Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Piper

"Interesting?" What the hell does that mean?

"I'll explain everything, but I just need to…"

"Get everyone the hell out of the house so you can explain 'interesting' to me."

"Yes." He looks relieved that I understand, even if I really don't.

"Then go. I'll throw clothes on and meet you downstairs fully dressed."

He turns back to me right before going out the door, "Wear something you won't mind having ripped off you. For later."

And then he's gone, and I am stunned. Something I don't mind having ripped off me. Really?

I don't waste time throwing an old t-shirt on over a pair of stretchy leggings and head back down to the kitchen where I am greeted by Annie and Kyra. Somehow while I was gone, the window now had a small wooden board in the place of the broken windowpanes and Larry had come over. He has his eyes all over Annie.

One of the guys must have called him to come over. He finally sees me and smiles. "Look at you, the new mate to our alpha! You did pretty good for yourself, Piper."

I give him a slight smile before walking closer to Merrik. Just being next to him makes me feel better, more centered, calmer, and…stable. He pulls me down in his lap like maybe he can't go without touching me either.

Merrik was right when he said he wasn't going to drag things out. He's ending the impromptu meeting before I even realize what is going on.

"The bodies have been disposed of?"

"Yes. Burned just as you ordered, Alpha."

"The community is prepared for the blood moon?"

"Blood moon?"

"It is a time when the moon looks red because of a lunar eclipse. It's one of the reasons our man was so powerful and performed his ritual to turn now. He could only achieve the transformation on the night of the full blood moon."

"But he was already…turned."

"If he had made a kill tonight during the full moon, he would have kept his powers to transform forever, as well as our healing properties and strength."

Every one of the men at the table looks at me as an awful thought zips through my head, "I was the one he wanted to be his first kill as that thing. That's why he told the others he just wanted me."

All of them nod.

"Because you are the bridge, the very thing he wanted to be."

One of the twins says the words but everyone nods. But I don't understand.

"I…I'm the bridge. What does that mean?"

I don't look to anyone else except Merrik for my answers.

"When we go through the mating ritual completely tonight you will have what he wanted, I will share my long life with you, my healing factor, my ability to communicate with everyone in the community that is like us. You won't change into a wolf but you will have all the benefits of our kind."

I gasp and look at Kyra. "That's how you knew exactly what I needed from the house without me having to say a word."

"Actually, that part is probably more because of me and Merrik. Since we're brothers our mates will be more prone to be closer with one another. It would be completely normal for you guys to talk through your telepathic connection."

"But I could hear her too. And I'm not a wolf at all."

"Bridge." The other twin -the less talkative of the two- says matter of factly.

"That is solely because of your friendship with each other, Annie. And the fact she cares about you so much. But yes, it would seem that my little mate is a bridge between her people and our people." Merrik says it with so much pride in his voice that I can't help but feel the warm rush of happiness that he thinks I am special and perfect for him. "Now, if everything is ready and in place. I will ask you all to leave so I can be with my mate during this very…exciting time."

I stand and hug Annie and Kyra telling them we will meet up and hang out as soon as this whole mating moon thing is over. When I hug Annie, I whisper a small suggestion to her and place her hand in Larry's before stepping back to watch as everyone leaves me and Merrik alone.

As soon as the door is shut and locked, I am in his arms. He takes the stairs two at a time and he shuts the bedroom door before sitting me down. Instead of coming onto the bed with me, he walks to the window and stares up at the rising moon.

"I need more time, damn it!" He's not talking to me at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's talking to the moon like it can grant him a few more minutes.

I scoot to the end of the bed looking at his broad back and tight ass! He's the first man I've ever looked at this way -with so much lust and want.

"Merrik," I wait for him to turn around so I can be sure he hears every word I say like it's an oath or promise, "I know you would never hurt me. No matter how…uncontrollable or animalistic you become, you would never hurt me. No part of you and who you are would ever cause me harm under any circumstances."

He steps away from the window. Something about him is slightly different. He's…bigger, broader somehow. And I'm pretty sure his eyes have changed. There's a glint to them now that makes me think of the eyes of a predator tracking prey. Not for a second do I worry or fear him. If he's my predator I am more than willing to be hunted down.