Blood Moon (9 page)

Aria rose, taking her plate and dumping it into the trash can. She waded through the crowd, murmuring hellos, to reach the door at the other end. It opened into the foyer, and she quickly went upstairs to retrieve her wallet.

She started to push the sleeves of the sweater up to get the extra fabric out of the way, then stopped. The sweater covered most of the bruising on her wrists, but once in a while, it revealed a little of the purple marks. Tugging on the wristband, she hoped Ella wouldn’t notice.

After shoving the wallet into an oversize pocket, she headed back downstairs. No one else was on the porch yet, and she took a moment to admire the scenery.

The small gravel drive was full of cars, but beyond it, the woods rose up, draped in all their autumn glory. The house itself sat in a clearing, overlooking the valley below, and gave a breathtaking view of the splashes of color. She took a deep breath, letting the smells of autumn and the cool air clear away the worries lingering at the back of her mind.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Aria jumped, whirling.

Lawrence looked strikingly alike to Thaddeus, but she could tell he was the quieter of the two. As if guessing what she was thinking, he smiled. “We’re fraternal twins. Thaddeus got all the outgoing and obnoxious genes.” He turned back to the view, smiling. “When Lukas gets back, you should ask him to take you for a run.”

“I may do that.” She enjoyed runs when she had the chance. Taking time to stop and play in leaves and enjoy the weather rather than searching for hiding spots.

They stood in silence, listening to the breeze and the low murmur of the others in the house. Thaddeus, Ella, and another man, tall and wiry with a shock of red hair and a spattering of freckles that made him look younger than his serious expression suggested, appeared around the corner of the house.

“Aria, this is Sebastian. He’ll be coming with us.”

The young man bared his neck after a whispered comment from Thaddeus. Aria nodded, still a bit uncomfortable that the Pack seemed so eager to accept her as Lukas’ Mate. She and Lawrence met them at the bottom of the steps. Thaddeus pointed to a silver SUV parked at the end of the drive and they headed over.

“You ride in the back, Aria, between Ella and Lawrence. Even though the windows are tinted, I’ll feel better about it if you’re not sitting next to one.”

Guilt formed a knot in her stomach. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of a mistake in identity.

Ella patted her arm as Lawrence climbed into the car. “Don’t worry, Aria. We’re going to Wal-Mart. Even if they wanted to try something, this is a very small community. They may think we’re some sort of weird cult, but the locals won’t stand for violence in the streets. Haemon knows that.”

Aria nodded, her worry only a bit better. She climbed into the car, sandwiching herself between Lawrence’s huge frame and Ella’s smaller one. Thaddeus pulled the car out, heading down to the main road.

“So we’re buying everything, right?” Ella was so cheerful it almost made Aria want to smack her. She looked at Ella, searching for false cheer. Amazing, but she didn’t see any. Aria wasn’t sure she’d ever met someone quite so perpetually perky. The woman gave her the impression of bouncing, and it made Aria tired just watching.

She plastered a smile on her face. “What I had on isn’t fit for much anymore, and you can see Lukas’ things don’t fit all that well.”

Ella raked her with a frank gaze. “That’s true. We’d better watch where we step, or everyone will be getting a glimpse of that underwear I bought you yesterday.” Her grin was suggestive. “That went over well, huh? I tried to pick something sexy, but not too obvious. Did it work?”

An image of Lukas’ face when she pulled them out popped into her mind. “I think it’s safe to say they accomplished the goal.” Well, they might have anyway. She didn’t have any intention of telling them what actually happened. Let them think what they wanted.

“Oh good! I wanted to get into the house last night and see if I could hear how things were going, but Neanderthal up there wouldn’t let me get that far.”

Thaddeus’ waggled his brows in the rearview mirror. “I had to resort to some very interesting methods to turn her attention.”

Ella leaned over, fanning herself with one hand. “Did he ever!”

Aria bit her lip to keep from laughing as Lawrence sighed next to her. “Please don’t elaborate. My ears will bleed, brother.”

Thaddeus laughed. “You’re just jealous. Besides, I’m trying to talk the lady into a repeat performance.”

“You’re going to have to do better than that.” Ella stuck her tongue out at him with a laugh.

He raised a hand from the steering wheel and wagged a finger at her. “Don’t put it out there unless you intend to use it, young lady!”

“Is he ever serious?” Aria asked Lawrence.

“Perhaps at funerals.”

“Why Lawrence, I do believe you made a joke,” Sebastian interjected, never turning his head from the road.

“Don’t pick up my brother’s bad habits. I can still take you, Sebastian.”

“I’m not that much younger than you. Besides, I’m faster.”

Lawrence shook his head. “I’m sure Thaddeus told you that. He lied.”

They were only in the car a few moments more before the woods of the valley thinned out to reveal a small shopping center cut into the side of the mountain. It held a Wal-Mart, a Chinese take out restaurant, and a small hardware/feed store. Parking lot only half full, Aria relaxed. Less people meant less possibility of anyone getting hurt.

After Thaddeus parked the car, he twisted in his seat and pinned Aria with his blue eyes. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, taken back at the sudden seriousness in his face. “Stay with Ella and I, at all times. The other two will be around, but they will try to stay farther back, just in case. I don’t want to rush you, but the shorter this trip, the better.”

Aria nodded. “Don’t worry. I hate trying things on anyway.”

Ella sighed. “I suppose a real shopping trip will have to wait for awhile.”

“Ella, you promise, too.”

She gasped with genuine shock and anger. “Thaddeus Tench! I would never endanger anyone, let alone my Alpha’s Mate. I’ll just wait until this is all over and then take her out for a real shopping excursion. I am solely here for moral support.”

Thaddeus watched her a moment longer and then gave a curt nod. In sync, the doors opened and they all climbed out.

Ella was fuming as she walked next to Aria on the way into the store. “Wait until I get him alone, and then I’ll really give him a piece of my mind.”

Aria squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t get too upset. I’m told I’m quite a handful, and he’s probably heard the rumors.”

Ella looked at her with intrigue.

Aria leaned in closer and whispered, “But for now, I’ll lull them into a false sense of security.”

Ella laughed, shedding her bad mood like a dog shedding water. “A woman after my own heart. Let’s go get you some clothes.”

Between the two of them, Ella and Aria quickly filled the cart with several shirts, a few sweaters, a pair of dress pants, a black skirt, a new pair of sneakers, a pair of serviceable black pumps, and several pairs of jeans. Thaddeus followed them into the underwear section until Ella shooed him away, ignoring his claim that he had quite a talent for color. They picked out several bras and a few weeks worth of panties and socks, with Ella insisting on some lacy options Aria would have ignored.

The last stop was one Aria decided to indulge in, choosing a long silky nightgown with a low-cut bodice and a high slit in the side. Ella approved the choice whole-heartedly, and even Thaddeus threw out his approval from several feet away.

They were pushing the cart up to the register when Aria caught sight of a familiar, bruised face. Something in her expression must have given it away, as Thaddeus and Lawrence pressed close, tensing.

“What is it, Aria?” asked Thaddeus.

“Ethan was over on the other side of the registers.”

Sebastian started to move away, but she caught the back of his shirt. He turned, surprised and his gaze moved between them. She shook her head. “No, you have to stay. Ethan’s not that smart. He’s planning on one of you following after him.”

Thaddeus gave Sebastian a tiny nod, commandeering him to remain. His lips pressed into a tight line. “Someone has to go. We need to know what they’re doing, Aria.”

“Then give me a minute.” She closed her eyes, leaning on the shopping cart as they waited in line. Concentrating hard, she focused on Ethan’s energy. Her mind skittered away from the hate and anger rolling off him in powerful waves. Instead, she took a firmer grip and forced herself to search out the thoughts floating at the top of his mind, seizing the knowledge of what they were planning to do.

The vision of a van pulled up next to their SUV. Two of the boys from the alley slashed the tires and retreated, and the rest was easy to gather. They would wait for the group to come out and call the Pack for a ride. While they were at the SUV, the gang would attack, incapacitating the bodyguards and taking her into the van to Haemon. The plan grew blurry for a moment and Ella was added to the hostage list. They had not originally planned on two women.

She snapped back to herself, sagging against the cart. Thaddeus and Ella both grabbed her elbows, holding on until she had her feet under her again.

“What the hell was that?”

She smiled wanly up at Thaddeus and explained their plan. “They’re next to the SUV in a van. They’ve slashed the tires and they’re waiting for us. While they’re young, we’re outnumbered.”

Silence greeted her statement. Thaddeus and Ella watched her with incredulity until she whimpered softly, holding her head. Pain sliced through her skull like a knife, driving every coherent thought from her mind.

“Aria? What’s wrong?” Ella’s voice trembled. Behind them, Aria could hear Lawrence making a phone call to the house, asking for someone to come get them.

Aria leaned heavily on the cart, pushing it forward as the line advanced. “I can sometimes read the surface thoughts of people, especially those without strong mental blocks, or the weak willed. Ethan is both.” Another wave of pain made her teeth throb. She took short, shallow breaths. “But its not one of my greater talents. When their emotions are strong and negative, it makes my head feel like it’s going to explode.”

“For how long?”

Aria shrugged. “A few hours, considering how much rage he was hauling around.”

“Good Lord.”

Aria bent over the cart, taking shallow breaths, concentrating on keeping lunch in her stomach. Ethan hovered a few aisles over, still believing he hadn’t been seen. She’d never been so glad the lines in Wal-Mart were long and slow. By the time the cashier began ringing up their purchases, Lawrence’s cell phone rang, and someone waited outside for them.

“Ma’am, are you all right?” The cashier eyed the men surrounding Aria with a mixture of fear and determination.

She smiled. Sure, it looked more like a grimace than she’d hoped. “I’m having a horrible morning.”

Ella pulled Aria to her, resting her head on her shoulder and patting her back. “Morning sickness, I’m afraid. It’s lasting forever.”

The cashier looked relieved to have a plausible explanation then continued to ring up the purchases. “I understand. It was horrible with my first one, too.”

Aria reached a shaking hand into the pocket of her sweatpants. Thaddeus waved her outstretched wallet away. “Let me pay for it, Aria.” He smiled at the cashier. “After all, I am the cause of all your trouble.”

While he swiped his credit card and paid, Aria frowned. “I have my own money.”

Ella snorted in her ear. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, that wasn’t Thaddeus’ credit card, it was Lukas’. Let him buy.”

Lawrence and Sebastian grabbed the bags and Thaddeus walked over, stretching out his arms with the intention of carrying Aria out. She pushed away from Ella and glared. “Don’t even think about it, Thaddeus.”

“You are in a great deal of pain. Even I can tell that.”

“I will walk out of here all by myself.”

“Aria—”

A low growl escaped past her gritted teeth. She would not allow Haemon’s minions to see her weak. “I’ll walk if it kills me.”

Thaddeus watched her, and she knew if she faltered, he would pick her up whether she liked it or not. But as he turned to lead the way, she thought she spotted a glint of respect in his eyes.

Walking took most of her concentration. Her head throbbed in time to her footsteps, and she winced when they walked outside into the sun. The car waited outside the entrance as promised. Aria climbed into the backseat, this time squashed even closer together since she, Ella, Sebastian, and Lawrence all struggled to fit. Sean drove the car, and he waited for Thaddeus to climb into the passenger seat before he pulled away from the curb, both of them watched out the windows. The van she had told them about waited next to the SUV, whose tires were as flat as pancakes.

As they drove past, Lloyd, one of the boys that had been in the alley snarled from the driver’s seat, recognizing Sean and Thaddeus. Sean gave a mock salute and drove off, speeding through the remainder of the parking lot and back onto the road.

“What happened? Lawrence didn’t give me much info over the phone.”

Thaddeus filled him in, while Aria rested her head on her knees. Tears formed at the throbbing pain, but she refused to cry. It would only make the pain worse. Ella’s hand rubbed small circles on her back, her concern evident. While Aria appreciated the gesture, all she wanted was a soft bed, a warm compress and Lukas. Only one day and he had already wormed his way into her heart. He’d pushed his way back into her life. Now she couldn’t keep him out of her future. Too late, she’d allowed herself to need him, want him.

“We’ll be home in no time. Just relax.”

Aria didn’t respond. She sat still, concentrating on a small stain on the floor, until the car shuddered to a stop.

She jerked up with a croak. “You all have to promise that you won’t mention this to Lukas.”

“You realize you’re asking the impossible, right? I have to tell him. I can’t lie to my Alpha.” Thaddeus eyed her like she had sprouted an extra head.