#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon
Chapter 12

Josephine

Ford, Scout, Avery, Ty, Theo, and Dru were reluctant to enter my house at first. I’m sure they mindlinked their Alpha for permission who probably didn’t really want to give it, especially after the show I must have given them this morning in my nightie, but he left them in anyway, for me. I set up all the food and won the boys over with my charm.

I was glad to get the chance to talk with some of the pack members. I felt such a disconnect from the pack for so long, I wasn’t sure I would ever feel that kind of family bond again. I didn’t remember any of them from my childhood but that didn’t mean much. I trained with lots of pups whose names I didn’t know and I only regularly saw Mason, Logan, and Wyatt Hayes.

After about 2 hours all the food was gone and the boys were going into a food coma. I ordered them home to rest after being on babysitting duty all night. They looked at August who just grunted in agreement.

“You’re ruining my image, you know?” He groaned at me from his seat at the island while I tidied up the kitchen.

“Afraid they won’t see you as a big bad Alpha anymore?” I giggled. August snuck up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder and nuzzled my neck.

“I can’t say no to you.” He murmured. I touched his face and pulled away but he wouldn’t let me. He tugged me back, turning me around to face him.

“Why are you always trying to leave me?” His voice was so soft and his eyes so sad. I took his hand and pulled him over to the sofa. I tucked my legs under me and sat facing him. I played with his hand in my lap.

“I’m sorry.” I sighed. August begged me to look at him. I met his gaze.

“Sorry for what, love?”

“For pulling away. I’m just struggling with all of this.” I admitted.

“I know, baby, and it’s okay. You don’t have to be okay with everything. You’ve gone through so much in a short period of time. You deserve time to grieve and adjust to everything. I’ll do whatever you need me to, I’ll give you as much time as you need.” August was so sweet, he said all the right things.

“I just can’t imagine what you’re feeling, August. I’ve seen the bond before, with humans and with wolves, and I know how different it is for you. I feel it more than a regular human would and it’s pretty obvious that our bond is stronger than average anyway, but I am still human. I spent years being told to ignore the dreams, ignore the tingles, ignore werewolves all together. Now I learn my father wanted me to reject you….” I shouldn’t have said that. August’s entire face dropped, his body crumbled; I felt his hand tighten around mine.

“Please, don’t,” August began to beg, Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I’ll give you the entire world, Josephine, anything you need. I’ll give you time, space, patience, anything, just don’t leave me.” I reached out and clung to August’s shirt,

“I’m not rejecting you, August, I would never reject you. I know how much pain that would cause you and I can’t say it would be painless for me, either, Being apart from you last night hurt me, it hurt. I can’t be without you. I’m just having a hard time figuring everything out.” I urged August to hear me. He relaxed under me and let out a huge sigh,

“Don’t scare me like, baby.” He shot me a crooked grin and I melted under it.

“I don’t know, you have a way with words.” I purred.

“I meant every word of it.” He said, rubbing his thumb across the back of my hand,

“I know this isn’t easy for you, love.” He cooed. I let out a groan,

“It would be a hell of a lot easier if I could think straight around you.” I swatted at his hand and he let out a deep laugh, holding his hands up in surrender.

“What do you want me to do?” He asked. I groaned and put my head in my hands,

“I don’t know.” I felt August’s hands rubbing up and down my back.

“We don’t have to do or be anything you don’t want. I don’t care what it’s like for anyone else. You’re my mate and you’re the only one that I want. We’ll do this our way and our speed. The only thing I’ll ask of you is to not walk away and to not shut me out.” His soft voice whispered into my ear. I lifted my head and found myself face to face with his devilish blue eyes.

“I promise to never walk away and to not shut you out,” I whispered, touching his face. He grinned under my touch and closed his eyes, humming against the palm of my hand.

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