Chapter 6

The moon was hanging just over the treetops in Blood Moon as Krista Jones stood at the kitchen sink in her grandmother's house, drying her hands when the kettle on the stove began to whistle. Her grandmother, Mimi, had recently had a stroke and needed someone to help her until she fully recovered, if she fully recovered. 

Krista sighed as she made their nightly tea. She hated that her grandmother had been seriously ill and needed someone to live with her. However, she was thankful to have a reason to move from her old pack. She had not yet found her fated mate and had begun dating in hopes of finding a chosen one. Instead, it had been one disaster after another. The most recent was the worst, which was why Krista was happy to leave her pack.

His name had been Justin Smith. At first glance, he was perfect. Justin had jet-black hair and blue eyes that she could get lost in. He was smart, funny, and while he did not have much, he worked hard. Unfortunately, Justin also had a short temper and would often become angry and even violent. Krista had learned that firsthand, and she broke it off with him, but Justin did not accept it and kept harassing her. The day Krista left, she did not say a word to him. She just slipped away in the night to make the thousand-mile drive to be with her grandmother.

She picked up the mugs of tea and carried them into the living room where her grandmother was sitting in her favorite chair beside the fireplace. Even though it was too warm for a fire, it was still her preferred place to sit.

"Here's your tea, Granny," Krista said, giving her grandmother a cup of warm tea. I cooled it just enough that it's safe to drink, and if you spill any, it won't burn you."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Granny Mimi replied before taking a sip. "Perfect. Extra sweet and just the right temperature." She took another sip and said, "Why don't you sit with me while I drink it? I know you want to do the dishes, but they can wait a few minutes while you humor your poor old grandmother."

Krista laughed at her grandmother's playful teasing, held up her tea, and said, "I planned on it, but only if you promise to drink your tea quickly and go to bed. The doctor says you need to rest to finish healing."

"You two are a couple of worrywarts," Mimi snorted dismissively. "I have been around a lot longer than the two of you combined, and I will probably outlive you both."

"You might very well, if for no other reason than pure stubborn determination to do it," Krista said with a smile as she sat in the chair on the other side of the fireplace from her grandmother.

"That could be the reason," Mimi chuckled as she sipped her tea.

Krista did not miss the look her grandmother gave her over her mug as she sipped her tea. It was one she had seen as a child, when Granny Mimi wanted to ask her a question that she would not want to answer.

Krista tipped her head to the side, looking at her grandmother as she said, "Go ahead and ask me whatever it is that you want to. We both know you won't sleep until you know the answer."

"Something tells me that I might not sleep after you tell me," Mimi said with a loving smile. "Krista, why is it that you dropped everything to come stay with an old lady? Not only did you uproot your life, but you have already been sworn into this pack. I just don't understand it. Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"Sort of, but I promise, it's not because of anything I did wrong," Krista said as her stomach tied in a knot. She had been hoping to avoid this with her grandmother, especially since her stroke, but she had no choice now. "I broke up with the guy I was dating, and he did not take it well. I thought it would be a good time for a change. Besides, I can't think of anyone I would rather be with than you."

"Krista, you have broken up with boyfriends before. What aren't you telling me?" Mimi asked, holding her mug of tea in both hands.

Krista looked down at her cup and said, "Justin was not a good boyfriend. I mean, there were times when he was amazing. He was sweet, charming, loving, and gorgeous." A hint of a smile flitted across Krista's lips as she remembered some of the good times before it dropped away as the bad times came rushing back. "Justin was quick to anger. At first it was just yelling, and then he would immediately apologize. Then it went to breaking things and apologizing. Then it went to yelling and breaking things without apologizing." Krista let out a sigh and paused before she continued, "And then it went to yelling, breaking, and then somehow blaming me for making him do it, even if it was something that had nothing to do with me. Usually, I didn't even know about whatever it was until he blamed me for it. The last straw was when he hit me. I broke it off with him before my cheek stopped stinging from the slap."

"I can understand wanting to be away from him, but I feel like you are still keeping something from me," Mimi said with one eyebrow arched at her granddaughter. The stroke might have made it difficult for her to walk and care for herself, but her mind was as sharp as it had ever been.

"Yeah, Justin refused to accept that I dumped him. He kept showing up at my house and at my job. No matter what I did or where I was, it felt like every time I looked up, there he was, watching me. I just had to get away from it. So, when you had your stroke, it was an easy choice. I work retail, so it isn't like my job is life and death for anyone. You needed me, and I needed to be here. Who knows, maybe this is where I was always meant to be, and I will find my mate. I'm just happy Alpha Harrison was kind enough to let me in. I told him why, and he did not hesitate to tell me I was welcome and would be safe from people like Justin."

"Alpha Harrison is a good man. His father, Alpha Jonathan, was horrible. To be honest, this Justin fellow sounds a lot like he used to be. Rotten to the core, that one. The Alpha's younger brother, Hayden, ended up killing him while he tried to save his mother. I always felt so bad for him losing both parents and blaming himself. He went rogue and left the pack because of it, although the Alpha does talk him into visiting once in a while. He is still a handsome and sweet man, rogue or not. I hope you get to meet him soon. I think you would like him. He and the Alpha both have their mother's sweet, gentle, loving spirit," Mimi said, smiling as she finished.

"That explains why Alpha Harrison promised to protect me from people like Justin. He understands," Krista said. She felt more comfortable knowing why Alpha Harrison had been so kind to let her move into the pack and be sworn in so quickly. She smiled as she watched her grandmother drink the last of her tea and asked, "Are you ready for me to help you to bed?"

"I am. Those crossword puzzles wore me out," Mimi chuckled. "Which reminds me, tomorrow when you run to the store, will you swing by the library for me? Betty the librarian has a whole pile of books set aside for me."

"Sure," Krista said. 

She stood, placing her cup on the table beside her chair before taking her grandmother's empty cup and setting it with hers. Krista helped her grandmother to her feet and steadied her until she was braced with her cane. They walked together to Mimi's bedroom where Krista helped her change into her nightgown and get tucked in.

"Krista," Mimi said, taking her granddaughter's hand. "You have no idea how much I love you and appreciate what you're doing for me. When I'm better, I am going to cook you the feast you deserve."

Krista laughed, "I'm going to hold you to that." She kissed Mimi's cheek and said, "See you in the morning, Grandma."

"See you in the morning, sweetheart," Mimi replied as Krista turned off the light.

Krista sighed as she walked down the hallway back to the living room. She collected the tea mugs from the living room and took them to the kitchen. It had become a comfortable part of her nightly ritual. She would try to do the dishes while her grandmother was still up, but it never happened. Instead, they had tea, talked, and Mimi went to bed, leaving Krista time to enjoy the quiet and think as she did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. 

She felt a peace in Blood Moon that Krista had never felt anywhere else. Just after high school, she traveled for a few months as she decided what she wanted to do with her life. She had saved every penny from her after-school job for three years to make it possible. Still, she never felt more at home than she did in Blood Moon.

A light tap at the back door pulled Krista out of her thoughts. She glanced at the clock on the stove to see it was 10:15 pm. The only one she could think of who would knock on the back door would be Edith, Grandma Mimi's next-door neighbor and lifelong friend. It was late for Edith, but it would not be the first time. If Edith couldn't sleep, she baked, which led her to bring over goodies past bedtime. Krista chuckled as she dried her hands.

"Coming, Edith," Krista called out as she hurried to the door.

Krista flung the door open, grinning broadly at the unexpected visit, but the smile disappeared in an instant. Goosebumps covered her skin as she gaped at Justin standing before her.

Justin grinned at her and said, "Hey, Krista. Miss me?"