Blood Moon (Moons of the Wolf Series Book 1) (6 page)

“Are you alright, dear?”  Melody asked softly, pushing Samantha’s hair out of her face as if to inspect her.

Samantha nodded, “Yes, ma’am…”  She replied looking down at her feet.  Melody was disheveled.  Her hair was a mess.  She had dark circles under her eyes from obvious lack of sleep.  Samantha felt incredibly guilty, had she just come home her aunt would have been able to sleep well.

Melody kissed Samantha’s head again then she looked up at Kedar, who was standing there awkwardly.  She turned to him and held her hand out to shake his.  He grasped her hand firmly and she smiled a bit, “Thank you, so much for bringing her home…”

Kedar smiled his devilishly handsome crooked smile, “It wasn’t a problem at all, ma’am.  Anything for a fellow wolf.”

“It may not have been a problem for you but it certainly means a lot to me.  What’s your name, young man?”  Melody inquired.

“Kedar, but I prefer to be called Kit,” Was his simple response.

Melody smiled a bit more, “Well, then thank you Kit.  You’re always welcome here for making sure she got home safe.  If you ever need anything, my door is always open.”

Kedar shifted, clearly a bit uncomfortable, “Thank you, ma’am, you’re very kind.  You don’t have to repay me though.”

“Just let her,” Samantha chimed in, “If you don’t she’ll never let you live it down.”

Kedar looked at Samantha and he laughed a bit, “Alright then.  Thank you ma’am,” He continued as he turned back to Melody.

Riley, who had been standing on the porch watching the exchange with a bitter expression on his face while he sucked on a cigarette, walked over to Samantha and lightly touched her shoulder.  She moved away just a bit, and Riley shoved his hand into his pocket, flicking the cigarette into the snow with the other.  He turned to Kedar, looking him over and sizing him up.

“So, do I know you?  You look awfully familiar.”  Riley grumbled.

Kedar swallowed hard and his smile was wiped from his face almost instantaneously.  Samantha could see that the question made him uncomfortable but was unsure as to why.  She watched him closely and he shifted from one foot to the other and stuffed his hands in his sweater pockets.

“You’ve probably seen me at the car shop.  I’m a mechanic over there.  I’ve probably worked on your car before.”  Kedar’s voice gave away his nerves, although Samantha was unsure if Melody or Riley had picked up on it.

Riley nodded, not even really caring about his answer, “Probably.  Well, thanks for getting her home safe.  We were worried.”

Samantha bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying something rude.  She sighed a bit and smiled up at Kedar, “Well, everyone has said it more than enough, but thank you.  Listen, what’s your phone number?  I’ll give you a call and we can hang out.”

“I don’t have a cell phone…or even a house phone…”  Kedar admitted sheepishly.

“Oh…”  Samantha glanced up at Riley who was silently snickering.

“You said that you work at the car shop, right Kit?”  Melody asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kedar nodded, but he looked puzzled, “Yeah, I did.  Why?”

“Samantha’s car is there and her phone number is on file.  When you go to call her to tell her that her car is ready you could write it down.”  Melody suggested with a smile that would have come across as wicked, had she not been so tired.  Riley clenched his jaw and walked away, storming inside.

Kedar smirked, “That’s a great idea.  In case I need to contact her in the future for car related calls.”

Melody laughed lightly, “Precisely.  Now, you should be on your way dear.  Thank you again.  Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t, I promise.”  Kedar remarked with a laugh, he then turned to Samantha, “I’ll give you a call from the shop tonight then?”

Samantha turned pink, “I actually lost my phone at some point last night.  I’ll take my old one to get activated and you can call me tomorrow though.  You know.  To tell me my car’s ready.”  She smiled, playing along with Melody and Kedar’s joke.

Kedar smiled more and it gave Samantha butterflies in her stomach, “Sounds good.  Don’t go running off again.  I may not be able to find you next time.”  He chuckled as he got into his truck.

Samantha laughed with him, “I won’t!”  She assured as she waved goodbye.  Kedar’s truck roared to life and she watch as he drove away, an unexplained sadness overcoming her.

Melody touched her shoulder, “You lost your phone?”  Her question carried a stern undertone, but her tired voice contradicted it.

“Yeah…my old one is in my desk…”  Samantha replied as she hung her head in shame.

Melody sighed in exasperation, “Let’s head inside…I’ll call to have your old one reactivated while you talk to Riley, okay dear?”

Samantha pressed her lips together in a tight line; she was still very mad at him for what he had said, “Okay…” She responded before following Melody into the house.  They went into the kitchen, where Riley stood.  He was lighting a cigarette, a butt freshly snuffed in the ashtray.

“Riley Caleb Patrick McLaughlin!  How dare you disrespect me by smoking in my house?  In my kitchen no less!  If you must finish sucking on your cancer stick, then kindly take it outside before I call your mother.”  Melody scolded, placing her hands firmly on her hips and tapping her foot in aggravation.

“Sorry Aunt Mel…”  He grumbled as he stuffed his lighter into his pocket.  He picked up his ash tray and walked passed Melody and Samantha.  Samantha followed him with her eyes but didn’t move right away.  Melody motioned for her to follow him and Samantha sighed, turning around and going out onto the back porch.  Riley stood with his back to the door, leaning on the porch railing.  Samantha sat on the porch swing and didn’t say anything right away.  Riley was silent as well as he took long drag after long drag off of his cigarette.

Samantha cleared her throat, knowing she would have to be the one to break the silence, “Auntie said that you wanted to talk to me?”  The whispered question barely audible.

Riley nodded taking another long drag off of the cigarette.  It was more than half gone at this point, “Yup…”  He breathed, the smoke trailing out of his mouth as he spoke.

“So…  What do you want to talk about?”  Samantha began to grow annoyed.

“Where did you disappear to last night?  With that Kedar guy?”  Riley grumbled, his voice tight.  He took another drag and didn’t even turn to look at Samantha.

“He didn’t find me until after midnight.  He just gave me a place to sleep and food to eat.  That’s it.”  Samantha snapped, feeling as though she needed to defend herself.  “Why do you care?”  She seethed.

“You had the entire pack worried about you, not just me.  Because we care about your wellbeing.  Or did you forget?”  Riley countered, pulling his cigarette away from his mouth and turning his head to look at her.  He tapped it onto the edge of his ashtray, not breaking eye contact as he brought the filter back to his mouth, letting it sit there as he stared at her.

Samantha huffed.  He was purposefully flaunting his bad habit to upset her.  “Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

Riley sighed and flicked more ashes into the ashtray, “No.  While we were out running ourselves ragged looking for you we happened upon our ‘trespassers…’”  Another long drag, “We’ve met with them already.”

“You didn’t wait for the whole pack to be present?”  Samantha’s aggravation was only growing the longer her and Riley talked.

“You’ve been ban from pack activities.  Dad has yet to life the ban.”

Samantha huffed and crossed her arms, “Alright?  Then what is it?”

“They claim they’ve been following a brood of vampires across state boarders…”  Riley crushed his cigarette butt out in the ashtray and set it aside, turning towards Samantha, “They told us that they have reason to believe that the brood they’re following joined up with the brood outside of the Goldenborough town boarders.  However, mom and dad don’t think so.  That brood has been inactive since my parents were our age, the Goldenborough brood probably isn’t even there anymore.  Everyone is meeting with the head tomorrow, so I figured it was only right to keep you in the loop.  Someone will keep you updated on how the meeting tomorrow goes.”

Samantha nodded slowly, “Alright…Sounds good.  Thanks.”  She started to walk away, but Riley grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him.  She pulled away from him and crossed her arms across her chest, averting her eyes.  Riley sighed and pushed passed her, and left without saying goodbye.

CHAPTER 7

Alex sighed as she did her make-up in the mirror.  Colin and Bridgette had demanded that she and Riley accompanied them and the two stray wolves to the meeting with the Head Alpha.  They also insisted that they dressed presentable and Alex was not entirely sure why.  She quickly put on her fire-engine red lipstick and pulled her hair into a half pony-tail.

“Alexandria!  Riley!  We’re leaving, hurry up!”  Bridgette hollered up the stairs.

Alex checked her reflection in the mirror one more time before grabbing her pea-coat and heading down the stairs.  Riley was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, his hair pulled back into a pony-tail.  Alex snickered and he gave her a disgruntled look.  They went out to the car slowly, Alex locking the door behind them.

“So, how are you and Runt?  I know you guys had a fight.”  Alex inquired, her voice hushed.

“I’m not quite sure…I’m going to see her after this meeting so that we can talk.”  Riley responded equally as quiet.

Alex nodded in understanding, “I hope all goes well.  I’m sure it will.”  She encouraged.

“Do you think I need to give her some more space?”  Riley wondered, shifting his weight from one foot to another, “I mean…You’re a girl, you should know.”

Alex gave him an annoyed look, “Just because we’re both girls doesn’t mean I know what’s going on in her head, we may be both women but we are still two different people.  She’s probably still mad at all of us.  And she has every right to be.  I tried calling her this morning and she never answered.  So, you might want to consider giving her some breathing room.”

Riley kicked the dirt.  That was not exactly the answer that he was looking for, “I don’t know…I know she lost her phone, maybe she hasn’t gotten another one activated yet.”

Alex rolled her eyes but simply shrugged in response.  Colin beeped the horn and Riley rolled his eyes as well.

“I guess we’ve got to go…”  He said as he made a face.

They walked over to their mother’s SUV quietly.  Colin and Bridgette were in the front seat and the stray wolves were in the third row.  They were fraternal twins about Alex and Riley’s age, if not a little older.  The brother had introduced himself as Kyle and his sister as Maia.  They both had sun kissed olive skin with chestnut brown hair and eyes.  All down the left side of Maia’s face were pockmarks and topical scarring, most likely from terrible acne when she was younger.  The bridge of Kyle’s nose was crooked, as though it had been broken more than once, but Alex still found him to be quite handsome.  She smiled sheepishly at him as she slid into the middle row of seats and she looked at Riley who was frowning slightly.  Alex took out her phone and started to text Riley.

“
What’s up
?”  She sent and watched as Riley quickly silenced his phone.  He read her text and began typing frantically as their parents pulled out of the driveway.

“
Did you ever date a Kedar?  Runt stayed with him when she was ‘lost’ and IDK he looks awfully familiar…”
Riley quickly shot the text back.

“
No, I haven’t dated anybody since Roman moved away when we were sixteen.  What else is bothering you?”
  Alex quickly text back.

“
I don’t think Runt is interested in seeing me anymore.
”

Alex made a bewildered face as she read his text.  She looked at him dumb founded before she began typing, “
Are you fucking stupid?  Her world has been turned upside down.  She found out her mother had an affair and that her dad really wasn’t her dad, and you’re all concerned about her wanting you?  Seriously?  She probably feels like shit, especially since she found out her biological father has basically abandoned her because of our parents.  She’s going to feel a little animosity towards you.  Look, I know how much you love her, but she’s probably so wrapped up in her own head and her own crap that she just isn’t focused on the relationship, which you should damn well respect.  But if you want to remind her that you care take her out, or have a night in with her.  Treat her like a princess.  I’ve got a couple of things in my room she would really like.  I’ll give them to you so you can give them to her when you’re reminding her how much you care, okay?  She might appreciate a little surprise like that.
”

Riley rolled his eyes when he opened his phone and saw the long paragraph of a response.  Before he could read it all Bridgette turned around in the seat, her lips pursed.

“What are you two doing back there?  I’m not blind I can see and hear you typing away like crazy.”  She scolded.  She raised an eyebrow at the silence which was the children’s response, “Well?”

“Nothing mom…”  Alex responded shoving her phone into her pocket.

Bridgette made a dissatisfied face, but she turned away.  She turned her attention back to Colin’s less-than-perfect driving and Riley looked over at Alex.  She smirked and he sighed, looking out the window.  Colin turned onto the main road and Riley turned in his seat to look towards Samantha’s street.  A green Ford F1 was turning down it, heading towards her house and he frowned; he knew exactly whose car that was.  He turned away from the window and Alex patted his shoulder, knowing full well what his frown was for.

The rest of the ride was silent.  Nobody said a word as Colin pulled onto Pinewood Manor Drive.  The head’s mansion stood ominously at the end of the street.  A thick tension filled the car and Alex glanced towards the back seat, looking at Kyle and Maia.  Maia was staring down at her lap and Kyle was rubbing her back.  Alex could tell that they were nervous and felt as though they had every right to be.  The tension built until finally Colin was pulling into the Head’s driveway.  They all quietly exited the car and went up the walkway.  Malcolm’s wife, Jean, opened the door before Colin could ring the doorbell.

“He’s in his office…waiting.  Do Riley and Alexandria wish to sit in on the meeting?”  She asked Colin, never acknowledging the children’s presence.

“I would like them to seeing as one of them will be taking over the pack one day.”  Colin responded.

“Alright…”  Jean replied as she eyed Kyle and Maia, “Go on then.  He won’t wait all day.”

Silently the group ascended the stairs, going up to the head’s office.  The door was already open and Malcolm sat patiently at his desk.  He silently waved them into the room and Riley hung back, closing the door behind everyone.

“Good morning, Malcolm,” Colin started, holding out his hand.

“This meeting is not about you, Colin, so sit.  I want to speak to the rogues.”  Malcolm practically snapped.  Colin sat instantaneously, as did Bridgette, Riley and Alex.  They could all sense that Malcolm was not in the most agreeable mood, and that did not bode well for Kyle and Maia.

Kyle stepped forward and took a deep breath, instinctually puffing himself up, “Sir, I mean no disrespect, but we are not rogue wolves.  Your view of us is distorted, biased even.”

Malcolm snarled, “I will be the judge of that young man.  Now.  Explain yourself.”

Kyle half turned to glance at Alex who smiled softly.  He took a deep breath and turned back to Malcolm, “Well, sir, you see my sister Maia and I are from a very small pack.  We had a vampire problem back home; a particularly large brood had settled in our town and our alpha tried to run them out.  At first, it worked just fine.  However, after a few months they returned.  They killed our alphas, betas and our parents upon their return.  We tried to run them out but once they had whittled our pack down to basically nothing, they just up and left.  We’ve been tracking them down ever since, following a path of random and mysterious homicides across the country.  We’ve reason to believe they’ve settled in Goldenborough with your local brood.”

“That brood hasn’t stirred any trouble since I was just a boy, youngling.  It’s hardly likely that they are still dwelling within this vicinity.  I wager they moved on to a more accessible feeding ground,” Malcom countered, clearly unimpressed.

Kyle turned to Maia, who stepped forward and pulled a newspaper article from her purse.  She placed it on the Head’s desk and stepped back.  The Head put his glasses on and picked up the paper, scrutinizing it with narrowed eyes.

“What’s this?”  He huffed.

“Kathrine Hendrix went missing twenty-five years ago according to that article sir, am I correct?”  Maia’s voice was soft as she spoke, but it had no infliction, her question came from her mouth sounding more like a statement that she had the upmost confidence in.

Malcolm was silent for a moment, then he sighed, still unamused, “Yes.  The Goldenborough brood turned her shortly before they vanished.  If I remember correctly she became the brood master’s mate.  Why are you showing me a twenty-five-year-old newspaper article?”  Malcolm demanded, his patience growing outwardly thin.

Maia pulled another article from her purse and handed it to Malcolm.  He pushed his glasses further up on his nose and held the paper up.

The bodies of Katherine Hendrix and Louis VanBuren were discovered on October 16th, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Goldenborough.  Hendrix, who has been missing for twenty-five years would have been fifty-three years old upon the discovery of her body.  More mysterious that the discovery of Hendrix’s body is the discovery of VanBuren’s.  VanBuren went missing from Westbrook eighty-four years ago and would have been one-hundred and fourteen years old.  Both bodies were identified by dental records.

Malcom put the paper down before he could finish reading the article and he took his glasses off setting them aside.  He slowly ran his hand down his face, letting out a long sigh.  Colin took the newspaper clipping off of his desk cautiously, and turned progressively paler as he read the contents.

“So, you’re telling me that the brood from Goldenborough has come back?”  Malcolm demanded after a moment.

“No, sir,” Kyle began, “I’m telling you they haven’t gone anywhere and the brood we’ve been following found them and took out their brood master and his mistress.”

“The brood that we have been tracking has a particularly cruel brood mistress.  She mutilated her
mate
for reasons that we are unaware of.  She was an…uh…courtesan when she was turned in the early seventeen-hundreds.  I’ve done extensive research on her, as much as I could anyway.  Her name is Anastasia Cortaux.  At the time of her reported “disappearance” she was twenty-two and she had a five-year-old daughter, who went missing the same time as she did.  The accepted story behind her disappearance was that Anastasia’s lover, and the father of her child, killed Anastasia in a jealous rage and went back to Italy with the child.  However, my brother and I believe that Anastasia raised her daughter, whose name is Bianca, and may have turned her,” Maia said, expanding on Kyle’s statement.

Malcolm sighed after a few moments of silence, “I must make some calls…”  He mumbled.  He then looked at Kyle and Maia, “In regards to you two…”  He paused, “You can take refuge in our territory.  For now.  Colin,” He continued, turning in his seat to face him, “You are to house them until we can figure this mess out.”

Colon nodded, clearly unhappy with the result of the meeting, “As you wish, sir.”

Malcolm turned back to Kyle, “Young man, do you believe this brood is dangerous and poses and immediate threat to this region?”

“I do, sir.  I believe that they’re extremely dangerous,” was Kyle’s response.

Malcolm sighed, “Very well.  You’re all dismissed.”