Moon Power

Evernight Publishing www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2011 Kate Milton

ISBN: 978-1-927368-07-7

Cover Artist: LF Designs Editor: Hannah Giersdorf

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION To M.P. For Everything xxxk

MOON POWER Kate Milton

Copyright © 2011

Chapter One My heart thumped below my left breast, threatening to explode. I could swear that everyone in the huge room could see my boob bobbing up and down, as if it were dancing to the rhythm of my heartbeat. Beat, beat, bob, bob. Geez, only I would think of something like that at a time like this. Maybe I need to see a shrink, I mused, but, then again, being a little crazy is always a good thing, or at least I think so. I crossed to the other side of the room. Even the brush of my own soft skin on skin, as my calves skimmed against each other was titillating, and the tiny goose bumps beginning to crawl across my entire body only added to the thrill. Stark naked male and female bodies were everywhere. Come to think of it, I don’t think that I’d ever seen so many people here. This was my high. I didn’t need drugs, just these masked sex parties, coupled with a few glasses of my choice of alcohol for the night, and I was high. As I scanned the room I noticed that the array of masks were amazing. Although, truth be told, I was really just checking to make sure that no one was wearing the same mask as me. I stood tall- I knew that I looked stunning in my ceramic top hat mask. The lips of the mask were a deep red and the cheeks were a pretty pink, while a collection of green, yellow, and blue ribbons fell from the side. The over accentuated painted black lashes stood in contrast to my aquamarine eyes and the added blue and yellow ribbons added a touch of class, I thought. I couldn’t help but smile, I would never have thought of this kind of party as being classy before now. Hell, I’d never have even considered attending a sex party before I’d moved to New York, but

moving to New York had been just what I’d needed. I’d needed a sense of danger and excitement, I’d craved it and, now, New York was giving me what I wanted. I shook my head free of the visions that were threatening to ruin my night as I reflexively rubbed my hand across my right shoulder. Tonight would be free of any awful memories of large dog attacks, it had to be. Yep, the thrills that came with New York would let me drown out my memories once more, at least for the night. I looked around the room again. I'd put a lot of thought into tonight's mask. The lily white face made the rest of my body appear even more tanned than it was, and I'd spent a lot of hours on the beach to get my body the perfect bronze color. The mask also worked great with my long, dark auburn hair, which I'd curled and worn down tonight. I looked perfect. “Glass of wine?” asked a server wearing a black Batman mask and bow tie. I took a glass from the silver serving tray. “Thanks,” I replied, and then I watched the server’s glutes rise and fall as he walked away. My nipples hardened as an electrifying heat pierced through them – they tended to do that whenever I was excited, and sex parties always got me excited. “Nice nipples,” someone said. I spun my head to my right and came face to face or, rather, mask to mask with...something. “Vampire?” I guessed. “Spot on, honey.” “Jake.” I beamed. “You came.” “Come on now,” Jake teased. “What kind of man would I be if I were to leave you here alone to fend for yourself?” His eyes traveled the length of my body. “Judging from tonight’s crowd, I’m going to have a hard enough time as it is keeping you to myself.” “Well, you’re here now, that’s all that matters.” I squeezed Jake’s hand. I was desperate to kiss him, but the masks put a block on that. It was the sexy lilt of Jake’s southern twang that had first left my legs wobbly for him, but now it was something beyond that. Although, just what that something was, I was still trying to figure out. Jake was about six feet two inches of pure muscle. It wasn’t always easy to find a man taller than me, but even in my silver

stilettos I only came eye to eye with him, as opposed to glaring at the top of his head. He stared down at me with his almost black eyes and my pussy dampened as he grabbed my ass. “Vampire? Hmm. Scary. You going to eat me later?” I taunted. I loved my mask. I was someone else when I wore it. I was a fucking gorgeous, unstoppable force. A vixen. A temptress. “Oh, I’ll nibble at you everywhere and anywhere.” Jake looked around the decorated warehouse. “But it looks like all the beds are taken.” My tits skimmed his chest as I stepped closer lowering my hand to his semi-firm cock. I slowly stroked up, down, and around. He hardened. “Well, we’ll just have to find an alternative,” I teased. “There’s a swing over there.” I tipped my head to the left corner of the room. “How about we get a real drink first, though? They only offered me wine.” I took his empty martini glass from him, and with my other hand still firmly around his cock, I gave it a quick squeeze, and then led him toward the bar. “Come on, it looks like you need another drink, too.” The bar was packed and it looked as if almost everyone else in the place had had the same idea – to get something stronger than the complimentary wine. “So where’s Daisy?” I asked while we waited. “I thought for sure that she’d be with you if you showed up. She decide to sit tonight out?” Jake shook his head. “No, she’ll be here, regular Daisy Duck mask and all. She said that she just had a few things to do before heading over.” “Good. I could use some Daisy loving tonight.” “Should it bother me that you’re so into my neighbor?” Jake teased. His voice might have sounded as if he wasn’t really bothered by my interest in Daisy, but the hint of jealousy in Jake’s voice told me otherwise. “No,” I admitted. “You’re number one. Sometimes I just like the softness of a woman. But while we wait, how about a blowjob?” “Well, Amen to that.” Jake laughed.

Chapter Two God, what time was it? I hated when my eyes opened by themselves when all I really wanted to do was to keep right on sleeping. The fact that I’d forgotten to close my blinds when I got home, at Lord knows what time, didn’t help with my need for sleep either. The bright morning sun was blinding, so I buried my head under my pillow. To top it off, I was still feeling horny. I groaned. Other than a teasing taste of cock between my lips, I’d really bombed last night. Jake and Daisy had disappeared not too long after Daisy had arrived. I pushed the climbing jealousy away. I guess some self finger fucking was in order. Besides I was awake now, sleep would have to wait. I let go of my pillow and ran my hand down past my face and stopped at my left tit. I squeezed, then moved to my nipple and tugged at it. God, I wish I could suck on my own boobs, just sometimes. Maybe a boob job wasn’t such a bad idea. Just from a C to a D. Finger fucking wasn’t going to do it. I rolled over to my right bedside table, pulled the drawer open and grabbed my trusty vibrator. I didn’t need any extra lube. As horny as I was and still moist from last night, my pussy was almost as wet as Niagara Falls. Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration. I sat up. I was in the mood to ride. I leveraged my vibrator against my pillow so that it stood straight up, and then I watched my reflection in my dresser mirror as I slowly lowered myself onto my vibrator. I turned it on. It buzzed inside me as I rode and ground down harder and harder. I threw my head back, letting my hair brush my ass crack, and grabbed hold of my tits. They needed attention too. Jake and his stunning, rock hard body entered my mind. Fuck me, Jake, fuck me. In my fantasy, I pulled his head down to my breast. He put his mouth over the tip of my boob and sucked hard. Hmm. Just what I needed. He pulled back and teasingly nibbled at my nipple. The soft, sensual pain only heightened my arousal, causing my pussy to throb. He grabbed my other boob in his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “Ow! Fuck! Do it again,” I pleaded. I found his dick and pulled at it. “Come here.” I groaned.

Jake inched closer, then pushed me backwards. I fell between my pillows and pulled him with me. His cock sought out my pussy and he teased me, stopping at the entrance. “I want you inside of me. I want to feel your hard dick inside of me.” I groaned. He slid inside me. Fuck yeah. He was the perfect size and moved perfectly. He rode me fast, faster, and faster still. My nails dug into his ass as I drove him deeper inside of me. “God, don’t stop,” I demanded. “Go deeper, deeper.” I was almost there. I arched my back and we moved rhythmically as my toes began to tingle. Here it came. The tingle heightened and the force reached my ankles. Wetter, faster, deeper. My calves buzzed. I arched higher and pinched my nipples between my pointer finger and my thumb. It wouldn’t be long now, Harder. Faster. Fuck, fuck. My pussy throbbed, tightening around Jake’s cock. He gave it one final thrust and I let go. My mind spun and the tingle electrified, shocking my entire body. I raised my hips, devouring his dick with my cunt and we came together. Juices exploded and the throbbing catapulted. I screamed out in pleasure, and then collapsed. Yeah, that was just what I’d needed. A good release, even if I’d had to resort to fantasy to get me to where I wanted. Once I’d recovered slightly, I pulled my slippery vibrator out, tossed it aside and then flopped back down and closed my eyes. A loud, ringing sound interrupted my peace. Damn, what was that shrill? The telephone? I peeked open my left eye and glared at my clock. 9:05 a.m. Shit, the telephone would have to wait, I was late for work! I flung my covers aside and bolted up and out of bed, and then slammed to my bedroom floor. Damn! Why did I always manage to get myself, somehow, tangled in my covers? A female voice sounded through my bedroom door. “You okay in there?” Lucy was up. Good, that meant that the coffee would be brewed. I’d made a very wise decision when I’d asked Lucy to be my roommate. “Yeah, I just tripped,” I hollered in reply. “I’m late. Have you got the coffee going?” “Yeah, coffee’s on,” Lucy yelled through my door, “but you know it’s Saturday right, Abby?”

“What?” Of course it was Saturday. It was just after nine and I was up. Just once I would have liked to sleep well into the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday. “Saturday, Abby. It’s Saturday,” Lucy repeated. “You up?” Well I was now. “Yeah, I’m up Lucy. I’ll be right out.” I grabbed my robe and flung open my door to the welcoming smell of strong, freshly brewed Colombian coffee. Lucy held out an already full mug to me. “I thought you’d need a strong cup this morning after your night last night.” “You’re a true sweetheart, Lucy.” I took the cup of coffee from her and took a sip. “It was actually a pretty lame night last night.” “Geez Abby, I wish my exciting nights were as much fun as your lame nights. I need to be introduced to your world. My excitement extends only as far as going up to the Hamptons with Ellen. As a matter of fact, I’m going up with her tonight.” Lucy hopped up on the stool at the kitchen counter and rested her elbows on the countertop with her chin in her hands. She looked like a little kid at Christmas. “Okay, I want all the details. I know you got in at four, and I heard you squealing this morning. Who you got hiding in your bedroom?” “Vibrator.” I shrugged. “A vibrator?” “Yeah, Luce.” I grinned. "I have a vibrator in my room. You know, a sex toy, a straight man’s worst enemy. Although, I don’t necessarily agree with that last one, a vibrator can be a lot of fun when your man decides to join in on the activities.” I took a sip of my coffee and glanced over the top of my mug. “You do know what I mean, right, Luce? Tell me you know what a vibrator is?” Lucy’s mouth was open wide and for some reason the song, there was an old lady who swallowed a fly entered my mind, and before I could stop myself, coffee came spraying through my teeth, and I laughed. “What’re you laughing at?” Lucy asked, innocently. “Luce, you should see the look on your face. You look like I just told you the most horrendous thing. Please tell me that you have a vibrator.”

“Of course I do!” Lucy admitted. “But you’re just so open about it, and my vibrator never seems to leave me squealing quite as much as I heard you squealing this morning. Maybe I’m doing something wrong.” “Well, Luce, you left Mississippi and came to New York looking for adventure, right?” Lucy nodded. “You’ve only been here for two weeks, but give it another two weeks and I’ll teach you a thing or two. Old family friends stick together.” I grinned. “I’ll introduce you to the modern, New York woman’s way of life. New York gave me some of the excitement that I was looking for. Trust me, you’ll find excitement, too.” “I hope so...” Lucy mumbled. “Don’t worry, Luce, I promise that you won’t be disappointed, and, another thing, no one here is going to judge you for being bi,” I smiled. “But as for the details of last night’s excitement, well, there really isn’t anything to tell. I thought it was going to be a great night. I met up with my friends, Jake and Daisy, and we were going to have a little threesome fun, but I left them for a second and then when I went to the private playroom that I was supposed to meet them in, well, they were gone.” Shrugging, I put my coffee cup to my lips and took a sip. “I didn’t see them for the rest of the night… I hung out with a few other people that I kind of know and then I left. It was a boring night last night, trust me. Hey, by the way, was that the phone that woke me up at the crack of dawn?” “Huh? What? Oh yeah, I meant to tell you that your mom called. Said she was just checking in and that she’d—” Just then the phone rang. Susan Johns, read the caller I.D. 601.555.5545. It was my mom. “She said she’d call back in a little bit.” Lucy shrugged, grinning. “Yeah, she’s annoyingly persistent.” I poured myself another cup of coffee as I answered the telephone. “Hi, Mom.” As usual, my mom went into her Ten Reasons Why Abby Should Move Back Home to Mississippi speech. “Abby, New York isn’t a good place for a young woman,” Mom immediately began. “Mom, I’m twenty-nine years old. I’m an adult.” I’d said this line so many times over during the past few months that I was

seriously considering recording myself saying it, just so that I could press play whenever my mom called. “But, Abby, please, I just worry about you so much. It could be you next,” Mom replied. “What could be me next, Mom?” I was doing my very best not to sound too annoyed. “Dead. You could be dead next, and Dad and I could be organizing your funeral.” Mom started crying. Nothing new there, she was always crying at something or other. It was times like these that I wished I wasn’t an only child. It would be nice to have a brother or sister for Mom to worry about. Maybe, just maybe, then she’d be able to cut the umbilical cord. My umbilical cord. I rolled my eyes. “Mom, I’m still here and still young and healthy. You don’t have to arrange my funeral just yet.” “Abby Johns,” Mom said between sniffles. “Don’t you be condescending. People are murdered everyday and I saw it on the news just this morning.” “Saw what on the news, Mom?” I asked, my patience waning. “A young girl, your age, was murdered last night. At a sex club of all things. I ask you, what is this world coming to?” “Mom.” I sighed. “People die all the time and it’s New York, it’s a big city, someone’s bound to die every day.” Mom had gone from crying to ‘laying down the law’ mode now. “Well, Abby, you need to come home, I’ve decided. You certainly don’t need to be in a city where young women are being murdered, and at sex parties of all things. I mean, I’ve never heard of such a thing.” “Mom…” “And she was wearing a mask,” Mom continued. That got my attention. “What?” I sat up straight. “Who was wearing a mask?” “The dead girl. A Daisy Duck mask. I mean I just can’t....” Daisy Duck? Questions raced through my mind. Daisy? Could it be? It couldn’t be. Could it really be? “Mom, I’ve got to go,” I said into the receiver. “I’ll call you later.” Mom kept talking as if she hadn’t heard me. “Abby, you need to come home.”

This was a conversation that was going to have to wait. “Bye Mom, I love you,” I quickly said and then I hung up. Daisy? I gulped on the bile that was suddenly threatening its way up my esophagus. My right shoulder began to throb viciously. “So, what your mom have to say?” Lucy interrupted my thoughts. “Huh? Oh, Luce,” I muttered. “Turn on the TV.” Lucy leaned across the gray marble kitchen counter and pushed the power button on the television set. I sat glued to my stool with my coffee mug still clasped between my hands. I looked over at Lucy, who was staring at me. “Apparently there was a murder last night,” I mumbled. “And, if it’s who I think it is, then I know the victim.” Oh God, there it was, right there on the morning news, along with all the other awful happenings in the world to report. As a general rule, I’d resolved a long time ago to never watch the news, but today was an exception. “A masked murder,” boomed from the television speakers. “When we come back.” Damn! Why did they always do that? They always made you wait for the news. They liked you to feel the anticipation by telling you what was just ahead and then going into a five minute commercial, like hanging a carrot in front of a poor donkey. There’s no way, I thought. It can’t be her, there has to be some mistake. “You knew her? God, Abby I’m so sorry.” Lucy was spluttering. Her face had turned a pale ghost white. “Yeah, I knew her,” I choked. “Look, it’s back on!” Lucy practically screamed, pointing at the TV screen. We both glued ourselves to the TV. A blonde bimbo, wearing way too much make-up and looking like she’d had one too many face lifts done, was blurting out the words, “Masked Murder.” I didn’t hear what she said after that, because the picture went from her to the scene of the crime. The very same building that I’d been at just last night and, according to Lucy, until the way early hours, was plastered across the screen. My heart jumped into my throat and, for a second, I truly thought that I was going to pass out.

“If anybody has any information concerning this heinous crime, please contact the local authorities.” The bleached blonde bimbo was back on, repeating the telephone number that flashed across the bottom of the screen. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I needed to be there, to be at the scene of the crime. Without thinking, I leapt down from my stool. “Come on Lucy! Get dressed, you’re coming with me.” Lucy didn’t argue. “Where to?” she called as she headed to her bedroom. “There.” I pointed to the picture on the TV screen. “I’ve got to see this with my own eyes.”

Chapter Three I squeezed myself to the very front of the crowd and stopped just in front of the yellow police tape that was holding all the nosy onlookers, me included, back. Lucy stood right beside me. “This is where you come to party?” Lucy squeaked. “Huh? Oh, yeah,” I mumbled. “But Abby, it’s a dump! It could have been you they found in the back alley.” I rolled my eyes. “Luce, it wasn’t me. Okay?” I wrapped my arm around the top of her shoulders and squeezed. “And stop it. You’re beginning to sound like my mom.” I grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but inside my blood had chilled as my responsible inner voice agreed with Lucy. Goose bumps erupted on my arms and legs and, by how I was now feeling, I could have sworn that we were standing outside in a harsh cold December night, as opposed to the blazing heat of the August day that it was. A sudden, authoritative voice interrupted my thoughts. “Excuse me, Ma’am?” “Uh, yes?” I answered. A police officer stood on the opposite side of the yellow police tape, directly in front of me. I looked at Lucy and then turned back to the police officer. “Um...me?” I asked, still not quite sure that I was, in fact, the one being addressed. The police officer nodded. “Do you mind coming with me for a moment?” Oh good God! I gulped. “Um, yeah, sure. What... what for?” What did the police want with me? What could she possibly want with me? “I just have a few quick questions, if you don’t mind.” The police officer smiled. She was gorgeous. I thought that it was mandatory to be butch and ugly if you wanted to qualify as a female cop. “Your friend can come with you, if you’d like,” the cop said, taking me away from my thoughts and bringing me back to the actual matter at hand. “Uh, yeah, okay,” I stammered.

I cast a quick, sideways glimpse at Lucy. She looked like aliens had just invaded the planet. The too-good-looking female police officer ducked under the yellow tape. “This way.” She motioned her hand, indicating that we should follow her. I obeyed and, with her hand grasping the lower part of my right arm, Lucy came with me. I had no idea what the cops could possibly want with me and, in pure Abby fashion, my over active imagination went to work. Drugs? I was in high school the last time that I’d so much as touched weed, let alone ever having laid hands on anything harder than that. Traffic tickets? I hadn’t been stopped in months, and I hadn’t received anything in the mail to indicate that my ez-pass wasn’t working and that I’d accidentally run a toll. The cop led us away from the crowds to stand on the sidewalk across the street. She stood in typical cop form, with her legs slightly apart and her hands clasped straight down in front of her. “I just have a few quick questions about last night’s crime,” she said. My heart must have stopped for a second as my stomach doubled over. I could, quite literally, feel the vomit rising in my throat. I gulped it back down. It hadn’t even occurred to me that the officer might actually want to question me about the murder of all things, but that made sense, of course. But why she’d pick me out of the whole crowd of people that were there, made no sense at all. “I, um, don’t know anything.” I shifted my weight and little beads of sweat tingled on my forehead. “I mean, there’s nothing that I can tell you.” I’d always hated cops. I couldn’t say why exactly, I just did. Lucy shifted beside me and I swear I could feel her shaking, just ever so slightly. The cops voice was surprisingly gentle. “Ma’am—” “My name’s Abby,” I interrupted. “Abby Johns.” The cop pulled out a small note pad and a pen and took down my name. “Okay, Abby, I’m Officer Patton. Jane Patton. Maybe I should fill you in on what I do already know.” My stomach flip-flopped again. “I know that there was a party here last night,” Officer Jane Patton continued, “a masked sex party. I also know that you were at this party, and that you and a tall, well built male, wearing some kind of pale, fangy mask...”

“A vampire.” I looked the cop square in the eyes, while below my legs were actually threatening to give way. How the hell did the cop know all of this? “He was a vampire. The pale, fangy masked male that you’re talking about… Jake … was dressed as a vampire.” I was rambling. “Okay, so Jake was a vampire.” Officer Patton scribbled in her notepad again. “I also know that you and this vampire character, Jake, were socializing with the victim. All three of you were at the bar before.” Officer Patton glanced down at her notepad. “Before Jake and the victim left the main party area and disappeared into one of the private rooms. I have it on good authority that you disappeared into the ladies rooms and then later you joined the two of them.” I stared at the cop. How could she possibly know any of this? Yeah, the three of us had been drinking together and then we were going to have some fun, but by the time that I’d returned from the bathroom, Jake and Daisy had disappeared. The cop studied my face. I guessed that she was trying to read my reaction. “Eye witnesses tell me that your friend, Jake, and the victim were also seen arguing last night, so what I need from you, is for you to tell me what went on in that room.” I frowned. First off, Jake and Daisy arguing was definitely news to me, they had been just fine when I’d left them and, obviously, Officer Patton’s informant hadn’t mentioned, or hadn’t known to mention, that nothing had happened in that room, at least not that I knew of. I mean how could it? No one was there by the time that I got to the room. To my right Lucy froze and turned to look at me. I would have done anything at that moment for the ground to just open up and swallow me whole. “I, um, really don’t know. The room was empty when I got there.” I looked at Officer Patton and gulped. I had no idea why I was suddenly feeling guilty. I know I certainly didn’t kill Daisy. For God’s sake, I even bailed out of nursing school, because I couldn’t stand needles and the sight of blood. The cop continued to look me up and down. “Like I said, I really don’t know anything,” I repeated. “I swear!”

One of the other cops at the scene suddenly called over to Officer Patton. Officer Patton eyed me. “Don’t think of going out of town, Ms. Johns. ” She started off across the street then turned back, looking toward me. “You’re one of the last people to be seen with the victim…. we’ll be in touch shortly.” With that, she crossed the street and returned to the scene of the crime. “Bitch!” I muttered, still in complete shock. I turned and looked at Lucy, who looked like she’d just received the worst news of her entire life. Good thing this was happening to me and not her. “Come on,” I mumbled. “Let’s get home, I need to throw up.”

Chapter Four My head throbbed. I’d already thrown up twice and I still felt nauseous. As I lay on the sofa, I had a bucket sitting on the carpet beside me. I was freezing cold and, above all else, I was fucking furious. “How about a glass of sugar water, Abs?” Lucy had gone into mothering mode. “It’ll help with the shock.” I took the glass from her, but didn’t take a sip. “You get hold of him yet?” Lucy sat, cross-legged, on the floor in front of me. I put the sugar water down on the end table beside the sofa. “I swear, Luce, I’ll fucking kill him if I ever do get hold of him!” There was no need to spell out who him was. I’d been cursing Jake ever since we left the scene of the crime. I’d been racking my brain. I knew that there was no way in living hell that he could ever be responsible for Daisy’s death, but why was he not answering his phone? I’d already tried his home number five times and I’d called his cell ten times. It didn’t matter which number I called, I still just got his voicemail. Jake was M.I.A. and now I was beginning to have my doubts. Maybe there was something that I just didn’t know about him. Maybe I’d missed something. After all I’d only known him for two months now. No, I silently scolded myself, you know he didn’t do it!. “The problem is that I actually like him, Luce,” I muttered. “There’s something different about him, something … oh, I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I just thought that he could be someone … special. I feel at ease when I’m with him ... I feel free, I feel whole,” I finished. Even after only two months, Jake was someone that I had thought that I could’ve loved, I mean really loved. A sudden pang spiked my heart and I could almost envision an invisible thread pulling on my heart strings. I shook my head, clearing his wellsculpted, strong body from my mind and glanced over at Lucy, now perched at the end of the sofa. “I can’t believe that this is really happening,” I murmured. “Daisy was just the same age as us.” Lucy was actually doing a good job at absorbing all this new information about my, until just a couple of hours ago, very private life. Although she’d wanted to come with me to one of the sex parties

almost from the very moment that she’d stepped off the airplane at JFK, I’d argued that the Mississippi girl in her just wasn’t ready yet. Now I was beginning to wonder if I’d said no simply because it was something that I liked to do, it was my thing. I shook my head. Well, all of that would be changing now. “Daisy … I know that she was your friend, but had you known her long?” she asked. I shrugged. “Only for as long as I’ve known Jake. I met them at one of the parties.” I shifted on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling. “Everything was going so well last night. I can’t believe this happened.” Lucy was quiet. “And?” she prompted after a few minutes. “I don’t know, Luce.” I turned my head and looked at Lucy. “I watched the two of them walk into one of the private rooms together. They were talking, but it didn’t look like they were arguing, and they hadn’t been arguing at the bar. Daisy was more quiet than usual, but everything was fine.” A wave of guilt swept over me. “I should’ve stayed with them, I should never have gone to the—” The doorbell rang, stopping me mid-sentence. I didn’t move. Lucy got up, went to the door and looked through the peephole. “It’s some guy,” she whispered. “Are you expecting anyone?” I shook my head. “No.” The unknown visitor started pounding viciously on the other side of the door. “Hey, Abigail, I know you’re in there. Let me in, we need to talk.” I bolted upright. “Who is it?” Although I already knew the answer to this question – the Southern lilt was unmistakable – I needed to stall. I needed to rein in the questions that were swimming in my mind. Did he do it? Didn’t he do it? Considering that we were the last two people seen with the murder victim and I knew that I hadn’t murdered her, had he? After all, someone had witnessed them arguing. “Let me in!” he bellowed. “I told you, we need to talk.” His voice was gruff and demanding, but it also sounded so damned sexy, and I could suddenly feel that thread tugging on my heart strings again. For all I knew, a wanted murderer could be standing outside my door right this very minute, but instead of calling 911, I was

thinking about how utterly scrumptious he was. How he was affecting my heart. How badly, if the warm, wet feeling between my legs was any indication, I wanted him. And how, in just a few seconds, I would be letting him into my apartment, because, at this point there was no denying that I was, in fact, going to let him in. After all, although police speculation said otherwise, I also knew that he hadn’t murdered Daisy, I just knew it. Gone was any anger that I had been feeling toward him just seconds before, and I was no longer concerned about the fact that he hadn’t answered any of my calls. He was here now and I was going to let him in. I practically leaped from my position on the couch. No, calling 911 was not an option. I gulped down some of Lucy’s sugar water, wiped the tiny beads of sweat from my forehead, hurried to the door and opened it. “Jake.” I smiled through gritted teeth. I scanned the hallway. I didn’t need anyone to witness the fact that I was letting a person of interest into my apartment. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get hold of you all morning.”I was frazzled, beyond frazzled, I felt ready to explode, but one look from Jake seemed to calm me. His deep, coal black eyes seemed to penetrate me, and his perfectly square jaw and dimpled chin that couldn’t have been any better if Michelangelo himself had carved them, took my breath away. Every fiber inside of me seemed to buzz as he ran a hand through his medium length, ruggedly sexy, sandy hair. “We need to talk,” he said again, doing what I had done just seconds before and glancing around the outside hallway. “Preferably inside. I can’t be seen here.” Warning bells chimed in my head. He’s wanted for questioning in a murder. Do you really think you should let him in? They seemed to say, but I pushed all warning aside. I had to. I knew better. Besides, I wanted to be near him, I needed to. It was almost as if I was being compelled to let him in. Something inside of me trusted him, believed in him, and something inside of me knew that if he was in some sort of trouble, I’d do anything to help him. “Well, then, come on in,” I urged and stood off to the side to let him pass. “Thanks.” He closed the door behind him. “I came to find you as soon as I could.” He scanned the room as if giving it a quick once-

over investigation. “You’re in trouble … we need to talk.” He looked toward Lucy. “Privately, if that’s okay.” “You’re obviously mistaken.” I laughed forcefully, still shaken from the morning’s events. “I can’t possibly be in trouble.” Here I was thinking that I would help him if he was in trouble, and he was telling me that I was in trouble. I shook my head. “Just take my word for it,” Jake demanded, grabbing my hand and threading my fingers through his. “Come on, we’ll talk in your bedroom.” With the touch of his hand, intense desire filled me and left me aching for more. All worry from before had dissipated. Even the pain in my shoulder had eased. It was still throbbing, but it was nothing compared to the intense ache that had filled it just moments before. Jake was here now and he would explain the whole big, awful misunderstanding, because that’s just what it had to be. Him being a murderer just wasn’t possible. “Yeah, sure.” I eyed Lucy, giving her the ‘I’m okay with this’ signal, as I told Jake, “We can go into my bedroom.” My hand still in Jake’s, I trailed behind him into my room. I closed my bedroom door behind me, feeling a loss, an empty void as Jake released my hand. But when he pulled me into his arms and wrapped them tightly around me, that feeling of loss quickly dissipated. Any lingering tension and pain in my shoulder melted away as I eased my body against his, molding to him like he was meant only for me and me only for him. I knew that he couldn’t have murdered Daisy. He just didn’t have it in him.My gaze met his dangerously dark eyes as I glanced up at him. “What’s going on? I mean, the cops think that you murdered Daisy? Apparently you were even seen arguing with her.” Ignoring my question, Jake lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me. His lips burned against mine sending a shock of power vibrating through me. “God, Abby, I’ve been so worried about you,” he murmured pulling away from me. “What’s going on, Jake?” I asked again. “You have to tell me.” Confusion and sadness filled me as I saw a dark shadow cross Jake’s face.

“There is something that I must tell you,” Jake said softly. “Something that, however unbelievable it might sound, I need you to believe. You are in trouble. You have to trust me.” Instantly, a knot formed in my stomach and my lungs tightened. Suddenly, all of my earlier concern, shoulder pain, and frustration came rushing back. I moved away from Jake, now eager to be away from his touch, and took a seat at the edge of my bed. “You’ve got to stop saying that,” I replied, watching him as he began pacing. “Why would you think that I’m in trouble?” I asked. “One minute you’re the one that’s in trouble and I’m thinking about how exactly I can help you, and the next thing I know you’re telling me that I’m actually the one in trouble. You’re making no sense, Jake. Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake moved to the end of the bed and sat beside me, but not touching me, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “No.” Jake shook his head. He lifted his head to look at me, his eyes searching mine. “I’m not okay because you’re not okay. You are in trouble. I want to help you.” I crossed my arms across my chest. “What kind of trouble could I possibly be in?” I challenged, staring Jake down. “Okay, I’m just going to say what I have to say.” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “Do you remember when you got bitten by that animal about three months before leaving Mississippi?” “Stray dog,” I responded. Instinctively, I began rubbing at my shoulder. The pain shooting through it was starting to escalate. “Sure, it hurt and I had to get a rabies injection, but that’s all there really is to say about it.” I shook my head. “Wait, did I tell you about that?” “And it wasn’t long after you were bitten that you decided to move to New York was it?” Jake replied, ignoring my previous question. I shook my head. “No, it wasn’t, but I don’t see what that’s got to do with anything, or why any of this is any of your business.” My frustration level was climbing. “Look.” Jake sighed. “That wasn’t a dog that bit you that night and, even if you don’t realize it, that bite had a lot to do with you leaving Mississippi. You were looking for something when you came to New York, you just haven’t known what. Something inside of you changed that night, and you began to crave danger, or heightened excitement. Either way, it wasn’t a dog that attacked you.”

“It was a dog that bit me,” I argued. “A large dog.” “No, it wasn’t. That’s only what you tell yourself to make sense of it.” Jake rose and stood in front of me. He rested both his hands on my shoulders and stared into my eyes. “It was a werewolf that bit you.” “A werewolf?” I choked. “Sure it was, and next you’re going to tell me that vampires really do exist, right?” But as I joked, visions of that awful night of the animal attack sprang to the forefront of my mind. It had been dark and I had heard rustling in the bushes nearby. A part of me had known that I should’ve waited for my manager to give me a ride back home from work that night, but I’d thought that the fresh air and the walk home would be nice. I could remember jumping at the sound of the rustling in the bushes, but before I’d even had a chance to turn around or run, there was an animal on me. For what must have been the umpteenth time that day, I unconsciously rubbed my right shoulder. The bite had been a pretty significant one, but, surprisingly, the wound had healed quickly and now, if I were to examine my shoulder, there would be no sign of the attack that had happened that night. My recurring shoulder pain, coupled with an unwanted memory that had a habit of popping up a bit too frequently, was the only proof that an attack had even happened. I looked up at Jake. “There’s no such thing as werewolves,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, there are,” Jake replied matter-of-factly. “And somewhere inside of you, you know that I’m right.” Jake’s strong hands remained resting on my shoulders, holding me tightly, as if he was worried that I might make a run for it at any minute. “There’s more.” I stared at Jake, dumbfounded. “In our world, the werewolf world, there is an ancient legend that tells the story of the one who has the power of the moon.” “So, you’re telling me that you’re a werewolf?” I asked, my voice tinged with sarcasm. “Yes.” Jake nodded. “I really need you to listen to me.” My throat was dry and my mind harried as I tried to listen to what Jake was saying.

“The Power of the Moon Legend tells the story of a young woman who will survive the attack of a werewolf. Her body and her blood, it is said, will fight the werewolf infection and, because of this power, she will not change form on a full moon. When, if ever, she does change into werewolf form, it will be only because she has chosen to. She will have the ability to change form at will, full moon or not and, because of this, it is said that this young woman will hold the power of the moon.” “The power of the moon?” I stammered. “Yes.” Jake nodded, his eyes searching mine. “You are that young woman, Abby. You hold the power of the moon, and you are more powerful than you realize. In the werewolf community, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t know your name. That night that you were attacked and survived—” “I haven’t changed form,” I finished. “I don’t turn into a werewolf when there’s a full moon.” Jake nodded in confirmation. “But I could change if I wanted to, have I got it right?” I asked. “Yes,” Jake replied. “If you chose to change, you could. The only thing that’s stopped you from changing, so far, is your lack in the belief of werewolves.” Fire coursed through my veins. I wasn’t sure whether the heat that I felt exploding inside of me was because of anger, frustration, fear, or, possibly, even excitement. “But why tell me?” I frowned. “You could have simply left me alone and I would never have known. My belief, or lack thereof, in werewolves would have stayed in the dark and I probably could have continued living a happy life. I could have lived my entire life and never change forms, so why tell me?” I didn’t even bother arguing about the existence of werewolves. I did remember the night of the animal attack, and although I wanted to deny the fact that it had been a werewolf, and not a dog, that had bitten me, I just couldn’t. Deep down I knew the truth and even though I didn’t like it, I had to face the fact that it was in fact a werewolf that had attacked me. I just couldn’t understand why Jake felt the need for me to know. “I could have lived the rest of my life without ever having changed into werewolf form,” I repeated. “So why ensure my belief in werewolves?”

“I had to,” Jake said, softly. “There’s more to the story.” “Great,” I replied. My voice was now barely above a whisper and my entire body was beginning to feel like jello, like it was ready to give out on me. I held my head in my hands. “I think I might be sick … again.” “Oh Abby.” Jake gently began rubbing my temples. “Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water?” I shook my head. “No, thanks, just tell me the rest of the story before I just can’t take anymore.” Jake sat down next to me. “It was my best friend, Rob, that attacked you that night,” he admitted. “I don’t know why he did, he wasn’t usually violent, but sometimes when we’re in werewolf form, we can’t help the violence that comes with it. Most of us try to make sure that we’re far from urbanization when we change, just to minimize the chance that a person will get hurt.” I studied Jake’s face. It was easy to read the concern that washed over his face. “So where’s your friend now, then?” I asked. “If he’s the one that did this to me, why is it that you’re here, and not him? I’d imagine that he’d be the one that would be here with me, especially if I’m as powerful as you say I am.” “Yeah,” Jake agreed. “He would’ve been here, but he’s dead now.” “Oh,” I said. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t think that I truly was sorry. After all, the now-dead werewolf was the one who had attacked me, but “sorry” just seemed like the right thing to say. “Yeah, well.” Jake shrugged. “That’s why I’m here. Because Jax, the one responsible for my friend’s death, is now after you.” “After me.” I gulped. “But why?” “Because of the legend.” He sighed. I raised my eyebrows in question. “The legend dictates that the wolf man who is responsible for the attack on the young woman, on you, will take the woman as his own, he will marry her, and, according to the legend, the children that are born from the one who holds the power of the moon will also hold the power of the moon. Those children, your children, will have the ability to change at will, like you. The moon will no longer control when those werewolves must shift.” Jake looked at me solemnly, seriously. “Since the beginning of time werewolves have been

influenced by the moon, but your offspring will be a new breed of werewolf, a stronger breed of werewolf.” I stared at Jake blankly, trying to wrap my head around what he’d just told me. “And does the legend mention anything about the fact that I might not have wanted to marry the werewolf who attacked me, let alone have his children?” I finally retorted. “Thank God Rob’s dead. Don’t I have any say in this?” I watched as Jake squirmed at the sound of his dead friend’s name. I knew that he had to be hurting, but my anger was mounting and at that moment I didn’t care if Rob had, in fact, been Jake’s best friend or not. Jake’s voice was soft. “You have a say now.” He nodded. “To some degree, at least.” “What do you mean?” I asked. I could feel my body warming. My patience over the whole sordid situation was quickly deteriorating. “Jax is an extremely powerful, not to mention dangerous, werewolf,” Jake told me. “He’s the head of what you’d consider the werewolf cartel and, now, with Rob out of the way, Jax wants to make you his bride.” “That’s why he killed Rob,” I mumbled, it was more a statement to myself than anything else. Jake nodded quietly. “Jax wants me to have his children.” Again, Jake nodded. “That’s why I’m here. Jax wants you and he’s getting close. He’s probably been watching you for a while now. He has his own spies everywhere, in both the human world and the werewolf world, and I’m willing to bet that it was one of his spies that killed Daisy last night.” Jake ran his large hand through his messy hair. “It also wouldn’t surprise me if he has spies on the police force, it would explain why he gets away with as much as he does.” “Why were you arguing with Daisy last night?” I asked, expecting an explanation. What’s she got to do with all of this?” “We argued about you,” Jake admitted. “Daisy always came to the parties with me to watch you, like I said before, you’re a kind of superstar in the werewolf world.” Jake shrugged. “She was one of us. Anyway, she thought that I was getting to emotionally attached to you. She was worried that I was actually falling for you and she thought I’d be safer from Jax if I kept my distance from you.

Ultimately, though, she’s dead because we were interfering with what Jax wants … you.” Jake sat silently for a few minutes. “There might be a chance that Jax is after me now, too, but I can guarantee that he’s definitely after you. You need to let me look after you.” I sat dumbfounded for what seemed like an eternity. “But where did you disappear to last night?” I mumbled, ignoring his offer of protection. “I came out of the bathroom and both you and Daisy were gone. What happened?” “I wish I knew.” Jake sighed. “After Daisy and I argued, she stormed off. I was going to wait for you, but I didn’t want to leave Daisy alone angry, either. Even when we’re not in werewolf form, the anger we feel can make us lash out with super-human strength. Daisy’d had a hard time controlling her anger, lately.” Jake cleared his throat. “I went after her, to find her, but I never did. I searched for her into the early hours of this morning, but Jax must’ve gotten to her first. I didn’t know she was dead until I heard it on the news this morning. I’ve been trying to find out what I could about her murder all morning, but all I learned was that she was seen getting into a dark SUV. I would still be looking, but I knew that I needed to get to you.” “So, what?” I finally asked. “You’re just going to keep watching over me for the rest of my life, making sure that Jax doesn’t get his filthy paws on me? “No.” Jake shook his head. “I plan on protecting you until you choose a mate. According to the legend—” “What?” I rolled my eyes. “What else does the legend have to say?” “According to the legend, because the werewolf who attacked you is dead, you can now choose a mate. But,” Jake bit down on his bottom lip, “you must choose a mate before the twelfth full moon since your attack rises.” “But that’s just one month away.” I gulped. “The twelfth full moon to rise since the attack on me will rise in one month. I was bitten eleven months ago. I left Mississippi three months after the attack and I’ve been here for eight months … and tonight’s the eleventh full moon to rise since the attack,” I mumbled. I don’t know how I knew that tonight was going to be a full moon, nor did I know how I knew that it would be just one month until the twelfth full moon since the attack on me would rise, but I just knew. Maybe it

was instinct or something but, either way, I knew. “I’ve only got one month to find a mate.” Jake nodded solemnly. “Yes, and that’s why Jax is so dangerous now. You see, if you don’t choose a mate soon, you are free to be taken by whoever gets you first, and Jax wants to be sure that he’s the one that snags you. He wants you for himself.” “No,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “This can’t be happening. I won’t let some stupid legend control my life. It’s not real, it can’t be.” My patience was now gone and the anger and frustration that raced through me was so fierce that I actually felt hot, as if I could be on fire. Jake cupped my face between his hands and turned my head so that I couldn’t help but look him square in the eyes. “You’re not alone,” he murmured as he lowered his lips to mine. “I’m going to protect you,” he said between kisses. My mouth locked with his and if he was trying to distract me, which I had a sneaky feeling he was, he was succeeding. His lips were firm but soft and as his tongue tangled with mine, my nipples hardened and my pussy dampened. It would be so easy to lose myself in him. “Let me look after you.” Jake groaned. It was torture trying to fight my desire, but it was my frustration that finally won. “No,” I yelled, pushing Jake away from me, desperate to put space between us. “I don’t know what is really going on here, but you need to leave me alone. There is no such thing as werewolves!” Jake rose slowly from his spot on my bed and looked down at me. A look of sadness crossed his face. “You know that werewolves exist,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I wouldn’t lie to you. I only want to protect you.” “What?” I spat in response. “So that you can take me as your own? I’m not up for grabs, regardless of what some stupid legend says.” Jake looked as if I‘d just slapped him across the face. “I don’t want to control you,” he mumbled. “You are more than a woman in so many ways, and if I ever had the pleasure to say that you were mine, it would be because you wanted me as much as I want you.” Jake’s eyes met mine. “And I do want you,” he finished.

I stared, speechlessly, at Jake. Everything that he’d told me about werewolves and the legend raced through my mind, and while I really didn’t want to believe him, there was an altogether different part of me that just couldn’t deny the fact that all that he’d said had been true, but could he really want me after really only just having met me? Sure, we’d seen each other at other masked sex parties before and we’d even gotten together a few times outside of parties, but we didn’t really know each other. Who was I kidding though? I couldn’t deny the fact that I wanted him, the wetness between my legs confirmed that, but maybe that was just lust that I was feeling, just pure, sensual, raw desire. There was only one thing that I knew with absolute certainty right now and that was that I was completely and utterly confused. My eyes locked with Jake’s. “Get out,” I gulped. My voice was soft, barely there. “I just need to be alone,” I admitted. “Please, get out.” Jake watched me quietly and then, finally, he nodded. “Okay,” he said. “But just know that I’ll be watching you, because everything that I’ve said is true and, deep down, you know it.” As I watched Jake walk away my stomach churned and a silent, inner voice said, “The twelfth full moon is coming, you must choose a mate.”

Chapter Five The piercing shrill of the telephone tore me from my thoughts. I listened, waiting for Lucy to answer it, but she didn’t. I pulled my door open and peered through the apartment. Lucy’s bedroom door was open, but I could hear the shower running from the bathroom and I realized that she must be in there. I grabbed the portable headset off the coffee table and sank into the couch with every intention of answering the phone, but I breathed a sigh of relief when the awful shrill of the phone suddenly stopped. My nerves were on edge and I was in no mood to speak to anyone. The shower in Lucy’s bathroom stopped and she came strolling out of her room with one towel piled high on her head and one wrapped loosely around her body. “Hey.” She smiled, plopping down onto the couch next to me. Lucy moved her head in the direction of my bedroom. “He leave?” “Yeah.” I nodded. “About ten minutes ago.” Lucy eyed me suspiciously. “So what did he want to talk about?” she prodded. “For just a split second I considered calling the cops,” Lucy admitted. “But something about him just didn’t scream murderer to me, and the fact that you know him, well, I guess I just decided against it.” I sat quietly, not saying anything. “Well,” Lucy pushed. “What happened? What did he want? Did he tell you why he was arguing with Daisy?” “Oh, he didn’t want anything much,” I lied. “He swears that he had nothing to do with Daisy’s murder. He told me that they were arguing over an ex-boyfriend of hers. He doesn’t like the guy, thinks he’s bad news, but she’s still completely infatuated with him. Apparently he left to smooth things over with her and he doesn’t know what happened after he left her, but he swears that she was alive when he did. And I believe him.” I silently prayed that Lucy would believe my explanation about Jake and Daisy. I wanted to be completely honest with her, I really did, but now just wasn’t the time. I still needed time to let all this new information sink in before I told anyone else, if, in fact, I ever chose to. I looked over at Lucy with her towel wrapped around her and her makeup bag in her hand.

“You going somewhere?” “Uh, yeah, Ellen’s supposed to pick me up in about an hour. Remember, we were going to go up to the Hampton’s for the night?” “Oh, yeah, I completely forgot.” “Listen, Abs.” Lucy frowned. “I can stay if you want. I don’t have to go. I mean, I know you hadn’t known her that long, but a friend of yours was just murdered… maybe it’s better if I stay. I’ll just call…” “No, Luce.” I stopped her. “Go. It’ll be fun for you. Besides, I’m just going to take it easy at home, really. I think being alone right now will be good for me.” I really did want Lucy out of the apartment. I needed time alone and a feeling of danger nagged at me. Whether it was just because I was on edge, or because I was picking up something, I knew that it would be better if Lucy was out of the apartment. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Lucy asked. “I’m sure.” I nodded. “Go and have a good time.” Lucy hesitated. “Okay,” she finally agreed. “But I’ll have my cell phone on me. Call if you need anything, and I mean anything.” “I will, promise.” Sudden tears brimmed my eyes. “Oh, Luce, I’m sorry, I just can’t believe that this is happening.” “That’s it.” Lucy flopped down onto the couch beside me. “I’m not going anywhere.” “No,” I insisted through tears. “I really want you to go … really.” “Okay,” Lucy wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “What can I do for you now, then?” “I don’t know, Luce.” I lay my head on her shoulder. “I just need an escape.” Lucy ran her free hand through my hair. “I wish I could make you feel better,” she soothed. Lucy’s towel had loosened and I couldn’t help but look down at her breasts. Maybe sex is the escape that I need, I thought. Sex always had a way of taking me somewhere wonderful and I never felt as free as I did immediately after an orgasm. At least that was the way that it had been since the night of the attack. Jake’s image shot into my mind. I pushed it aside just as quickly as it had appeared. There was no reason for me to be feeling guilty about having sex with Lucy to help me forget. It wasn’t as if Jake was even my boyfriend or

anything really, he was…I didn’t know what he was, especially not now. I purposely moved my hand so that it would brush against Lucy’s towel, causing the towel to loosen even further. “I’m sorry … I.” Lucy moved to secure her towel. “No,” I stopped her. “Let me lose myself in you.” “Oh, Abby,” Lucy soothed. “That would just be taking advantage of your pain. You’re not thinking clearly. Besides, we haven’t done anything like this since …” “I know, since college,” I finished. “But I want to … I need to.” I needed the escape desperately. I suddenly wondered if the werewolf inside of me was what was driving the intense need that I was now feeling. “I need to forget everything, even if it’s for just a moment. If anything, it’s me taking advantage of you.” My hand fell on Lucy’s breast and, purposely, I let it linger there. “Just this once.” Lucy covered my hand with her own and pushed my hand harder against her boob. “Okay,” I agreed. A small, low groan escaped Lucy’s mouth as she pulled at the snaps of my shirt. My shirt flew open, freeing my own breasts. She cupped my breasts in both her hands and tweaked at my nipples. I continued to fondle Lucy’s chest. Her boobs were on the smaller side, but they were delightfully firm. I moved from the couch and knelt on the floor. I caught one of her breasts in my mouth and cupped the other in my hand. Lucy sank back into the couch, letting her towel fall away completely as I tweaked her left breast nipple between my pointer finger and my thumb and circled her right nipple with my tongue. She was sweet in my mouth and I dared graze her nipple with my teeth. I watched her as I continued to explore the pleasures of her nipples and was pleased to see her head fall back against the couch and to hear a wild groan escape her lips. “Yes,” she moaned. Still kneeling, I inched my body forward, until my own breasts were brushing against Lucy’s skin. With my skin on hers, I coaxed Lucy’s legs apart and moved toward her until my breast was rubbing up against her sex. Creamy moistness escaped from Lucy’s vagina and teased my breast, and as I ground into Lucy even harder, with my now wet breast, my own pussy moistened. Lucy moved her hands to her boobs and tugged on her nipples as I planted gentle kisses on her

stomach. From my position in front of her, I continued to manipulate her pussy with my own breasts, alternating my breasts as I did so. We stayed like that for a while, with her delighting her own breasts with her hands, while I enjoyed her cunt with my breasts, and felt my own throbbing clit as I crouched down and ground against the heel of my foot. Lucy’s groans were now louder and becoming more frequent, and my own pleasure was also mounting, but I wanted more. I wanted to show her more. I wanted to taste her. I kissed the skin around Lucy’s belly button tenderly before I moved my mouth down until it brushed against her smooth, moist clit. Her skin was soft and silky, and her pussy sweet, perhaps the sweetest pussy that I’d ever tasted. I lapped at her juices, letting my tongue dart in and out of her throbbing walls. I bore the bridge of my nose onto her clit, knowing that the added pressure would only build her pleasure. Lucy’s soft groans only confirmed what I knew to be true: I was good. I buried my face deeper into her, my tongue darting in and out, in and out, remembering to enjoy the folds of her lovely lady parts. I had a strange obsession with the labia and loved sucking on them. I found the button and zipper on my jeans. I tugged on the button and hurriedly yanked my pants down past my ass. I let my fingers brush the folds of my own sex. My vagina was slick and ready for me, it wouldn’t be long before I came. Lucy’s back arched as the walls of her pussy clenched tighter around my thrashing tongue and I knew that she, too, would be coming soon. “Don’t stop,” Lucy moaned. I quickened the pace of the rubbing on my own vagina, allowing my fingers to find their way into the opening of my pussy, as I ground down even further into Lucy, her juices now soaking my face. She arched her back one final time and as I nibbled her clit, she let out a scream and came. “Yes,” she screamed. “God, yes!” I continued to lap at her, enjoying her creamy goodness and her eager moans. Her pleasure deepened my own and with one final, hard flick of my own clit, I, too, was coming. I let my juices flow and once I was completely spent, and I knew that Lucy was too, I fell back and lay sprawled against our soft, carpeted floor. “Thank you,” Lucy murmured from the couch.

“No, thank you,” I replied. “I needed that.” It didn’t last too long, but for one brief moment I was able to forget all about the day’s horrible events. “Have fun,” I said for the millionth time. “We can both stay with you, if you want,” Ellen offered. “No,” I insisted, shuffling them out the door. “Stop worrying about me and just have fun.” I coaxed them through the door. “Bye.” “Call if you need anything,” Lucy called through the closed door. “I already promised I would.” I listened to their footsteps as they walked away. With Lucy gone, I could now relax, or at least I could begin to deal with the crazy nonsense of the Power of the Moon Legend in peace. The entrance intercom buzzed, disturbing my thoughts, and as I reached to push the button for the monitor screen, an inner voice told me to ignore it and to just let it buzz. I ignored my inner voice. “Yes?” I answered. I immediately regretted my decision when the image of Officer Patton stared back at me. “Abby,” the voice on the other end said. “This is Officer Jane Patton.” Warning bells starting ringing in my head as I remembered Jake’s previous warning about Jax having minions in all places, even in the police department, and there was something about Officer Patton that I just didn’t trust. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I just didn’t like her. My pulse quickened and I could feel my body heat rising. “Um, Officer Patton,” I replied, trying my best to sound confident, but not too sure if I was actually succeeding. “What can I do for you?” “Well, like I said before, when I saw you at the scene of that poor girl’s murder, I’d have a few more questions for you and I’d be in touch with you another time. That time is now.” Officer Jane Patton cleared her throat. “I’d like to come on up.” On the screen I watched as Officer Patton looked to her side. “Oh, never mind about buzzing me in,” she said. “Someone’s on their way out now. I’ll be up in a moment.” “I, um…” I wasn’t sure what to say. It’s not like I could tell her that she couldn’t come up, she was a cop, but something was nagging at me. For all I knew, she was working for Jax. I was so torn.

You should be able to trust the law, I thought, but try as I might there was just something about her that screamed out danger. As far as I was concerned, I needed to get out of my apartment and I needed to get now, but into the intercom I simply replied, “Sure, I’ll be waiting.” Again, I hoped that I sounded confident. A response from Officer Patton never came, and her image was already gone from the monitor. I didn’t hesitate for one small second. I was barefooted, but I didn’t care. Right now my only concern was to get out of my apartment and far away from my building. I suddenly wished that I hadn’t sent Jake away. As I opened the front door of my apartment, I could hear the main lobby door opening below. Although I couldn’t see her, I knew that it was Officer Patton. Everything inside of me told me to run. She still had two flights of stairs to climb before she reached my floor, so at least I had that much of a head start. But with Officer Patton below me, I could only go up. I would have to get to the roof and then climb the ladder down, and while I really didn’t want to have to do that, right now it was my only choice. I would have to climb five flights of stairs to get to the roof. After only thinking about it for a second, I turned and ran. By the time I reached the fourth floor my adrenaline was pumping and everything was a blur. I’d heard Officer Patton banging on my apartment door below and, when I didn’t answer, I’d heard her kick it in. It wouldn’t be long until she left my apartment and came looking for me. At least I was closer to the roof now. I sped up, but as I reached the end of the hallway a door opened and someone reached out, clamped a hand over my mouth, and dragged me backwards through the door. I thrashed frantically with my arms and legs, trying to hit or kick any part of the person whose grasp I was in, but with them behind me, I was failing miserably at making any solid connections. “Let me go,” I tried demanding angrily, but with their hand still grasped over my mouth, only a muffled grunt escaped my mouth. “Would you stop,” my attacker demanded. “Just be quiet! Do you want to be caught, is that it?” I recognized his voice instantly. Jake. “Why are you doing this to me?” I tried asking, but again my voice was just a muffled grunt.

“Be quiet,” Jake whispered. His voice was more soothing this time. “I’m going to release my hand from your mouth, but I need you to be quiet, or she’ll hear us. Do you understand?” There was no need for Jake to stipulate who she was. Jake had said that he’d be watching me and I guess that he’d meant it. “Do you understand?” Jake asked again. “I need you to be quiet.” I nodded my head silently. “I understand,” I muffled behind his hand. Jake released his hand from over my mouth and turned me around, so that I was now facing him. My heart was thumping wildly and my breathing was heavy and loud. “What …?” I began. Jake brought his pointer finger to my lips. “Shh,” he instructed. “She’s getting close.” Then he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, and whispered into my ear. “I need you to focus on me, just me. Forget that there’s anyone out there looking for you, just relax. Let your body relax.” There were so many things running through my mind. I was terrified and saw no way out of this. I was sure that Officer Patton would find us in here … where is here? I thought, looking around for the first time. I realized that we were at the very back of a storage room. I’d never been in this one, but it was identical to the one on my floor, and other than a few brooms, shelves, and other maintenance equipment, the room didn’t supply much in the way of dark places to hide. Ultimately, it was just a measly door that separated us from the hallway outside. I peered up at Jake questioningly. “She’s …” Again I didn’t get to finish my sentence. “Shh,” Jake hushed. “I need you to just focus on me. Forget everything else.” Before I had time for any more questions, Jake leaned his mouth into mine and kissed me. His lips melted into mine, and mine into his. Jake’s ability to calm me was remarkable. Jake moved his mouth so that it was just inches from my ear. “Just take my hands,” he whispered. “And look into my eyes. Keep your eyes locked on mine and don’t look away.” With my hands in Jake’s, I held my eyes to his.

“Good.” He nodded. “You’re doing great.” Jake’s voice was barely above a whisper. My pulse quickened as from outside in the hallway the pounding of footsteps moved through the hallway. Jake squeezed my hands in his. “Shh,” he mouthed without actually making a sound. Jake’s eyes never once left mine as he guided me toward the dark corner of the closest. I was terrified, but with Jake with me, I knew that I would be okay. “Shh,” Jake mouthed again then he released my left hand. I kept my eyes on him as he motioned with his free hand, first at his eyes and then at himself. I knew that he was telling me to keep my eyes on him. I nodded silently in response and then he placed his hand back in mine and closed his eyes. Out in the hallway, the footsteps were growing louder. My breathing quickened as my body grew hot. When the footsteps stopped right outside the door, I thought that I would scream, but, somehow, I managed to choke it down. The handle on the closet door shook. Beads of sweat pricked my forehead as I bit down on my bottom lip so hard that the irony taste of blood lined my mouth. With his eyes still closed, Jake just squeezed my hands. I fought to control my breathing and it seemed like a century before the sound of moving footsteps returned, only this time the scary sound of the footsteps were fading. Officer Patton was moving away from the door. Jake kept his hands wrapped tightly around mine and his eyes slammed shut for, what I guessed to be, about another five minutes. When he finally opened them again, he pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around me. “We did it,” he whispered in my ear. “I succeeded in doing what I needed to.” I frowned. “I ensured that you focused only on me,” Jake explained. His voice was still barely audible. “With you focusing only on me, I was able to cloud Officer Patton’s mind.” “What do you mean?” Jake’s arms were still wrapped firmly around me. “Werewolves have the ability to disrupt the thoughts in someone’s mind,” Jake told me. “It’s an ability that has been passed down from

the ancient, original werewolves. Originally, it was used by werewolves during a hunt. It confuses the prey.” “Prey?” I asked. “As in humans?” “Originally, yes,” Jake nodded. “And even though we don’t hunt humans anymore, the ability still comes in handy on the odd occasion.” “Well, I’m just glad that you were able to do whatever it is that you did. Does this mean she’s gone now?” “Yes,” Jake responded. “Officer Patton’s gone, but she won’t have gone too far. Come on let’s get out of here before she comes back.”

Chapter Six Outside the sun was just beginning to set. “Come on,” Jake instructed. “It will be dark soon and a full moon will be rising.” “And you’ll transform?” I asked. “Yes.” Jake nodded. “I won’t have a choice. I’m controlled by the moon.” Jake took my hand in his as we left my apartment building further behind us. Now running, we sprinted by alleyway after alleyway, with Jake peering down each one as we ran. “We’ve got to get you somewhere where they won’t be looking for you. I can guarantee you that Officer Patton won’t be working alone. She’ll have some of Jax’s men, werewolves, with her and they’ll be sniffing you out.” My heart thumped wildly as I picked up my pace. “So, where can we go then that I’ll be safe?” I yelled. “If Jax’s werewolves are sniffing me out, then they’ll find me anywhere, it’s just a matter of time.” Jake tightened his grip around my hand as he looked back at me. “I’ll look after you,” he yelled over the thumping of his running feet. “I won’t let them hurt you.” “And, what, you’re just going to keep watch over me for forever? That’s ridiculous.” A sharp stitch had formed in my side, forcing me to slow down. “Wait,” I panted. Jake had now slowed his pace to match mine, but as he turned to look back at me the look of concern that etched his face begged me to go on. “We’ve got to keep running, Abby,” Jake instructed. I stopped running. “No,” I breathed heavily. “I can’t keep running forever, and I can’t ask you to endanger yourself by constantly looking out for me.” “Abby, I—” Jake interrupted. “Let me finish,” I said. “If Jax’s men are going to keep looking for me, so that Jax can claim me as his own, they’ll keep looking for me until they find me. After tonight’s full moon, I’ll only have until the next full moon before I’m up for grabs. If I want to, ultimately, beat Jax, then I’ve got just one month to choose who I

want to spend the rest of my life with. That’s, basically, what you told me earlier, right?” Jake’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Yes.” He nodded. “Jax will do anything to ensure that you bear his children. Jax will stop at nothing to ensure that his offspring hold the power of the moon, so that his children have the power to change at will.” “Then I choose you.” I sighed. “If I have to choose that soon, I choose to you. I’ll pass the power of the moon to your children, to our children. It’s what I’m going to have to do.” The look on Jake’s face softened. “I wish it were that easy, Abby.” He smiled. “I really do.” “Well, why can’t it be that easy?” I asked. “You told me just this morning that you wanted me. I’m telling you now that you can have me.” Jake cupped my head between his hands as he looked down into my eyes. “I do want you, Abby.” Jake sighed. “But I can’t let you do that to yourself, I can’t let you settle for me just because you’re scared. Yes, I want you, Abby, but I want you to want me too, to really want me. I don’t want to make you mine if you’re doing it just because it’s what you’re going to have to do.” “What?” I gasped. “Now you’re going to get all moral on me?” “Out here on the open street is not the place to do this, Abby,” Jake said, grasping my hand and pulling me into the nearest alleyway. It was dark, dingy, and with at least three dumpsters that I could immediately see, the alleyway reeked. With no one around us Jake turned and looked at me. His eyes searched mine. “Abby, you’ve got to understand that I’ve been watching out for you for a long time now. It’s not that I just want you, I love you. And maybe one day you’ll love me too, but until that happens, if that should ever happen, I’ll keep protecting you. We’ll keep running, and I can promise you that when you do find the one that you want to spend the rest of your life with, you’ll be able to do so, even if it’s not me that you choose.” “But I don’t want to keep running,” I insisted. “I …” A sudden movement from behind one of the dumpsters caught my eye and interrupted my train of thought. What happened next

happened quickly. Four tough-looking men boxed Jake and me in, while Officer Patton stood between two of the men, smirking. “Did you really think that you could escape?” she sneered, looking at me. “Now that we have you, you won’t be going anywhere. The full moon will be out soon. While your protector there is in the midst of transformation you’ll be left vulnerable, and then I’ll deliver you to Jax. We should’ve had you last night. If that interfering Daisy Duck hadn’t caught us in the act of our final preparations, we would’ve grabbed you last night.” Officer Patton shrugged. “We’ll just take you now. Jax will be so happy to get you.” “I will never belong to Jax,” I spat. “He is a monster and I will die before I bear him any children!” Then, with frustration and anger coursing through me, I rushed toward Officer Patton and shoved her aside. “You will have to kill me first, before I’ll let you take me anywhere,” I screamed. Jax’s thugs were quick to respond. They all barreled down at me at that very moment. Jake was just as quick to fight. I watched, with my entire body shaking, as Jake pounced onto the back of one of Jax’s men. I stifled a scream as Jake shoved his fingers into the man’s eyes. A rough yowl escaped the man’s mouth at the same time that Jake threw his head back and let out a low and heart wrenching howl. I didn’t have to look up to know that the full moon was rising and that Jake, along with Jax’s four thugs, would soon be transforming. I had a only a second to worry about the fact that there were innocent people hustling and bustling nearby before an oversized hand caught me hard across the face. The last thing I saw as I began to pass out was Jake, still clinging to the back of one of our attackers, staring down at me. The look on his face was one of pure shock and horror.

Chapter Seven The cool night air whipped across my face as cold pellets of rain stung my skin. It took me what seemed like forever to realize where I was and to remember the events that had been unfolding before I blacked out. Too scared to face the scene that I was so sure would greet me, I kept my eyes closed, but the silence that buzzed in my ears scared me even more. Inhaling deeply, I slowly opened my eyes. It took me just a few seconds to realize that all hell had broken loose while I’d been out. Dark pools of blood covered the ground. The mangled body of one of Jax’s thugs hung, unmoving, across one of the dumpsters, while another lay sprawled on the ground with his neck bent unnaturally, his head facing the opposite direction to where it should have been facing. Officer Patton and the other two attackers were nowhere to be seen. I searched the area looking for Jake and when I finally saw him, I realized why I hadn’t discovered him immediately. Lying in the darkest corner of the alleyway was a large dog-like creature. A werewolf. My heart pounded as I approached him. Jake lay motionless and patches of fur were matted and sticky from blood, but I could tell that he was breathing. “Jake,” I whispered, falling to my knees. “Jake can you hear me?” Jake’s breathing was shallow and he didn’t respond. My blood burned through my veins as the fear creeping inside of me escalated. My eyes brimmed with tears. “Jake,” I cried. “I need you to wake up.” Then, without thinking, I wrapped my arms around Jake’s werewolf body and picked him up. I didn’t stop to consider where this newfound strength of mine had come from, nor did I care what I looked like to passersby as I ran down the street crying with an oversized animal in my arms. People probably just thought that it was a large dog that I was carrying. Nobody stopped me. I sprinted back to my apartment building faster than I’d ever thought possible, and once I reached the building I ran up the stairs, two at a time. I didn’t stop until I was in the safety of my apartment and Jake was lying on my bed.

Blood seeped from Jake’s wounds out onto my sheets and no matter what I tried, nothing would stop his bleeding. Tears slid down my cheeks. “Jake,” I cried. “Please don’t go, I need you ... I want you.” An intense fire coursed through my veins and my bones screamed out in agony, but still all the pain that my body was throwing my way was nothing in comparison to the ache that I was feeling at the thought of losing Jake. It was then that I realized that Jake was the one that I wanted to learn inside and out, and I wanted him to know me inside and out, too. I wanted Jake to be the one to father my powerful children. I could feel the power of the full moon beaming down on me as I fell across Jake’s body, and as I closed my eyes and succumbed to my body’s aching fatigue, I realized, somewhere in the back of my mind, that I had transformed into a werewolf. The sudden cool breeze that rushed through the apartment is what first got my attention. “I guess if you want something done right,” a voice behind me howled. “You should do it yourself.” I turned my head cautiously. In the doorway of my bedroom stood a four-legged beast, his eyes shining evil yellow. I moved off of Jake and positioned myself in front of the bed, shielding Jake from the intruder. “What do you want?” I was communicating with the werewolf in front of me, but my mouth wasn’t moving. We were talking through our minds. “You,” the werewolf sneered. “Jax.” It was more an acknowledgement instead of a question. “You shouldn’t have come.” The power, confidence, and strength that I felt was power that I imagined only Superman must feel. “You can’t have me. I’ll never be yours.” Jax bared his sharp teeth. “I can have what I want,” he growled. “Do you really think that you can take me on?” The sneer in his voice scared me, but I’d be damned if I was going to let him see that. “I can try.” “Oh you naïve creature.” The sudden anger that emanated from Jax’s presence hit me like a ton of bricks. His eyes flashed red as he shot forward, launching toward me. The force of Jax pushed me back, slamming me to the ground. I lay pinned under him.

“You will be mine,” he ordered. I cringed under Jax’s mighty weight, but I had to believe that I could defeat him. Drawing from all the power inside of me, I inhaled deeply and then threw my head forward, connecting to Jax’s. He threw his head back as blood exploded from his mouth. “Shit!” he screamed. I wasn’t waiting. Quickly I shoved myself forward, landing on top of Jax. In just a tiny split second our positions had reversed and Jax lay pinned beneath me. I opened my mouth wide. I hadn’t seen them, but I knew that my teeth were long and razor sharp. I shoved my head down and tore away at Jax’s windpipe. I wanted him dead. The taste of his blood poured into my mouth as I continued to rip away at his throat. The sudden thud of a clawed paw knocked me sideways as Jax hit my head. I faltered. Jax didn’t skip a beat. He was weaker now, but he shoved me, forcefully, off of him. It took me only a minute, but by the time that I turned to retaliate, Jax was gone. I followed the trail of blood to my front door, but he was gone. I would risk being seen if I left the apartment in my current state, in werewolf form, and I didn’t want to leave Jake. Exhausted, I returned to my room. On my bed, Jake lay silently, quiet and bleeding, but alive, for now. Feeling completely drained, I collapsed onto the bed beside him. I rested my head on his chest, allowing the rise and fall of his breathing to soothe me. It was Jake’s gentle voice that woke me. The warm sun beat through my bedroom window as Jake ran his hand through my hair. I lifted my head from Jake’s chest. “Jake?” I murmured, still half asleep. “Is that really you, or am I only dreaming?” I could hear the smile in Jake’s voice as he responded, “It’s really me.” I was suddenly wide awake and the whole night’s events came flooding to the forefront of my mind. I bounced up, took one quick look at Jake, just to be sure that I wasn’t actually dreaming, then threw my arms around him. “Jake,” I squealed like a giddy school girl. “You’re okay, you’re alive!” “Yes, I’m alive.” Jake laughed. “I was injured, but not killed. They were all injuries that my body could heal.”

I moved my arms from around Jake’s neck and inspected his body. Not one of the injuries that I’d seen the night before was now visible. “You’re healed.” I beamed before I threw myself on top of him and locked my lips with his. Jake winced beneath me. I drew back from Jake. “I’m hurting you,” I gasped. “I’ll stop. You should get some rest.” Jake threw his arms around me and pulled me close. “Don’t be crazy.” He laughed. “I’m just tender, that’s all, nothing a little loving won’t fix.” Knowing exactly what I wanted, Jake pushed his mouth against mine. His lips were both gentle and firm and as he laced his fingers through my hair and tilted my head back, I opened my mouth to him. His tongue teased the edge of my lips before thrusting past them and meeting my own tongue. “God, you’re gorgeous,” Jake breathed between kisses. My pussy tingled excitedly and I could feel it getting wetter. I moved my hand until it came to rest on the bulge between his legs. It was rock hard and large and as I wrapped my fingers tightly around it, Jake let out a low growl. He moved his lips from my lips and down my neck, sending pulsating sparks through my body. His free hand found its way to my breasts, and as he squeezed a nipple between his forefinger and his thumb, pure electrifying passion shot through me. He continued to squeeze until the sweet sensation in my nipple bordered between pleasure and pain and then, just when I thought that I couldn’t take it anymore, he released his hold on my nipple and moved his mouth to replace his fingers. He sucked hard, his tongue flicking teasingly at my nipple as he fondled my other breast eagerly. My nipples stood hard and erect as soft moans escaped my lips. The tingling sensation in my pussy sharpened. I wanted to feel him inside of me. I needed to feel him inside of me. I tugged at his shaft, manipulating it in my palm. “No,” he groaned, gently pushing me off of him. “I want to taste you.” I fell back against the soft covers of my bed and Jake’s face was between my legs before I even had a moment to think. Jake pulled against my thighs, burrowing his face into my sex.

I groaned in ecstasy as his tongue danced around the folds of my vagina. He reached his hands around the outside of my legs and then moved them past my stomach and cupped both my breasts, while in response I shoved my hips harder against his face and his diving tongue. Jake’s tongue whipped skillfully across my clit and then down into the opening of my sex. He moved his tongue back and forth between my clit and the soft folds of my entrance, as I gyrated against his face. Low moans rumbled past my lips and, encouraged by my groans, Jake skimmed his teeth against my clit and squeezed the palms of his hands hard against my boobs. The combination of sheer pain and ecstasy shot through my entire body as the inner walls of my sex throbbed forcefully and at a quickening pace. “God, don’t stop!” I squealed. Jake’s tongue moved faster, lapping up the juices of my sex as the hard bridge of his nose massaged my pulsating clitoris. He twisted my hard nipples between his pointer finger and his thumb, as a climactic fire started at my toes and moved its way up my body. Harder and faster we moved together, Jake thrusting his face into my sex, and me thrusting against his face. Harder and faster, harder and faster. I was wetter than I could remember ever having been before. Jake thrust his tongue deeper inside me, nibbled my clit with his front teeth and twisted both nipples all at once, and, unable to hold off a second longer, I came. My pleasure rushed through me like an electrical surge as my insides exploded and I came. “You’re amazing,” Jake murmured. The high that engulfed me was surreal and I continued to come as Jake continued thrusting his tongue in and out of my opening, nibbling against my pulsating clit, and manipulating my tingling tits with his skillful hands. As the orgasmic fire ripped through my body I arched my wet, sweaty body and threw my head back. “Jake!” I yelled out. “God, yes, Jake!” Jake followed my movement, his face still glued between my legs and then, as if sensing that my body had turned to jello, he gripped his hands firmly around my waist and moved with me as I collapsed, totally spent onto my bed. I lay silently sticky and exhausted below Jake.

“God, you’re wonderful,” Jake breathed heavily. “I didn’t even do anything,” I murmured. “You did more than you know."

Chapter Eight “Thanks, Luce,” I said into my cell phone. “I’ll call soon, I promise … bye.” I hung up and stared out toward the horizon. I knew that our time at Martha’s Vineyard was nearing an end. The ocean was calm today and just a slight breeze moved through my hair. I inhaled deeply. The past month had been exhausting. I’d been in Paris, London, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, and even Sydney, but I’d managed to evade Jax. I knew that he was still out there, somewhere, but I’d made up my mind and after tonight his search for me would be pointless … I’d be a taken woman. I smiled as I heard Jake approach me from behind. His musky scent rode on the wind tails and sent shivers of excitement through my body. “How’s Lucy?” Jake wrapped his arms around me. “Everything still holding up at the apartment?” I nodded. “Yeah, thank God. I guess word got out that I’m not there. She still covers for me every time my mom calls and honestly she’s taking the whole thing really well. She’s in a very modern New York woman frame of mind.” “Good.” Jake nestled his chin onto my shoulder. “And how’s your mom?” “She’s good,” I sighed. “I called her just yesterday. She still has no idea that I ever even left New York.” “It’s probably better that way … at least for now. Besides, we’ll be back in New York soon.” Jake tightened his grip around my waist. “And what about you? How are you doing? You know, with it being …” “You mean with the twelfth full moon since the attack rising tonight?” I interrupted. I turned to face Jake, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I’m okay,” I said softly. “I mean, I still can’t believe that all of this is actually happening, but then at the same time, it now all makes perfect sense to me. I just wish that Daisy …” “I know,” Jake muttered. “But they arrested Officer Patton. They got the killer.” “Yeah.” I nodded. “And to think that she actually turned herself in.”

“It was either that, or deal with the wrath of Jax.” Jake shrugged. “I guess she chose what she thought would be the lesser of the two evils.” “Yeah … Jax.” I stared off into the distance. “Hey,” Jake soothed. “We don’t have to worry about him anymore. We’ll consummate our love with tonight’s full moon.” I pressed my lips against Jake’s. “I love you Jake Winters,” I breathed between kisses. “You’re the one I want … forever. No more Jax to worry about, I want you, I love you.” “Forever together.” Jake pressed his mouth against mine. “Together, forever.” “Our souls …” I breathed. “Will be sealed together forever,” he whispered. I pulled my arms tighter around Jake’s neck as I molded my body against his. “A new era is just beginning,” I spoke softly as our lips brushed against each other’s. “An era that will allow a new and more powerful werewolf to reign.” “I love you, Abby Johns,” Jake groaned. “And I love you.”

The End

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