Read Online Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne - Free Book Online Page A

knowing that everyone in the room had expected Lindsey to be his mate. Our kind had rituals. For Lindsey to be with Rafe, everyone would know that Rafe had challenged Connor—and Connor had lost.
    I hadn’t considered that before. I’d always thought they were well matched. Would Connor have thrown the fight intentionally? I hadn’t thought to ask last night. Since it was supposed to be a fight to the death—well, someone had shown mercy. I wanted to believe it was Connor.
    “I’m thinking that our best chance for success will come during the dark of the moon,” Lucas said. “We have night vision on our side.”
    “And they have night-vision goggles,” Connor pointed out.
    “Possibly. But a moonless night will give us the best chance of cover.”
    Connor nodded, as though he reluctantly agreed.
    “Okay then, I’m going to divide us into smaller teams.Some of you will stay here at Wolford, some will scout the forest searching for any more signs of Bio-Chrome, and another team will head to the lab. For now you can all relax. I’ll post assignments later this morning. Tomorrow we get to work. Are there any questions?”
    I glanced around. Everyone appeared determined. Tension radiated on the air but I sensed it was because we were all anxious to protect our kind.
    “All right, then,” Lucas said. He then nodded toward Elder Wilde, relinquishing control of the meeting.
    Elder Wilde stood. “You all carry a heavy burden. We’ve always turned to our youth for protection because you’re stronger, hungrier, more eager to prove your worth. But wisdom comes with experience. If you need counsel, come to us.” His eyes fell on me and I fought not to look guilty. “We are here to serve and guide. But you are our guardians from the darkness that can be humankind. Go forth.” He moved his hands in a widening circle, giving us permission to leave.
    As everyone started to get up, I took my time, trying to think of something clever to say to Connor. I felt a tug on my braid and looked over at Daniel.
    He smiled at me. “You’re one tough Dark Guardian.”
    “Thanks.”
    I didn’t have to look to know that Connor had moved on. I strongly felt his absence. I was a mess: hopeful onemoment, facing reality the next. Sooner or later a situation might arrive in which I would have to shift. What would Connor think of me and my deception then? Was I simply delaying his inevitable disgust? If he fell in love with me, would he forgive me? Or would he simply hate me all the more?
    Lucas called Daniel over to where he, Connor, and Rafe were talking. I figured he was about to send them out on patrol.
    “Maybe we can catch up later,” Daniel said.
    I nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
    After he walked off, it occurred to me that I needed to introduce him to one of the novices or something. He was new to our area and he needed to expand his circle of friends to more than just me.
    I was in the hallway when I ran into Kayla.
    “So what did the elders want?” she asked.
    “To send me away.”
    “What do you mean? Like, back to Tarrant?”
    Tarrant was the small town near the entrance to the national forest. Most of us had grown up there.
    “No, I mean, like to other forests, other areas, places where other Shifters hang out. They think my true mate is out there somewhere just waiting to connect with me.”
    Her jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
    “Yeah. Whoever heard of matchmaking grandfathers?”
    “Maybe they’re worried about keeping the species thriving.”
    I shook my head. “Nah, I think they just finished their Sudoku puzzles for the day and were bored, so they decided to meddle.”
    “Maybe they care about you.”
    She made me feel guilty for having unkind thoughts about their attempt to play Cupid. From an early age, we were taught to respect them. But who wanted to be set up by men who’d probably forgotten what it’s like to first fall in love?
    Looking over my shoulder, I could see through the doorway and into the