#5 When the New Moon Falls

Austyn

I was astonished at Leo’s reaction. I mean, he just threw that desk out like it weighed nothing. I can’t even imagine how heavy, not to mention expensive, it was. He didn’t care. For the first time, I finally believed the sincerity of his words.

I knew what he was going to ask me before he even opened his mouth. Of course he was curious about why I was afraid of a perfectly harmless, inanimate object.

I stared at his kind, handsome, honest face, wrestling with the idea of trusting him. His eyes showed me nothing but concern, his face full of worry. I sighed. This man truly cared about me.

“They didn’t like an audience.” I said suddenly. Leo looked at me, confused.

“Alpha Victor and Kayden. They didn’t like an audience when they tormented me.” I clarfied. Leo’s face hardened, his hands balling into white knuckled fists.

“They beat you in their office?” He said between clenched teeth. I nodded,

“Among other things.”

“What other things?” He growled the words more than he spoke them.

“It’s where Kayden rejected me and where Alpha Victor…..propositioned me.” I admitted. Leo’s entire body went rigid,

“Did he….” He couldn’t even say the words. I shook my head,

“No. But, he would have, if you hadn’t rescued me.” I said. I felt the sudden need to comfort my mate so I reached across the space between us and laid my hand on his arm. His entire body immediately relaxed, almost like it was submitting to my touch,

“I owe you so much.” I added. Leo was staring at my hand in disbelief. My words seemed to unlock him and he grabbed my hand in his, not wasting the opportunity to touch me.

“You owe me nothing.” He said,

“I should get you home. You’re still healing.” He added. I nodded, suddenly aware of the throbbing coming from my ribs.

Leo stood from his chair and pulled me up with him. He looked at our entwined hands like he was waiting for me to pull away. I decided not to. Leo looked up at me and smiled, tugging me along beside him. We walked silently back to my cabin and I began to get comfortable with his presence.

When we reached the cabin, Leo pointed out the three wolves on duty, naming them. I grinned at him, feeling grateful for his honesty. I knew the insecurities he was feeling, but he put my needs above them. I surprised Leo when I invited him inside.

“I thought maybe you could help me with this.” I said, picking up the spray he had brought earlier for the pain. Leo nodded eagerly.

He helped me unwarp the gauze and sprayed my ribs. I winced as the cold hit my sensitive skin. After it dried, Leo wrapped me up again.

“Thank you.” I sighed, sitting down on the couch.

“Of course. Are you going to be okay here for a little while? I should go get some work done.” Leo looked at me longingly and I could tell that he didn’t want to go.

“I’ll be fine. I could use some rest.” I offered him a small smile. Leo nodded, frowning,

“I’ll come back later.” He promised before leaving the cabin.

I laid my head on the back of the couch and closed my eyes. I fell asleep almost instantly. Eventually, a memory invaded my dreams, turning them into a nightmare.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself.” Kayden purred as he stalked me across the dorm room.

“Wh…what are you doing here?” I whimpered, retreating from his dark expression.

“My wolf, he made me come.” Kayden said.

“Your wolf..f.”

“I turned 18 last week. He showed me you. He wants you.” Kayden’s voice was scaring me as much as his eyes. I bumped into my dresser and had nowhere else to go.

“Why…y?” I felt my bottom lip begin to tremble.

“He wants you.” Kayden repeated. He closed the distance between us with one long stride. His hands came to my waist, his face so close to mine I could feel his breath.

“Kayden. Ppp…please.” I cried,

“Tell me his name.”

“What?” Kayden stopped his advances.

“Your wolf, what’s his name?” I asked, trying to distract him.

“Robin.” He said. I looked into Kayden’s eyes and saw that they were dark,

“Robin.” I spoke to his wolf. I saw his eyes flash and I knew he was listening,

“I’m not 18, I don’t have my wolf yet. Are you my mate?” Robin nodded Kayden’s head.

“I’m not ready for this, Robin. Please. I’m scared.” I tried to appeal to Kayden’s wolf, knowing that his instincts would be to comfort me, not hurt me.

Kayden blinked rapidly and released his grip on me. He stumbled backwards.

“You stupid bitch.” Kayden regained control,

“I came all the way here for you and you talk my wolf into giving up.” He growled.

“I’m sss…sorry, Kayden.”

“Why he even wants you is beyond me.” Kayden huffed,

“If you really are my mate, I’ll reject you the second you turn 18.” Kayden promised.

“Robin won’t let you.” I argued.

“Naive girl.” Kayden rolled his eyes and approached me again. I tensed, flinching against his presence,

“You’re useless to me now. Maybe someday you’ll serve another purpose.” Kayden purred, touching my body again. I recoiled from his touch,

“You’ll beg for me to touch you one day.” Kayden grimaced before moving away from me and vanishing from the room.

I stood frozen in my dorm room, trying to regain control of my breathing. I had no idea how Kayden even got in here. It was a securely locked and guarded all girls school in Nevada, hours from the packhouse in Oregon. The door opened again and I jumped, but it was only my roommate.

“Luna! Luna, wake up!” I was being shaken as someone screamed in my face. I gasped and my eyes opened widely. I was staring at the unknown face of a very naked man.

“Excuse me?” I shouted, sitting up and scurrying away from him.

“Luna, you were screaming.” He said, staring at me.

“You’re naked.” I said. The man looked down at himself like he hadn’t noticed.

“I’m Hank, one of the guard wolves.” He explained. I started to relax just as a familiar scent filled the room, calming me.

“Get. Out!” Leo’s voice blasted through the room as he grabbed Hank by the arm and threw him out of the house.

“How dare you enter the home of the Luna like that!” Leo hollered.

“She was yelling, I just wanted to make sure she was safe.” Hank said defensively. Leo slammed the door in his face and rushed to my side.

“Are you okay?” His eyes softened as he clutched my face in his hands.

“I’m fine.” I shooed his hands away,

“It was just a nightmare.” I said. Leo sighed and fell back on his butt, hitting the floor in front of the couch.

“You scared me to death.” He said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” I apologized,

“Don’t be mad at Hank.” I added, earning a growl from Leo.

“Don’t say his name right now, please.”

“Okay.” I agreed.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked.

“No, I don’t want to disturb you from working. It’s okay, you can go.” I shook my head quickly. Leo laughed at me without humor,

“You don’t get it, do you?” He sighed,

“You are the most important thing to me in the entire universe. Not the pack, not work, not my family, nothing is above you. You need me here and I’m not going anywhere.”

“It was just a nightmare, Leo, I’m not dying.” I grumbled. Leo growled at me again,

“Don’t say you’re dying.”

“Stop growling at me.” I countered. Leo huffed in frustration.

“I’m sorry, baby.” His voice softened.

“It was just a nightmare about Kayden.” I confessed and I saw Leo’s face shift,

“Do not growl again.” I warned him. Leo clamped his mouth shut,

“It was about the time he broke into my boarding school. He had just turned 18 and his wolf forced him to find me. It was like he knew we were mates even though I was still under aged. He tried to….he wanted to…” I motioned towards my body, unable to say the words,

“But, I talked to his wolf and convinced him to leave. When I came to him on my 18th birthday, he knew what I was going to say. He rejected me before the words even left my mouth.” I closed my eyes as the emotions threatened to ravish me.

I felt Leo’s hands on my knees as he knelt in front of me. My eyes fluttered open and I met his,

“He can’t touch you.” He said sternly.

“I know. I trust you to protect me.” I replied honestly. Leo’s face lit up,

“You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that.” He said. I looked around for the first time since I woke up and noticed the window, it was dark.

“What time is it?” I asked. Leo followed my gaze before he answered,

“Almost nine. I got caught up at work, I should’ve been here earlier.” Leo replied with guilt in his eyes.

“I slept for almost twelve hours.” I gasped, ignoring most of what Leo said.

“You needed the rest, you’ve been through a lot.” Leo said.

“But, I’m still tired.” I sighed.

“Obviously you didn’t have a very restful nap.” Leo said, reminding me of the nightmare,

“Let me help you upstairs to bed.” He offered. I nodded sheepishly and leaned on his body as we climbed the steps.