An Unlucky Moon (3 page)

Then lightning had struck her and her friends, literally, and everything had changed. 

Becca snorted. Didn’t that just sound like something out of a horror novel?

They’d all survived, Dante as well, though she didn’t find out until later
why
he was unharmed. After all, a dragon had to have thick scales, right?

Since that night when the room had lit up like a Christmas tree and her body had filled with a manic form of energy, things had been different. Lily had been the first to notice the change when she’d met Shade, a warrior angel from the angelic realm. He’d been there to stop her from finding out that the supernaturals existed, but it had all been for naught.

Since Lily and Shade were true halves, once they, ahem,
connected
on a deeper level, Lily had changed into a supernatural creature in her own right—a brownie. It seemed that the not-so-human part of her DNA had become dominant.

The same thing had happened a year later with Jamie, though she’d changed into a djinn. Her transformation hadn’t been as beautiful as Lily’s though. The demons of hell had taken her to their own realm and had almost killed her. Thankfully Shade’s mentor, Ambrose, had risked his own life to save her. There they’d met the third of their triad, Balin, and lived to tell the tale. Becca still couldn’t believe that little bookstore owner Jamie was in a ménage relationship in which Balin and Ambrose were also lovers.

From the way her friend always blushed and glowed, Becca figured things were working out. 

It had been only a month since everyone had come back to the human realm and they’d defeated the demon and djinn who’d wanted to harm them. Becca herself had almost died by being impaled by a piece of wood. Jamie had saved her body, but it had been Hunter who’d saved her soul.

She’d known from that instance that Hunter would mean something more to her than just being a stranger who’d saved her in a dark alley. She’d seen the pain and anguish within those gold eyes and had heard his howl. That had brought her back while Jamie had healed her wounds.

Then Hunter had left to go back to his Pack, and Becca was stuck working at the bar with Dante, wondering why she cared about the wolf who hadn’t looked back.

A wave of weakness, her body shaking, paling, slid through her, and she rubbed the part of her torso where the wood had impaled her.

She had a feeling she knew what that weakness was, and she was pissed about it. Lily and Jamie had both felt it when they’d met their true halves before cementing the bond. Becca had a feeling Nadie felt it as well, though Nadie wasn’t saying anything about it. 

Hunter had to be her mate, her true half. 

The one who would show her what it meant to be part of the supernatural world and allow her to become…something.

Yet he’d left her alone.

Well, hell, she wouldn’t stand for that. She’d get on with her business and either forget him or find him on her own. There was no way she’d just sit back and swoon over a man she’d only met twice but knew she had a connection with.

She’d have to confront him on his turf and figure out what the hell he meant when he said he’d take care of her before he left. If, at that point, she couldn’t see a way for things to work, she’d leave, but there was no way she’d let things go to shit without trying first. 

It wasn’t in her nature.

Plus her body ached as if she’d just gotten over the flu or a really bad cold. She wanted to know if she could become something…more. Hunter seemed to be the key to that, and she’d be damned if she’d lose the promise of a future because she didn’t talk to him.

Becca blinked at her reflection again then walked out of the bathroom. There was no use beating herself up now when she had a job to do, a job she might have enjoyed at one time. She knew now, though, she needed to move on eventually.

She nodded at Dante, who raised a pierced brow, but she didn’t tell him the spider had won this round. 

Dante owned and operated Dante’s Circle, one of the oldest bars in town, but because of the various attacks on her and her friends, the place had been renovated a few times in the past year. The dark wood paneling had chips and dents in it from when the wind had rocked through the place during the last djinn-made storm, but it had been cleaned and polished to look almost new in spite of that. Pictures and other memories littered the walls, each in new or repaired frames.

Dante had wanted a place that would remind people of who they were and where they came from—at least if they knew the dragon personally. Or as personally as anyone could get to Dante. Despite having to clean up the mess of an evil that had threatened them, he’d succeeded. 

It was something that Becca wanted to do in her own bar when she had one. She hadn’t known it would be her goal when she’d first walked in as an eighteen-year-old needing a place to work—and sleep—but Dante had taken her under his wing, and she’d blossomed. 

It had been over twelve years since she’d stepped foot in the place, and she was ready to move on. She’d finished high school through online courses, and despite the fact that she struggled in school, she was almost done with her masters in business management.

She’d scrimped and saved and was ready to finish school and start her own life.

She knew Dante would have given her the money to start on her own—he was like that—but she wanted—no,
needed
—to do it on her own.

“Becca? You okay?” Nadie asked as she walked up to her at the bar. Petite and blonde, Becca always thought her friend looked like a fairy. Considering that fairies were probably real, Becca wouldn’t be surprised if that was actually the case.

“I’m fine, just getting ready to finish my shift,” she replied. The place was dying down since it was almost ten on a weeknight, and there was no game tonight. Luckily Becca didn’t have to close down, so she could leave soon.

Nadie smiled then grimaced as her face paled. Becca reached out to catch her friend as she fell, but Dante was faster. She had no idea how he got over the bar so quickly, but before Becca could blink, Dante had Nadie wrapped in his arms, the concern on his face terrifying.

“Let me go,” Nadie whispered, unmistakable hurt in her tone. “I’m fine, Dante.”

He rubbed her shoulder slightly then nodded. His own face paled slightly as the color seeped back into Nadie’s.

“What happened?” Becca asked as she cupped Nadie’s cheek. Nadie, like the rest of the women she called family, was one of her best friends. There was no way she’d let Nadie go without an explanation.

Not again.

“Just a little lightheaded,” Nadie said, her voice holding no room for questions.

Screw that.

“You’re lying. What’s wrong?” Becca tried to pull her friend closer, but Nadie pulled right back.

“I just didn’t eat enough to day. I’m fine. In fact, I feel better now. I should just head home.”

“Nadie…”

“Becca, stop. I’m fine.”

“I’ll drive you home,” Dante said, his voice holding no room for argument.

Nadie rolled her shoulders then turned from Becca to face Dante. “Don’t bother. I’ll just drive myself. I live only a couple blocks away, something you know.  I’ll be fine,” she repeated.

Dante furrowed his brows and looked as if he were about to cup her cheek then stopped himself. Damn, these two were going to kill her with their unsettled issues.

Though in reality, she wasn’t one to talk.

“Fine, if that’s what you want,” Dante said then walked away without another word.

Nadie seemed to struggle for composure then gave Becca a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Stay safe.”

Becca watched as her friend left the bar, leaving an upset dragon in her wake. Nadie didn’t normally come by on a weeknight since she would have to work in the morning, there had to be something more to her being there but Becca wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Thank the gods Dante liked her because she was not in the mood to figure out how to tame him.

If there even was a way.

Someone called out to her, and she got back to work. She made it thirty minutes before cutting herself on a broken glass.

“Fuck.”

“What the hell did you do this time?” Dante asked as he pulled out the daily-used first-aid kit.

“Just cut my finger,” she answered as she put her finger under a stream of water. “It’s not deep.”

“So no stitches?” He pulled her to the back of the bar and sat her on a stool before taking a look at the cut. He was getting too good at taking care of her.

“Nope. At least I hope not. I’m not in the mood for another hospital visit.”

“Sorry I’m not a healing dragon, or I’d just take care of all your injuries with ease.”

She cocked her head. “There are such things as healing dragons?”

He just lifted his lip in a smile. “Sure.”

Becca rolled her eyes. “You’re never gonna show me what you look like, are you?”

He raised a pierced brow. “Maybe one day.”

She let him put a Band-Aid on her finger, and then they got back to work. She was just about to finish her last table when she dropped the check. As she reached down to pick it up, the hard pinch on her ass surprised her.

“What the fuck?” she yelled as she turned to face the sleazy man in a business suit and loosened tie.

“Just feeling the goods. If you didn’t want to be touched, you shouldn’t have flaunted that sweet ass or those fuckable tits in front of me.”

Becca blinked, surprised by his crude words. Sure, she’d dealt with pricks before, but they weren’t usually so blatant after they got caught.

“Excuse me?”

“Why don’t you come sit on my lap, and I’ll show you what I mean.” He gripped his crotch, and Becca resisted the urge to vomit.

She flashed back to the time when another man had been over her and Hunter had saved her.

She wasn’t in that position now though, and she’d be damned if she’d let the man get away with it.

“Get out of here. Now.”

“You don’t own this place, bitch.”

“No, but I do,” Dante growled from behind her. “Want me to take care of this, Becs?”

She shook her head. “No. I can deal with it.”

“Oh yeah, baby? You’re gonna deal with it?” He rubbed his cock through his pants, and Becca swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat.

Seriously? This dude had to be out of his mind.

He reached out again, and she punched the bastard in the nose. Blood spurted, and he screamed like the pussy he was.

“You bitch! I’m gonna sue you!”

“No, you aren’t,” she said calmly. “You’re gonna walk out of here and get in a cab and never come back. If you try to sue, I’ll charge you with harassment and assault.”

Dante crossed his large forearms across his chest and glared. “I don’t see why you don’t charge him now.”

“Then I’d have to see him again. Get out.”

He stumbled out the door, and Becca’s shoulders sank. “Gods, I’m tired.”

“Go home, Becs. I’ll clean your section.” Dante brought her into a hug that reminded her she had friends she could lean on if needed.

“Thanks. I’m whipped, and I still have to finish that paper tonight.”

“Jason coming over to help with that?” Dante asked, his voice oddly emotionless.

Becca frowned. “No, I don’t think so. It’s not like it’s an exam, and why are you looking like that? It’s not like Jason and I ever dated.”

Plus the dude was creepy to be alone with for too long, but she wasn’t about to tell Dante that. The last thing she needed was her study partner roasted on a spit as her dragon friend smiled with glee.

“Be careful. Just because your wolf is back in his Pack dealing with his disappearance doesn’t mean he won’t kill a man for touching what’s his.”

That brought her hackles up. “Excuse me? You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m no man’s property. Hunter isn’t here, and since he hasn’t even spoken to me in a month, I’ll refrain from thinking the wolf has any dibs on me.”

“Becca, some things are done to keep those we care about safe, not because we necessarily want to do them.”

Becca frowned, thinking Dante wasn’t talking about just her and Hunter now.

“I don’t care right now. I’m going home and writing then going to bed. It’s been a little too much for me today.” 

Okay sure, she’d only had to deal with a couple drunks, cutting her hand, and the spider from hell, but she was just too tired to deal with it right now.

Dante nodded then walked to the back of the bar. “I’ll take care of that wee little spider for you too.”

She flipped him off then went to get her things. Maybe her life was slowly changing, but at least she had her friends to remind her of what she had. Now she just had to think about what she wanted and whether that included the wolf with yellow eyes who haunted her dreams.

Chapter Three

Hunter stood in front of Dante’s Circle, the sunset beating down on him. He narrowed his eyes, the brown contacts he wore irritating them. He hated wearing the damn things, but yellow eyes seemed to scare the humans. He hadn’t worn them the last time he’d been here, but he’d forgotten.

After spending four years battling demons and doing things that would haunt his nightmares for years to come, putting a thin film over his eyes to keep from scaring the little humans hadn’t occurred to him.

People milled around in the early evening sun, talking and going about their day. Most of them were humans so they didn’t realize they were venturing around a walking shadow of death. A pixie passed him and froze, her eyes widening. She blinked then scurried off, as if too afraid of what he
could
do rather than remembering that, to most predators, prey running away only egged them on.

Hunter wasn’t one of those predators though. Despite his name, he didn’t feel the need to hunt after prey when the one he truly wanted was within the walls in front of him. It had been a month since he’d seen Becca. A month since she’d lain in his arms, her body pale, healing. 

He could still remember the howls echoing off the walls. It hadn’t been until later that he’d realized those howls of anguish had been his own. Though he hadn’t known much about Becca—still didn’t—the wolf within him knew everything he needed to know.