Blood Moon (New Moon Series Book 2) Read online

  Blood Moon

  New Moon Series Book Two

  Belle Harper

  Copyright © 2020 by Belle Harper

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  For my sister Elise.

  Dreams do come true and one day yours will too.

  Love from your big sister, Belle xx

  This book contains some themes that may cause triggers in some readers and I wish to warn you before reading Blood Moon. I have included the chapters so if you chose to still read you can skip those triggers and still enjoy the story.

  These themes include:

  Violence: Chapters 43-47

  Attempted suicide: Chapter 46-47

  Thank you, Belle xx

  Contents

  Prologue: Galen

  1. Lexi

  2. Lexi

  3. Lexi

  4. Galen

  5. Lexi

  6. Lexi

  7. Lexi

  8. Ranger

  9. Lexi

  10. Lexi

  11. Rafferty

  12. Lexi

  13. Lexi

  14. Galen

  15. Lexi

  16. Lexi

  17. Lexi

  18. Lexi

  19. Maverick

  20. Lexi

  21. Lexi

  22. Lexi

  23. Lexi

  24. Rafferty

  25. Lexi

  26. Galen

  27. Lexi

  28. Lexi

  29. Rafferty

  30. Lexi

  31. Ranger

  32. Lexi

  33. Lexi

  34. Lexi

  35. Lexi

  36. Lexi

  37. Lexi

  38. Lexi

  39. Maverick

  40. Lexi

  41. Lexi

  42. Galen

  43. Galen

  44. Lexi

  45. Lexi

  46. Lexi

  47. Ranger

  48. Lexi

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Belle Harper

  About the Author

  Prologue: Galen

  I have heard by many that in your final moments, your life flashes before your eyes.

  That everything becomes clear, that this was the natural way of life and death for humans.

  I didn’t see my life, only regrets. And there were many.

  But saving Lexi, that was the only thing I got right in my three hundred and twelve years. She awakened something in me, and I’d only just started really living. But saving her…it was worth the pain. It was worth everything.

  Chapter One

  Lexi

  My head hurt, and my stomach turned. This was a new feeling. I’d never had a headache before, but I assumed that this was what one felt like—like my brain was going to explode out of my head and there were tiny hammers banging on the inside of my skull, trying to let it out. If that was what being human felt like, then I was glad I wasn’t one… Well, not exactly.

  I took a deep breath, inhaling a pungent odor that irritated my lungs. Ugh…bleach. It was so strong, and it didn’t help at all with the pain in my head. Actually, it was worse and made my nose burn. I tried to sit up, to move away from the smell, when I felt something warm and hard against my body as I slumped back down beside it. I turned my head upwards against the hard chest. My eyes were still squeezed shut at the pain in my head, but through the harsh chemicals, I smelled summer rain… It was Raff. His arms wrapped around me a little tighter, and I felt him stroking my hair back from my forehead. I felt safe, happy, as I relaxed in his arms. This was my comfort. My cocoon of safety in Raff’s arms, and I wanted to stay there forever. He chases away my bad dreams and makes everything right in the world.

  “Lexi, are you okay?” he asked. “You scared me so much. I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered into my hair and I felt as he placed a kiss against my temple. Oh Raff, such a beautiful soul. I held onto him, letting him know I felt him, that I was here with him.

  I could hear everything around me, and soft talking sounded like a freight train in my head. I reached up and held my temples, massaging them with my palms.

  “I’m okay. I just have a headache,” I whispered, and then groaned as the words pounded in my head. I lowered my hand down and felt my neck. There was nothing there, but I remembered the pain. The pain felt so real.

  “Lexi, you tasted just like…heaven.”

  It wasn’t a dream—he bit me. Galen really drank my blood. He drank the poison from my veins, and then he was sick. He was dying…

  My eyes flashed open, the light in the room blinding me, and it felt like it was spinning. The pain in my head was upsetting my stomach more as wrapped my arms around my middle to stop myself from being sick.

  “Galen?” I tried to call, but it came out a harsh cry ripped from my lungs. A lone tear slip free and roll down my cheek. Had I been sleeping while Galen was dying? I wasn’t with him, why wasn’t I still with him? Oh god, they buried him, or he exploded into ash and they swept him away. I wasn’t sure how vampires died. My throat was tight, and I felt like I was gasping for air. What was with all the bleach…? I felt like I was suffocating. Oh god, he was like those vampires that explode into blood and goo, and they cleaned him off the floor. He was gone… Raff held me tightly, I think he was trying to tell me something, but my mind wouldn’t quit buzzing. He was dead because of me, he saved me and now he was gone. I choked back a sob, my throat tight and—

  “Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick.” I closed my eyes to try stop the dizziness and my stomach from heaving, when I felt another set of hands on me I gasped. I opened my eyes, hoping to see Galen, but the hands were warm and big. Ranger looked down at me and gave me a sad smile while stroking my hands and face.

  “Shh… Lex, you really scared us there when you passed out. Galen is—”

  Before Ranger could finish, Galen was there, pushing Ranger aside. My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t believe what I was seeing until his cold hands traveled over my face. It felt amazing to have his hands on me. He was touching me, pushing my hair away, tilting my head, checking my neck, and the intensity of his eyes burrowed deep within me. I let out a deep, rattled breath and clutched my fist into his sweater so he couldn’t leave. I needed to keep him here, I needed for him to be safe. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. I could feel the tears building up and getting ready to spill over. God, he was here. Galen was alive. My body was weak and shaky. My fingers struggling to hold onto Galen but I would use all my energy to hold onto him. I was exhausted as I slumped back into Raff’s arms pulling Galen with me. I surrounded by the three of them looking down at me.

  “What happened? I thought you had…” The lump in my throat was thick, and I couldn’t even say the words. I wouldn’t. He was okay. He was here, in front of me, and this wasn’t a dream. He smelled amazing, like sunshine and cotton candy. I let go of his sweater and reached up to touch his face, to make sure he was okay. I touched his curls, which were all messed up and sexy looking. As always. In a blink of an eye, I was in Galen’s lap, and my stomach protested at the move. But then he held me tight and rocked me gently, and everything seemed almost right in the world. Almost.

  “Your blood healed me, Lexi. I don’t know how or why. I could feel the venom. I could feel it eating me from the inside, but your blood was soothing, peaceful as it took over and protected me. It was almost like a blanket, putting o
ut the flames.”

  Holy shit, my blood healed him. What the hell was I, if I could heal vampires?

  “For now, we don’t want this getting out at all. We just want to keep you safe until we work out what you are. I have ideas, but I’ll run them by Pack Bardoul and see what they can come up with. Don’t want to play the guessing game just yet, in case I’m wrong.”

  I must’ve been powerful if I could heal a vampire, but then again, just as weak to shifter venom, since I almost died. Maybe I was like half a vampire?

  I reached out and took Raff’s hand. His brow was pinched together, but as soon as I touched him, he relaxed, like he needed to be touching me. I felt that too. I felt so much better with him just being there.

  Ranger was so close now, hovering beside us. He had that goofy looking smile on his face, but I could tell behind that smile hid pain. His hand was now resting on my calf, he squeezed lightly and winked at me. I rolled my eyes and chuckled slightly, but my headache didn’t like it. I looked behind Ranger, and I could see Alaric and Jett were talking in low voices, watching me. Jett waved at me, giving me a half smile before turning back to his father.

  “Where’s Maverick?” Why wasn’t he here? Ranger’s expression turned down, he looked away as I watched his chest rise and fall. When he turned back to me, he tried to give me that Ranger grin, but instead, it came out like a pity smile. Oh god, what…

  “He shifted after you passed out and Galen was healed. Father told him to shift back, but he ran off. He can usually keep in control of his wolf, but I think this was his breaking point. Almost losing you and…Galen.” He looked up at Galen, and Ranger’s features softened.

  I felt that in the pit of my stomach. Maverick wasn’t here, that he had left me when I needed him. Especially when we all needed to be here together. But deep down, I got why he did. That was a lot for him, for anyone.

  I was still working out the guys, all their different personalities and needs. Right now, Maverick needed space. I knew him the least, and I couldn’t be upset with him for that. I was only upset that the five of us weren’t here together right now.

  I needed to hug Ranger, he looked so lost. I reached over and pulled him in. He chuckled slightly but didn’t complain. Normally, he would have teased Galen about how bad he smelled or the fact that he was practically hugging him too, but instead, he just held me. I could feel his body start to relax in my arms, like he needed this just as much as me.

  Ranger didn’t say any more about his twin. Maverick had opened up a piece of himself he normally kept hidden. He showed all of us how much he cared for Galen while he was dying. The way he cradled Galen’s body against his, and brushed the curls off his brow so tenderly. When he helped Galen get closer to me. When I kissed Galen. I stiffened slightly. I kissed Galen, and I told him I loved him.

  He seemed to sense the shift in me. Ranger pulled away, and Galen stopped rocking me. Oh my God, please don’t bring it up.

  “He has some things to deal with, so he just needs a little time and space. Everyone reacts to stressful situations differently. He needed to run, to process everything,” Galen explained.

  I remembered that they could all smell my change in mood, and Galen must have thought I was worried about Maverick, which I was. But I was also worried about that kiss. He was my history teacher still, and where do we go from here? Oh shit, Alaric saw it too, he would have. He would fire him for sure now. I could tell them I was just saying something nice, that Galen would have wanted to hear it in his final moments, but that was a lie. I knew it, and I was sure they all knew it too. I was in love with Galen.

  We sat there in silence for a few moments. I just needed time to think and not let on what I was thinking. Fuck, it was hard to do that in a house full of shifters who could smell my moods. The headache was still there but had started to ease off. At least it reminded me that I was alive, but did Galen do something to give me a headache when he drank my blood? Or did Callum, when he tried to make me a shifter with his venom? Shit, was I okay with vampire venom or would that kill me too? I didn’t want to find out.

  I looked around and watched what was happening around us. Jett was now talking with Saint, and Alaric wasn’t there anymore. We were still here, in the living room, and nothing had changed except for the strong smell of bleach and the white rug I was on earlier. It was now gone, and we were now on one of the throw blankets from the movie room. I was glad. That rug needed to be burned, since there was no coming back from that blood stain. Plus, too much bad had happened on that rug, I never wanted to see it again.

  “So, while you were out, Lex, Galen here… Well, I think your blood is kinda like taking drugs or something for a vamp—” Galen reached out and cupped his hand over Ranger’s mouth, and I laughed. I looked to Raff, who just smiled and nodded his head quickly. His beautiful hair I only just noticed was all messed up and had a little bit of blood in it. My blood?

  “I wasn’t like that. It just gave me…a boost in my powers. I don’t feel exactly like myself just yet, and I think the blood is still going to be in my system for a while. It wasn’t like drugs, Ranger.” Galen sounded like the was telling Ranger off, but I could sense the hint of teasing in his tone.

  I laughed, that was kind of cool. But also scary, what kind of boost of powers did it give him? I was quiet again, and it was nice to be in Galen’s arms. I didn’t want to move, and I smiled to myself. I liked being in his arms.

  “I have to wipe Ada’s memory, see what Alaric has planned for Ralph’s visit—” I turned back to Galen and pushed myself out of his arms. What the fuck?

  Now sitting in front of him, I reached out, touching Raff and Ranger for strength. Galen tilted his head, surprised at my sudden move, but he had to know why I would do that.

  “Like hell will you touch Ada.”

  I felt Raff stiffed beside me. “No one is touching Ada. She’s asleep in your bed, Lexi.” He rubbed my arm, trying to comfort me.

  I glared at Galen. He just said he would wipe her memory. I moved back away from Galen, then away from all three of them when he didn’t agree with Raff.

  They all just stared at me. I narrowed my eyes at Galen. This was bullshit, and he had to know it was. Yeah, Ada talked a lot, but now, I needed her more than ever. I needed her to know about this whole world, be in my corner, and talk about all this crazy shit with me. He couldn’t wipe her memory. He could just fuck off back to his little house, if he was going to be this way. Yeah, okay, he saved my life, but I wouldn’t have been there in the forest if he wasn’t being all weird and ignoring me all week and then lurking out there in the forest. I pointed at him.

  “You are not going to take her memories, Galen. Do you hear me?” I felt a hand on my back and jumped at the sudden contact. My heart started racing, I turned, hoping it was Maverick. It was Jett, and I tried to hide my disappointment by giving him a small smile. He titled his head and gave me a smile in return. I let out a shaky breath, and he hugged me tight before letting go.

  “Hey, Lex, we aren’t going too, okay?” I looked back to Ranger, his hand on my shoulder, strong and warm. I ran my hands down my face, my eyes gritty from sleep or lack of. The way he said ‘okay’ made me feel like this was something that was discussed while I was out and not directed at me.

  “Galen.” You could hear the pleading in my voice. But it was more of a warning than anything. When they all looked at me, puzzled again, I held my head in my hands. Ugh, maybe this blood loss or shifter venom was messing with me. I could feel my body struggling with everything. I was drained, too much had happened, and I needed some space. Raff moved over and held me. I sagged against his chest and closed my eyes.

  “I need to go to bed.” Then I closed my eyes as I felt him lift me into his arms, cradling me against his warm hard chest. It felt so good as he walked towards the stairs, and the swaying lulled me to sleep before we even got to my room.

  Chapter Two

  Lexi

  I woke sometime after breakfast, my
stomach alerting me to the fact I missed a meal. Eating three times a day was something I was still getting used to, but breakfast here could be so good, I didn’t want to miss it ever.

  The headache was gone, and I was so grateful. I never wanted to experience that again. I rolled over in the sheets, wanting to get up and eat…oh and shower. I smelled terrible. But I also wanted to just stay here, where nothing bad would happen. It was safe here. I curled under the sheets to hide myself from the world. Wow, okay, I need a shower bad. I was still wearing the same clothes from last night…eww.

  “Hey sleepyhead.” My heart sped up a little at the voice, but when I pulled free of the sheets, I saw them and almost cried at the sight. My hand covered my mouth to try and stop myself, but I couldn’t hold it in, and I sobbed.

  “Jack? Grayson?” I choked out. They gave me those warm friendly smiles that they had given me every day I was living with them, and I missed that so much. They entered the room as I sat up, and at a quick glance, I realized I wasn’t in my room, I was in Raff’s. They weren’t coming to me fast enough, so I scrambled out of the sheets—which were trying to tie me down—and as soon as my feet hit the floor I ran over to them.