Page 92 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan/Sheriff***

Why are you so restless?

Something’s wrong, Charlie. I have this weird feeling.

I pace in agitation, unable to shake this foreboding

feeling. Is it the thunderstorm? Or is it just my loathing of having to

participate in this charade? I haven’t even looked at Shae since we changed.

I’ve wanted to do nothing but run to Casey. Could it be her? My soul constricts

at the thought. A howl shatters the silence, and my heart lurches into my

mouth.

That was Sam. Casey!

I take off running, knowing Charlie and Brick are behind me.

Oh, God! If something happens to her, I’ll die. I race through the woods,

praying I get there in time. When I finally leap into her backyard, I find

Stone tearing into Luke. Casey, not far away, is covered in blood and

screaming.

Stone!

His head jerks up and, when he spots me, he takes off into

the woods. The bloody coward! Sam and Brad are holding off three wolves,

another two standing next to Casey. I spring at those two while Charlie and

Brick join the melee. I quickly dispose of them and run to Casey’s side. She’s

crawled over to her father, clutching at him.

“Daddy!”

It’s too late. He’s gone.

Ethan, we have to go!

No, Charlie. I’m not leaving her! There’s so much blood.

It’s not all Luke’s!

I don’t see any cuts on her, but I know she’s bleeding

because I smell it. Lightning illuminates the sky, and I see the pain on her

face.

“Sheriff….”

She sounds so weak. What can I do?

The Johnsons are calling for help. We can’t be here when

they get here!

She needs me. I’m not leaving her, Charlie!

We need to get rid of these bodies, Ethan.

Go!

I lie beside her as the four of them drag the dead wolves

away. My baby… my life. I failed you. She screams and clutches at her

stomach, leaning over Luke’s body. She’s sobbing violently, and there’s nothing

I can do. I need to change back. I’m no good to her like this. I’ve never tried

it before, but I have to.

The Johnsons are here. I know I can’t let them see me. I’ll

be back, baby. I lick her hand and run into the woods, staying hidden and

watching until the paramedics arrive and she’s in the ambulance.

When I catch up to the others, they’ve stopped to dig a

grave for the bodies. Charlie turns to me, and I can sense his concern.

How is she?

I don’t know, but she’s on her way to the hospital. I

need to change back.

Ethan….

I have to try!

Come on! Forget about the call of the moon. Focus on her.

She needs you! I let out a frustrated growl as I push my body and nothing

happens. I collapse to the ground under the pressure and whine in hopelessness.

Come on, guys, let’s cover this up.

They hop to Charlie’s command, filling the hole they dug. When

they’re done, Charlie walks over to me and gives me a light nudge.

Let’s get you home. We’ll go to the hospital first thing

in the morning.

What if it’s too late by then?

Stone didn’t get to her. He knocked her down, but then

her dad shielded her.

I smelled her blood, Sam. What if he scratched or bit

her?

It could have been from the fall.

Oh, God, please let him be right.

I pull myself up and listen to the sirens blaring in the

distance. Some alpha I am; I can’t even keep my woman safe. I follow behind the

others disconsolately, praying for morning to come.

Back at the house, I find that everyone’s still there. My

anger rises and my breaths come in heavy puffs. I let out a ferocious growl,

and everybody snaps to attention.

Out!

Wolves scatter fearfully, except for Shae, our parents, and

my brothers. Dad approaches carefully.

Calm down, son. Tell me what happened.

Stone. Luke’s dead and Casey’s hurt.

Son of a bitch! How bad is she hurt?

I don’t know yet.

What can we do?

Leave… just leave.

Okay, son. I’ll call you in the morning.

I spend the night lying by my pool, praying and watching the

horizon for the first sign of the sun. Charlie and Brick stay by my side all

night, leaving at the last minute to give themselves time to get ready and meet

me at the hospital. As soon as I change, I race upstairs and shower quickly to

get all the blood off, then put my uniform on just in case they give me trouble

at the hospital.

God, please let her be okay… Please. I have never prayed

this much in my life. Let’s just hope God is listening. When I hop out of my

truck, Charlie pulls up, then Brick. The woman at the nurse’s station smiles as

we approach.

“What can I do for Canid’s finest this morning?”

“Casey Bryan. She was brought in last night. Any news on her

condition?”

“I’ll get the doctor for you. Just have a seat over there.”

Have a seat? Have a seat? Fuck the

seat! I want to know what’s going on! Brick places his hand on my shoulder,

guiding me toward the chairs. I pace the hallway impatiently, wondering what

the hell is taking so long.

“Sheriff?”

“Yes?” I rush over to the doctor and take his outstretched

hand.

“Dr. Jameson. Miss Bryan is in my care.”

“How is she?”

“She’s resting. I had to give her a sedative.”

Resting. That’s good, right? “So, she’s okay? Was she bitten…

scratched?”

“A few bumps and bruises, but she’ll be fine,” the doctor

assures me. “Her blood pressure is a little high, but that’s to be expected.”

I let out a huge sigh of relief and hear it echoed behind me.

“However….”

However? However what? I wait for the doctor to continue, my

heart in my throat.

“The babies didn’t make it.”

“Babies?”

Brick and Charlie step forward, one on each side.

“We tried everything we could to save them, but there was

too much blood. She was too far gone by the time she arrived.”

I look over at my friends incredulously, wondering if I’m

hearing the doctor correctly.

“Babies?” I repeat.

“Yes. Miss Bryan was eight weeks pregnant with twins.”

Pregnant… twins… babies… my babies!

“Sheriff, are you okay?” Dr. Jameson asks.

No, I’m not. I fall into one of the chairs, tears stinging

my eyes.

“Could you give us a minute, Doc?”

A look of realization spreads across his face and then he

nods at Charlie and walks away.

“She was pregnant. Why didn’t she tell me?”

She was pregnant and alone… and now I not only failed her, but

I also failed my children.

Stone. Hurt turns to anger, and I ball my fists at my sides

as his face materializes before me. I clench my jaw, my chest heaving.

“I think we should get him out of here, Charlie.”

“I think you’re right. Come on, Ethan.”

Their voices are mere whispers to me as they pull me to my

feet and rush me to the exit. My wolf is hovering just below the surface, so I

close my eyes, knowing they’ve changed color. When I open them, I’m lying in

the bed of the pickup, Charlie leaning over me.

“Come on, man,” he says urgently. “You can’t lose it now.

Casey needs you.”

The world is spinning out of control before my eyes. I’m a

failure. I don’t deserve to be alive, let alone an alpha. How am I supposed to

protect a pack when I can’t even protect my family? Casey… my babies….

“Let me out. Let me out!”

Charlie taps on the window, and Brick pulls over. I hop over

the side and run into the woods, falling to my knees. The struggle of keeping

my wolf contained mixed with the emotions running through me is like nothing

I’ve ever felt before. The growl I let out is filled with anger, pain, loss—so

many things I’m feeling in this moment. Why should I hold him back? I should

just let him take over. Totally. Anything is better than feeling like this. Before

I can give in, Brick’s voice slices through the fog.

“I can’t imagine how you feel right now, but think of how

she must feel. You’re all she has now.”

Something snaps inside me as his words register. He’s right.

She’s been attacked by wolves, lost her father and her babies. I have to get

back to her. We have to get back to her. He pulls back slowly,

reluctantly, and I rise to my feet.

“Let’s go.”