HIS LOST LUNA

The Trap Is Sprung

The underground club sat beneath an old warehouse on the edge of Blue Moon territory. From the outside, it looked abandoned — boarded windows, rusted signs, a cracked parking lot. But inside, past the heavy steel door and two bouncers with glowing yellow eyes, a different world existed.

Lights flashed red and blue and gold. Music pounded so hard that the walls vibrated. Bodies pressed together on the dance floor, wolves moving with supernatural grace, their laughter and howls mixing with the bass.

Fae had never been to a place like this.

She stood near the wall, arms crossed over her chest. Her tank top felt too thin. Her joggers felt too casual. Everyone else wore leather and lace, dark makeup and sharp heels.

"Can you tell me once again why this wolfless girl is here?"

Kara. Fray's best friend. She had sharp cheekbones and sharper eyes. Her lip curled as she looked Fae up and down.

"Oh, come on, Kara, lighten up." Josh stepped forward, his smile too wide. He was another one of Fray's inner circle. "Beauty here just wanted to have fun. Am I right?"

He leaned into Fae as he spoke. His hand found her lower back.

Fae stepped sideways, out of his reach.

"It's alright," she said.

Josh's smile didn't waver.

Fray watched from a booth in the corner. She sat between Robbie and Aliya, a glass of something pink in her hand. Her eyes tracked her sister's every move.

Robbie nudged her under the table. Their eyes met. He tilted his head toward the hallway. Then he looked at Fae.

Fray gave a tiny nod.

—

[One hour later]

The music had gotten louder. Fae's head ached.

She had spent the past hour dodging Josh's hands, ignoring Kara's remarks, and pretending not to see the way Robbie stared. She had drunk nothing but water from a bottle she opened herself.

Her eyes burned from the flashing lights. Her ears rang.

"I think it's about time we started going home," Fae said, turning to face her sister.

Fray's head snapped toward her. "You wanted to come out with me, and now you want to cut my party short?"

"No, I just thought that it's getting quite late."

"You should at least acknowledge us." Aliya spoke up. "You didn't even take a single drink. Just water. And you wonder why people don't like you."

Fae said nothing.

Fray stood up. She picked up a glass from the table — amber liquid — and held it out. "Here. Drink it. Then I will consider going home."

"I don't drink alcohol—"

"Drink it."

Fae looked at the glass. Then at her sister's face. Then at the four faces around her — Kara, Josh, Aliya, Robbie — all watching.

She took the glass.

The whiskey burned her throat. It tasted like fire and something bitter underneath. She coughed. Gagged. Her eyes watered.

"There," Fray said, smiling. "Was that so hard?"

Fae set the empty glass down. Her stomach churned.

"Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."

She turned and walked away. The flashing lights made her dizzy. The music seemed louder with every step.

Behind her, Fray gave Robbie a small nod.

Robbie counted to one hundred twenty. Then he stood up and smoothed his shirt.

"I need to take a leak too," he said.

—

[Twenty minutes earlier – elsewhere in the club]

Jax Knox sat in a private booth near the back. His long legs were stretched out. His arms were crossed over his chest.

"Why are we here?" he asked Nathan.

Nathan, his best friend and future Beta, lounged across from him. "Calm down, big bad wolf. It's Serena's birthday party. You promised to be here."

Jax's jaw tightened. "Serena is okay. It's her best friend I don't like."

Natalie Kane. An Omega from a small pack in Florida. Her pack had crossed into Blue Moon territory illegally. The Head Alpha had allowed them to stay temporarily.

Natalie had attached herself to Serena. And wherever Serena went, Natalie followed.

"Jax! You made it. Thank you!"

Serena appeared beside their booth. She wore a simple silver dress. Her mate mark sat on her neck — Nathan's mark.

Nathan stood and pulled her into a kiss. "Anything for you, darling."

Serena blushed.

Behind her, Natalie materialized. She wore a red dress cut down to her navel. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder. Her green eyes locked onto Jax.

"It's a surprise to see you here, Alpha," she said.

Jax didn't smile. "Of course. I am here for my sister."

He stood, wished Serena a curt happy birthday, and walked away.

Nathan kissed Serena's cheek. "Better follow the boss. Happy birthday once again, beautiful."

He caught up to Jax near the bar.

"I really don't like her," Jax muttered.

"Neither do I," Nathan agreed. He glanced back at Natalie. "Do you know what, bro? We gotta do something to show my baby that girl means trouble."

Jax grunted. He reached for a glass on the bar — a decanter of aged whiskey. He poured two fingers and downed it in one swallow.

The bartender refilled it.

Jax drank again.

Nathan poured his own glass and took a sip.

"So," Nathan said, "about the patrol schedules next week—"

"Shit."

Jax's hand flew to his throat. His eyes widened. His breathing changed — faster, sharper.

Nathan froze. "What?"

"Drugged," Jax rasped. His pupils dilated. A tremor ran through his body.

Nathan grabbed Jax's arm. "Come on. We're leaving. Now."

But as they took two steps toward the exit, a pack elder appeared in their path.

"Alpha Jax, we need your assistance. The Crimson Pack border patrol found tracks on our side. It's urgent."

Nathan looked at Jax. Jax's face was flushed. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes had started to glaze.

"What to do, Alpha?" Nathan asked.

Jax's voice came out thick. "Go. I can manage."

Nathan squeezed Jax's shoulder. Hard. "Find a room. Lock the door. Don't come out until it passes."

Then he followed the elder.

Jax turned and pushed through the crowd. His vision swam. Every face blurred. Every scent slammed into him like a wave.

He found the staircase leading to the motel above the club. The sign on the wall said ROOMS 400-450.

He climbed.

His skin burned. His veins felt like fire. His wolf clawed at his chest.

He stumbled down the hallway, counting doors. 447. 448. 449. 450

He tried the handle.

Unlocked.

He slipped inside, closed the door, and leaned against it. His chest heaved. His hands shook as he fumbled for the light switch.

Nothing. The room was pitch black.

But he sensed someone else.

The soft sound of breathing. A heartbeat — fast.

"Who are you?" Jax demanded.

A gasp. Then a voice, small and trembling:

"I am sorry. I just wanted to escape a situation and ended up here."

The breathing was labored.

Jax didn't have time to wonder. The drug flooded his brain.

His wolf took over.

"Next time," he growled, stepping toward her voice, "you really need to make up a better lie."

Her footsteps shuffled backward against the floor.

"But for tonight," he continued, closing the distance, "I will humor you."

She tried to speak. He didn't let her.

His hands found her waist. Her skin was hot. Too hot.

"Please—" she started.

He silenced her with his mouth.

—

[The restroom hallway – same night]

Fae pushed open the restroom door and braced herself against the sink. The room spun. Her reflection in the mirror was pale, her pupils wide.

Something was in that drink.

She splashed cold water on her face. It didn't help. The heat in her belly spread to her limbs, her chest, her head.

She needed to leave. Now.

She dried her hands on her joggers and stepped back into the hallway.

Robbie was leaning against the wall, phone in hand. He looked up and smiled.

"Hey, beauty. You okay? You look a little out of it."

Fae tried to step around him. "I'm fine."

Robbie moved with her. "Come on. Let's get some air. There's a balcony upstairs."

"I said I'm fine."

Her voice was sharper now. But her legs felt weak. Her heart pounded.

Robbie grabbed her elbow.

"Let go of me," she said.

"Don't be difficult, Fae."

She wrenched her arm free. Hard. The sudden movement made him stumble half a step.

Fae didn't wait. She turned and ran.

"Hey—!" Robbie's voice behind her.

She didn't look back. She pushed through the crowd, ducked under an arm, slipped between two dancing wolves. Her vision blurred. Her lungs burned. But she kept moving.

Stairs. She saw stairs.

She climbed. One flight. Two. Three.

Fourth floor. A hallway. Doors on both sides. Numbers.

She grabbed the first handle that turned. 450.

She slipped inside, closed the door, and locked it.

Darkness. Silence.

She pressed her back against the door and slid down to the floor. Her body shook. The heat was unbearable now. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried to breathe.

Just wait it out, she told herself. Just wait.

She didn't know how long she sat there.

Then the door handle rattled.

A key turned in the lock.

The door opened.

A man stumbled in. Tall. Broad. He smelled like pine and whiskey. He closed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Fae's voice came out small. "I am sorry. I just wanted to escape a situation and ended up here."

Her breathing was labored. The heat made her words shake.

The man didn't answer. He moved toward her.

"Next time," he growled, "you really need to make up a better lie."

She scrambled backward. Her back hit the wall.

"But for tonight," he continued, "I will humor you."

"Please—" she started.

He was on her before she could finish.