Blood Moon (14 page)

Light, blue-white and brilliant, blazed from their clasped hands. Before she hadn’t even noticed. Now that she knew what to look for, it shone intensely from their bodies.

Aria laughed, throwing her arms around Lukas’ neck and pressing a kiss to his lips. As their hands broke, the bright light faded to a soft glow, hovering around them for a few more seconds, and then disappeared.

Lukas gripped her hand and turned to Thaddeus, who handed him a box. “We’ve already been married in a church once, but I wanted to make sure it was official.”

He opened the box to reveal a matching pair of wedding rings, fashioned out of silver and Celtic knots. He took hers out, sliding it onto her finger, and then offered her the box. She could barely find his hand through the tears, but she slid the ring home.

No one can take you from me now, Aria. I love you.
Lukas’ voice curled through her mind. Aria should have been shocked or somehow worried at their new connection, but it seemed natural. It was as if a part always missing had been filled in. She felt complete.

I love you, too, Lukas.

Lukas kissed her again, stopping only when Aaron cleared his throat. “I present True Mates, Lukas and Aria MacLeod.”

The Pack cheered. Aaron clapped Lukas on the back. “No one who saw that display will ever doubt that you two are True Mates. They’d have to be blind and incredibly stupid.”

Chapter Thirteen

Lukas led Aria to the edge of the gathered group and began the long process of introducing her to all the members of the Pack. As each one approached to give their congratulations, they also swore their fealty to their new female Alpha. Usually this was done in a separate ceremony. But Lukas and Aaron had decided it would be best to make her part of the Pack hierarchy immediately. Aria kept one hand in Lukas’ and the other free to touch the napes of each person that knelt before her. Despite being buoyed by the evening’s events, the line grew very long, and she was only glad the Pack was small.

As the Pack members left them, some headed to the kitchen to eat, and others lounged in various places throughout the yard, paper plates and cups scattered around while the little ones played. Ella was the last to pledge loyalty, and she came bearing two plates heaped with food. She dropped to one knee, still holding her offering and bared her nape.

“I pledge you my fealty, from this day forward, for life.” She rose after Aria squeezed the nape of her neck gently and held out the plates. “And I bring sustenance. I’ll be back with something to drink.”

Thaddeus appeared with chairs for them to relax.

Lukas sat down beside her, throwing her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry that all had to happen at one time, Aria.”

Swallowing a mouthful of green beans, she leaned over to drop a kiss on his cheek. “It’s all right, Lukas.” She paused, reflecting upon Lukas’ expression before he said his vows. “I know they were watching.”

His eyebrows rose. “You knew?”

At least he wasn’t trying to hide it from her. “I sensed them just before Ella came up to show me the spot for the ceremony.”

He nodded. “I felt them a little before that.”

They ate in silence for a few moments. As Aria finished her dinner, she had a brief moment of intense emotion. The full moon overhead bathed the yard in pale, silver glow, accentuated by the light streaming from the windows of the house and around the yard. The little ones ran around, playing games of tag and attempting hide and seek. The teenagers sat or stood in clumps, and the rest milled, talking and laughing as they ate and celebrated.

It was everything a Pack and family were supposed to be, and everything that her old Pack and family up until now had not been. She blinked as Lukas took the empty plate and cup from her hands and drew her from her chair into his lap.

What’s the matter? You’re happy, I can feel it, but you’re crying? What are you hiding?

She pulled back, staring up at him. “Hiding? Lukas, do you have any idea what you’ve got here? They’re family, all of them together. I’ve been searching for this my entire life. And you’ve given it to me. I will spend the rest of my life trying to thank you, and it will still never be enough.”

His hand smoothed over her hair and heat burned in his eyes. “Well, I can think of quite a few ways you can try.”

He captured her mouth; her knees weakened and any rational thought flew from her mind. When he finally released her, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and whispered, “Don’t let go.”

His arms tightened. “Never. But how about a run?”

Excitement lit her through her. It had been a long time since she’d enjoy the feeling of freedom and wind on her wolf’s fur. Lukas released her, and they stood. They left the kitchen and walked to the woods, stopping when Aaron appeared, arms crossed over his chest.

“You have to take an escort, Lukas.”

“We should be fine for a few hours, Aaron.”

His Beta shook his head, and was joined by Thaddeus, who gave them an apologetic grin. “As much as I hate to be a party pooper, he’s right. There were Council watchdogs here this evening. While they might have all gone, there is the chance they may be waiting for you.”

Lukas opened his mouth to argue further, but Aria laid a hand on his arm, pressing into his side. “They’re right, Lukas, and you know it. Having a couple of guards with us won’t dampen the enjoyment.” She couldn’t help the longing coloring her voice. “It has been a very long time since I’ve gone for a run for fun.”

Lukas scowled at his friends, but relented. “Fine. But try to give us a little privacy, would you?”

Aaron’s lips twitched, but he kept from smiling. He glanced at Thaddeus, giving orders for him to remain in case of an emergency, and then pulled Sebastian from a third plate of food to run with them.

Aria’s excitement bubbled over, the feeling etched in her movements and she surveyed the landscape. Lukas stood at the edge of the clearing, watching her with a strange expression. She gave a mischievous grin.

“I’ll race you,” Aria teased, and jetted off.

Skimming over the moonlit clearing, she glanced back to see she was a good ten-feet ahead of him. Then, without breaking stride, she leapt forward, changing mid-step. Her clothes fluttered to the ground, sliding off her body in the split second before complete transformation. The change always thrilled her like stepping through a field of static electricity, invigorating and exhilarating.

As her body reformed and her wolf-self landed, she could hear Aaron and Sebastian’s surprised oaths. It took great skill and power to change in such a manner. She hardly paused between her forms. Lukas took his own leap, changing just as quickly and following her into the darkness of the trees.  

She nipped and licked at his muzzle, playing with him. Aria allowed him to direct her, reveling in the ability to stretch her muscles and feel the ground under her paws. She used the mental link they shared in wolf form to express her joy to Lukas, and felt a wave of his own emotion. It sent a jolt through her body, her own feelings intensifying. She enjoyed the bond between them, but it would take some getting used to.

The night air carried thousands of scents to her sensitive nose and she sorted through them, identifying them the way an artist does colors. They twined through trees and splashed in small streams, constantly followed by Aaron and Sebastian at a distance. After nearly an hour of running, they burst through the underbrush into a clearing where the moon illuminated a small waterfall.

Tongue lolling, Aria plopped down in stunned silence at the rocky edge of the deep pool, mesmerized by the sight, until her gaze landed on her Mate. He was like a shadow, sitting by her side, offering her everything she’d ever wanted. A surge of happiness and serenity settled in her gut. She turned her gaze back to the scene before her, staring at the liquid silver of the water and the reflection of the moon, now at the peak of its course, in the shifting water.

It’s beautiful, Lukas.

This is my favorite place. Sometime, when we don’t have company, I’ll take you for a swim.

She ran her muzzle over his when he sat next to her.
I’d like that very much.

Sebastian and Aaron gave them privacy, staying in the shadows of the woods as they continued to watch the waterfall in silence, just enjoying each other’s company.

They sat like that for several minutes, until Aaron trotted out of the woods, worry broadcasted from the tense lines of his body. The honey-colored fur along his spine was a stiff ridge of alarm.

The Pack Guards caught a couple of strangers wandering around the house. Apparently, one is quite…interesting. Thaddeus recommends we return immediately.

Aria’s heart thudded loudly in her ears. It appeared her perfect evening was over.

You remember your promise, Aria. This fight is mine.

She bared her teeth.
You don’t have to remind me.

She turned, flicking her tail at his muzzle and stalked into the woods. Lukas’ longer stride matched hers, then surpassed as they loped back home through the trees on a much more direct route. The trip back took only minutes, and she hadn’t realized how close they were to the house.

They padded up the steps, halting only when Lukas turned and pinned her with a lupine stare.

We’ll change upstairs. I’ll be damned if the entire pack sees you naked before I do.

If she could’ve laughed in this form, she would have. Anger and frustration rolled off her Mate in tangible waves. Thaddeus opened the back door, and they trotted inside, leaving Aaron and Sebastian to shift in the kitchen while they headed to their rooms.

She tried not to stare at Lukas as he shifted just inside the doorway. Even in a wolf’s black and white vision, her breathing quickened at his tight backside and muscular thighs. As he jerked on a pair of sweatpants, she watched the play of his back muscles and wondered what they would feel like moving beneath her fingertips.

He turned, and her mouth watered at the broad expanse of chest, lightly sprinkled with dark hair. Her eyes traveled over his flat abdomen following the thin line of hair that disappeared into the waistband of his pants.

“If you keep looking at me like that, we aren’t going to make it downstairs. While I can live with that, I don’t want to be interrupted once we get started, baby.”

He tossed her the button-down shirt she wore earlier. The beautiful wedding dress hung on the back of the bedroom door. Obviously, someone had collected their belongings and brought them up, for which she was grateful. The dress was far too lovely to be left in the dirt.

She pulled the shirt on, freezing when she realized that at some point in her inspection of his body, she had shifted back without realizing it. She scrambled from the floor and pulled other clothes from the drawer. Dressing in record time, she turned to find Lukas waiting at the door. His hip leaned against the doorframe, and he was still bare-chested. He held out one hand to draw her close, the other slid along the back of her neck to pull her hair free of the shirt.

She shivered at the touch. His eyes glittered with need, making warmth curl through her body.

“We, ah, we should get downstairs.”

“Yes. We should.”

His lips descended, and her lids fluttered closed, waiting for him to make contact with her mouth.

Instead, they landed on her forehead.

“What the—?”

Lukas’ arms slid around her waist and squeezed before releasing her. “Just wanted to make sure you feel as hot and bothered as I do.”

Her body tingled with unquenched desire, and she smacked his chest. He didn’t flinch, even though her palm tingled.

“You are going to pay for that, Lukas MacLeod.”

His mouth curved into a sensual smile, and he pulled her out the door. “Promises, promises.”

They headed downstairs, past the knots of Shifters watching the proceedings warily. Pack Guards were sprinkled through the house and grounds, just in case any other surprises appeared. Lukas led the way into the basement, a much larger space than she had anticipated. The main part had been finished, but another doorway led them into a well-lit concrete room with a table and some chairs. Five guards, including Sebastian, Thaddeus, Lawrence, and Aaron stood as they entered. Two men sat, separated by the table.

Aria clapped a hand to her forehead and groaned. “Crappola. Cern, what are you doing here?”

Everyone turned to stare. Heat flooded her face, but she continued into the room.

“Making mischief, of course. And doing a damn spiffy job of it.”

Cern, a short, stocky man with caramel skin and thick curly brown hair, relaxed in the metal folding chair as if having a casual conversation. His eyes sparkled, and he crossed one leg. Yes, he was definitely enjoying himself. The man had the worst fashion sense in the world. In a loud Hawaiian shirt, surf shorts, and sandals with knee high white socks, all he needed was a little sunblock to wipe down his nose, and he’d make an excellent tourist.

“Yes, what are you doing here?” Lukas’ voice was devoid of emotion, but she knew his instant dislike to the intruder.

Aria stepped forward as if to shield Cern from Lukas. “We’re friends, after a fashion. Cern is the one who helped me with Steven.”

Lukas’ eyebrow rose. “I believe you had mentioned that.”

Cern wiggled his foot. “Really, really. I wasn’t all that much help, but I daresay it helped get him here in one piece.” His face became more serious. “He did make it here, didn’t he?”

She nodded.

“Exactly, how do you two know each other?” Aaron sounded genuinely puzzled.

Cern gave him a cheeky grin. “I’ve enjoyed many years of watching her ass.”

The double entendre wasn’t lost on anyone. She really hoped the floor opened soon and swallowed her whole.

When he didn’t seem inclined to continue, she smacked a hand on the tabletop. “Cern!”

“Oh, all right. I’m an old family friend, on her mother’s side. When she was younger, I used to babysit her. I never liked her dad much, so when she got older, I helped her sneak out when I could. Then the other day, I happened to be passing by when she came out with that boy in her arms. I offered my assistance.”