Moon Cursed (Book 2 in The Star and Her Moon Series)

Afire

Raff

Raff stared at the pub across the street. The lights were beginning to grow brighter as night descended over the town, and customers were beginning to trickle in through the old wooden door. For many years, Joe's had been a place where he could escape from the duties of being the Alpha's son. Meghan and Mariah never let his strength and destiny go to his head, and Joe had shown him the kindness Raff's own father believed he couldn't afford to display.

And then there was Vivian. She'd started working there shortly after Joe's wife died, and she looked after the girls and Raff when he was there- which was quite often. A witch who would never say what Circle she belonged to but would spend hours spinning spells to entertain three lonely children. He'd lost everyone after the death of his wife and son, and it hadn't really hit him until they'd started to creep back into his life over the last three months.

Now, he prayed that he was wrong. Very wrong.

"Whatcha doing there?" Thorne asked. She had her arm hooked through Lincoln's and both wore very satisfied grins on their faces. He now knew where Lincoln had rushed off to after getting back from their surveillance mission.

"He's a man of deep thought, love," his Beta whispered.

"One of you has to use your brain," she responded. He nodded until he registered what she said, and he snagged her around the waist and twirled, her giggles echoing down the near empty street.

"Thorne, don't ever leave this man. You're good for his pride," Raff laughed. From her good mood, he doubted she'd been pressed to give up details about the witches she knew, and he hoped for Lincoln's sake, it didn't upset her.

"It's a struggle, but I think I wanna keep him," she said, squirming free. "Where's B?"

Raff jerked his chin down the side road that led to the beach. "Went for a swim and catch up time with her mom." He glanced at his watch. A frown tugged the edges of his lips, but he managed to smooth it out. Not giving in to his dominant nature was a struggle, but he didn't want to drive Meribella away by suffocating her.

"Oh lord, that should be interesting. She never talks much about her family, but from the little she's said, they don't get along all that well." The water witch's statement reminded him that she hadn't known Meribella any longer than he had, not really. His little selkie hadn't told him much either, but he'd drawn the same conclusion as Thorne.

"You think we should check on them?" His voice took on a hopeful, slightly begging quality. He

had no desire to question Vivian right now, despite the urgency of the matter, and he really wanted to make sure Meribella was okay. To hold her in his arms and let her know he thought she was amazing, strong, and all the things her mother had made her believe she wasn't growing up.

Thorne shrugged, her doe eyes thoughtful. "It can go one of two ways. One, she's ecstatic that you've rescued her from her mother."

"And the second?"

"She's pissed you intruded. That temper of hers is mercurial. Like the sea."

Raff scrubbed his hand across his face. If anyone knew about Meribella's temper, it was him. A wicked grin spread across his face. Sometimes that sass and fire played to his advantage. "Let's go check on her."

"On your head so it-"

A boom sounded from the beach, and the ground rumbled beneath his feet. Lincoln caught Thorne as she stumbled back, but he almost dropped her when he turned his gaze towards the ocean.

"What the hell?" Raff shouted. He took off down the pathway to the shore not caring if Thorne and Lincoln followed. All he could think about was not getting the chance to look into her turquoise eyes one last time.