Moon Crossed (Werewolf Hunter Series): Season 1 (Episodes 1-6) (Crescent Hunter) (44 page)

Brogan comes back at
me, snarling and biting. I stab him again in the chest; he won't be
down for long. I need to subdue him to get him back to the house.

With my power, I throw
him aside over and over again until I'm nearly exhausted. My arm is
still bleeding, but the size of the gash is manageable.

The whole time I'm
pleading with Brogan to stop, I'm hoping that someone, anyone will
hear me. That maybe Cole is out here and can help me. I've never
needed help before; it has everything to do with me loving Brogan and
not wanting to hurt him. If we're going to get out of this, I have to
get rough with him.

I inhale a fortifying
breath as Brogan runs at me again. I dart to the side, avoiding his
attack, then jump onto his back, grab his head, and twist, breaking
his neck. His body goes limp, but his heart is beating. There's only
a moment for me to rest and recover. Leaning against the tree, I
sheathe my dagger and wipe my brow. “Okay, Claire, get up and
get him back to the house.”

With great difficulty,
I push myself up from the ground and lift Brogan into my arms.

When I emerge from the
trees at the trailhead, a group of hunters are at the perimeter.
Rosalee's smile fades when she realizes that I'm carrying a wolf.

“What happened?
Is he moon-touched?” She comes through the protective shield.

Hayden joins us. “What
happened?”

“He attacked me,
but I don't' think he's moon-touched. He doesn't have any of the
normal signs, just the aggression, so it could be temporary
moon-craze.” Hopefully that's the case.

He looks at me with
disapproval. “I'm really not sure about bringing him inside the
barrier, or if he's safe.”

With every last bit of
seriousness, I look Hayden in the eye. “If you want me inside
there, he's coming with me.”

He blows out a breath,
and we all startle when Brogan shudders. “Fine.” He looks
me hard in the eye. “You'd better know what you are doing.”

“I do.” I
roll my eyes.

“Lower the
shield,” he calls out as Brogan starts to come back to life.

“Let's get him in
his cell.” I lead the way through the crowd.

“You're hurt,”
Aunt Rain says with worry in her tone.

“I know. I've got
to get him downstairs.” I brush past her. My strength is
waning; I don't understand it.

“Let me take
him.” Hayden tries to take Brogan from my arms.

“No, don't touch
him. I'll get him downstairs.” Honestly, I did this to him and
will take care of him.

When I reach the bottom
of the stairs, Zane startles. “Claire, what happened?”

“Push the blue
button so I can get him into his cell.” Brogan's stirring has
increased. He's healing and I don't want him to come to while I'm
still within his reach.

Zane opens the
corridor. I take Brogan to his cell and close the door. Having him
out of my arms is a relief; I wasn't sure that I could hold him much
longer. I shake out my arms as I walk back down the corridor toward
my desk.

“What happened?”
Locke asks, standing at the door of his cell.

“Is he...”
Tor hesitates.

“I don't know.”
I shake my head, because I'm baffled by what happened. “I think
just moon-crazed, but I can't be sure.”

“You're
bleeding.” Trevor points to my arm through the bars.

“I know.” I
grab a rag off my desk and wipe away at the blood to survey the
damage. “I'll be fine. I just need to heal it.”

“Here, let me.”
Zane comes and looks at the gashes in my arm. Even though they have
closed up,
they are still pretty ugly.

Zane closes his eyes
and waves his hands over my arm. It takes a few moments before the
cuts close. When they are done, Zane looks down at me with kind eyes.
“Are you okay?”

I shake my head,
somewhat at a loss for words. This is why hunters are solitary. The
things we have to do sometimes are reprehensible. Zane has probably
been through a similar experience at some point in his life; I still
feel completely ashamed that I just broke my friend's neck.

“Claire?”
Locke's tone is pleading.

I go to his cell and
take his hands through the bars, trying not to look at the cell that
Cole was in last moon that now stands empty.

“What happened?”
Rabbit's voice travels from the corridor.

“I'm not really
sure why he was out there. He attacked me.” I inhale a breath
to cleanse my lungs. “He wouldn't stop.”

“Sort of like the
last moon,” Trevor points out.

“Yes, a lot like
that.” I roll my head around, trying to pop my neck. “But
worse.”

“Hopefully it's
just moon-crazed,” Rabbit says.

“If not...”
Zane gives me a knowing look. “Then I'll help you.” His
meaning isn't lost on me. He's trying to be kind, giving me an out on
having to kill someone I love.

“If he's
moon-touched, I'll take care of it. He's my friend and I love him. He
would want it that way,” I insist, but I really don't want to
talk about it.

“Do you think
this could be an effect of the last potion?” Kyle asks.

“I don't know.”
I pause, thinking of ways to figure it out. “I'm going to take
some blood samples in the morning.”

Locke looks directly
into my eyes. “Do you think you should try to sedate him?”

“I'm afraid to.
The last time it had a really bad effect.” I shake my head. “I
think he'll be okay.”

There's a veil of
sorrow blanketing the entire room. Zane puts his hand on my shoulder,
reassuring me. “I'm sure he will.”

I press a tight smile
into my cheek and nod.

“Claire, have you
had anything to eat?” Locke asks in a parental tone.

My eyes roll at his
overprotectiveness that I happen to love. “Um...”

“You need to get
something to eat,” he scolds.

“Fine, but I
really don't want to go back up there,” I whine, not wanting to
face everyone.

“Why?” Tor
asks.

“Because I don't
want to have this conversation again.” I look at Zane.

“I know, but you
need to get something to eat, and I need a sandwich.” Locke
smiles. “Would you be a sweetheart and get me one of Aunt
Rain's turkey sandwiches?”

“Fine!” I
blow out a breath. “Anyone else?”

All of the boys rattle
off a series of orders for chips, punch, and sandwiches.

“Didn't you guys
bring food down here?” I ask, exasperated.

“Yeah, but I want
one of Mom's sandwiches,” Trevor says, almost whining.

“Great, now I'm a
freakin' waitress.” I trudge up the stairs, already forgetting
whatever it was that the boys wanted. I'm just going to get a bunch
of sandwiches and some chips. I also have the distinct feeling that
Locke was trying to get rid of me.

Before entering the
kitchen where Aunt Rain and Hayden are talking, I suck in a deep
breath. I know that they are going to want details, and I'm not ready
to talk about it.

“Yes I told her,”
Hayden says with defiance in his voice.

“Are you out of
your mind?” Aunt Rain is not happy. I hold off on walking
through the door. “She can never know about Amelia.”

What about my mom? What
Hayden said about my mother being a wolf-borne comes flooding back.

“Rain, she needs
to know. Hybrids are changing things,” Hayden reasons.

“But this could
be so damaging to her. We don't know what it means, if anything at
all.” Aunt Rain pauses. “I just don't know if she's
emotionally ready to hear it.”

Okay, seriously, it's
time for me to step in here. “I am.” I come around the
corner. “I also don't appreciate not being told much sooner.”

“Oh, honey, why
didn't you come to me?” Aunt Rain takes me in an embrace.
There's something about this that doesn't feel right. Like she's only
trying to do damage control.

“I tried a couple
of times, but a lot has happened between when Hayden told me and this
moment.” I pull away from her.

“Claire, you have
to understand there was no reason for you to know,” Aunt Rain
defends.

“Yes, there are
many reasons for me to have known. The first and foremost is because
I never had the chance of knowing my mother. When I would ask about
her, the only information is what you chose to bestow upon me.”
I shake my head in disgust. “What else about my mother have you
kept from me?”

“Nothing, Claire,
I promise,” she pleads.

“Um...”
Hayden clears his throat.

Looking at him, then
back to Aunt Rain, I give her an opportunity to correct her
statement. When she doesn't, I turn back to Hayden, “So what
else?”

“Trevor,”
is all that he says.

“What about
Trevor?” Panic fills me that they are about to tell me
something awful about him.

Someone walks in from
the backyard. Hayden turns to them. “What is it?”

“I was just
getting some more cups.” The young man says, as though he's
been caught doing something wrong.

Rain hands him a
plastic bag full of cups and rushes him out the door, locking it
behind him. She keeps her back to me.

“Aunt Rain. What.
About. Trevor?” I say through gritted teeth.

Hayden looks to Aunt
Rain, then me. “She needs to hear this from you.”

Her body expands with a
preparatory breath. “Trevor is your brother.”

Tunnel Vision.

Fighting the dark.

“He's my
brother.” I say it as a statement, bracing myself on the
kitchen island.

“Yes, sweetheart,
he is.” Aunt Rain turns away to hide the tears spilling over.

“I don't
understand,” I say in a gasp. My head is spinning and it feels
like everything I've ever known is a lie. I need Locke right now. I
need him. “Locke!” I scream.

“Honey, he's
downstairs. He can't come up.” Aunt Rain tries to comfort me.

I pull away from her.
“Why?” I'm trying not to freak out. “Cole,” I
yell out, looking around. I pull my phone from my pocket and send a
text.

I need you.

“Claire, you need
to calm down.” Hayden puts his hands up to calm me.

“Why haven't I
known all along?” I demand.

“Because hybrids
are forbidden,” Aunt Rain says with resolve. “You and
Trevor could be killed if the wrong people find out.”

“But
he
knew?” I point at Hayden.

My eyes dart to a knock
at the door. I can see Ki through the window pane; I rush to open it.
Maybe he'll be a rational person who I can talk to, someone I've
trusted my whole life. Someone who wouldn't lie to me. “Ki.”
The urgency in my tone alarms him.

“What's going
on?” He looks at Hayden, as though he's to blame.

“Ki, was my
mother a wolf-borne?” I ask him point blank.

Disappointment clouds
his eyes. “Yes.”

“Why didn't you
tell me?” Tears threaten at the corner of my eyes that all
these years no one thought to tell me.

“Your father made
me swear not to.” He says it on a breath. “I've wanted
to. But he didn't want you to know. He was so ashamed of what he had
done –”

“He was ashamed
of loving my mother?” All of these stupid ass rules making it
harder for us all to live.

All three of them
exchange a series of cautious looks. “Spill it, why was my
father ashamed?” I demand. After another tick of silence, I
slam my hand on the island. “Tell me!”

Aunt Rain jumps.
“Claire, honey, you mom became moon-touched.”

“My mother was
killed by...” I trail off, letting the thought finish itself in
my mind, because I can't say the words. “Oh God, no.” The
memory of my father lying across my mother's body comes into focus,
but now in the flashback my mother is a wolf. My father is holding a
bloody blade.

“Your father,”
Ki finishes.

That's it. I can hear
nothing, feel nothing, say nothing. I turn and slide down the cabinet
and run my hands through my hair. Ki
kneels down in front of me. “Claire, you've got to pull
yourself together.”

I shake my head wildly.
Thoughts of how much he loved my mother run through my mind. He spoke
of her like she was an angel, gifted to him. The grief he must have
felt having to kill her had to be unbearable. My father died every
day without her. Never did it get better. His heart was just as heavy
the day he died as it was at my first memory of laying flowers on her
grave. Thoughts of Cole run through my thoughts like a whisper. The
undertow of this is pulling hard at me, and I want to shut down.

Ki puts his hands on my
shoulders. “Claire, talk to me.”

I look at him through
blurry eyes, unable to speak. The deluge opens up. Everything feels
like it's crashing down on me. “My entire childhood was a lie.”

Aunt Rain bends down.
“It wasn't a lie. We kept Trevor close to you. Your father
loved you, and so did your mother. None of that was a lie.”

My brain is swimming;
no, not swimming, drowning. My heart is drowning in all of this. I
feel like my heart is going to burst through my chest. My vision
fails, my body shuts down. I can hear myself yelling, but what is
unclear. Everything sounds as though it's being played through an old
phonograph.

Pain streaks through my
veins like my heart is pumping liquid fire; the burning is
unbearable. I can feel myself emitting screams, but can't hear
anything. I try to find some kind of peace to hold onto. Wolves are
howling. The sensation of Cole being nearby prickles, but provides
little comfort. The spasms of pain slow, but my vision is still
skewed, only able to see in black and white. Everything is blurry. My
body is being moved, but I don't know where or by whom. As the
burning subsides more, I feel what's left of my consciousness
slipping away. I'm not sure where.