Moonlight Run

Fifteen

A rogue, I groaned at the thought as I pictured Jay’s face. Of course he would be a damn rogue.

I lay in my bed the next morning with bandages wrapped around my mid-section, trying to recall the events of the previous evening. Jay had tried to hit Nikolai with his car, and then Nikolai accidentally hit me… and I’m pretty sure Jay was a rogue, and possibly, although it didn’t make sense how, he was an Alpha on top of it.

I pulled out my phone, looking at the time. It was after 9am. When my mother had come by earlier in the morning to see me, she’d said that Alpha Phineas wanted me to come by his office before noon. He was putting extra security in place for tonight’s ceremony, and he felt every detail would be helpful in identifying Jay and any rogue wolves who might be with him.

“Do you know what friend he was supposedly in town to see last weekend?” Alpha Phineas asked again when I was seated before him in the familiar red armchair.

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t.” I cringed at his displeased expression. “I wish I could be more help.”

He asked me to go over every part of my interaction with him at the party the previous weekend. I spared no detail, down to my slightly flirtatious behavior at the bar. Nikolai stood with his arms crossed off to the side, leaning against his father’s bookcase. I could see him wince each time I mentioned anything he didn’t care for, like how I’d grabbed Jay’s knee. When I’d gone over the story as many times as could be helpful, Alpha Phineas finally dismissed me.

Nikolai opened the door for me to exit, his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek. As I walked past him he seemed to hold his breath. After I took a few steps into the hallway, I heard the door shut behind me and I heard him speak,

“Stop. My office, now.”

I felt my feet move before I could process what had just happened, and I realized as I was walking into Nikolai’s nearly-packed-up annex office that he had just used an Alpha command on me. I was taken aback, and as I took a seat on the brown leather sofa I scoffed.

“Did you just—”

“Yes, and I’ll do it again if that’s what it takes for you to listen… or to keep you safe, for that matter.” He stood across from me, leaning against the now empty desk. His arms were crossed over his chest. He had a long sleeve button down on, but had done without the usual suit jacket today. The first few buttons between his neck and chest were undone, and he hadn’t bothered to fasten the ones at his wrist either; instead rolling the sleeves up, and folding them at his elbows.

I opened my mouth to protest his use of an Alpha command on me, and he spoke again. “It’s my turn to talk, Isadora.”

I leaned back into the chair, forcing myself upright and crossing my legs in front of me. Then I waved my hand in front of me as if to say, well, go on then.

He cleared his throat and leaned in closer to me. “I want you to breathe in for me” he said.

“What?”

“Breathe. In.” He repeated. “Inhale, slowly. Deep breath.”

I did as he instructed, wincing slightly as I did as the pain spread across my ribs.

“Again,” he rolled his eyes. “But this time, focus on the scents you smell, not the act itself.”

Once more I did. This time felt easier. My ribs hurt just a bit less.

“Better?” He asked. I nodded in agreement, although I couldn’t place why.

“And what did you smell?”

I shrugged. “Your cologne, mostly. But… not as much as I usually can.”

“How do you mean?” He leaned his head to the side curiously.

“I guess not… more like, there was something else, too.”

“Describe it, please.”

I took another deep breath and considered the lingering scent for a moment. “It kind of reminded me of Vic’s vapor rub, I guess. What is that stuff, menthol?”

He inhaled deeply, adding. “I believe it's eucalyptus."

I nodded now. “Yeah, I suppose that’s how I'd describe it.”

He uncrossed his arms and relaxed, placing a hand on each side of his body, firmly on the desk. Nikolai extended his head up, looking almost to the ceiling, and he closed his eyes, biting his lip for a moment before he finally spoke, “That about settles it then.”

Now I was baffled. “I’m sorry, what… what’s settled then?”

Nikolai clicked his tongue against his teeth with a devilish grin, and then he quickly crouched down before me, sitting upright on his knees, bringing his face level with mine.

Startled, I leaned further into the back of the sofa, pressing my shoulders deeper into the cushion.

“I’m going to try something,” Nikolai said. “Something I probably should’ve seen through yesterday, but the timing seemed… poor. But given your current circumstances, this may prove better.”

I opened my mouth to speak again, unaware of the circumstances he spoke of, but he put his finger on my lips to shush me.

“Isadora,” His blue eyes bore into mine with intensity. “Please?”

Although I couldn't know what he was about to do, I hesitantly nodded as his finger fell from my lips. And then he put his hand firmly on my knee and lifted my top leg off of the other so they were no longer crossed. In the next moment, he was between them. I gasped, unsure where this was headed. He grinned back at me. With one hand still fixed on the top of my knee, the other quickly found its way to the back of my head, which he used to pull me into him, pressing his lips against mine before I could process or protest.

I felt the slightest tingling sensation begin to spread across them, and then he parted them with his tongue, which easily found mine. The sensation continued to build between our lips. I gasped and I pulled back from him just enough to meet his eyes. As he ran his tongue across his lips, he asked. “Did you feel that, too?”

I barely managing to whisper, "Yes." I was transfixed now by his eyes; they were lighting up a bright blue again.

“What was that?” I asked nervously. I couldn't make sense of what was happening, but I'd heard the stories over the years enough to suspect. And god knows, I'd certainly never felt something like that with Dimitri, or even the few others I'd kissed apart from him.

Nikolai's only response was to kiss me again, deepening it this time, moving his other hand off my knee and bringing it around my waist. I let out a small gasp, mildly concerned for my ribs. He released me from the tingly kiss just enough to whisper, “Just breathe, Isadora. Focus on the scent. It’ll help.” We were kissing again, and this time I did as he suggested, letting my hands press against his chest. I slowly took a deep breath as he pressed his torso against me, my hands found their way his sides, gripping his shirt as we continued our exchange.

Now there was a sensation building in my side where he had accidentally struck me the night before; a cool flood of relief rushed over the area. It caught me off-guard. I pulled away once more, and put one hand on his sideburns, my fingertips sinking into his thick copper beard. “Nikolai…”

He had a sly smile on his face, and his hands found his way to the hem of my t-shirt. As they made their way up my shirt I realized that they, too, felt cool to the touch. I shivered as his fingertips traced the skin along the bandage wrap that surrounded my torso. I tensed up, expecting his hands would find their way further north. And then I felt the wrap begin to loosen and I realized he was removing the bandage.

I pulled away from our kiss to ask, "What are you..."

He had pushed my shirt up above my bra now, but was focused on unraveling the material around my midsection. As the first layers begin to show my skin underneath I gasped. The bruises I had been covered with this morning had already faded significantly.

"You're healing," he said simply, a slight smile forming in the corner of his lips.

“What? How is that..."

I noted the tingling and realized there was just one way that could be possible.

No, I thought. Not a chance.

With the bandage wrap on the floor beside us, he paused to plant small kisses along what remained of my bruises. Each was cool upon contact, and the sensation spread across my body at every point. As he pulled away, his right hand found it's way to the underside of my breast, just below the outline of my bra cup. Nikolai's eyes lingered on my exposed cleavage for just a moment too long, but he passed by to massage small slow circles along my rib cage. After a few minutes, the ache I'd previously felt had gone away. There was only the strange sensation of his touch now, which was gradually returning back to normal body temperature.

When he released me from his touch, a small moan escaped my lips. He chuckled as he leaned away from me, gently pulling my shirt back down, sitting back onto his feet now. His voice was barely a whisper as he said, "Looks like it worked."

He stood back up, and extended his hand to help me from the sofa. As he pulled me to my feet I collided with his abdomen, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. Standing so close to him now, I was reminded just how small I was against his large frame. We'd trained together enough, but only now, in this moment, did I feel so intimidated by it.

Nikolai brought his face towards mine again, and as he cradled the back of my head in his hands, I thought he may kiss me again. But with my hair firmly in his grasp, he pulled my head aside, exposing my neck towards him. I shivered slightly, suddenly feeling very vulnerable; I realized he could sink his teeth into me right now and answer the burning question between us with just one bite.

He drew in close to me and I braced myself for what he might do. Instead he nuzzled his face into my hair and inhaled deeply, letting out a soft groan. "Mmm,"

Nikolai let my hair fall from his grasp and pressed his forehead against mine. I realized I felt suddenly very out of breath. My heart was racing a mile a minute. He exhaled slowly, saying, "Don't tell me you don't feel this, too, Isadora."

I stepped back from him, shaking my head. "We can't... This can't happen," I continued backing away from him, and he watched me with an amused expression across his face. "Nikolai, your father has hired me to work under you. Hell, you're practically my landlord now. This is..." I waved my hands across my chest, shaking my head.

"This is happening, Isadora." He laughed softly. "I know it, and now you know it. I get that it's still early for you, and I can't explain that away." He sighed. "But I know you felt that."

I stumbled over his words, placing my hand against my ribs now. I looked to the wraps on the floor. I couldn't deny what had just unfolded, but I couldn't meet it with reason or rationale either. "I am nineteen, Nikolai. Even if you're right... we couldn't possibly feel the effects yet." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

"I know you've heard the lore, Isa. There has to be some truth to it. My father says that he can make some calls. We'll look into—"

"Your father?" I scoffed. "Look, I don’t know what you or your father think you're playing at, but I am not going to be the next Becca Rivera.”

He appeared struck by my words. “Why… why would you say that?”

My shoulders fell in exasperation. “Ask your father. Ask him how he managed to convince Becca that she was going to be your mate, too.” I shook my head again before turning away from him once more. “Until you do have answers, or I turn twenty-one and we can be sure of what this is? I want no part of this game, Nikolai.”

He reached out towards me, but I was already at the door. As I closed it behind me I heard a loud slam behind me that made me jump, but I kept walking all the same. I didn't have the patience to wait for Nikolai or his father to find answers. I would find them myself.

***

Nikolai's POV

As she slammed the door behind her, I felt my frustration cannonball, and I sent the sofa she had just been sitting on flying across the room. I needed to have a word with my father, immediately.

When I stormed into his office, I became quickly aware that he had guests.

"Ah, there's the man of the hour," my father stood from his desk, motioning towards me. The two men in the armchairs by his office fireplace stood to greet me. Dimitri stood off to the side, his hands in his pockets. His jaw was clenched tightly and he nodded in my direction, his expression vacant.

"Nikolai, may I present Alpha Gideon Fox and his Beta, Mathis, out of the Blackwater Falls pack,"

I cleared my throat, "Blackwater, that's down in West Virginia, yes?"

The two men each nodded excitedly, coming around from their chairs to shake hands.

"I'm Gideon," the first one spoke. "It's good to finally meet you. Happy Ascension day."

"Thank you," I shook his extended hand. “I believe I’ve met your father. Cornelius, was it? You just recently ascended yourself, yes?”

The new Alpha straightened up, beaming with pride. “I did, back in May. I apologize for the lack of invite. We do ours a bit more privately… But this is the first time I’ve had the chance to see another Alpha ascend, and I am glad to be here.”

He looked to the man next to him. The two were nearly identical, save for their hair. “This is Mathis, my Beta, and my twin brother. Younger twin, of course.” I shook hands with the man next to him. “And, as I’m sure you’ve know, he was the fortunate victor of last night’s event.”

My eyes went wide with understanding as he continued, “I meant to tell you, sir,” Gideon addressed my father. “It was very well done for the first time. I do feel I have a better understanding that will help me as I plan our first Moonlight Run, as well.”

My father agreed. “I would like to consider it a great success.”

I returned my attention to the brother, Mathis. “You're the lucky bachelor, eh?"

Mathis flushed. “Bachelor no more, I guess.”

“He made quick work of the affair, too.” My father said. “The run began at 9, and was over before 11.”

They chuckled, and I asked Mathis. “Will Lily be leaving with you for Blackwater then?”

Mathis smiled proudly. “I am helping her pack today and tomorrow, but we should be on the road by tomorrow night as long as we can find a U-Haul available. It appears your pack women threw a bit of a preemptive babyshower for her, so we have about two car loads of things to take with us.”

"So I heard." I smiled at him reassuringly. "Well, Lily is very loved here and she will be most missed. You couldn't ask for a better woman to spend your life with."

"And what of you, Nikolai?" Gideon asked. "Have you been so lucky yet to find such a woman?"

I hesitated, "There's someone, I suppose. But... it's complicated, for now."

"Ah," Gideon nodded. "I've had the good fortune of having met mine more than two years ago now. We've got a little man that turned one a few months ago— he's getting into everything he can these days." He shook his head with a laugh. "Nothing makes a love story feel less complicated than adding the chaos of a toddler into your routine."

He slapped Mathis on the back. "You ready for that adventure?"

Mathis chuckled. "Bit late to change my mind now, isn't it?"

It piqued my curiosity, and I had to ask. "So, you know already? You're sure she's with child?"

He flushed red as he replied. "If we weren't sure last night, we were this morning. I woke up to her voice humming around in my head, and the mark was still there. She'll give me hers at a ceremony back home."

"Ah." I nodded back to Mathis. "You'll have to forgive my ignorance."

"Hey," Mathis said with a shrug. "Until your father explained the rules of the run and what we could expect, I didn't know much about how the sire-bond worked either. I've spent a long time just kind of holding out and waiting for my true mate to show, ya know?"

"Yeah. I can relate." I said.

"Now that you'll Ascend, have you considered going through other measures to find a mate then?" Gideon asked with a smile. "Perhaps, less complicated ones?"

I cringed. "I know there's a bit of a stigma about becoming Alpha without a Luna, and I won't pretend that doesn't weigh on my mind... but, like I said, there may be someone I have my eye on. I guess I'm just waiting for the complication to resolve itself."

Gideon asked with a raised brow. "If you're already thinking about it, why the hesitation?"

I gritted my teeth, knowing Dimitri was just over my shoulder listening in. "She's not yet of age," was all I could bring myself to say.

"A waiting game, indeed." He smiled with amusement. "And if she is not your true mate, will you ask for her anyways?"

"I think we'll cross that bridge when we get to it,"

I heard Dimitri grunt with disapproval, and out of my peripherals I saw his fists ball up.

Alpha Gideon and Beta Mathis said their goodbyes soon after, promising to say hello again at the dinner party this evening. As my father was walking them out, Dimitri eyed me and held up a finger as if to say ‘one minute’, closing the door between us.

“So,” he said. “Are we going to talk about what the hell is going on with you and my ex? Or is that too complicated for you to explain to me?”