Page 116 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Casey***

“You have a name. Shouldn’t I have one, too?”

“You already do,” Ethan replies.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Minx.”

“Hmm, Sheriff and Minx… I like it.” I still can’t believe what’s

become of my life. I’m a wolf. Shit. I’m a wolf! “I’m scared.”

“I know, but I’ll be right here. I’m not leaving you.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Yes. And it’s your first time, so more than future changes.”

“Great. Sounds like losing my virginity all over again.”

He doesn’t even crack a smile. I’m just trying not to psych

myself out. He’s clenching his jaw and giving the tree in front of us the death

stare.

“You should have waited for me.”

“What?” I turn to him in disbelief. “You mean… seriously?

You sure as hell didn’t wait for me.”

Like I was supposed to sit and wait for someone I didn’t

even know existed!

“It’s not the same.”

“You’re right, it’s not. You had a supernatural

advantage. You knew all those women weren’t right.”

“True,” he admits with a deep sigh. “I just don’t like the

idea of other men touching you.”

Moving closer to him, I lay my head on his arm. He curls it

around my shoulders and I settle against his chest.

“There was only one. I don’t know if you wanna count Mo. She

was kinda like a guy.”

“Mo?”

“Monique. She hated being called that.”

“I still can’t believe you did that.” He chuckles.

“I was curious. But it cemented the fact that I love dick.”

“Casey!” he exclaims in a scolding manner.

“What? It’s not like you don’t know. I especially love yours.”

“You better. It’s the only one you’ll be getting for the

rest of your life.”

“I’m fine with that. Are you?”

“Even if this weren’t the way we were hardwired, I still

wouldn’t want anyone else.”

“You always know what to say.”

“I’m just speaking from the heart.”

I smile up at him, and he kisses my forehead.

“In a way, I guess I knew something wasn’t really right.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“With Drew, my ex. I mean, the sex was okay, but I don’t

know. That’s how I ended up with Mo. I thought I might be gay.”

“That’s because you were made for me.” He gently squeezes my

shoulder.

“I guess.”

“There’s no guessing about it, Casey. You’ve been hearing

the call of the moon since you were a child. This is your destiny. I am

your destiny.”

I hug him tighter. He’s right; now I know what my weird

attraction to the moon is all about. This is what I was born for. I was born to

be his.

“Tell me, who were you fantasizing about?” he asks.

“With Mo? Promise me you won’t laugh.”

“I promise.”

“Bogart.”

To his credit, he doesn’t really laugh. He does have a good

chuckle, though. I bury my face in his chest in embarrassment.

“It’s okay,” he assures me. “Your secret is safe with me.”

I lay my head in his lap and stare up at the night sky. An

uncomfortable silence falls between us, and I know he’s thinking about tonight.

Me, too. It’s my “first moon,” as he calls it. We’re just sitting in the woods,

waiting for the moment the moon becomes full. The last few weeks have been colorful,

to say the least; he’s moved me lock, stock, and barrel into his home, and I’ve

been receiving “wolf lessons” daily. He’s taught me how to handle my new

heightened senses and how to fight. I’ve even learned how to use a gun. I

haven’t been to work. I don’t know what he told Rusty, but the man probably

thinks I have some life-threatening illness.

His brow creases, and the worry in his features intensifies.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask.

“The moon’s red tonight.”

Oh… the blood moon. “Is that bad?”

“Not really. It just affects everyone differently.”

“How does it affect you?”

“Makes me more aggressive.”

“You’re worried about how it will affect me.”

“Yes. I only hope it doesn’t make you more stubborn,” he

replies.

“I’m only stubborn when you try to boss me around.”

“You do know that, as alpha, you have to do as I say, right?”

Rising, I straddle his hips and place my hands on his

shoulders. The smirk on his face says he thinks he’s going to control me. Maybe

it’s time for my stubborn streak to make an appearance.

“You said I would rule by your side, not under your foot.”

“By my side, yes, but still under my command.”

I give him my best pout and cross my arms under my breasts. “Well,

then I don’t want to be your stupid mate. I take it back.”

I gasp as he grabs my waist possessively, pulling me

forward. The smile has vanished from his lips, his eyes pinning me with a feral

glare. Oh. Shit.

“There is no taking it back, Casey. You. Are. Mine.”

“Ugh! I know. Just promise me you won’t overdo it.”

“I promise I’ll try. You still have to submit to me so I can

accept you into the pack.”

“Like you did in my—”

Uh-oh. What was that? I felt a twitch that seemed bone-deep.

Is this it? Is it time?

“Casey?”

“I feel funny. Is it happening?”

“Open your eyes.”

I didn’t even know they were closed. The twitch is gone, but

I feel different, like my personality is splitting or my body is being taken

over.

“Your eyes have changed.”

“Changed how?” I ask in a panic.

“They’re still green but brighter, bigger. It’s time.”

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God!

“Casey, you’re shaking. I’ll be right here. I’ll try to hold

off as long as I can.”

A shiver-inducing chill overtakes my body, and I lose

control of my limbs. A loud cracking sound sends me flailing to the ground as

pain shoots through my body. I scream in agony—or I think I screamed. I don’t

know. I feel like my teeth and nails are slowly being pulled out with pliers.

Cracking sounds go off in my ears like a pack of firecrackers. It’s as if every

bone in my body is breaking. The pain is too much. I’ll never survive this.