FREE *Blood Moon Cursed; Book 1

Shared pain.

Conrad POV

I knew my Mate was with another wolf.

I’d felt her distress through the bond, then anger, confusion and then love.

My gut clenched, she was with another male, and felt love and regret?

Had she been rejected before I’d met her? And now she’d met him again, what would that mean.

I didn’t sleep all night, thinking of my mate and the mystery wolf and that had put me in a foul mood.

Getting up, I showered, dressed and headed down to the pack kitchen, upon entering with one look at me the pack scattered, leaving me alone with my Beta.

“Morning Alpha, how’d you sleep?” He asked politely enough but edge with curiosity, he knew I’d found a mate and was keen to find her as I was.

“f*****g terrible Jace.” I rubbed my eyes, I sat down on the stool leaning on the bench.

Beta Jace, face set in a grim line, slid a hot coffee to me, I drank it thirstily, trying to shake the murderous thoughts from my mind.

When someone mind-linked me.

‘Gamma Jareth here, Rogues are within our boarders sniffing around and they’ve attacked the 2 patrol pairs.’

Just what I f*****g needed this morning ..an outlet.

‘I’m on my way with Beta Jace.’ Jace raised his eyebrows.

I cut the mind-link shrugging.

“I need an outlet this morning Jace.” I reply to his silent question.

“I’d hate to be your enemy, no prisoners taken in this mood.” He shook his head as we jogged outside, stripping as they went then shifting then heading towards the sound of growls and barking.

I woke early, after getting ready for work, I went to see Garrett before I left, knocking 3 times before he answered the door, his face lit up seeing me.

I told him I had work till 5pm, after that we’d go out for dinner when I return and talk.

He’d nodded, I wasn’t sure how much he actually heard, but he’d seemed happy with the arrangement.

I arrived at work on time, I told Mr Walsh what had happened and he said that it didn’t surprise him a wolf would go to that sort of trouble for me.

That made me blush, I told him I was going to up to finish the book section.

By lunch; all of the books were on the shelf in order, I cleaned the shelves and hung the dried lavender between them.

I stood back smiling, another section down.

Coming downstairs, Mr Walsh was serving an elderly woman, I smiled and nodded as I was behind the counter into the office.

‘Wow Mr Walsh, You shop is really coming back to life! Everything smells fresh and welcoming. The book areas are so clean and well lit now, it much easier to read the book titles.” The woman praised, gesturing around the shop.

“Well thank you, Ms White, its all thanks to my new employee, miss Ivy.

 She has the mobility and the vision I don’t. She’s breathed the new life into the store for me.” I smile at his praise; grabbing the globes I came in for.

Mr Walsh stops me as I come back out, arm around my shoulder.

“Miss Ivy, Meet Ms White, She was admiring your changes to the shop.” Mr Walsh said.

‘You have done a wonderful job Miss Ivy, Its made finding books much easier with the new globes and now that they are alphabetical by author.  You should be very proud of your work, Mr Walsh is lucky to have found such a worker.”

Ms White says, smiling.

“Thank you Ms White, I appreciate your compliments, hopefully soon the whole shop will be in order.” I reply Mr Walsh nods smiling.

I excuse myself, heading up the stairs, I changed the light globes, throwing the old ones in the bin.

I went out to grab lunch, after getting 2 coffee’s and 2 corn beef and salad sandwiches I return to the shop.

Once we had finished eating, Mr Walsh asked me to start of the science/physics, history and math section, I started pulling the books down when a fierce pain ripped through my face.

“Arrrggghhh” I shrieked, clutching my face, I scuttled back against the balcony, tears stung me as they slide down my face, but only on the right side.

I could feel someone shaking me, I opened my uncovered eye, Mr Walsh was beside me out of breath, he gently convinced me to move my hand, a first aid kit beside him.

“Oh Ivy no…” He smiled sadly, a grim line across his face.

“I’m sorry but I can do nothing for that.” He sighed, he handed me a mirror from the first aid kit.

I was feeling hesitant to look after his reaction; I held it to my face and gasped at my reflection.

2 jagged lines ran diagonally across my right eye, they were deep and angry looking, but had already begun healing.

I knew they would scar, looking at Mr Walsh, I thought what was happening to me?

“Ivy have you met your mate?” Mr Walsh asked, surprising me.

“In a sense yes, I met him through a dream.” I answer honestly, he nodded.

“Tell me what do your parents look like.” Another odd question.

“Well my mum has strawberry blond hair, her eyes are the same as mine.” I point to them, “and my father Brody, well I’ve only seen a photo but he has dark eyes and black hair.” As I tell him my mind flashes to the vision of the goddess and Broc and the similarity between my parents and them…it couldn’t be.

“I am the promised child aren’t I?” I ask, my eyes pleading him to say otherwise.

Mr Walsh frowns, nodding.

“Yes I suspected it a few days after you started working for me, when you came in you reminded me of a dream I had many years ago, the goddess visited me, she told me when the time came for me to accept help I didn’t want, I must.” He shook he’s head.

“I didn’t want a shop hand, I didn’t want the help despite my age, and when you came in reminding me of her, I stopped and knew I had to hire you.” He finished looking down, with a half smile.

“I’ve read the whole book, many times, this..” He pointed to the scar forming.

“Is the curse of the moon goddess bloodline, it has many gifts but the one downfall is you will feel and receive each injury or pain your Mate does, after you meet.” He reaches into the kit, getting out 2 ibuprofen tablets, passing them and a bottle of water to me.

I take them, drinking the whole bottle of water.

We sit in silence for a while.

Mr Walsh looks down at his watch.

“Come on Ivy, its 2 o’clock on a Friday and I think we can afford an afternoon off today. Also the Ball is one Sunday night, the first day of the new Luna cycle, and we still haven’t got a dress” He smiles, helping me to my feet.

Mr Walsh makes a phone call and 10 minutes later, Mrs Walsh is parked outside her old ford idling away.

We head out, Mr Walsh flips the sign ‘closed’ before closing and locking the door.

“Ivy Mrs Walsh and I are taking you on an afternoon out!” Mr Walsh grins, turning to his wife, he mind-links her, I can tell by the way she nods.

Then she looks at me, then to my eye nodding grimly.

First we go to the hairdressers, they trim my long waist length hair, 2 cm’s was all I’d permitted them to cut off.

Mrs Walsh had hair coloured blonde again, hiding the greys as well as a trim and layer.

Mr Walsh was a five-minute job, short crew cut don’t shorten the side burns.

Then Mrs Walsh and I got out fingers and nails done in a vibrant red.

Mr Walsh paid for everything, when I’d tried to argue he said it was his treat for his favourite girls, winking Mrs Walsh had giggled like a giddy teen.

Next we went to the chemist, Mr Walsh asked the woman there to help me find some think makeup to cover my scars if I wanted to, as well as some lipstick, and any other make up I might need.

When the woman Laci, was done, I wasn’t sure if the scar was still under that make up, my face looked flawless, after cleaning the make up away, she had me re-apply it.

My job wasn’t as flawless but sure enough, I couldn’t see either scar through it.

I smiled showing Mr & Mrs Walsh, they were in awe, marvellous they clapped, once we went to pay, the number was about $100 more then I could afford, I shook my head about to take it back when Mr Walsh stopped me, handing over the cash.

“I told you my treat, I can’t have you feeling anything less then gorgeous, scar or no scar you are, but either way you’ll need the make up for the ball.” He smiled.

“That’s right dear, we want you coming back with a Mate on your arm.” She squeezed my shoulders.

She was an bad as Mr Walsh.

Finally we stood outside a fancy looking clothing shop.

We went inside, the shop attendant listened as the Walsh’s told her about the ball, she nodded eyeing me curiously.

She must be a werewolf, talking with them about catching a wolfs eye.

Whilst they spoke I browse the dresses, one caught my eye, it was pure black low cut dress, made of close fitting slinky fabric, covered with sequins with high slits up each side of the legs.

It was perfect it reminded me of my coat I’d seen in the dreamscape, shimmering black.

I lifted it turning to the Walsh’s, getting the thumbs up, I headed to the change room to try it on, looking in the mirror is felt as though it was made for me.

Mrs Walsh passed through a pair of gold heels; they look amazing with the dress.

I stepped out, twirling Mr Walsh and Misses Walsh nodded their approval, the store clerk upon seeing me disappeared, returning with the most beautiful tiara I’d ever seen.

It was a heavier then it looked, a deep night sky blue filigree metal design with gold stars dangling in little open arches from gold links.

The way the moved and twinkled under the lights of the shop, you’d swear they were reals stars plucked from the sky.

I bowed my head as she pinned it to my head.

I straightened, Mr and Mrs Walsh looked filled with pride tears threating to fall, they both grinned broadly.

“That’s absolutely perfect Ivy! You look gorgeous!” Mrs Walsh smiled clapping her hands together in approval.

I can back into my old clothes, whilst Mr Walsh paid for the outfit at the counter, he was grumbling when I came out, concerned I ask if he wanted me to choose another dress?

“Oh course not! The was never another dress made, that’d come close to looking as perfect as this one on you! It’s fine he’s just never had to fork out so much money in one day.” Mrs Walsh informed, smirking at the grumbling Mr Walsh.

Leaving the shop, my phone pinged.

I pulled it from my pocket as a text flashed.

“You have a parcel waiting for you at the post office for pick up!”

I told the Walsh’s and we pulled up out front of the post office on the way back to the motel, I collected a small shoebox sized parcel.

Getting back in the car we drove to the motel, they wished me luck with Garrett, they must have been mind-linking about me whilst I was changing.

I thanked them, and waved as the drove off.

I looked at the time 4.30pm, I’ll have a quick shower before I meet Garrett I thought.

I headed inside, placing my dress and bags on the table, undressing as I walked to the bathroom, I slipped into the shower, scrubbing, washing my hair and scrubbing the make up from my face.

I dried myself, braiding my hair back into a long plait down my back.

I dressed about to go find Garrett when I heard a knock on the door, I walked over to open it.