#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon

August

I spent the rest of the day sulking in my office. I had no idea what I was going to do about Josephine. She was perfect, she was my angel, but she had no idea what I was. Although, I could tell that she felt something. Most humans who have a werewolf mate feel the tingles and the sparks, but nothing else. Josie felt more.

I could have kissed Rosie for giving me the heads up about Josephine. The second I found out she was walking around town, I raced over there. I admit, I did feel a little guilty about having Sheila cancel her meeting with Josie, but I needed more than an hour with my mate. Getting to spend the morning with her had to be a gift from the moon goddess. The blissful high I was in from today was the only thing keeping my horrible mood at bay.

It was after dark when my Beta, Ethan, mindlinked me asking where I was. A minute later, he knocked on the door.

“This better be good.” I growled at him. Ethan and my Gamma, Hayden, knew I had found my mate. Kasey had a big mouth. They also knew that meant to stay far away from me and my sour mood.

“It is, Alpha. Someone is at the Valentine’s place.” I jumped out of the chair.

“Excuse me?” I said with a clenched jaw.

“The patrol saw someone’s car parked out front and the lights are on.” He explained. That place was off limits, everyone knew that. The Valentine home was to be preserved and protected, it was one of our most absolute rules.

“I’m on my way. Tell the patrol to hold their position.” I snapped. I ran out of the packhouse and lunged across the field, exploding into my giant black wolf, Arlo.

We raced towards the edge of our land, the border between Black Hallows and Little Compton. I shifted before I broke through the tree line. One of the patrol wolves shifted and tossed me a pair of pants. I angrily pulled them on and pounded on the front door.

I heard someone rustle inside and, just as my anger nearly compelled me to rip the door from its hinges, I was smacked in the face with the sweet smell of strawberry and vanilla. I immediately calmed.

How could my mate’s smell be here? My mood shifted again to concern. Was my mate in danger? I yanked the door open and nearly fell to my knees. There she was, standing in the middle of the living room with her hands balled into tiny fists at her side. Her face was scrunched up in anger and I swear she looked like she was ready to fight.

Her eyes locked with mine and she immediately relaxed. Then she sighed and looked caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I couldn’t help but grin. Her face was precious.

“I guess I should have known this would happen.” She mumbled, sitting back down on the couch like she belonged there. I shut the door behind me and mindlinked the patrol to back off. I didn’t know what was going on here, but I wasn’t letting them anywhere near my mate.

“Josie….” I questioned but stopped at the look on her face. It was filled with the same pain I saw earlier today and all I wanted was to take that pain away. I couldn’t stop myself this time. Arlo compelled me forward. I dropped to my knees in front of her and put my hand on her leg which she had curled up underneath her small body. She looked at me, instead of seeing surprise on her face, she had a sad smile on her lips.

She picked up a picture frame that sat on the end table and held it close to her face. She rubbed her thumb along the family. She held it out for me to see. It was the Valentine family. Alpha Johnathan, Luna Marleigh, and their two children. It was a picture I had seen a thousand times. I looked at the children and my world stopped. It was like a fog had been lifted. I looked at the bright green eyes on Alpha Johnathan’s toddler daughter and into the same green eyes of my beloved.

“I took the name Taylor when I fled and moved to North Carolina with my brother. It was the name he had chosen when he left. But,” she sighed,

“I was born Josephine Valentine.” She sat the picture frame down and watched my face. I had nothing to say, I was stunned silent. However, what she did next nearly sent me over the edge. She brought her hand up and tangled it in my hair. I growled and pulled myself closer to her, our foreheads nearly touching.

“I know what you are,” she whispered, her breath mixing with mine,

“And I know what you are to me.” I couldn’t stop myself anymore, I grabbed her chin with my hand and brought her lips to mine.