Temptation Of The Moon: A Silver Moon Novel Page 15

  “Non,” she replied, her voice trembling even as fear snaked down her spine. “My place is here. With you. I’m not letting anyone drive me out of my home. Besides, they’d kill you.”

  “We’d survive,” Chase told her, his voice low.

  Luna crossed her arms and pinned them both with a hard stare. “Maybe, but I’m not willing to risk your lives over mine. We’re in this together.”

  A ghost of a smile, immersed in sadness and despair, flitted across Michael’s face. “Together.”

  Suddenly, Chase stood to attention. His shoulders straight, head cocked to the side, and inhaling deeply, he turned towards his alpha. “Michael, you smell that?”

  Michael sniffed the air, a line creasing between his brows, his blue eyes confused. “What is that? It smells like …” Turning around, he strode out of the room.

  Following, they headed straight to the door. Just as Michael punched in the last remaining digits, the system screeched to life. Red lights flashed brilliantly for a second before the system deactivated. Michael flung the door open, causing them all to gag.

  Smoke filled the air, particles dancing on the breeze, coating the tongue with a woody scent. Although it wasn’t thick enough to blot out the dying sunlight, it was still there. “Christ,” Michael spluttered.

  Peering over his shoulders, Luna recoiled in horror. Their forest was on fire. Flames licked up the frozen trees, the snow on the branches melting under its intense heat. What was once a beautiful wintry wonderland was now wilted and cracked under the fierce flames, turning to ash before their eyes. Through the air, Luna caught the scent of something permeating the smoke. Something sweet and sickly, something strange.

  Unease stirred in her belly. The fire confirmed everything.

  It was time.

  There was no going back.

  “Michael, there’s something there. Can’t quite put my nose on it, but it’s out there.” Chase’s tone was low and Luna senses he was forcing back a growl.

  Michael turned towards Chase, his mouth forming a grim line. “Where?”

  Chase shrugged. “Not sure, the fire’s coated with something that’s blocking it. It’ not a natural fire, I can tell you that.”

  “That be right you are,” came a raspy voice from the side of the house. Twisting their heads around, the voice was quickly followed by a knife blasting through the air. Cold air whooshed over the top of her head before the wooden floor made contact with her cheek. “Stay down,” Chase ordered, his hand a heavy blanket on her back.

  From the corner of her eye and still pressed against the floor, Luna watched as her brother rushed in the direction of the raspy voice. “They’re here!” she cried. “How did they get past all our security?”

  “I don’t know, princess,” Chase admitted, regret staining his words. “I can’t get hold of his scent. Must be something similar to what Misty used to escape them. Fucking shitheads.”

  An icy hand gripped her heart. “Chase …”

  “I see them, Luna. Get your knife ready. We’ll rip these assholes to shreds.” Flickers of movement from the burning trees caught her eye, dark shadows that emerged from the canopy of flames, scurrying across the melting snow.

  They were heading their way.

  Grabbing Luna by the arm, Chase yanked her to her feet, spinning her around so he was in front. In that frozen second between standoff and engaging, Luna watched as several eyes flickered from her to Chase. Dressed in dark clothing, Luna spied four figures running across the clearing, the tallest jumping on top of Michael’s car, before launching himself at Chase.

  The impact sent Chase flying to the ground, his back hitting the floor with a great thud, as Luna jumped to the side. His attacker landed a solid punch to Chase’s nose, spraying a gush of warm blood through the air. Luna rewarded him with a thrusting foot crashing into his chest, forcing him off Chase. “Connard,” she spat.

  “Luna, look out!” Chase shouted, pushing her away from him just as another figure lunged their way. Dropping to the ground, Luna spread her arms out to break her fall, but it didn’t stop the side of her face crashing into the ground.

  A string of curses unravelled from Chase’s tongue, swiftly followed by a series of thuds and growls. But Luna wasn’t given a chance to watch. Within seconds, she found herself being hauled up off the floor again, this time by the hair. Pain seared through Luna’s skull, a thousand needles attempting to escape the confines of her head. “Gotcha, bitch,” a low voice whispered in her ear, hot breath warming her neck, the stench of stale sweat filling her nose.

  Instinctively, Luna kicked out, anger and fear giving her strike extra force. Grinding her teeth, she twisted around until she faced the shifter still clasping her hair in a cast-iron grip. Without hesitation, Luna’s right hand shot out into his groin. With a whimper, her opponent hunched over, his grip loosening on her hair.

  It was all she needed.

  As soon as she felt his grip relax, Luna struck upwards with her left fist, her knuckles colliding with the soft flesh between his neck and jaw. Gurgling, he staggered backwards, smacking into the brick wall and sliding down it. Luna moved forward as the shifter looked up. A flash of anger shone through those dark eyes as soon as they made contact with hers. A chilling smile rose to his lips. Fury completely replaced the fear that had glazed her insides only seconds ago, surging and ebbing like the tide in her mind. As soon as the rank-smelling werewolf started to move, she lashed out, her heavy booted foot striking out, striking his jaw. The stomach-clenching sound of bone crunching beneath the force of brick wall and boot drowned out any other noise. With a sickening gurgle, the shifter slumped down, unconscious.

  This victory was hers, but there was no time to celebrate. Shouting and cursing from outside snapped Luna back to her senses.

  Somehow in her struggle with the shifter, Chase had managed to get outside. Two men, both shorter than he, continued to rain blow after blow. Grunts of pain pierced the air. A balled fist collided with his cheek, snapping his head back like a leaf caught in the breeze. But the blow didn’t send him stumbling. Remaining in position, Chase’s fist lunged out at lightning speed, one after another. The sound of each blow flowed through the smoky air.

  Michael was dealing with his own attacker. Both traded blows, power and force in each strike. Luna’s stomach dropped as she watched a fist smashed into the side of her brother’s head, sending him soaring through the ash-soaked air. Glass shattered beneath Michael’s body as he crashed into the side of his own car.

  “Michael!” she cried. With no time to hesitate, Luna ran towards her brother, her hand reaching down for the dagger resting at her hip. It was calling for her. It was calling for blood. Luna would let it out. It could have all the damn blood it wanted. It felt bloody good in her hand.

  Tearing down the stairs and without any semblance of a plan, Luna headed straight towards her brother. The other werewolf grabbed Michael by his jacket, violently ripping him back only to swing him forward again as she slammed him face first into the car.

  Desperation coursed through Luna’s veins. Without a coherent thought in her mind, she jumped onto the werewolf’s back. Knife in hand, she sliced the blade through the air, hoping it would make contact.

  It didn’t.

  Throwing her off, Luna landed in a heap on her backside right at his feet, her dagger flying out of her hands. Lungs struggling to take in air, a wave of fresh pain blossomed through her skull when a fist collided with the top of her head. Through the haze that covered her eyes, Luna could make out scarlet blood coating the knuckles that were heading her way. Pain erupted throughout her head, scorching along her nerve endings. Gasping, blackness threatened to take over. She thought she could hear her name, somewhere out in the distance, but she couldn’t be sure.

  All she could be certain of was that she was cold. The coldness licked at her face, creeping up underneath her clothes, spreading across her skin like an icy tide on a frozen beach. The mildness of it numbed her face
, chasing away any of the residual heat her body had stored. Each laboured breath produced puffs of white vapour, mingling with the ash and soot that infused the air. Dark particles and white mist collided until the particles won, and the vapour disappeared before her eyes.

  Dark eyes peered down at her, roaming the length of her body, eyes lingering on her chest. “So you’re the bitch we’re here to get. Nice. The alpha is going to have fun with you.” The werewolf reached down and gently ran his fingers through her tousled hair, gently brushing the loose strands from her face. But instead of fear racing through her, the only coherent thought she could settle on was that he seriously needed to brush his teeth.

  Suddenly, those dark eyes widened in surprise. His head snapped forward, and he rolled away from Luna. A whisper of a smile danced across Luna’s lips as Michael came into view. Blood poured in waves down the side of his face, his eyes a stunning shade of molten gold. “Michael,” she breathed as the pain in her head started to subside, and she reached a hand up to him.

  Dark shadows danced across her vision. She watched as Michael’s expression changed to something fierce and dangerous as the blur attacked him. A fist shot out towards his face. Another returned the blow. Grunts and growls resounded throughout the clearing, barely audible over the crackling of burning wood.

  Luna forced herself to roll over, her body aching with the task. Blinking away the tears that were threatening to cloud her eyes, she compelled her body to get to her knees. Clothing soaking from the melting snow beneath her body, the biting cold chilled her fingers, making them numb as they attempted to push up from the hard ground.

  A flash of movement caught her eye. Three figures, all dressed in jeans and dark t-shirts, emerged from behind the broken vehicles. They bounded over the cars, faces transformed into vicious masks, eyes burning cold amber, landing where several shifters pummelled Michael’s body. One set of fists turned into many, and a layer of hot blood soon spilled into the snow, eating through it like warm water.

  “Michael,” Luna cried out, desperation encrusting his name. One of the newcomers turned to her. A low, guttural sneer emanated from the back of his throat as brilliant blue eyes fixed onto her face. “I’ll secure the human,” he told the others before striding over to where Luna was attempting to stand.

  Grabbing her hands, the shifter jerked them around her back and pushed her back to the ground. Through the tendrils of hair that clung to her face, Luna watched as her brother was wrestled to the ground. A swift kick to his head rendered him unconscious. A few seconds later, Chase was positioned beside him, his eyes closed, breathing laboured, blood trickling from the various wounds coating his body. Panic gripped its icy fingers around her heart and squeezed.

  Hot breath glided over her neck. “It’s time to meet your fate.”

  Terror seized Luna’s heart and pumped fear into her heart as a figure emerged from behind the wreckage.

  It was time.

  Fate had finally caught up with her.

  Eighteen

  Molten gold in a sea of black. It was all Luna could see at first, eyes the colour of liquid gold surrounded by a sea of dark mist, but as she inhaled the fog cleared away from her eyes, and she could focus again.

  Encased in black, from his thick jacket to jeans that accented long lean legs, to heavy boots studded with metal, the emerging figure leaned back on the wreckage that was once Michael’s car and just stared at her. Somewhere in his late forties or early fifties, with hair the colour of raven’s wings and cheekbones that could cut bread with, he was indeed handsome enough, but it was those golden eyes that filled her with dread. Never had she seen anyone’s eyes stand out from their face so much – even Chase’s wolf eyes had never burned that bright. Deep-set and exotically tilted at the corners, they drew her in and threatened never to let her go.

  The pounding in her veins refused to subside.

  “So, you’re the one.” Another wave of terror snaked down her spine as his words floated across the air, but those golden eyes refused to let her glance away. “You’re my queen.” There was a tone of inquisitiveness in his voice, as his eyes scanned her, as if trying to assess whether she met with his approval or not.

  “Non, I’m not your queen,” she told him, fear making her words tremble.

  Thin lips pressed into a grim smile. “Oh yes, you are. Your parents may have thought to hide you from me, but you cannot escape destiny. Trust me on that.”

  “You will never have her, trust me on that.” Chase’s words spat on a raspy growl, coated in pain.

  Suddenly, Chase’s head rolled back, followed by a sickening snapping sound that resounded through the clearing. Luna watched as the golden-eyed man slowly brought his left leg back to his side. Chase collapsed back on the ground.

  “Permit me to introduce myself,” he continued as though nothing had happened, dropping his r’s. His accent indicated he wasn’t local, although Luna hadn’t been in America long enough to pinpoint where he was from. “My name is Dean Russo, and I am the alpha of the Crescent Moon pack.” Although she had known who he was, the confirmation caused the bottom of her stomach to drop. Golden eyes narrowed in her direction. “I don’t know what you were taught, but it’s impolite not to introduce yourself.”

  Swallowing around the lump forming in the back of her throat, Luna took a breath. “Luna England.”

  One side of his mouth curled up, and those eyes flashed dangerously. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss England. Hmm, but since you’re mine, I think I’ll call you Luna. You can call me Dean. After all, it is the name you’re going to scream while you’re beneath me.”

  Chills ran down her spine as it dawned on her exactly what he meant. This was the man who had raped Misty, butchered and tortured so many others, had ordered her family’s execution, and now planned to rape her.

  Russo leaned back into the car, arms crossed over his chest, paying no attention to the glass that lay shattered on the hood. Glancing back at the shifter pinning her arms behind her back, Luna gasped as she suddenly realised her feet were several inches off the ground. She glanced back at Russo. Those golden eyes roamed over her body. “Yeah, I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with you, Luna. The first time I take you, I want you looking at me with those sparkling green eyes. Each time I thrust inside you, they’re going to fill with pain and fear. Your fear will drive me into your delectable little body harder and harder until I fill you with my seed. Each night I’m going to fuck you and each time you’re going to scream my name. I’m going to be the only thing on your mind, day and night, darling, and I’m going to be the only one to fuck you for the rest of your miserable life.” His voice remained calm, as if he was simply handing out instructions to a junior employee.

  For an extended second, his eyes remained steady and unblinking on her face. Heat burned in those predatory eyes, but all Luna could feel was ice. Panic washed over her, drowning her, her pulse threatening to drown out everything but his words repeating over and over in her head. Luna barely noticed when Russo nodded to the shifter behind her, but then found herself plummeting to the ground, the snow barely cushioning her hands from the gravel floor underneath. At least this time she didn’t have her arms bound again. Sucking in a breath, she attempted to calm the pulse raging inside her as she watched Russo glancing around.

  “So, this is the Silver Moon pack?” he asked, his words layered in a coat of distaste. “Such a small pack, such a pitiful territory, and yet one that gives me so much trouble.” Russo nodded towards one of his men, a smaller man with ash blonde hair and narrow eyes. Luna likened him to a snake. “Go bring Misty out; I can smell the bitch from here.” A sneer painted his face, disgust coated his voice.

  Inhaling, Snake Goon bounded off towards the guesthouse, the flames inching closer towards the building. “Leave her alone,” Luna croaked, tears burning her eyes, a contrast to the ice that flowed throughout her body. “Haven’t you done enough to her?”

  “What’s that?” Russ
o moved away from the car, suddenly appearing in front of Luna so fast she didn’t even have time to blink. Hot breath covered her face. “What did you say to me?”

  “Leave her alone,” she repeated, forcing herself to meet those eyes. “Please.”

  Without hesitation, Russo’s hand struck her face. Hissing with the sudden pain, Luna sucked in air like it had suddenly become thick and almost too hard to draw in. Hot hands forced her chin up, and that handsome face grew hard and ugly with rage. “You do not tell me what to do. No one tells me what to do. The bitch should not have defied me. She’s mine to do with as I like. Just. Like. You.”

  Luna swallowed as she gazed at her reflection in his eyes. Why weren’t his eyes changing back to human?

  “Do you like my eyes, Luna?” he asked, his voice low and husky. “Do you find them mesmerising? Beautifully horrifying? They don’t turn back, you know. Spent almost two years in wolf form; everything transformed back except for my eyes.” A tendril of fear robbed Luna of her ability to speak as Russo’s hand gently slid from her chin down her neck, lightly gliding over the top of her breasts before standing up.

  Misty’s screams reached Luna’s ears before she could even turn her head. The raven-haired werewolf struggled frantically to get out of her captor’s grasp but to no avail. The bottomless pit feeling resurfaced in Luna’s stomach as Misty was dragged over the snow then thrown at her former alpha’s feet. Splatters of blood covered the side of Snake Goon’s face. Evidently, she hadn’t gone without a fight.

  But that fight had died now she was staring up at Russo.

  “Please, please, please,” Misty whispered, her eyes wide in a primitive state of sheer and utter terror.

  Russo glanced down at the woman begging at his feet. “Please what, Misty? What is it that you’re pleading for? Could it be for my forgiveness after running away? For failing to complete your mission and kill the alphas of this pathetic little pack? What exactly are you sorry for?” He tilted his head and pursed his lips. His gold eyes seemed larger than what they should have been, enormous pools of dazzling molten metal.