“No one explained the new moon thing to Andie,” he answered.
Cameron cursed. “Sometimes I feel like I’m surrounded by fucking idiots.”
“Her period is due next week,” Wade whispered.
“I heard that, you dick.”
I grinned out the window, searching for dark brown fur. “What happens at a new moon then?”
“You know how werewolves usually turn at the full moon in movies and stuff?” Cameron said.
No. “Sure.”
Wade took the turn for the manor, screeching around the corner. “From what we’ve figured, it’s the opposite. Sunlight gives wolves power. They’re strongest and most in control during the day. At night, their control varies according to how much sunlight is reflected off the moon. At the full moon, they’re safe and predictable. Then their control ebbs with the waning and waxing moons, growing strong again at the half-moons. During a new moon, when no sunlight is reflected to Earth, Luthers are most volatile. You’ll never see them off pack lands around that time.”
Whoa. “Why does sunlight help them?”
I naturally associated wolves—and monsters in general—with darkness.
Cameron’s voice crackled through the speakers. “No idea. But when it happens, we get a week off Grids and meet at the manor for Tribe Night. So yay.”
Wade snorted. “Don’t call it that. Old people get offended. Plus, it’s called Ancestor Appreciation night.”
“Don’t say that, Andie. Everyone will get pissed.” Cameron butted in.
I glanced out the window again. Was there some way to low-key ask Sascha about the sun thing? He didn’t know much about pack origins, apparently, but it was worth a try. “I’m not going to call this anything. You two are trouble.”
Cameron was waiting at the manor gates when Wade pulled up. She jumped in, waving at the replacement guard I remembered from the first night.
When we reached the manor, I gaped at the sea of stewards covering every inch of the lawn. “I’ve never seen everyone together.”
There were so many. Only the younger stewards and those without children came to the party on Wednesday.
“It’s cool when everyone gets together. Usually just happens on tribe nights and the Deception Valley ball.” Wade scoffed.
I smirked. “You don’t like the ball?”
“I want to like it. It just currently sucks.”
I grabbed my pillow and blanket from the boot, scanning the ground. “I don’t think we’re going to fit anywhere.”
“Rhona’s waving us down,” Cameron said. “Best seats in the house.”
We picked through the crowd, and I nodded to all the greetings. They knew my name—which wasn’t the hardest thing in the world with my resemblance to Rhona, but still. I recognized some faces and recalled a few names, but if I’d met the others, I’d forgotten them.
“Girl, you’re a freakin’ legend,” Cameron whispered. “People haven’t stopped talking about Clay last week.”
“All the better to disappoint them in the next grid.”
Billy had an empty spot beside him, and I took a step to claim the space, but was jostled aside by Wade who dove into the gap. Cameron and I exchanged an amused look.
Wade really didn’t want me with Billy.
I arranged my blanket beside Rhona, who immediately dragged it to cover her legs. Guess it was her blanket now.
“What’s new?” she asked.
“I start the last year of my degree tomorrow.”
She smiled. “You’ll blitz it. I’m thinking of starting a degree actually.”
Everyone shut up.
“What will you do?” I asked.
“I was thinking of physical education or something.”
Foley snorted. “Babe, you’d kill kids if you trained them.”
The group laughed.
“That’s a great idea,” I said to her. “You love fitness stuff and you could teach at the schools here or even train stewards.”
“As long as I’m not in her classes,” Billy said.
I turned. “You’d be lucky to be trained by someone like Rhona.”
He gawked at me. “I know. I was just—”
I faced my cousin again, ignoring Wade’s smug smirk. “Anywhere in particular that you’re looking?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Just a stupid idea really.”
I glared at Foley, who swallowed and faced forward.
A mic screeched. Herc took the small stage in front of us. Three drums sat in front of seats at the back.
I glanced around. What happened at these things? I had Tribe Night and Ancestor Appreciation Night as clues.
That involved drums, clearly.
“Good evening, all,” Herc spoke into the mic, “I’d like to start by announcing the next grid will be Sandstone. This is, of course, in ten days’ time due to the new moon.”
I tucked Rhona’s hand in mine and rested my chin on her shoulder. “Whatever you choose to do, you’ll be fantastic at it.”
She didn’t move as three men sat behind the drums. Five women took up position in front of them.
Rhona still didn’t move as the drums started a steady rhythm and the women danced, their sweeping movements telling stories, vivid even without words. Slow and fast they dipped and turned until I was ensnared in their beautiful tale.
Only then, did Rhona rest her head atop mine, interlacing our fingers.
26
The run was unavoidable. Gerry could see when I’d completed training sessions and not. Unless I wanted to tell him that I couldn’t go outside because a Luther wanted to breed with me, running it was.
I left the apartment safe in the knowledge the wolf in question hadn’t gleaned a single thing more from me since last Thursday. In fact, four days had passed without a single werewolf sighting. Should I worry or was the new moon to blame? Wade said Luthers stuck to pack lands around this time, but I also recalled Herc’s words about wolves stalking their prey for weeks or months before striking.
Walking to the end of town, I stretched my legs, lower back, and shoulders, slipping my phone into the back pocket of my shorts. After wheezing so much in the last grid, I was determined to work on my running so I could keep up with Rhona’s unit.
I set into a pounding rhythm down the road to Lake Thana, dredging up that hammering excitement I felt entering Clay last week. My legs warmed, loosening, and I lengthened my stride.
Who knew running could be almost enjoyable?
I focused on my breath and the pumping movement of my arms, sticking to the shoulder of the road. The earthy scent of the trees cleared my senses, filling my lungs, and I smiled, pushing harder.
A car swerved next to me, disappearing around the bend.
Rounding the corner, I saw the person had pulled over. I’d been running well in the shoulder. They weren’t pissed, were they?
I didn’t slow my pace until the person got out of the car.
Oh, fuck.
Logan.
He shut the door of the car I should have recognised, leaning against the boot to await my approach.
I closed the distance at a walk, leaving ample space between us when I stopped. “Logan. What are you doing here?”
He’d driven nine hours. That was commitment. When we were together, he’d made the journey for sex. Now we were apart with numerous smashed windows and legalities between us. He didn’t drive here to say anything good.
“Cute stunt with the civil lawsuit,” he said, folding his arms.
I breathed hard, hands on my hips. “You drove all this way to tell me that?”
His gaze lingered on my bare legs, and I had a moment to regret selecting shorts over leggings.
“You look good, Andie. Really good.”
“If you have a point to make, make it.” Gerry would make me do demon burpees for stopping during the run.
Logan pushed off the car. “I keep replaying how things went so wrong, and I can’t figure it out. What changed
?”
That’s what he drove nine hours to ask? Yeah, right.
Where was the sneering, angry dick who smashed windows and threatened me? That version of Logan couldn’t be far away, but the question seemed genuine, so I’d play along for now.
I wiped my brow. “I did, I guess. Or my situation.”
“We were happy once.”
Was I? A mother with terminal cancer. Constant bills and calls to my boss to say I wouldn’t be in. Looking back, I saw that Logan just fit into the little time I had. He had nice foliage and didn’t require watering or sunshine.
Lucky for his ego, I wasn’t a bitch either. “Yes, we were.”
“We could be happy again.”
The hell you say? “Logan, that would be off the table even without the smashed windows and ugliness since.”
His face clouded. “I didn’t smash anything. Your lawyers won’t win. Call them off.”
Ah. The real reason he’d come. “Not happening.”
“You don’t have the money to fight this, babe. All that shit about your mother’s debt is true. You’re trapped.”
My hands balled to fists at his gloating smirk. I opened my mouth, but shut it as Logan jerked, looking over my head.
“Andie. Is everything alright?” a honey voice said.
My heart sank.
Please don’t be here right now.
Sascha wasn’t alone. Leroy and Hairy flanked him, Mandy and two other Dens bouncers called Grim and Lisa followed close on their heels.
“It’s fine, Sascha,” I said, jaw clenched.
“How did you know we were here?” Logan demanded, pushing past me. I stumbled back.
Sascha’s mild manner dropped in a flash. “Logan, wasn’t it? You just pushed Andie.”
Logan’s gaze narrowed as I moved between them again.
“You’re the casino owner,” he said. “The fucker moving in before we were over.”
The werewolf smiled, his wolves fanning out. “Yes. I moved in on Andie the moment I saw her. I’ve enjoyed your little jealous letters.”
If Logan knew those teeth became fangs, he would not be bristling for a fight right now.
I faced him. “Sascha has nothing to do with why we ended. I promise you. But it is over between us. If you came here to ask that I call the lawyers off, then we can discuss that, but everything else is off limits.”
Logan lowered his head. “And I’ll say it again. You don’t have the money to fight me.”
The wolves were silent at my back. I desperately wanted them to leave.
“What’s the total figure, Andie?” His voice oozed glee. “Nearly half a million, I heard.”
“Stop.” Heat flooded my face.
Logan grinned, looking over my head. “Did Andie tell you that her mother had a little gambling problem? Well, not so little.”
“Stop it, Logan.” I grabbed his arm, but he shook me off.
“While Andie was slaving away to pay her mother’s cancer bills, ol’ Ragna was racking up quite the debt through online gambling.”
I lowered my arms to my sides, the heat draining from my cheeks. “She didn’t mean to.”
He snorted. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. A month has passed since she died. Tell me, how much interest has piled on in that time? Soon, the house sale won’t cover the repayment.”
I’d gain another twenty-three thousand in debt over a year if the house didn’t sell.
Logan leaned closer. “Do you hate the bitch, babe? Be honest.”
I slapped him, embracing the burning sting in my palm. “Don’t speak about my mother like that.”
Logan clutched his face. “Assault.” He laughed. “Thank you.”
Heat seared into my back an instant before Sascha spoke, “Time to go.”
Logan’s face twisted. “Who’s going to make me? Or would the six of you like to be slapped with a lawsuit too?”
“No problem,” Sascha rumbled. “My lawyers are aiding Miss Booker and are particularly adept as you’ve found.”
Logan stared at him before spearing me with a contemptuous glare. “You’re sleeping with this guy, so he’ll pay your lawyer fees?”
Fucking. Asshole.
I lifted my hand for round two. He wanted to sue me? For what? Hard to get money from someone who had none.
Sascha wrapped an arm around my waist and deposited me behind him.
“Please just leave,” I whispered to him, knowing the wolf heard when his back tensed.
Everything I’d tried to hide from Deception Valley had been outed. Behind Sascha, I didn’t meet the gazes of his wolves. Their eyes bore into me, and a lump rose up my throat.
I’d never, never felt so small.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
A car door slammed, and footsteps sounded behind me.
“He’s gone. He won’t come back.”
That fucking voice drew tears to my eyes. Tears I didn’t want him or anyone to see.
“It’s okay, little bird.” His hands wrapped around my upper arms.
It’s not okay.
I yanked free, moving around Sascha without looking at him. “Thanks, but I could have handled it. See you at work.”
Breaking into a run, I drew in ragged breaths, forcing my legs to move at a steady pace.
I managed two bends before I turned sharply and sprinted into the forest. Leaping over dead trees, I didn’t react to the branches scraping at my cheeks as my lungs threatened to burst with my gasping sobs.
The forest floor gave way without warning, and I crashed to the ground, skidding down an embankment. I punched the earth, picking up a rock and standing to throw it as hard as possible before sprawling on my ass again.
Threading my hands through my hair, I curled my legs into my chest, bursting into gulping cries against my knees.
Logan had no right to do that. This beautiful place hadn’t needed to know my mother was anything but perfect.
Now they did.
There wasn’t a single place that Ragna could be remembered as she should have been.
I sucked in a breath, sniffing.
A hand rested on my back, and I froze as warmth wrapped around my bones.
Wiping my face, I peered at Sascha when he crouched beside me. My chest rose at his pitch-black eyes. Not a speck of honey showed.
Gravel churned in his voice. “Stop crying.”
Whenever Sascha’s eyes darkened or he gained that gravel quality to his voice, I’d learned his wolf was joining the conversation. I’d accidentally called his wolf Greyson once, but there really were two different entities inside of Sascha and it helped to give them each a name. Not that his wolf was grey at all. The name just suited the beast’s solemnity and dangerous vibe.
Right now? I was speaking to Sascha’s wolf.
I jumped at a crack, and twisted to see five wolves padding down into the ditch I was having my pity party in.
They flopped to the ground around me, closing their eyes.
Greyson hooked a finger under my chin. “Stop crying.”
I hugged my knees again. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“It does if you give me all your problems.”
“Not happening.”
In a bare second, he had me cradled on his lap, his back to a large tree. I shoved at his arm, and a sinister growl erupted from him. The other wolves lifted their heads, taking interest.
Shit, he wasn’t home right now.
Stilling, I sat tense on his lap, and his arms clamped around my body. We were still in the new moon. Crap.
“Warm vanilla,” he murmured in a voice filled with gravel, stroking my hair. “That’s what it smells like when you cry.”
My exhale shook.
“You must hate me,” he said in smooth tones.
Sascha was back. I relaxed but didn’t attempt to move again just in case Greyson wasn’t far away.
Sascha hesitated. “Your mother—”
“My mother is off limits.” Straighte
ning, I looked into his honey eyes.
More than one leaf was in my hair, and dirt covered my legs and arms. I could only assume my face was the same because the more he scrutinised me, the more he paled.
“The things Logan said. I don’t ever want to speak about them again.” With a narrowed gaze, I dared the werewolf to defy me.
Sascha considered me, then with purpose, tilted to expose his neck.
What the what? “Did you hear me?”
He breathed a sigh. “This is me telling you that I understand, Andie.”
Oh.
Good then.
The werewolf resumed stroking my tangled hair, trailing his fingers lightly down my back. His other arm was still clamped around my waist. I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Fresh tears stung my eyes, and I tucked my head against his chest so he couldn’t see.
“Sascha?” I said.
The purring chuff sounded in his chest. “Yes, little bird?”
“Are you more wolfy than usual right now?”
A chuffing came from one of the other wolves. Yeah, they weren’t sleeping. Fakers.
Sascha’s voice held a dream-like vagueness. “My wolf has greater control over me in this moment.”
I wriggled as he reached a ticklish spot at my lower back. He paused and lightly stroked the same area. I wiggled, and he slid his hand higher.
“Will that be a problem?” I relaxed in his hold despite myself. The magic hangover thing was at play again. Dread seeped out of my very heart as I lingered in his arms.
I shouldn’t be entertaining this. I shouldn’t be in his arms. My family hated his pack. His pack hated us. My mother. Herc. Rhona.
The casino.
Grids.
Me.
His mouth moved against my hair. “I will never hurt you. It would kill me.”
Was that a literal thing? If not, the creepy factor was too high for my comfort. Actually, either way. “That’s part of the… breeding call?”
His whole body went rigid.
I swallowed hard. “Guess I shouldn’t mention that?”
Sascha shook under me, and I placed my hands on his shoulders, chest tightening as his teeth lengthened.
His wolf looked out at me again.
“It makes sense now,” Greyson said, menace rolling from him in droves. I could barely make out the words through the harsh clipped tone.
Shifter Wars: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 1) Page 27