Black Moon Rising

Chapter 7

Carter POV

I haven’t been this nervous in my life about talking to a girl. A woman. I’m not completely unfortunate looking and have had my share of female attention in my short time here on Earth, but I never paid them any mind. Jasmine was different, though. I always thought the mate bond would seal in my partner for life. I never imagined that I would have to work for her affection without the mate bond to help push the relationship. I feel like I am in completely uncharted territory, but I am determined to win her affection.

Petra suggested a picnic at the river and did me a solid by running into town and grabbing stuff for us while a few of the other pack members did the shopping for the next few days. I had a FaceTime meeting with an Alpha from one of my father’s old friends, Alexi McCarthy, while she was gone and helping Jasmine get ready. He has graciously agreed to let me and the rest of our group come stay with him until we can find more permanent lodgings. I am nervous about what this will mean for Jasmine and Sebastian, but it wasn’t something I could worry about right now. Especially when Jasmine still hasn’t decided if she wants to even accept me, this life, or her gifts.

I grabbed the basket and walked to Petra and Brennan’s tent where I am staying for now. The sound of their laughter drifted towards me, growing louder the closer I got. I walked inside and saw Jasmine sitting in a chair looking absolutely beautiful and completely at ease. I knew that I could count on Petra to be a friend to her. I also knew that it would be harder for Jasmine to want to run if she felt like we could be her home.

After a disastrously awkward exchange, I grabbed her hand and we started walking towards the river. The smell of gardenias filled my nose and Fabian was in heaven. She feels right walking next to me. Her hand fits perfectly and the silence between us was comfortable. We got to the river, I started setting out the blanket and the basket while she continued to walk, stopping just short of the river's shoreline. I took this opportunity to study her more. She’s shorter than I am, her head coming up to my shoulder. She was slender, not too busty, had a perfectly round ass, and smooth legs. Her skin was smooth and clear and her eyes were a deep chocolate brown that betrayed every one of her emotions. She was perfect. My manhood stirred up in my pants as I took in my mate, forcing me to take a moment to calm my emotions.

She turned around, catching me staring at her, and a blush spread across her cheeks again. I swear I will do everything in my power to get that reaction out of her as often as possible. A small, shy smile plays on her lips as she walks over to the blanket.

“This is a sweet little set up you have here. Was this your idea or did you get help?”

“I wish I could take credit for this, but I would be lying if I did. Petra put this all together for me. I am not sure what you like, so she got a little bit of this and that,” I said as I started to pull things out of the basket. Petra had done well. There were turkey, ham, and chicken salad sandwiches, a pear balsamic salad, cut up fruit, and a bottle of red and white wine. She even included 2 slices of strawberry cheesecake. I so owed her. “What would you like?”

She came and sat down across from me, looking over her options. She grabbed the chicken salad sandwich, pairing it with a glass of white wine.

“Not a fan of turkey or ham,” I asked her, determined to get to know her.

“Not particularly. At least not with a sandwich. I don’t really mind turkey, but I prefer ham in other dishes.”

We continued to eat and make small talk over the next hour or so and by the end of that hour I was amazed by her. She is so strong and independent. Resilient to the changes life threw at her over the last several years. She made explicitly clear that she needed no one to take care of her. I quickly realized that if I am going to be a part of her life, it will be because she wants me to be. I could accept that. A woman of her potential shouldn’t need anyone, she is powerful enough on her own.

I finally had to ask her the question that has been weighing on me all day. “Have you thought at all about what you want to do about the Moon Goddess’ gift? It’s a huge decision to make, I can’t even begin to imagine how overwhelmed you must be feeling.”

She opened her mouth to speak but I held up my hand. “Before you say anything, I just want you to know that you’re not alone in this. I know that you are a fiercely independent woman, but I want to help you. I won’t force your choice, I want this to be 100% up to you, but I would like the opportunity to walk by your side while you work through them.”

She looked down, her lip quivering. “I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered. She cleared her throat and looked up at me, wiping a tear that was trailing down her cheek. “I don’t know how to do this, “ she repeated, her voice stronger. “I’ve had my mom here with me through everything. This is the first real decision I have had to face without her and I am barely even an adult. Which probably sounds so stupid, your mom died too, and look at you. You have it all together.”

“Jasmine. First of all, you don’t need to know how to do this. There is no instruction manual for life, and there’s definitely not one on how to handle a wolf with suppressed magic powers who is being hunted by a group full of asshole witches. If there is, somebody needs to point it out to me.” I stood up, turning around with my arms up in the air. “Anyone know a book like that?” I asked, shouting into the forest. “Anyone at all! Now would be a great time to speak up. No? Okay.” Jasmine laughed as I winked at her, sitting back down. “Now that we have answered that, let's move on to my second point. I don’t have it together. Look around you. We are in a forest with no pack, no home, barely scraping by every day. I am just as lost as you are. I am just hoping that you will stick by me while I… we… figure it out.”

I stared at her while she ripped up small blades of grass from the ground, pondering what I said. “You’re right,” she said finally. “As strange as this is all still is, I know that you would never hurt me. I don’t know how I know that, which is scary, but I do. If I’m going to figure out my path, I need to have people I can trust around me to help. And… I wouldn’t mind trying to explore this mate bond a little further, either.”

I looked at her excitedly. “Really?!” Fabian was prancing around in my head. “Only if you’re sure, I don’t want you to feel pressured just because we are mates,” I said quickly.

“Shut up, stupid. Stop trying to give her an out. She wants us,” Fabian said smugly.

I ignored him, waiting for Jasmine to respond. “Yes, I’m sure. If the moon goddess made you for me, I couldn’t walk away from that. I won’t walk away from that.” She looked me straight in my eye and I knew she was certain. My heart swelled in my chest as she held my gaze. Before I could stop myself, I leaned over and kissed her. The moment my lips touched hers, sparks tingled like lightning, traveling all the way down to my core.

I froze for a moment, realizing what I had done. I started to pull back, ready to apologize to her, when her hand moved to the back of my head, bringing my head back to hers. Her lips met mine once again, her fingers working their way through my hair. Her lips parted for a moment and my tongue found its way in, tasting every inch of her mouth. She was heavenly. My hands worked their way to the back of her neck as I pulled back, needing to reign myself in again before I got carried away. I need to take this slow if I ‘m not going to send her off screaming.

Jasmine covered her face, her blush apparent through her fingers. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

I gently pulled her hand away from her face and held them in my hand. “You don’t ever need to apologize to me for that. It makes me feel good to see you respond to me that way.” I placed a gentle kiss on her lips, hoping she could feel the sincerity of my words.

“Hey lover boy, sorry to break up the party but we have company,” Brennan's mind linked.

I growled, upset that he was breaking the mood. “Impeccable timing, B. Who is it?”

“Alpha Alexi sent some of his warriors to escort us to his pack.”

What the hell, I barely spoke to him a few hours ago and we agreed to come and meet him at his packhouse in a few days. Why would he send warriors here so soon?

“That’s weird, that’s not what we had agreed on. Let me finish up with Jasmine and I’ll meet you. Give me 20.” I cut off the link without waiting to hear his response.

“We are going to have to cut things short here,” I said, sighing. I quickly explained to her what was happening, all while cleaning up our picnic area. “I promise I will make it up to you.”

“It’s okay, I get it. You may not be an acting Alpha, but it’s clear that they all look up to you as their leader. Duty calls!” I stood up, grabbing the picnic basket while she folded the blanket. She tucked it under her arm, hesitating for a moment before lacing her fingers through mine. I relished how perfect and natural it felt. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head before heading back to camp. I had a feeling that it was going to be a long night.