The Moon Shadow : The Wolfrik Trilogy | Book 1

by K. Rea

  I could see the air shimmer around us with magic, like a dancing moonlight glow. It felt like the world shuddered; whether it was the bond, my powers, or our loving making, I’ll never know. Aiden followed me into that hazy cloud of pleasure with a groan, his fangs against my neck but never biting down. He kissed my neck softly, then lips softly before he rolled to my side.

  “How do you feel?” Aiden asked softly, his fingers trailing along my arm.

  “Calm,” I whispered, the calmest I had felt in too long. Aiden nodded. I couldn’t tell if he wanted more from me.

  “Mo ghràdh, thank you for what you’ve done. Know I will protect and cherish you if you let me,” Aiden whispered, then laid one of his arms across my waist and pulled me close. I listened as his breathing evened out, and he gave in to sleep. Sounds of the cottage came back into focus. The crackling fire blazed on, but it was clear the storm outside was dying down. The passion I felt in his arms still lingered, but the consuming need to be with him or escape had calmed.

  TWENTY

  The sound of birds singing outside was the first sign it was morning. The second sign were the fingers gently gliding up and down my back. They left a tingling sensation in their wake.

  Evelyn, it is time to wake up, Aiden said.

  “What?” I asked.

  How do you feel? Do you notice anything different? Aiden asked. I sat up to look at him and realized I was naked beneath the comforter. I quickly pulled the blanket up around my shoulders.

  “I feel rested and sore, to be honest. Why?” I spoke.

  I think there is more different than you realize, Aiden suggested with a pointed look, but his lips didn’t move. He smirked.

  “Wait, I heard you in my head,” I responded.

  Yes. You’re also healed, as far as I can tell. We’re bonded. It may take a few days to determine any other side effects. Aiden explained.

  “For now? What do to you mean for now?” I asked; Aiden frowned.

  “We’ve bonded, but the bond will have to be consummated every so often until it is permanent. Until then, others may challenge our bond, though they would fail,” Aiden explained.

  “Challenge the bond?” I questioned.

  “I won’t let them, unless you want me to. Bonds are not easily broken,” Aiden responded.

  “If you could bond with another, would you?”

  “No. I would never -” A knock at the door stopped Aiden abruptly.

  Another bang against the door echoed. Between one heartbeat and the next, Aiden had left the bed and tossed a shirt to me. He pulled on his jeans in a blink of an eye and left the bedroom. I hunted around for the rest of my borrowed clothes and slipped into them as fast as possible. Aiden opened the front door, and it flooded the cottage with the smells of outside and of a certain fae woodsman.

  Come out to the porch when you’re ready. It’s Jude. He’d like to apologize to you in person. Aiden urged along the bond that had formed between us like a channel. I left Aiden’s shirt on the bed, pulled the sweater I had been wearing back on, and walked out. Jude stood on the porch wearing another burgundy shirt and camel-colored jeans. His copper hair loose about his shoulders. The pull of his power was gone, but I could feel his power in the air like a rain cloud ready to pour at any moment. His power was staggering.

  “Lady Evelyn, my sincerest apologies if I frightened you earlier. My wife and I offer our congratulations. She sent me with a basket of clothes and food,” Jude offered, gesturing to an enormous wicker basket by Aiden’s feet. He had draped the blanket I abandoned at the fence over the deck railing.

  “Wife,” I said suspiciously. Jude laughed while Aiden brooded from his spot next to the door frame. His arms crossed, his kissable body on display. Though I knew I left more than a few tokens of our lovemaking on his body last night, none of the marks remained this morning. I was tempted to remedy that as soon as possible.

  “When I said Lady of Wood, I did not mean my lady. I am happily married to Jolie. I have no desire to claim another wife. Jolie and I are true mates. We’re expecting our first bairn soon,” Jude explained, spreading his arms wide in a show of peace.

  “It was Jolie’s idea,” Aiden said.

  “Jolie thought if you didn’t want Aiden, then I could persuade you to walk away. You could have been a lady of the wood or chosen a fae. You wouldn’t be the first moon shadow to pick a fae woodsman over a Court dandy,” Jude said with a wicked smile. Even though Aiden looked unaffected, I felt a shift in his emotions.

  “Thankfully, I see that all Jolie’s nagging was for naught. Jolie is sorry she couldn’t come herself; she hopes you won’t be a stranger and come visit before the bairn arrives,” Jude informed us.

  “A visit is long overdue. When Lady Evelyn and I become more comfortable, we’ll stop by before returning to Court,” Aiden promised.

  “Wonderful, well—speaking of Court, you received a missive from our dear king. Presumably regarding your new status as the married bonded Prince and Princess of Shadows. Given the improvement with the weather, the local druids have settled down some since the claiming occurred. Many werewolves and druids are still very put out by the Court’s decisions regarding your Lady Evelyn. There are also rumors of a far larger international moon shadow presence raising their hackles,” Jude declared, pulling a letter out of the basket of fruit and handing it to Aiden. “Seems word is out that vampires ensnared a wolf for themselves.”

  “International presence?” I asked, surprised. Orion and I were always told we were the last of a dying breed. Only the Australian and New Zealand packs remained besides us. Aiden opened the letter and skimmed it before turning to me.

  “The Australian and New Zealand wolves noticed your parents’ death and your marriage. It’s incited some unrest, and as a result, other packs are coming out of hiding,” Aiden stated.

  “They will try to come for her. They’ll try to take her before the bond is permanent. I doubt they would allow you to keep her. Especially since she is the first born female Wolfrik since the rift. They expect you to abuse the bond, like your father does,” Jude muttered.

  “As does my father, according to this letter. We will avoid Court for a long as possible, but he wants us back before the fall equinox celebration. If the wolves rise, the king will strike them down to extinction, including you,” Aiden said.

  “Abuse the bond?” I asked as I wandered over to the basket of food and removed an orange from the assortment.

  “Forgive me for bringing it up. It’s not considered polite conversation, especially in front of a new bride. Especially in your circumstances, I expect Aiden here to do right by you regardless,” Jude explained, lightly punching Aiden in the shoulder. “I should be off. Jolie’s waiting. May the forest protect you both,” Jude said before walking off the porch. He approached the nearest tree, raised his hand, and disappeared into it between one moment and the next in a shimmer of gold light.

  “Show off,” Aiden muttered as he hefted the basket in his arms.

  “Did he just disappear into a tree?” I asked.

  “One of the many talents of a fae woodsman, his is one with the forest, as they like to say. They can use trees like doorways between one place and another. If he is to be believed, I owe him my life on multiple counts. Want some breakfast to go with that orange?” Aiden asked.

  “Only if it comes with a view,” I teased, gesturing to his physique. My quip earned me a laugh and breakfast on the porch. After eating and changing into fresh clothes, I sat at the kitchen table, finishing my tea. Aiden cleaned the fireplace. He had already set the living room back to how it looked when we arrived. Now that temperatures had returned to normal, a blazing fire was unnecessary.

  “You knew Jude didn’t really want to bond with me?” I asked. Aiden leaned the various tools against the fireplace and sauntered over to sit at the table.

  “Jud
e would not have been here to steal you away unless Jolie sent him. That woman is a force to be reckoned with; she would need to be to keep him in check.” Aiden explained. I felt the admiration and care he felt for her through our bond.

  “Do you see Jude and Jolie often?” I asked, trying to ignore the tiny pang of jealously that echoed in my chest.

  “I see Jude at Court occasionally; Jolie does not go to Court. She left when she came of age to avoid my father’s interest and has no reason to return. Most of the Fae avoid Court and allow the witches to handle their Court affairs instead. Jude acts as a liaison from time to time,” Aiden explained as he poured himself a mug of tea.

  “What did Jude mean by abuse the bond?” I asked as he drank from his mug.

  “The Court uses sex and bonding as a token of favor and power. They can abuse the bond to harvest power from another, the king and anyone with a harem typically does. I’ve had lovers, but I preferred the company of humans outside of Court. You are my first, and hopefully only bond.”

  “Is that because your father chased Jolie away, or because she fell in love with a fae woodsman instead?” I asked. I felt the ripple of anger and loss of his emotions echo against my soul.

  “Interesting question, why did you ask that?” Aiden asked, setting his mug down.

  “The bond, your emotions, and tone,” I whispered.

  “I had feelings for Jolie once, when we were young. She only had eyes for Jude. He is a bit of a scoundrel, if you hadn’t noticed. Unfortunately, my father noticed my affection. He decided she was comely and powerful, so he summoned her. Jude and I smuggled her out of Court the night she was supposed to present herself. The king was furious with me. There were consequences, but he no longer cared about Jolie. He summoned others to warm his bed. While I was at Court, Jolie bonded to Jude, and they’ve turned out to be true mates. I couldn’t be happier for them,” Aiden explained.

  “True mates?”

  “It is the result of a soul bond. There is a blood bond; it involves the exchange of blood like at our wedding ceremony. There is a sexual bond, the exchange of power during coupling like we experienced during your bond call. Then there’s the soul bond that results in true mates. It’s sometimes referred to as soulmates or fated mates. Jude and Jolie are true mates; they’re bonded for life. Their very souls are intertwined and melded. It is both a blessing and a curse. If one mate dies, typically, the other will die of a broken heart. Occasionally a true mate may live on for a time, but only to give birth to offspring or ensure the safety of their children,” Aiden explained.

  “Like moon shadow mates,” I said. “Father always said moon shadows mate for life.”

  “While that is a romantic notion, that’s not exactly accurate. If that was the case, Mason would be your mate. We wouldn’t be where we are today. Typically moon shadows find their true mate more often than not. For example, your mother was human until she became pregnant. The soul bond allowed her to transition into a moon shadow.” Aiden explained. I bit my tongue to keep from asking more questions.

  “Ask away, little wolf. What is it you want to know?” Aiden asked before drinking more of his tea and leaning back in his chair.

  “Are true mates common? How do you know your mate is your soulmate? Is there a pattern? Could you have more than one mate?” he laughed at my questions and smiled at me.

  “Soul bonds, true mates, are a rare occurrence. They usually happen within clans or pack bonds. The fae, the moon shadows, and the mermaids’ bond with their true mates the most. Scholars believe it is because they are closely connected to the Goddess. Sometimes mates have a shared mark that reveals themselves when the bond is fully formed.” Aiden explained.

  “What about vampires?” I asked; Aiden frowned.

  “Vampires only bond through sex and blood. There are some soul bonds between multiple people, but those are almost always in fae and mermaid households. I’m sure there’s a book at Court that goes into more detail. I’ll take you to the library when we return. More tea?” Aiden asked before picking up the extra letter Jude had passed on to him.

  “Yes, please,” I answered. Now that I knew what passion those star-blessed hands could bring, I was tempted to pull him back into bed for another round. He was dangerous, addictive. A person could get used to being pleasured in his bed.

  “Have you tried to shift yet?” Aiden asked, bringing me a fresh cup of tea. His question startled me out of ogling the way he looked in those jeans. He came around behind me to set the mug on the table in front of me. He gently placed his hands on my shoulders before using them to move my hair away from my neck. I tensed even as the calming scent of citrus and woods enveloped me. His thumb trailed down my neck where his bite had been until it healed. He gently kissed it. I both loved and hated the emotions rolling through me. I couldn’t tell whose emotions were whose. “Unless you have something else in mind.”

  “You should see if you can call your wolf to the surface. Or we could take this conversation to the bedroom. Not that I mind, you smell fantastic right now, and I prefer this view,” he whispered along the curve of my ear. I could feel his desire, lust, and admiration pulsing in the bond between us.

  “Shifting is a splendid idea,” I stated, trying to put a wall of icy emotion up between us on the bond. Aiden immediately stood and gave me space, shoving his hands into his pockets. His face schooled into that bland, impassive expression he wore at Court. Nothing echoed on the bond between us like he had put a wall of stone up of his own. I hadn’t shifted in days. Now that he reminded me, it was like my wolf was itching to get out. I stood from the table, strode to the door, and paused with my hand on the doorknob.

  “Anywhere within the fence is okay? Safe?” I asked.

  “Absolutely,” Aiden assured me with a soft smile.

  “Any chance you would let me go now?” I asked. Aiden’s smile fell. Regret shone in his eyes, quickly hidden by his Court facade.

  “If I let you go now, the king would come for everyone we cared about. I’d be forced to hunt you and everyone you cared about to the ends of the Earth. If you still think escaping marriage with me is what you want by Winter Solstice, ask me again. I’ll make it happen,” Aiden promised, though I could feel the tendrils of anger and hurt through the muted bond. I opened the door to hope and walked onto the porch. The smell of fresh air, the sound of rustling trees, and sweet songbirds’ notes welcomed me.

  A deep breath later, my wolf rushed to the surface. The world tilted for a moment as a shadowy haze of power unleashed within me. Then I was running. I ran as far and as fast as my gilded cage would let me.

  We didn’t talk the rest of the day. I spent the day strolling through his woods, checking the fence-line for weaknesses. I tried to jump the fence only for it to zap me gently; the magic cushioned my fall back to the ground. Digging under the fence had the same result, except Aiden came out to investigate. With indifference on his face and an ax on his shoulder, he inspected my dirt-covered form. He shook his head at me, not amused, turned on his heel, and walked to the back of the cottage. The sound of his ax splitting and chopping wood followed me the rest of the day. No matter where I roamed, I was aware of his presence, but the bond between our minds was silent.

  After a shower and dinner, we got ready for bed. The extra-large t-shirt barely hung past my thighs. He walked around shirtless in pajama bottoms. The wolf tattoo a stark black mark on his shoulder, the rose on his chest a reminder of his upbringing, and his back smooth but for the rows of scars. He grabbed a quilt and pillow and prepared to sleep on the couch.

  “Do we have to stay here?” I asked as I leaned against the door frame leading into the bedroom.

  “No, we could visit the fae. The gala is still a few days away. We need not be back at Court until it starts. We could spend tomorrow with the fae,” Aiden suggested. “It would give you a chance to meet other members of Court, some whose compan
y you may prefer.”

  “How far are the fae?” I asked, my arms crossed to keep from fidgeting further.

  “A long drive and a hike unless we can get Jude’s attention. We can leave tomorrow,” Aiden offered as he laid out across the couch.

  “We don’t have a car,” I said. He raised his head and looked at me, confused.

  “Some woman in red drove off with it,” I explained; he frowned.

  “Tall, red hair with an attitude, had her own set of keys?” Aiden asked. I nodded, he sighed in return.

  “That would be Ruby. Did Ruby say if she would bring it back?” Aiden asked as he settled back into the couch, undisturbed by the revelation.

  “She implied it,” I said with a smile.

  “She’ll return it when we need it then. Goodnight, Evelyn,” Aiden said.

  Though the bond between us was silent, I still felt drawn to him. Or maybe I just wanted more of what we shared the night before. Just the thought of those hands and lips trailing across my skin made me flush.

  “Mo ghràdh, are you going to stand in the doorway all night, or is there something I can get you?” Aiden asked huskily. I could feel gentle waves of desire rippling down the bond, soft like a caress.

  “Do you want to join me in bed?” I asked. He didn’t bother answering the question; he was up and off the couch before I finished asking. It was a while before we slept that night.

  TWENTY - ONE

  “Are you sure this will get Jude’s attention?” I asked while holding the small hatchet. Aiden stood next to an ancient-looking tree with a bunch of flowers in his hand. That morning he woke me with coffee in hand, already dressed in jeans and a shirt. A bouquet of fresh-cut fall wildflowers lay on the dining room table, tied into a bundle with twine. They looked a bit worse for wear after the snow yesterday. We never discussed my attempts to break out of the property; he only said it was time to get dressed and meet him outside. I wasn’t expecting him to hand me a small ax when I stepped outside.