Chapter 4

LIAM

I know the minute my Pixie arrives at the party. All of my senses are on overload. I take a few steps towards the house so I can see, and there she is. If possible, she is even more beautiful tonight. Only then do I realize Adam is standing right beside me.

Is he…? Wait. What?

Is he looking at her too? And he isn’t looking at her because I’m looking at her. He’s looking at her like –

Oh shit.

ADAM

The moment she lifts her hair, her scent grows even stronger on the wind, and I inhale deeply. Ah-ma-zing. I can’t take my eyes off of her as I start to walk towards her. I must introduce myself.

But what the hell? Liam… but… yet, where we’re looking, there is no one else for him to be so… fucking captivated with.

He’s entranced. By Her. I don’t know why this is happening, but this just got really fucking weird, super fast. He turns to me, and the look of horror on his face is likely what is on mine.

“No way man. It isn’t possible.” His voice is hoarse. He is stunned right now, but I know Liam, he won’t remain calm for long. “Like what the fuck dude?” Yep. There it is. Now he’s pissed off.

Before he makes a huge spectacle of us, I grab his arm and pull him deeper into the yard. It isn’t easy – Liam is a really big guy, but he reluctantly cooperates. We stop at a fork in the path, and I turn angrily to him.

“I don’t know what kind of bullshit you think you’re pulling – but she’s my Luna you jackass! Not some piece of tail for you to fuck and abandon.” I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth – I have never disrespected Liam like this before. Not only is our friendship at risk here – so is the fragile truce between our Packs. He is just as mad, and spittle actually hits me in the face as he retorts.

“Fuck you Adam. Your count is as high as mine.” I ignore his dig. He’s right, but that’s not the point. “And she isn’t a piece of tail to me you stupid fuck – she’s my Luna! YOU are the one who is confused here.” As he says ‘you’ he pokes me very forcefully in the chest. His eyes are silver now, his Wolf hovering below the surface. Place your bets folks, shit is about to go down.

LIAM

It is taking all of my self-control not to shift and tear his fucking throat out. The only reason I’m not is because it’s Adam. I can tell he believes she belongs with him, but I know she belongs with me. We need to figure this out or else one of us is a dead man, whether we want it to end that way or not.

Adam has always been the more sensible of the two of us – so he comes up with a plan. We’ll each take a different fork in the path, and ‘call’ her. If she is truly Luna to either of us; she’ll respond to her true bond mate, whether she knows why or not, and everyone will know. The matter will be settled.

“Will you accept the results?” he’s asking me. The cocky bugger is so confident she’s going to go to him. Hah! We’ll be seeing who’s crying in a few minutes. Ass.

Wolves are able to communication mentally – either as a group, or individually, depending on the need. If my Pixie is in fact my Luna, (she is) even if she isn’t yet aware that she’s a shifter, she’ll still feel compelled to come to me. It is a super convenient skill.

We each take our spots, and using silent communication, I invite her to come to me. I hear Adam doing the same thing.

SHELBY

And then the gooseflesh returns… thankfully quick, in a flash - the orgasm I had after last week’s still brings a smile to my face. I don’t need a repeat performance. Well, not right now. The feeling doesn’t come from the coolness of the water – this is, sensual. I don’t know where these sensations are coming from, but I’m liking it.

I’ve had enough of the creek, so brush my feet in the grass in a half-assed attempt to dry them off, before I put my sandals back on. I really want to explore further into the yard - I’m curious what other hidden treasures are waiting to be found?

I feel like I’m on a treasure hunt, eager to find the chest buried at the X. I’m surprised at the size of the space, as there are numerous little pathways going this way and that. I can hear people in areas all around me, so I’m doing my best to avoid intruding on anyone’s private time. That would be awkward!

So far, so good – I haven’t come across anyone yet. Every turn I take just somehow seems to be the right one. I approach a fork in the path, and turn right. Hmph. No. I turn around and go back, taking the left path. No. Wrong. I turn around again and go back to the fork.

What. The. Hell. Is. Wrong. With. Me? I am completely unable to make a decision – left, or right? Jesus, is this what an aneurism feels like?

ADAM

I can feel her make her way through the paths, and then reach the fork where she’ll determine not only her future, but mine future and Liam’s as well. The shitty thing is – she has no idea. Then she turns and takes the right path.

Toward Liam. I can feel the bile rising and I know I’m going to puke. How is it possible? She is his, not mine. But that’s not right. No… she is supposed to be mine… I sense Liam’s overwhelming glee – he isn’t gloating but simply unable to contain his joy. Perhaps one day I’ll feel happy for them, but right now the hurt is just too mu-

She has turned around and gone back to the fork in the path. I wish I could fucking hear her thoughts! Then I sense her turn down the left path – towards me.

Me. She is my Luna after all. Mine.