Page 117 of Beneath the Blue Moon

******

Great, now I’m the one who can’t stay still. I can’t

help it; she’s so fucking beautiful. Her fur is the same color as her hair—fiery

red. Her wolf’s eyes captivated me as a human, so when she opens them, I’ll

probably go crazy. She’s so small. I’m afraid if I touch her I might break her.

Casey… Wake up.

She lets out a weak whimper but doesn’t move. I nudge her

gently, licking her neck.

Casey.

Slowly, her eyes flutter open. I have to step back when two

bright green eyes meet mine. I’m about a millisecond away from jumping on her.

Trying to hold back is the most painful thing I’ve ever felt, and that’s saying

a lot.

Ethan?

I’m here. Can you stand?

I don’t know. I feel so weak.

It’s okay. Don’t move.

The chain attached to the collar around her neck rattles as

she tries to stand.

You chained me to a tree?

She growls in anger.

It’s for your own good.

She stands on wobbly legs, and I move next to her, trying to

help her up.

I can’t believe you chained me to a fuckin’ tree!

You’ll see why soon enough.

Finally on her feet, she turns to me defiantly, ready to

give me a piece of her mind. I look into her eyes, and I’m lost. I don’t know

if I can hold out any longer; my wolf has been denied long enough, and he’s

just bursting at the seams. I step back, whimpering from the effort of trying

to control him.

Ethan, what’s wrong?

You have no idea how much he wants you right now.

Oh. Is it hard… holding him back?

It hurts.

I’m sorry. I—

A howl echoes from far away and she snaps her head toward

the sound. She becomes restless, shuffling around, constantly glancing in the

direction the sound came from.

It’s him, isn’t it? I ask.

When she looks at me, her eyes are vacant. I know her wolf

has taken over. She howls into the night, a cry of help, and I hear Stone’s

answering call.

Casey, you have to fight this.

She growls at me, snarling when I move close. I quickly move

out of the way when she lunges at me. This is one of the reasons I had to chain

her. That and the fact that I couldn’t allow her to run off in search of Stone.

The more restless and aggravated she gets, the closer I know he is.

Let me go!

You know I can’t do that.

Stone’s on his way; I have to be ready. She howls again,

this one more desperate. My heart breaks to hear her crying out for him. She’s

pulling on her restraints, trying to get free, snarling at me the entire time. Don’t

worry, Casey. This ends tonight.

I close my eyes, lifting my face toward the big red moon. He’s

here. I turn around slowly, waiting for him to show himself. I count six others

with him. I expected more. Who knows? He could have reinforcements on the way. Bring

’em all. I’d love to crush the whole pack in one go.

Alone, Ethan? Not very smart.

Finally, he emerges from behind a cluster of trees. The

others flank him, three on each side.

She’s mine. This is my fight.

That’s where you’re wrong. She is mine, and I’m here to

take her.

Just try.

I crouch, ready to attack. That’s when I smell the others.

At least ten more. So, he came prepared for war. Good. That’s exactly what I

wanted. I turn my face to the moon once more, howling. I look around, and I’m

surrounded. Quickly, I send a thought to Charlie, apprising him of the

situation. Casey is whimpering behind me, calling out to Stone. I have to try

and ignore it.

Hear that, Ethan? She belongs to me.

Then come and get her.

He charges at me, growling fiercely. By the time he gets to

me, Charlie arrives with the others. He stops, realizing what’s happening, but

it’s too late; my men already have his surrounded, and he has nowhere to run to.

It’s just you and me, Stone.

No problem. I’ve been here before… and won.

One fundamental difference.

What’s that?

I’m not my brother.

I lunge at him, and he jumps back, rising on his hind legs.

I do the same, sinking my claws into his shoulders. He reaches for my neck, but

I throw him to the ground, jumping on top of him before he has a chance to

react. I swipe at his chest with my claws repeatedly, and he howls in pain.

Fighting has also begun around us, but we have them outnumbered. I tell Charlie

to hurry it up. I wanted to make him suffer, but I no longer have the patience

for that.

He knocks me to the ground but by the time he rolls over,

I’m on top of him again. I lie on his back, keeping him down. Casey is curled

up by the tree, whimpering.

She’s crying out for me, not you.

Casey, stop!

She goes quiet, laying her head on her paws. It worked. I

can’t believe it.

How did you do that? She is not yours to command.

Take a good look at her, Stone. Die with one thought in

your head. She’s mine.

I sink my fangs into his neck, pulling until I hear the snap

of bone. As I stand over his dead body, the others surround me, howling in

victory. I grab his neck again, ripping his head from his lifeless body. It’s

finally over. I carry his head to where Casey is now standing and drop it at

her feet.

It’s over now.

She blinks at me as if she’s just woken and is disoriented.

Ethan? She looks from me to Stone’s head at her feet

and back. I wait for her reaction. Is it over?

It’s over.

She steps forward and rubs her cheek against mine. I grab

the chain with my teeth, breaking it and setting her free.

Do I do the thing now?

Yes, my love.

She falls to the ground and rolls onto her back into the passive

submission position. Charlie takes his place next to me, my brothers crowding

behind me in support as he steps forward and addresses her.

Casey, you have chosen to submit to our alpha in order to

be accepted into our pack. Do you swear your loyalty, respect, and obedience to

him and him alone?

I do.

Stand up, my love, and welcome to my family.

She stands and I place my forehead on hers, my paw on the

back of her head.

Thank you… Sir Alpha.

I’m glad your sense of humor is back.

We turn to the men, and they all lower themselves to the

ground. Their lips and ears are drawn back, tails down, and muzzles pointed

towards us.

Ethan, what are they doing?

It’s a sign of respect. They’re submitting… to you.

Me? Why?

Because you are to be their alpha.

Well, I’m not yet. Tell them to get up.

Leave us.

Once they’re all gone, she turns to me, staring up in awe.

You’re huge!

I’m not. You’re just small.

And hot!

She moves toward me menacingly, her intentions clear.

Don’t. You’re still weak, and I won’t be able to control

myself.

You’re turning me down?

Casey—

Fine!

She raises her tail and turns away, looking back at me

seductively. Fuck. Why did she have to do that? She’s flagging me, and she

doesn’t even know it. My breathing accelerates, and my eyes are locked on her.

Casey… Don’t. Move.