Blood Moon (Moons of the Wolf Series Book 1) (4 page)

Hours flew by. It seemed as though the party was over in an instant.  Riley kept trying to coax Samantha aside, but she wouldn’t go with him.  She was insistent that he socialize with his party guests.  He was relieved when the guests started to leave, and ecstatic when it was just his close friends left at the house.  They all sat in the den and quietly drank coffee and snacked on pastries.

There was a loud knock on the door all of a sudden.  Jaden, who was closest to the window, moved the curtain aside and peaked.  He frowned and Riley caught his parents exchange anxious glances.

“It’s my dad…”  Jaden mumbled.

“Samuel?  Did he expect you home at a certain time?”  Meghan asked concern in her voice.  Jaden shook his head but offered no other response.  Melody quickly excused herself from the room, using Danica’s lack of a beverage as an excuse.  Melody wheeled her into the other room, giving Colin an apprehensive look.  Meghan and Charlotte’s parent’s followed Melody out of the room as well.

Colin frowned and looked at Bridgette, “I’ll go see what he wants.  Everyone stay put, I’m sure Jaden isn’t in trouble.”  He ordered firmly.

“I hope not…”  Olivia worried aloud as she leaned her head on Jaden’s chest.  Jaden wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head, following Colin with his eyes and he left the room.

He walked into the entryway rather hurriedly.  Riley also followed Colin with his eyes and then he looked at his mother who shifted uncomfortably in her seat.  Riley stood and went to the door way to better hear the verbal exchange.  Samantha was close behind him, but he was unaware of that.

“Colin.”  Samuel said in short greeting as soon as Colin opened the door.

“Samuel.  Come inside, please.  We’ll go to my office to talk.  The children are in the next room and I don’t want to make a scene, since it is Riley and Alexandria’s birthday.”  Colin suggested in a demanding tone.

Samuel huffed, and ignored Colin’s demand.  He didn’t move an inch, “Did you think about the e-mail I sent you?”

“I’ve yet to check them, Sam.  Please, we will discuss whatever you would like in my office so the children won’t hear.”  Colin insisted.

Samuel snarled, “Understandable.  But you best put some serious thought into my request.”

“I give you my word…”  Colin muttered, in an exasperated tone.

Bridgette stood and exited the room, following close behind Colin and Samuel. Riley turned to his friends, his lips pressed in the thin line of aggravation.

“Stay here, I’m going to go see what I can hear…”  Riley commanded his voice firm.

“Fine with me.  He probably just wants to come and bitch about my attitude and pull me out of the pack.”  Jaden spat bitterly.

“He wouldn’t do that…  Would he?”  Olivia inquired softly.  Jaden simply shrugged in response.

“Well, I’ll let you guys know what’s going on…”  Riley lied.

“I’m coming too.”  Samantha declared stubbornly.

Riley looked down at her, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea babe, stay here with everyone else.”

“And if I do anyway?”  Samantha wondered with a smirk.

Riley rolled his eyes but didn’t say a word.  He went up the stairs with Samantha and Alex close behind him.  Colin left his office door open a crack and the children kneeled on the floor a couple of feet away.  They stayed close to the wall and were absolutely silent, as not to be caught.

“Colin,” Samuel’s voice was angry, “If you had read my email you would know that I have grown tired of these games.  For years I’ve asked you over and over again to see my daughter.  I’ve let you tell me no countless amounts of times.  Well, I won’t stand for it any longer.  If we were anything but the wolves we are you wouldn’t be treating our current situation like this.  I’m done being pushed around and taking orders like some hurt pup.  I was an alpha at one point in time.  I demand to see her.”

“Samuel, do you really think that it’s best to uproot all that she’s ever known?  She’s been without you for seventeen years.  Besides, you never made any effort to contact her while her mother was alive.  What’s the difference now?”  Colin retorted, his voice cold and unforgiving.

“Because I was in love with Elizabeth and I didn’t want to destroy her marriage!  But I want to see my daughter!  Colin, either you let me see her or I’ll go to Melody.  And neither of us wants to put her in that difficult position.”

Riley looked back at Samantha.  She knelt there frozen in place, the confusion clear in her expression.  Every word she had just overheard was slowly sinking in.  She frowned in disbelief, and then hurt filled her eyes.  She looked up at Riley, her brow furrowing.  He reached out to touch her cheek and stroke it, but she moved away from his hand and continued to listen.

“Samuel, now is not the time.  Come back tomorrow while the children are at school and we will continue this discussion.  Maybe we can reach some sort of agreement.”  Colin asserted.

“There is no agreement.  I will see Samantha, one way or another.”  Samuel snapped, anger clear in his voice.

Samantha quickly backed away from Riley and Alex.  She turned and sprinted down the stairs.  She grabbed her jacket and headed outside quickly, without giving an explanation or saying goodbye to anyone.  Riley followed her outside and gently grabbed her arm.  He turned her around and firmly put his hands on her shoulders.

“Where are you going?”  He asked, bewildered.

“Home.”  Samantha spat.  She tried to pull away but Riley held her shoulder’s tightly.

“You don’t have a car babe…”  He remarked.

“I’ll walk…  Let go of me…”

“No, you won’t.  I’ll drive you, come on.”  Riley practically ordered as he led Samantha to his truck.  He helped her in then took the spare key out of his wallet.  He got into the driver’s seat and started the truck, quietly heading towards Samantha’s house.

“I can’t believe they fucking did this to me…”  Samantha spat, “I can’t believe any of it.  I thought my parents were happily married, and my mom had been actually screwing around with Samuel Adler!  And you’re parents fucking kept it from me!  All of these years I could have had a father, a
real
father and they kept us apart! That’s really shitty…  I can’t even…”  Samantha ranted as angry tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Runt…  Come on.  Don’t be like that.  I bet they only had the best intentions in mind,” Riley assured her softly, reaching over to hold Samantha’s hand.

She pulled her hand away from his, “Bullshit.  Your father is just a control freak and a jackass.  He’s trying to tell a father that he isn’t allowed to be a part of his daughter’s life, simply because seventeen years ago her mother made a mistake.  He’s a real bag of dicks.”

Riley slammed on the breaks and turned to look at her, “And clearly your mother was a slut.”  Samantha’s face fell, “Don’t look at me like that.  If you’re going to speak your mind about my father, then I’m going to speak my mind about what I think of your mother.  And you know what I think?  I think only a low life slut would cheat on her husband and get pregnant.”

Samantha smacked Riley hard across the face, leaving a bright red welt on his cheek.  She quickly undid her seatbelt and got out of the still stationary vehicle.

“Don’t ever talk about my mother like that!”  She yelled.

Riley leaned over and pulled the door shut, “Practice what you preach!”  He snapped in response.

“Go to hell!”  Samantha hollered as Riley sped away.  She huffed and turned in the direction of her house.  It was only up the street from where she had gotten out of the car and it wasn’t long before she was unlocking her front door.  She went right upstairs to her bedroom and threw herself onto her bed.  She rolled over onto her side and stared at the picture of her and her parents that hung on the wall.  She found herself madder at her mother than she initially thought she would be.  She frowned and got off of her bed.  She walked over to the picture and pulled it off of the wall, throwing it onto her bed.

Melody walked into the room, knocking on Samantha’s door, “sweetie?  Why did you run out of the party like that?”

“My mother had an affair, didn’t she?”  Samantha whispered, ignoring Melody’s question.  She didn’t turn to look at her, she just stood still, staring at the photograph that lay face down on her bed.

Melody was silent for a moment, then she nodded slowly, “yes…she did…”

“Did you know that Samuel Adler is my biological father?”  Her voice grew softer and wavered.

Melody didn’t respond for a long moment.  Tension filled the quiet between them.  After an extended silence she breathed out the words, “Yes…I knew…”

Samantha turned to look at Melody, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it didn’t matter that he’s your birth father.  Rodrigo raised you and put one-hundred-and-ten percent into being your dad.  That’s what counts.  Samuel didn’t want anything to do with you until your mother passed away.  Had she been alive today he wouldn’t care if he saw you or not, and I knew that.  He isn’t a real dad, I didn’t want you feeling that kind of pain and sadness.  I didn’t want you to know how it feels to have a dad that only wants to be a part of your life when it’s convenient for him.  You see how he treats Jaden, why does it matter that he helped make you?”

“That isn’t the point…you could have at least told me.”

“Samantha…”

“No…I think you kept it from me because you were being selfish.  You only wanted me because you can’t have kids of your own, and if it were public that Samuel was my father he would have gotten custody of me, not you.”  Samantha pushed passed Melody angrily.  The hurt stung like fire lapping at her skin.  She wiped tears out of her eyes as she walked away from Melody, who didn’t say a word.  She simply stood there and watched as Samantha stormed down the stairs and out of the house.

CHAPTER 6

Samantha followed the path that led from her backyard for as long as physically possible.  As she walked the path narrowed and vines, tree roots and greenbrier vines began to flow onto the path.  She sighed loudly when she came across an enormous bristly greenbrier patch overflowed onto the slowly narrowing trail.  She huffed and turned to her left, pushing through the ferns, lichens and other underbrush.  It was much more difficult to maneuver through the over grown forests understory now that she had veered from the path, and she hoped she would come across another one soon.

She looked up at the sky and she frowned.  It hadn’t felt as though it had been hours, but the rising moon told her otherwise.  It was probably almost nine and that did not sit well with her.  Other woodland creatures would be coming out soon, and some of them could pose a threat to her wellbeing.  She thought about phasing, but the thought quickly passed.  If she was in another packs territory she would get into trouble for trespassing again.

As she wondered what she should do Samantha neglected to watch her footing and she slipped, falling into a briar patch, one twice the size of the one she had tried to avoid previously.  She heard her ankle snap as she tumbled and she screeched out in pain.  She carefully pulled her clothes free of the bristly briar thorns, leaving hundreds of tiny cuts on her hands, face and other exposed areas of skin.  She dragged herself out of the giant, overgrown bristly greenbrier vines slowly.  She leaned against a nearby tree, tears pouring down her face.  She winced as she rolled up her pants leg to look at her ankle.  She swore under her breath and closed her eyes.  It was severely swollen and discolored.

“Why is it always me?”  She mumbled to herself.  She ran her fingers through her hair.  She looked around and slowly panic began to set in.  She didn’t know where she was or how she was going to get home.  She pulled herself up and limped away, trying to head in the direction from which she had come.  It wasn’t long before she gave up, her injured ankle making it far too difficult for her to keep walking.  She leaned against another tree and slowly slid down its trunk.  She held her head and began to doze, crying once more.

She woke to the sound of something rustling in the fallen leaves.  She sat up and looked around.  It was pitch black outside and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust.  Finally she could see clearly.  About twenty feet away from her was a young man.  He was crouching over something, his back to her.  He was quite muscular and Samantha could smell that he was a wolf, just like her.  She shifted and tried to stand again, but she couldn’t.  She slipped and fell, causing the leaves beneath her to crunch.

The young man half turned towards Samantha.  He had already known that she was sleeping there and he returned his attention to dressing the white-tailed deer her had caught.  When he finished he simply hauled the deer away in silence.

Samantha almost called after him, but she decided that it was not a good idea.  She knew for a fact she was no longer in her territory and she was unsure if it would be considered trespassing since she had not phased.  She sighed and tried to stand and walk once more, but she only made it a couple of feet.  She whimpered and leaned against a tree.  She reached into her pocket to grab her cell phone, but it wasn’t there.

“God damn it…”  She grumbled to herself.  She turned to look behind her.  It had probably fallen out of her pocket when she fell into the greenbriers.  Caught up in her thoughts and worries she didn’t realize that the young man had returned.  He stepped on a small twig and it snapped, scaring Samantha half to death.  She turned in the direction of the noise, a scream catching in her throat.

“Hey, it’s okay…”  He promised in a strong deep voice.  Samantha didn’t say anything, “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing this deep in the forest this late at night?”

Samantha’s voice quivered with fear and apprehension, “I…  I was taking a hike and got lost…”  She responded, not taking her eyes off of him.

“And what happened to your leg?”  He asked delicately.  Samantha furrowed her brow and tilted her head to the side, not sure how he could possibly know about her injured ankle, “I noticed you’re favoring it…”  He clarified.

Samantha looked down at the ground, “I just twisted my ankle…  I’ll be alright…”

“Come with me…  I’ll take a look at it…”  He offered, holding out his hand.

Samantha hesitated, and for good reason.  She didn’t know this man, even though he was a fellow wolf he could be a rogue, and rogues were quite dangerous.

“Come on, I’m not going to hurt you.  You can trust me.”  He cooed.

Samantha frowned but she took his hand.  He smiled and helped her up, quickly pulling her into his arms, carrying her.  He moved through the forest quickly and Samantha could tell that he was well adapted to the environment around them.  He carried her for about another hundred yards, and then an old nineteen-fifty’s, she wasn’t sure of the exact year, pickup truck came into view.  In the bed of the truck was the deer he had caught.

Once they reached the truck the young man opened the passenger side door and placed Samantha in the seat.  He reclined it for her and helped her fasten the seatbelt.

“Try to rest.  I’ll wake you when we get where we’re going.”  He prompted.  Samantha nodded slowly, her eyes already feeling heavy.  He went around to the other side of the truck and got into the driver’s seat, driving away.  The low roar of the engine slowly lulled Samantha to sleep.  She dozed in and out of wakefulness while the young man drove, and in what felt like mere seconds to Samantha, he was carrying her out of his truck and into his home.

He carefully placed her on his couch once they were inside and he turned on an undersized lamp that was on a side table.  Exhausted Samantha just let him remove her shoe and sock in order to examine her injured foot.  He gently used his hands to assess the injury and Samantha watched him, bleary-eyed.

“What’s your name?”  She asked after a very long and awkward silence.

“Kedar, but you’re welcome to call me Kit…”  He replied.

“Kit?”  Samantha asked, “That’s an odd nickname.”

“It’s what everyone has called me since I was a kid,” Kedar responded.  He looked up from Samantha’s ankle, “It looks like it’s a minor fracture.  I’ll splint it for you and it should be fine in the morning.  Or you’ll at least be able to put weight on it.”

Samantha nodded slowly, “Alright, thank you, very much.”

Kedar shifted, “It’s very late.  I’m sure your pack is wondering where you are, but you should probably stay put for the night. You don’t look like you’re going to take up much space anyway,” He observed with a slight chuckle, “Let me get that splint.”

Samantha nodded in response, but didn’t say anything.  Kedar left the room quickly and Samantha looked around at her surroundings.  All of the furniture was made of wood, very obviously handcrafted, including the couch that she laid upon.  The television was old with rabbit-ear antennae and a VHS player was hooked up to it.  It seemed as though the room belonged in an older gentleman’s home and not a young man’s, especially one who looked as though he was barely out of his teens.  Samantha frowned, wondering why such a handsome young man didn’t have more age appropriate décor.

Kedar came back into the room with an ace bandage and an ankle brace.  He smiled sheepishly as he knelt down in front of Samantha.

“I don’t have an ankle split like I thought, however, I do have these.  They should work fine, since you’re going to be off of your feet.  Unless you’re a sleep walker, that is.”  He laughed heartily.

Samantha laughed lightly along with him, “I don’t sleep walk.  But thank you, I appreciate it.”  She responded smiling softly.

Kedar smiled and began to wrap her foot and ankle, keeping the ace bandage taught as to completely immobilize the joint.  They sat in silence as he bandaged her foot and fastened the brace.  Once he was finished he sat on the couch beside her.

“So…are you hungry?  Or thirsty?”  He was quiet as he asked his question, as though the words were so delicate they would break in his mouth.

Samantha glanced at the oversized grandfather clock that sat in the corner of the room.  It was a quarter to midnight.  She looked back at him and smiled softly, “This late?”  Her voice was quiet as she pondered his question.  Then she shook her head, “I’m all set…  But thank you for asking.”

Kedar nodded and then looked around the room slowly, “if you would like you’re welcome to sleep in my bed and I’ll sleep down here.”

Samantha furrowed her brow and frowned, “No, it’s fine.  Thank you.  I’ll sleep down here,” She responded, slightly shocked that he had made that offer.

“Are you sure?  It’s not a problem at all…” Kedar pressed.

“I’m more than sure.  I’ll be perfectly comfortable down here,” Samantha insisted.  She wondered to herself why someone whom she had just met was so keen on being a gentleman.

Kedar nodded once more and he hesitated momentarily before asking his next question, “Do you want something more comfortable to wear?  I’m sure I have something that you can borrow.”

“No…it’s fine, really.  You’ve done far more than enough for me.  I’m fine sleeping on the couch in what I’m wearing.  You don’t need to do anything more than you already have.”

Kedar frowned slightly but he nodded again in understanding, “Alright then.  I’ll get you some blankets and a pillow then…”  And with that he exited the room.

Samantha was silent as she looked around again.  She wondered where she was exactly and how far away from home it was.  She wondered if the pack was out looking for her and whether or not Riley felt guilty for what he had said.  Then she frowned.  Melody must have been worried sick.  Samantha felt her stomach drop, knowing that her aunt wasn’t going to sleep while she was unsure of Samantha’s whereabouts.  Samantha sighed and held her head in her hands.

I’m an awful person…
  She thought.

Kedar’s footsteps roused Samantha from her thoughts and she turned to look at him.  In his arms he carried a bundle of blankets and two pillows.  He smiled at Samantha warmly, exposing white sharper-than-usual teeth.  Samantha smiled back at him as he placed the bundle on the coffee table.  On the top was a large t-shirt and sweater.  Both looked as though they were a size bigger than what Kedar needed.

“I brought you these in case you changed your mind about changing into something more comfortable,” Kedar explained as he took the shirt and sweatshirt and set them aside, “And here are some blankets and pillows,” He continued as he handed the rest to Samantha.

“Thank you…”  She whispered, gratitude in her voice.

“Please get comfortable.  If you need me for anything I will be right upstairs.  Don’t be afraid to holler.”  Kedar instructed, the benevolent smile still on his face.

It was Samantha’s turn to nod.  She looked up at him, mirroring his smile, “Of course…  Again, thank you, so much.”

“Not a problem…  Try to get some rest.”  With that Kedar exited the room once again.

Samantha smiled to herself and arranged the pillowed on the couch and covered herself up.  After a few moments of tossing and turning she realized sleeping in a pair of skinny jeans was not the least bit comfortable.  She sat up and pushed the heavy blankets off of her.  She removed the brace carefully and slid off her pants.  She continued to strip down to her underwear.  She pulled on the enormous shirt and she sat.  She folded her clothes delicately and placed them down on the coffee table.  She refastened the brace and laid down, wrapping herself in the warm blankets.  She could hear the wind howling outside and she wondered if there was a storm.  It had yet to snow the whole year and she was hoping that it would stay that way.  She took a deep breath and drifted off to sleep immediately, exhausted from her long day.

***

His skin was soft against hers and his breath was sweet.  He ran his fingertips down her sides and she placed her trembling hands on his bare chest.  He pressed his lips carefully against hers and pulled her closer to him.  She melted in his embrace and kissed him back without hesitation.  Before she knew it she was laying on silk sheets, fluffy pillows cushioning her head.  He kissed down her neck, between her breasts and all the way down passed her naval.

Samantha woke with a start, sweat soaking the shirt she wore.  She almost fell off of the couch but she caught herself and she sat up.  She looked around the room and remembered that she wasn’t at home.  She ran her fingers through her hair, her hand trembling.  She stood shakily, looking around the room once more, trying to gather her bearings.  She took the sweatshirt off of the table and she pulled it on over her head.  She slowly walked around the room, examining the decor of the room more carefully.  She ran her fingers over the delicate and intricate carvings in the sides of the bookshelf.  Then she stopped and surveyed the books.  There was a large selection, ranging in genres with many great classics.  The books were organized by author, title and size.  Some of the books included in the selection were
Wuthering Heights, The Great
Gatsby
and
Pride and Prejudice
.  Samantha smiled warmly;
Pride and Prejudice
was her favorite book.  She had read it more than a dozen times.  As she reached to pick it up, another book caught her eye; Dante Alighieri’s
Divine Comedy
.  Melody owned a copy and Samantha often caught her reading it in the late hours of the night.  Samantha carefully picked it up off the shelf and turned it over in her hands, feeling a pang of sadness.