New Moon Summer (Seasons of the Moon) by SM Reine Read Free Book Online Page B

stared at a fixed point on the horizon, expression unreadable.
    “What are we going to do?” she asked.
    He didn’t look at her. “Don’t get all worried. I’m sure Seth will look out for you.”
    Abel vanished into the house.
    “But who will take care of you?” she whispered.
    Rylie was too wired to sleep after dinner. She kept thinking about the bullet she had gotten in the mail, Pagan attacking her under the tree, and Isoba—poor Isoba.
    She decided to put her energy to good use and check for holes in the outer fence one more time. Their barbed wire helped contain the werewolves on full and new moons, but would it be enough to hold off an attack by hunters?
    Hunters. Rylie shivered. It had been a long time since she had to fight for her life.
    Indentations in the mud on the other side of the fence caught her eye, and she crouched to take a closer look. They looked like tire tracks—deep ones, like those a semi might leave behind. And there was also a set of footprints.
    Rylie sniffed. The faint hint of perfume lingered around the mud. Even though it was starting to fade, the odor of flowers was cloying and sweet.
    That was Pagan’s perfume. She must have followed them—it smelled like she had been there just hours earlier.
    Rylie straightened, half-expecting to come face-to-face with a gun. But the terrain was empty as far as she could see. The clear silver light of the summer moon showed her that.
    A dark figure moved in the fields behind her.
    Unease crept over Rylie, and she briefly considered running. But then the breeze carried Seth’s smell to her.
    She waited for him to join her. “What are you doing out here alone?” he asked, eyes scanning the fields around them.
    “Look at this.” Rylie pointed at the tracks. “I smell Pagan. She was here this afternoon.”
    “She’s checking us out.” Seth shook his head. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
    “I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been worrying.”
    He squeezed her hand. “Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise. I won’t let it happen.”
    “But it’s already July. You’ll go back to school next month—and then what?” Rylie’s voice trembled. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I mean… it’s fine. But it’s easy for you to tell me not to worry when it won’t be your problem soon.”
    “Your safety is always my problem,” Seth said, pressing her hand to his chest. “You fill my mind and heart. I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”
    She wanted to say, What about Abel? But she kept her mouth closed.
    “We should go inside,” she said instead.
    “Wait a second.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “You never asked about the surprise I have for you.”
    She had completely forgotten about it. Mortal peril was pretty distracting. “Oh—what is it?”
    “Well, I wanted to wait until we could go somewhere special or something, but since it sounds like things might be getting crazy soon…” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About our relationship.”
    Rylie hung her head. “Yeah. Me too.”
    “I want to be with you more, and I just worry we don’t have enough time. You know? And with everything happening now—this Cain thing and missing werewolves and silver bullets…”
    Cold fear washed over her. “You’re not breaking up with me, are you?” she asked, cheeks heating and eyes blurring.
    Seth’s chuckle stopped her before she could start crying. His smile made her heart skip a beat. “Are you serious? I would never let you go, Rylie. I’d have to be stupid.”
    “Then what?”
    Without letting go of her hand, he dropped to one knee.
    He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. A slender gold ring was nestled inside.
    Rylie’s heart gave up beating entirely. She couldn’t breathe. She could barely even stand up straight.
    His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
    “Rylie… will you marry me?”
    She searched for words and found none. But then