Beneath a Blood Moon - Book Two (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Eight

Amelia POV

I’d brought up the name Fae to Luca. And asked him why he hadn’t rejected me yet. I don’t know what had come over me. The music, the feeling of his hands sensually stroking my body as we danced the tango had sent my mind into a frenzy. Feelings started to form, and before I would let them overtake me body and soul, I needed answers. I couldn’t afford to get hurt.

He’d never answered me who Fae was. Maybe she was an ex- girlfriend? An ex-mate? Did she reject him? So many questions regarding who she was to him, what she would mean for Luca and I. he never answered. Instead he kissed me, his feelings and confusion conveyed in the simple gesture. And in that moment, I knew he was just as confused and conflicted by these feelings as I was. I didn’t even care anymore that he was a wolf, all I could see was Luca. My Luca.

When had he become my Luca? I’d thought to myself. When he kissed you in that alley?  Was my automatic reply to myself. That kiss had opened up a well of feelings I’d never felt before. Lust and something that made my heart sing each time his skin brushed mine, or his scent filled my nose. I didn’t want to name this feeling yet. It was way too soon, but it was there, slowly consuming me.

A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts and I sit up from my bed and call to the person to come in. Mia peeks around the door with a soft smile which I return.

“Are you ok? You kind of ‘poofed’ up here the minute we entered the door.” She sat beside me on the bed, her knowing eyes looking into mine. I glanced down at the plain black track pants that I had changed into the minute I got home.

“I just needed a second to breath before we jumped into this spell business.” I fell back on the bed, covering my eyes with my arm. I felt Mia lean down next to me, and her hands pull my arm from my eyes.

“Was Luca really that good a kisser?” she asked in disgust and I giggled, smacking her gently on the arm. Another gentle knock sounded from the door and Mia and I gazed at it confusedly as we both called out, “Come in.” a blonde head belonging to the Luna of the pack peeked in, her smile kind and gentle.

“Is everything ok in here? Seth thought you might need some girl time.” Mia rolled her eyes as she patted the bed beside her.

“Seth thinks he know everything about women.” She mused to me as she rolled her eyes again, making me giggle.

“Yes, it’s called an Alpha complex.” Elizabeth said as she sat beside Mia. “so, fill me in on all the Goss. I feel like I’ve been drowning in Luna duties, and I need some good old girl time.” She crossed her legs beneath her and leaned on her palms as her elbows rested on her knees. Mia leaned back; her palms pressed against the bed as her eyes fell on me.

“I asked Luca who Fae was.” The two women before me froze, their eyes wide. I saw pain flicker across Mia’s eyes as she looked anywhere but me.

“What did he say?” Elizabeth asked, leaning forward eagerly. I gave a defeated shrug.

“He just asked me how I knew that name. So, I told him I’d overheard you two talking,” I said, trying to catch Mia’s eyes. “I also told him if she is who he really loves then just hurry up and reject me.”

Tears sprang to my eyes as the words left my mouth. I know he said that he wouldn’t reject me, that he couldn’t. but I couldn’t help the doubt that crept into my heart.

“Who is Fae?” I ask, my voice steely and not leaving any room for argument. Mia shook her head and stood, pacing the room.

“It’s not my place to tell you Amelia. Please don’t put me in that position.” My heart dropped in disappointment at her words, but I nodded. I couldn’t ask her to tell me if it was not her story to tell. I wouldn’t do that to my new and only friend. “All I can say is Luca is crazy about you. In the few days you’ve been here he has been happier, cheekier, and altogether more passionate than he has been in these past few years. I feel as though I finally have my brother back.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke and I jumped from the bed to pull her into my embrace, tears of my own streaming down my cheeks. She pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes intensely. “Don’t give up on you and him. Fight for it.” She pulled me back into the hug and we stood there for a long time just holding each other as tears spilled from our eyes. A knock sounded at the door and opened without consent. Luca’s head leaned around the door, words frozen on his lips as his eyes fall on Mia and I in a tearful embrace.

“Um, I’ll come back later.” And he was gone. The three of us laughed, mainly because that moment proved that most men just couldn’t handle females and their emotions. I swiped at my cheeks as I headed to the bathroom where I chucked cold water on my face.

“Alright, I’ll take that as a sign that the men are getting impatient with our ‘girl time’.” The girls giggled at my air quotes as I headed to the door and they followed. “Let’s get to work!”

***

Mia and Elizabeth linked their arms with mine and we made our way to the Alphas office. I’d never felt more apart of something than I did right then. Before my father died, we had always moved around a lot because of his work, so I’d never been able to form lasting relationships. With these two, I felt like we were going to be the best of friends, I felt like we’d known each other forever.

As we walked towards the office we chatted like old friends, giggling like young schoolgirls. We entered the Alphas office to Alpha Seth and a man who looked like an older version of him, arguing heatedly.

Luca’s eyes found me the minute I walked in; his gaze intense, full of things I’d never seen before. I turn from his gaze, and back to the men who are arguing.

“How do we know this isn’t another trap contrived by that little witch to lure Mia and Luca away to kill them?!” The older man screamed, making Alpha Seth clench his jaw and grip the desk harshly.

“We don’t, father. But if it means ridding us off this witch, and getting the revenge we deserve, then we must risk it.” The man, that had now been identified as his father, shook his head in frustration.

“Don’t be stupid, Seth. You cannot send both your beta and your Gamma away, who will be here when there’s an emergency and you are not here to handle it?” The argument was weak, but the man before me presented it anyways. I watched as Elizabeth approached him with a soft smile.

“Come now, Magnus. That is a weak argument, and you know it.” The man, Magnus, sighed tiredly.

“If I remember right, father. You sent your beta to another pack for five years.” Magnus threw his hands up frustratedly.

“That was a different situation.” Alpha Seth looked at him pointedly, and Magnus shrugged

“I’m just concerned for my niece and nephew, is all.” Mia walks over to him and hugs him tight, which he returns. Her eyes hold his as she glances up at him from the hug.

“I appreciate the concern, Uncle Magnus, but Luca and I are very capable of handling ourselves. And we will not be going alone. Viktor and Amelia will be there to have our backs.” Magnus’ eyes fall on me, and I shuffle my feet nervously at his intense stare. I’m glad when he finally looks away, his eyes falling on Mia again. With a resigned sigh, he pulls Mia back in for a tight hug as he kisses the top of her head.

“My princess is all grown up.” He mumbles into her hair, before breaking the hug. He turns to his son, an apologetic smile gracing his lips.

“I apologise, son. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the Alpha position I’d held onto for so long. I trust your decision.” Alpha Seth returns his smile.

“At least Seth has both you and Lucian here to back him up while his beta and gamma are gone.” Elizabeth said as she walked over to her mate, caressing his cheek lovingly. I watch as he leans in, his eyes closed. I glance at Luca from the side of my eye, very much aware of his presence. Returning my gaze to Magnus I see him smile softly at his daughter in law.

“As always, a diplomatic answer. My son is a lucky man.”

“Yes I am.” Seth says lovingly as he pulls Elizabeth into his lap planting a passionate kiss on her mouth. I look away to give them privacy and walk over to the lounge by the window that Viktor is quietly occupying.

“Very well, keep me updated on what’s happening so I can be prepared for anything.” Magnus said to his son as he walked to the door. He wished everyone a goodnight and then was gone. I stared after him for a little while before my attention was pulled towards Mia. Her hands flicked in the air, making me jump as on the coffee table in front of me filled with several books of all shapes and sizes.

“Let’s get started, shall we?” another flick of her wrist and a whiteboard appeared against the wall that was closest to me. She made her way to the board and began scribbling the needed ingredients that we would have to venture to find, as Alpha Seth and Elizabeth wished us good luck and left us to our hunt. It appeared as though only four ingredients out of the ten required us to actually search for them. The first that caught my eyes was the tears of the Weeping Willow. Memories of my mother telling me the legend of the first Weeping Willow popped into my mind I stood, walking over to the whiteboard. Mia watched me curiously as I picked up a marker and wrote down my thoughts beside the ingredient. When I was done I she turned to me, her eyebrows high.

“My mother used to tell me the legend of the first weeping willow and how she was created. I have a feeling these are the tears we need.”

“How do we know that tree even exists. It’s just a legend.” I turn to him as he sits on the couch that sits opposite the one Viktor is on.

“Legends are lessons. They ring with truth.” I say, quoting one of my favourite Disney movies Brave. I see him smirk as he leans back in the chair and nods.

“Fair enough.” His smirk sends chills up my spine and desire shooting through my body and I had to look away before I did something inappropriate in front of Mia and Viktor.

“I think I remember reading that legend in one of mums books.” Mia mused as she walked to the big group of books on the coffee table. She dug around for a while before she pulled out a medium size red book with golden filigree across its cover and spine. She handed me the book with a big smile.

“Have a look in that one, it should be in there.” I take the book from her and sit back next to Viktor on the couch and pulled my feet underneath me as I opened the book to the front page and began to flick through it, trying to find the story I was after. I was lost in the pages of the book, stopping sometimes to read some interesting legends and verses I came across. My attention was pulled away from the pages of the book as Mia threw a book down in frustration and stood up.

“I need something to eat. I’ve been reading the same book for the past two hours and haven’t found anything!” she stormed towards the door as she spoke making her brother chuckle. That chuckle sent a shock of desire through my body and I shifted in my seat. Viktor rose from the seat beside me and placed his book down more gently than Mia had.

“I’m going to go check on your mother.” I smiled at him and nodded. He exited the room, closing the door quietly behind him. I placed a small piece of paper in the book I’d been reading as a bookmark and stood stiffly from the couch, my muscles protesting after having been in the same position for so long. I pace back and forth from the couch to the desk to stretch out my tight legs. When I reach the desk, I raise my hands over my head and stretch, my muscles scream at the sudden movement and I groan. Cool air touches my stomach as the plain grey tee I’m wearing rides up with my stretch. A low growl pulls my attention to Luca, his body tense on the couch as his eyes darken. I feel my heart leap in my chest as he rises from his seat and stalks predatorily towards me. My vision narrows to only him as he reaches me at the desk, his hands grasping at my waist as he pulls me tightly to him. His eyes bore into mine, lust deep in them. My breath catches in my throat as his lips lower to mine and then pleasure explodes in my body as his lips touch mine. My hands have a mind of their own as they trail up his chest and into his hair, pulling his head closer to me. A low growl rumbled in his chest, making my n*****s stand to attention as it vibrated against my chest. A soft moan escapes me at the sensation, making his growl intensify.

I feel him back me up until my butt is pressed into the desk, and then I’m being lifted to sit atop it as he places himself between my legs. His hands slide firmly from my knees to the top of my thighs, sending tingles shooting up my body. His hands continue their journey till they rest on my ass, and with a quick tug he presses his erection into my throbbing centre. The sensation makes me moan aloud as I throw my head back. Luca takes this opportunity to place searing kisses down my jaw line to my neck, where his teeth graze softly against the sensitive skin just above my collarbone. My hands run feverishly along his chest, around his side and to his back, wanting to feel every bit of him. His hot breath hitting my marking spot is making me so hot I can’t even think.

“Luca...” his name releases on a breath as his torso pushes me back onto the desk, my legs wrapping around his waist.

“Sweet Goddess! Not on my desk!” I feel Luca leap off of me, the cold air of his absence snapping me from my desire. I sit up and jump off the desk as Alpha Seth walks towards us, a look of disgust as he straightens up the papers that were on his desk. My face is hot with a blush as I put some distance between me and the desk and sit back on the couch. Luca smiles sheepishly at Alpha Seth, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Um, sorry Seth. Got a bit carried away.” Alpha Seth turns to him with a smirk.

“No harm. Just, don’t do that s**t on my desk please. You have your own for that.” My face is surely as red as a tomato as I cover it with my hands. I hear Alpha Seth chuckle and then the door closes. The couch dips beside me and I glance up from my hands to see a smiling Luca. His heart stopping smile sends tingles through my body, and breath from my body.

“Where were we?” he growls softly as he leans in, sending my back into the couch as he crawls atop me. I sigh in pleasure as his lips find mine. Dear Goddess. This man has managed to make me go from hating his guts from the first moment I met him to, in the course of only a few days, having me craving his touch, burning for his lips. It was crazy, unbelievable even that my feelings could change so suddenly towards him to where I yearned for his company, his eyes on me. But they had. I couldn’t imagine my life without his smile, his cheeky nature that made me growl in frustration. This man was my everything in the course of only a couple of days. How pathetic of me. But I couldn’t find myself the ability to care. He was mine. I’d accepted that after our first passionate kiss, if only subconsciously, and there was no going back now. I felt the soft burning tingle of his skin against mine as his hands slid up my shirt and up my side, making me shiver.

“Hey, Luca. Did you want any of my – ew. Ew, ew, ew!!!” Luca and I bolt up from the couch to see Mia with her hands over her eyes, disgust on her face. Luca chuckles, before picking up a book and opening it.

“Are you off of her? Is it over?” Mia asks, her hands still over her eyes.

“Oh no, not at all. We’re now both naked.” Luca joked, winking at me. My insides turning to mush at the thought of seeing him naked. It was amazing how our view of each other had changed in as little as a few days. I never thought that I would be attracted to a wolf, and I was sure he never thought he’d be with a vampire. But the goddess’ had other plans. Mia peeked through her hands and gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. I chuckled at her as I grabbed my book and opened it.

“Seriously guys, save that for the bedroom. I don’t want to be scarred for life.” With another soft chuckle I settled into the couch and got comfortable as I continued reading. The couch shifted beside me as Luca leant back into the couch, his shoulder brushing mine. I smiled to myself as I read, enjoying the tingle of him next to me.