Adan
“She’s got you there.” Magenta chuckled as she rose to her feet. “As an un-Mated Alpha of this Pack, the urge to mate will be exceptionally strong for you tonight. Even more so than with our future Queen.”
“I’m fine.” I let out a deep breath. Although I didn’t say anything, I was already starting to feel the effects of the Blood Moon, and Magenta was right. As the night wears on, the urge to mate will only get worse... until I claim Brenna as my Mate and Queen. “I’ll call another Alpha. You stay here and rest.”
“I hate to say it, but your best friends betrayed you.” She sighed, her smile gone. “There’s no one to call.”
Pain gripped my chest as I remembered. “Then I’ll call the Alpha Supreme.”
She scoffed. “The only Alpha Supreme I know of is in Wyoming. That’s a far cry from New York.” She headed toward the kitchen. “Go. I’ll make some tea. Then I’ll take a shower, and I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll make the tea.” Brenna smiled, escorting Magenta slowly toward her bedroom. “Take a shower and take care of yourself. You spend so much of your time taking care of us. Now, let us take care of you for a change.”
After a long moment, Magenta nodded, motioning toward the kitchen. “Be my guest.”
“Adan, why don’t we stay here with Magenta, and then she can marry us?” Brenna shrugged. “That way, she won’t have to leave her suite. Also, no one will interfere with our wedding.”
“That’s a good idea.” Magenta smiled as she headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll shower and will be right out.”
I nodded once. “I’ll be right back. I have some things to attend to—”
“No, Adan.” Brenna placed her hand on my arm, doing nothing for my resolve. “Please, don’t go—” Her silky brunette hair framed her delicate face, her doe eyes meeting mine. Brenna was definitely my Mate. For two cents, I’d take her some place private and claim her right now, whether we were married or not. “Adan, let’s go to the courthouse then—”
“The courthouse won’t marry us as Mates. Only as husband and wife.”
“Then I’ll claim you, and you can claim me.”
“Don’t you trust me?” I sighed, staring into her eyes.
“Of course I do,” she replied. “But during the Blood Moon, you can’t help taking any wolf in sight! None of us can!”
“Breanna, I’m the Alpha of this Pack, and my Beta has betrayed me. There’s no one else to see to the safety of this Pack but me.” I placed my hand on her cheek as I gazed into her eyes. “I’ll be right back, dressed and ready to marry you. You can trust me. I promise.”
She nodded, a smile lighting her lips. “I trust you, but what about the other unclaimed she-wolves?”
My lips formed a straight line. “I’ll be right back.”
Before she could say anything more, I headed out. The longer I waited to leave the more dangerous it would be.
Brenna’s guards were in the hallway, already panting after she-wolves walking by. “Pay attention to your post and guard your Queen!”
“Aye!” they yelled in unison, jerking their heads up as they snapped to attention.
I needed to make sure that everything was set for the Blood Moon... that everyone was safe. I headed down the stairs taking two at a time, and sprinted across the lawn to the front gate. “Wyatt, are the gates and walls secure?”
“Aye.” Wyatt had claimed a Mate and married her years ago, so the Blood Moon had no effect on him. His eyes filled with concern as he took me in. “Everything’s secure, and there’s been no sign of attack. But rest assured, Alpha, that we’ll be ready just in case. All of the Mated men have taken their posts and are in position.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. All we need right now is for Conner Snow to attack while we’re at our weakest.” My breaths were coming hard, and the urge to Mate was strong, stronger than it had ever been.
“The Blood Moon is probably affecting him, as well.” A crease formed between Wyatt’s eyes. “Adan, if I may say so, you should be with your Mate right now.” He placed his hand on my shoulder and nodded toward the sky. “Look. The Blood Moon is already on the rise.”
My head snapped up. It was slowly growing dim outside, and the Blood Moon was rising, as he had said. Soon, I would have no control over my actions. “Call me on my cell if you need me. I don’t care what time of the day or night it is.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and Wyatt?”
His head snapped up, eyebrows raised.
“Thank you... for everything.”
He nodded once as one corner of his lips curled into a sly smile. “Now, get inside before I have to fight the women off you.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “There’s only one woman I want.”
Wyatt nodded, his smile fading. “Yes, but the Blood Moon doesn’t know that.” His eyes filled with concern. “Go… before the Moon Goddess decides to give you another woman.”
I nodded, knowing I would defy heaven and hell to stay with Brenna. But he was right. I had to hurry inside before the urge to Mate got too intense.
“Alpha, did you decide to participate in the Blood Moon Games after all?” Celeste, a beautiful she-wolf, approached, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “They’re building the bonfire now.”
During the Blood Moon, everyone dresses formally and gathers around the bonfire as music plays. Then wolves start kissing and groping each other. Some pair off and claim Mates while others enjoy a full-on orgy, f*cking everyone of the opposite sex who comes near them, unable to control themselves.
Wyatt was right. I needed to go... now.
“Good. Go enjoy.” I ran past Celeste and into the castle, leaving her to make her own choices. But I’d already made mine.
“Alpha,” Kydriss, a brunette warrior she-wolf, pulled my head down and crushed her lips to mine.
“Go to your room unless you want to participate in the Games.”
I turned my head as I firmly pushed her away and ran up the stairs and into my suite. I quickly locked the doors, showered, and dressed in a black tuxedo, white shirt, and black shoes that shone to perfection. I would have taken an extra-long shower, but Brenna was waiting for me in Magenta’s suite. Besides, even if I came five times, it still wouldn’t have taken away the urge to claim a Mate and make her mine.
No, the sooner I got to Brenna, the better.
When I was ready, I descended the stairs to Magenta’s suite. Brenna’s guards snapped to attention when they saw me, looking straight ahead. I rolled my eyes, knowing I should have selected guards with Mates during the course of the Blood Moon.
“You both are relieved of duty during the Blood Moon.”
“What?” they both said in unison.
“We can handle this,” Harper replied.
“Go. Enjoy the Blood Moon. It won’t be held against you.” I let out a deep breath. “But right now the Queen needs guards that won’t be quite so... distracted.”
Cory nodded slowly. “We’ll wait for the other guards to arrive.”
“Thanks.” I took my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed Wyatt’s number.
“Alpha?” Wyatt answered on the first ring.
“Get two Mated guards up here to guard the Queen.” I started to hang up but then added. “By the way, you are now my new Beta, if you want the job.”
There was a long pause at the other end. “I’ll have two men up there right away.”
“Send them to Magenta’s suite. She’s about to marry us.”
“Will do,” Wyatt replied. “And about the other thing, thank you. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.” I clicked off the phone and turned to Cory and Harper. “Do not move from your post until your relief comes. Then, you’re free to enjoy. The Blood Moon is already rising, and they’re starting the bonfire.”
“Aye,” they both said.
I knocked on Magenta’s door, and Brenna flung the door open and threw herself into my arms. I scooped her up into my arms and crushed my lips to hers as I carried her into Magenta’s suite.
“Well, now I’m not so sure if you’ll need me or not.”
I looked up, and Magenta was standing in the dining area near the table, a sly smile lighting her lips. “I would ask if you’re ready, but—”
“Are you sure you feel up to this?” I asked, concern filling my eyes. “If you aren’t feeling well, I’ll claim her now, and you can marry us after the Blood Moon.”
“Not on your life.” Magenta chuckled, shaking her head. “After all these years, you finally found your Mate, and I’m not going to mess that up for you.” she lifted one shoulder. “Besides, I restored some of my magic and feel much better now.”
“Restored?” I tucked Brenna’s hand in my arm and escorted her over to Magenta.
“It’s a witch thing.” Magenta shrugged. “We witches have our secrets... and our spells.” She smiled knowingly at Brenna and winked. “In your training, I’ll teach you all the spells I know... including the spell needed to replenish your magic.”
Brenna nodded. “Thank you.”
“But right now, let’s get you two married before anything else happens.” She stood before the fireplace and clasped her hands. “Ready?”
Brenna and I took our places in front of her.
“We’re ready.” I smiled down at Brenna. “But you can skip ahead to the vows.”
Magenta laughed. “I was going to. At this point, anyone who objected to your marriage would be taking their life into their own hands.”
The reflection of white and red sparkles reflected off the walls from behind us. “Yes, they would.”
My heart sank. Unfortunately, I would recognize that voice anywhere. “Hailey, what are you doing here? It’s been over between us for a long time.”
“Not that long.” She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Get. Out!” Before I could do it myself, Brenna grabbed her throat, pushed her to the front door with one hand, and threw her out as I followed behind, amused. Then Brenna turned to her new guards, looking on in amazement. “See that she does not enter again! We are not to be disturbed by anyone!” Her eyes flared a brilliant blue.
The guards looked on in stunned silence as they nodded.
“How dare you put your hands on me?” Hailey got to her feet and marched toward her.
But Brenna raised her arms and yelled, “Redi ad sarcinam tuam!”
Suddenly, wind rushed in from down the hallway and swirled around Hailey, growing louder and faster as everyone stood back.
“You can’t do this!” Hailey yelled as white and gold sparkles rushed in, joining the whirlwind surrounding her. “Adan, help—” Then, a second later, she was gone, and the wind and sparkles disappeared.
“How did you—”
“It’s a Luna thing.” Brenna brushed off her hands and marched back into Magenta’s suite with her head held high.
I smiled, arching an eyebrow at Magenta. “What just happened?”
Magenta’s eyes were filled with disbelief. “She sent Hailey back to her Pack through the Space-Time Continuum, which obviously isn’t here.” Magenta chuckled. “What can I say? She’s a quick study.”
I laughed, shaking my head as I walked inside and took my place by Brenna’s side. I took her hand and kissed it, looking at her in awe, knowing she was definitely my Mate.