Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 13

'You look stunning' Karla gushed as Kassidy stepped out of her bedroom.

She studied herself in the full length mirror, barely recognising the girl staring back at her. Today she had been massaged, scrubbed, plucked, painted and preened within an inch of her life.

A light coverage of eye makeup sweeped her eyelids, complimented by a dusky pink lip and blush.

Her platinum locks were curled and pinned into an elegant up-do and the pendant Jax helped her choose hung delicately around her neck.

Smiling at the memory, she wondered what time they would be making an appearance.

Kassidy looked at her phone, it was already 6.45pm

'It's getting late, what time are the due home?'

Karla sighed.

'I've called your father and they should be here in just over an hour'

'But the guests will start arriving in 15 minutes!' she panicked. Kade has to be by her side, she cannot do this without him.

'Calm down sweetheart, Graham is manning the door and Jenny is on her way up so you won't be on your own'

An uncomfortable Austin cleared his throat from the corner of the room.

'I too shall be there, you'll be safe'

She nodded in his direction.

Kassidy fired off a quick text to Kade before putting her phone safely into a purse that matched her heels and necklace.

* * *

He parked up in a lay-by a few miles away from the pack border. Carefulling assessing his surroundings, thankfully the road was quiet considering. He stepped out of the car and hurried to lift the door of the boot.

'Sorry about this' he muttered to the unconscious male, pulling out a small vial from his tuxedo jacket and twisting off the lid before pricking the males finger. He squeezed the blood into the vial, replaced the lid and shook it before returning the vial to his pocket.

'I need you to sleep for a little while longer I'm afraid' he smirked, injecting a mixture of anesthesia and wolfsbane into his system before closing the boot down and climbing back into the drivers seat.

He flipped down the visor mirror, the reflection of his emerald eyes sunken into his tired and scarred face stared back at him.

'Bottoms up' he chuckled to himself as he retrieved the vial from his pocket and emptied the dark liquid into his mouth. Moments later his face transformed before his eyes into that of a handsome man with a strong jaw and dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail, the face of the man tied up in his boot.

A wicked grin spread across his face to reveal dashingly white teeth.

'I do love it when a plan comes together'.

His laughter echoed through the car as he drove off again towards Silver Lake.

* * *

A sea of unrecognisable faces greeted Kassidy as she entered the ballroom, gripping tightly onto Karla and Jenny's arms.

'Relax, everything will be fine. These are all friends of ours from other packs.'

Kassidy nodded nervously.

'I'm just going to get a drink Kass, will you be alright with your mom?'

Karla pulled her in the direction of a mature and wealthy looking couple before she could answer.

'Alpha Gregory, Luna Brienne...This is my daughter Kassidy' she smiled proudly.

Luna Brienne smiled warmly in return and placed a hand softly on Kassidy's cheek.

'My goodness dear, so beautiful. I see you have the Stanwick genes. What a marvel you are my child'

Kassidy looked at Karla in confusion.

'Has your mother not told you? You're the first female born into your Father's family in over 200 years, the first female Alpha'

Wow. Okay, maybe the security detail was necessary after all.

A tall man stalked his way over to Kassidy, his breathing irratic, interrupting their conversation with purpose. Austin moved in from the sidelines and grabbed the handsome strangers arm.

'Back off' Austin warned sternly.

Karla, concerned by his behaviour spoke up.

'Alpha Alexis, is everything alright?'

Karla had known Alexis for years now, he was such a gentle and nurturing soul.

'Mate' he growled with such ferosity, that it quite possibly dampened every pair of underwear in the ballroom.

Karla beamed and clapped her hands in excitement. Oh the moon goddess had chosen wonderfully for her daughter.

Kassidy stood there, bewildered.

'What is going on?'

'Kassidy, this is Alpha Alexis from the Rocky Mountain pack, he must be your fated mate'

She looked at the Alpha standing in front of her, he was large and quite handsome with deep brown eyes that felt like they were staring into her soul. He spoke, breaking the mesmerised assessment of him.

'Let's dance and I'll show you' his voice rasped as he held out his hand.

Nervously taking it following the encouraging head nodding from Karla, he led her onto the dance floor and held her close. Kassidy's heart hammered in her chest as they moved slowly in sync to the music. She had never danced with anyone before, let alone a big burly Alpha with such impressive muscles, she could feel them bulging through his suit jacket.

Alexis placed his mouth next to her ear and spoke in hushed tones.

'See how easy this is, how our bodies mold together perfectly?'

Do they though? She wondered, feeling rather intimidated by his stature.

'See how your skin tingles at my touch?'

Kassidy couldn't deny that her skin broke out into goosebumps whenever he touched her, but the lessons she had been taught about mates now didn't seem in depth enough to let her know for certain.

They twirled together on the dance floor, gathering more onlookers as the song played out. It was known amongst the wolf community that the twenty year old Alpha had spent the last two years searching for his mate, and what a spectacular couple they made.

Alpha Alexis dipped Kassidy backwards just as the song came to an end, placing a gentle kiss on her hand after lifting her upright again.

'I n-need a drink' Kassidy nervously mumbled.

Alpha Alexis offered up his arm with a charming sideways smile, which reminded her of another male she had grown quite fond of within the last month.

'Let's get a drink and then maybe we could go somewhere to talk' he offered, interrupting her thoughts.

'I just need to check my messages'

She rifled through her purse and pulled out her phone to see a message from Kade sent 18 minutes ago.

'Will be there in 30, hang tight and don't have too much fun without me!'

Breathing a sigh of relief that they would be here soon, Kassidy dropped her phone back into her clutch and set it down on the table. Taking Alexis' arm, she smiled confidently.

'Lead the way'

He seemed nice enough, gentlemanly, and if Karla trusts him so should she. After all, if Alexis was her mate then she should probably get to know him.

They headed towards the bar under the watchful eye of Beta Graham and Austin.

Karla saw them watching Kassidy like a hawk and wandered over.

'He seems rather taken with young Kassidy' Graham remarked.

'Well wouldn't you be if she was your mate?'

Graham's eyes open wide in surprise just as Marco entered the ballroom.

'All guests are present and the perimeter is secure' he reported.

'Great work Marco, now I have a job for you'

Graham went on to explain how he wanted him to chaperone Kassidy and Alpha Alexis.

'I just have a bad feeling in my gut'

'Hmm, okay. I'm on it'

Marco headed in the direction of the bar.

* * *

'Oh for goodness sake, there's never usually this much traffic at this time of day' Konrad growled.

'Must be an accident up ahead'. Jax shrugged.

The satnav estimated that it would still take them over an hour to get home.

'We're going to be late for the ball, I'm sorry son'

Konrad looked at Kade through the rear view mirror.

Kade shifted uncomfortably in the back seat, something stirred deep within.

'Are you okay man? You don't look so good'

Jax could see the colour draining from Kade's face.

'I'm not sure, something is wrong.'

'What do you mean Kade?'

Konrad's forehead crinkled up in concern.

'I don't know what, but we need to get home like now!'

Kade took out his phone to find a message from Kassidy. He locked eyes with his father in the rear view mirror, both thinking along the same lines.

Konrad knew his children shared a bond unlike any he'd ever come across before, could it be that Kassidy was in danger?

He messed with some settings on the satnav.

'The next exit off the motorway is in 4 miles. The night is dark enough now to conceal us. Do you think you two could shift and run the rest of the way?'

'What's going on?'

Jax was seriously concerned now. Has something happened? Oh no, is it Kassidy? He heart dropped at the thought.

Konrad dialed Karla's number through the car phone but there was no answer.

'We need to go now' Kade shouted.

Without hesitation, Konrad pulled out onto the hard shoulder, speeding towards the exit.

Kade typed out a reply to Kassidy, letting her know they would be there in 30 minutes, desperately hoping that the feeling inside his gut was wrong.

* * *

Marco stayed close by as Alexis handed Kassidy a drink, they took a stroll onto the patio and sat at a table out of the way of other guests.

'Tell me about yourself' Alexis smouldered, taking a sip of his whisky.

'Well, erm, I'm not sure how much I should tell you' Kassidy admitted.

'Tell me everything' he encouraged with a smile. 'I am your mate after all'.

He makes a good point Kassidy thought, although Karla's words echoed in her mind, reminding her that he could reject her if he knew she was part witch.

'Why don't you tell me how much you already know and I'll fill in the blanks?' Kassidy counter offered, taking a big gulp of her drink.

Alexis chuckled.

'Okay, if that's how you want to play it. Now let's see' he tapped a finger on his chin.

'I know that you're the daughter of Konrad and Karla Stanwick.'

Kassidy gulped down more of her drink.

'I know everyone thought there were complications with your birth and that you didn't survive it.'

He slowly straightened the bow tie of his tuxedo and gazed at Kassidy.

'And I know that you should start to feel woozy right about now' he smirked.

Marco eyed Alexis suspiciously from the shadows. Did he just hear that right?

Kassidy wobbled slightly in her chair, everything turning hazy.

'Come out come out wherever you are' Alexis chimed.

Marco froze, he tried to mind link Beta Graham but something was blocking him.

'I can smell you Marco' Alexis growled. 'Show yourself'

Marco stepped forward as if his body had a mind of it's own. Alexis stood up and caught Kassidy just as she slipped off the chair, laying her carefully on the ground.

'Now be a good dog and cover for me'

Marco was trapped in his own worst nightmare. In his mind he knew this was wrong, his wolf screaming at him not to do this, but his body complied all the same.

Alexis slapped a hand on Marco's shoulder as he approached and muttered into his ear the words needed to shut off his mind completely.

Alexis smoothed his hands over his ponytail before scooping a limp Kassidy into his arms.

Part one of his plan was almost complete, victory would be soon his.

* * *

They halted by the trees next to the perimeter, dropping the clothes they each carried in their mouths to the floor.

'Shift back and let's get inside' Konrad ordered through the mind link.

They quickly dressed again and approached the warriors guarding the territory perimeter.

'Alpha, we weren't expecting you to arrive from this direction' they bowed.

'Yes, change of plans. We need to get inside now' he commanded as they darted through the remaining trees. The pack castle in sight.

A mind block prevented Kade from mind linking Kassidy.

'I can't reach her' he shouted 'Kass is blocking me'.

'Karla, where is Kassidy?' Konrad roared.

He burst through the castle doors and into the ballroom.

'What on earth is going on?' Karla shrieked.

The most fragrant and delectable scent Jax had ever smelt invaded his nostrils. It was faint, but definitely there and it was without a shadow of a doubt the scent of his mate.

'Where is she?' Konrad asked in person this time, panic evident in his emerald eyes.

'She's with Alexis and Marco, honey you won't believe it. Alexis is her mate' she squealed, but her face soon fell when he didn't reciprocate the excitement.

'Don't look so worried, you know Alexis is a good man'. She soothed.

Jax stalked off in the direction of the honeyblossom scent, forgetting about everything else going on around him.

'Jax, where are you going?' Kade called after him.

'Mate' is all he could shout in reply.

Kade looked to his father who shook his head.

'You'll know soon enough son, in that moment when you find your mate, nothing else matters'

With a sigh, Kade dialed Kassidy's number and followed the sound of her ringtone to a silver clutch purse on one of the tables.

Great!

Konrad went in search of them and found Marco and Jax outside on the patio.

'Where's Kassidy?'

'She and Alexis have gone for a walk through the west gardens' Marco replied calmly.

'And you didn't go with them?' Konrad growled in anger making Marco flinch.

'Who else was out here?' Jax questioned erratically, pacing back and forth.

'No-one, just Alexis, Kassidy and me'

Anger flashed in Jaxs' eyes.

'We need to find them now' he roared, taking both Konrad and Marco by surprise.

'Calm down Jax, she'll be fine' Marco chirped.

'Calm down? That son of a b***h has my mate'

'Your mate?' Karla questioned from the doorway, having overheard the conversation.

'Mine' he growled possesively as the realisation hit Karla that Alexis had lied.

Had he really preyed on Kassidy's inexperience and convinced her that they were mates? She fell to her knees and sobbed for the daughter she had lost not once, but twice within her short life.

'This means war' Konrad roared, shifting into his enormous silver wolf, his clothing lay shredded on the ground where he once stood. Jax shifted straight after and leapt into the air, following the silver wolf that was speeding away in the direction of the west gardens.