An Unlucky Moon (8 page)

Josiah growled from his perch but didn’t say anything.

Fuck, this couldn’t be good.

“You need a mate,” Alistair commanded.

Hunter blinked. “Excuse me?”

“By law, as Beta, you need a mate,” Dorian said, a slight edge to his tone. “Because your Alpha decreed you to be Beta again, it was past time to ensure the laws are followed.”

Hunter growled. “First, he’s your Alpha as well.”

Josiah let out a small snarl, the power leaking through and sending shivers down Hunter’s back. Fuck, the man could be deadly if needed. The others in the room looked even more pained.

Good.

“Second, I didn’t have mate before, so why bother forcing the agenda now?”

“You dare question the authority of the council?” Gregory sneered.

“I’m the Beta. I’ll question who the fuck I want,” Hunter replied, his voice calm.

“Why should we force the issue?” Liam asked, interrupting the growing tension.

“Just because you’re fuck buddies with the Beta doesn’t mean he gets special treatment,” Dorian sneered. “He should have had a mate before.”

“Watch your tongue, wolf,” Alec whispered, his voice a lethal blade.

Dorian only smiled. “I have a few wolves for you if you can’t find a mate. My sister for one.”

Hunter growled. The man was actually bargaining off his sister? For what?

“I already have a mate.”

He saw Liam and Alec tense slightly but didn’t say anything. He knew he’d hurt them by not saying something sooner, but it hadn’t been time yet. Becca was still new…still
his
. 

“Convenient,” Alistair spat. “Where is this mate of yours, and why haven’t we heard of this before?”

“I only met her when I got back from hell. You know, the place that I spent four years nearly dying in? Let’s make sure we discuss that at some point soon, shall we?”

Gregory waved his question away. “We’ll talk of that later. Who is this person who is suddenly your mate?”

“She’s in the human realm.” Technically, as wolves, they were also in the human realm, they were, in fact, hidden from prying eyes, which helped distinguish the difference.

“A human?” Dorian’s lip curled, and he spat on the ground in clear disgust. “I won’t be having a human coming into the Pack and diluting the bloodlines.”

“She’s not just my mate,” Hunter growled. “She’s my true half, and you have no authority over fate, me, or my mate.”

Again, Liam and Alec started but didn’t say anything. Hunter knew they’d have plenty to say in private, but now was not the time.

Josiah, on the other hand, broke out in a grin. “This is the best news I’ve heard since you came back to us, Hunter, my son.” His gaze traveled around the council. “Fuck your thoughts on the bloodlines. You all have something else in your family tree. Fate has degreed Hunter a mate, and so it shall be.”

“I say we celebrate this new mating and call this meeting to an end,” Liam said with a smile and moved with an athletic grace to the center of the room. 

“This isn’t over,” Dorian said.

Alec disagreed. “It’s over. The Beta will have his mate, and our Pack will be stronger for it. You know true halves are rare. This should be a time of joy, not a discussion on bloodlines.”

Josiah stood and left the room, his head held high. Hunter prowled out of the room, making sure his Alpha’s back was safe. No matter the feeling racing through his veins, Hunter would always protect his Alpha—especially from council members who didn’t get their way.

Their Alpha paused and turned back toward them. “Congratulations, boy. We need to talk soon.”

“Yes. I’ve missed too much.”

Josiah nodded then went back to his home while Liam and Alec fell in line beside Hunter.

“You’ll explain?” Liam asked.

“She’s human and needs time.”

“You have any idea what you’re going to do about her?” Alec asked.

“Find a way to bring her into the Pack and keep her safe,” Hunter said, knowing it would be easier said than done.

The council wanted his mate pure in blood, and Becca was far from that.

He’d just have to make sure she was safe.

No matter the cost.

Chapter Six

“I’m ready. I have to be.”

Lily blinked at Becca’s seemingly random outburst then raised a brow. Damn, Becca would have to learn to do that. She could raise both brows and look surprised, but that was about it.

“Care to elaborate on what you’re ready for?” Lily asked as she placed another domino down on the table.

Becca had gone over to Lily’s place under the guise of wanting to spend time with her friend, when in reality she wanted to see how a paranormal relationship would work. Okay, that wasn’t quite true. She wanted to hang out with Lily anyway, but having Shade there with his black wings, tipped in blue, spread out behind him as he walked around the house helped.

Lily and Shade had been together for over a year, and already, their home looked like
theirs
rather than a mesh of a thousand-year-old angel and an OCD human-turned-brownie. Everything was in its place and at a perfect angle, but there were also antiques and other touches that must have come from Shade. In retrospect, though, those things might not have been antiques when Shade had purchased them. 

It was odd and kind of exciting to hear about Shade’s and Ambrose’s pasts. Even Balin was much older than the girls were—just not as old as the angels.  All of that made her think of Hunter and his past. She only knew the bare facts about him, his past, and his Pack.

That was something she’d have to change. Gods, she’d been so selfish. So what if fate had decreed them perfect for each other? Did that mean she had to run away from it because it hadn’t been her choice?

Hell, it
was
her choice.

Hunter was making sure of that.

“Becca? Where did you go?”

Becca shook her head to clear her thoughts at Lily’s words. “Sorry. What did you say?”

Lily raised that brow again then tilted her head. “What exactly are you ready for?”

“Hunter.”

A smile broke out over her friend’s face before she rubbed her belly. “Yay! I’m so excited for you. I know you’ve been trying to hold back because you weren’t sure, but I know this will work out.”

Becca held her hand out at her friend’s enthusiasm. “I’m not saying we’re going to…mate, or whatever he calls it. I only meant that I’m going to learn about who
he
is.”

Lily tilted her head, her brows bunched. “I don’t understand.” 

“I’m saying that I’ve been selfish. We’ve spent all this time together, and all we’ve done is be near each other. I don’t know anything about him. Not like I should.”

“He’s a wolf, Becca. Remember that,” Shade warned as he walked into the room, his wings trailing behind him—a bad habit of his. He leaned and kissed his mate, his wife, then knelt behind her, his hand possessively on her stomach.

Gods, she hadn’t realized how much she wanted that until she witnessed it firsthand.

Could she have that?

“What do you mean about Hunter being a wolf?” she finally asked.

Shade kissed Lily’s temple, as if he couldn’t stop himself from touching his mate. That little ball of warmth turned into jealousy, and she pushed it away.

“I know you’re feeling a bit weak physically because of the lack of a bond, but Hunter is feeling the mating urge too,” Shade explained.

Becca sat up straighter. “He’s in pain too.”

Shade grimaced as Lily elbowed him in the stomach. “Shade, stop trying to sway her.”

“I’m not, baby, but Becca needs to know the facts.”

“Yes, Becca needs to know the facts,” she echoed.

Gods, had she been hurting him because she needed to know more about what she wanted? Had she done exactly what she’d promised she wouldn’t do?

“Hunter is a wolf,” Shade continued. “He isn’t like Ambrose, me, or even Balin. We might be supernaturals, but we’re not human at all. We’re…one with our other half.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Hunter’s wolf is part of him, but also rides him. While Balin might have the demon ride him and try to turn him, or at least that’s how it was before, he was always in control. Sometimes Hunter needs to let his wolf out front and be in control. Shifters are different than other paranormals.”

Becca nodded, soaking in everything she could about who Hunter or, rather,
what
Hunter was. She’d pretty much already decided to be with him, but she needed to know more.

“With that need, though, comes another side of him. He not only has to force down the bond and pull toward you with his human half, but with his wolf half as well.”

“I’m hurting him?” Becca whispered. Voicing it too loudly would make it all that more real.

Shade looked pained but nodded.

Becca stood and threw her hands in the air. “Why the hell didn’t he say anything?”

Shade raised a brow in similar fashion to his Lily, and Becca growled. Yes, growled. Just like the wolf-slash-man she was supposed to mate. Or, rather, wanted to mate.

“What was he supposed to say? Have sex with me and bond so we both can feel better?” Shade snorted, and Becca wanted to slap the angel who had moments ago been so nice. Not so much now. “The unfortunate side effects on both your parts suck, I know, but really? There wasn’t anything he could do. Unless you were ready for the bond, you would have just resented him the entire time. Was that really something you wanted to do?”

Becca sighed then rubbed her temples. “It’s not fair. I mean, we’ve spent so much time together, and I know I really like him. And, yes, my body hurts, my souls hurts, and well…everything hurts to be without him because of fate and all the crap, but I wanted more time.”

Lily stood up—with Shade’s help—and gave her a hug. “I know, honey. I didn’t know the consequences of what would happen if I slept with Shade, but you know what? I don’t regret it for a minute.”

“You better not, Lily.”

Becca smiled as Shade growled under his breath, and Lily rubbed small circles over her baby bump.

“I’m going home to shower and pack a bag. Then I’m going to call Hunter and see if I can stay with him and his Pack. I need to know more about the wolf, not just the man.”

Lily hugged her hard. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

Becca let out an exasperated snort. “Really? Really. After all of this warning about hurting Hunter, you ask me if I’m ready?”

Lily kissed her cheek then tugged on the end of Becca’s long red hair, making her wince at the sting. “I wouldn’t be one of your best friends if I didn’t make sure you weren’t ready for this. You’re about to give up part of your life for a man, you know, but you want to know more.”

“I’m not giving up everything. Right?” Becca backed up and ran into the coffee table. She rubbed her leg, annoyed at her clumsiness. Again.

Lily gave her a small smile. “No, not everything. You’re gaining so much more. Fate, though, is tricky. You’re not going to be able to stay in the human realm, or at least outside the den, as much as you do now I wouldn’t think. Hunter is the Beta, and I’m pretty sure that means something more than hanging out every once in a while. You’ll have to ask him. Plus, if you do mate, you’re going to turn into a supernatural creature. I mean, that’s the running theory anyway.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to change everything like that.”

“I think the lightning chose for us, dear.”

Becca nodded then hugged her friend one last time. “I’m going home and showering then calling Hunter. I’ve made my decision, and if I keep second-guessing myself, I’m only going to hurt us more. It’s not like I’m saying I’m going to actually mate with him, but I want to get closer.”

Shade gave her a knowing smile then hugged her. He’d melded into their circle of friends nicely, the same as Balin and Ambrose had. Well, at least the men had made friends with most everyone. Faith would always be protective and a hard nut to crack.

Becca smiled as she drove home, thinking about the look on Faith’s face when she finally found her mate. Oh, yes, that would be fun.

When she got home, she quickly packed up a bag that could last her a week then called Hunter. They might have talked every night on the phone like a couple of teenagers, but she didn’t care. She loved listening to the soft growls of his voice and the deep resonating tones while he spoke. Her body would thrum for hours after speaking to him.

When she got his voicemail, she closed her eyes and let his voice wash over her. Thankfully the beep at the end was loud enough to startle her, or she would have just left a breathless moan or two on his phone.

Oh yeah, that would be a great way to start the new phase in their relationship.

“Hi, Hunter, it’s Becca. I just wanted to see…uh…” Oh great, she really should have practiced this bit. “See if you minded if I went with you to the den. I want to see your place and your people, you know? I’m sorry, Hunter.” She closed her eyes, willing her emotions to keep in check. “I’m sorry I’ve stayed away. Call me back.”

She pressed
End
on her phone then stripped down to take a shower. Hopefully he’d call back soon, or she’d be stuck bouncing on her feet, all ready to leave with no place to go. Though she had a feeling Dante would be able to show her where the Pack was, she had a feeling going there unannounced with a dragon, who, for some reason, Hunter didn’t care for too much, wouldn’t be the best thing to do.

So instead she turned on the water as hot as it would go—which wasn’t scalding or even too hot considering the age of the water heater—and left her phone on the counter in case Hunter called. 

Maybe she should call again, just to hear his voice.

Okay, enough of that. Talk about becoming a stalker
. 

He’d call soon enough, and then the next part of her not-so-planned-out plan could work. 

Becca jumped in the shower and wet down her hair, letting the water take away the aches and stresses of the day. She might have been done with school and officially a college graduate, but she still had to put in long hours at the bar to save money, though, now, after talking with Lily, she’d have to think about what she’d do.