#2 When the Moon Turns Red

Chapter 21: Noah

“Noah?” Evie’s sweet voice asked. Her head was resting on my chest, my arms wrapped around her tightly as we laid in the dark watching some Disney movie she had picked out.

“Yes, my love?”

“I don’t want you to go to Massachusetts and do anything stupid.” She said sheepishly. I adjusted her in my arms so I could see her big, blue doe eyes.

“Who said I was thinking about going to Massachusetts?” I asked. She gave me an I’m not stupid look, competely calling me out.

“Okay, okay, fine. The thought had crossed my mind.” I admitted.

“I don’t want you to go.” She said again.

“He hurt you, Everleigh, he needs to know that the punishment for that is severe. Everyone needs to know that.” I softly brushed my fingers across her cheek.

“I don’t want you to get into a fight because of me.” She pouted. I laughed at her,

“Love, I’ll go to war over you.” She glared at me, clearly not approving of that idea.

“You can’t argue with that, Evie, it’s no use. I will fight for you. I’ll fight anyone, anytime, any place. There’s nothing more important to go to war over than you.” Her bottom lip pushed out in an adorable little pouty face.

“Fine. But, I still don’t want you to go to Massachusetts. If you want to make me happy, you won’t go.” She said defiantly.

“That’s fighting dirty, little mate.” I warned her. She shrugged smugly.

“Okay, I won’t go to Massachusetts. But, if he comes here or if I’m forced to go there to solve one of his messes, I’m beating him within an inch of his life.” I said matter-of-factly. Evie looked at me like she wanted to argue, but pressed her lips together silently instead.

“Compromise?” I asked, raising my eyebrow. She rolled her eyes,

“Fine.” She adjusted herself on my chest, moving her head to watch the movie. I laid my cheek against the top of her head and breathed in her scent.

The movie played on and I relished every minute I got to hold my mate in my arms. I smiled as she hummed along to the songs and giggled at the movie. She had the most amazing laugh, I found myself getting lost in it. The credits rolled on the movie and I felt my mate stretch out against me. She sat up and turned to face me with a sleepy look in her eyes. I brushed the hair away from her face,

“You look tired.” I observed. She nodded sluggishly,

“Let me take you home.” I started to stand but Evie stopped me, grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to her.

“Wait.” She said, I raised my eyebrows at the look on her face, it was an expression I didn’t recognize. She placed one of her hands on my face, rubbing her thumb across my cheek bone. I purred in approval as Evie gnawed on her bottom lip.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Everleigh.” I said, my voice growing huskier by the second. Her eyes swirled with anticipation, I could smell the desire radiating off of her and something told me she enjoyed the game she was playing. I grabbed her arms and pulled her across my lap in a single motion.

“What do you want, love?” I asked her, running my hands up her back.

“Kiss me.” She said without an ounce of hesitation in her voice.

Remi howled in my head as I smashed her lips to mine. I felt her arms go around my neck as my hands ran across her body. I moved my hands down her back and to her hips, pulling her as close to me as I could. Her hands moved to my chest, clutching my shirt in her grip as she tried to get closer.

She broke the connection, breathing heavily, as my lips moved down her neck. I paused at her marking spot at the base of her ear and Remi urged me to sink my teeth into her soft skin. I internally shook my head at him; not until she was ready, not until she asked for it.

I planted kisses over her shoulder and took pleasure in feeling her body tremble against mine. I trailed my lips across the scars that shattered the perfect skin of her shoulder, trying to heal them and the emotional wounds they left behind. A sweet sigh escaped her mouth and I purred at the sound.

“I’m coming undone by you.” I whispered against her neck, nuzzling against her. She grabbed my face and pulled it towards her. Her eyes were alive with excitement and I could tell that she felt the same way.

She smiled wickedly at me, winking before she planted a quick kiss on my lips and stood up. She walked out of the teepee, turning around to offer me her hand. I sighed at her, a smile on my face, as I took her hand and allowed her to lead me back to the car. I drove her home in comfortable silence, a completely different trip than the first time she was in my car.

“I had an amazing time tonight, Noah.” She said as we stood at her door.

“Me too,” I agreed, clinging to her hand, desperate to maintain contact for as long as I could,

“When can I see you again?” I was surprised by her answer,

“Whenever you want.” She was so much more relaxed and confident then the last time we parted ways. I smiled widely, thrilled that her nerves were finally going away.

“I never want to leave.” I chuckled. She rolled her eyes at me but a smile was still stubbornly on her lips.

“How about Friday evening?” I suggested.

“I thought you spent Friday evenings at the bar with Sawyer and Greyson?” She c****d her head at me, calling me out on crashing her girls night with Molly last week.

“I do. Join me?” I countered. My request caught her off guard and she didn’t have a clever comeback. I pressed her hand to my lips,

“Please?” I begged her, my eyes never leaving hers.

“Okay.” She replied weakly.

“I’ll pick you up after school.” I told her. I wasn’t sure if she was even listening to me at this point as my fingers played with hers.

“Goodnight, my sweet little mate.” I whispered, nuzzling my nose against her cheek before pressing my lips to hers in a deep but passionate kiss.

“Goodnight, Noah.” She whispered back before stepping inside her apartment and shutting me out.

I couldn’t help but grin stupidly the entire drive home. My mate was finally letting me in. She was enjoying our time together and becoming more and more comfortable around me. I had to settle Remi down in my mind. We were going at a comfortable pace for Evie and we couldn't screw that up now by getting overly excited and rushing things.

I pulled into the parking garage at the packhouse. The packhouse looked like an old Lousianian mansion, standing 4 stories tall and surrounded by the bayou. It was a dark, salmon color with black accents. It had once been a dark red, the same color as our pack emblem, but had faded over the century. Each level of the mansion was significant, outlined with intricately designed black railings and large floor to ceiling windows that were trimmed with impressive black shutters. It had a large grand entrance. The black door was surrounded by a bold archway and faced out towards the wide front porch.

I climbed up the large, cement stairs and pushed open the heavy door. It was around ten o’clock at night but the ground level of the house was still bustling with excitement. This was the communal level, housing a large gameroom, kitchen, dining hall, movie theater, gym, library, hospital, wellness center, and indoor swimming pool.

Any member of our pack was free to enjoy these amenities anytime, night or day. There was also a bunkhouse for anyone needing to camp out which were mostly he-wolves in the proverbial dog house or pups having sleepovers with their friends.

I smiled and chatted with my pack members as I weaved my way towards the steps. The packhouse had a newly installed elevator, which came with the smart house upgrades I made about two years ago, but I still preferred the stairs. I lived on the 4th floor, which was the Alpha and Luna quarters, along with our future pups. The 3rd floor houses the Gamma, Beta, and their families while the 2nd floor was for the past Alpha and Luna, and guests.

I climbed the three flights of stairs to the top floor. A long hallway greeted me. Off the hallway to the left were several doors that held two master bedrooms and several smaller bedrooms with connecting bathrooms for the pups. A bedroom was made for both the Luna and the Alpha for a time when men and women didn’t stay in the same room. At the end of the hallway, on the right handside, was a large living room-type area and two more rooms which were utilized as offices.

The Luna and Alpha’s main offices were on the ground floor, towards the back of the packhouse, away from the hustle and bustle.

I opened the door to my room and dropped myself down on the bed. I contemplated a shower, but didn’t want to wash off my mate’s scent. I looked around the room and imagined what it would be like to have Evie share it with me. I drifted to sleep with that thought in my head.