Read Burn This! (A 300 Moons Book)(Bad Boy Alphas) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Tasha Black
something like this,” she said in her familiar worried tone. “You shouldn’t have let them extend the tour into this month, John.”
“You think this has to do with…” he couldn’t say it. To say it would be to make it real.
“Your 300th moon,” she said matter-of-factly. “What else would it be?”
“I thought that was just a made-up thing,” he offered unconvincingly. “Something to keep us in line.”
Mom laughed hard. The sound of that deep laugh always made him feel great inside.
“Well it certainly didn’t do much in that regard,” she said.
“I guess not,” he agreed with a smile.
“We need to talk about it, son, it’s high time. How much have you figured out?”
Johnny thought about it.
“I remember the night I came to you. I was so upset when my mom was leaving. I was afraid I would explode. But I didn’t. You read me those funny stories,” he said, starting with what he knew was true.
“Yes,” Mom agreed. “ Pippi Longstocking .”
“And Mrs. Cortez came, with sweets.” He suddenly remembered the rich bitterness of the chocolate in the heavenly sweet pastry - he could taste it like it was still in his mouth.
“She did,” Mom agreed, her voice subdued.
“And when I finally got tired, she started singing,” he finished. “But I don’t remember the rest. I think I fell asleep on her lap.”
“That was pretty much it,” Mom told him.
“The same thing happened to the other kids, right? I mean not the part with the book or the sweets, but the song,” he offered.
“Yes,” Mom agreed.
“Is that song the reason why I don’t shift all the time when I’m mad?” he asked.
“Yes,” she agreed.
“And in 300 moons it wears off, right?” he asked. “Why would you never admit it when we asked?”
“Because we’re not sure that’s what happens.” The tone of her voice told him it pained her to admit it.
“What do you mean, you’re not sure?” he demanded.
“No one had ever attempted this before, John. Mrs. Cortez did her best and she succeeded. For three hundred moons you’ve had control over your gift. But no magic is free. The price will be paid. We just don’t know yet how.”
“Will I lose my gift, if I don’t give in to it before the moon is over?” he asked, trying not to let her hear the hope in his voice.
“I don’t know. You might,” she allowed. “Please come home, so we can help you through it.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” he told her, sure that if he went home she would not want him to give up his animal. She and the rest of his family had always seen it as some kind of blessing. But of course, they’d never caused the kind of pain he had.
“John, you’re an adult and I can’t make you come home, but I’m asking you, please. You need your family right now.”
His heart broke at the idea of disappointing her. Kate Harkness was a strong woman and it wasn’t like her to openly admit that she was powerless.
“We’ll fix you a room on the third floor, away from the little ones, away from the tourists - a sanctuary. Think of it just like a little vacation so you don’t have to go through this in the public eye,” she continued. “I’ve asked Derek, and Chance and Darcy, as well. Since you all arrived at the farm that same month, they’ll be dealing with it too. It will be a chance to catch up with your siblings. We miss you.”
The idea of seeing them all again was appealing, but of course they’d just take Mom’s side if he ever mentioned that he wanted to give up on shifting. Darcy would clobber him for even thinking about it.
And besides, his mind had caught on something she’d said already.
Sanctuary…
An idea began to form in his mind.
“Mom, I have a plan,” he assured her. “I’ll be home as soon as the moon is done. Everything will be fine, I promise you.”
6
J ohnny was starting to get uncomfortable under Seth’s gaze. His bandmate looked distinctly suspicious.
And for good reason.
Johnny looked
“You think this has to do with…” he couldn’t say it. To say it would be to make it real.
“Your 300th moon,” she said matter-of-factly. “What else would it be?”
“I thought that was just a made-up thing,” he offered unconvincingly. “Something to keep us in line.”
Mom laughed hard. The sound of that deep laugh always made him feel great inside.
“Well it certainly didn’t do much in that regard,” she said.
“I guess not,” he agreed with a smile.
“We need to talk about it, son, it’s high time. How much have you figured out?”
Johnny thought about it.
“I remember the night I came to you. I was so upset when my mom was leaving. I was afraid I would explode. But I didn’t. You read me those funny stories,” he said, starting with what he knew was true.
“Yes,” Mom agreed. “ Pippi Longstocking .”
“And Mrs. Cortez came, with sweets.” He suddenly remembered the rich bitterness of the chocolate in the heavenly sweet pastry - he could taste it like it was still in his mouth.
“She did,” Mom agreed, her voice subdued.
“And when I finally got tired, she started singing,” he finished. “But I don’t remember the rest. I think I fell asleep on her lap.”
“That was pretty much it,” Mom told him.
“The same thing happened to the other kids, right? I mean not the part with the book or the sweets, but the song,” he offered.
“Yes,” Mom agreed.
“Is that song the reason why I don’t shift all the time when I’m mad?” he asked.
“Yes,” she agreed.
“And in 300 moons it wears off, right?” he asked. “Why would you never admit it when we asked?”
“Because we’re not sure that’s what happens.” The tone of her voice told him it pained her to admit it.
“What do you mean, you’re not sure?” he demanded.
“No one had ever attempted this before, John. Mrs. Cortez did her best and she succeeded. For three hundred moons you’ve had control over your gift. But no magic is free. The price will be paid. We just don’t know yet how.”
“Will I lose my gift, if I don’t give in to it before the moon is over?” he asked, trying not to let her hear the hope in his voice.
“I don’t know. You might,” she allowed. “Please come home, so we can help you through it.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” he told her, sure that if he went home she would not want him to give up his animal. She and the rest of his family had always seen it as some kind of blessing. But of course, they’d never caused the kind of pain he had.
“John, you’re an adult and I can’t make you come home, but I’m asking you, please. You need your family right now.”
His heart broke at the idea of disappointing her. Kate Harkness was a strong woman and it wasn’t like her to openly admit that she was powerless.
“We’ll fix you a room on the third floor, away from the little ones, away from the tourists - a sanctuary. Think of it just like a little vacation so you don’t have to go through this in the public eye,” she continued. “I’ve asked Derek, and Chance and Darcy, as well. Since you all arrived at the farm that same month, they’ll be dealing with it too. It will be a chance to catch up with your siblings. We miss you.”
The idea of seeing them all again was appealing, but of course they’d just take Mom’s side if he ever mentioned that he wanted to give up on shifting. Darcy would clobber him for even thinking about it.
And besides, his mind had caught on something she’d said already.
Sanctuary…
An idea began to form in his mind.
“Mom, I have a plan,” he assured her. “I’ll be home as soon as the moon is done. Everything will be fine, I promise you.”
6
J ohnny was starting to get uncomfortable under Seth’s gaze. His bandmate looked distinctly suspicious.
And for good reason.
Johnny looked