Wolf Moon - A HOT and steamy PNR Paranormal Romance

Wolf Moon - Epilogue

BENEDICT:

With his head in his hands, Benedict rubbed his face, trying to restore some kind of order after Grace had dared to enter his peaceful mind and scatter his thoughts and emotions to the wind. He'd spent his entire life in this quiet corner of England, keeping himself to himself while living a life of luxury in his mansion. Situated far enough from any major settlement to avoid concerning gazes, his family had largely enjoyed enough space and freedom to simply exist, albeit secretly. And as for the worries and rules governing other people's daily lives, they barely concerned him.

Benedict didn't subscribe to politics, social media, world news or any of the other minor wranglings of everyday life. He lived within the law of the land, but that was as far as his integration into society went, for he held a wider view than most humans on this planet could ever begin to contemplate. But although there were many incredible benefits to being Benedict Canis, it wasn't all roses. For as far as Benedict was concerned, the one curse of his heritage meant he was pretty much destined to be forever alone. Alone, that was, if you ignored the exception of his ever-intrusive and generally interfering family.

Hearing the front door creak open, Benedict huffed loudly, not even bothering to look up. The sound was followed by a set of heavy footsteps making their way towards his location in the kitchen.

'So, she escaped from Canis Hall alive, did she?' queried the well-built, heavily bearded man who'd just walked into the room. Without even so much as a pause, he strode straight across to the refrigerator and started to rifle inside it for a suitable snack. 'Bravo, particularly when she smelt so good.' Slowly, Benedict looked up, as though it was taking every ounce of effort to do so.

'Ha bloody ha,' he grunted, before slumping back in his chair. He might not be fully human, but he still maintained some standards. 'To what do I owe the pleasure, Caxton?'

'I thought I'd better check in on you,' the visitor replied. Having perused the shelves for a short while, he settled on a large leg of ham. Placing it on the work surface, he then selected a devilishly sharp knife. 'Rosa raced around to my house this morning in quite a panic. Said in all the decades she'd been with us, she'd never seen you in such a state. Something about you going all gooey-eyed over a mere girl?'

'Hey! Don't talk to me like that!' snarled Benedict, his anger evident. But Caxton only looked mildly concerned. Instead, he expertly carved a thin slice of ham, feeding it into his mouth with the point of the knife, before returning to carve another. 'Show some fucking respect!'

'Apologies, brother mine,' the slightly younger man replied with a dip of his head. 'It won't happen again.'

'Hmph!' grunted Benedict, knowing full well that it would. Their eldest brother had always held the Alpha position, but since his somewhat untimely demise, that station had shifted across to Benedict, who'd previously been the second in command. 'You're forgiven, so long as you keep yourself and your brothers in line in the future.'

'They're your brothers too,' Caxton drawled, flipping a sliced piece of ham across the counter to land beside Benedict's hand. Instantly picking it up, he tore at the flesh gladly.

'A fact of which I am fully aware. But you seriously need to take more care. One day, you'll take a step too far, and then we'll all find ourselves utterly screwed, regardless of the protection we're currently blessed enough to enjoy.'

'Aye aye, Captain,' replied Caxton, sending his elder brother a mock salute. Flipping a final slice of ham into his mouth, he chewed it thoughtfully.

'So, were you really gooey-eyed over the great Grace Amelia Taylor?'

'Not that it's any business of yours,' Benedict scowled, running a hand across his stubbly face. 'But I have no plans to see Grace again.'

'Even though her presence still taints the air in your home?' asked Caxton, sniffing the air with pleasure. 'You really think you can resist her? I'm not sure I can...'

'Well, you'd better fucking learn fast, or so help me God,' snarled Benedict, looking truly terrifying. Suddenly fully alert, he had risen to his feet and slammed his hand down on the work surface. 'She falls under my protection now.'

Caxton flashed his eyes towards his brother in silent challenge.

'I mean it,' Benedict confirmed, fists clenching together hard, ready to attack.

'Oh, I absolutely don't doubt that,' admitted Caxton, looking awfully pleased with himself.

'What then?' he snapped.

'Nothing. Except there's something very telling about your extreme overreaction on behalf of a girl you have no plans to ever see again. Apparently...'

And allowing Benedict to reflect on that very well placed barb, Caxton strolled out of the room, leaving his brother with even more on his mind than was ever there before.

***

The story of Grace and Benedict continues in Hunger Moon, Book 2 of the Canis Hall Series, available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.