Blood of the Moon

a stood atop a jagged rock at the center of it all, her breaths shallow as she took in the scene. Hundreds of creatures-beasts with gn

couldn't understand how she got here, why she stood above them like some sort of leader. And yet, a

different from the others. Taller. Almost human. His golden hair caught the light of the moon, and his sharp, angular feature

smiled at her before spea

ng on and what she was doing there, a

he had enough things to worry about so adding a mysterious man who was waiting for her t

ow over the scuffed wooden bar and the crowd of rowdy patrons that filled its modest space. It wasn'

ndredth time that afternoon. She glanced at the clock on the far wall. Just a few more hours, she thought, willing the shi

de in, her every step radiating confidence and entitlement. She was strikingly beautiful, with perfectly styled blo

lightly against the countertop. "Excuse me, bartender," she said,

ng the twinge of irritation that flic

he took pride in, and she had made more martinis than she could count. She added the twist of

ust. She set the glass down with a dramatic sigh. "This is terrible," she

ious eyes glanced their way, some of them lingering. She swallowed

red beneath the surface. She placed the new drink in front o

is? Watered-down garbage?" she snapped, her voic

tightening on the edge of the counter. "I made it as best as I

on't like it, you remake it. No comp

ted it forward, the icy liquid spilling straight down the front of the woman's expensiv

m fell

h the hum of the bar. She stood, her hands flying to her d

lem h

rom the back room, his imposing frame and stern expression instantly com

ruined my blouse! I just told her I did not like the martini she made me

"Is there something wrong with you? Why did you pour that drink

her off. "She was rude! And incompetent! I am not coming

erek said, h

sbelief washing

he said firmly. "Gra

understand. She slappe

nk on her? I've tolerated you long enough. Ju

lease..

t o

r smug satisfaction infuriatingly clear. Nina bowed her head and walked

letely ignoring Derek who was still trying

wind of anger, humiliation, and regret. What was she going to do now? Jobs like this we

e poured tea, to the warmth in her smile even on the hardest days. Nina had

bar and the city streets. She barely noticed when the pavement

side, their shadows stretching long across the ground. She looked at her watch. It was still early

n her spine. Som

r gone, swallowed by dense forest. Panic crept i

choed through

eyes searching the darkness. A pair of glowi

ther. An

lv

es moving with lethal grace. Their growls deepened,

catching in her throat. The wolv

rned a

ws thundering against the ground behind her. Her chest burned,

the ground. She rolled onto her back, gasping,