Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(76)

"What my wolf is named? Somebody help me understand what's going on, please," Mena said, and Phoenix sighed as he raised his hands and placed them gently on her shoulders, desperately trying to calm the racing blood in his veins so he could explain that there was absolutely no hope of a future for any of them.

"Mena, I'm so sorry, baby. Your pack forgot to tell you that you had to name the beast inside you within two nights or she would begin to take over. So much was going on, and they simply forgot to mention it. Now it's too late. Your wolf is taking over your body, and you have to call out her name by the next full moon or you'll be locked inside your head forever. If she succeeds, she'll be a Moonrising Alpha and will be able to pretty much take over the world in a matter of weeks."

Mena's eyes grew wide as the realization hit her at full force. "I knew it! She was being so shady and secretive, and she refused to talk to me when I asked her direct questions. She can't have my body, Phoenix. I have to do something." She looked at the three witches as the blonde one handed Phoenix a small purple bottle. "What has to be done? I won't let her do this," she said, determination filling her tone. She grabbed Meridia by the arms and pleaded as tears filled her eyes. "Tell me!"

"I'll do everything I can, Mena," Phoenix said. "You know I will, but it is going to be difficult to get another Alpha to agree to even come and try."

"That isn't the bad news, my dear vampire," Meridia said, her voice defeated even before she spoke the nearly impossible task.

He studied the witch, her distressed expression saying more than her words had, and he immediately understood that what he'd thought was nearly impossible, had just become full-blown never gonna f*ckin' happen! Swallowing hard, he shook his head, even knowing she couldn't see him. He did it for himself, because he couldn't—no, he wouldn't—believe it. The only way for another Alpha to be able to discover the name was if he read Mena's mind, and the only way for another Alpha to be able to do that… he'd have to bond with her. Fuck! He would find another way. He had three weeks. It was possible. He wouldn't lose her. His heart couldn't take the breaking.

"What?" Mena said as she looked back and forth between him and the witches. "Tell me what I have to do before she wakes up, Phoenix!"

With sad eyes, he drew in an unsteady breath. "You have to bond with another Alpha wolf. If we can even get one to agree to do it, there will be no future for us. You'll belong to him and he'll belong to you." A sob racked up her throat as she stared at him. "I'm so sorry, Mena. I am so f*cking sorry. I'll try my damnedest to find another way."

She took two steps and threw her arms around his neck then briefly kissed him hard on the mouth. "Do whatever you need to do to make sure she doesn't win, Phoenix. Promise me that she won't win."

Taking her face in his hands, he looked deep into her eyes. "I will. I promise. Do you hear me? I won't let her take over you completely."

"Even if that means killing me?" she said.

It felt like someone shoved their hand through his chest and squeezed his heart until it burst, but he eventually nodded. "Whatever it takes. I promise."

Mena's lips curved up a little. "You don't break promises."

He shook his head. "No, I don't."

"Phoenix…" she said as she looked down at her boots.

"What is it, baby?"

"I love you." She didn't wait for him to respond—not that he could after hearing that come out of her mouth—before talking again. "I just wanted you to know that in case this doesn't end well. I don't want you dying thinking that nobody ever loved you, because I do. I love you, and you don't have to love me back. I know how you feel about love—"

Sighing long and hard, he gently took her face in his palms again and forced her to look at him, realizing then that there was a ridiculous smile on his face. "If I don't love you, I don't know what the hell it is that I feel for you."

She laughed as he kissed her.

"The spell is wearing off," Meridia said.

Phoenix lost his smile as he focused on Mena's eyes again. They were shimmering with love and fear. "We'll fix this. Stick with the wolf's plan. Stay with Rhodes. Don't think about any of this. We will be together again. I promise." She nodded, and he wiped a tear away with his thumb. "Trust me, Lupacchiotto. I won't fail you again."

"Just don't let her make it to the next full moon. I'd rather die than be imprisoned in my head for an eternity."


He nodded as he knelt, pulling her down with him and lying on the floor, like the others, never losing eye contact with her. These next three weeks were going to be the hardest time of his life; there was no doubt about that. "I'll see you soon, my love."

"See you soon," she sobbed.

"Mena?" Phoenix said.

She wiped at her cheeks as she stared back at him. "Yeah?"

"Don't fall in love with the cop, too."

She laughed. "No chance. I'm attracted only to arrogant blood drinkers."

He smiled. "Lucky me. Arrogance is my best trait."

She leaned in and kissed him one last time.