RUNAWAY MOON

  ZUNATORIAN WARRIORS

  GABBY DARK

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  VIP Readers List

  About the Author

  Book Summary

  Two wolf shifters. One with a hidden past. One seeking redemption. Danger lurks around every corner...but so does a love that could change everything.

  As a florist with a dark but well-hidden past, I never expected my life to take such a dangerous turn. But when a pack of wolf shifters came after me, I knew I needed help. That's where Ethan comes in. A former assassin seeking redemption, he was hired to find me, and as he gets closer, he realizes just how much danger I'm in.

  He makes it his mission to protect me, even if it means risking his own life. But protection comes with a price. As Ethan struggles with his own dark past, he begins to develop feelings for me. The problem is, he deceived me to bring me into his life, and now we must confront our true identities and reconcile our feelings for each other.

  With the other assassins hot on our tail, Ethan and I must work together to draw attention away. But the love we share leaves us vulnerable and exposed, and the closer we get to each other, the harder it becomes to keep our guards up. As the danger escalates and the stakes grow higher, we must decide whether to continue down this path and risk everything or walk away from each other to keep ourselves safe. But can we really turn our backs on the intense passion and connection we share?

  Runaway Moon is the first book in a new paranormal fantasy series where each book is a complete stand alone by hot new author Gabby Dark. It’s not the last.

  Chapter One

  Ethan

  I remember the night I first laid eyes on her. It was a crisp autumn evening, and the moon was high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the deserted streets. As a former assassin, I was used to the shadows, but something about her made me step out of them. I wanted to meet her. I wanted to know her.

  Through the throngs of people, I spotted her: a small figure with honey-colored hair cascading down her back. She was almost running in her haste, as if she were late for something important. Suddenly pausing mid-stride, she peered over the bustling crowd and my breath caught in my throat – had she seen me? But no, her gaze zipped past me, and she hurried on to her destination, vanishing into the flower shop.

  I felt my wolf stir inside me, and I could feel the primal thrill of shouldering through the brush out from my hiding place to get to her. My heart thundered in my chest as I stood watching her, my gun holster fixed to my hip.

  I knew I had to follow her, even though it meant walking into enemy territory and risking everything. After all, that was why I'd been sent: to bring her back to a pack that would undoubtedly have her killed if she returned. But I could never let them do that—it wasn't who I was anymore.

  I had trained myself to disconnect my feelings from my decisions. My job was to eliminate those who were a menace to society—the lawbreakers, the murderers, the vagabonds. I kept a strict rule never to target innocents. That was my cardinal rule.

  Still, as I watched her move through the flower shop, my heart thrummed with something like anticipation. I had to admit that my attraction to her was undeniable; her beauty was captivating, and I felt a stirring in my soul that I hadn’t felt in a long while. But the sensible side of me knew that it would be foolish to act on my feelings or get too close to her too soon.

  One foot in front of the other, I stepped off the curb and crossed the street, my eyes firmly fixed on the flower shop ahead. The soles of my shoes sank into the rich, moist earth between the cobblestones and made a squishing sound. An odd cross between a spicy gardenia and a buttery magnolia swept over me. I had never had such an intense sensory experience before in a flower shop, and it was oddly soothing. With each step I took toward the entrance, more of the world opened up to me. The tightness in my chest unknotted just a little bit, and for once I felt as though things might turn out okay.

  The woman stood beneath the bright lights of her store, carefully arranging colorful petals on bouquets with delicate hands. Her faint smile said it all—she was a person who understood the power of nature and its ability to bring joy.

  She was crouched down in front of the mantelpiece, her delicate hands carefully untangling white petals from a bundle of roses. As I stepped into the room, she gasped and jumped back, dropping the blooms onto the floor. Her face blanched as her wide eyes darted around the room. It seemed like she was instinctively aware that she should be cautious around me.

  "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

  "I'm a customer," I said smoothly, stepping forward.

  Her jugular vein quivered against the delicate skin of her neck. "What can I help you with?"

  I smiled tightly. "I want to place an order."

  She relaxed slightly, but her eyes were still wary. "What kind of order?"

  I could feel the air between us thicken and pulse with tension. Her lips were slightly parted, and a strand of hair had escaped from her braid to tickle across her flushed cheek. I wondered if she felt it too—my attraction to her—or if it was just my imagination. She wore a fitted grey coat that accentuated the curve of her breast and flowed down her body to her waist. My eyes lingered on the rise and fall of it, shifting as she took each step. I couldn't help but gasp softly, my breath catching in my throat, before I quickly looked away. It reminded me of kissing her, of pressing my lips against the soft material as it moved against my skin.

  "I'll tell you all about my order," I said, coming further into the shop. "But first, I need to know your name."

  Chapter Two

  Ethan

  My words hung in the air as my eyes eagerly searched hers for an answer. She seemed taken aback and I could see her hesitation.

  "My name?" she mumbled.

  I nodded.

  She was skeptical, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. "You don't need my name for the order," she said finally.

  I shook my head and smiled. "No, I don't. But I'd like to know it anyway."

  "It's Ava."

  The way she said it...it was like a secret between us—a little piece of information that made our connection even more intimate.

  "Ava." It was pretty like her, but still that wasn't the name I had. Ava wasn't the name of the person I was sent to track down.

  She walked behind the counter and pulled out an order form. "Now, what do you need?"

  I hesitated for a moment, trying to come up with a believable story. "It's for a special occasion. A friend got married and I couldn't make the wedding. I want to surprise her with a unique bouquet while I was in town."

  She studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay, I can help you with that. I have some examples here." She pulled out a catalog of flower bouquets. "Or I can make something with specific flowers if you like."

  She gestured towards the counter, her arm brushing against mine. I was overwhelmed with a sweet scent that seemed to fill the entire room and linger around her. I found myself breathing in more deeply, wanting to store this moment away.

  "This one." I pointed to the largest bouquet in the catalog.

  "Wow, okay..." She thought for a moment, then said, "You can come back tomorrow. I'll have it ready for you by then."

  "Actually, I need the bouquet ASAP. In the next hour, if possible."

  Her eyes widened in surprise. "That's impossible. I can't make that many substitutions and still create something beautiful. Are you sure you can't come back tomorrow for it?"

  I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't. I have to leave today, and I promised I'd be over this evening. Please, is there anything you can do?"

  She chewed her lower lip for a moment, then sighed. "I can try. But it won't be easy, and it won't be perfect."

  She was kind-hearted, and it showed. What kind of person would want someone like her dead?

  I smiled and thanked her, then pulled out my worn wallet from the back pocket of my jeans. I took out three crisp one-hundred-dollar bills and placed them into her palm. Her eyes widened as she looked at the money, almost too shocked to move.

  "It will actually cost less," she said quietly, still staring at the money in awe.

  "I know. But you deserve more, Ava," I replied.

  "Then come back in hour," she said. "I'll have it ready then."

  As I walked out of the shop, the scent of flowers still clinging to my clothes, I couldn't help but wonder what had just happened. There was something about her, something that drew me to her, that made me want to know her better. And I had a feeling that this was only the beginning.

  Chapter Three

  Ethan

  I drew in a deep breath as I stepped out of Ava’s shop. The scent of heady jasmine and fresh lavender tickled my nose and left me feeling lightheaded. As I walked down the sidewalk, something a

bout her seemed familiar, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen her somewhere before.

  I choose a not-so-busy coffee shop almost adjacent to Ava's shop and waited. Sitting down at a table near the window, I opened my laptop and began my research. I searched the virtual folder again that was sent to me just yesterday asking if I would accept the job. Her name was different—listed as Mindy Wolfe. It seemed like she was good at keeping a low profile. And she was also good at hiding her wolf side. I hardly sensed her animal; that only meant she kept its spirit buried. She was living as a human. I couldn't blame her. A former pack member of hers wanted her dead. I intended to find out why.

  I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes, feeling the weight of the task at hand. The pack enforcer who reached out to him was insistent, saying he couldn't afford to fail at finding Mindy Wolfe. Why was she so important? And better yet why was it so important to have her dead, not alive.

  I got myself a coffee to blend in and continued my observations. Mindy Wolfe had gone missing in Southern Virginia more than twelve months ago, and had apparently moved further north, where the weather was considerably harsher. Even with the heaters on full blast an icy chill hung in the air, heralding the snowstorm that was about to hit.

  When I looked into the case further, an article with the headline 'Runaway Fiancée' caught my attention. I suspected that it was Mindy Wolfe - or Ava as she was now known - who had gone missing. The picture accompanying the piece was unclear; she had on a baseball cap and her eyes were looking downward, but it was still unmistakably Mindy's heart-shaped face and full lips.

  It was rumored that she had fled from her own wedding ceremony a few weeks before it was supposed to happen and was never seen again. Her family members reported her missing, but since she was an adult and had shared her plan of running away with a close friend, the authorities didn't search for her, believing she had vanished by choice.

  This incident coincided with a widely publicized event in the shifter world, where one of the most influential packs on this side of Mississippi was embroiled in a family feud over pack politics. I wasn't sure about the specifics, but according to rumors, her former pack wanted her back, preferably alive, but dead if necessary if she attempted to escape.

  Mindy's dad, Marcus, wasn't quite the upstanding citizen. I didn't expect him to be because after all, Mindy's former pack were known to be lawless. The notes I had on him claimed he was violent and aggressive and his dealings with the surrounding community where the pack resided always ended in a quarrel with broken noses, bones, and the cops booking the culprits into the county jail.

  Marcus Wolfe had been arrested a couple dozen times already. The man who sent me to find Mindy claimed she was dangerous too just like her father, but I saw something different. Although, looks could be deceiving, her pack had labeled her a traitorous fugitive. I had no intention of passing judgment; life had taught me that people would go to great lengths to survive. There were a few exceptions...but, according to Marcus's record, he hadn't done anything to warrant my immediate disapproval. But it didn't matter know, Marcus Wolfe was dead—presumably murdered.

  The pieces started to fall into place. Her reluctance to give her name—real or fake, the way she seemed to be on high alert... it all made sense now. Ava was in danger, and now that I knew what I knew, I was the only one who could help her.

  We were both in a dangerous spot. People were coming after her, and I had to gain her trust soon.

  Chapter Four

  Ava

  As I carefully cut and arranged the flowers for Ethan's order, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. I knew what he was, just like I was. A wolf shifter. But why was he here in my shop, ordering flowers? And why did he keep looking at me like he knew me?

  My hands shook as I tried to focus on my task, but the image of his tall frame and strong arms lingered in my mind. His bright blue eyes had a piercing quality that unnerved me, and his chiseled jawline seemed too perfect to be real. I could feel an undeniable attraction towards him, but I knew I had to push it aside if I wanted to stay focused...and alive. I couldn't let my guard down now. I couldn't make friends. I couldn't make enemies either. I couldn't draw attention. I just had to stay focused on living the life I wanted.

  I finished the arrangement and placed it in a vase, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach when I imagined giving it to him. But as I turned around, I saw a shadow pass by the window, making me jump. Was it just my imagination, or was someone watching me? I had been on edge since this morning—even before Evan walked into my shop.

  I tried to shake off the feeling that something was wrong, telling myself I was being silly. But then a low growl seeped through the door, creeping into my ears like venom and sent shivers down my spine. Was it Ethan or someone else? Panic suffocated me when I reached for the baseball bat under the counter, but it was too late - the door burst open with a thunderous crack, revealing a twisted figure, ready to pounce on me like prey.

  Towering before me was a mountain of shifting muscle and fur, snarling with feral intensity. He shifted instantly using the cosmic magic in his blood. In his human forms, his dark eyes pierced my soul as he stalked closer, his hunger for violence palpable in the air around us. I knew instantly that this was not Ethan, but another wolf shifter from my former pack come to challenge me—and he had nothing but death in his heart.

  "What do you want?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady, holding the bad tightly.

  He stepped closer, his breath hot on my face. "You know what I want," he growled. "You belong to our pack, and you will come back with me."

  A sinking feeling filled my chest as I realized that the pack I had left behind had finally found me. After all this time, I thought I'd escaped their wrath, but here they were, ready to teach me a lesson for leaving them behind. While part of me wanted to face them head on, another dreaded what might happen if I didn't stand up for myself.

  But I wouldn't go back. Not without a fight.

  "I'm not going with you," I bit out.

  The male shifter's lips curled into a wicked smile as he produced two lengths of rope from behind his back. His cold eyes stared straight at me as if daring me to run. The rope glinted ominously in the light and the air seemed to still around them like deathly warning. "Suit yourself."

  My grip on the baseball bat tightened until my knuckles turned white. I took a determined step forward, ready to defend myself against the crazed maniac. But before anything else could happen, his eyes suddenly went lifeless, and his body crumpled like a ragdoll onto the ground below. With a sickening thud, he lay there motionless and unconscious.

  A shiver ran down my spine as I realized how easily I could have been his victim. I clutched the bat even tighter, ready for whatever nightmare might come next.

  I turned around to see the guy who ordered the bouquet for his friend standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. "That's what happens when you bark up the wrong tree."

  I felt a mixture of relief and annoyance at his sudden appearance. "I can handle myself," I retorted.

  He shook his head. "Clearly not. You need to be more careful, Ava. They're coming for you."

  Chapter Five

  Ava

  I frowned and stepped back, my eyes widening in shock. "How do you know that?"

  "Because I know," he grunted.

  I held my breath, waiting for him to make his next move. Without hesitation, he kicked the intruder who had threatened me. The man lay still on the floor.

 

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