FREE *Blood Moon Cursed; Book 1

An acceptance and a gift.

When I woke the next morning, someone was banging on the door, my head thumped, I looked at the time, 9 o’clock…I was an hour late to work.

I scrambled out of bed to the door, just as the banging ceased and I heard raised voices outside.

Pulling the door open, standing on in my pyjamas I found Mr Walsh and Garrett toe to toe.

 I’d never seen Mr Walsh stand up straight, he’d tossed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, he was well over 6ft, solid and despite his age, looking fit and ready to handle the young Alpha in front of him.

I stepped forward, pushing them apart, I was actually more frightened for Garrett, Mr Walsh looked ready to rip his throat out and he looked like he could do it, I shivered.

“Hey Garrett settle down, Sorry Mr Walsh I slept in this morning.” I looked at Mr Walsh ignoring Garrett’s protest, Mr Walsh looked between Garrett and I, then blinked and relaxed.

“Sorry for the rude wake up Ivy. I was just worried, you’ve never been late and after an hour of waiting, I thought something had happened…” Mr Walsh finished, offering an apologetic smile, but clearly unimpressed Garrett was still here.

“Sorry we-“ I gesture to myself, Garrett and the 2 hung-over looking boys that’d arrive late to the scene “went out for dinner and a few drinks. We got home a little later then I would of liked, and I seemed to have overslept.” I smiled apologetically.

Mr Walsh nods, not relaxing completely but he slumps his posture, grabbing my shoulders gently he squeezes them.

“As long as you’re alright.” He smiles.

“I am I promise, I have a few things to do before I come to work, are you ok if I come by at 10 o’clock instead?” I ask.

“That’ll be fine, but if your not there by 10.30, I’ll be back.” Though Mr Walsh spoke to me, his eyes locked with Garrett’s, I told him how wonderful Garrett was but I knew Mr Walsh had grown protective of me, like I was his own daughter.

I waved as he drove off his old V8 sedan rumbling back to the shop.

I turned to Garrett, unimpressed by his d**k measuring display with my boss and friend, the look I gave him definitely generated the message I wanted it to, Mitch and Lucus scattered and Garrett shrunk down 2 inches.

I grabbed his arm, pulling him into my room, pushing him towards the table.

“Sit there, I’ll make us some coffee’s.” I grunt, he obeys as I stomp to the kettle preparing the cups and coffee.

After they were done, I cleared the table, throwing the unopened parcel and my coat on the bed; then I sit across from him, taking a sip of my drink before talking.

“Now I’ve finally pinned you down, It’s time to be sensible Garrett, you need to go home." I sigh before continuing. 

"I’ll always love you but as a friend, but you’re not my mate, and somewhere yours is out there waiting for you. So in person I’m telling you no, I will not come back.” I gave him a grim smile.

Garrett put's his cup down, leaning back in his chair he looks at the ceiling.

After a moment a smile tugs at his lips and he starts laughing, shaking his head, his eyes meet mine again.

“I wouldn’t expect you to, you’ve made your own home here, with friends who’ll clearly step in to protect you, though I suspect something else has changed.” He points to my chest. “I think you can handle yourself just fine, I pity the wolf you’re hunting and envy your Mate, what a Luna you’ll make.” He winks.

I blush, that was easier then I thought it’d be.

We chat for a little longer, finishing our coffee’s, I look over at the clock, it was almost time for me to be at the shop.

Garrett offers to drive me and I agree, as I'm not ready to say goodbye...yet.

Its only a short drive, as we pull up in front of the shop, I move to get out when Garrett stops me.

“Hey Ivy, I know you’re going to the Dark moon ball, Gina was invited so Lucus is attending with Mitch as a guest. They offered for me to go to but I thought I’d ask you first.” Garrett pauses.

“Ask me what Garrett?” I encourage.

“Would you allow me to escort you there, and have the first dance, as a parting gift?” He asks, this is the first time, I’ve really seen Garrett vulnerable and blushing.

I start tearing up, what a wonderful man, mate or not, I’d miss him when he returned home, I was so lucky to have met him.

“I’d be honoured if you would escort me and have the first dance with me.” I reply wiping tears with a broad smile.

He lunged forward, hugging me tightly.

“Thank you Ivy..” He mumbles into my hair.

“Thank you Garrett for stopping that first day of school.” I replied.

We hugged for a long minute, then I reluctantly break our embrace, telling him I’d see him later.

I opened the door, finding Mr and Mrs Walsh waiting for me behind the counter, looking guilty.

“Hello, what are you guys up to?” I ask, as they placed a box on the counter, pushing it towards me.

The card read:

“Dear Ivy, for tonight, not to hide your beauty but so only your Mate may recognise you. With love George and Mavis”

Opening the box, I sifted through the packing paper to reveal a magnificent mask.

It was made of glassy resin, you might mistake it for solid black from a distance but on inspection it was see through.

It started at her hair line, covering both eyes, finishing at the top of her nose it then curved downwards on the left side with her cheek in a crescent.

A wolves jaw was engraved in the resin, 2 rows of carved moonstone embedded as the teeth.

You’d swear they’d moulded it off my face when I tried it on, Mrs Walsh held up a mirror; the mask was fierce and mesmerizingly beautiful at the same time.

 On the right side, my scars peaked out below the mark, but surprisingly that didn’t bother me in this mask, I felt powerful, I placed it back in the box.

“Thank you so much, You have no idea how much I love it.” I smiled at them, Mr Walsh is getting teary but Its Mrs Walsh who responds.

“This Mask has been in my family for many generations, it may seem like plastic resin but it’s actually a special type of amber extracted from a blackwood tree, that I believe is extinct now, or at least very rare.

We have no child to pass it down to, but have come to think of you as our own in recent weeks, we have a lot to be thankful for, since you’ve tumbled in our life.”

Mrs Walsh stepped around the counter; I stepped forward to hug her tightly.

Mr Walsh smiled as I stepped towards him, he enveloped me in a hug first, his body shaking with laughter.

“Oh Ivy, thank you for giving two old people a bit of spark back in there lives.” He mumbled.

Mr and Mrs Walsh informed me, that’s all they’d wanted from me this morning, not to actually work.

So they offered to drive me home, I pack the wrapping paper, around the mask closing the box, and followed them out to the car.

We grabbed Mcdonalds on the way, Mr Walsh getting a soft serve whilst Mrs Walsh got a Big Mac, they were such a cute couple.

I told them I’d see them soon and be on my best behaviour at the ball for them.

As they drove away, I turned unlocking the door to my room, I went inside shutting the door behind me.

I flicked the light on, looking at the parcel on my bed, I walk over to open it when my phone vibrated with a text, pulling it from my pocket,  I looked down the screen lit up and I froze.

1 new message number Unknown.

I unlocked my phone, opening the message I read it quickly as my heart sunk.

“Dearest Ivy,

I got your text, but felt that after all this time to lose contact again, would make me a very poor parent.

After many unanswered text the last few months, I rang the number only to have your mother answer.

So again with a lot of trouble I’ve found your number, and just in time it seems, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at my event.

I got your R.S.V.P, I look forward to seeing you soon.

All my love Daddy x”

My stomach turned, that f*****g assholes event? I ran to the bathroom and that’s where I stayed for a long time.

Conrad’s POV

I’d woken late, apparently I wasn’t able to sleep off my hang-over completely even after 14 hours.

When I woke, I mind-link Jace to bring me some lunch, it seemed he was in worse form, as he told me to ‘f--k off I’m sleeping’ I’d usually punish him, but expected if he’d drank anywhere near what I had, he’d be feeling pretty poor.

I mind-link Jareth instead the only one of the 3 of us, who hadn’t drank last night, he said he’s be about 10 with something.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes, I’d forgot to close my curtains before bed last night and the sun was blinding.

The door opened without a knock, as Jareth came in carrying a tray with my lunch.

“Here you go Alpha, Coffee and Egg and Bacon sandwich and some left over KFC.”

Smiled Jareth, placing it beside my on the bedside table.

I thanked him, waving him off, I’d be down for dinner but was still needing a few more hours of sleep yet.

When I was finished eating, I snuggled down into my pillows again, dreaming of my beautiful Mate staring into the moon pool waiting for me.