Page 62 of Forsaken Desire
I knew most of that.
“Birth control works during the Blood Moon, right?” I asked, thinking of Lucian’s comment.
Samantha and Alex exchanged looks. An obvious one that shouted their concern.
“Yes,” Samantha began slowly.
A pup ran across the tile. My question was too telling. I cleared my throat and eyed the families.
“And where do the kids go?”
“On Blood Moons, kids aren’t allowed outside; they stay in here, and games are set up for them,” Alex’s curiosity filled his tone. “During Heat Seasons in winter and spring, we take more precautions.”
Questions bubbled behind my lips, but I’d already made it obvious I had no idea about shifter customs.
“Soril and I volunteered to stay with the kids this Blood Moon,” Samantha said, thankfully saving me from the questions I wanted to spit out. Samantha frowned. “You’re very different from what Sasha was saying about you.”
“Your first mistake was listening to what Sasha says,” Alex commented, raising an eyebrow.
“You’re right, it wouldn’t benefit her now that Cierra is on the outs with the Alpha—” Alex slapped the surface of the table, and Samantha winced.
“Sorry,” she muttered, sheepishly. “Honestly, it was clear he never really liked her. I mean, you don’t continue to fuck female shifter prostitutes when you’re in a happy relationship, if you know what I mean?—”
“Please stop,” Alex groused, his gaze fixed on me and whatever expression I was making.
Her eyes widened, and she clamped her lips together.
“I’m sorry, Luna.” Her eyes widened on me. There was no deception in their depths.
I waved my hand, batting her comment away. I was going to have to come to terms with Lucian’s past, as much as it stung.
A loud bang dragged my attention to the entrance. Cierra stormed forward, her eyes set on me. Behind her, a chair had been knocked over, the source of the noise.
“Cierra,” Sasha hissed as she passed her.
Great, she was coming straight for me. I sighed, leaning back and waiting for her to spit her venom.
She was going to challenge me, I would bet anything on it.
“You did this—” Alex got in her way, keeping her back with his body. She gripped his arm, pushing against him as she looked around his arm at me. “You’re sitting where I used to sit.”
The statement slapped me across the face, and I stiffened. I wiped my hands on the napkin and stood.
“The challenge of the night, begins before the moon’s peak.” Lucian’s bellowed words echoed across the silent room. With how many people there were in here, it was amazing how quiet it was. The movement that ensued was mind-boggling.
“That’s my cue to start setting up for the kids,” Samantha commented, and a tall, thin man walked up to the table. “Luna, this is my mate Soril.”
He lowered his head respectfully.
“Luna.”
Alex took a step closer to me, yanking my attention off the couple.
My gaze snagged on Lucian striding closer. Alex’s eyes widened at his brother.
Cierra snarled, and Alex forced her back. It also served to get him out of Lucian’s way. He looked scary barreling down on me with blood on his shirt . . . but also kind of hot.
Lucian slipped his arm around my waist and yanked me flush to him.
