#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon

August

I was blinded with rage as I broke the doorway that allowed that witch and rogue to come through and hurt my precious mate. The mirror shattered over the bathroom sinks.

“August.” Her small voice squeaked from the floor and I was immediately pulled from rage.

“Come on, love, let’s get you to the infirmary.” I bent down and scooped her up, holding her bridal style.

“I’m a doctor, August, I don’t need to go to the infirmary.” She pouted but I wasn’t having it.

“You can’t give yourself a concussion test, Dr. Taylor.” I shook my head at her. She grumbled but knew better than to protest. After a few minutes, Josie was hooked up to an IV and resting in the infirmary.

“As you suspected, Lu….Dr. Taylor, it’s just a mild concussion; you don’t even need stitches, just some butterfly strips.” Dr. Brown said as he pulled over a try of butterfly strips and alcohol wipes. Josie pushed away the doctor’s hand,

“I got it.” She snapped. Dr. Brown backed away slowly, looking over at me. I shrugged and waved him away. I looked back at Josie in time to see her yanking out the IV,

“Ow!” I jumped as if I was feeling her pain.

“Aren’t I supposed to be the one saying that?” She grumbled, holding a cotton ball to her vein.

“Why did you do that?” I winced.

“I don’t need to be hydrated, I need to get out of here.” She replied, taping the cotton ball to the inside of her elbow and reaching for the tray of medical supplies.

“At least let me help.” I demanded, grabbing the antiseptic wipes. She sighed and held up the mirror so she could inspect my work.

“You are such a back seat driver.” I laughed at her and was rewarded with an eyeroll.

“Are you okay?” I asked her quietly as I carefully placed the butterfly strips over her wound.

“I’m fine.” She struggled to say.

“You’re a bad liar.” I smirked, she tried to smile back but failed.

“I promise, love, we’re going to find them and make them pay for what they did.” I swore that I wouldn’t let anyone harm what was mine.

“I need to speak to your father.” She spoke up and I looked at her curiously.

“He might know something about this deal my father supposedly made.” She clarified.

“Do you want me to mindlink him here?” I asked, running my hand through her hair. She nodded.

"Father, get to the infirmary, now. I ordered him.”

He immediately responded. I still wasn’t on good terms with my father after learning the truth about his part in keeping me from my mate so he certainly owed me his prompt obedience.

“He’s on his way.” I told Josie, running my thumb across her cheek. She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning into my touch. We stayed like that, in silence, until my father appeared in the doorway.

“Luna, what happened?” Benji rushed to Josie’s side, bowing his head in respect.

“The Luna had some visitors today….” I proceeded to tell my father everything Josie had told me. I carefully monitored Benji’s face for any reaction. He seemed generally surprised and concerned.

“Did you know?” Josie spoke up.

“Did I know what, Luna?” Josie swung her legs off the side of the bed and grabbed my shoulder, steading herself.

“Did you know about the deal my father made?” She demanded. My father shook his head,

“I’ve never heard of such a deal. I know what the pack knows, Luna Marleigh was a human mated to an Alpha. At least, that’s what I thought I knew.” Benji said. I glared at him, trying to decide if I wanted to believe him or not.

“I swear, I’m telling the truth.” He assured us both. I listened to his heart rate and sensed that he wasn’t lying. I glanced at Josie who nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Fine.” She mumbled.

“With your permission, Luna, Alpha, I would be willing to dig around for any information.” Benji offered. I looked over at Josie who nodded again, this time saying silently.

“Good, you’re dismissed.” I waved my father away.

“Josie….” I started but was interrupted when Wyatt came bursting through the door.

“Jo, Gus….” Wyatt was breathing heavily as he practically yelled our names.

“Damn it Wyatt, I am your Alpha, stop calling me Gus.” I growled. Wyatt ignored me, as usual,

“Someone was caught trying to break into Jo’s house.” Wyatt reported. Josie jumped up from the bed in shock, but she moved too fast, swaying as she tried to move towards Wyatt.

“Woah….what’s going on?” Wyatt lunged forward to steady her, but I was already there, holding her in my arms.

“She hit her head.” I grumbled.

“Yeah, when a witch and rogue broke into my bathroom using a mirror.” Josie said through her teeth, her dry humor cutting through the air. Wyatt’s wide eyes glanced back and forth between me and my mate. I just shrugged.

“Do you think that’s related to Josie’s house?” Wyatt asked.

“Let’s find out.” Josie said, pushing me away and finding her footing across the room.

“Josie, you can’t….” I started but the glare I received shut me up real quick.

“Wyatt, get Hayden and….” he interrupted me,

“The Gamma and three more of the Luna’s patrol wolves are already on their way.” I looked at Wyatt in surprise.

“I’m not totally useless, brother.” He smirked, leading the way out the door.

We drove quickly to Josie’s house, all the while I was mindlinking Hayden privately for updates. He arrived at the house several minutes before us with the rest of the patrol. They had the intruder restrained on the front porch of her house, awaiting our arrival.

“What are they saying?” Josie asked, raising her eyebrow at me. Busted, I sighed.

“They have the intruder restrained but he’s not talking. He says he’ll only speak with you.” I confessed.

“He?” She asked. I nodded. Finally we arrived at the house. Josie looked around the front seat of the car so she could get a better view out the window. The second the car was in park, she threw herself out of the car.

“Josie!” I cried out in shock, chasing after her.

“What the hell were you thinking?” She yelled at the intruder. Waving her hands feverishly at Dru and Theo, she demanded they untie him.

“You’re real popular around here, sis.” The intruder chuckled and that’s when I realized the man tied up on my mate’s porch was none other than Jared Valentine, the man I stole the title of Alpha from.