Blood Moon (Moons of the Wolf Series Book 1) by Samantha Clarke Page A

look at Riley in the face.
    Riley frowned but nodded slowly.  Samantha led him away from the bustling crowed and he leaned against the wall, “What’s up, baby?”
    “Heather approached me this morning and insinuated that you two have been…seeing each other…when I’m not around…”  She mumbled.
    Riley touched her cheek gently, “She’s just jealous baby, don’t listen to her.  I love you and only you…”  He whispered as he went to kiss her.
    She pulled back, not allowing their lips to touch, “That didn’t really answer my question, Riley,” She replied as she took off the ring, “If I’m having these sorts of doubts and we aren’t even engaged yet…”  She sighed, “Well, I think it’s best if you hold in to this for now…”  She placed the ring in Riley’s hand, not looking up at him, afraid to see the hurt in his eyes.  He simply leaned his head on hers as he closed his hand around the ring.
    “It’s okay, like I said.  I’d wait for you forever.  We have all the time in the world, we were meant to be…”
    Samantha looked up at him and smiled weakly.  She could hear the falsity in his voice, though she wasn’t sure what he was being untruthful about; was it his relationship with Heather or his feelings about her?  She didn’t dare ask.  She just took his hand and went into the cafeteria.
    They sat at the table where the pack was sitting, and it was unusually quiet.  Samantha instantly spotted the reason for the silence; it was a young unfamiliar boy.  He was maybe a year older than she was, with blond hair and green eyes.  Samantha didn’t recognize him, and she could tell by Alex’s aggravated expression that he was not company that she wished to have.  Samantha took a deep breath and discreetly smelled the air.  She understood why Alex so clearly did not want him sitting with them; he was not a wolf.
    “Hey guys!”  Charlotte said, unusually chipper.
    “What’s up, Char?”  Samantha asked, taking an apple out of her bag and biting into it.
    “I wanted to introduce everyone to Zachary together, but you two,” Charlotte indicated Riley and Samantha with a wave of her hand, “Took your sweet time getting here.  But, anyway, this is Zachary,” Charlotte almost giggled, holding onto Zachary’s arm.
    Riley reached across the table and shook Zachary’s hand, “Nice to meet you, bro.  I’m Riley and this is my girl, Samantha.”  He said as he rested his hand on Samantha’s shoulder.
    “It’s nice to meet you,” Samantha said with a polite smile.
    “Zachary and I are going on a date on Friday” Charlotte exclaimed, “And I was going to bring him to the Halloween party.”
    “That’s nice…” Samantha said before abruptly standing, “I don’t feel well, so if you guys would excuse me, I’m going to go to the nurse.”  Riley’s insincere words still rang in her head, filling her with doubt, and nausea.
    “I’ll go with you…”  Riley started, but Jaden interrupted.
    “No, Riley, I’ll take her.  I wanted to talk to Sam anyway,” He said.  He kissed Olivia on the forehead before standing and following Samantha into the hallway.
    “Are you okay?”  He asked softly.
    Samantha shrugged, “Just…I don’t even know…”  She whispered.
    “Oh… I see…Well, you know my dad… I mean… Dad…Wants to see you…”  Jaden muttered, “He keeps insisting that you, Riley, Olivia and I all have dinner at my house.”
    “If I’m going to talk to him, I would honestly rather do it alone…”  Samantha replied.
    “I understand… Look, I know finding out that he’s your father must be hard, but there’s an upside to all this.”
    “Oh?  And what’s that?”  Samantha asked, raising an eyebrow.
    “You’ve gained a pretty awesome brother!”  Jaden chirped, laughing and nudging Samantha with his elbow.
    Samantha laughed as well, “Thanks…”
    “And if anybody messes with you, they’ll have to answer to big bad brother