. Gabriel ate a sandwich with the care of a picky child, considering every bite. Jason had two servings of a bouillabaisse that sent him into such transports of joy he participated in the conversation even less than Jed. He offered to share with me on the second bowl—they always seemed to think I was starving—and the flaky fish and rich broth really were delicious.

  They told Gabriel all about the trip. Zar handled the important details like the shamans and our magical breakthroughs. The rest talked about the food.

  Then they thanked Gabriel, most shaking his hand as we were heading out, now with all our bags in tow.

  Zar, at the end of the departing line before me, offered his brother a tentative hug. A brief touch, more a mutual pat on the back, before Zar retreated to the front door.

  “Thank you,” I told Gabriel last. “We wouldn’t have been able to go without you. I’m not sure where we would have been then. We’ll keep in touch as we go north. I think we know what we’re looking for now.”

  “This is dangerous work, Cassia.” He frowned, his perpetually grim expression miserable. He was as handsome as either of his brothers, although better groomed with short hair, precisely trimmed circle beard, and wearing a navy suit. “Please update me. Also, if you have need to return here, you are welcome. If there’s anything else I can do to help, I’ll be glad to.”

  If only that were true. If only we could do something to bring a little “glad” into this hotel manager’s life.

  “I suppose you could come with us,” I said, smiling. “Lend an extra hand. Do you still ride a motorcycle?”

  “I do.” A shadow of a returned smile. “If you find yourselves in a spot of bother?”

  “We’ll let you know.” I gave him a quick embrace as well, but really touching him, holding on tight for a second. “Thank you so much. For everything. See you when we’re back in the neighborhood.”

  We made our way to Victoria Station, caught the train for Brighton, and were picked up by Simon and Thomas bringing Kage’s Jeep and another small SUV that we were all able to pile into.

  It was 3:00 p.m. before we reached the mobile home park and most of my pack escorted me to Kage and Jason’s little home.

  I’d hoped to slink in without fanfare. No such luck rumbling up in the two vehicles between posts of a gate that was under construction at the end of the private road beside the apple orchard. This pitted, dusty ground was now being fenced off—a process much farther along than I had expected.

  The wood slat fence was six feet with three strips of barbed wire at the top, extending it a good deal. Also at the top were regular floodlights. Where natural barriers existed—like the massive hedge on the north side of the property beyond the willow grove, and the woodland to the west beyond the field—they were using a system of close barbed wire and chicken wire only.

  The pack was plenty self-sufficient, even with losses now reaching twelve, plus the six in my pack having been away. They had carpenters and skilled woodworkers and handy individuals, able to plan and build the thing themselves. Technology was more of a stretch, but two young males, Reuel and Philip, were hard at work with the lights as well as installing security cameras in strategic stations that could feed footage to computers in the workshop. This building had the highest vantage in the compound, now turned into a security center with lights and a camera of its own.

  Much as I wanted to hide from the scrutiny as we arrived, I felt flooded with relief to see all this, listening to the others as they asked what was going on and Thomas filled us in. They’d also finally started locking doors, no one leaving the property now without good reason, many even having left jobs.

  They were staying—at least for now. They could hunker down and protect themselves until we could find out what was happening.

  They’d even had the sense to join with the Aspens, some of whom were here, providing unfamiliar faces filling gaps where familiar ones like Peter and Aaron should have been. Some of the Aspens had run, hiding with distant family in other countries. And a few were out right now with Sables trying to track down Beeches or Greys—whoever they found first.

  The South Coast Cooperative was gone—a few members now remaining in alliance only to hunt former members.

  It made me want to leave tonight. Forget the twenty-four hours of travel and jet lag and everything else. Don’t sleep, don’t pause, just run until we found who we had to find to stop this. No more deaths.

  But I could hardly think, only hide in their escort to my little refuge with Kage and Jason as afternoon sun bathed the community and the shirtless workers at the fence.

  Pups still played around the place: in the willows and central spaces of the workshop and paths between homes—none in the field or woods.

  When they spotted me in the group of their friends and family that comprised my pack, they scattered, darting into open doors or around corners to watch from afar. The wicked witch was back.

  Reaching Kage and Jason’s place with Zar and Jed also along, only two pups ran up to see us, shouting.

  “All right, Noah?” Jason smiled. “Want to smell America?” He stood on one foot while Noah sniffed his walking shoe.

  “Miss us, Helah?” Kage swooped the tiny thing up in his arms and threw her in the air while she shrieked with laughter.

  “Story! Story!” Helah yelled.

  “Not tonight. But we’ll catch up.” Kage swung her around and set her down, fluffing her hair. “Did you have to take a bath while we were gone?”

  “Not many. Did you bring a hamburger from Colorado?”

  “Did you find the shamans?” Noah asked.

  “What did you eat?” Helah asked.

  “Did you see vampires again?”

  “Did you fight bad guys?”

  “We don’t have any burgers but Andrew brought you something,” Jason said.

  Their eyes widened.

  “Caramel peanut sweets.” Jason pointed. “He’s got a sackful.”

  I had returne
d Andrew’s stash to him from the checked bag.

  The two pups raced off, kicking up dust, barefoot and whooping.

  Kage let us inside and we set down my three bags and theirs before Zar retreated. Kage was talking to Jason about who they needed to see and speak to, trading shifts so one would stay here with me while the other saw family. I opened the duffel bag and followed the brothers outside. Jed hadn’t come in at all.

  “Zar?”

  He stared as I held out my pillow. “You … brought that? For me?”

  “Go on.” I pushed it at him, then gave Jed the adobe piece. “I’ll see you later. Spend time with your mom. Talk to Diana.”

  “I’ll be back later,” Jed said, glaring around.

  “If you want to. Kage is making a spot for you out here.”

  Once I was back inside, Kage was also preparing to leave. “Stay in,” he advised me. “If you want to do any warding or spells around the place wait until morning.”

  “I know. And surreptitious magic even then.”

  “That’d be best.”

  When Kage had gone, I removed the prong collar and leash, then the great, branching elk antler that had distorted my bag.

  Jason’s eyes lit up. “Spike!” He threw his arms around me. “You brought Spike!”

  “Life’s too short to leave behind an antler when you need one.”

  “The pups will love this.” Jason took it from me, stroking the long curves and turning it admiringly. “Isn’t it smashing? Fancy it with the bones? Hmm…”

  As I’d predicted, the antler was as long as the old kitchen table, greatly overlapping the bowl of bones centerpiece and taking up most of the space.

  “What about hanging it on the wall with your instruments like you’d mentioned?”

  He held it up to the living room wall with their hoop drums and Kage’s little guitar. Then tried it in other spots, studying the effect. He wandered into the bedroom, nibbling absently at one prong like some people would chew a pen.