Red Moon Secrets (Deadly Beauties 3)

Dice walks up from the woods, shaking his head. "The human knows we exist. That's apparent. But he didn't actively help her kill the Were or the changer. Not possible. He's rolling around and praying. Seriously?"

Reese huffs, but he slaps the human on the back of the head.

"Tell them what the human witch told you, and I might not rip you to shreds while you try holding me off with your cross."

The human cries harder, possibly hyperventilating, but he heaves it out between breaths. "The girl... she's a creature of... some stupid... I don't know what it's called. A... goddess or something! I didn't want to believe it. She... she made me see them change. I... swear... I swear I didn't kill anyone!"

Unless he has a secret Buffy power, this human isn't capable of killing one of us.

"Fine," Reese groans. "Get him out of here and have someone dust his memories."

The betas oblige, and Shay runs over. "I'll dust them."

Chaz appears at my side, his head already tilted in confusion as he stares at the autumn eyes of the alpha.

"Didn't know these woods had wolves."

Reese stares at the duster in disbelief, snarling in disgust.

"I didn't realize this crowd was pathetic enough to bring along fairies."

Chaz opens his mouth to speak—or threaten the alpha—but Dice beats him to it. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. He really doesn't like to be called a fairy."

That changes Chaz's scowl to a near grin, and I have to stifle a laugh.

Reese snorts derisively, but he doesn't press it. Instead, he turns his att

ention to me. "Creature Goddess. You're not supposed to exist."

Kane grinds his teeth and steps in front of me. "If you try to—"

"Wolves are loyal," Reese says, interrupting my fuming fiancé. Fiancé. That sounds so good. "Very loyal. Freya was our queen long ago. She saved us from extinction. A daughter or granddaughter of hers is a queen of ours. There's a war coming. You're going to need more allies than this," he says, motioning to our small semblance of a fucked-up coven.

He's right. There is a war coming, but I'm not so sure wolves are really as loyal as he claims.

"How did the human witch know who she was?" Zee asks.

Reese doesn't look so cocky or intimidating. Instead, he seems helpful for a change. "The spirit told her. It seems someone had been talking to the spirit—someone from our world. They know she exists. They're planning to strike, and they'll be prepared for her. We need to be ready."

Kane breathes out heavily, watching in dismay as our brief moment of euphoria is swept away by the darkness in our lives.

"How'd you find us?" Kane asks, still grilling the supposed-friendly wolf.

"We were staking out your place, waiting on you to return. We followed your lycans back from your old place. They really need to learn to spot a tail better."

Kane murmurs something under his breath, and then he shakes his head.

"I need to go instruct my pack," Reese says, turning to walk away and leave us with the heaviness that has settled.

"Just when I thought things were getting better," I mumble.

"Where’re the lycans and Frankie?" Chaz asks, looking to us.

I shrug, and Kane does the same. Dice smirks as he answers. "The she-devils and the warlock went to go check the perimeter after the wolves snuck in without catching our attention. Everyone got out of the house like you did when the two of them got to celebrating," he says teasingly, pointing a thumb in our direction.

I'm actually a little worried my cheeks are on fire right now—that's how bad they burn. Kane coughs on a laugh while shaking his head.

"I really didn't think—"