Run with the Moon by Bailey Bradford Page A

banged on the bedroom door hard enough to rattle the frame.
    “Walter! There’s trouble!”
    Aaron recognized the voice of his oldest brother Matthew.
    “What’s happening?” Walter called out as he darted to the door.
    “Wolves,” Matthew shouted. “Almost as big as the horses.”
    Walter turned to look at him, and Aaron’s throat tried to close off his words. “They aren’t here to cause trouble. If they do, then it isn’t Valen and Rivvie.”
    He only hoped that he was being as honest as his father had been.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    So much for not being spotted. Valen looked at Rivvie. They’d both heard the whistles that were, almost certainly, an alarm system of sorts. And they’d both seen the looking-glass turned their way before either of them had had time to duck for cover.
    Valen had been so busy tracking scents that he hadn’t thought belonged and because of that, he’d been careless. Now he had to decide what to do. Flee, or hang around for the looming confrontation. There’d always been a firm line drawn between humans and shifters.
    He’d already crossed that line, completely wiped it out, and the world hadn’t imploded or exploded. The gods and goddesses hadn’t tried to smite him or anything like that.
    Although, he could have set himself and Rivvie up to be killed with his carelessness.
    Valen growled a warning and backed up. He turned and ran for the thick forest. It’d be easy to hide there. Rivvie was right beside him.
    They didn’t get very deep into the forest before Valen stopped. He wasn’t certain that running away was what he really wanted to do.
    Rivvie whined and nosed his cheek.
    Not now, Rivvie! But then Valen stopped ignoring his brother and instead listened to Rivvie’s wolf-talk, which wasn’t anywhere near as expansive as actual words. It consisted of whines and whimpers, the occasional bark, yip or growl. It was more about an idea than a way to have a whole conversation. Rivvie got his point across. He thought they shouldn’t go far—yet.
    Valen agreed with Rivvie. It might not be a bad idea to hang around in the area and see what happened. If Valen also got another glimpse of Aaron, that would be great.
    Leading Rivvie to a better hiding place, Valen couldn’t deny that he hoped to see Aaron again and speak to him. More, if it was possible. If he had a chance at doing any of that, he suspected that the risk of exposing himself might be worth it.
    Less than half an hour after they’d been spotted, Valen heard a sound that made his head swim because all the blood in his body rushed to his groin.
    “Valen? Um. Rivvie?” Aaron yelled, his voice sounding closer every time he repeated their names. “Vaaaalen! Rivvieeeee! It’s Aaron!”
    As if Valen would have forgotten the man’s voice, or his scent, or the sounds he made as he climaxed. Valen pawed at the moist earth, debating whether or not he should come out and meet Aaron.
    Through the leaves and branches, he saw that Aaron was alone, which was a foolish thing to allow. Valen’s opinion of whoever managed the village plummeted. They weren’t protecting their members worth shit. Then he saw the walking stick Aaron was using and guilt hit him like a boulder dropped on his head from the mountainside. He’d hurt Aaron and left him damaged.
    “Valen, Rivvie,” Aaron continued to call out.
    Valen itched to go to him, and finally decided that he would. He thought he caught a scent of smoke on the breeze, which was odd, then he dismissed it. His mind was playing tricks on him. There was no fire nearby.
    It was time to stop stalling. Valen slinked past Rivvie, giving him a growled order to remain hidden. As he moved past the largest clump of brush, Valen saw something else in the distance—movement behind Aaron.
    Aaron wasn’t alone. Valen watched as two other people tried to follow Aaron without being seen. They weren’t very good at it, but there also wasn’t much for the man and woman to use as