Blood of the Moon

Chapter 3

Saturdays for me meant reading in a cafe. It was something I had always done until Jake and so this Saturday I decided to do it again. Books had always been a fascinating escape for me. So I sat in my usual booth that had a view of the forest, glad the weather was warmer today as I had wanted to wear one of my new dresses. It was a navy wrap dress with little white flowers that reached down to my knees. I paired it with a black cardigan and black ballet flats. I was half way through the book I had started that morning when a high pitched voice screamed my name.

"Tessa!" Small arms were flung around my neck. Sasha. The six year old sobbed into my neck and I looked over her shoulder to see a sheepish looking Alex rubbing a hand on his neck. Sighing, I pulled her away and wiped her tears.

"Did your brother ruin your hair again?" I asked softly and she nodded, sniffling. It was obvious by the nest of red hair that sat on her head. This was going to take a while. "Honestly Alex." I shook my head and held my hand out towards him.

"It's not my fault. She complains that I'm hurting her when the brush isn't even near her!" He exclaimed and placed the brush in my hand. Gently I began working out the knots while she told me all about the films we were going to watch tonight. Alex's parents had been killed in a rogue attack a few years ago and since he was nineteen at the time, he was left looking after a three year old and running the family business'. One of which was this cafe. I had been reading in my favourite booth by the window, where I sat now, when a tiny girl had decided to sit with me. Alex had been accepting a delivery when she had wondered off. That was how we met and ever since Sasha spent Saturdays in the booth with me, when I was here, giving Alex a well deserved break. "Are you still okay to babysit tonight? It'll be at the pack house, too many rogue attacks lately." 

"Of course, we've already planned everything." I smiled and started to braid her hair into two french braids. 

"No, we still need princess nighties." Sasha piped up. She had decided the whole night was going to be about princesses. I guess we were going shopping then.

"Great I'll text you the address. Thanks so much Tessa." He said with such a gratitude.

I was nearly finished with Sasha's french braids when her head suddenly snapped to the door and she ran towards it.

"Sasha!" I scolded as I watched the braid I was working on start to come undone. She ran straight into Will's arms, kissing his cheek and waving at Blake. He waved back, then his head turned to me. My breathing quickened. The white T-shirt he wore left nothing to the imagination and I could just imagine running my fingers down those muscles. Oh, I really needed to get a grip. He sat down next to me with a grin that didn't quite meet his eyes. Something was clearly bothering him. Will slipped in the other side and passed Sasha back to me. "Hi." I smiled at them both and went back to finishing Sasha's hair.

"Hey Princess. So this how you spend your weekend?" He teased and stuck his tongue out at Sasha who giggled at him. So the bad boy was good with kids. It was cute. I shook my head and spoke loudly.

"Only because Alex is useless." I smiled when I heard him shout from the back.

"Hey! I heard that!" You could hear him pouting. Sasha high fived me and we giggled. I tied the bobble at the end of her braid when Will asked.

"So how do you know Alex and Sasha?"

"Oh, well when I visit every summer I spend my Saturdays here. Not long after their....uhm well ...that." I couldn't bring myself to mention their parents in front of Sasha. She didn't really understand what had happened to them. Blake stiffened next to me and he looked away. It was probably a sore topic for anyone who knew them and I'm guessing they're from the same pack. "And this little monkey snuck away from her brother to sit with me. She refused to leave my side. So since then every Saturday I'm here, I watch Sasha for Alex." I shrugged and Sasha turned in my lap to give me a hug, I held her tightly.

"But you didn't come last year." She mumbled into my neck. She sounded so sad. I hated that I hadn't been able to come.

"I know and I promise I'll make it up to you." Placing a kiss on her head I held her tighter.

"Why didn't you come last year?" Blake asked. I couldn't tell them the truth. That Jake hadn't let me come. I kept telling myself it was because I had wanted to spend the summer with him, to go to the seaside and theme parks and make memories together. None of that happened. I spent most of the summer crying and trying to do everything I could to make Jake happy. It rarely worked. I wasn't about to tell anyone that. Thankfully, Will stood up and held his hand out for Sasha.

"Shall we get the drinks Sasha? I'll get you a cookie." Sasha beamed at him. She quickly climbed off my lap, over Blake's and took Will's hand. 

As soon as I was left alone with Blake he pulled me against him, turning me slightly so my back was pressed against his side. One arm wrapped around my waist and the other moving my hair away from my neck. His fingers lightly touching my skin sending my pulse into a frenzy. He leaned in close.

"I like how I make you blush, Kitten." His fingers trailed up and down my arm as his lips brushed my ear. I bit my lip trying to pull myself together and glad the previous conversation was forgotten. "You act like you've never been touched like this." My heart was pounding in my chest. I gulp. My voice coming out in a whisper.

"I haven't" I blushed harder. Why did I say that? My mouth had a mind of its own when he was near. But it was the truth. Jake had never touched me like this. Maybe at the beginning he did, but it never made me react like this. He lent down and lightly pressed his lips to my neck. A shiver went through me. This was no good. I was supposed to be staying away from boys, not letting them get to me so easily. I pulled away from him and he chuckled. I tried to get my personal space back but he stubbornly kept his arm around my waist. "Prick." I shot at him. That stupid smirk remained on his face. 

Will and Sasha were making their way back over, her little face all screwed up. "Whats up, Mardy bum?" I asked her, trying not to smile at how adorable she looked. Her little foot stomped and she crossed her arms.

"I'm not a Mardy bum." Sasha was close to a full on tantrum and it just made her cuter.

"Liar. What's wrong Sweet heart?" She sniffled and crawled onto Blake's lap. He stroked her hair as she sat facing me. Will sat back down opposite us, a strange look on his face.

"Alex said I'm not allowed a cookie." I smiled shaking my head. I should have known. She was as bad as me when it came to sweets.

"Mardy bum?" Blake asked confused.

"Just means grumpy." I shrugged. I guess it was a Yorkshire thing. Sasha was glaring at Will.

"Hey, what did I do?" He held his hands up in surrender at the tiny child. I shook my head smiling and I turned back to Sasha.

"Boys definitely know nothing." I whispered. Giggling, she smiled wide. She knew what was coming. I reached into my bag, pulled out a couple of my chocolate truffles. I pressed a finger to my lips as I held one out to her and she placed a finger to her own lips, still giggling. There was always a stash of chocolate in my bag. We both quickly unwrapped the chocolates and popped them into our mouths. My eyes closed, and we both moaned savouring the sweetness. Fingers tightened on my waist and I remembered the two boys who were now watching us with weird expressions. "What?" Heat was flushing my cheeks at the look Blake was giving me. Why was he staring at me? Nervously I licked my lips but that just seemed to make things worse as he eyes darkened. His grip on me tightened and he pulled me closer to him, forgetting the small child on his lap. Sasha looked at him confused. Suddenly she gasped and smacked his chest.

"You can't look at Tessa like that!" She yelled at him pouting. Blake just raised an eyebrow and turned his attention to her.

"Like what?" He asked innocently.

"Like she's your girlfriend." Her bright green eyes narrowed at him. My mouth fell open. What was this girl thinking! Seriously! "Tessa is a Princess and deserves a Prince."

"What if I'm her Prince?" He asked, faking offence at her statement. Sasha shook her head.

"No, you're not her Prince yet." Yet? f**k! Blake's eyes were shining with mischief. I buried my face in my hands, hiding the redness. She was unknowingly encouraging him!

"Yet?" I heard Blake ask. I dreaded what she was going to say. But the server chose that moment to bring the drinks over. Four drinks were placed on the table. The two in front of the boys were in take out cups. The strawberry milkshake was obviously Sasha's. I looked at Will as a latte was placed in front of me. 

"I asked Alex what you usually order. Hazelnut latte?" He smiled and took a sip of his coffee.

"Thanks. You didn't have to get me one though." I smiled back as Sasha added sugar to my drink and stirred it for me. She knows me too well.

"Thank you." She smiled at Will as she picked up her milkshake. Then she looked a Blake.

"If Tessa is a Princess am I one too?" She was so adorable as she looked up at him with her big green eyes.

"Your an extra special Princess because your a Princess to the wolves." He smiled as he bopped her nose. She giggled for a second then she frowned and shook her head at him.

"No! Tessa is the special Princess. You know nothing." She turned to face me. "You were right, boys are silly." I tried to stifle a laugh but failed miserably. Will was laughing too while Blake just looked at us in shock. Sasha moved onto my lap, wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear to do the chant. I nodded and we looked at the boys giggling.

"Girls rule, boys drool. Girls rule, boys drool....." It didn't last long before Will had reached over the table to grab Sasha, Blake had his hands on my waist and they tickeled us mercilessly until we took it back. My sides were killing and I was trying to catch my breath when I realised I had ended up laid down with my head on Blake's lap. He smiled down at me, his hand stroking my cheek. He looked so good when he smiled like that. Suddenly it was hard to breath again and I felt my cheeks heating up. I sat up and took a sip of my latte, refusing to look at him when I heard Will muttering under his breath.

"Come on Alpha. Something needs your attention at the pack house." He grumbled. " Bye girls." We both waved at him. Sighing Blake moved Sasha onto my lap and kissed forehead before standing up.

"Catch you later, Princess." He said as he left following Will.