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  “You should leave,” she said. “While they’re gone.”

  “Oh I’ll leave.” She felt him instead of saw him coming up behind her, “but not until I’ve had a taste of you.”

  Once more, she gasped, but this time it was when he took hold of her from under her arms, picked her up and turned her towards the bed. For a split second, she panicked. He didn’t put her down on the bed, only stood her on the side facing the window and the red full moon.

  “Why is there a human living with shifters?” he asked low in her ear, hot breath moved tiny hairs sending chills down her spine. With a jerk and her torn shirt was gone.

  “My… my mother was a shifter,” she struggled to get out.

  “Father was human,” he said.

  Missy closed her eyes when his hands went down her arms to her waist.

  “That didn’t answer the question, though.”

  “He’s…he’s my uncle.” She sucked air in fast, hard and loud when his hand went inside her pants, cupping her pussy, fingers teasing and parting to folds. “What—what are you doing?”

  He kissed her ear. “Mating,” he breathed into it.

  She lost the will to breathe when two fingers entered her. Missy hadn’t been touched like this ever. She didn’t know what to do, how to think, and what to say. So slowly, he moved those fingers in and out of her, touching the clit every few seconds. It throbbed, begged for more attention than what he gave it.

  “The red moon controls me,” he purred in her ear. “A command I just can’t ignore.”

  Missy opened her eyes, looked out at the bright red moon and shivered. Reflected in the window, she saw Brent behind her. Even saw red in his eyes.

  Gently he bent her over. Missy put her hands on the bed, holding herself up as much as she could. Behind, Brent pulled her pants down to the floor. When he came back up, he kissed her body, stopping just under her ass. Hands at the back of her legs, he pushed them open and kissed right between.

  “Oh, god,” she said, head going down. “I can’t do this.”

  His tongue touched her. Licked between the slick folds of her pussy and moved forward to touch the clit that throbbed. Missy didn’t think she was going to be able to breathe, which in turn meant she was going to pass out. Nothing mattered right then, but the pleasure that he gave her. Hell, it felt so damn good; she pushed back against him, wanting more.

  However, she didn’t get more. He stopped, stood back up, and once more got her full attention in the reflection of the window. Her hair was pushed over to her left shoulder and a kiss landed on her right. He followed up with a suck then a nibble.

  “You ready to be claimed?”

  With her mouth open, Missy couldn’t speak. Nothing would come out, not one word or one thing to stop him. She felt the heated crest of his cock touch her, enter her just a fraction of an inch.

  “I want to go slow and savor every second of this,” he said low in her ear again. “I would love to have you spread out on a bed for my pleasure, but time isn’t on our side. Your uncle is out looking for me, and once he gives up he’ll be back here.”

  “Then stop this and leave,” she rushed out, fisting her hands in the rumpled blanket. “Go before he catches you again.”

  “Not just yet.” One hard thrust and he tore into her. The breath rushed out, tears came to her eyes, and the body felt like it hummed with a life of its own. “Son of a bitch!” he gasped. “I don’t believe it.”

  “I’m sorry,” she rushed out.

  “No.” He also bent over her, chest to back. “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”

  Once more, they met each other’s eyes and then he began to move. Out slowly, hard thrust forward. He took her easy yet hard. Missy couldn’t do anything but focus on the pleasure and the sensations he rocked into her with his cock.

  Harder, faster he moved, slapping into her body and she took it all. After all, what other choice did she have? He had her bent over the bed, his body covering hers. The stretching, the burning, and the so full feeling—she took it all! Missy began to meet him back, thrust for thrust, feeling something deep down began to build.

  “Brent…Oh!”

  “Don’t hold it back,” he growled. “Let it go!”

  She did. Missy cried out from the intense pleasure—so powerful it grabbed her and held on tight. She felt herself contract around him and Brent kept surging powerfully.

  It wouldn’t stop. The pleasure kept coming, kept building until she gasped for air. Fought with the tears and lost.

  He swelled inside her and bit down on her shoulder. Missy yelled, fisted her hands on the blankets until her knuckles turned white. She lost the strength to hold herself up and fell face down on the bed, trying to come to grips with what just happened.

  She couldn’t.

  Closing her eyes, she sighed and gave in to the exhaustion that closed around her. She didn’t fight it or protest.

  How long she slept she didn’t know, but she bolted up in surprise when someone slapped her ass hard. She sat up, scowling, the sheet covering her bare breasts.

  “We need to go.” Brent stood over her, a pair of cut off sweats for shorts and still bare-chested. “Think your uncle will mind me taking a pair of his sweat pants?”

  “What’s going on?” She saw her backpack on the floor, clearly stuffed with something.

  “We’re leaving. Get dressed.”

  “I don’t understand.” She caught the clothes that he tossed to her, frowning as he went over to the window, looking out.

  “The moon is slowly going away, which means we don’t have much time. Get dressed. My brother is going to meet us.”

  “Us?” She tugged the shirt over her head, wincing when it touched her back. Tossing the blankets off her legs, she slipped back into her pajama bottoms instead of the jeans he had out for her.

  “Yeah, can’t leave my mate to be abused now can I?” He took hold of her hand, jerked her to her feet and put an arm around her shoulders, not touching her back. With one long, lingering kiss, he stole her breath once more. “Umm,” he purred. “Yeah, I’m going to spread you out on my bed once you heal and kiss each and every inch of your body. That’s a promise.”

  He let her go, grabbed her back and, taking her hand again walked from the room. Missy followed him, mostly because she was still in shock. When did my life change?

  Out the door, into what was left of the night, she looked back once more at the house that had been her home for over ten years. Feeling not one ounce of guilt she went with Brent to the unknown and prayed like it would be better than what she has had so far. Hell, anything would be better than her life here.

  Epilogue

  Brent stood next to the lake, staring out at the water, thinking about the hell that he went through in the past forty-eight hours. Damn if it hadn’t been one hell of a time.

  Reed found them in the nick of time. Her uncle and cousin were around the corner when they got into the truck. Yet, that wasn’t what had him speechless or stumped.

  Heading here, he learned Missy’s last name was Wycough, but that was what had him shaking his head. The one that was selling them out, selling their names to this bitch who in turn also sold them as sex slaves to a guy named David Wycough, Missy’s other uncle. That bit of information put a little snag on things.

  “Hey you okay?” Reed joined him on the bank on the water.

  “Have you heard any word from Brandon?”

  “Not a word. I got a funny feeling that he was grabbed or something. Not like him to not at least call in after I asked for a big favor.”

  “How are the girls?”

  Reed glanced over his shoulder at the cabin that was lit up. “Jennifer is getting her settled in. We should be okay here for a while, at least until we get a plan.” Brent nodded. “So, um, care to tell me about it?”

  “Not really, no.” Brent shook his head slid both hands into his pockets.

  “That bad then?”

  “Only if you want to scrub y
our balls until they’re raw.”

  Reed broke out in a laugh. “That bad huh?”

  “Oh, she was not good looking in the least.” He snickered. “If it weren’t for that drug, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten it up.” Reed laughed again. “Yeah, laugh it up.”

  “I’m sorry man, really I am.”

  “Not feeling it.” Brent took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “So what are we going to do about this other uncle?”

  “Revenge is a bitch,” Reed sighed. “Just like hate. It festers like a disease on an open wound.”

  “And Wycough has a big gap.”

  “They killed his brother. That would be enough for any of us to want to kill and destroy.”

  “You think Missy is going to be okay with all this shit going on?”

  “She’s been through a lot, but I got a good feeling she’s going to be just fine now. We all are going to need to stay together and keep our eyes open. This has just started. We were just caught in the crossfire.”

  Crunching behind had them both turning. Jennifer walked up to them, put her arm around Reed’s waist, and smiled at Brent.

  “How is she?” Brent asked her.

  “Sleeping,” she answered. “Between what her uncle did, you, and the whole running away, it’s wiped her out.” Brent lowered his eyes, guilt hitting him. “She’ll be okay.”

  “How she doing about the news with her other uncle?” he asked, looking up at her.

  Jennifer pulled away from Reed then. “Shocked. She had heard that he too was killed, and it might have been attempted for all we know. I think once the ruling had been made to exterminate the human family she shut down in a way. Tried to live a lie and forget she is also human.”

  “Well that son of a bitch she lived with never let her forget it,” Brent snapped.

  “No, he didn’t.” she agreed softly.

  “What I don’t get is how the hell the Council would rule to take out a family? They never get involved with who we mate, especially if it’s with a human.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t the Council,” Jennifer said. “Maybe they don’t even know anything about it.”

  “Well I know what I’m going to do,” Brent stated. “She’s not going back. I’ve mated her, she’s mine, and I don’t give a fuck if she’s all human or half.”

  Reed smiled, “And that is just what I like to hear.”

  “Come on you two,” Jennifer said, tugging at them both. “I fixed a very large pot of stew.”

  “You can cook?” Brent teased.

  “Oh you have no idea,” she laughed back.

  Instead of sitting down to eat, Brent went into the bedroom that would be his and Missy’s. She lay on her stomach, sleeping with the covers only half on her. He saw her shiver, went over and sat down next to her, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. When he pulled away, she grabbed his hand, stopping him.

  “Don’t leave me,” she mumbled in her sleep.

  He thought for a moment that Jennifer might’ve given her something, but then recalled that the woman who worked there gave her something and then when he showed up he kept her awake longer. Now that everything had calmed down, the drug to help, her sleep was taking hold, dragging her in deep.

  “I’m never going to leave you,” he whispered, bending over and kissing her on the cheek. “You’re stuck with me for life.”

  She smiled, her eyes still closed. “Promise?”

  “Just try to get rid of me.”

  She heaved a deep sigh and she was out. Brent stayed there watching her sleep, holding her hand and kissing her face. Peace. He felt so much peace just sitting there, touching, and looking at her. His mate. His love.

  Yes it was love. How strange that one could fall in love so fast, but that was just what happened to him and he didn’t give a shit who knew it.

  * * * *

  David Wycough stood outside, watching the house burn. Another shifter dead, another responsible for the death of his brother taken care of. However, he still didn’t have Missy, but knew that she was safe. He had his own contacts and his own methods of getting information. The cook in this house told him all he needed to know was that he’d spared her life. He discovered that Missy found someone to take her away from the abuse her shifter uncle inflicted. For now, that would do, only because he had others yet to take care of.

  They called themselves the second Council, ones that would restore the old way of things for their people. The fuckers who killed his brother and tried to kill him. The list was a long one, and that would keep David busy for a very long time.

  “The men are finished with her,” one of his own shifter men said.

  David didn’t hate them all. Like the ones working for him, they hated the new Council. The members there destroy, take, and each one of the shifters that worked for David lost someone due to those bastards.

  “Then kill her and leave the message,” David said.

  A short nod and the man walked away. David turned and headed back for his own vehicle. Getting into the backseat, he turned to the woman who waited for him.

  “Impressive,” she said.

  “I’m told you lost one.”

  “And then he was found.”

  “Only to be lost once more.”

  “Is there a point here, David?” she snapped.

  David knew about her cruel ways. It happened to be one of the reasons he picked her for the job. “You’re working on the side Vintina and I don’t like that.”

  “Oh really? Well—”

  He cut her off by grabbing hold of her throat, squeezing, and cutting off her air. “You listen and listen closely. I run things around here and if you’re going to venture out then that means you’ll pay more. You want my protection you pay for it. You want the extra bodies you pay. If you don’t, then I’ll let one of my boys here take it out in trade with one of your daughters. Do you understand me?” He gave her a shake and she nodded. Letting her go, she coughed and he sat back, straightening his tie and jacket. “I’ll expect my payment by the end of the week. Now get out.”

  She kept her mouth shut, opened the door, and got out. Nodding to the driver to take off, David pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Keep an eye on her.” It’s all he said, hung up, and sighed. He didn’t even flinch with the loud sound of a gun being shot. Already in his mind, he was on to the next house and the next fucker who tried to take him out.

  Scarlet Moon Fever

  Jaden Sinclair

  Chapter One

  A few hours before red full moon

  His eyes wouldn’t open! He couldn’t get an arm up, move his leg, or stop the people that were taking his clothes off. Helpless! He was so fucking helpless.

  Brandon Michael tried like hell to fight, but his body and mind couldn’t connect. His clothes were taken away from him as he lay on something hard. Once everything was removed, his arms were pulled up over his head and iron cuffs clasped over his wrists. A hard yank and Brandon swayed to his feet, held up by those damn cuffs. They hooked those chains on something, and leaving him to somewhat hang there in the dark.

  “Bring him in.”

  Brandon jumped, turned his head toward the sound of a female voice. Forcing his damn eyes open. They did, but focusing he still couldn’t do. Fuck!

  Bright light shined in the room, blinding Brandon even more. He’d drugged, couldn’t see, or move, but his fucking heat was upon him and he didn’t have one warm body close to help ease the pain. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck!

  “I’m so pleased you could make it,” the female said.

  Brandon tried like hell to get his eyes to adjust and see what was going on around him. Whatever that drug was they stuck him with seemed to do one hell of a number on him. Where is Thorn?

  “Well, when you said you had what I have been looking for, I just had to come and see,” a male said.

  “Then I shall not keep you waiting. Here he is.”

  “Oh, he is beautiful!”

  Brandon cringed ins
ide at the words coming from another man’s lips. With the full moon, his senses were on high alert, and that meant he could pick up smells and other things. The scent that came off this guy had Brandon not only praying but also clenching his ass cheeks. No way you’re fucking me you dick!

  “Did you find a girl?” the man asked.

  “Would I have called you if I didn’t have everything you asked for?” A snap of fingers and another scent joined the room. Mine!

  “I want a sample,” the man demanded.

  “But of course.”

  Closer that sweet scent came; the closer to him the more his dick throbbed in pain. Brandon couldn’t hold back a groan. Forcing his eyes once more to open, he looked down at the young woman who just was shoved to her knees before him. She didn’t say a word or look up at him. What she did do was steal his breath, leaving him struggling to get one small amount of air into his lungs.

  The girl took his aching cock in hand, and then closed her lips around the head, sucking half of the length into her mouth and down her throat. Brandon gasped loudly. He didn’t even have the will power to tell her to stop or beg her for more.

  Just as quickly as it started it stopped. Through his blurry eyes, he saw a hand push her away, then jerked her to her feet and shoved her from the room.

  “Very nice,” the man said. “Load him up!”

  Another shot and he was out. When Brandon woke, again, he felt coldness on his back, and a bright light shined on his face. He groaned, struggled to turn over to his side and sat up.

  “Are you okay?” a faint, female voice called out in the dark.

  “Yeah, just peachy,” he answered, leaning back against the cool bars.

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Didn’t think he would make me do that in front of everyone.”

  “You’re human,” he stated, shaking his head to get rid of the effect of whatever the drug is.