Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 11

The ball was now only 3 days away, thankfully there had been no more rogue attacks but Konrad refused to losen the entourage of security following his children. Kassidy, feeling incredibly home sick pleaded with her parents to allow her a visit to Lorraine and Jerry.

'Out of the question' Alpha Konrad boomed.

Karla placed a hand on his shoulder and shot Kassidy a look that she had begun to recognise as her 'I'll talk him round' look.

'Konrad, darling, you must understand how Kassidy is feeling? We tore her away from the only life, the only family she has ever known'

His steely resolve started to falter as he gazed upon his daughters sad face.

'But it's just too dangerous' he sighed, exasperated.

'Well, why can't they come to us?' Kade interjected. 'They know all about our kind anyway, and we could send some warriors to collect them'

Austin, one of the head warriors and Kade's personal bodyguard nodded in agreement.

'Please' Kassidy begged 'I'll never ask for anything ever again'.

Konrad considered this, tapping a finger on his chin.

'Fine, you win. They can come here' he concedes before Kassidy throws her arms around him in excitement.

'Thank you, thank you' she shouts before running out of his office to call her parents and bumping straight into a hard chest.

'Steady Princess, where do you think you're running off to without me?' Jax questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Kassidy rolled her eyes at him, three damn weeks he has been her shadow, her guard and protector. Following her every move. This sarcastic son of a b***h aggrivated the hell out of her, but he always knew how to make her laugh.

'Ugh! Come on then, I need to make a phone call'. Grabbing his hand, she dragged him towards her room.

'You're in a good mood today' he smirked

'As opposed to always being moody' she quipped with a sideways glance as she opened the door.

Unimpressed with her comment, Jax folded his arms across his chest and glared at her.

'You coming in?' she questioned when he didn't follow her.

'No, I'll wait out here' he sulked.

'Fine' she muttered, slamming the door.

Jesus, his mood swings were giving her whiplash again.

'Kade, you need to sort your Beta out, he is really starting to piss me off. I wish he'd hurry up and shift already!'

'Sorry Kass, Alpha meeting. I'll come find you after.'

Remembering the purpose of why she entered the bedroom, she dialed her mom.

Lorraine answered on the third ring

'Kass, is everything okay?'

'Mom, everything is fine' her words filled with all of the happiness of Konrad's decision.

'Alpha Konrad said that you can visit us, if you want to. He'll send a car to pick you up'

'Really sweetheart? Oh that would be fantastic, your father will be home by 5.30, we can come tonight?' she excitedly asks.

'Yes Mom, I'll send a car for 6 just in case Dad gets stuck in traffic. I can't wait to see you'

'Oh I can't wait to see you either Kassidy. Listen, I've got to go but I'll see you later. Love you'

'I love you too Mom' tears spring into Kassidy's eyes as she ends the phone call.

Jax is still stood outside when Kassidy opens her bedroom door.

'I'm sorry' he mutters, embarrassed. 'I'm trying to keep my cool but it's hard, y'know' he shrugs.

Kassidy places a hand on his shoulder.

'I understand, it can't be easy having to watch me all day long. There's me thinking I was too old for a babysitter' she rolls her eyes, sighing.

'It's not that, I mean, not that I'd admit this to anyone, but you're actually kinda cool' he corrects, clearing his throat and stuffing his hands into his pockets.

'Is that so?' Kassidy grins, raising an eyebrow.

'Even still, maybe we should relieve you of your duties, no matter how much you enjoy them' she winks

'Just until after you've shifted so you can rest'.

Jax wasn't happy about it, but maybe she was right. His head wasn't in any sort of place to protect her right now and he'd never forgive himself if anything happened to her because of it.

'But for now, while my brother is in his Alpha meeting, can you accompany me to my final dress fitting?'

'Lead the way' he bowed jokingly, letting her know playful Jax was back.

* * *

'I'm not sure' Kassidy deliberated, pacing around the seamstress' room.

'What do you think Jax? The gold or silver necklace?'

Jax stared at her mesmerised, he was so out of his depths here, he knew nothing about fashion, all he knew was that she looked absolutely stunning in the purple coloured dress she was wearing.

'They both look great from where I'm standing' Jax gushed with a smirk, causing a pink blush to spread across Kassidy's face.

Jan cleared her throat.

'I'm just going to grab some more mauve cotton, won't be a moment' she declared, before scurrying towards the workshop at the back of the room.

'What shoes are you wearing?'

'These ones' she answered him, holding up a pair on strappy diamonte sandals.

Closing the distance between them, he takes a closer look.

'Hmm, come here he said' dragging her towards the full length mirror. He stands behind her and unclasps the gold pendant hung around her neck, replacing it with the silver one.

The gentle touch of his fingers sends shivers down Kassidy's spine, breath hitching in her throat.

'This one' he whispers before taking a step back, holding up the shoes next to her and admiring her reflection. She studies herself in the mirror from head to toe before locking eyes with Jax in the glass.

Unable to figure out the emotion swirling in his eyes, she fiddles with the pendant nervously.

'Okay, I'm done with my meeting'

Kade shouted as he entered the room, followed by Austin, breaking up the tension between Jax and Kassidy.

'Erm, yeah, I think you're right, thanks Jax' she babbles in a guilty manner, turning to face Kade.

'Wow! Your mate isn't going to know what hit him' Kade grinned.

'There's no saying he'll be at the ball Kade'

'Right, get changed and meet me in Dad's office so we can finish arranging tonight's visit' he said, walking back out of the room he had only just entered with a stern faced Austin in tow. The whole 'babysitting' job clearly grating on him too.

'Dad?' Jax questioned, his eyebrow raising sarcastically as usual.

'Yeah, I guess he's adjusted a lot quicker than I have' Kassidy shouted from behind the changing room curtain.

'Who's visiting?'

Kassidy appeared from behind the curtain.

'My parents, well... My human parents' she beamed.

'Oh' Jax was stunned, they'd never had humans visit the pack before.

'Thank you Jan' Kassidy called, placing the dress on the table, biting her lip in embarrassment as they left the room.

* * *

The Black SUV pulled up at the front of the pack house castle at 7.20pm.

Kassidy bounced on the spot in anticipation and launched herself at Lorraine and Jerry as soon as they exited the vehicle.

'Mom, Dad' she squealed. 'I've missed you so much!'

They all exchanged pleasantries before Kassidy dragged them both by the hand into the castle.

Konrad looked out around the perimeter of the castle before briskly walking inside and mind linking Marco who was on patrol tonight.

'I need you and a handful of warriors to do a full sweep of the perimeter'

'Everything okay Alpha?'

'Hopefully nothing to worry about, but I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching us'

'On it'

'Marco, do you all still have the green vials Luna gave you?'

'Yes Alpha'

'Good, drink the contents beforehand, it will mask your scents. If anything is out there watching us, at least they won't smell you coming. Keep me updated'

'You got it Alpha'

Konrad joined his family and guests in the Alpha Suite.

'Lorraine, Jerry, so nice to see you again and under much less stressful circumstances' he mused.

'Glad to see Kass so healthy and happy, just look at how much muscle you've gained in the last month Pumpkin' Jerry gushed proudly.

'She's certainly been training hard' Konrad replied, with an equal amount of pride in his eyes.

'Like a duck to water hey kiddo' he chuckled, ruffling up Kassidy's hair.

She threw him a look of displeasure as she smoothed down her platinum locks.

One of the Omega's who had been clanging away in the kitchen approached the group and cleared her throat rather uncomfortably.

'Dinner is ready to serve' she announced, lacking in conviction but certainly not lacking a crimson face.

'Thank you Kelly' Karla smiled

'If you'd like to follow me into the next room, we'll take our seats'

* * *

Marco sniffs the warriors next to him.

'That stuffs amazing, I can't scent any of you reprobates, not even Lenny'

The group fall about laughing as Lenny stands their open mouthed.

'Hey!' he whined 'Not cool man'

Lenny appeared to have an aversion to washing which hadn't gone unnoticed by the other warriors.

'Goddess have mercy on your mate' Marco chuckles, slapping him on the back before changing his face into a serious expression.

'Now, you know the drill, stay low and stay quiet. Alpha seems to think there's someone out there watching the castle, unlikely anyone could have slipped past the guards but be on the lookout just in case'

They all nodded in understanding.

'Let's move out' he ordered as they slipped out of the back door of the castle, splitting into two groups and stealthily maneuvering through the trees to the east and west.

A faint scent carried on the breeze in the depths of the west side surrounding forest.

'Alpha was right, I smell a dirty f*****g rogue over to the west'

Marco's silent footsteps carefully followed the scent.

'Hello Master, yes you were right, two humans arrived about 20 minutes ago and went inside.....Yes Master'

The rogue turned, snapping the phone shut to be met with a strong hand clenched around his throat. Marco picked him up off his feet and smashed him against the nearest tree.

'Who the f**k are you?' he growled.

A wicked laugh rasped through the constricted throat of the rogue, angering Marco further who busted his nose with a swing of his left fist.

'Answer me you filthy dog, who are you working for?'

The rogue struggled for air as the amber flickered in Marco's eyes, his wolf threatening to emerge.

'All in good time' huffed a voice from behind.

Consumed with rage, Marco failed to pick up on the second scent before it was too late. He felt a sharp sting on the right side of his neck as a warm liquid was injected into his blood stream.

Dizzy and stumbling, Marco loosened his grip of the rogue who slumped down to the floor, clutching at his throat, gasping for breath. The other rogue grabbed Marco, placing a hand on either side of his head.

'Listen to me Marco, Master has a job for you, so listen well and follow my instructions very carefully. The d**g will wear off shortly and you won't remember this conversation or us being here until we need you to'

He whispers something into Marco's ear before the darkness takes over. The warriors race to the west side of the forest to find Marco passed out on the forest floor, no rogue to be found.

'It worked Master, we now have eyes on the inside.' a rogue smirked triumphantly from the outskirts of the Silver Lake territory.

'What the hell happened?'

Marco blinked up groggily at the faces of the warriors stood over him.

'I don't know, when we got here you were out for the count, no rogues in sight'

Marcus scrambled to his feet, rubbing his fingers in circles over his temples.

'Are you okay?' Lenny questioned, confusion evident on his face.

'Yeah, we're done here, get back to patrols' Marco snapped.

The warriors remained in their current position, sharing looks of concern.

'I'm fine' Marco protested 'I'll go get checked out in the infirmary, now will you please get back to work'

The warriors split up and headed in the directions of their usual posts while Marco trudged his way to the pack doctor.

'Hmm, there doesn't appear to be any lasting damage' the pack doctor, Bernice muttered as she shined a torch into Marco's eyes.

'How are you feeling now?'

'Fine, my headache has gone. Can I please continue with patrols now Doc?'

She studied him, foot tapping, hands on her hips.

'Fine, but promise to take it easy'

'You got it Doc' he grinned before escaping the infirmary and racing back to the perimeter.