#2 When the Moon Turns Red

Noah

Sawyer, Greyson, Jack, and myself were going over reports in my office when I felt my chest tighten.

“You okay, Alpha?” Sawyer asked me. I put my hand on my chest and stayed silent, reaching out for Evie in my mind. I knew that what I was feeling were her emotions, I had felt it so many times before. But, I couldn’t tell what she was feeling.

“Do you want me to go check on the Luna?” Sawyer spoke again, sensing my uneasiness. I nodded at him wordlessly and he was gone without a second thought.

“Should I keep going?” Greyson asked, looking up from the map we had sprawled out on a table in my office. I nodded at him.

We were examining the borders, trying to figure out where the weakness was that allowed the rogues to enter our territory on more than one occasion. Greyson rambled on with Jack while I half listened, but mostly, I was waiting to hear from Sawyer. Greyson and Jack were in charge of the borders, they handled it flawlessly and I trusted whatever they decided.

I sensed someone coming towards my office and I assumed it was Sawyer. The door came flying open and I launched up from my desk chair. Evie was standing in the doorway with a wild look on her face and tears in her eyes. I closed the distance between us in a few long strides and took her face in my hands,

“What’s wrong?” I asked her sternly, examining her body. I growled when I saw a bruise forming around her upper arm, it was clearly in the shape of a handprint.

“Who did this?” I said between my teeth, looking at the bruise. I felt Greyson and Jack approach me from behind. Her bottom lip was quivering as she looked into my eyes. Before she could speak, Sawyer appeared behind her with a concerned look on his face,

“Oh, thank the Goddess, there she is.” He sounded breathless,

“I couldn’t find her anywhere.” Sawyer’s mouth clamped shut quickly as he took in the scene around him.

“What happened?” He repeated my question. I knew Evie was scared, I felt her body trembling in my arms. I stroked her face in my hands and pulled her close to me, comforting her. I started stroking her hair as she sobbed against my chest.

My touch was soft with my mate, but my expression was deadly as I looked around the room at my Gamma and brothers. They were on high alert, ready to hunt down whoever harmed their Luna.

Finally, Evie pulled away from me slightly and sniffed as she looked back into my eyes.

“Everleigh, my love, please tell me what happened.” I said to her again in a much softer tone.

“I was trying to find you, I got lost,” She began, her voice shaking,

“I met your father.” My heart sank at her words and I knew then exactly what had happened.

“He did this to you.” I attempted to control my voice, but my composure was slipping as I looked at her arm. She nodded, biting her lip.

“Sawyer, take Evie back to her bedroom. Greyson and Jack, bring our father to me.” I growled dangerously to the room. Greyson and Jack quickly left the room as Sawyer waited for Evie to go with him.

“I want to stay with you.” Evie pouted, seeming so small and innocent in my arms. It was the most vulnerable I think I had ever seen her.

“I need to deal with my father, Evie. His actions are unacceptable.” I told her, stroking her face.

“I know, I want to be here when you do.” She surprised me.

“Everleigh….”

“He needs to take me seriously. That won’t happen if you hide me away.” She narrowed her eyes at me, gathering all her courage. I sighed at her.

She wasn’t wrong. Evie needed to be seen as a strong Luna, but I wrestled with what I wanted, which was to hide my mate away and keep her safe from everything and everyone.

“You don’t have to do this now.” I told her, but I knew it was a lost cause.

“Yes, I do.” She said sternly, drying her tears. I nodded at Sawyer who took his place at Evie’s side as we settled into the office. I sat behind my desk with Evie in the chair next to me, Sawyer behind her. Greyson and Jack brought my father in a few minutes later. They looked pissed and my father looked smug.

Until my father’s eyes landed on Evie. His expression shifted to astonishment and rage.

“What the hell is she doing here?” He roared, pointing his finger towards Evie.

“She’s my Luna, this is where she belongs.” I responded calmly as Greyson and Jack shoved our father down into a chair. He looked at his sons in horror,

“That bitch has turned all of my sons against me, can’t you see that?” My father yelled. I felt Evie stiffen beside me.

“How dare you speak to your Luna like that!” Sawyer growled from behind Evie.

“How dare you speak to your former Alpha like that!” My father copied him.

“Shut. Up.” I snarled, glaring at my father who recoiled at my words,

“You harmed the Luna.” I said dangerously. My father’s smug face disappeared when he realized how serious I was,

“I had to show her her place.” My father said.

“The Luna ranks above you, Dad.” Greyson spoke up,

“That’s her place.” Jack added, glaring at him.

“A human does not rank above me.” My father replied matter-of-factly,

“She shouldn’t even be in your office. This is no place for a woman.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, resisting the urge to murder my father right then and there. He was a bigger dick than I had even realized.

“I’m starting to see why Mom fled the state.” I grumbled.

“What did you just say to me?” My father jumped up from his chair.

“Sit down!” I yelled at him in my Alpha voice. He had no choice but to obey.

“You harmed the Luna.” I said again, daring my father to argue. He stayed silent this time. I looked over at Evie and took her hand,

“The punishment is up to you, my Luna.” I said to her, kissing her knuckles. She looked from me to my father, glaring at him. I wondered what was going through her head.

“I want an apology.” She finally replied. I held back a surprised chuckle and I could tell that my brothers were too. Apologizing wasn’t in my father’s wheelhouse.

“What?” My father’s eyes bulged out of his head. I’m pretty sure he would have preferred a death sentence.

“I want you to apologize to me for your behavior and show me the respect I deserve.” Evie demanded. My father looked at me and I crossed my arms with a smug smile on my face.

“You heard your Luna.” My father clenched his fists and glared at everyone in the room.

“You can either do it now, or after a very lengthy stay in the dungeon. Your choice.” I shrugged. My father sighed grudgingly and averted his gaze.

“I apologize….” Evie interrupted him,

“Look at me when you speak to me.” She demanded. My father sighed again and met my mate’s gaze.

“I apologize,” my father began again,

“For harming you and speaking to you disrespectfully. It won’t happen again.” My father’s voice sounded bored, but, honestly, I was surprised he apologized at all.

“I hope not.” Evie nodded, seeming to accept his apology.

“You’re lucky our Luna is merciful.” Sawyer grumbled. He was right. I was ready to banish my father. My father grunted in response.

“Leave.” I ended the conversation and looked away from my father, fixing my gaze on my mate. Greyson and Jack took our father out of the room and left themselves. I waved Sawyer away so I could be alone with Evie.