Rising Moon (Star Touched: Wolf Born 4), page 1
Rising Moon
STAR TOUCHED: WOLF BORN
BOOK FOUR
MICHELLE MADOW
Ruby
“I want your necklace,” the water sprite, Nereida, says to Tristan. “The one that was created by the fae queen over a thousand years ago, was gifted to witches, and then somehow ended up in the hands of the vampires. The one whose magic you’ve been using to seduce your illusionist.”
My stomach drops to my feet as her words settle in.
Tristan’s necklace—the one that previously belonged to his brother Dominic—has magic.
Seduction magic.
And he’s been using it to seduce me. This entire time.
It makes a sickening amount of sense. The way I was immediately drawn toward him at the bar and let him kiss me in front of every other person there. The calming warmth the necklace radiates every time I’m near it. The way it enveloped me in safety the day I wore it, as if Tristan was there, looking out for me.
From the pain twisting in Tristan’s golden eyes, I know Nereida’s accusation is correct.
“It’s true,” I say to him simply—a statement instead of a question.
“It wasn’t like that.” Tristan wraps his fingers around the garnet pendant, as if protecting it, defending it.
“Then what was it like?”
Before he can answer, Connor snarls, shifts into his wolf form, and launches at Tristan.
Tristan jumps to the side, barely evading Connor’s gnashing teeth and outstretched claws.
I glance at Hazel, but she’s backed up to the wall, her hands held up to show that she’s staying out of this fight.
“Connor. Stop,” I cry out, but my words are drowned out as Tristan calls upon his air magic and blasts a gust of wind at Connor, strong enough to send him flying into the opposite wall.
Nereida watches with a cruel smile. Her gaze lands on me, triumph burning in her eyes.
Anger surges through me, and I jump between Connor and Tristan, raising my hands to hold them back.
“Stop!” My fury takes over, and the stones that make up the walls of the Blockhouse rumble, the floor quaking beneath my feet.
The four of them still.
I rein in my magic, but it’s too late. I can’t change what I’ve done.
Connor shifts back into human form and eyes Tristan like he’s prey. “Let that serve as a reminder that I can collapse this entire place with my magic,” he says, taking credit for what I did.
It works.
Tristan believes him, and he backs off.
He and Hazel don’t know I can use earth magic, and I intend on keeping it that way. Connor and I both want to keep it that way.
I’m glad I kept the truth from Tristan. Despite the necklace and the blood bond, at least part of me was smart enough to not fully trust him.
That part was me, my wolf speaks up. You’re welcome.
If she didn’t live inside my body, I’d strangle her for how self-satisfied she sounds.
Now’s not the time for this conversation, I tell her instead.
Luckily, she agrees.
Nereida’s eyes flicker to the rumbling walls, then back to me. She clearly knows I was responsible for that display of power, thanks to my use of earth magic to pass her test a few hours ago to enter the Blockhouse.
I hold her gaze, daring her to reveal the truth.
She says nothing.
“We don’t have long until six a.m.” Hazel’s voice slices through the silence. “We have to get out of here. Now.”
6:00 AM—the time when Central Park will no longer overlap with the fae realm, and we’ll be dumped back into the human world.
We don’t want to be in the Blockhouse when that happens. Because this place feels different from rest of the fae realm. Like it exists on its own plane entirely.
It’s too risky to be here when the transition occurs.
“Give Nereida the necklace,” Connor says to Tristan. His voice is carefully measured, as if it’s taking every ounce of control for him to not shift again and attack.
Tristan hesitates, conflict raging in his eyes, but then he reaches up and unclasps it. “Fine,” he says, his gaze hardening as he drops it into Nereida’s outstretched hand. “Take it.”
The warmth that once radiated from it—the invisible thread that tied me to Tristan— evaporates in an instant.
But underneath it all, I still feel the pull of the blood bond. A soft whisper of longing that’s distinct from the necklace’s magic.
I refuse to listen to it.
I will resist.
Nereida grins, her conniving blue eyes gleaming in the light of the waterfall.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” she asks sweetly.
Tristan glares at her, saying nothing.
Instead, his gaze flickers to me, dark with regret. “Ruby,” he starts, but I cut him off, my voice cold.
“Not now,” I snap, since we don’t have time for this.
We have to get out of here.
Connor’s by my side in a blink. “Come on,” he says, speaking only to me. “Let’s go.”
Nereida moves over and motions to the waterfall. “One at a time, like earlier,” she says. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” Connor says, and then he looks around at us with the sort of confidence only seen in an alpha wolf. “I’ll go first to make sure it’s safe out there. Tristan and Hazel—I don’t care what order you leave in, but Ruby’s coming after me.” He turns back to me, his eyes hard, his decision final. “Ready to go home?”
Home.
Where is that anymore?
It’s not in Florida with my parents, whose memories are wiped of my existence. It’s certainly not in Spring Creek with Tristan and the rest of the Blood Coven. As for Pine Valley—who knows? Jax distrusts my magic. Even if Connor accepts me as his mate, which I’m not sure how I’ll feel about if it happens, Jax is the alpha of the pack. His decision is the only one that counts.
Home is with our mate, my wolf’s thoughts break through my pain.
It’s a nice idea, but that doesn’t make it true.
For now, it’s best to simply think of home as the human realm and take this one step at a time.
“Yes,” I say to Connor. “Let’s go.”
He moves toward the waterfall, giving me one final glance before he steps through.
I follow without hesitation.
The air outside is warm and humid. There’s greenery everywhere, and the giant flowers I grew to earn entry to the Blockhouse are healthy and strong. A breeze blows through the trees, and I swear I can hear the whispers of hobgoblins in the forest.
We’re still in the fae realm, although it’ll only be a minute or two before the human realm takes over again.
Hazel emerges from the Blockhouse, followed by Tristan.
Seconds after Tristan’s feet hit the ground, the flowers wither and fade away. The hobgoblins fall silent. The air turns thin and cold.
I can’t bring myself to look at Tristan.
Was everything between us a lie? Was there any truth in his web of deception? Or are these lingering feelings of hope just the blood bond talking?
The distant sounds of car horns bring me back to the present.
Where, strangely… there’s snow on the ground.
A blanket of it.
And while my Floridian self doesn’t know how quickly snow typically accumulates, it seems like far more than could have possibly fallen during the five hours we spent in the fae realm.
Autumn
I pace around Connor’s kitchen, the house disturbingly silent, unable to keep myself from replaying yesterday morning’s incident in my mind. Mainly, the coldness in his eyes when he looked at me like I was a stranger he wanted nothing to do with.
I can only come up with one idea to explain the shift in his behavior.
He knows.
Somehow, he knows I turned Ruby in to the Blood Coven. I have no idea who could have told him, but what other reason could he have to look at me like that? With so much betrayal. Even hatred.
If I’m right, then he might never forgive me.
My heart twists with pain at the thought.
Deep down, I knew this day would come. I prayed it wouldn’t, but Ruby’s his mate. I never stood a chance against that kind of connection.
Although, I could be getting ahead of myself. His attitude shift could have nothing to do with either me or Ruby.
But I highly doubt it.
Realizing I’m on a downward thought spiral, I glance at the microwave clock. It’s just past eight in the morning.
Morning training starts soon. Connor never misses training. When he doesn’t show up, the others are going to realize something is wrong.
I have to do something.
Tell Jax, my wolf urges me.
I reach for my phone.
Don’t call him, she continues. Go to him in person.
Why? I think back to her.
Because he’s our alpha. He’ll protect us, no matter what.
Her words are simple and pure. Comforting, even. Especially because while I don’t know for sure, I think Jax is as wary of Ruby as I am. Maybe even more so.
There is, of course, the matter of what I promised the Blood Coven in exchange for when they break the mate bond between Ruby and Connor. But I won’t tell Jax about that.
Plus, if he knew, he’d have already come after me by now.
<
The morning breeze ruffles my fur as I dart through the forest trees, and I let my wolf take control for a blissful few minutes, her instincts guiding us to our alpha.
Jax’s house comes into view, the mansion over twice as large as any other house in pack territory, and I shift back into human form.
Standing at his doorstep feels surreal, as if I’ve been swept up in a dream—or more appropriately, a nightmare. The knots in my stomach tighten as I lift my hand, and I hold my breath before bringing myself to knock.
It’s only seconds before the door swings open, but it feels like an eternity.
Jax stands in front of me, his tousled hair hinting at a restless night. His sharp eyes meet mine, flickering with confusion, and then… desire.
I swallow, reminded of the last time he looked at me this way. It was during the engagement ceremony when Connor and I pledged our futures to each other.
Being close to him right now lights a fire inside of me that I’d been trying to forget.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come here.
But there’s no turning back now.
“Autumn.” He studies me, concern marring his strong features. “What’s wrong?”
“We have to talk.” I stand taller, gaining control of my emotions. “It’s Connor.”
“What about Connor?”
“He left Pine Valley yesterday morning. He still isn’t back, and he didn’t tell me where he was going. I have no idea what to say to the others during training, so I just—”
“You came here,” Jax interrupts. “As you should have.”
His approval calms my racing thoughts.
“Come in.” He steps aside, motioning for me to enter. “It sounds like this is a conversation that’s best had over a few cups of coffee.”
As I step past Jax into his home, I gaze around the grand entrance hall, with its lofty ceiling and curved staircase that leads up to the second floor. It’s a house befitting our alpha, although its magnificence is eclipsed by the man himself.
“Coffee sounds great,” I say. “Thanks.”
He leads me into the kitchen and sets to work on the coffee.
“So,” Jax begins as I sit down at the table, turning to face me as the coffee machine hums to life. “Connor disappeared. Has he done this before?”
“Not without telling me,” I say. “And definitely not for this long.”
“It’s not something he ever did when he lived here, either. And he’d never put anything before his training.”
“Never,” I agree, since Connor’s always been the pinnacle of responsibility. His devotion to our pack, to the laws of the Guardians, and to me is one of the many things I love about him.
“We’ll figure this out,” he says. “As is it, I’ll tell the others that I sent him out of town to help me out with something.”
“What sort of ‘something?’”
“I’ll figure out the details. This is for me to worry about—not you. You did your part by coming here and telling me. That’s more than enough.”
His eyes are full of conviction, and a flicker of something else. Something warm and inviting that makes me feel undeniably safe here with him.
From the way his breathing slows, I know he feels it too. But before I can analyze further, he turns to pour the now ready coffee.
I take a deep breath, trying to quell the fluttering in my chest.
I should go. I’ve told him what I need. Like he said, figuring out what to tell the pack about Connor’s whereabouts is up to him now.
But when he walks over and hands over my cup of coffee, I accept.
Our fingers touch.
And it’s enough to send a jolt of electricity up my arm, stopping my heart and freezing me in place.
Autumn
Jax’s gaze holds mine for what feels like an eternity, and I can barely breathe. The warmth of his hand, the delicious scent of the forest coming off his skin, the electricity between us… it’s intoxicating.
Then, in one swift movement, he bridges the distance between us, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that’s as inevitable as it is unexpected. It’s rough and hungry, as if he’s been starving for air and I’m what he needs to breathe.
All rational thought disappears as he reaches for the coffee mug in my hand and places it on the table. Then he wraps his arms around me and stands, pulling me up with him so quickly that I’m barely able to process what’s happening.
A flame like nothing I’ve ever felt before lights inside me, and I wrap my legs around his waist, every part of my body screaming at me to get as close to him as possible.
This is crazy, wrong, yet somehow right all at the same time.
But the craziest part is that my wolf isn’t yelling at me to stop.
Because I should stop. I’m still technically engaged to Connor. But my heart and body betray me, and I give in to the kiss, returning it with an intensity that matches his.
He lowers me down so I’m sitting on top of the table, and my hands curl into his shirt, pulling him closer, wanting—no, needing—him.
When we finally pull apart, my heart’s pounding so hard that it’s echoing in my ears. My fingers are still tangled in his shirt, and I quickly let go, scooting back on the table as if his touch is a fire I need to escape.
He’s staring down at me with so much darkness and desire in his eyes that I think my heart’s about to explode on the spot. And from the way his eyes rake over my body, I have a pretty good idea about what he wants to do next.
I want it, too.
My wolf still says nothing to stop me.
I shouldn’t have come inside. I should have just told Jax what he needed to know, and then left.
But I did go inside. Because deep down, I wanted this. I’ve wanted this ever since Jax said all those kind words about me at the engagement party.
The party to celebrate my engagement to Connor. My fiancé… and Jax’s grandson.
Sure, Jax looks only a decade older than Connor, at the most. But that doesn’t change the fact that they’re related.
And it doesn’t change the deal I made with the Blood Coven. The one that involves betraying my alpha, who’s looking down at me like he’s ready to eat me alive in the best way possible.
What on Earth am I doing?
“I can’t,” I say, my voice shaky. “Jax... I can’t.”
He pulls back, the space between us heavy with unspoken words. “Autumn, I—“ he starts, but I cut him off.
“You can’t tell anyone about this.” The words spill out of my mouth in a rush. “I’m still with Connor. He hasn’t asked to break our engagement. This was a mistake.”
His expression twists with pain, and I want to take it back.
Instead, I jump off the table, smooth down my clothes, and take a few steps back.
“I understand,” Jax says after a long moment. “I should never have—”
“It’s okay.” I give him a small, forced smile. “We both got caught up in the moment. It’s… it’s nothing.”
It’s quite possibly the biggest lie I’ve ever told in my life.
His gaze remains fixed on me, filled with so many emotions that it’s hard to read. Regret, perhaps? Desire, definitely. But also a strange kind of sadness that’s impossible to decipher.
A huge part of me wants to run to him and finish what we started.
Somehow, I resist.
“You should get going,” he finally says. “Training starts soon. You don’t want to be late.”
“Right. Training.” I move toward the door, but before I leave, I turn back to him. “Thanks for the coffee.”
Not that I had a chance to drink any of it.
“My door’s always open. Literally,” he says, referring to the fact that everyone in the pack keeps our doors unlocked, to demonstrate our unwavering trust for one another.
He cracks a small smile that I want to kiss right off his dangerously beautiful face.
I’m never going to forget that kiss for as long as I live.
Snapping myself back into focus before I do something else that I regret, I let myself out. The cold, crisp air wraps itself around my skin, and I shift into wolf form without looking behind me. There’s still a bit of time before training, and hopefully a run through the woods will clear my mind so I’m ready to show up and give it my all, like I always do, no matter what.
