Bound to the Moon Page 5

  Or to me for that matter.

  We have suffered enough. If I am to give them a way out, it won’t be by something as traumatic as that. If there is a way, I will find it. I can’t continue to expose them to my episodes any longer. And I will never allow Marjorie to see me during my worst moments. The sooner I put distance between us the easier it will be for her to forget me and accept Alexis.

  Chapter Five

  Gage, Josephine, and I walk into the three-story, small town hospital and I immediately pick up the scent of werewolf. It’s prominent and fresh, alerting us to the fact that there’s more than one of them present.

  Josephine stiffens next to me. She turns her head first to the right and then to the left as she looks for the owners of the scent, but I know exactly where they are and I’m not very happy about it.

  One scent in particular holds a hint of familiarity. I recognize it almost as soon as we walk through the sliding glass doors at the front of the building. This wolf and I developed an instant dislike for each other the moment we met.

  Nothing has changed since.

  The animosity I felt for him then is still intact today. I don’t trust him. He’s done nothing to warrant any enmity on my part, but the bottom line is there’s something about him that I refuse to accept as harmless.

  “They’re here,” I hiss, barely able to contain my anger.

  “Who’s here?” Josephine asks.

  “Them,” I say just as we round the corner and find, Kenny Marshall, engrossed in a conversation with another wolf I’ve never seen before. This new wolf exudes an air of authority, and I can’t help but wonder if this is the alpha we have been looking for. He sure fits the bill. He’s descendant from royal blood. One whiff is enough to confirm this fact.

  “An alpha?” Josephine asks in confusion.

  “Kenny? He’s no alpha,” Gage says.

  “No, but the one next to him descended of royal blood,” I add quickly. “He’s of alpha blood too.” My gaze scans the hallway for any signs of Simone, but I don’t see her anywhere. “Where’s Simone?”

  Josephine had gone to the house earlier to pick me up, but had left Simone behind to keep Marjorie company.

  “She should be in the room with Marjorie,” Josephine explains. “She knows better than to leave her alone even for a short time.”

  “By the way those two are hanging around the hallway, I’m guessing Simone won’t allow them access to the room,” Gage murmurs next to me.

  Even when we supposedly leave the hospital after visiting hours, Gage, Alexis, or even Marquis will stay behind to patrol the area. It helps that the hospital is located near a wooded area. It makes it easy to keep tabs on the traffic of humans coming in and out of the hospital between shifts.

  Even so, a werewolf or two must be slipping in and out of the hospital unseen and undetected. Quite possibly with the help of a human or two.

  “I don’t like that he’s here.” I like it even less that Kenny’s standing near the door of Marjorie’s hospital room—as if waiting to see when she’ll be alone.

  “He probably just stopped by to see Marjorie.”

  My overprotective instincts step forward and I add, “I don’t care. I don’t want him near her.”

  Josephine tosses an incredulous look in my direction. “We can’t exactly prohibit him from visiting her. Not unless we have just cause and right now all we have to go on is your wariness. Besides, it’s only natural that he comes to visit. He’s known Marjorie for years.”

  “I could care less.” I grit my teeth. “In case you haven’t noticed he has company. Another wolf,” I point out. “Why?”

  Gage pushes himself in between Josephine and I, strolling forward as he says, “Kenny is of alpha blood. I can smell it on him.”

  “Do you think he’s related to the alpha in question?”

  “It is difficult to say, but he should be kept at a distance just to be on the safe side.” With that Gage storms right up to Kenny, bringing the wolf’s conversation with the man next to him to an abrupt halt.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” I say, stalking off in Gage’s direction. I intend to make sure Kenny keeps his distance. Since I don’t know where he stands I don’t want to take any chances.

  Kenny’s reaction to Gage’s presence is immediate. He backs off a few steps, his eyes widen in surprise at the sight of my brother’s imposing frame looming over him. He doesn’t seem very happy to see any of us—especially my six-foot-five older brother looking down at his five-foot-eleven inches as if he was no more than a cockroach he was hoping to squash beneath his impressive size.

  “You two are acting like a couple of brutes,” Josephine mutters behind me.

  I ignore my sister’s comment and step in next to Gage, my gaze meeting Kenny’s. There’s a silent standoff between us. He’s outnumbered but he stands his ground. He’s not one to back down. I don’t imagine him ever backing out of a fight. He would be a worthy opponent.

  Judging by the way he glares at me, I know we will get the opportunity to face off one day. And I look forward to that.

  “Well, well, well. What do I owe the pleasure of bumping into the Rousseau’s on such a fine day as this?” Kenny recovers quickly and tries hard at hiding the dislike he obviously feels for us. But it’s palpable even through the front he’s put up.

  I don’t like him either so I figure we’re even.

  “What are you doing here?” I speak first.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Kenny leans against the wall behind him, crosses his arms over his chest, and lifts his chin in a sign I take as a challenge. He knows I don’t want him anywhere near Marjorie. I don’t have to say the actual words. He can tell by my body posture alone.

  From where I stand, I can see the mark on his right hand, on the skin in between his index finger and thumb. He’s pureblooded like we are so I know he’s not someone to take lightly. What I’m yet to be sure of is whether or not he’s a man-eater.

  “Keep away from her,” is all I say before walking around him and marching up to the room’s door. As much as I want to pound his nose in, this is neither the time nor the place.

  I barely touch the door handle when Kenny says, “Who do you think you are ordering me around? We are not in your territory, Rousseau. Your family encroached on our domain and you have been a nuisance since. This affront is not something that’s taken lightly in our society. You should know that.”

  There’s an unsaid threat in that last sentence. I’m perceptive enough to know he means business. But he’s not as insightful so he doesn’t know he’s pushing my buttons and that’s not something that will work in his favor.

  “Your matron won’t even let me get anywhere near the door, and now I have to put up with your crap as well?”

  I turn around, silently thanking Simone for playing her part as a protector.

  “Why haven’t you left then?” I take a step closer. “You’re not welcome here.”

  Kenny gives me a once over. His eyes are slowly analyzing me, picking me apart as if he wished he could read right through me. And while he stands there, I take my time to study him as well.

  I don’t trust him. I’ve mentioned this to my family many times but they don’t seem to consider him that big of a threat. Perhaps because they think he’s nothing but a cub wanting to play the role of a leader. Kenny might be of alpha blood but he’s no alpha. We determined that long ago.

  Either way, there’s something about him I don’t like.

  My family may be quick to dismiss the fact that Jack was an acquaintance of Kenny’s, but I’m not much of a believer when it comes to coincidences. Santos may have not belonged to the same pack as Kenny but I’m not willing to believe there was no connection between Jack, Santos, and Kenny. Especially since Jack is still alive and unaccounted for.

  “Why do you feel threatened by me, Rousseau?” Kenny’s lips part into a sardonic smile. He’s enjoying riling me up and taking pleasure in knowing my temper is my weak point
.

  The hairs at the back of my neck bristle. I’m boiling in anger. Nothing will make me happier than tearing Kenny’s limbs off, one by one, but my soul has already been darkened enough with Santo’s death. I don’t want to keep adding faults to the ones I already have.

  “Aren’t we too full of ourselves?” Gage balls his hands into tight fists as he takes a step toward Kenny. I’m glad to see my brother and I have similar thoughts.

  “That’s enough,” Josephine intervenes, pushing herself between Gage and Kenny. “People are watching.”

  Gage takes several steps back once he realizes there’s a couple accompanied by a nurse observing our little disagreement from a short distance away. Kenny does the same, relaxing his posture as he falls in line with the man to his left.

  Movement to my right catches my attention and I notice for the first time how intently the unidentified wolf observes the interaction between my family, Kenny, and me. So far, he hasn’t said a word. Hasn’t even tried to introduce himself, but he stands on the sidelines, watching, listening, studying us.

  I stare at him, wondering all the same why it is that he seems familiar. He possesses physical characteristics that are vaguely recognizable but at the same time, I have a hard time identifying who he might be related to. His scent is alien though the only thing it serves to confirm is the importance of his bloodline.

  Due to his royal blood, I’m almost certain his position might be even higher than any alpha, but his behavior is puzzling. He doesn’t demand any respect from us nor does he attempt to intervene at any point. He’s just fixed on the spot, silent as a mouse, observing the show down as if waiting to see who will come out the victor.

  Once he notices me staring at him, he stands perfectly still, but his hazel colored eyes shift ever so slightly from human to animal and then back. It’s not a sign of hunger or of an imminent shift, nor is it a challenge. It might sound crazy but somehow it comes across as a sign of recognition. Of acceptance.

  Why the thought crosses my mind I’m not sure, but he doesn’t appear hostile. Though he is in Kenny’s corner, so that alone puts him in my suspect list.

  A moment ago, I didn’t consider him a threat nor did I think of him as anything worth wasting saliva on but now I’m concerned. He’s new to the territory and because I don’t know what business he has in the area or what he wants, I think the best thing to do is keep him away from Marjorie.

  “Leave!” My voice is barely audible, but there’s no mistaking the warning behind that single word. “I don’t want you anywhere near Marjorie.”

  I become Kenny’s focal point once again. “You have no claim on her. Marjorie and I have been friends since we were kids. I don’t understand why you people won’t let me near her.”

  “Because it was one of your friends who put her in here in the first place,” I remind him, unable to contain the anger inside any longer. “Or are you going to deny having any knowledge of Jack and his activities?”

  “Ah, I see where this is going,” Kenny enunciates. He appears calm, but I can hear the rapid beating of his heart. “I had nothing to do with what Jack did. I wasn’t the one who turned him. I believe Santos was responsible for that. In our pack, only pureblooded members are welcomed.”

  “We can’t trust you any more than we can trust any other wolf in the area,” Gage remarks. “We ask—nicely, I might add—that you keep your distance from Marjorie until we know where you stand in this whole mess.”

  Kenny begins to protest but I cut in, “If you even try going through that door I will tear you to pieces.” It’s not just a warning and we both know it. I mean to keep my word. If there’s one thing I agree with Marquis on, keeping away all potential threats from Marjorie is it.

  Until we identify the alpha by name, bloodline, and face, we can’t risk allowing any wolf to slip under our radar. Kenny, especially, since I don’t trust his so-called good intentions any more than I did Santo’s.

  Kenny moves closer, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets in frustration. “Funny, I don’t have the slightest clue as to why your brother, Marquis, is the alpha. It’s so obvious you’re the dominant one in the family.”

  He means to mock my family and therefore mock me, but I’m not about to let him get the best of me. Not now. Not here. “I’m not going to discuss the proper protocol when it comes to who the heir of the throne is or should be. But there’s something I will say: Marjorie is now considered to be part of our pack, which means you need to go through us,” I spare a glance at the stranger to Kenny’s left, “in order to get to her.”

  The look on the other alpha’s face is difficult to read at first, but for a very brief moment, I think I see something akin to amusement cross his features but I’m not entirely sure. It could have been my imagination playing tricks on me.

  “You have made that very clear,” the stranger speaks for the first time since we bumped into him, shushing the objections about to leave Kenny’s mouth.

  My siblings and I all look at the tall, lean, sandy haired man with a mixture of caution and admiration. His bloodline decrees enough respect for us to have the vaguest of esteem for someone as rare as he—even if he looks no older than me. But we were conscious enough to know he could be the very danger we were hoping to win against.

  “I will take my leave now.” The stranger’s gaze falls on Kenny. “There is an important meeting I must attend to, but I will contact you shortly.” He then looks at me and says, “I would have liked to meet you under different circumstances, considering there’s an obvious hostility between your two packs. However, I would like to speak to your alpha at some point before my departure.” He removes a small business card from his vest and offers it to me. “Please, have him call me.”

  I look down at the card, catching a glimpse of his name: Bray Colton. I don’t recognize the name so the mystery of whom this stranger is only grows. I have never heard of any Colton pack. Nor of anything related to anyone associated with them.

  I turn my attention to back to him. “What is it that you need to discuss with my brother?”

  “Ah, so the alpha is your brother?” The stranger nods as if he’s just put pieces of a puzzle together. “I’m afraid this is a matter concerning the hierarchy of the clans only.”

  I refuse to take the card. “We have no secrets in our pack.”

  Understanding my refusal to have anything to do with him, the stranger pockets the business card back in his vest before turning his attention to me. “I see.”

  I march back to the door and push it open without sparing a glance behind me. I’m done with Kenny and his companion. We have nothing else to discuss unless they know something about the alpha we don’t.

  Chapter Six

  Marjorie is sitting up in bed. Her right leg, encased in a brace from knee to ankle, is propped up on a pair of pillows. Her sandy-colored hair is styled in a French braid, keeping the long locks away from her beautiful face. She looks positively radiant. In my opinion, she’s the most alluring patient in the entire hospital.

  Already a strong force draws me to her with an intensity I can feel but understand little. It can easily be explained as being part of the bonding that ties us to one another. I thought of it as ridiculous the first time Marquis explained it to me but my opinion has changed drastically since then. There’s too much evidence pointing to the Legend of the Lost Child being true to continue being a full skeptic.

  I walk into the room, immediately putting the scene in the hall to the back of my mind, and stroll right up to the bed. The smile she greets me with is enough to make me forget every single bad thing that’s happened in the past week and put my full attention on the now. The present. Nothing else matters when we are together.

  Earlier, I doubted paying Marjorie a visit was a wise thing to do, but even my near death experience is but a distant memory now. A not-so-distant memory I will likely have to contend with later, but right now every single concern, which has nothing to do with Marjorie, h
as to come in second.

  “Kyran,” she says, holding out one hand for me.

  It was my intention to keep myself at a safe distance—because of what happened back home. I’m not sure what the consequences will be. The only thing I’m sure of is that by trying to fight off the bloodlust I might have unintentional caused myself irreparable bodily harm. How severe? That, too, is a mystery.

  In all honesty, I’m not even sure I want to know.

  “How are you feeling?” I walk around to the other side of the bed and slip my large hand into her smaller one. The warmth emanating from her brings a measure of comfort. The night she was attacked, I had gone to her and forced myself to touch her—briefly. Her hand had been so cold then. She had looked utterly lifeless and at that moment, I realized just how much Marjorie Emery meant to me.

  This hell I’m forced to endure every other week isn’t worth fighting for if she’s gone. Marjorie is my reason for fighting. For not giving up.

  As I walk in I’m aware of Simone sitting on a chair in a corner of the room. I’m also aware of my older siblings standing near the door, listening, watching. But at the moment, I have eyes and ears only for Marjorie. My family is here for backup and since I’m used to them shadowing my every move, it’s easy for me to pretend they’re not present.

  “Better.” Marjorie pulls on my arm, urging me to take a seat next to her uninjured leg. I hesitate. Although she looks a lot better, I don’t want to hurt her. A week ago, she was on death’s doorstep, bleeding profusely from multiple injuries.

  The image of her broken body isn’t one I’ll ever be able to erase from my mind.

  “I’m alive so I can’t complain,” she adds.

  I could argue that she could be even better than she is, but we’ve been down this road before. I can’t change the past, but I can try to shift the future’s outcome. Saving her has put a new meaning to my dark life. Saving Marjorie and making sure she lives to see old age is the light at the end of my tunnel.