Fated Under the Moon Read online

  I went back and forth on whether I should walk or drive. I was going to a bar, but I could always leave my car and come back to get it. I know they said there was little crime here, but knowing werewolves and vamps were close by didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy about walking.

  Gah, I couldn't believe I was doing this. I was going to a bar called The Wolf's Den to see my wolf. My wolf? I'd done it again. Once was a slip-up. Now I thought of him as my wolf more than once, and I needed to admit that to myself. Even if all of this was a lot to comprehend, I was beginning to accept that the two of us were tied together. The thought scared me, but knowing that there was something special about me, even if I didn't know what that something else was, constantly reminded me that we were all different.

  I made the short drive to the bar. Hairs prickled the back of my neck, causing me to feel like I was being followed, but I quickly forgot about it as I pulled into the packed bar's parking lot. I was surprised by how many cars were in the lot. It was definitely crowded compared to the first night I ran past. Stepping out of my car, I heard a howl in the distance. I was for sure in the right place.

  Reece sprinted towards me. "Thank God you're here. I was on watch duty and left for two seconds to use the bathroom."

  "Did you just run here?"

  Ignoring my obvious question, Reece eyed me, "Holy shit. My brother is going to lose his mind when he sees you."

  "Is it too much?"

  He chuckled and didn't answer. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean? And why were you watching me?"

  "He's trying to give you space, but that doesn't mean he would leave you unprotected."

  "Why would I need protection?" Besides the paranormal stuff, I thought.

  "Elle, you've passed out how many times?"

  "Good point," I mumbled as we walked past several men on our way into the bar. A man carding at the door took one look at me and said, "Damn, Reece."

  Reece hissed, "She's Ryk's. Mind your manners."

  I took in what I could, considering how many people were here. The first thing that stood out to me was the amount of PDA going on. I wasn't a prude, but almost everywhere I looked, people were groping each other in some way. It wasn't an orgy or anything nefarious. It was just that I could see multiple people making out, and it was not a PG session either. "Why's it so busy?" I shouted at Reece over the noise.

  "You don't have to scream, excellent hearing and all."

  "Right," I mumbled.

  "There's a band playing tonight. They haven't started yet, but they always draw a crowd."

  "What?" I called. He might have super hearing, but I didn't.

  "Sorry. I forgot you're human. Band tonight!" He said louder. I got a few stares, and I wondered how many people here were humans or were they all wolves? Was I human? God, even asking myself that made me question my sanity.

  We reached the bar through the throngs of people, and the breath left my lungs. I was frozen, staring at Ryker, unaware how much my body missed him until I saw him again. He had a white t-shirt on with a Wolf's Den logo on the pocket and jeans with a dish towel tucked into his back pocket. He looked good. He always looked good. Jesus, it hadn't been that long since I'd seen him, and I felt like I was setting eyes on him for the first time. He was pouring a drink into a shot glass. The way the muscles on his thick arms moved made me want to hop over the bar and forget the rest of the crowded bar existed.

  Who was I around him?

  His eyes connected with mine, but I had no doubt he knew I was here from the moment I walked in. I watched as his nose flared the slightest amount and his eyes darkened just a tad. Could he smell me in this crowded room over all the other smells?

  He tilted his head at his brother, silently saying something. Reece led me to the side of the bar then lifted a small section of it. "Go behind the bar with Ryk. I'm off duty," Reece said.

  I walked behind the bar, and Ryker was handing someone cash. He turned and took me in. I felt his eyes trail over every inch of me. When that happened, the strangest thing occurred, the volume in the bar quieted to a degree, and a bunch of eyes turned to me. It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt it. My guess was that those who didn't look my way weren't wolves, which answered my question about humans being here.

  Ryker approached me, and without saying anything, he ran the tip of his nose up my cheek. It was oddly affectionate. I placed my hand on his back while he did this, and my entire body wanted to press into him. Damn, it was hard to just be around him and not want to tear his clothes off.

  "Hi," I finally said as he moved his face away from mine.

  He studied me, and it was unnerving. Then, he grabbed a piece of my hair. "Your hair looks nice. You look pretty."

  I blushed. That simple compliment made me suddenly feel shy. I was never shy. I looked away from him. He grabbed my chin. "I've given you space all day, Ariel. Kiss me, sweets."

  I was relieved that he wasn't mad at me and pleased that he wanted me to kiss him. I couldn't deny him, and I didn't really care that there were still a ton of people watching us. With him this close to me, I needed to kiss him, so I did. I took a step closer and pressed up at the same time he bent low, and our lips touched. His lips were like a drug. Euphoria washed over me, and all I wanted to do was let him consume me.

  "Hey, can I get a drink, Ryk?" Someone hollered.

  We broke our kiss, and Ryker glared at the average-sized man. A taller, dark-haired man next to him bumped him with his shoulder and glared at him. My guess was that the man who interrupted us was human, and the man who bumped him was not.

  "Shelby called off. I'm slammed tonight."

  "You need a hand? I'd be happy to help you, but you'll need to split the tips with me, seeing as I sent an email telling a certain employer that I could no longer work for them."

  "You did?" He asked, pulling himself closer to me. So close, I could feel his growing erection. His hands pressed against my ass, and I was close to whimpering over how good he felt.

  "I did. I think there's a lot we need to talk about, but I didn't think you'd be so busy."

  "Fuck, if Mindy wasn't singing tonight, I'd shut this place down so I could talk with you. I'm half-tempted to do it anyway."

  "No, don't!" I shouted. "Mindy sings?"

  "Yeah, she sings. She didn't tell you?"

  "No, I had no idea."

  Ryker swiped his hand along my back, then released me, taking a step back. "Gods, I'm going to be hard all night working beside you."

  "So you're going to let me help you? Awesome."

  Ryker chuckled and ignored a few people who were irately trying to get his attention to get a drink. "It can get kind of messy back here. Let me get you an employee shirt, and you can change in my office."

  I was excited. I might've come here to have a talk and sort myself out, but I always wanted to be like Tom Cruise in Cocktail and flip some bottles around. I wondered if he'd let me try it. He dug through a cabinet at the other end of the bar. He pulled out a shirt, handed it to me, and nodded to the office door off the bar before he put a finger up to the patron who wanted a drink.

  He followed me inside the office.

  "I'm trying really hard to control my wolf. Do not let any men get near you. There are humans in this crowd, and they all know me. Kissing me right away was good. They'll know we're together, but this is going to be hard on me, so can you please help me, so I don't lose my shit?"

  He was being patient and explaining to me what he needed instead of ordering it. It was a change from this morning when he almost ate his brother. He was really trying, and there was something endearing about his effort. I didn't know what it was like to be a wolf, but I could sympathize with him. "Yeah, I can do that."

  "Thank you," he said, then a low rumble emanated from him, "You look so fucking good, Ariel. All night long, I'll be thinking about what it will be like to have those red lips wrapped around me and how tight it is when I'm buried inside of you. Maybe the fates aren't against me. Maybe they know that working for the most precious thing in the entire world makes it worth it even more. Christ, Gods help me, you're worth it." At that, he left, closing me in his office.

  I couldn't believe that he had just said that. His words both turned me on and melted my heart. This big, beautiful man thought I was precious. That meant something to me.

  I perused his office and noticed a storage room filled with liquor bottles off to the side. Another door was open, and I could see the edges of a pedestal sink. It must be a bathroom. His desk was a bit messy, and I had to stop myself from organizing it. Beside it, there was a small loveseat, and on the ground next to that was a safe.

  I cleared a small space to set my purse down on the desk and quickly changed shirts. The navy-colored Wolf's Den tee was on the longer side, so I tied it in a knot at the side.

  Ryker grinned at me as I stepped out of the office, and I could've sworn that I heard a low hum of approval coming from him, which was odd considering the noise level had picked back up.

  "I've never tended bar. What do you need me to do?"

  "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked again.

  I nodded excitedly.

  He chuckled.

  "I'm cash only. I don't do tabs, and I don't take cards. Domestic beers like Buds and Millers are three dollars. Corona and Labatt are four. Tall drafts are four. Liquor varies. I'll help you figure that out as we go. Mostly, it'd help if you backed me up. You could grab bottles and help with getting glasses cleared from the bar. I have a sink here with soapy water, and we wash as we go. The kitchen closed ten minutes ago, so you won't need to worry about anyone ordering any food."

  "Got it."

  "You do, don't you? Why are you helping me?"

  I shrugged, then nodded at a patron who
needed something. "Let's do this!"

  "WOW, SHE'S REALLY GOOD," I told Ryker something he clearly already knew. His arms were around me, and he gently rocked us back and forth. No one was looking for drinks because the entire bar was entranced by Mindy, Grey, and a few other people on stage that were only okay compared to the duo.

  "She's got more talent than our small town, that's for sure. She'll never leave here, though, but I bet she'd make it huge if she wanted to."

  Mindy, who was always so cheerful, had this soulful quality to her voice when she sang. She stopped singing, and she said into the mic, "That's it for me, folks. And remember..." The entire bar said it with her as if they'd said it dozens of times, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

  I smiled. "We did it," I said, looking up at Ryker.

  "You were a great help, thanks." His arms squeezed around me. The bar started to empty out, and Mindy made it to us. She'd seen me earlier and hugged me. It was so strange the way the people here reacted to me. It felt like I fit like some piece of a puzzle that no one knew was missing.

  "You were amazing!"

  "Thanks, I'm pooped. Can you grab me a water, Ryker? Also, proud of you for keeping your cool. When I saw her here, I was afraid we'd all be dead by the end of the night."

  "I'm not a savage, Mins, but it appears that my wolf is on the same page and is learning to live with his possessiveness. You really were great tonight," he said, handing her water.

  "She was," Grey agreed, approaching. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

  "You weren't so bad either," I told Grey.

  "Meh, guitarists are a dime a dozen."

  Mindy slapped his arm. "You are not. I'd be nowhere near as good without you, and you know it. First, your voice harmonizes with mine in a way that no one else's could, and second, do not sell your guitar skills short."

  "She's right," I agreed. "I'm from Seattle. Do you know how many live bands I've seen? Heck, you can't even go to Pike Place without running into half a dozen or so just begging to be heard." This wasn't one hundred percent true; I knew plenty who were there for the acoustics.

  "Really?" Grey asked like he didn't hear this all the time, which considering how good he was, I had no idea how he couldn't know it.

  "Seriously, you're good. But the two of you together, the way your voices blend and complement each other. I'm a fan."

  Mindy beamed at the compliment. Ryker wiped the bartop down. A few of his waitresses sat at the bar in front of him and started to count their tips.

  "How'd you do?" Mindy asked me.

  "I think Ryker would agree that I was an asset."

  Mindy chuckled, "I bet." She yawned, then added, "I'm exhausted."

  It wasn't until she said she was tired did I yawn. I suppose I was pretty pooped as well. It had been a long day. I couldn't believe I was still standing once I thought about it.

  Ryker, being Ryker, noticed. "Ariel, you're dead on your feet. Why don't you sit down in the office and relax? I'll be done soon. I have a cleaning crew coming in tonight to do the rest."

  It was on the tip of my tongue to correct him and tell him to call me Elle, but I was starting to think it was useless. No matter how many times I corrected him, he never changed. Instead, I said, "I can just drive home and..."

  Ryker cut me off with a low snarl.

  I narrowed my eyes on him, then another yawn snuck out, and I decided he was right. I was done. I chose not to argue with him and moved to the office. As I passed him, he pulled me close and did that odd thing where his nose trailed up the side of my face, then let me go.

  The small sofa beckoned me as I walked into the office, and I sat down for about a minute before I fell asleep. I wasn't really sure, though, because I was that tired.

  "SHH, I GOT YOU."

  My eyes snapped open. Ryker was carrying me. No one I'd ever dated would've been able to pick me up. I was taller than most women I knew, and I wasn't a beanpole.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Shh, we're almost inside."

  I looked around and saw that we were in the hallway to my apartment. How in the world could he have moved me without me waking up already? I had no idea.

  "My purse! Did you grab my purse?" I squirmed.

  He set me on my feet and opened the door, then handed me my purse.

  I grabbed it from him and wasn't surprised when he looked through his keys, found the correct key for my apartment, and unlocked the door. He followed me inside and closed the door behind us.

  I was exhausted, but I didn't think Ryker and I could let any more time pass before we spoke.

  "I came to the bar tonight to talk to you."

  "I know. I'm sorry about how slammed we were. You did amazing back there. You may have found your calling."

  I rolled my eyes. "I was your backup. Really, you did all the work," I said on another yawn.

  "Seriously, you were a huge help tonight. I appreciate it. I liked working beside you, but right now, you're exhausted. Why don't we sleep? We can talk tomorrow."

  I shook my head. "I don't think we should wait." I dug into my purse and took out the medallion, and handed it to Ryker. "Do you know what this is? Have you ever seen this before?" He took the medallion from me and looked it over, flipping it around and examining it.

  "No, but it's cloaked in magic. Is this what those books are about?" He asked, nodding his head toward the stack of library books.

  "Yes, so much has been happening that I need to tell you about." I yawned again.

  Ryker watched this and stalked towards me, then swooped me up in his arms again.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Nothing is going to happen from two in the morning until tomorrow. You need sleep. Come on, Ariel." He walked us into my bedroom and laid me down, so my head was on the pillow. I was exhausted. I didn't argue when I felt him slip my sandals from my feet, nor did I argue as he told me to lift my hips so he could help me take my skirt off. The way he took care of me was nice. It had been so long since anyone looked after me. I didn't think anything of it when he took his shirt off and laid in bed beside me, holding me close to him. I was nearly completely asleep when I heard Ryker whisper, "You're the most beloved person in the world to me. I vow never to let anything happen to you and to always put your needs first. I understand this all must be a lot for you, and I'll do what I can to keep my wolf in check. I'm changing in ways that are new to me, too. We'll talk more about that tomorrow, as well. Tonight, sleep. Tomorrow will be a new day."

  I wanted to think about his words, but I couldn't. I was too exhausted, and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

  Chapter Eighteen

  "Ariel."

  I only slightly registered my name being called, and that was because this felt too good. The pleasure... I needed more. I felt his hard length against my sex. "Yes," I said, grinding my hips forward.

  "Ariel," My name was said like a whip, and I jerked in surprise, reality slamming into me. I was in my room, and dawn was approaching. That wasn't what was alarming. What alarmed me was that I was on top of Ryker, shirt off, and grinding him. I froze, mortified.

  "One heck of a dream you were having, huh?"

  I tried to scramble off of him, but he grabbed my thighs.

  "What are you doing?" I hissed.

  He chuckled. "I was sleeping, and when I woke up, you were on top of me. So maybe I should ask you that question. What are you doing, Ariel?"

  I huffed, "Well, I'm not sleeping now! So, let me get off."

  "Oh, I intend to." He pushed up slightly, and his hard length pressed into my clit.

  I stared down at his broad, expansive chest. I wanted to be mad at him, which wasn't fair. I was the one who was on top of him.

  "We can't. What if I..." I didn't want to say pass out again, but what had been happening to me was scary, and make no mistake, my body craved him, but I feared what would happen.