Page 49 of The Red Moon

Before I can even move, Natalia latches onto my shoulders, claws burying into my skin. My stance weakens when her leg finds home behind mine, the same spot I showed her to target. Size doesn’t matter with this technique. You don’t have to be bigger than your opponent to use their weight against them, and my little wolf is doing it flawlessly.

I slam to the floor on my back, and again, she doesn’t give me a chance to counter. She straddles me, urging my swelling cock with each tantalizing thrust of her hips. Satisfied moans pass between us, only silenced when her mouth finds home on mine.

I’m not sure if Jade is still watching, and to be honest, I couldn’t care less. Right now, I have the one thing keeping me anchored to this world in my arms, my hands knotted at the small of her back. Natalia’s only seen enough to scratch the surface of what’s really waiting in the shadows. If the rumors are true, there might be something more sinister than my father’s pack. One thing at a time, though. I’m going to train her. Prepare her to survive in this world of monsters. I will do whatever I can to keep her safe. But training will have to wait. At least for now.

THIRTY-TWO

NATALIE

We train the next few days at the Duval castle, first with the elders, then with the rest of the pack. As agreed upon, I am there for both sessions, but that didn’t stop someone else joining in, too. While the alpha usually retired to his chambers long before the second round of training began, Jade made it a point to attend every single one, marching straight to front and pushing other wolves out of the way to have a clear line of sight to Nik. Her offhand comments might’ve stopped since I found her watching us, but I didn’t need my newfound hearing or smell to feel the glares whenever I wasn’t looking. Nik said I’d have to earn her respect, but I think the only thing I’ve managed to do so far is paint an even bigger target on my back.

Each night ends the same. Personal training with Nik. This is the most exhaustive part of my day, and not for the intimate reasons I might’ve hoped for. I don’t know if getting laid out on stone floors for two hours can be called romantic, but I always leave with enough bruises to count until my healing finally sets in. He doesn’t hold back, and to be honest, I’m thankful for that. The helplessness I’ve struggled with since I was brought into his world feels a little more manageable when I have the means to fight back. And if I have no problem knocking the heir apparent on his ass, maybe I’m not as helpless as I thought.

Breakfast this morning mirrors the others, large platters of different breads and pastries lining the center of each table. I pick at what I can but ultimately settle for a few bites of a croissant and enough coffee to make it through the day. Not that it helps. Not with two separate shifting lessons followed by more one-on-one training with Nik. To say I’m exhausted is an understatement.

“Look what rat drug in,” Dimitri says, elbowing my arm.

I don’t correct him. No, I follow his gaze to the entryway and spot Alexey making a beeline for the closest tray of food.

He’s been absent for the most part, only appearing periodically in the dining hall dusted in what looks like gunpowder and finely ground silver. He doesn’t stay long, thankfully enough. I don’t know if my stomach could handle sitting through an entire meal next to him covered in silver fragments. No, the soldier just stacks a plate with as much food as he can and disappears down the hallway, not saying a word to anyone.

“What is he working on?” I ask, turning to Nik first, then Dimitri.

Clément draws from his cup and gulps it down, swallowing the large chunk of food he’s spent the past two minutes chewing. “Alexey offered expertise on weapon crafting. Said our armorer, was, what’s the English word, Nikolai?”

“Shit,” Nikolai responds with a grin, watching his friend depart the dining hall in a hurry. We might all be racing against the clock at this point. The blood moon is tomorrow. And for obvious reasons, I’m willing to bet Alexey is cooking up something big.

“I know of the secret training you’ve been giving your mate, Nikolai,” Clément says, popping a few grapes in his mouth. “So, I must ask. Will Nat be joining us on the blood moon?”

I nearly choke on my coffee, coughing while I set the cup to its matching porcelain coaster. Wasn’t this the plan all along? He said he was going to teach me. Train me to control the curse. Surely, Nik wouldn’t go through all of this trouble just to leave me behind.

Nik leans forward and folds his hands over the table. “If she is ready.”

Jade’s lips curve into a tight smile as the council members begin whispering to one another. We’re supposed to leave here tomorrow, and he’s still taking time to mull it over? Not to mention the instant satisfaction my biggest fan across the table gets the moment my inclusion is called into question.

“If I am ready?” I ask, my tone sharper than the bread knives at each table setting.

He drags his fingers through his hair. “We’ll discuss it later, Natalia.”

“I would like to hear an answer as well, Nikolai,” Clément interrupts, peering at him curiously. His relaxed posture grows rigid. “You ask me to risk my pack for your family dispute. My own daughter. Yet, you offer no sacrifice of your own?”

The council doesn’t whisper to each other anymore. They talk amongst themselves openly, and somehow, I’m the only one here that doesn’t understand them. I really should learn French.

Dimitri cranes his large head over the table, sights set on Clément. “Ms. Nat has fought enough already. She escaped a hell none of your wolves could even imagine,” he says and directs his glare to Jade. “Not even you.”

She returns the slight with a snarl, and her eyes glow a sickly shade of green.

Every hand at the table turns into a claw, even mine despite the fork I clutch onto. Clément and his elders don’t attack, at least not yet, but there’s no telling what will happen if anyone makes a sudden move.

“Moy brat,” Nik says, placing his palm over Dimitri’s. When he glances up from the table, his gaze doesn’t land on me, Jade, or his oldest friend. His eyes are on the alpha. “Are you willing to die right now, Clément? For your council? Your daughter?”

Gasps work their way around the dining hall, not just from our area, but every surrounding table listening in. Clément Duval stands, shaking plates and glasses when his stomach bumps the wooden surface. The council rises and follows his lead, eyes tracing the three of us on the other end with contempt. Jade is the only one that doesn’t get out of her seat. No, Jade can’t seem to move.

Nik remains in his chair, a determined gleam in his eye. “I thought so. That is the difference between us, alpha.” He tilts his head to the side, exposing the most vulnerable part of himself. His neck. “I’d let you take my life right now if it means she survives. That is the only risk I’m willing to accept. My life. Not hers.” Nik draws a deep breath and continues. “She will fight when she is ready, not to satisfy you or your council.”

The alpha’s nostrils flare as a heavy breath escapes him. His dim red eyes glow bright and bloody.

Dimitri reaches for the knife on his half-empty plate, fingers curling around the handle.