Blood Moon (Moons of the Wolf Series Book 1) (5 page)

“But then my mind was struck by light that flashed, and, with this light, received what it had asked.  Here force failed my high fantasy; but my desire and will were moved already – like a wheel revolving uniformly – by the Love that moves the sun and the other stars…”  Kedar said from behind her.

Samantha whipped around, startled.  She blushed a bit and smiled sheepishly, “…What?”  She whispered, clearly confused.

Kedar pointed to the book in her hand, “It’s a quote, in the
Divine Comedy
.  It’s in
Paradiso
, to be exact.”  He responded, walking up to the bookshelf in order to stand beside Samantha, “I’m guessing you haven’t read it, then?”

She shook her head slowly, blushing in embarrassment, “No, I haven’t…”  She admitted.

Kedar smiled a handsome crooked smile and Samantha couldn’t help but turn a dark shade of red, “You can borrow it.  I thought it was excellent.  Did you know that Dante is considered the father of the Italian language?”

Samantha shook her head, “No, I didn’t…”

Kedar smiled more, “Well, you learn new things every day.  Do you like to read?”  He asked in a soft voice.  His smile lit up his entire face and it gave Samantha an odd feeling in her stomach.  She couldn’t help but smile back at him, although her hands trembled for reasons that she couldn’t explain.

“Yes, I do.  Very much so…”  She admitted almost sheepishly.  Riley had never been supportive of her love for reading.  He often called it a pointless hobby.  It had been a long time since Samantha met someone who enjoyed reading like she did.

“That’s good.  Reading is extremely important.  My grandfather always stressed that I needed to read more when I was growing up.  He constantly told me it would help my mind develop.  And he was right.”  Kedar smile soften as he recalled the memories.

“Your grandfather sounds like a very intelligent man,” Was Samantha’s soft reply.

Kedar nodded, “He was…”  He was quiet for a moment and then he sighed, “Anyway, what’s your favorite book?”

Samantha’s face lit up instantaneously, “
Pride and Prejudice
,” her response was without hesitation, “My aunt bought me a copy a long time ago and ever since no other book has peaked my interest as much as it did.  It’s a wonderful book.”

“I haven’t read it yet…I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“You should read it.  You’ll definitely be glad that you did.”

Kedar looked at her and smiled again, causing a twinkle in his eyes.  It made Samantha’s stomach feel odd again and she averted her eyes.  He cleared his throat, “Maybe I will.  You should go clean up, I washed your clothes for you and brought them upstairs.  The bathroom is on the second floor, immediately to the left of the stairs.  If you’re hungry I can quickly throw something together while you shower,” He suggested softly.

Samantha slowly shook her head, “No, that’s fine, I don’t normally eat breakfast…”  She explained.

“Alright, well go get cleaned up.  Take your time.”  Kedar smiled warmly.

Samantha smiled back at him and she headed up the stairs, feeling overly self-conscious.  The second floor was decorated the same as the first, but, she didn’t take the time to look around.  She went straight into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.  Her clothes were neatly folded on a towel on the counter.  She smiled, turned the shower on and undressed.  She carefully folded the shirt and sweater and put them down next to her clothes.  She stepped in the shower, letting the hot water run over her body.  She couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander back to Kedar downstairs…

She shook her head as she silently scolded herself.  She quickly finished washing her body and jumped out of the shower.  She dried herself and got dressed quickly, brushing the knots out of her hair with her fingers.  She made her way down the stairs and looked around for Kedar.  She didn’t see him so she grabbed her jacket and headed outside.  She needed the fresh air to clear her head.  About twenty feet from the door Kedar was chopping wood, shirtless.  There was a light dusting of snow on the ground and there was a nip in the air, but his sweatshirt was tied around his waist.  He looked up towards Samantha and smiled his handsome, devilish smile and Samantha couldn’t stop herself from blushing but smiling back at him simultaneously.

Kedar set the axe down and wiped the sweat from his brow.  He made his way over to Samantha, the smile still on his face, “did you want to stay a bit longer, or would you like me to take you home now?”  Samantha could tell that although he offered to take her home he really wanted her to stay by the tone of his voice and the look in his eye.  She guessed it had been a long time since he had company.

Samantha was quiet for a moment, thinking.  Finally, she replied, “I would like to stay a little while longer, but I should probably head home…I’m sure my pack is very worried about me…”

Kedar’s smiled waned a bit, and Samantha swore she saw a twinge of sadness in his eyes, “understandable…”  He said, not hiding the disappointment in his voice well.  “I’m going to clean up…”  He continued, “Feel free to help yourself to anything you’d like while I get ready.”

“Alright…”  Samantha smiled as she responded.  With that she followed him back into the house.

Kedar went up the stairs and Samantha went into the kitchen.  She looked through a couple of cabinets where she found the cereal and bowls.  She poured herself a half bowl and sat, eating it without any milk.  She wasn’t very hungry but she just knew that Kedar wouldn’t be satisfied unless she had something to eat.  While she ate she quietly wondered about Melody.  She was sure she must have been worried sick.  It wasn’t right that Samantha had run away without contacting her aunt to tell her that she was okay.  It wasn’t fair.  Melody housed and clothed Samantha since her parents were killed.  She could have said no and gave her to another family member.  She was going through a divorce when Samantha’s mom passed.  Samantha couldn’t be mad at her for keeping her from her father.  She was just following orders.

Samantha finished the cereal and stared at the empty bowl for a moment.  She heard Kedar’s footsteps behind her and she turned.  He stood leaning against the doorway, his charming crooked smile lighting up his face again.  Samantha found that, once again, she couldn’t prevent herself from smiling back at him as her blood rushed to her face.  Kedar walked up to her and sat next to her.

“Are you sure you have to go?”  Kedar asked, his voice soft.

Samantha slowly looked him up and down.  He was wearing a tight shirt with a black sweater and baggy jeans.  Around his neck he wore what resembled a dog’s chain collar.  She raised her eyebrow and reached out to touch it.

“A dog collar?”  She said, avoiding his question.  She knew she had to go, but something inside of her was compelling her to stay, “Isn’t that sort of cliché?”

Kedar shrugged, “Do vampires wear capes?”  Samantha laughed lightly and shook her head, “Then a werewolf shall wear a dog collar and no one shall expect.”  Then he looked at her bowl, “No milk?  Isn’t that the point of having cereal?”

“I don’t like cereal with milk, I prefer it dry.  It’s easier to eat this way and less of a mess to clean up,” Samantha replied, very as-a-matter-of-factly.

“Well, I’m more of a cereal and milk kind of guy,” Kedar said.  He stood and poured himself a bowl of cereal with milk and sat again, eating.  He looked at her and jokingly said, “Mm…  Milk.  So yummy.”  Samantha smiled and laughed lightly, “try some with milk for me?”

Samantha shook her head, “I know what milk and cereal tastes like.”

Kedar smirked, “Then you knew what you’re missing out on,” He retorted smugly.  Samantha got up and washed her bowl, and Kedar did the same once he was finished.

“I should probably head home…”  Samantha said softly after an awkward moment of silence.  She looked down at the ground, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.  She looked up at Kedar and she saw a frown flash across his face.  She frowned as well, “But we can hang out again.  Go to see a movie or something fun like that…”

Kedar’s face lit up almost instantaneously, “That sounds great.  Come one, I’ll drive you home.”  He prompted.  He led Samantha out to the barn-like garage and opened the doors.  He back his truck out into the sunlight and Samantha looked it over now that she could see it better.  It was a green nineteen-fifties Ford F1 with brown baubles.  Kedar hopped out of the truck and closed the garage door while Samantha admired it.  Kedar helped Samantha into the passenger seat then got in on the driver’s side.  He drove down his long driveway, which was surrounded by trees, until he pulled onto the main road.

“So, where do you live?”  Kedar asked looking over at Samantha.

“Fourteen Elk Drive…”  Samantha responded softly, knowing that in a town so small Kedar was bound to know where the street was at least.

“In Greenwood?”  Kedar inquired.

Samantha looked at him, puzzled, “Yea, why?  Where are we?”

Kedar smiled, “The border of Greenwood and Westbrook, on the Greenwood side.  Go up the street fifteen feet and you’re in Westbrook.”  Kedar explained pointing.

“Oh…  I see…”  Samantha mumbled.  She looked back where Kedar had pointed.  That meant there weren’t very far from Heather’s house.

Kedar nodded, “So, if I get us to Main Street, I’m sure you can get us to your house.

Samantha nodded slowly, “I can do that.”

Kedar smiled and continued to drive down the street, “So are you going to tell me your name?  You’ve neglected to give it to me, you know.”

“Oh…I’m sorry.  My name’s Samantha…”

Kedar stopped at a stop sign and looked at her, “Samantha.  A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

Samantha turned dark red and looked away from Kedar, staring out the window, “thank you…”  She mumbled.

Kedar chuckled a bit, “You don’t need to be so shy.  I just tell it how I see it.”  He continued to drive forward.

Samantha looked at Kedar, “Well thanks.  So, why are you living all on your own?  You look barely old enough to be out of high school.”

“I inherited the house from my grandfather.  He passed away about two years ago…”  Kedar’s response was soft and his voice was tight.  He shifted in his seat.

Samantha could tell that she had made him uncomfortable, “I’m sorry…”

He shook his head, “He was a good man.  He lived a full life.  He left me everything, the house, all his worldly possessions, and his store.  I’m not too good at finances so I have a family friend take care of it all for me.  Plus, I work at Taylor’s Auto Body Shop five days a week.”

“Really?  My car was towed there yesterday…”  Samantha blushed again and began to play with her hair.

“Oh?  Which car is yours?”

“It’s a black nineteen-ninety-eight Chevy Cavalier.”

“I’ll make sure it’s taken care of. The shop belonged to my grandfather.  He sold it to the friend that does my finances before he died.  So, I can make sure that your car will be running smoothly when you get it back.”

Samantha smiled wide, “Thanks so much, you don’t have to, you know.”

“I want to…” Kedar insisted, smiling warmly at Samantha.

Samantha looked at her lap and crossed her legs, “So, what’s the name of the store that you own?”  She uncrossed her legs.

Kedar smirked, “Wooden it be Nice on Main Street,” he chuckled at the name of the store, “My grandfather named it.”

“That quaint little furniture store?  No wonder you can afford to live on your own,” Samantha remarked, crossing her legs again.

Kedar pulled out of the heavily wooded area onto Main Street.  He looked at Samantha, “Elk Street?”

“Elk Drive,” Samantha corrected him, “It’s the second right and my house is the last one on the street.”

Kedar nodded, “Alright, easy enough,” He said in response.

There was an awkward silence.  Samantha cleared her throat to break the silence, “So, when did you graduate from high school?”  She inquired as she once again uncrossed her legs.

“I was homeschooled.  I completed all of the credentials to finish high school and received a certificate from the state about three years ago.”  He replied.

“That explains why I’ve never seen you before.”

“We’ve probably met in passing before but don’t even know it,” Kedar glanced down at Samantha’s legs as she crossed them again.  He gently placed his hand lightly on her thigh, “Are you nervous?  Or do you always fidget this much?”

“What?  Oh, no…”  She blushed dark red once again.

Kedar smiled and put his hand back on the steering wheel, “So, is a girl as pretty as you a single girl?”

Samantha giggled a bit and twirled her hair more, then she frowned and she looked at Kedar.

He turned onto her street and glanced at her frowning as well, “What’s wrong?”

“Actually…  I’m not single…”  She responded quietly.

“Oh.  Well, whoever you’re with is lucky.  You seem like a wonderful young woman

Samantha smiled and looked down at her lap, quiet as Kedar pulled up in front of her house and parked.  She looked out the window and saw Melody sitting on the porch, holding a large mug and holding her head while Riley paced back and forth, a cigarette sticking out of his mouth.  Kedar got out of the truck then helped Samantha out.  Melody looked up as the car door shut and she almost dropped her mug.  She put it down on the stairs and ran towards Samantha, holding her large pink robe closed.  She wrapped her arms around Samantha and kissed her head, tears pouring down her face.