Page 66 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“Because I'm touching you,” she said.

“Then stay close to me,” he insisted.

“You can't shift,” she reminded.

“I have a gun,” he said.

“You have torn your stitches, and I’ve had to fix them three times,” she said.

“Fourth time's the charm,” he teased. Moon glared at him, and Mayhem smiled. She hated that smile, but she was coming to love it a little too. Damn him.

“Fine,” she whispered.

His eyebrows lifted. “Fine?”

“You stay beside me,” she ordered.

“Gladly,” he agreed, bobbing his eyebrows at her.

“You do exactly what I say,” she insisted.

“Within reason,” he amended.

“Everything I say,” she spat.

“Let's not get carried away,” he said.

“Mayhem,” she breathed.

He grinned. “Yes, Doc.” Moon looked toward Tempest. Her Prez was already planning, and Moon could see it. She was deciding who stayed behind and who went. Chris and Chrome were arguing quietly near the door. Howler was on his phone calling Silverfang. They were two clubs preparing to move because of her.

Once, that thought would have terrified Moon, but tonight, it did something different. It reminded her she wasn't alone. Her mother had run from Black Hollow, and maybe she had a good reason. Maybe she had saved Moon's life by taking her away, but Moon wasn't her mother. She had Dark Chaos, Tempest, and Christmas, and apparently she had one incredibly stubborn Silverfang VP who refused to die.

Mayhem squeezed her hand. “Where'd you go?”

“Nowhere,” she said.

“Liar,” he accused.

Moon looked up at him. “I was thinking about my mother.”

His expression softened. “You think she wanted you to go back?”

“No.” Moon looked at the journal. “I think she wanted me ready in case I had to.”

Mayhem followed her gaze, and Moon reached for the book. The moment her fingers touched the leather, something moved through her—cold, sharp, and familiar. She froze. Mayhem seemed to feel it too. “What was that?”

Moon opened the journal, and the pages began turning by themselves. Chris stopped arguing with Chrome. “Is it supposed to do that?”

“No,” Moon breathed. The pages stopped, and Moon stared down at a map that she had never seen before. It looked like a hand-drawn route through the mountains. At the bottom of the page was the crescent moon wrapped in black thorns. At the top—BLACK HOLLOW

Tempest came closer. “Well, I guess we have directions.” Moon didn't answer, because there was writing beneath the map—fresh writing in dark ink. It was her mother's handwriting, and Moon knew it instantly. She had seen it on birthday cards, school notes, recipes, and little messages Selene used to leave beside Moon's bed. Moon touched the words and her vision blurred.

Mayhem leaned closer. “What does it say?”

Moon read them aloud. “If you are reading this, then I failed to keep Black Hollow buried.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks and continued. “The Hollow will call you home. Do not answer.” Moon swallowed. The next sentence was underlined twice. “Trust the black wolf.”

Mayhem went still, and Moon looked at him. His expression changed. “What else?”