Blood Moon: A Sapphic Fantasy Romance (QueerWolf Book 2), page 15
"I love you, Princess," I murmured against the fresh claiming mark, lapping at it gently to help it heal. The taste of her lingered on my tongue—wild, vibrant, perfect.
Her smile was soft and sleepy, filled with a satisfaction that made my chest ache. "And I love you, Jayne. Always.”
We stayed tangled together in the quiet aftermath, the mate bond humming contentedly between us. Princess’s fingers reached for the new mark on her shoulder, brushing over it with wonder.
I wasn’t ready for the sudden burst of laughter—low, wicked, and so thoroughly unexpected it made my wolf perk up in curiosity. I raised my head, blinking at her as she grinned up at me, a spark of mischief dancing in her golden eyes.
“What?” I managed, my voice hoarse with confusion and lingering desire.
Her grin widened as she caught my wrist, guiding my hand down between my thighs. I froze, my breath hitching as I felt them—two faint welts, still fresh, just above my clit.
“You didn’t.” My voice came out as an accusation, though the heat rising in my cheeks betrayed my amusement.
“Did you think you could claim me without getting a mark of your own?” Her tone was smug, the mischief radiating off her like sunlight. “You were so caught up in the pleasure that I think you liked the pain.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded and entirely enchanted, before shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, you love me.” She winked, guiding my hand away with a teasing kiss against my knuckles.
Our laughter—light and easy despite everything—filled the small cabin, a sound I hadn’t realized I’d been starving for.
Luna let out a soft, disgruntled whimper from her blanket cocoon, the noise drawing us both back to reality.
“Shhh,” Princess whispered, her finger—still carrying the scent of us—pressing lightly against my lips. “We’ll wake her up before dinner’s ready.”
I sucked the offered finger into my mouth, making her eyes darken briefly, though her smile remained. “You started this,” I murmured, my voice low and teasing.
She settled back into my arms, pressing her forehead against mine. “And I’ll finish it too, don’t worry. Over and over and over…”
A new warmth coiled in my chest, contentment mixing with quiet pride.
“Our wolves knew from the start, didn’t they?” Her voice dropped to a whisper, as though confessing a secret only we could understand.
I pressed my lips softly against her temple, addicted to her warmth. “Knew what?”
“That we could heal each other.” Her fingers trailed absent patterns across my chest and further down, lingering where my mating mark pulsed. “That touch could mean safety instead of pain.”
My hands found the silver burns on her shoulder, now mixed with my own fresh marks—symbols of choice rather than cruelty. “You’ve made me stronger by teaching me to be gentle.”
“And you’ve shown me that surrender can be strength.” Princess turned to look at me, her face glowing with a mix of joy and satisfaction that left me breathless.
Our wolves rumbled in harmony, content and at peace, the mate bond thrumming like a living thing between us. Luna stirred again, her small whimper breaking the stillness.
Princess rose, brushing her fingers through my hair as she moved to check on our pup. “Her fever’s still down,” she said softly, her smile full of quiet relief.
I knelt beside them, unable to stop myself from curling protectively around them both. “Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to us,” she corrected, leaning back against my chest. “Pack makes us stronger.”
The words echoed through me, their truth settling deep. My wolf hummed in agreement, the mate bond sharpening everything—every scent clearer, every touch more meaningful.
Princess shifted slightly in my arms, her breathing soft. The mate bond hummed between us, steady and comforting, a rhythm I hadn’t realized I needed until now.
I pressed my lips against her hair, her scent grounding me. For the first time in what felt like forever, the storm inside me was fully quiet, my natural dark clouds replaced by Princess’s sunny day. My wolf settled, content in the closeness of our mate and the safety of our pack.
But just as my eyes began to close, exhaustion pulling me under, a sharp tug in my chest yanked me back. The comforting hum of the mate bond twisted, growing heavier, insistent.
I froze, my breath catching as the silvery glow of the moon bled crimson and crept into the edges of my vision, consuming the room until there was nothing left but blood.
My wolf howled inside me, not in fear but in recognition.
The Lunar Pact.
CHAPTER 16
At first, there was nothing.
Silence.
It was a stillness so profound it pressed against me, like the world itself was holding its breath. Then, slowly, the air around me began to shift, filled with the soft hum of something ancient, something divine.
A red moon appeared, its light cutting through the darkness like a bloody blade. It was full and low, its glow pulsing faintly in time with the mate bond thrumming in my chest. My wolf stirred, restless and alert, as the vision began to take shape.
Walls of sterile white emerged from the void, sharp and clinical, the air thick with the acrid tang of antiseptic and fear. I blinked, terror suddenly filling my chest before I beat it back.
The Hunter facility.
Luna.
I was unable to turn my head but my eyes darted, trying desperately to find my daughter before a calming settled over me and a voice that sounded like Sage’s sleep soft whispers said, She is safe
My heart slowed but I kept scanning the room. There was something wrong here and if it wasn’t my daughter….
I saw them before I heard them—small forms huddled in the corners of cages, the silver of their restraints reflecting the harsh fluorescent light. A couple I recognized, other’s I didn’t but it didn’t matter. I knew who they were, the missing Haven wolves.
The pups were gaunt, their fur matted with sweat and grime, their eyes dull with exhaustion and terror. They pressed against the bars of their enclosures, whining softly as shadows moved beyond them.
A girl no older than fifteen caught my attention, her wiry frame trembling as she shielded a smaller pup with her body. The child’s muzzle was streaked with blood, her legs too weak to support her. They were barely more than children, forced into a nightmare they couldn’t escape.
Beyond the cages, a door opened with a hiss, revealing a cold lab filled with sharp, glinting instruments. The air seemed to chill further as a figure stepped into view—Dr. Kane, her expression devoid of anything resembling humanity.
No, not Kane.
Kane was dead, Princess had seen to that.
The image shifted, Kane’s face morphing into something without features and dark, colorless eyes. She glanced my way, a sneer on her face and I felt it sear into my soul. A nameless horror.
She barked an order, her voice sharp and commanding, and two Hunters moved to a nearby cage. They dragged out another wolf, a teenage male, his silver collar clinking against the chains as he resisted with what little strength he had left. His howl was cut off with a brutal slap, his body crumpling as they hauled him toward the lab.
My wolf surged, snarling with rage and helplessness, but the vision held me captive. Memories of our pack beating us, trying to force me to shift into a male form, flooded in front of my eyes and I screamed into the silence but there was no sound.
This wasn’t my vision and whatever the goddess was showing me, I wasn’t to interfere or so much as whimper into the stillness.
My focus shifted, drawn to a series of markings etched into the wall above the cages. At first glance, they seemed like scratches, but as the moonlight touched them, they gleamed faintly—three interlocking crescents, their lines jagged and uneven. A symbol of the Hunters’ intent, perhaps, or something older and darker.
The moonlight pulsed, and my perspective shifted again.
I was drawn deeper into the facility, past rows of cages, past the cold sterility of the lab, to a room hidden beyond. The temperature seemed to drop further, the shadows growing heavier, more oppressive.
The room was cavernous, lined with reinforced walls that gleamed faintly with the sheen of silver. At its center was a massive cage, its bars thicker than the ones holding the pups, littered with instruments that shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
And within that cage, something stirred.
At first, it was just a shadow, a figure barely discernible against the dark. But then, the moonlight reached it, illuminating golden eyes that burned like embers. They stared back at me, unblinking, unyielding.
She looked like a gilded, golden ghost.
The presence radiated raw power and defiance, a stark contrast to the broken wolves in the outer cages. It wasn’t a pup, but it wasn’t fully grown either—something between, its body tense with restrained fury.
The silver collar around its neck glinted, a cruel chain anchoring it to the center of the cage. Yet even bound, even surrounded by darkness, it exuded an aura of command that made my wolf falter for a moment.
The glowing eyes locked onto mine, and a voice—not spoken but felt—reverberated through my mind.
Find us. Save us.
The words were both a plea and a command, filled with urgency and desperation.
The shadows shifted violently, the vision threatening to collapse under its weight. But before it broke entirely, I caught one last glimpse—the faceless creature that had been Kane entering the room, her figure outlined by harsh light. Her expression seemed triumphant as she approached the cage, her hand reaching out as though to touch the creature within.
Then everything shattered.
The moonlight fractured, the vision dissolving into shards of red, silver, and shadow. I gasped as reality rushed back in, my body drenched in sweat, my wolf snarling and pacing beneath my skin.
I came back to myself with a sharp intake of breath, my chest heaving as though I’d run for miles. My hands trembled against the rough blanket beneath me, and my wolf stirred, still growling low and feral.
"Jayne?" Princess’s voice pulled me back, grounding me in the present. She knelt beside me, her golden eyes wide with concern, one hand resting lightly on my arm.
I blinked, still seeing flashes of the vision—the golden eyes, the silver chains, the desperation etched into every line of those young wolves.
"I saw them," I rasped, my throat dry. My words felt heavy, as if dragging the weight of the vision with them. "The Haven wolves. The pups. They’re still alive, but..."
Princess’s grip on my arm tightened, her expression sharpening with focus. "But what? What did you see?"
"They’re in the facility," I managed, my voice thick with emotion. "Caged. Collared. Someone has already stepped in for Kane, and has them—she’s... experimenting on them."
Her breath caught, and I saw the flicker of rage flash across her face before she pushed it down. "How many?"
"At least ten," I said, my wolf rumbling in anger at the memory. "Maybe more. There was a girl—just a child—shielding one of the smaller ones. And a boy..." My throat tightened, bile rising again. "I—I think it was the same trio from the diner."
Princess’s hand moved to my face, her touch soft but commanding. Her eyes searched mine, steady and grounding. "They’re still there, aren’t they? What you saw—it's happening now."
I nodded, my pulse still racing. "It felt... real. Not like a dream or a memory. Like I was there, like I could feel their fear, their pain. And I couldn’t do anything to stop it."
Her thumb brushed gently across my cheek, her voice low but firm. "Then the goddess showed you this for a reason. It’s not just a warning, Jayne—it’s a call to action. She’s showing you where they are because we’re meant to bring them back." She was quiet for a moment before her eyes, shining as golden as those I had seen in the cage, captured mine “It was the Lunar Pact. Meant for you.”
I met her gaze, the determination in her eyes like a steady flame. "We just got Luna back. She needs time to heal, to rest. You do too, Princess. You’re still..."
She shook her head, cutting me off with a quiet but resolute voice. "And while we heal, they suffer. Every moment we wait, those pups are one step closer to being lost to the Hunters forever."
I wanted to argue, to push back against the impossible task of facing that facility again. But the mate bond thrummed between us, and I could feel the fire in her, the unyielding need to protect, to lead.
"You’re serious," I said, my voice quieter now, almost awed.
Princess nodded, her eyes holding mine. "We didn’t come this far to leave them behind. Pack makes us stronger, remember? And those kids—they’re part of the Haven pack. Maybe they’re ours now too."
The word "ours" struck something deep within me. It wasn’t just her determination—it was the quiet certainty in her voice, the way she spoke as though she already believed it. Really believed we would be able to go in a second time and rescue them.
"You think we can do this," I said, searching her face.
"I know we can," she replied, her hand sliding down to cover mine. "Because we have to. Because it’s what the goddess showed you. And because together, we’re unstoppable."
My wolf stirred, its growl softening into something closer to agreement. "You’re really something, you know that?"
Her smile was small but steady. "You’re just figuring that out?"
I huffed a soft laugh despite the weight of what we faced. "Fine. But we do this smart. No rushing in blind."
"Of course," she said, her hand tightening around mine. "We’ll find the Haven wolves, Jayne. We’ll save them. Together."
"Always," I murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead.
The words felt heavier than before, their truth settling deep. We had faced the impossible and survived. Now, we’d face it again, not just for Luna, but for those pups still waiting in the dark.
CHAPTER 17
When Jess returned the night before, she had found us curled together in the blanket fort she'd constructed, Luna sleeping peacefully between us. Her knowing smile carried no judgment, just quiet acceptance of our new dynamic. I didn’t trust it—or her—but I was thankful for the secluded little hideaway she had built.
"Impressive fort," I offered quietly, leaving my sleeping family behind to watch her set down two plump rabbits.
"Thought you might need some privacy." Her gaze flicked meaningfully to my neck, her eyes sliding downwards to where the wisp of fabric that fit in the wolf fanny pack barely hid anything - least of all the two red fang prints branded there. Her brow arched slightly as her gaze landed between my thighs, her mouth twitching with something between amusement and curiosity. “Everything... taken care of, I see?”
Princess would have blushed beautifully if she'd been awake to hear it. I, however, crossed my arms over my chest, my voice steady. “Not everything. There’s the matter of you.”
Jess glanced up from her task, claws partially out to gut the rabbits. The sharp tang of blood was already rising, threatening to wake Princess and Luna. I needed to make this quick. “What about me?”
I raised a brow, unyielding.
“Look…Jayne.” She didn’t meet my eyes, her focus lingering somewhere over my left shoulder. “I did some things I shouldn’t have, but you don’t understand. They gave them my sister, and Sloane promised—”
“Stop.” My voice was quiet but firm. She stopped, her words catching on a small whine in her throat.
“Remind me again, who is ‘they,’ and who is ‘them’?”
“They being my birth pack, and them being the Hunters.”
“And you know this how?”
Her claws retracted slightly as she lowered her eyes, staring at the black, sightless stare of the rabbit that would be our meal. “Because Sloane showed me pictures of her in a cage. Silver collar and everything.” Her voice faltered. “She said… she said if things went bad and she had to leave, if I followed—with Luna—she’d get my sister freed.”
Rage simmered in my belly, threatening to boil over, but I held it back—for now. I imaged a little Sage shaped angle appearing on my shoulder, giving me a well deserved pat for that. “And?”
Jess finally met my gaze, golden flecks bleeding into the brown of her irises. “She’s dead. Sloane brought me her pelt personally.” Her gaze was steady but her voice faltered, “I-I couldn’t tell you before. I needed time to think.” She gestured towards the rabbits, “To run free and hunt.”
The anger turned to bile as my stomach churned. Words failed me, but behind me, the blankets shifted. Princess emerged, modestly wrapped in a dusty blanket, her eyes glistening with silent tears.
“You needed time to process.”
I frowned, watching my mate, who desperately needed rest, moving towards us.
“I am sorry,” she said, kneeling beside Jess but not touching her. Her voice was soft but steady. “I am sorry that happened to you. To your sister. That’s why we have to stop them, or they’ll continue to tear shifters apart, piece by piece, pack by pack, to find out how we tick.”
“And our shit packs will just hand us over to them on a silver platter if we don’t conform.” I muttered, not sure if either of them heard me.
Now Princess placed a soft hand on Jess’s shoulder. Jess leaned into the touch, her tears spilling freely as Princess continued. “There is another pack here. Haven. Have you heard of them?”
Jess sniffled, giving us a wry smile. “Not until a day or two ago. Overheard some com chatter. I don’t think the Hunters either knew or cared they were there until you two showed up. But it was their own fault—too many young shifters so close to the mountain. They should have known better.”
Anger flared in me again, only barely doused by the pity moments before. Princess must have sensed it, shaking her head, once, twice, three times, silently asking me to stay quiet. I compromised, snatching the rabbits from Jess’s hands and walking them just outside the front door to gut them where the smell wouldn’t linger. I left the door ajar though, keeping their quiet voices within earshot.
