#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon

Josephine

“What can I help you with, Josie?” Mayze asked with her back still facing me. She was sitting in the sunroom, surrounded by plants. She said it made her feel more at home and connected to nature.

“May I join you?” I asked her, motioning towards the empty seat beside her. She nodded,

“Please.”

“I wanted to ask you a question or maybe a favor?” I wasn’t really sure what I expected to come from this. Mayze raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow at me,

“Yes?”

“I want a way to mark my mate.” I pushed out in one breath. Mayze chuckled at my nervousness.

“Of course you do, it only makes sense. For all you’re doing for me and the sacrifices you’re making, I would be willing to do this for you.” She agreed.

“What can you do?” I asked.

Mayze held up her closed fist and I watched as it glowed gold just like the key did only a few days ago. A sparkling aura took over her hand and then vanished all at once. She opened it and revealed something that looked like a stamp. She held it out to me. I examined the mahogany handle with a brass knob at the top and a circle plate on the bottom.

“Allow me.” She said, asking for the stamp back.

I slowly handed it back to her, confused about its purpose. She pushed my hair to the side and gently pressed the stamp against my mark. I flinched as I felt the cool metal turn hot. It felt like the plate suction cupped to my skin and then she removed it with an resounding pop. She handed the stamp back to me and I noticed that the round metal piece was now decorated with my mark: a small wolf howling at a crescent moon surrounded by stars.

“Press that against his marking spot and hold it there until he feels it turn hot.” She instructed.

“Thank you so much.” I whispered, wrapping my hands around the stamp and holding it close to my chest.

“Thank you!” I squealed again, running out of the room, desperate to find my mate.

I could sense that August was still in his office, and I curbed my desire to burst into that room and slam this stamp against his neck. Instead, I forced myself into our room and flopped down on the bed, waiting for my mate to finish the meeting I had, regrettably, set up for him.

“Love, what are you doing in here?” August startled me from my dreams.

I shook myself awake and looked around, realizing that I must have fallen asleep while waiting for August. I was sprawled out in the center of the bed with the stamp clutched to my chest. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“I thought you would be out and about?” August said, sitting down beside me,

“I was surprised to sense you in our room.”

“I was waiting for you.” I admitted.

“Oh? Do you need to use me for your dirty needs, because I’m completely okay with that.” August smirked. I smacked his arm,

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” I warned him. August laughed,

“What did you need, love?” He asked in between chuckles, taking my hand in his.

“Mayze made me this.” I showed him the stamp in my hand.

“And this would be?” He asked.

“Trust me?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Always.” He responded a bit skeptically. I pulled myself up to my knees, tugging his collar down and posing the stamp over his marking spot.

“What are you…..ahhh!” August started to argue but I shoved the stamp against his skin, silencing him.

He called out as the warm mark seared into his skin. He threw his head back and let out a growl of pleasure. I saw Arlo flash in his eyes and I knew the mark was complete. I pulled the stamp back and admired my mark on his neck. August ran his fingers across the already healed mark and grinned. He grabbed a hold of my hips and flipped me around so I was laying on the bed, his body hovering over mine.

“You are amazing.” He growled.

“I know.” I said smugly before he silenced me with his lips.

He overtook my body with his hands as both of us felt the overwhelming effect of our shared mark for the first time. We ripped each other’s clothes off, tearing them to shreds. I dug my nails into his back, trailing claw marks behind them as his hand gripped my bare thigh.

“I’ll love you forever.” I promised him, baring my face in his neck and running kisses across his strong shoulders.

“And I you, my love.” August replied, reclaiming my lips.

“I’m not even going to ask how that got there, but I’m happy for you both.” Ethan pointed at August’s mark as we joined the pack for dinner.

“You both finally smell normal.” Wyatt observed, sitting down at the table.

“Thanks, Wyatt, thank you.” I grumbled at him in embarrassment.

“My pleasure, Luna.” He laughed at my rosy cheeks.

“Everyone shut up, I have something to say.” August said, standing up from the table.

I looked at him confused, I had no idea what his announcement was. I glanced around the table, noticing, for the first time since my arrival here, Benji’s presence alongside Wyatt, Logan, Hayden, Kasey, and Ethan. Before August could speak, the doors to the dining room burst open and an older version of August walked in.