Temptation of the Wolf: A Silver Moon Novel (Book 1)

  Temptation of the Wolf: A Lunar Moon Novel

  L S Slayford

  © Copyright 2016 - All rights reserved.

  The contents of this book may not be reproduced, duplicated or transmitted without direct written permission from the author.

  Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

  The characters within this book are fictitious and any resemblance between them and real people is purely coincidental.

  Acknowledgement

  For Sebastian, Naia and Max, who even at such a young age knew mummy needed tea, cuddles and left to write alone.

  Thank you.

  One

  The heat weighed down upon Luna’s shoulders, almost as much as the situation she found herself in. The plane ride from Paris to Virginia had been fine, albeit boring, but once the plane had touched down at Dallas airport, the heat was just stifling.

  Hurrying to the carousel to collect her luggage, Luna’s thoughts were still running at light speed. She couldn’t remember much of her short time in America before being sent to boarding school in France at six years old. Yes, she was American but in many ways Luna felt more European. Despite the circumstances that brought her back to her native country, it was going to be a strange and emotional experience for certain.

  After clearing customs Luna came out to the arrivals hall. She cranked her head around searching for someone. Where was he?

  “Looking for me, beautiful?”

  Turning her head to the left, Luna saw the one person who could make her laugh out loud and throw her hands up in despair at the same time.

  “Why are you always sneaking up on me?” Luna smiled. Michael hadn’t changed since the last time she saw him. His honey blonde hair was shining with a luminosity that even Luna’s stylist friend would envy and his bright blue eyes were always warm and inviting.

  “It gives me practice when I go out searching for hot girls to hang out with”, he winked cheekily.

  Luna snorted. “Hang out? You? Don’t make me laugh. You never just ‘hang out’, you find girls to sleep with”.

  “Can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

  “No, not at all”, Luna laughed as she set her suitcases down. “Well, are you going to give your baby sister a hug or what?”

  Chuckling softly, Michael took one step forward and embraced his sister. She wasn’t that much smaller than he was and Luna always found it comforting when he hugged her like this. They were separated by an entire ocean, a different time zone and even lifestyles, but at the end of the day Michael was her family and things always felt right with family.

  Michael pulled away and picked up her suitcases. “Come on, let’s out of here. Don’t know if you remember but we’ve got an hour’s drive to go until we reach home”.

  Luna suppressed a sigh. “No, I don’t really remember much before I was shipped overseas”.

  “You weren’t ‘shipped’, you were given a really god education. Count your blessings”, Michael replied, the smile disappearing from his face.

  Luna remained silent, walking beside her brother as they made their way to where Michael had parked. A cherry red pickup truck stood gleaming in the sunshine, obviously recently washed. Luna watched Michael sling the two heavy suitcases into the truck before he went round and opened the passenger door for her. “Quite the gentleman, aren’t you?”

  Michael laughed softly. “No woman has ever complained that I’ve opened the door for her before. Actually, I find things like that helps in scoring”.

  “Pfft”, Luna snorted. Wriggling in her seat, she started pulling on her hair, an annoying trait she had picked up during her early years at boarding school. Aware that he was watching her, Luna turned her head towards her brother. “What?”

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked in all seriousness.

  Sighing again, Luna asked the question she didn’t really want to ask. “What do the police think?”

  It was Michael’s turn to sigh. “The toxicology reports went in yesterday. They won’t know anything until the results come through. It’s just a waiting game now”.

  “What do they think, that dad was drunk or something?”

  Shrugging, Michael replied, “Who knows? One cop suggested that dad might have been high on something but no one really believes that.”

  Pulling a face Luna asked, “They can’t really believe that. Dad hardly drank let alone did drugs. It’s absurd”.

  “Hey, no need to tell me, baby sis, I already know that. I do know that his car is wrecked. Whatever happened, it happened fast, it happened quick and I don’t think either he or mom felt a damn thing”.

  It was only when Luna felt the taste of salt on her bottom lip that she realized tears were falling silently down her face. Three days ago, Luna had been getting ready to go to work when the phone rang. It was Michael. In a dead voice he explained that there had been a car accident, that their parents had died. Nothing could have been done to save them. At first Luna didn’t believe Michael, thinking it was just another of his foolish little pranks but no, it turned out that he was telling the truth.

  She didn’t remember much about the rest of the day. The next twenty-four hours were spent in a haze of chaos and turbulent emotions. All she remembered was answering the door to her apartment and finding her boyfriend, Pierre, standing there impatiently to find out why she hadn’t turned up for work that day. Flinging herself into his arms, she had sobbed into his neck, great heaving sobs that threatened to make her sick. Eventually Pierre had calmed her down and discovered that her parents had been killed in a freak car crash.

  It was Pierre who had purchased her flights from Paris to Virginia and even packed her suitcases for her. She didn’t know what was in them but knowing Pierre there would be the right assortment of outfits. He was far too practical not to know what to pack for any kind of trip. Pierre was reliable, dependable. Someone you could always count on.

  The journey across Virginia was long, or at least it felt long. The landscapes in this part of the States seemed a world away from Paris and its picturesque surrounding countryside, where lavender covered meadows in a heavy fragrant blanket and the leaves of the trees gleamed in the sunlight. Nothing seemed familiar to Luna until they reached the turning onto a smaller road flanked by thick, tall trees on both sides.

  Slivers of light filtered through the canopy, the tops of the trees reaching out to those on the other side. It was much bumpier here than the main road and although she couldn’t see it, Luna suddenly recalled that the trees went on for miles in all directions. Wasn’t there a creek or a pond somewhere near here? Not too far from the main house?

  Things were starting to come back to her, little nuggets of memories knocking around inside her head. If she remembered right, there was the main house where her family lived, a guesthouse and another building, but Luna couldn’t recall what it was used for.

  Michael’s voice called her out of her daydream. “Remember anything yet, sis?”

  Luna’s brow furrowed. “I think I’m starting to. You’ve got the family house, a guesthouse and a pond somewhere near here. Am I right?”

  Nodding, Michael replied, “Yep. The main house has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, a massive kitchen and every high-tech gadget you could ever want. Mom and dad kept your bedroom exactly the way it was since you left. Hope you still like pink”. Luna pulled a face and Michael laughed. “The guesthouse is just to the right of the main house. But it’s not really the guesthouse; it’s been my
place for years now. Mom just hated me being too far away from the family”.

  Pursing her lips at that remark, Luna tried her best to swallow down the retort that was sitting on the tip of her tongue. Whilst she had been sent away to a prestigious boarding school in Paris when she was six years old and enjoyed the best education they could provide, their parents had still sent her away and kept her older brother at home. Michael was three years older than her, although he acted more like a stupid teenager at times, but he was still the golden boy of the family. Her parents had never really explained why they had let Michael stay at home and opted to send her away but even after all these years, it still hurt.

  After three miles driving along the bumpy road, the main house finally came into view. The trees surrounded them on all sides except for the road that led them to the clearing. Despite it being summer, the woods kept it cool and slightly dark.

  Luna stepped out of the car and looked around. “This is beautiful. Truly magnificent”. It really was. The house stood in front of them, standing tall, proud and a testament to its age. The porch was wider than her office building, whilst the building itself was an eclectic mixture of architectural styles. Beams of sunlight struck the house, mesmerising Luna as she stepped towards her childhood home.

  The steps up to the house creaked under her feet, sending the birds flying abruptly out of the trees. With each step Luna’s heart increased in speed until she reached the front door and paused.

  For eleven years Luna had been aching to be here, standing at the front door waiting for her parents to open it and welcome her back. She may have been twenty-seven years old, but inside she was still six years old, yearning to come back home.

  Trying to ignore the shaking of her hands, Luna pushed the door open.

  Hazy memories flittered around inside her head. Nothing specific was coming to mind but each step seemed familiar. A living room was off to the left of the hallway, her father’s study to the right with her mother’s music room next door, the formal dining room next to it. The kitchen was at the back of the house if she recalled. Her mother was always in the kitchen. Luna hardly stepped foot in hers back home in Paris unless she was making tea.

  A cough from behind startled Luna out of her reverie abruptly.

  “Well, well, well”, came a deep reverberating voice. “The prodigal daughter has finally returned home”.

  Two

  Whoa, who the hell is this? Luna thought, not caring that her jaw was halfway down to the floor. Whoever he was, he was yummy. Standing six feet two at least, he was a feast for the eyes with jet black hair, milk chocolate eyes that were fixed on her face and tanned skin that would have any woman begging to run her hands all over. Wearing black jeans with dirt stains on the knees and a black t-shirt that showed off his ample muscles, this stranger had caused her to feel more in five seconds than what any man had done to her in a month.

  Finally finding the ability to shut her jaw, Luna just stared at him.

  “What’s the matter, princess, cat got your tongue?” he asked, arms folding across his chest, a smirk spreading across that devilishly handsome face.

  Feeling slightly annoyed, Luna asked “Who are you?”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me? You used to follow Michael and I around in the woods when you were younger. We couldn’t get rid of you, you always sniffed us out”.

  Realization dawned. “Chase?” He nodded. “I remember you now. You always used to pull my hair.”

  Chase laughed gently. “Yep, thought it would get you away from us. Never worked though.”

  Cocking her head to one side, a memory came rushing back. “Didn’t I push you in the pond one time?”

  A familiar laugh came wafting up the porch stairs. “Yeah, I remember that, too. Chase and I snuck out to the pond one evening and you followed us again. You were about six. Chase told you to go back home or he’d drag you back there by your pigtails. Then you pushed him in the pond. Damn, that was funny.” Michael leaned against the doorframe, laughing at the memory.

  Chase didn’t look quite as amused. “She was a brat back then”.

  Luna’s level of annoyance at him raised another notch. “Well, since I’ve never had to push anyone else in a pond then I can safely say that it must have been you that was the brat, Chase”.

  Laughter erupted throughout the room. “I wouldn’t mess with my sis, Chase, she may push you again.”

  Dark eyes roamed across her body. Luna could feel them explore every part of her, slowly, as though he was expecting to find a secret or two. She didn’t remember much of Chase except for childish hair-pulling and him not wanting her to play with him and Michael, but the man staring at her was unlike any other she had encountered. The blood pooled in her cheeks as his eyes landed on her chest and then rose to meet her eyes directly.

  “Hmmm. I don’t think she’s capable of inflicting damage on me. She’s not strong enough.” The smirk was back.

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of yourself. I took fencing and karate lessons for years at school. Somehow I think it’s you who’s not strong enough.” Watching one of his eyebrows rise in amusement, Luna added, “I’m going to freshen up. Nice to see you again, Chase. Hopefully you won’t fall into any more ponds whilst I’m here”.

  With that, Luna turned around and walked up the stairs listening to the sounds of her older brother chuckling. Her annoyance, however, dissipated as she made her way towards her bedroom. She hadn’t been here for twenty-one years but everything seemed familiar.

  Luna’s bedroom was the next door to the master suite, her parent’s room, but Luna had no inclination to open it. Instead, she stood in front of hers and, with a deep breath, pushed it open.

  The pale pink walls and white washed furniture were exactly how she left the room so many years. Stuffed teddies and dolls were piled up on the bed still and her Victorian-style doll’s house sat in the corner, reminiscent of a childhood taken from her far too young. Luna had loved boarding school, summer’s spent exploring Europe and spending time with her friends at their homes when her family couldn’t make it to France, but the truth was that she still felt hurt when she thought about it, as though a bruise had permanently stained her heart.

  Oh, for Heaven’s sake, get a grip, Luna, and get washed up, she scolded herself. Travelling for several hours had left her feeling tired and dirty. A shower was just what was needed.

  Kicking off her shoes, she made her way to the far corner where her own little bathroom was. Thankfully Michael had already stocked it with fresh towels and other toiletries. Turning on the shower, Luna began peeling off her clothes. Steam filled the room, warming her skin, as each item of clothing dropped to the floor.

  The water was the perfect temperature. Water cascaded over her body, washing away the grime of her travels. Her sighs echoed around the room as her body started to relax under the cascade of water.

  Luna knew that the trip here was going to stir emotions that she had tried so hard to push down inside her, but she hadn’t counted on having to deal with them so quickly. It was surprising how much she still resented the situation, even though it had happened so many years before.

  Sighing, Luna switched off the shower and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around her, she stepped across the small room and opened the door.

  Only to find Chase standing in her room, setting her suitcases down.

  “Oh,” she breathed, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Chase stared at her. Long stares, his eyes devouring her entire body, as though he couldn’t decide where he wanted to settle his eyes on. Completely aware of just how much skin was on offer, Luna swallowed hard. “Cat got your tongue this time?” she asked, annoyed with herself at just how breathless she sounded.

  Watching him open his mouth slowly in surprise and then shutting it as quickly as he could caused a ripple of satisfaction throughout her. “Your brother asked me to bring these up for you since you forgot them”.

  Nod
ding, Luna clutched the ends of the towel, ensuring that everything important was covered. Chase’s eyes followed her hands, producing a small chuckle to escape from his mouth. “Don’t worry, princess, your modesty is all covered. You’re quite safe from me”.

  “Excuse me?” she asked, confused by his words.

  Watching him step closer until he was close enough to touch her, he inclined his head and lowered his voice. “I said, don’t worry, you’re safe from me. I don’t go for your kind”. And with that, he gave her one more piercing look and strode out of her room.

  Three

  Once the door had banged shut, Luna let loose the breath she hadn’t realised she had been holding. That was … interesting. What did he mean by ‘her kind’? Women? Was he gay? The way his eyes had roamed over her body – twice – disproved that theory, so what did he mean?

  Shaking her head as though flinging the incident away, Luna picked up one of her suitcases and started unpacking, searching for something suitable to wear. As expected, Pierre had packed all the right things. Jeans, shirts, a few dresses, underwear, PJs. She never had to worry when it came to Pierre, he always had the right answers to everything.

  It was time to call him to let him know she had got home. Paris was about six hours ahead of her, making it early evening back home. Pulling on a pair of lightweight jeans and a blue shirt, she pulled out her phone and clicked on his name.

  The phone had barely rung when he picked up. “Luna, my sweet, you are safe?”

  Luna smiled at his voice. Pierre’s voice was sweet, warm honey to the ears and his thick French accent was able to melt even an ice queen’s knees. “Salut, Pierre. Did you just get back from work?”

  Sigh. “Yes. Work was boring knowing you were not there. Your flight was good?”

  “Yes. No delays which is always good. Michael was waiting for me at the airport. We’ve not long got to the house.”