Black Moon

Chapter 20: When Your Enemy Comes A-Callin'

Back at the house, Jagger shifted back and dressed. I shifted back and went in search of a blanket. Finding one on the couch, I curled my feet under me and tucked myself in, trying to get warmer.

My mate appeared next to me with two mugs of hot chocolate. I took mine gratefully and sipped it slowly. "How are you?" He asked worriedly.

I smiled from under a curtain of black hair. "Warm and happy."

Jagger's big hand tucked the curtain behind my ear. "Good."

Our moment was interrupted by the doorbell ringing and the patter of running footsteps.

Jagger sighed and reluctantly unfolded himself from the couch, disappearing down the hall to answer the door.

I sat there and wondered who it could be. Jagger told me that his niece was visiting- could it be her? That seemed like the most probable guest, though it could be anyone.

My curiosity got the better of me and I set my mug on the coffee table. Keeping the blanket wrapped snugly around my shoulders, padded lightly to the foyer. As soon as I entered the hall, the stench of sulfur, mold, and danger filled my nose.

Every hair on my body stood on end; a member of the White Blood Trio was standing on Jagger's front porch. Instantly, I was transported to the scene of my annual nightmare: a bloody battlefield and a single enormous black wolf howling with the deepest kind of soul shredding agony. I felt the pain too- now associated with that awful stench was the memory of my brother's death.

Freezing right where I stood, I laid eyes on the most hideous creature to ever set foot on this planet- the man who told everyone at the Black Moon Ball that I was the spawn of Satan and didn't deserve to live. He strode smoothly- too smoothly- towards me and lifted my face to his with a deathly cold finger. The pain was unbearable now, poisoning every square millimeter of my body, stemming from the point of contact between this monster and me. His beautiful albino face twisted into a sickeningly sweet sneer. He leaned toward me and whispered in my ear.

"I know about your little witch friend, as well as that halfbreed, the ancient warrior, and the lovestruck fool that you care so much about. If you think they matter, then you will meet my brothers and me on the lookout rock this Saturday at midnight, with no weapons and with a wolfsbane capsule in your system. I'll know if you didn't take the pill. Your mate," he spit out the word as if it tasted more repulsive than he smelled, "had better not find out, otherwise he'll have to disappear too. My brothers and I are over 3200 years older than him, so I would suggest that you keep him in the dark to keep him alive. Remember: this Saturday, midnight, unarmed, and with this in your system." An oval shaped pellet was pressed into my palm.

The loathsome creature leaned back and smiled a sarcastic grin dripping with arrogance and hate.

"Good day, Caloua Bane."

I had only enough time and composure to tuck the pill into my pocket before I dropped to my knees, in an impossible amount of pain.

Jagger was at my side in less than a second, concerned and very worried.

At the moment, I couldn't breathe. Between today- whatever weekday today was- and midnight at Saturday, I would have to do everything that I could to fake my happiness for my mate and my best friends. Their lives were at stake.

And Gloria. Oh, Gloria! That awful band of people knew about her existence. She was in danger too.

Rayn had to find her happily ever after one day with Cole- not be in mortal danger because of me.