Page 29 of Forsaken Desire (Ruthless Wolves #1)

“I was rogue,” I offered instead of telling them I didn’t remember shit from my past. A little tidbit from Tate. Rogue shifters had no pack. They were rare as hell, especially since shifters thrived in groups. And it was safer.

Samantha’s mouth formed a circle, nodding.

“Only under the energy of a Blood Moon can mates claim each other. Challenges and ceremonies are also events just for Blood Moons.”

I knew most of that.

“Birth control works during the Blood Moon, right?” I asked, thinking of Lucian’s comment.

Samantha and Alex exchanged looks. An obvious one that shouted their concern.

“Yes,” Samantha began slowly.

A pup ran across the tile. My question was too telling. I cleared my throat and eyed the families.

“And where do the kids go?”

“On Blood Moons, kids aren’t allowed outside; they stay in here, and games are set up for them,” Alex’s curiosity filled his tone. “During Heat Seasons in winter and spring, we take more precautions.”

Questions bubbled behind my lips, but I’d already made it obvious I had no idea about shifter customs.

“Soril and I volunteered to stay with the kids this Blood Moon,” Samantha said, thankfully saving me from the questions I wanted to spit out. Samantha frowned. “You’re very different from what Sasha was saying about you.”

“Your first mistake was listening to what Sasha says,” Alex commented, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re right, it wouldn’t benefit her now that Cierra is on the outs with the Alpha—” Alex slapped the surface of the table, and Samantha winced.

“Sorry,” she muttered, sheepishly. “Honestly, it was clear he never really liked her. I mean, you don’t continue to fuck female shifter prostitutes when you’re in a happy relationship, if you know what I mean?—”

“Please stop,” Alex groused, his gaze fixed on me and whatever expression I was making.

Her eyes widened, and she clamped her lips together.

“I’m sorry, Luna.” Her eyes widened on me. There was no deception in their depths.

I waved my hand, batting her comment away. I was going to have to come to terms with Lucian’s past, as much as it stung.

A loud bang dragged my attention to the entrance. Cierra stormed forward, her eyes set on me. Behind her, a chair had been knocked over, the source of the noise.

“Cierra,” Sasha hissed as she passed her.

Great, she was coming straight for me. I sighed, leaning back and waiting for her to spit her venom.

She was going to challenge me, I would bet anything on it.

“You did this—” Alex got in her way, keeping her back with his body. She gripped his arm, pushing against him as she looked around his arm at me. “You’re sitting where I used to sit.”

The statement slapped me across the face, and I stiffened. I wiped my hands on the napkin and stood.

“The challenge of the night, begins before the moon’s peak.” Lucian’s bellowed words echoed across the silent room. With how many people there were in here, it was amazing how quiet it was. The movement that ensued was mind-boggling.

“That’s my cue to start setting up for the kids,” Samantha commented, and a tall, thin man walked up to the table. “Luna, this is my mate Soril.”

He lowered his head respectfully.

“Luna.”

Alex took a step closer to me, yanking my attention off the couple.

My gaze snagged on Lucian striding closer. Alex’s eyes widened at his brother.

Cierra snarled, and Alex forced her back. It also served to get him out of Lucian’s way. He looked scary barreling down on me with blood on his shirt . . . but also kind of hot.

Lucian slipped his arm around my waist and yanked me flush to him.

“Make sure she makes it to the challenge arena,” Lucian said, attention on Alex.

“You planned the challenge, didn’t you?” Cierra hissed, yanking against the arms holding her. “Lucian,” she screamed. “You promised!”

Lucian moved in front of me, his chest blocking my view.

“What’s going on?” The movement behind him didn’t stop. His hands clasped my face, and he tipped my chin up.

“Want to return to the house?”

“Lucian, what was she talking about?” My question pertained to everything. Literally, what was she talking about?

He sighed, and his vanilla scent wafted across my face.

He swept his gaze around the dining room, and he escorted me through a side door.

I stepped into darkness, and he enclosed us inside. A click sounded, and the light flared on.

We always ended up in closets. He combed his hair back repeatedly, his movements erratic and jerky.

An energy lifted the hair on my arms. The same energy I’d felt before. That had been the Blood Moon that I’d felt over the years .

“Lucian?” I murmured. “What promise did you make her?” There were more questions I had, but that was the one I couldn’t get out of my head.

He shoved his fingers through his hair again. The stiffness on his face hadn’t loosened.

“If she were to give me five years after . . .” He trailed off, his eyes taking on a far-off expression. I’d never seen genuine pain like that until now. “I agreed to take her as my chosen.”

I knew that, but it still hurt. But still, it felt like pieces were missing. Or maybe that was the hollow feeling in my stomach.

He rolled his shoulders and clasped my jaw.

“You, you are all that matters to me. Nothing will ever change.” The fierce tone raked at my insides.

“Did you love her?” I blurted the stupid question, but I needed to know.

“Never,” he croaked. “It was familiarity. We’d been shoved together since we were little. Anything to do with her was pure familiarity.”

I licked my lips.

“Say something,” he urged, his eyes searching mine.

“If she keeps getting in my way, I’m going to challenge her.” That was the only way to shut down any drama, and I’d gotten good at shutting things down.

He straightened.

“There won’t be anything left of her for you to worry about.” The ominous words left me silent. He pulled the door open, and it was clear that it had become dusk with the shade of light filtering into the hall.

“What does that mean?”

“Alpha, all the kids are in,” Samantha called from across the way. Lucian nodded and kept me close to his side as he guided me to the exit. The doors slammed behind us.

“Lucian, what do you mean?”

He slowed and kissed the top of my head, then continued pulling me away.

I wasn’t getting an answer.