Free An Unlucky Moon by Carrie Ann Ryan Page A

side of him. He not only has to force down the bond and pull toward you with his human half, but with his wolf half as well.”
    “I’m hurting him?” Becca whispered. Voicing it too loudly would make it all that more real.
    Shade looked pained but nodded.
    Becca stood and threw her hands in the air. “Why the hell didn’t he say anything?”
    Shade raised a brow in similar fashion to his Lily, and Becca growled. Yes, growled. Just like the wolf-slash-man she was supposed to mate. Or, rather, wanted to mate.
    “What was he supposed to say? Have sex with me and bond so we both can feel better?” Shade snorted, and Becca wanted to slap the angel who had moments ago been so nice. Not so much now. “The unfortunate side effects on both your parts suck, I know, but really? There wasn’t anything he could do. Unless you were ready for the bond, you would have just resented him the entire time. Was that really something you wanted to do?”
    Becca sighed then rubbed her temples. “It’s not fair. I mean, we’ve spent so much time together, and I know I really like him. And, yes, my body hurts, my souls hurts, and well…everything hurts to be without him because of fate and all the crap, but I wanted more time.”
    Lily stood up—with Shade’s help—and gave her a hug. “I know, honey. I didn’t know the consequences of what would happen if I slept with Shade, but you know what? I don’t regret it for a minute.”
    “You better not, Lily.”
    Becca smiled as Shade growled under his breath, and Lily rubbed small circles over her baby bump.
    “I’m going home to shower and pack a bag. Then I’m going to call Hunter and see if I can stay with him and his Pack. I need to know more about the wolf, not just the man.”
    Lily hugged her hard. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
    Becca let out an exasperated snort. “Really? Really. After all of this warning about hurting Hunter, you ask me if I’m ready?”
    Lily kissed her cheek then tugged on the end of Becca’s long red hair, making her wince at the sting. “I wouldn’t be one of your best friends if I didn’t make sure you weren’t ready for this. You’re about to give up part of your life for a man, you know, but you want to know more.”
    “I’m not giving up everything. Right?” Becca backed up and ran into the coffee table. She rubbed her leg, annoyed at her clumsiness. Again.
    Lily gave her a small smile. “No, not everything. You’re gaining so much more. Fate, though, is tricky. You’re not going to be able to stay in the human realm, or at least outside the den, as much as you do now I wouldn’t think. Hunter is the Beta, and I’m pretty sure that means something more than hanging out every once in a while. You’ll have to ask him. Plus, if you do mate, you’re going to turn into a supernatural creature. I mean, that’s the running theory anyway.”
    “I don’t know if I’m ready to change everything like that.”
    “I think the lightning chose for us, dear.”
    Becca nodded then hugged her friend one last time. “I’m going home and showering then calling Hunter. I’ve made my decision, and if I keep second-guessing myself, I’m only going to hurt us more. It’s not like I’m saying I’m going to actually mate with him, but I want to get closer.”
    Shade gave her a knowing smile then hugged her. He’d melded into their circle of friends nicely, the same as Balin and Ambrose had. Well, at least the men had made friends with most everyone. Faith would always be protective and a hard nut to crack.
    Becca smiled as she drove home, thinking about the look on Faith’s face when she finally found her mate. Oh, yes, that would be fun.
    When she got home, she quickly packed up a bag that could last her a week then called Hunter. They might have talked every night on the phone like a couple of teenagers, but she didn’t care. She loved listening to the soft growls of his voice and the deep resonating tones while he spoke. Her