Read Blood Moon (Entangled Select Otherworld) for Free Online

cried.”
    “She sat here with her basket and wept for her banished children and her broken family. Her tears continued to fill the valley until she turned to stone.”
    I stared up at the Stone Mother’s bowed head, remembering a time when I thought I’d never stop crying. Sasha was still in the police academy the day she met me at the bus stop and whisked me away. Our parents were dead. My world tilted on its axis. I couldn’t remember the actual conversation, but I recalled the pain like it happened yesterday.
    I’d been small enough that my parents were still superheroes to me. How would I live without them?
    “Are you all right?”
    Chloe’s voice snapped me back to the present. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, nodding. “Yeah. I’m just…tired.”
    My gaze wandered to Gareth. His arm shot forward, skipping a rock across the smooth surface of the lake. “He’s still hurting for his brother.”
    Chloe sighed, turning to watch him. “My poor Osa has many hurts, but he won’t let anyone close enough to heal him.” She took my hand, looking up at me. “There is magic in this place, but you must open yourself up to it. Gareth senses the magic, but it cannot touch him.”
    “It’s a risk to open your heart and care when you might find yourself alone in the end.”
    Her lips parted, but she hesitated before speaking. “You have a wise heart.”
    Her emotions surrounded me, a rich mixture of hope and wonder, and her love for Gareth.
    “I don’t know about that…” I chuckled, shaking my head. “I try to keep moving forward. Sometimes that’s the best I can muster.” Swallowing a lump of emotion, I whispered, “I lost my parents when I was young. My older sister raised me.”
    Chloe gave my hand a squeeze. “They are proud of you.”
    “I hope so.” I might find out soon . Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms in front of me, suddenly grateful for Gareth’s leather jacket. At least it provided a little armor. I wasn’t ready to start wondering if I’d see them again on the other side.
    “Osa,” Chloe called. “Your friend is cold. You should get her someplace warm, and maybe treat her to some coffee.”
    Gareth approached us and my pulse quickened. His dark gaze connected with mine before his trepidation swirled around me. Reading emotions wasn’t an exact science. People were different and their feelings were rarely pure. And when I met someone like Gareth, who kept them repressed, it made deciphering the brief emotional messages even more complex.
    He could’ve been worried I was cold, nervous I might be dying right here, or a host of other things. His concern wasn’t the same as Jason’s. Gareth didn’t share the responsibility for my welfare or the doctor’s ego that Jason did.
    Usually my gift gave me a leg up with relating to people, but Gareth remained difficult to read.
    “You want my jacket? You could double them up.” He started to slide the leather off his shoulder, but I put my hand up.
    “That’s okay. I’m fine, really.”
    Chloe stood between us and sighed. “Neither of you are fine.” She went to Gareth and pulled him down for another hug. She kept her voice low, but my werewolf hearing made it impossible to avoid eavesdropping. “You be good to this one, Osa. She has a strong spirit. Let her in.”
    He didn’t answer her; no doubt well aware I could hear every word.
    Gareth straightened and walked back to her Jeep. I followed, wishing for impossible things like a cure for this mutated werewolf DNA coursing through my veins. Giving them a little privacy, I stopped at the motorcycle and spent some quality time messing with the leather gloves.
    I still missed my parents. It wasn’t the same raw pain it had been when I was younger. Most days it crept up on me when I least expected it. Would I see them again when I…
    “Hey, you ready to go?”
    I twisted around as Gareth approached. “Only if you are. I was just tagging along tonight. I don’t want you to