Electric Moon (15 page)

When Griffin straightened there was a crazy light in his
eyes that worried her more than the pig rolling around on the ground.  

She scanned the crowd, prepared to defend them, but none of
the rogues reacted to the violence. In the back of the group, a familiar shape
of a man caught her gaze.

The rogue from the club who’d sent her a warning.

She remembered her offer to help him and knew of only one
way.

Not wanting anyone to grow suspicious of their connection,
she turned and focused on those closest to her. “You are on my property. As
long as you don’t disturb me or mine, you will be allowed to remain. No
attacks. No murders. No crime. Nothing you do will lead back here. Are we understood?”

No one said anything for a moment. A few appeared doubtful,
a couple hopeful, but otherwise, they just continued to stare.

A lean man wove his way to the front.

“Do you believe you’re doing us a favor?” He wore glasses,
standing a few inches taller than herself, the smallest of the pack, but he
exuded confidence that belied his size. The others quickly scrambled out of his
way, terrified to bring notice to themselves.

One wasn’t quick enough and tripped. He turned and slammed
his fists into the thigh of the man behind him to draw attention to someone
else.

The display made her regret her invitation. They weren’t
like her men. They weren’t like pack. They were vicious as a group of wild dogs
with no loyalty. Strength and might were the only thing that kept them in line.

“A favor? No, Professor. But you will be removed from my
land, permanently if necessary, if my rules are not followed. And I will find
out.”

The man smiled as if he liked the moniker, but there was no
truce behind his expression.   

“Enough.” A large man from the back pushed himself forward.

The very same shifter who’d warned her at the club.

He had a mop of wildly curly hair that defied a comb. With
his pale complexion, light, almost reddish hair, she half expected an Irish
accent.

He had a presence that demanded respect. If she didn’t know
better, she would say an alpha pretending to be something else.

“What’s to stop us from killing you now and taking what we
want?” He asked the question, menace in his voice as he prowled toward her. He
appeared to be growing larger with each step.

He didn’t look happy to see her despite the warning he’d
given. When she didn’t answer, he closed his eyes as if already regretting what
he was going to do.

That’s when she realized he was trying to give her an out.

“Have you heard of the infamous hunter employed by the
council?” She masked the wince at the thought of Randolph learning about this
incident. He would demand a steep price for using his name. “It seems he’s
fascinated by me. He wouldn’t be pleased to find out someone else killed me
before he got bored.”

Dominic circled around the outskirts, upwind of the pack.
Raven gave a small shake of her head to warn him to wait for her signal. Though
his lips pulled back in a silent snarl, he obeyed and slinked back into the
shadows.

Her vague threat proved effective. Everyone quieted, a few
taking a couple of steps back. The leader gave a faint smile his pack couldn’t
see and bowed his head.

“We accept your proposal.” He turned and howled an inhuman sound.

At the cue, the men scattered in the woods. Professor cast
her a curious look, not in the least bit alarmed at her threat. He then walked
into the darkness and disappeared from one step to the next.

* * *

Griffin stalked back toward the house, not saying a word. Raven
would not be put off. She refused to allow him back into her home without
knowing what the hell he was up to. She would not have her people in danger. “Would
you care to explain what the hell is going on?”

He whirled on her, not stopping until he was in her face.
“What do you think would’ve happened had they caught you alone?”

His beast rose as if the thought of her harmed disturbed him.
A snarl twisted his face, and a startling revelation came to her. “This is why
you came to me for help instead of running after you were freed from your
prison, isn’t it? You didn’t need my help. You needed access to my property.”

“They’re rogues. They’re banding together, which makes them
even more dangerous. Alone, they are vicious. Together, they are a brutal lot, a
danger for any unmated female. To a rogue, a female is precious. That doesn’t
mean they would treasure her. There would be no mating. Each man would take
their turn on her unless one was strong enough the keep her safe from the
others.”

Raven shook her head. “Not all rogues.”

Griffin snorted, jerking away from her. “Yes. All rogues. A
female grounds a male, keeps them from going feral, keeps their wolf and human sides
sane.” He paced away from her and studied the darkness. “It’s worse for alphas.
Wolves are pack creatures. If a rogue alpha had a chance to claim a female
wolf, let alone a new and very vulnerable alpha female, he would leap at the
chance.”

“You included?”

When he didn’t say anything for a long while, the hairs on
the back of her neck rose. There was only one reason why a male alpha wouldn’t
react to a female near the full moon, the reason he has such control over his
beast.

“Unless you’re already mated.” Something about his silence,
the tense set of his shoulders, felt like mourning. “Who was she?”

 After another lengthy pause, things fell into place. “She’s
the reason you went rogue.” Then she swallowed hard as bile rose in her throat.
“Your brother...”

“Sometimes, you just need to leave things alone.” Griffin
turned and strode away.

“You said he died.”

His hands fisted, and he walked faster.

“Oh, Griffin.”

“Just leave it alone.”

“He killed your mate. He deserved whatever you did to him.”

He whirled on her, the stark angles of his face red with
rage. “He killed my woman. It was my right to demand justice, and I took it. I
tore him apart with my bare hands.” He lifted those hands between them as if
they still carried blood. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Raven’s heart ached at the pain radiating from him. “He
deserved that and so much more.”

Griffin didn’t move, just stared at her. “Promise me that
you will not travel alone anymore. You placed a target on yourself tonight. You
are too important to risk yourself so needlessly.”

“Too important how?”

He tugged a lank of her hair like a big brother. “You’re
smart. You figure it out.”

She slowly trailed behind him back toward the house, his
stiff posture telling her she wouldn’t get anything more out of him tonight.

She just hoped she figured it out in time.

 Chapter Fifteen

THREE DAYS UNTIL
THE FULL MOON: DURANT’S DAY

D
ominic
loped at Raven’s side as they followed some distance behind Griffin. Though
silent, she felt the sting of Dominic’s reprimand all the same.

“I didn’t have a choice. I needed to know the danger.”

The little yip he let out made her groan. “I know enough. I
trust that Griffin wouldn’t willingly risk our lives if there were any other
way.”

Dominic’s tongue lolled out, shooting a look at her that
said he didn’t believe that for a second.

“Did you know that he had worked with Scotts? His father
asked about him as well. I’m starting to suspect that though his rogue status
is legitimate, he is using it to work undercover.”

She didn’t know it was possible to do in animal form, but
Dominic snorted. Thankfully, the house came into view, keeping her from
dwelling on the new mess she’d practically landed in face first. As they reached
the house, Dominic promptly sat.

When she opened the door, he wined and glanced back toward
the woods. “If you’re going to follow them, please be careful. Don’t get
caught. They’re the type that will rip you apart if they get a chance.”

With one last yip, Dominic took off like a streak.

Raven entered her silent room, already missing Dominic
despite his animal form, or maybe because of it. In a week’s time, her life had
completely reversed. She wasn’t sure it was a good thing.

How was it possible to become attached to more than one man
in such a short time? Now that she ordered them out of her room, her contrary
self just missed having them around.

Missed their scents.

Their voices.

Their heat.

Morning would arrive all too soon, and nervousness at going
out with Durant sent her stomach fluttering.

Her first date.

She’d always thought it silly when girls mooned over a man
like a lovesick fool, but now found herself in their very shoes. Rolling her
eyes at her own folly, she quickly changed and crawled into bed.

Raven felt like her head barely hit the pillow when a sound
startled her awake.

The construction workers.

Night had passed all too quick. Sunlight splashed across her
face, and she groaned, curling away from the beams to get a few more hours of
rest.

Until she remembered she had to go to the police station and
speak with the shifter that had tried to kill her.

Then her eyes snapped open.

Durant.

Their date.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she
rolled out of the bed, unable to contain the thrill of excitement that shot
through her.

She landed on her feet just in time to miss being squashed
by the man who’d launched himself at the bed. Raven stumbled backward, slammed
into the wall, and tripped over Jackson’s couch as she scrambled to get out of
the way.

Only then did she notice the second man enter from the
balcony, the very door she’d forgotten to lock when she’d went to bed last
night.

The noise she heard hadn’t been the construction workers.

Wide-awake now, she recognized the man on the bed as the
same rogue that Griffin had nearly killed for daring to touch her.

“If you value your life, you’ll leave now.” The power that all
but glowed last night had dissipated. Her animals were in full force, the
moon’s call having lured them out while she’d slept.

As if he hadn’t heard her, the second man strode around the
bed toward her. Raven pushed away from the wall to give herself room to fight.

Two against one.

She might have been able to take them if she had her power
available to her. Without it, she didn’t stand a chance in hand-to-hand combat.

She widened her stance as London had taught her, kept her
body loose, and managed to dodge the first punch. She weaved down and landed
two light blows before dancing away.

“Don’t mess her up too much. I want a piece of that before
we kill her.” The Pig crawled off her bed, angling to come up behind her and
trap her between them.

When the Pig grabbed for her, she gave a quick jab to his
weak arm, the one broken last night.

He screamed and grabbed his wrist.

Raven spun, kicking the other man directly between his legs.

He immediately dropped.

The Pig grabbed her from behind in a bear hug, his hands
groping her breasts. His arousal was like a weapon pressed against her lower
spine. She gritted her teeth and threw back her head, hoping to knock him out
cold.

Only she hadn’t counted on his head being harder than her
own. Pain wrapped around her skull, stunning her. He laughed at her attempt,
his hold tightening as she wiggled to break his grip.

Breathing became difficult.

The wolf at her core growled in outrage, rising toward the
surface.

The man at her feet struggled to stand, cupping his balls.
“Bitch. I was going to kill you quick, but I’ve changed my mind.”

“Raven?” Taggert stepped into the doorway, taking in the
scene at a glance. Without hesitation, he threw himself at Blue Balls. She
slammed her elbow back and was rewarded with a wave of bad breath. It smacked
her in the face with enough potency to set her coughing.

London’s training kicked in. She switched her footing and threw
her weight forward. The move was so unexpected, his hold loosened. He tottered
for balance and fought to keep his grip on her at the same time.

She grabbed the arm still around her chest and, with some
help from her wolf, heaved him over her shoulder. The man landed on his back
with a solid whoosh of air. Without giving herself time to hesitate, she slammed
her foot down on his throat.

At the last second, he lifted his arm to deflect her blow. What
should’ve crushed his windpipe only bruised him instead. He grabbed her foot
and yanked, neatly pulling her off her feet. Her shoulders hit the carpeting,
cushioning the blow.

The commotion drew attention, and the bathroom door opened.
One of the workers peered out, the younger one, and his eyes widened at the
scene. He cast a look at her, but no shifter would dare interrupt an alpha
fight. Raven gave a silent prayer for those asinine rules when he charged
through the door and grabbed the man struggling with Taggert.

Struggling but winning.

Then she had no time to worry as the Pig dragged her closer.
Sweaty hands tugged her wrists down to her sides, leaving her defenseless. He
crawled over her prone body, and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist.

It immediately halted his forward motion.

The expression on his face would’ve been comical in any
other situation. He released one hand to pry away her leg.

Raven thrust her hand forward, her palm striking his nose.

Bones crunched.

Blood gushed down his face.

Then she had both arms free.

Then she was presented with a dilemma. If she dropped her legs,
he could easily overpower her. If she didn’t get her ass moving, he would beat
the crap out of her, and she doubted she would be able to stop him again.

A shadow fell over them, and they both looked up.

“It’s about time that you arrived. I can use a little help
here.” Pig’s voice came out as a nasal whine as he held his nose.

“You.” Raven saw the rogue from the club gaze down at them. Her
heart sank, and the fantastical notion she’d harbored that he was one of the
good guys deflated.

The knowledge hurt.

Even if he were only following orders, he would die for this.
Then she hardened her emotions when he reached down. She flinched, his actions
more painful than the bruises the other two men had inflicted.

Only the pain never arrived.

The weight pinning her lifted. Her lungs greedily sucked in
air, and Raven rolled to her hands and knees to keep them in view.

“Hey, stop.” The Pig wiggled frantically, his feet clear off
the ground. “What are you doing? We were ordered to kill her.”

Raven surged to her feet. The rogue gazed at her, then with
a very deliberate twist, snapped the Pig’s neck.

He dropped the body at her feet and raised his hands, never
once removing his gaze from hers. The men from the construction crew stepped
next to her and reached for him.

“Don’t.” She jumped in front of her unlikely savior. “He’s a
friend.”

Maybe she was stupid to trust him enough to give him her
back, but she didn’t think he’d hurt her. The workers gave her varying looks of
disbelief.

When no one objected, she glanced at the two dead rogues
sprawled across her floor. Pig lay in a heap at her feet, the other looked like
he’d gotten mixed up in a blender. Blood saturated the floor in an ever-increasing
circle. “I don’t suppose you do carpets?”

The innocuous question caused the youngest, the one who had
helped Taggert, to come forward. “We will have the mess cleaned by the end of
the day.” He paused, flashing a look behind her at the remaining rogue still
standing. “I would suggest that you allow us to clean up everything.”

The meaning was clear, but she shook her head. “He’s come to
my aid on two separate occasions. He didn’t have to enter the house. He came to
save me. I won’t have him killed for that.”

Then she eyed the three workers who’d come to her rescue.
“What do I owe you?”

She would not have them demand a favor from her later.

The eldest waved away her question. “They are rogues. It’s the
duty of any pack member to put down those who have grown unstable. That they’d
dare enter your house, a single alpha female...that’s proof enough.”

Their words were both comforting and disturbing. She shifted
to keep them all in view. The rogue appeared impassive, not giving anything
away. He might have noted the workers, but it was her that he watched.

Like he hadn’t expected her to stand up for him.

Besides Durant, he was the biggest shifter she’d ever seen. Maybe
it was because of his size that he didn’t watch the other men for attack. He
was large enough, strong enough to take them.

Or more disturbing, maybe he just didn’t care if he
survived.

Taggert came to her side and gently tugged on her arm. She
opened her mouth to argue when she looked up. Blood was smeared around his nose,
his eyes had already started to blacken, and his lip was split and swollen.

“Oh, Taggert.” He easily caught her hand when she reached for
him, maneuvering her toward the door. When she would’ve protested, he spoke.

“I came to tell you that Durant is waiting for you
downstairs. Why don’t you go and let us take care of this mess?”

“Not you, too.”

Taggert didn’t look away, didn’t hide. “You risk yourself
too recklessly. There are reasons they are rogues.”

Last night came to mind, how the rogues turned on one
another. As if might was right and brutality the only way to survive.

“He’s right.”

Raven’s head snapped up, and she met the rogue’s stare. That’s
the last thing she expected him to say.

“It would be better if I left.”

Though she hated to admit it, Raven agreed with him. She wasn’t
sure she could keep him safe. But was that the right thing to do or just the
easier way out? She owed him. When he saw her not quite winning the battle with
the rogue, he intervened. He had to know that coming to her rescue would be his
death sentence.

He came anyway.

“Will you be punished for failing to do your job?”

He only shrugged as if it were unimportant. “There is more going
on than what you can see. If I don’t return, the truly innocent will suffer.”

The words could be taken as a threat or warning, but she
knew. “You’re protecting them.”

He studied the tree line. “There is little that I can do
anymore. I’m the second in charge and can’t openly defy the alpha without consequences.”

“But you try anyway.” She knew she shouldn’t offer, but she
couldn’t turn away from innocents. “What can I do?”