The dark moon

Chapter 24••Birthday girl

Alisa POV

I woke up after a restless night's sleep. Knowing what was happening in the house, I just couldn’t settle.

I looked around the room, taking in my surroundings. Cam hasn’t been back. The room feels empty without him in it. A smell drifts up from the pillows and I couldn’t help but hold it to my nose and inhale the intoxicating scent. It was like an ocean breeze on a summer's day, fresh and energizing; it smelt like home back in the UK.

I swung my legs off the bed and lazily walked toward the bathroom. I took a moment to appreciate it. A large freestanding bath sat in the center of a large window, a humongous walk-in shower was against the right side of the room, the glass doors let me see inside, a bench was along the wall made from white marble, and two large black squares in the ceiling instead of showerheads hanging down. The left side had two large free-standing sinks, a large mirror with lights all around and the taps were black and looked old, like they were from some country manor. The shower took me a few minutes to figure out. It was complicated but so worth it; it was like standing outside in heavy rain. The water beating against my body soothed it, it felt like it was penetrating my skin and massaging my muscles. I got out of the shower feeling relaxed and refreshed and grabbed the towel hung up on the wall, wrapping it around myself. I walked out of the bathroom to the closet and found myself a pair of jeans and a white blouse and got dressed. It was strange that all my things were here, but it felt right

I looked around for my perfume, but I couldn’t find it. I was positive I saw it on the dressing table last night, but a lot was happening last night. I decided to let my hair dry naturally because I could not for the life of me find a hair dryer.

After I was happy enough with how I looked, I left the room and walked to my parent's room. I knocked on the door and waited but they didn’t answer, ok no big deal.

I'll go get Sam.

Sam’s room was opposite my parents, so I turned and knocked on her door. After a few minutes of standing outside with no answer, I gave up and headed downstairs to the dining room.

They must be eating.

As I descended the staircase, I was stopped in my tracks. Cam was standing at the bottom of the stairs with a massive bunch of white roses. He looked so handsome, his hair looked so smooth and soft and I wanted to run my fingers through it. His lips looked so juicy and sweet, begging for me to taste them.

“MATE!!!!”

I growled out without thinking. He looked up at me with the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. It made my knees feel jelly.

“Happy birthday, mate,” he whispered seductively, making my core burn with desire.

He passed me the roses and took my face in both his hands and kissed me hard and passionately. Sparks like electricity but only pleasant, very pleasant, tickled my skin where his skin touched mine. I pulled him into me, pulling him deeper into the kiss. His hands went up under my blouse, the tingles exploded all over my skin, making me moan into his mouth. I dropped my roses on the floor and jumped up onto him, wrapping my legs around his waist. As I jumped up, he grabbed hold of my ass and shoved me against the wall. His lips moved to my neck, and I rolled my head to the side to give him better access.

I wanted Cam more than I wanted my next breath, the need for him building with each kiss he placed on my neck. His tongue flicked out over the marking spot and the pleasure that coursed through my body made me groan, making him growl into my neck.

“For fück sake, Cam put her down! Her parents are waiting and we can all hear you!” Mason sniggered.

His auburn hair looked disheveled and his stubble added to his good looks. It made him look rugged. His blue eyes shined in the light coming through the large glass doors.

Shít this was so embarrassing.

Cam growled again and slid me down to the floor. His eyes never left mine. They held a promise in them I intended to make sure he kept. I could feel his erection poking into me, and it made me want to rip his clothes off right here, and now I didn’t care who would see.

“I need a cold shower. Go eat. Happy birthday, princess.”

He kissed my forehead, bent down and picked my flowers up, and passed them back to me, luckily most of them survived the fall. He ran up the stairs taking two at a time. I stood drooling, watching his butt as he ran up the stairs, so firm and sexy. Mason stood beside me, watching Cam as well. His head tilted to the side as he watched.

“Is my ass as good as his?”

I jumped, startled by Mason's words. I didn’t realize he was so close to me.

“So how embarrassed should I actually be right now?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“On a scale of 1 to 10. 1, being not embarrassed and 10 been you need a hole to crawl into……… I would say… 100,” he burst out laughing and my cheeks flushed red.

“Shít,”

“Don’t worry Alisa, I’m sure your parents know better than anyone else what the mate pull does to you,” he was trying to reassure me now.

Since Cam had made him watch over me, we had gotten to know one another and he was a really good guy. He looked fierce, but he was so kind and caring. He was becoming a very good friend to me, and I was thankful for having someone like Mason to watch over me.

“Let’s do this then!”

He put his arm out for me and I linked my arm through his and walked into the dining room. My parents stood with Uncle David and Aunt June. Blake and Finn sat at a table that was full of food. The room had birthday banners and bunting hung, and bunches of balloons were placed around the room.

“Luna, I have some things I need to take care of. Please excuse me, and happy birthday,” Mason said, giving me a hug.

“Mason please call me Alisa,” I scolded him

“It’s too cute seeing your face when I call you Luna,” he chuckled and left the room.

“Happy birthday!”

Everyone shouted at the same time. My mother came and took me in a big hug.

“Happy birthday, darling,” she said lovingly to me.

“Thanks, mum. Where’s Alex and Sam?”

I walked over to my father and got a big hug from him.

“Alex is at the pack hospital. He told me to tell you he’s sorry about last night and he loves you and happy birthday. He will be here later,” Aunt June answered.

“Tell him no. I want him to stay with his mate. She needs him more than I do and I can pop by later.”

“I will tell him,” she smiled.

“Sam went for a jog earlier. She should be back soon,”

My father said as he pulled my chair out for me to sit.

“So you and Alpha Cam” Blake chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

“You must be bummed he didn’t get to give you your birthday”

Aunt June smacked him on the back of his head.

“Owwww fück mom!”

Smack to the head again.

“Watch your mouth, young man,” she scolded him.

I couldn’t help laughing at him. Cam walked in 5 minutes later with a flustered-looking Sam.

“Happy birthday,”

She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight. She lingered with her hug.

“Thanks, Sam. Did you enjoy your run?” She let go of me as her cheeks flushed pink.

“I did.”

Something was going on with her and I was still part of The Nightwalker's pack and I’ve got my wolf now so maybe I can mind link her. I focused on Sam and tried it out. I thought about what I wanted to say to her in my mind and sent it

*Sam, what’s up? Did something happen?*

Her eyes snapped to mine, and she smiled. It worked.

*I will tell you everything tomorrow. Today is your birthday and I want you to enjoy it. Please, I promise to tell you everything. It’s nothing to worry about either. It’s good very good*

“You found your mate!” I abruptly said. She stopped eating, fork mid-air, mouth hanging open and eyes shocked. Everyone turned to look at her.

“How did you know?” She asked.

“I know you better than you know yourself,” I said with a shrug.

“What?” I asked, whilst shoveling some food into my mouth.

“Way to out someone Lis,” Sam groaned with annoyance, making everyone chuckle.

“So who is it, dear?” Aunt June asked, looking intently at Sam.

“I’m keeping quiet for now. This is Alisa’s day and I want her to be the center of attention,”

She smiled over at me, knowing I hated being the center of attention.

After eating it was present time, my parents got me a beautiful white gold locket, it had a wolf howling at the moon on the front with two small green emeralds for the wolves eyes, Aunt June and Uncle David got me a pamper package from a spa, Sam had gotten me a picture of the two of us when we were younger, Cam looked at it and smiled

“You really were adorable,” he smiled whilst looking at the picture.

“Your only saying that because you're my mate,” I replied

“That’s not true. I always thought you were cute.”

“Really?” I was surprised by that.

“Yes. Really.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his side.

“I have your present, but I can’t give it to you now. I will give it to you later. Is that ok?” He whispered.

Having him so close to me made it hard to think, let alone talk, so I did the only thing I could do and nodded my head at him. He smiled that heart-stopping smile, making me want to forget the rest of the day and spend it locked upstairs with him.

“Of course it is Cam. You didn’t have to get me anything you know.”

“Yes, I did. I want to spend the rest of my days celebrating all your milestones, and today is a very special milestone,” he whispered into my ear, sending a shiver up my spine. I was putty in his hands.

We spent the day relaxing, as tonight was going to be brutal on my body. I hadn’t gone to college today. Aunt June got me today and tomorrow off. At lunch, we had a tea party. My mother had made some scones and clotted cream for me and I was in heaven. I missed eating my mother's homemade scones.

In the evening we went for a meal at the restaurant Cam took me to for one of our dates. My father wanted to pay for it, but Cam refused, saying my dad was his guest and father-in-law and he wouldn’t allow him to pay. It warmed my heart to see Cam getting along with my parents.

After the meal, it was time for my present off Cam. He bought me a beautiful ring. The band was white gold and had an intricate design all around it, and it had a beautiful white stone in the center

“It’s a moonstone,” he said whilst slipping it on my finger.

I was speechless. I had heard all about moonstones and how rare they are and for Cam to have gotten me one made it even more special. I would treasure this forever. Tears sprang into my eyes and I threw my arms around his neck, kissing him all over his face.

“It’s beautiful Cam. I love it, thank you so much”

I kiss him some more, peppering them all over his face.

Now it was finally time. Cam took me to the lake for my first shift. I was starting to get really nervous. I felt sick to my stomach, and I was hot. I felt like my skin was on fire.

“I thought you could have your first shift here, this lake has become one of my most favorite places in the world, the first is right by your side,”

He was so sweet I bet people would be shocked to see this side of the tough Alpha. I was about to reply when a scrėam ripped from my mouth. Pain I had never experienced in my life ripped through my body.

“It’s time, my love. Try to relax and don’t fight the pain. You will only make it worse. Embrace it. Your wolf knows what to do. Let her take control. I am right here with you, OK?”

I nodded my head at him. It was all I could do. I could feel the sweat running down my face. He rubbed his hands across my face and gave me a quick peck on the lips.

“Take your clothes off”

I must have looked mortified because he chuckled at me.

“So you don’t rip them.”

My hands shook as I tried to undress. He stopped me and helped me pull my dress up over my head, leaving me in just my underwear. I'm so glad I changed out of my jeans now, I saw his eyes flash black with lust and it turned me on. He stepped back and looked me up and down, but the pain ripped through my body, crippling me and making me fall to my knees.

My skin was itchy and on fire. It felt like hot pokers were stabbing me. White fur was starting to sprout on my knuckles and arms, and it itched like fire ants were biting me all over.

It was time.

I scrėamed out in agony as my bones snapped and reshaped. The pain was so intense I wasn’t sure I could do this. I felt my face growing longer and my skin felt like I was being skinned alive.

Then it stopped.

I looked down and saw two white paws. I heard a shuffle and looked up at Cam.

“Alisa, you look so beautiful. Come here and look.”

He walked over to the lake. I looked into the crystal clear water and saw a stunning white wolf with fur that looked soft as silk and so fluffy looking back. Beautiful, glowing green eyes that looked mesmerizing looked back at me. On my head was a silver mark. Next to me stood a black wolf, Cam's wolf. He must have shifted whilst I was looking at myself in the water. He was so large and majestic, his beautiful blue eyes bore into mine in the reflection on top of the lake.

He nudged me with his snout and took off running. I followed after him, running with such speed I soon caught up. Everything was so much clearer, I could hear Cam's heart beating.

After running for a while, we made our way back to the lake. Cam shifted first and stood in front of me in all his magnificent glory. My eyes raked up his body and my wolf growled.

“I need you to shift back now, my love,” He cooed whilst running his hands through my fur.

I felt the sparks ripple through my body and soon my wolf began to slip into the back of my mind as I returned to human form. I wasn’t embarrassed about being naked in front of Cam. In fact, it made me feel brazen. Knowing how I was affecting him made my body buzz with excitement.

I walked over to him and pulled his face down to mine, and kissed him like my life depended on it.

“You need to stop, I can’t control myself, Alisa,” he panted in between kisses.

“Then don’t. I want you Cam, more than I want my next breath.”