Blood of the Moon

Chapter 4

It was late and several Disney films later when Sasha finally fell asleep. Albeit, she fell asleep on me, in the living room, on the sofa and we were wearing the princess nighties she had so painstakingly chosen for us. Hers was a blue t-shirt nighty with Cinderella on it. Mine was a floor length, pale pink, satin nightdress that was a little revealing with its thin straps and plunging neckline. My head shook at the thought of anyone coming in and seeing us like this. Alex had said it was fine for us to stay in the living room all night but they did have rooms ready for us. I guess he knew Sasha was going to insist on not going to bed until he came home. So here I was, in the Shadow Moon pack house laid on the sofa in nothing but a nighty, while a small child slept at my side with her head on my chest. Not exactly how I imagined babysitting to go. I wished I could have persuaded her to wear the dressing gowns we bought, but she insisted they were only to be worn in the morning. She was too cute to argue with and I did feel like I belonged in a Jane Austen novel. Which was appropriate since I was reading Sense and Sensibility for the fourth time.

I was glad I had a book to keep me occupied as it had been hours since Sasha fell asleep. It was after midnight when the door was thrown open and Blake fell through with a girl plastered to his face.

"Hey!" I whisper yelled as Sasha stirred. Putting the book down on my lap I stroked her hair to soothe her back into a deep sleep. Blake's head had snapped in our direction.

"Tessa?" He whispered. Shaking his head he asked. "What the f**k are you doing here?" Was he serious or was he just that drunk right now? Tonight was a big party for the new shifters. All those who could shift were invited to party all night. Besides, he knew I was here because Alex had to ask his permission for a human to enter pack grounds.

"Babysitting. Alex asked your permission." Maybe his memory needed jogging. He just shrugged.

"He only said a human would be watching her." It was too dark to make out his expression but he seemed to have forgotten all about the girl in his arms until she whispered something in his ear. I watched as they stumbled up the stairs, trying not to laugh as the girl landed flat on her face.

Blake's P.O.V.

Giggling woke me up and I groaned into the pillow. Memories of last night flooded my hungover brain. Tessa. That girl. She was everywhere and she seemed to know everyone. How had I never noticed her before? And last night...laid on the sofa in that satin dress that clung to her curves. Even the fact that she was reading and had a child clinging to her didn't stop her looking hot. She was in my head all night to the point were I wasn't interested in getting Jessica into bed anymore. She had gotten under my skin and I didn't know how or why.

"She might be our Mate." Kain, my wolf, stated. He had a point. We wouldn't know until she turns 18 and it was the only reason we could think of as to why we were so protective over her. And why she could calm Shade down. No one had ever been able to stop him from rampaging before. But she could. When she told me what had happened to her, we lost it. We needed to break something, someone. I still wanted to kill her ex. But nothing explained why it wasn't only my wolf that wanted to protect her. Will, Layla and Alex's wolves felt the same too. 

Music joined the laughter now. Who the f**k was up at this time and making such a racket! Slamming my door open I stepped into the hallway searching for the source of the noise. A few doors down I found the source and headed towards the open door. I stopped in the doorway stunned.

"Mom?" My Mom was dancing on the bed and laughing with Sasha and Tessa, they were all in their nightwear still. Mom had rarely left her room since dad died. I hadn't heard her laugh since then either. Yet here she was, laughing and having fun again. Tessa had a grey hooded house coat on that had floppy rabbit ears, while Sasha's was grey with wolf ears. She turned to me when I spoke and the ears flopped over her face. Goddess, she was adorable and sexy. I thought she looked hot last night, reading in that nighty of hers, but she somehow looked even better now as she peeked out from under one of the ears.

"Ahh you're finally awake, son." Mom beamed at me. Sasha high-fived Tessa. Had they done this on purpose? Mom climbed off the bed and helped Sasha down. "How about I cook some maple bacon pancakes?" My mouth fell open. Mom hadn't cooked in years. Was Mom coming back to us finally? I silently followed the three of them to the kitchen and mind-linked Layla.

"Layla get up! Mom's making breakfast."

"Go away its too early." She shot back at me. "Wait, what?" She quickly made an appearance and stood there shocked as we watched Mom cooking. We had missed this.

"Oh my babies are all grown up." Mom said as she looked at us with a sad smile. I knew he felt bad, but it wasn't her fault. We were lucky she was still alive as most wolves die without their Mate. Somehow she had survived but she had been stuck in depression and nothing helped her. Now she seemed like her old self. What had changed?

"What's up with her?" Layla asked through the link.

"I don't know. I found her dancing and laughing with those two." I nodded to were Sasha was helping Tessa make the coffee. Ugh, I hate morning people.

"Alpha, rogues on the north border!" Sam mind-linked. f**k! Why did they have to come now while Tessa was here.

"We will protect the pack and Tessa!" Kain roared.

"Let's kill the fuckers!" I growled back.

Tessa's P.O.V.

The morning had gone so well. That was until a loud growl shook the room and Blake ran outside. Only one thing can make an Alpha that pissed, rogues. Luna Marie and Sasha both started to panic but, together with Layla, we managed to distract them with cooking breakfast. My eyes kept flicking to the clock as we waited for it to be over. I couldn't help but worry about Blake, even though I knew he was a powerful Alpha and could easily handle anything. Five minutes. Five minutes was all it took before he came storming through the door in just a pair of shorts. He was covered in blood. He scanned the room and as soon as his black eyes found me I knew Kain was in control again.

"Kain, leave Tessa alone." Layla said as she pulled me behind her, just as Will came running in and placed himself between us and the Alpha. Was he really that dangerous? The furious growl that escaped Kain's lips shook the room. I could feel the power in it and my mouth fell open as everyone knelt and bared their necks in submission. Even his mother. Only I was left standing, in shock as he stepped around them. Grabbing my hand he dragged me out of the kitchen and down a hallway. I had no idea what to do. What did he want from me? 

Kain pulled me into an office, probably his office, and pinned me against the door. He was breathing heavily, his dark eyes staring intently into mine. Tentatively I placed my hands on his cheeks. He sighed deeply, leaning into my touch. We stayed like that for some time before he spoke.

"Why aren't you scared of me? Your so calm. Don't I terrify you, little dove?" Calm? He had a point, why was I so calm right now. Here he stood in front of me, after obviously killing people and yet I wasn't scared. Why wasn't I scared? I was worried that something was wrong, nervous about what he might do, but I honestly wasn't scared of him so I shook my head.

"I don't know why, but I'm not scared of you." I spoke softly. His eyes closed before he pulled me into him. Holding me tightly against his chest for a while before he bent his head down into my neck.

"I don't understand this." This time it was Blake's voice that spoke. That makes two of us.