Moonlit Hearts

Chapter 3

Nonchalant, smooth, and demanding voice. It belonged to no other person but Claudia, his cousin.

"Did I catch you at the wrong time?"

She approached his desk and said, "You can't keep blocking your thoughts for long. We sense your regret with a loss."

"How are the festivities plans coming along?" Adrian had shifted his position to face his prodding cousin, who would stop at nothing to get the truth out of him. She stood tall at five feet eleven inches, athletically built, donning jeans and a tee. Her ponytail stood at the top of her head, highlighting her subtle beauty. The male traits of the family were stubborn in her facial features. Angled jawline, deep cheekbones, cleft chin, deepened eye sockets, and crinkles by the sides of her eyes. She was often called boyish because of her eluding strength and the guys she hung around.

Claudia was irresistible nonetheless, and it was his job to protect her.

"It's tonight. The pack is really looking forward to it. They can't stop thanking you for your generosity. That aside,” Claudia dropped her tablet on his oak desk and flopped into a neighboring chair. "You haven't spoken to anyone since you went AWOL five years back. You used to tell me everything."

“When we were five. Claudia, I have to finish this up. They won't handle themselves."

"You won't allow me to assist you. You playing big brother sickens me. I want to help, too." Adrian growled, returning to his seat, and distracted himself with the accounts and proposals on his PC screen since his assistant had deviated from her job to asking personal questions. His wolf lolled his head backward, taking pleasure from making a joke about his inevitable position. “Am I disturbing?” Nicholas, his trusted friend, walked right on time, and Adrian shook his head in response without looking up, "The meeting is an hour away, and we've got to get right to it." Adrian held Nicholas’ gaze, expecting him to comply with his tactic. “Ah yes, you better be on your way. I’ll drive.”

“But it is in three hours. That's a lot of time,"

Claudia protested. Too late, Adrian had risen and walked toward Nicholas, slapping him on the shoulder for a job well done. Claudia and Nicholas locked gazes. Her grey eyes pierced his amber, seeking revenge.

When Nicholas and Adrian were out of his office, Nicholas said, "You're hiding something pretty upsetting. It's been on for years. You keep shutting us out. I know about the girl." In a reflex saved for combat, Adrian slammed Nicholas hard on the wall, his hand wrapped about his neck. Seething with an anger that would destroy anyone who came close to hurting his woman.

*** (Six years Ago)***

The Lunar Festival was sacred to the wolves. A June celebration etched in history representing the height of their transformation. Although the wolves' midnight activities were a façade to humans, who were led to believe it was a welcoming party for new inhabitants in Silverwood. For ages, the werewolves looked forward to their great hunt during the full moon festival. The freedom of embracing their primal form within the thick forest mesh, cloaking their activities while basking in the moon’s power. Their howls flooded the night with immense pleasure. Every werewolf and townsperson looked forward to the annual celebration.

However, that evening, humans were present with their families to participate in body painting, archery, making small talk, and having a great time. Adrian watched Claudia from a tree, using her skills in planning the event. All Adrian anticipated was midnight.

His relationship with Nicholas was strained since he nearly killed him for spilling his secret. Nicholas had come around to apologize for aggravating him, but Adrian had admitted that his shitty reflexes might get someone killed if he wasn't careful. His heart fluttered watching the kids run around; they were the pack's future, and they would lead someday.

The scent of peaches clung to the wind, the feminine cologne as fresh as newly plucked fruits. It couldn't be a coincidence when his wolf spiraled out of control, howling loudly. Adrian captured members of his pack halt for a fleeting moment before they went on enjoying the party. "Keep it down," Adrian ordered.

The rebellious wolf thrashed its head back and forth, howling louder. Adrian was disturbed that it was acting out of behavior. The day had been tumultuous enough; unfortunately, he would stay up all night without retiring to sleep. It’d been five years since his wolf reacted this way. It was preposterous for Adrian to imagine the impossible.

His breath was caught in his chest when a redhead stepped into his line of sight. He groaned at another trick his mind played on him. When she swirled, Isabella’s eyes met his. The world became a blur, and the music and people faded. They were a few feet apart, yet they were drawn so close. She was the most beautiful woman he had laid his eyes upon, unlocking desires from the dungeons of his heart. He might have been prepared for his crashing barriers if he understood his wolf's warning. His knuckles whitened as he fisted tightly from the impact as a yearning primal howl escaped his throat. The sound of his wolf cut through the air, and his body pulsated with an enflaming heat, smoldering his guard down. The whole pack was aware of her presence.

“Easy boy”, his cousin Claudia called out as she approached him. Following his eyes,she quickly figured his manhood was thinking a not his brain this time. “Oh,she’s actually pretty” she said ,placing a hand on Adrian’s shoulder as he tried to make sense of why he let out such a primal growl. Thank goodness the humans around couldn’t hear the sounds they made. The moon goddess had made it that no ordinary being could hear them howl.

“I like that human”, Adrian said looking at Isabella, who was caressing a dog who wagged its tail at her….