Page 68 of The Red Moon

“That’s everything,” Alexey announces, stepping down from the truck.

Nik extends his palm to him. “Stay off the main roads when you double back. We will only get one shot at this.”

Alexey ignores Nik’s hand and pulls him in for a hug. “I’ve got it covered, wolf prince. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about Alexey, eh?”

A subtle grin works from one side of Nik’s face to the other as he shakes his head. “Stay safe.”

When they part, Alexey turns to me, his amused expression losing slack. He opens his mouth and closes it enough times to notice, and for the first time since meeting him, the soldier doesn’t seem to know what to say. I’d give anything for a snide remark right now. A joke. Something to take my mind off the sun suddenly losing its flair.

“Princess …” he finally says and offers me his hand. “You’ll make them regret it, you know?”

I take his rough palm in mine, wincing at the sting of silver the moment our skin connects. “Wha—what do you mean?”

“Biting you,” Alexey says with a smirk. “They’re going to regret it.” He nods in Nik’s direction. “Keep this one safe, yeah? He still needs to foot the bill for this little rebellion, and my time isn’t cheap.”

I bite back a smile. “I’ll do my best.”

Before Alexey makes it back to the truck, Clément Duval meets him near the driver door, hands resting at the shoulder straps of his chest plate.

“Are you ready?” the alpha asks.

He doesn’t respond and instead tilts his chin upward.

Ready? Ready for what? Am I missing something?

Clément drags a single claw along his meaty palm and brings it to Alexey’s neck. Blood trickles between his outstretched fingers, some of it dripping inside his tactical vest. When Clément releases him, a large red handprint is left just below Alexey’s jawline.

“What is he doing?” I ask Nik, who also watches intently.

“In the off chance a wolf from his pack does come across Alexey and Dimitri, I thought it might be best to mark them with the scent of their alpha. Something to deter them from attacking.”

“Speaking of,” Jade interrupts, reaching Nik’s side. “It’s your turn.”

His … what? My mouth hangs on a lower hinge than I thought possible.

Jade, somehow sensing my unease, tilts her head and peers at me. “Easy, killer. No one is marking your precious Nikolai.” She scoffs and thumbs to the line of wolves behind her, each fitted with the same silver armor. “He is marking us.”

Nik buries a claw into the soft skin of his palm and adds a handprint to Jade’s armor first, then the next wolf to step forward. “I know you’re scared, Natalia. Afraid of what you might do when the wolf takes control.” He continues to add his bloody print to the line, at times re-puncturing his own skin when the wound seals together. “I figure if they all have my scent⁠—”

“Then I won’t attack them …” I finish, realization dawning on me. “That’s why you had me find you by your scent. Follow a trail of your blood. You wanted to be sure I could recognize it.”

Nik nods, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Yes.”

He knew this whole time. He knew I was worried what would happen the moment I transformed. But he’s not leaving it up to chance. Am I afraid to turn? Yes. Am I also terrified I might hurt someone fighting alongside us? A resounding, unequivocal yes. And somehow, Nik still found a way to help me even when I might not be myself.

“Do you think it will work?” I ask, the horrible feeling in my stomach easing for what feels like the first time in days.

He turns to me, a flicker of red in his golden eyes. “Clément is their alpha. Their noses can detect him on a cellular level. Even if they lose all sense of who they are during a full moon, the Duval pack will still recognize his scent.”

I think back to the forest. How I was not only able to smell Nik’s blood but see where each drop fell despite the pitch-black surroundings. It was as if all of my senses were dialed into his exact frequency. His wavelength. Finding him was easy. Almost instinctual.

After adding a few more prints, he wipes his hand on his shirt. “I would give every last drop if it means you wake up the woman I love tomorrow.” He brings his palm to my cheek, warming my skin. “And our bond is stronger than theirs. I am not just your alpha. Everything I am is yours.”

Incredible heat radiates from my chest to every other extremity. The woman he loves. This man, this werewolf capable of ripping out hearts has decided to give me his.

“Nikolai,” Dimitri says, walking toward us apprehensively. He bears Clément’s mark too, except the bloody print isn’t on his neck like Alexey, it’s covering the right side of his face. “It’s time.”

“Moy brat,” Nik says, closing the distance.