The Blood Moon

Pierce

Jasper

Raine is asleep again. Her doctors told me she needs rest so that’s what I’m encouraging her to do. I don’t mind. I’ll stay by her side all day if I have to. I need her to know she’s not alone.

I’m holding her hand and flipping mindlessly through the TV channels when I hear a commotion outside. I growl under my breath. Raine needs rest. What the hell is going on out there?

I let go of her hand and walk to her door and slip out into the hallway.

Pierce. Of course it had to be him.

He’s yelling at a nurse and as I walk over to him, he flips the charts the nurse was holding out of her hands. He runs his hands through his hair and I hear him yell at her.

“I don’t care what rules you have to break. FIND. HER.”

I smirked. I had placed Raine as a “do not disclose” patient at the hospital. Only nurses and cities directly involved with her care knee who she was and what room she was in. For this very reason.

“Alpha Pierce!” I yell at him with every ounce of alpha command I have in me.

His eyes snap to me and he stands there with his mouth hanging open.

“What the hell are you doing here Jasper?”

I narrow my eyes at him.

“It’s Alpha Regent Jasper to you. And you have a lot of nerve showing up here. I can only assume you’re looking for Raine?”

He stares at me. His expression is unreadable.

“And just what the f**k do you know about Raine Alder?”

I stiffen at his words. I’m bigger than Pierce Larkin. If this were a d**k measuring contest, there’s no doubt I’d win. I’m stronger, faster, and overall bigger than this bastard. If he wants to start a fight, bring it.

“I know that you forced her into captivity with you. I know that you beat her senseless. I know that she is underweight and malnourished.”

He is staring at me again, this time shock is plastered on his face.

“Where did you hear that?” he whispers.

I pull him down the hall closer to the exit door. I’ve had enough of this fool.

“I have my sources. You will be brought to face the elders council regarding these accusations. I promise you, nothing good will come from this.”

He suddenly sneers at me. “She’s sticking up for me isn’t she? Such a good little mate. I can’t wait to take her home with me.” I can tell he knows. I haven’t told anyone but Kyle. But this fucker knows that Raine is important to me.

“You will not go near her. She is not your mate.”

“Really? Have you asked her what she thinks? I seem to recall a very well trained mutt living in my home before she came here.” A nasty smile flashes across his face.

I start to tremble, my wolf is fighting me for control. How dare he speak of her that way?

“Did she tell you that we mated? She’s ruined for you Alpha Regent. Imagine the scandal when people hear that the big, bad Alpha Regent is sleeping with some two timing whore.”

My whole body is shaking with rage now. I’m about to let loose when I feel Bryce's hand on my shoulder. He pulls me away and pushes me toward Raine’s room.

I turn and walk away. I hear Pierce laughing until Bryce commands him to leave. That bastard got in my head.

“I’ll be back for her Alpha Regent!” I hear him yell before the elevator door dings and he is gone

The room next to Raine is empty. I walk in the room and punch the pillows on the bed. I want to yell, but I’m worried I will wake her so I sit on the floor instead, my feet flat on the floor and my knees bent. I place my forearms on my knees and lie my head on my arms. I feel Bryce come into the room and join me on the floor. There’s an awkward silence for a minute.

“Raine is my mate.” I mumble.

I feel his eyes on me but I don’t look up.

“Bro… what?!” He’s shocked. A second chance mate isn’t common. It’s exceedingly rare.

“Yeah. That’s why I came here. The night I called you the moon goddess herself came to me and told me I was getting a second chance with one of her most special children. That I needed to save her and protect her.”

“Jasper, that's a crazy man.”

I nod my head. “So not only is my mate depending on me, but so is the moon goddess herself. I don’t know what to do. It’s a lot of pressure.”

He nods his head for a few minutes before letting out a long sigh.

“I don’t trust Pierce, Bryce. He’s up to something.”

“He’s not going to get anywhere near Raine, Jasper. He’d have to be the sneakiest SOB in the world to get to her here.”

I nod my head in agreement as I’m still staring at my feet. But there’s a pit in my stomach. Something is wrong here. I can’t put my finger on it, but I am worried about Raine.

“Do you care?” Bryce’s question breaks through my thoughts.

I look up from my feet and face my best friend. He knows I don’t care. Purity is such an absurd concept. It’s not even something that the regents or elders expect of their mates. The past is in the past.

“Bryce you know I don’t give a fuck.” I lean back against the wall and stare ahead.

“I know. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to beat some sense into you.” He chuckles at me and nudges me with my elbow. It makes me smile momentarily.

Even if everything else feels shaky, at least my best friend is always here, unwaveringly supportive.

Raine

I wake up to a lot of noise outside my room.

Alpha Jasper is gone. I feel myself frowning. Is he in the hallway? Is he ok?

I push the blankets back and swing my legs to the side of my bed. I slowly stand up. My legs are shaky. How long have I been in bed?

I slowly make my way to the door that leads out to the hallway.

I open it a crack and peek my head out into the hallway. I look toward the sounds of yelling when I see him.

Alpha Jasper is facing away from me. His strong back is taller than I’ve seen yet. He’s huge. Definitely bigger than…

Alpha Pierce.

He sees me. He smiles evilly at me. The look in his eyes is pure hatred. I’m shaking. I can feel my legs getting weak but I’m afraid to move. My lips are starting to tremble.

“Did she tell you that we mated? She’s ruined for you Alpha Regent. Imagine the scandal when people hear that the big, bad Alpha Regent is sleeping with some two timing whore.”

I gasp lowly. The world starts closing in around me. I shut the door quickly. I feel my legs getting weaker. I stumble back into bed and barely make it when I feel my legs give out. I pull the covers around myself as I feel the tears coming.

Why would he say that to Alpha Jasper? I never slept with him. Even when he would beat me until I passed out. I refused to budge. Thankfully he had never forced himself on me. Or had he? Did he drug me? Mated me in my sleep?

I feel bile rising in my throat and turn my head to the trash can by my bed just in time to vomit.

I’m sobbing uncontrollably now. Alpha Jasper won’t want me. Alpha Pierce has assured that I will get tossed aside so that he can claim me once again. The things I had felt with alpha Jasper were unreal. The way he kissed me was unlike anything I had felt before. It was loving, tender. And the sparks and warmth from our bond made me long for more.

I feel myself throwing up again. My heart is shattering all over again. I’ll never feel that feeling again. It’s gone.

Alpha Pierce has taken everything from me. I feel myself getting out of bed, my wobbly legs barely holding me up.

What are you doing raine? I can feel Sienna trembling in my mind. Mate won’t care about what Pierce said. It’s not true!

You don’t know that Sienna. Alphas want pure she-wolves. Wolves that haven’t been touched by someone else. I’m ruined now. I may as well go back to him. I have nothing left to lose.

I feel her agony as she howls in my head. She starts fighting me for control but I push her down.

Please don’t do this Raine. I freeze in place. It’s not Sienna's voice this time, but Jasper’s. How did she do that? Sienna speaks next.

Mate won’t care. We can talk to him. Do you hear the longing in his voice? He wants us!

I feel myself pulling on my pants that I was wearing on the way here. I feel almost removed from my body. Like I’m floating above watching my body go through the motions. I can see myself sobbing as I try to put on my pants. I can hear Sienna crying at me to stop. But I can’t.

I’m fully clothed now, sitting on the bed trying to decide what to do. I have two options. I can run. I could be a wanderer. A pack-less werewolf.

The other option is to go back to Harvest Moon. If I do that, I’d at least belong to a pack. I’d have a home and a bed. But would I have a life?

I start pulling off the heart monitor stickers and gingerly take out my IVs. Even though I can feel her anger, my wolf heals the puncture sites so they don’t bleed.

Sienna, I don’t want to go.

Then stay. Mate will take care of us. He won’t reject us.

I shake my head, a tear rolls down my cheek.

Jasper thinks we are spoiled, sienna.

I want to stay, Raine..

I know you do Sienna. I don’t think it’s an option though. Besides, are we really too d enough for him? He’s an alpha regent!

Yeah, and you’re a descendant of the Silver Moon pack!

The what? Why does that matter Sienna?

She huffs at me. I can feel her frustration.

You reall don’t know anything about werewolf lore, do you? We are perfect for mate. That’s why moon goddess gave him to us, duh. Even if you weren’t a silver wolf, she made him for us.

I’m engrossed in my conversation with Sienna. I don’t notice the door to my room open. I don’t hear footsteps approaching me. By the time I realize I’m not alone he’s standing right in front of me.

Gamma Jared is in my room. I open my mouth when he covers it with his hand.

“Shh Raine don’t say anything.” He whispers, looking around nervously. His eyes are bloodshot and dark rings have settled under them. He clearly hasn’t slept in days.

Talia and I grew up with Jared. He was in our class at school. We had been good friends until he left for college early so she could take on his role as Gamma as soon as Alpha Pierce inherited his title. We lost touch after that.

“Raine, you’re coming with me.”