Blue Moon Rising

CHAPTER 2 THINKING OF YOU

Jane's POV

“Work,” I say as I make my way out of the door before Eric starts any more Cole comments, “I have surgery in an hour. I’ll see you later.”

“Good luck.” Serenity called out.

“Thanks!” I checked my reflection in the mirror hanging by the front door. I ran my hand through my hair, satisfied to have back my curls, but still not my natural color of red, which I gave up more than a decade ago for security purposes. “Eric, I’m serious about Serenity getting some rest, you hear me?”

“Yes, Mom!” Eric answered before I closed the door behind me.

I hopped into my car and quickly drove out of Eric and Serenity’s driveway, giving Gary, who was coming home from his morning run, a beep.

I can’t say that I miss the security since I moved out of their house five years ago, just around the same time that I received my doctorate.

I was specializing in, well, general medicine I guess. I was Serenity’s OB, the twins’ pediatrician, and even Adrian’s consulting doctor- you can say I was all over the place, and still am. They gave me space to grow and be on my own, enough for me to stretch my wings, and be independent; that and cause of some other reason.

I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror which reflected my mark again, so I quickly shifted it.

Cole.

He was the only constant thing in my life.

It has been more than a decade and a half since he marked me, it was also the last time we saw each other.

Somehow, I have always hoped and wished that he will run after me, you know… dramatic entrance, pull me in his arms, and give me a kiss filled with passion, longing, and- let’s all admit it- lust.

I felt a shiver run up my spine remembering that particular night with him.

How gentle and patient he was. How he eased the pain both emotionally and physically. How he completely eradicated my fear of intimacy.

He made the wait worth it.

Eric and Serenity were more than surprised to hear of the marking and me running away.

I know I was crazy to pursue my dream of freedom by running away when I finally got what I wanted- my mate.

But the thing was, even after all the apologies and the forgiving, the lovemaking and the longing, lying in bed with the love of my life asleep beside me, his arms around me keeping me close to him, I was still incomplete.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Cole. There will be no one else for me, I know that and I believe that.

But after he took me as his, I realized how much I was willing to give him, how much I was preparing to live a life with him, setting aside my plans and dreams.

That’s when I came to realize that before I can say that I truly love my mate, I needed to love myself.

I needed some time to think and grow. To understand myself, my actions, and my belief.

I needed to find myself.

And I can’t do that if I was with him, accepting my shortcomings as he fills it up for me.

No.

I needed to see the world and find my place. Find who I really am.

Thus I ended up on a plane to Washington, where, to my surprise, Serenity and Eric were waiting for me. Welcoming me with all my baggage and giving me a second chance to live a life on my own terms.

It has been a hard road, and as happy and satisfied as I am with the current state of things, my past will always remind me that my time of freedom is limited. I sighed as I push away the memory of the past behind and prepare my brain to focus on my work.

I was operating on a man today.

Being a doctor was one thing I will always be in control of, it was like the most natural thing for me. Once in place, whether it was a scalpel or a stethoscope in hand, I knew what I was doing, no questions asked. I was both book-smart and decisive. No man was going to die on my watch, that was what I promised.

I walked into the hospital and went directly to the nurse’s station to grab patient charts and see the Menu Board. The menu board was what we call the board where we list down the schedules of operations, the operating room, and the doctor in charge. We were a teaching hospital too, so student doctors gets to freely choose what operation they want to get in and dirty on.

“Good morning, Doctor Pierce.” I turned to see Jackson, a neurologist, walking my way with a coffee in hand and already in his scrub suit.

“Good morning Doctor Jackson.” I smiled and grabbed the coffee from him, I raised a hand up before he can argue, “I have a nine o’clock, you don’t want me to fall asleep do you?”

He chuckled, “You’re a goddess inside the operating room, Jean. I think you can save more lives if you operate in your sleep.”

He continued on his way as I followed him with a look checking him out. I can’t help it, he was single and quite hot, one of the youngest and brightest doctors in the hospital, while I am the youngest.

I had to earn some of the people’s trust, but after saving three kids from dying after being stabbed to near death by some druggie, well, that shut them up.

I guess it is true; I am a goddess in the operating room.

“You are merciless.” I turned and saw my favorite nurse staring at me, as if with disgust but playful.

“What?” I said, acting innocent, “He’s flaunting it, isn’t he?”

She laughed and shook her head, “You definitely know what you are getting into Pierce.”

“Of course,” I said, “I’m saving lives today, I need to put the thinking cap on.”

“I’m betting that you’ll be taking it off tonight.” She wiggled her eyebrows and gave me a teasing look. “Word is you have a date with the hot hospital heir.”

I rolled my eyes, “Urgh, don’t remind me, Janice.” Walking around the nurse’s station, soon she was beside me making our way to my office. “If it was up to me, I would have said no straight out.”

“What? And miss a chance to taste that piece of heaven?”

“I already had a piece of heaven, and I’m sure as hell that it isn’t Damien,” I say as I scan the folder Janice handed me I should know, I probably swallowed the whole thing, I wanted to add, but just thinking about Cole gave me shivers. “Damien Kennedy is a jerk whose only reason for wanting to ask me out is to get in my pants.”

“That’s a bit harsh now, isn’t it?”

I rolled my eyes and saw the devil himself carrying a bouquet and, what seem to be, food standing outside my office looking like he was all that special.

“Truth hurts, Damien,” I say handing a few files back to Janice.

“Partially, of course, it would be really cool for me to have a trophy like you in my arms and not just someone I’d roll in the hay with.” He took a step nearer and now wearing his trademark smirk, “Just think, the youngest doctor and the emperor of hospitals to be wed.”

I gave him a disgusted look, “Get a grip of yourself, Damien, I’m not a piece of metal that you can just show off.” I handed Janice the signed discharge papers and signaled her to go. But not before receiving a worried look from her.

I felt Damien’s hands creep around my waist, then down my ass, making me turn to him and give him a good slap. “Listen here Damien, I’m doing this cause you’re blackmailing me. I’m a good doctor and everyone here knows that, I will not let you jeopardize that by letting other people think that I’m some bimbo who’s into men like you.”

He smirked down at me and looked around, making sure no one was watching us. Then he grabbed me by the arm and roughly dragged me to my office where he slammed the door close, before pushing me against a wall, trapping me there with his body.

“Listen here, doctor Pierce,” he sneered, “you don’t seem to understand your situation, your little doctor act will come to an end once I tell everyone what you really are.” He looked down at me and ran his hand up my legs to my ass, my belly then my breast which he squeezed before he landed on my neck, choking me.

All this time I stood my ground, glaring at him. Not showing a single sign of fear.

“I’ll tell you everything you need to do, and you will do it if you want to keep your identity a secret.” He bent over and kissed me under the ear, I gave him one strong shove. I glared at him and heard him chuckle as he gave me a menacing look, “You’re lucky you’re a rogue, if you weren’t I would be hunting your family down.”

With that said he pushed past me and toward the door and left.

I slid down to the floor, holding myself, repetitively telling myself not to shift and attack the ass that was walking around my hospital.

He was the reason I moved out of Serenity and Eric’s house. Why do I need to stay away from my family and only visit them in the early hours of the morning or late hours of the evening?

It was during my senior year and I was stressing out on my research that the only solution I could think of was letting my wolf out and run around a nearby forest.

So I left the hospital and walked toward the forest which was about a good fifteen minutes away from the hospital. I looked around before shifting, I was so sure that it was clear, but the next day, I was surprised to see a photo and a letter of me transforming only to find out that I’d been stalked by Damien all this time.

But in all respect, I have to admit, he could have forced himself on me so many times, but he never did. And I was thankful for that.

Still, it doesn’t mean he can be trusted, especially since he was having me watched.

I instantly moved out of the Pierce residence and got my own place.

As much as I forced myself not to weaken, a couple of tears found their way out of me which I quickly wiped away. I stood up and composed myself.

I needed to pull myself together if I ever want my clean streak of successful operations to remain clean.

“Congratulations Jean.” Doctor Kelsey says.

“Thank you, ma’am.” I smiled as she shook my hand.

“I must say, a young doctor like you would surely go a long way.” She sat back on her chair and motioned for me to take the chair across hers.

“Thank you, I did pack for a long trip,” I said, making her laugh. “Am sorry to be so frank, but I have patients to go back to, why did you call for me?”

“Well, there’s a special request for your service on a very special case.”

“A special case?” I asked. “Is this government or private?”

“Private.” She smiled and glanced behind me, I turned around and to my surprise, I saw Mama Ellena standing behind me.

“Mama Ellena!” I ran to her and engulfed her in a big hug, which she returned along with a laugh.

“Ah, Jean, my sweet little Jean…” she whispered. Hearing her voice filled me with calm and longing for home as I cried for the second time today.

I pulled away and looked at her, “What are you doing here? Is anyone else with you? How did you find me?”

“Still the same Jean I remembered.” She laughed.

“I’ll leave you two to catch up.” Dr. Kelsey says and stepped out of the office as Mama Ellena and I sat on the sofa.

“How are you, Jean?”

I forced a laugh, “Could be better, but I’m good.”

“I learned what happened.”

I frowned, once again, remembering the darkest moment of my life.

“She’s in a better place.”

“She is, but she’d be happier here.”

I shrugged, “I had no choice, I had to let her go.”

Mama Ellena nodded, I know she was trying to understand my decisions but will keep her thoughts to herself.

“What are you doing here Mama Ellena? Are you ok?”

“I had a vision…” she says, “of you three and the children coming home.”

“Serenity had the same vision,” I confirmed.

“As much as I want Serenity and my grandson home, I would rather they don’t.” she frowned, “It has been a peaceful sixteen years, but that will all change.”

“What do you mean?”

“The war is far from over.” She says, “As long as Serenity and Josephine continue to fight and live, the vampires will not stop looking for them.”

“The vampires?”

“It’s a small world, Jean.” The old wise woman continues, “It wouldn’t be long before they finally find you. And with the children still unable to shift, unknowledgeable of their true identity and purpose in this world, the scale tips in the favor of the vampires.”

“And the hunters?”

“They’re still there.” she nods, “Quietly waiting for their new leader’s command.”

“A new leader?”

“You don’t expect them not to have a new leader, do you?”

I frowned and thought about it. Serenity would definitely not like that.

“Are they coming any time soon?”

“I’m not sure, that part is cloudy seeing that they are unsure of their actions.”

It has been years since I worried about such things, and back then there was only us, but now… the kids were the priority.

“What do you suggest we do?” I asked.

She smiled, “Eric will know what to do.” She says. “For now, prepare the children. They may be in for a very bumpy ride.”

I nodded, then she stood up and walked toward the door.

“I should go.” She says, “Siam would want me to stay near.”

“Why? Is Anna with child again?”

“Oh, no…” she said, “Anna says, two alpha boys are enough. And it is true, especially when one is twice as cocky as his father.”

I laughed remembering Siam, he was cocky, but still, he was wise.

“He’s still looking for you.”

“What?” I looked up.

“Cole.” She clarified. “He’s been looking for you since the news of a possible plan on searching for the princess came.”

“Where is he?” I asked.

“No one really knows, not even Anna or Tasha.” She sighed, “He chose you, Jean, his heart chose you and he’s searching for you, and trust me when I say that he will find you. Once he does, he will never, ever let you go.”

I walked into the restaurant where Damien told me to meet him, for an expensive restaurant the place was surprisingly full and on a midweek too.

The man by the door gave me a smile that could have fooled no one, “A reservation for Damien Kennedy please.”

The moment Damien’s name slipped my lips he gave me a genuine smile.

“Ah, Ms. Pierce, we have been waiting for you. This way please.” He steps out of his podium and walked me into the room of people.

I looked around as the people further on the table looked my way and gave me a once-over. I guess it was a good thing that I dressed up this time. The last time Damien asked me out I wore a suit and he didn’t like it simply because we looked like we were having a business dinner and not a date.

I followed the waiter and let my eyes drift away from the staring crowd.

“That’s her…” I hear a woman whisper.

“Well, she is beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Definitely a perfect wife for the young Kennedy.”

“Is she really a doctor?”

I took a deep breath and picked myself up. I’m gonna kill Damien for this. I thought.

“You must be a very special girl, Ms. Pierce.” The host says, breaking into my thoughts of how to plan the death of a certain heir.

“I’m sorry?”

He gave me a knowing smile, “No one has kept the Master as interested as you seemed to have.” He smirked, “Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like he’s a man w***e, in fact, once a woman doesn’t appeal to him he tells her and stops making her hope.”

I rolled my eyes. That’s what a player is i***t. I wanted to tell him, but I remained quiet, seeing that I seemed to have fallen into a reality where Damien is a god and I am nothing but a lucky mortal.

Hah, he wished. My wolf growled in agreement. I decided instead of retaliating I would ask and get something out of the man. “Well, thank you, I guess.” I gave a shy smile and made eye contact with some of the people around me who returned my smile with admiration and acceptance. “I do hope that I keep that appeal a little longer.”

He finally stopped at a table that was situated in the middle of the room, a place where we were visible to everyone.

“Believe me, Dr. Pierce, with all his plans for you tonight,” he gave me another knowing smile, that was a little scary for my taste, “you have.”

I gave a fake smile and nodded, sitting on the chair that he had pulled out for me.

“He will be here in a little while.” He says, “He just had to pass by somewhere.”

“Is that a good sign?” I wondered.

If it was possible his smile grew bigger, “I think this time, it is.”

I shrugged after he left and looked around as people still seem to be talking about me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, pushing their voices away and out of my mind.

Which, I wish I didn’t cause at moments like this, only one person comes to mind.

Cole.

I won’t lie, I’ve done dates. But just for the fun of it, maybe even just to shut up the person. But never did I once commit to a relationship. Well, Damien might want to disagree with that, but what do I care?

Somehow, I knew, every sweet gesture of a man that I come across with, Cole can do it better.

For the past 16 years, I’ve put Cole on an imaginary pedestal that I was bordering on crazy already. He didn’t deserve it, I know, but remembering the last night that he gave in to our bond, I saw a whole different Cole.

I saw a man who stepped out of his box and faced his fear, the fear of being left, being rejected.

I knew how that felt, but it didn’t mean it would change my mind about leaving.

And I’m sure that he understands why I did it, he should know and believe that no matter what he did, how much pain he put me into, I will always love him and only him and that I would come back to him without a doubt.

That was the magic of the bond.

Thinking of it that way makes the bond sounds bad, that neither of us had a choice, but that isn’t the case. He completes me and that’s what keeps me believing that I have someone to go back home to.

I let out a deep sigh as I let myself go deeper into thoughts of what has gone through the whole day.

“Deep in thoughts, I see.” I felt a hand creep down my bare back and I stiffened with the cold touch.

I turned and saw Damien smiling down at me, he bent over to give me a kiss, but I turn away landing a kiss on the cheek. He frowned for a moment before he walked toward his sit across me and settled down. I knew I was gonna pay for that later.

“I’m sorry for making you wait.” He says, brushing off what I just did. He settled his hand over the table his fingers spread out, showing me his silver ring, a ring I learned to despise. It was the only reason he weakens me at touch.

“It’s alright,” I said forcing a smile, “your chauffeur was quite an entertainer on the way and so were the people here.”

“Hm,” he raised a brow, “and how, may I ask, have they been entertaining you?”

“Nothing to worry your little head about.” I smiled. “Should we have dinner? I have patients to go back to-“

“You aren’t going back to the hospital tonight Jean, I’ve called your boss.”

I gave him a look, “You can’t do that Damien, you know how important this is.“

He chuckled, “For you.”

He signaled for the waiter as if he did nothing to jeopardize my career. I glared at him with disbelief, this really shouldn’t surprise me. With how many times I’ve been on a date with the guy across me, I knew I wouldn’t need to make any decision on what to order as he would have prepared it ahead and he had taken it to a whole other level involving my career.

As expected, two waiters arrived with our food and a bottle of champagne.

“Thank you,” I murmured keeping my anger at bay, the waiter gave me a nod and smiled.

“I want a waitress serving her.” Damien snapped.

The waiter bowed his head, “Yes Mr. Kennedy.”

I gave Damien a look, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What?” he asked back, “You know I don’t share.”

“We aren’t exclusive, in fact, we are not anything,” I murmured as I stare at my food, chicken salad. Typical.

I remembered on our first date when I insisted that I would have steak but he refused for me to eat meat, saying I wouldn’t want to get too fat.

Idiot, I thought, shifters have their way of shedding the extra pounds.

“Damien?” I hear a woman behind me call.

He looked behind me and smiled, “Kara, sweetheart, how are you?”

The woman laughed and walked toward him. The woman was gorgeous, by human standards. Long legs, blond hair, voluptuous lips, and huge breast, no wonder she was acquainted with the like of Damien.

“Darling, I have been wondering what you have been up to.” She snaps her finger, and in an instant a chair was pulled for her by a waiter.

“Same old same old,” Damien says, sounding bored. “Cruising, business, money…” he glanced my way and smirked., “Woman.”

“Woman?” the girl named Kara raised a brow, then turned to me, giving me a look from head to well, breast, I guess. “I have been hearing that you have been whipped.”

Damien laughed and shook his head, setting down his glass of champagne, “You can say that.” he gestured to me, “Kara, meet my Jean, my fiancée.”

My eyes bulged in surprise.

“Fiancee?” the woman voiced out my question.

“Yes,” he says, then he pulled out a long-stemmed white rose handing it to me, a ring dangling from it. “I was going to propose tonight.”

“Damien…”

“Oh my…” the woman chuckled and stood up, turned to me with a dagger-like stare, “Well, I have to say, this was unexpected.”

“What do you say, love?” Damien asked.

I stared at him, bewildered.

“Jean?” I hear him ask again.

“Looks like the girl went into shock Damien, are you sure that she’s the one you want to be married to?” the woman laughed.

I just stared at the rose and then at Damien.

Cole.

My wolf howled and jumped around, trashing inside me, demanding to get out and kill the man in front of me.

“I’ll leave you with your silly proposal games Damien.” I hear the woman say, “Lord knows, you don’t need more embarrassment now.”

She walked out and that snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Jean,” Damien stood up and knelt beside me, taking my hand. “I know I have been a jerk and well, I just…” he shrugged, “I don’t know how else I can get your attention.” He cupped my face and at that moment I saw the sincerity and truth in his eyes. “I know it will take a while for me to accept what you are, but I know people, maybe we can cure it-“

And the few seconds of respect I had for Damien Kennedy disappeared.

“Cure it?” I finally found my voice, “You think I’m sick?”

“Well-“

“What I am is who I am Damien,” I said, low enough only for us to hear. “How can you kneel in front of me, asking for my hand in marriage, in a lifelong partnership built-in love and trust… in acceptance! When all you want is to mold me into someone I’m not?”

He frowned and looked around, I was well aware that people were staring at us again, expecting a huge sweet scene. But I will not give him that satisfaction.

In an instant, his eyes went cold. “Jean-“

And lucky me, my phone went off to save me from some untimely man-handling from my supposed fiancé.

“Hello?”

“Aunt Jean! Please come home, it's Chance…”

At that very moment, hearing Hope’s helpless voice, I wish I was the one in pain rather than rushing out of that place to see Chance.