Luna Grey (4 page)

“Cash in hand
or something, I’m not too sure really. I never wanted to know the
details,” Eric sighed, frustrated.

“Werewolves are
messed up sometimes,” Luna gave a half-hearted chuckled.

“Yeah, some
purebloods anyway,” Eric agreed.

“You’re not
going to let that happen to me though, right?” she pulled her
blanket around herself protectively.

Eric’s heart
tugged and his throat tightened at the uncertainty and helplessness
in her face.

“No, I’ll
protect you,” he reached a hand through the bars, and she relaxed
slightly as she held it.

He wouldn’t let
his family lay a finger on.

He would save
her.

Eric grunted as
he hefted the axe, bringing it down with enough force to slice the
log in half. He’d done the scouting and passed the information onto
his brother, who had half-heartedly thanked him for not giving him
up.

Now he’d finish
up getting the firewood before returning to spend the remainder of
the afternoon and night with Luna. He’d left her with a book on
native flora and fauna; one of the few books in the cabin and
promised to be back once he was done.

She had lost
some of the light in her eyes after he had told her about the
tradition of his family, and it angered him.

Luna sat in
silence as she colored in the scene of frolicking wolves she’d
drawn the day before.

She’d been
angry with Eric at first for allowing the tradition to continue,
but she knew there was little he could do about it, and she’d
softened and told him she didn’t hold it against him. He couldn’t
go up against his family, and the tradition had been implemented
long before he was born. He had never had anything to do with
it.

They’d gone
over their plan again, and Eric promised repeatedly that he
wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. She was thankful for his
reassurance, and wanted to put all her trust and faith in him, but
she was still afraid. He was just one young man going up against
his family, disobeying them. She was afraid of what they’d do to
him if their plan failed.

She tried not
to think too much about it, instead focusing on memories of her
brother smiling and laughing. She would find her way back to
him.

She had to.

The day came
when Eric’s father would return home. Craig called ahead to let him
know he’d be home a few hours before their father, and Eric got to
work tidying up the basement. He took the TV and blow up mattress
back upstairs, not wanting his family to know about his association
with Luna while they were gone.

They’d spent
the last two days talking and discussing their hopes and dreams for
the future. They spoke of the places they wanted to one day see and
visit. Eric was happy to see the light return to her eyes the day
after their big talk. They played a board game through the bars of
the cell and he made her delicious meals to keep her satisfied.
She’d usher him out of the basement whenever she needed the toilet,
and he’d offered to wash her clothes for her. Instead they’d agreed
he’d provide her with some washing powder and his dressing gown.
He’d gone upstairs as she washed her clothes and hung them on the
bars of her cell before calling him back down.

Eric had
enjoyed seeing her in his dressing gown, daring a peek at the red
underwear hanging on the cell bars.

They’d
continued their board game and he’d struggled to hide his body’s
reaction when the gown had moved and revealed a plump breast. The
single sight had sent his mind into overdrive as it brought up the
dream he’d had. The rounded breast and perk nipple was more
beautiful than his dream, and he longed to touch them and feel
them. She’d blushed madly and covered herself up, apologising
profusely and pretending not to notice his arousal.

Eric sighed as
he packed the blow up mattress away and returned his blankets to
his bed. Luna would hide her art book and pencils if anyone came
down, but he hadn’t taken away the socks or blanket, not thinking
his father would be too mad about those.

He closed up
the cupboard and did one last sweep as his sensitive ears picked up
the muffled rumble of Craig’s pickup.

He grabbed
himself a coke from the fridge and sat down in the living room. He
switched the TV on and flinched as the door swung open.

“How were your
last few days?” Eric asked and rolled his eyes as Craig grunted and
strode past him with his duffle bag in arm.

“Sounds fun,”
Eric mumbled sarcastically as he flicked through the channels.

“Dad will be
home soon,” Craig stated as he tromped up the stairs.

Eric shrugged
to no one as he grumbled and switched the TV off. Why he thought
they’d have any channels suddenly was beyond him. He just didn’t
want Craig suspecting anything.

“So how were
your few days?” Craig called out as he made his way back down the
stairs.

“They were
fine, I did the jobs dad asked and just did some exploring,” Eric
turned as his brother appeared in the doorway. Craig rolled his
eyes at him.

“The girl?”
Craig asked as he folded his arms and leant on the doorframe.

“She’s alive,”
Eric shrugged. “Starting to not smell too good though.”

“Well, you can
ask dad if we can escort her to the shower,” he chuckled and
grinned.

“So what’d you
do for the last few days?” Eric questioned again.

“Went to a
couple of bars, hooked up with some chicks, the usual,” Craig
shrugged and Eric rolled his eyes.

And to believe
he was a doctor.

“Don’t worry,
your secret’s safe with me,” Eric sighed as he took a gulp from his
can.

“So Trevor and
the boys will be here in three days, you ready?” Craig raised an
eyebrow.

Eric nodded but
noted the strange look in his brother’s eye. Did he suspect
something? No, how could he? Eric hadn’t given any subtle signs or
hints, he was sure of that. Was it something else then?

The look
vanished and Craig smirked.

“Well, I’m
going to have a shower and catch a nap, I’ve been up most nights
lately,” he chuckled as he spun away.

Eric watched
after him cautiously. What had he seen his brother’s eyes?

Suspicion?
Guilt?

He decided not
to dwell on it and got up to grab something to eat. He wouldn’t be
able to sit with Luna for the afternoon, but once his father got
home, he’d put his plan into action.

Eric stared up
at the ceiling with his hands clasped behind his head as he lay on
his bed. He clenched his jaw as he heard the purr of his father’s
business car to mark his return. He dragged himself off the bed and
headed downstairs where Craig was preparing dinner for
everyone.

Eric’s mouth
watered at the beef mince patties on the stove as he plopped
himself down at the kitchen table. He turned his head as the front
door swung open and Brent waltzed in.

“Bit chilly out
there,” he stated as he sauntered across the room with his father
in tow.

“How have you
two boys held up?” their father asked as he closed the door and
placed his briefcase on the floor. He turned and loosened his tie
as he strode over to join everyone in the kitchen.

“Good,
everything’s been fine,” Craig shrugged as he flipped the
patties.

“The bitch?”
Brent grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat across from Eric with
a smug grin.

Eric refrained
from snapping at him for his choice of words, and he tried to keep
his emotions in check, knowing his werewolf family would sense any
change.

“Eric has taken
care of her,” Craig stated as he watched the patties sizzle.

“How is she
looking?” their father asked as he joined them at the table.

“Good, although
I think she could use a shower,” Eric grimaced and Brent
chuckled.

Their father
sighed and nodded as he mulled it over.

“After dinner,
take her down something to eat and Craig will accompany you. You
can let her out and escort her to the shower,” he eventually
decided.

“Yeah, we don’t
want the boys be turned off by some strong body odour,” Brent
smirked and their father shook his head. Brent may be the
favourite, but he sure was stupid sometimes.

Eric masked his
pleasure at the response as Craig placed a plate of patties on the
table. The rolls and assorted fillings were already spread out
before them, and the four got straight into making themselves some
delicious burgers.

“She doesn’t
seem to smell that much,” Craig muttered s he stood watching Luna
slowly eat her burger that Eric had brought her.

“Trevor and the
boys will notice though, you know how they can be,” Eric shrugged
as he scanned the basement with a disinterested look.

“Whatever,”
Craig grumbled.

When he was
satisfied that Luna had finished eating, he strode over to the door
of the cell. He held the key from their father and unlocked the
solid door.

“Dad wants you
to have a shower, but if you try anything we’ll bring you back down
here by force, got it?” Craig informed her and Luna nodded as she
slipped off the bed.

“Good, let’s
go,” he grumbled as he led her upstairs with one firm hand on her
wrist. Eric followed behind her, trying to keep himself calm.

They passed
through the kitchen, and Eric noted how Luna craned her neck to see
his father and other brother in the living room. Brent winked at
her and she recoiled as they continued up the staircase.

“Bathroom’s
there, we’ll wait out here, open the window and we’ll know. Don’t
lock the door either,” Craig snapped as he swung the bathroom door
open and switched the light on.

Eric had
already put a towel in there for her, and he crossed his arms and
leant against the hallway wall as Luna went inside and closed the
door.

Craig grumbled
as he crossed his arms and stood firm before the door.

“Dinner was
good tonight, mum always said she’d taught you the best when it
came to cooking,” Eric struck up a conversation.

“Thanks,” Craig
eyed him carefully. Compliments were rare from the brothers.

“So… what was
it like?” Eric asked as he leant his head against the wall.

“What was what
like?” Craig sighed.

“The girls you
hooked up with,” Eric opened one eye to look questioningly at his
brother.

Craig smirked
and shook his head. “None of your business.”

“C’mon, you can
tell me,” Eric grinned and Craig gave him a displeased look.

“My life is
none of your concern,” Craig grumbled and let out a frustrated sigh
as he tapped his foot.

The sound of
the shower and the soft humming from Luna soothed Eric.

“Look, we don’t
need the both of us to watch her,” Craig growled.

“You’re right,”
Eric pushed off the wall but Craig threw out an arm to stop
him.

“You stay,” He
gave him a smirk. “You’re her carer and the youngest.”

“Exactly, I’ve
been her carer for days, I should get a break,” Eric raised a
disagreeing eyebrow.

“Yeah right,”
Craig sniggered as he turned and glided down the hallway.

Eric watched
his brother go with a secret smile. He’d needed to make it
believable.

The shower cut
off and his heart sped up as he slowly turned the handle of the
bathroom door.

He waited a
moment before pushing the door open carefully and silently,
catching his breath just as Luna pulled the towel around herself.
She gave him a sly smile but her face dropped to one of
determination as she focused on the task at hand.

Eric pointed to
the window as he closed the door quietly and clicked the lock.

His heart
hammered as sweat adorned his brow. He took a shaky, anxious breath
as Luna slowly slid the window open.

He was going
against his family, against his father. But the fear of what they’d
do to the fair beauty before him was more than the fear that he
held for his family when angered.

He would set
her free.

Luna turned to
him with a relieved and thankful look as she threw her arms around
him.

“Run away with
me,” she murmured in his ear.

Eric held her
petite frame close as he nuzzled her wet aromatic hair. She smelt
amazing and clean, and he could feel the soft curves of her body
through the flimsy towel.

“Do you really
want that? After what my family did,” he mumbled into her sweet
hair.

She ran her
fingers through his hair and pulled back only to lock lips with
him. He squeezed her slim figure, wanting to enjoy the kiss, but
knowing now was not the time.

He pulled back
and sighed as he stroked her face.

“You cared for
me and rescued me, of course I want you to come with me, you are
more than you’d have people think,” she ran a smooth finger down
his cheek. “Live free from the laws of your kind with me.”

Eric nodded and
Luna smiled as she gave him another quick kiss.

The thought of
living free from the grasps of his father, to run away with this
divine creature before him, it gave him a new strength and hope. He
wanted freedom, and he wanted Luna. The sweet, delicate woman he’d
come to know and care for. He’d protect her forever if she chose
him, and he’d make sure she was always happy.

Luna turned
back to the window and Eric followed after her eagerly and with a
new dream in mind.

They were on
the second floor, but being purebloods meant they could make the
leap with ease.

Luna gave Eric
a joyous and cheeky grin as she tore her towel off and tossed it at
him.

Eric’s eyes
widened at her naked body, but his delight and arousal was short
lived as the hurried footsteps up the staircase reached his
ears.

“Now,” Eric
hissed and Luna leapt out the window.