The Royal Legacy 1: The Rise of the Crescent Moon

AUGUST

I cursed the too-bright sun, the too-slow traffic, and the faint headache throbbing in my temples as I flicked on my left turn signal and headed for the hospital.

The last thing I wanted today was to sit through a boring interview. I was completely on edge, and Arlo, my wolf, was pacing aggressively in my head.

I had no idea what had us in such a mood. I only hoped it was the unseasonably warm weather rather than a premonition of impending danger.

I chucked my keys to the car attendant and sulked my way inside. Some yuppie from New York City was coming in to interview for the emergency room doctor position. She was probably acting out some sort of small-town fantasy.

My guess was, she would run at the first sign of dirt or boredom—and the humans were always bored here. I gave her two months at most.

My company was Little Compton Hospital’s biggest benefactor. A few years ago, the place had been an out-of-date, underfunded mess, but with our help, they’d managed to completely turn the place around.

Unfortunately, that meant I had no choice but to occasionally show up to some meetings and interviews. They’d called me last week about wanting to woo this Dr. Taylor by having the bigwigs show up for her. I’d reluctantly agreed.

I realized when I arrived that I was almost an hour early. Shit. Way to waste even more of your own time, August. I’d been so restless this morning, I’d ended up rushing over here for no reason.

I picked the closest chair to the door so I could make a quick escape once it was over. Then I pulled out my phone and started scrolling away at my emails.

Half an hour later, when the other panelists started making their way in, I sighed and kept my phone close to my face to indicate that I was not in a talking mood.

I perked up a bit when Kasey strolled in, though. She was a nurse in the ER, but she was also my gamma’s mate. It was always nice to see a friendly face here.

She grinned at me and squeezed my shoulder. “Look at you participating, Al…Mr. Hayes.” She smirked, quickly correcting the almost-slip in front of the humans.

I winked at her. “Just doing my duty.”

She laughed, catching my bullshit, and took her seat.

After a few minutes of everyone sitting around chatting, there was a knock at the door, and my wolf started howling in my head. I pinched my nose, feeling a headache coming on.

“What the hell is your problem?” I yelled at Arlo internally.

“Mate!” Arlo shouted back.

I straightened in my chair and nearly fell off it when she strolled in. Her red curls bounced around her shoulders, stirring up the most incredible scent: strawberries and vanilla.

When Dr. Grace finally moved out of my way, I caught a full view of my beautiful mate. The woman startled, nearly falling over thin air, and I had to resist the urge to lunge to her side to support her.

I watched her precious face scrunch up as she frantically searched the room. Dr. Grace was droning on about the other panelists, but I wasn’t listening, too busy staring. When I heard my name and realized it was my turn to be introduced, my mate’s eyes snapped to mine.

She froze. Then she licked her lips, and I nearly died. Goddess, I wanted those lips.

She fidgeted with her jacket as she walked across the room. I stared hungrily as she sat and crossed her legs. I waited eagerly for the sound of her voice.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” she said, her calm voice revealing no sign that she felt the same eruption of desire as me. “I’m Dr. Josephine Taylor.”

I melted at the sound of her voice, my new favorite sound. Josephine. My new favorite name.

I watched her intently throughout the entire interview, but I had no idea what she said. My thoughts were running wild. My wolf was running wild.

The way she’d reacted so strongly before even seeing me, the way she’d stared at me…she’d sensed the matebond, but I had no idea how.

She was definitely a human. She smelled like a human. Having a human mate was rare for wolves—although not quite as rare for my pack, Crescent Moon.

My father had taken over control of the pack after Alpha Johnathan Valentine died about a decade ago. Both my parents were wolves, but I knew Alpha Johnathan’s mate had been human, and one of his children was born human as well.

There might even have been another human in that bloodline a few generations back, though I didn’t know the details. A lot of the Valentine family history had been lost after their deaths. Alpha Johnathan hadn’t exactly been the most forthcoming.

Anyway, why was I worrying about the history of pack bloodlines right now? I didn’t care if this woman, this Josephine, had four eyes and two noses. She was mine, and she was perfect.

Before I knew it, Josephine was standing up, and the interview was over. I jumped up so fast my chair toppled behind me. I wanted my mate, but there was a body in my way.

“Alpha,” Kasey hissed quietly, still standing in front of me, “she’s human.”

She was lucky she was my gamma’s mate. Otherwise, she would have been dead meat for blocking my path.

“I don’t care,” I growled back.

Kasey grabbed my arm, and I brought my black eyes down to focus on her. “You need to calm down,” she said, appealing to my wolf.

I whimpered along with Arlo, but we both knew she was right.

“Take it easy. Go catch her in the lobby and see if she needs suggestions for a good restaurant or something,” Kasey suggested with a smile.

I nodded enthusiastically, pulled my suit jacket down to yank out the wrinkles, and went after my mate.

JOSEPHINE

I bolted out of the interview room, beyond thankful for the nurse who blocked Mr. Hayes’s path to me. I’d waited so long to see those eyes in person. I’d moved here specifically to find this man. Yet somehow, faced with the reality of him, all I wanted was to run away.

I was stepping into the elevator when Dr. Grace caught up to me. Fortunately, the doors closed behind her without admitting anyone else. “I was very impressed with you, Dr. Taylor,” she said with a grin.

“Thank you, Dr. Grace,” I replied, trying to control my breathing. I could barely remember anything I’d said during the interview.

“We will be in touch shortly, but I have a good feeling. Did you have any questions for me privately?” she probed.

I knew that I should. Asking questions was the professional thing to do after an interview, but right now, I couldn’t form a coherent thought to save my life.

“I’ll be honest: I’m still on an adrenaline high from the interview. Perhaps I can email you if I have any questions, and maybe you would have time in the next day or two to meet with me?” I smiled.

Dr. Grace nodded eagerly. “Yes, of course! Why don’t you email me later today, and we can set up a time tomorrow for you to come in?”

I agreed, grateful that she was being so understanding.

The elevator doors opened. I was halfway through the lobby when a warm tingle spread across my body, and goosebumps scattered up my arm. Oh, boy.

“Dr. Taylor!” The man’s voice was perfect, smooth like honey. “If I might have a moment?” No, smooth like whiskey.

I froze, mustered up all my courage, and turned around. “Mr. Hayes, wasn’t it?” I asked, pretending like I hadn’t already memorized his name.

He grinned from ear to ear. “Please, call me August.” He held out his hand.

I’d been dreading this. I stared at his hand and prayed I wouldn’t pass out as soon as we touched. I gently accepted the handshake and shivered as sparks shot up my arm. “Josie,” I whispered.

“Excuse me?” He leaned in closer, and I swooned.

I cleared my throat. “Everyone calls me Josie,” I tried again.

Still leaning in close, his breath blowing across my cheek, he purred, “I’m not everyone.”

No shit.

A deep rumble filled his chest, and I realized he was laughing at me. I pulled my hand away and straightened my back. He looked at his empty hand, seeming offended by its loneliness.

“Did you need something?” I asked, gaining confidence. It was his turn to be flustered.

“I was wondering how you were finding your stay in town?” he asked.

I internally rolled my eyes. “Quite well, thank you.” I turned and began to walk away from August Hayes.

He hurried to keep pace with me. “I thought maybe you’d like some restaurant suggestions.”

Yeah, I’m sure you did.

I struggled with what to say next. I already knew every good restaurant in this town, but I wasn’t ready to reveal that yet. So, I decided to allow August Hayes to play tour guide. “Actually, that would be lovely,” I replied politely.

He perked up. “As it happens, I’m free this afternoon.” How lucky. “Perhaps I could escort you to lunch, and we could talk about what I have to do to get you to accept the job?”

His eyes trapped mine, and I barely heard his words. I just nodded.

“Excellent! If you don’t mind the walk, there’s a great restaurant down a few blocks.”

Rosie’s, I thought to myself just as he said, “Rosie’s.”

I grinned. “Sounds great.” I loved Rosie’s. I just hoped the old bat wasn’t still alive; she would nail me in a New York minute.

Somehow, in the space of an hour, I’d met the man I’d been dreaming about my whole life, and now we were going on what felt suspiciously like a date. A voice in my head screamed that this was too much, too soon. I needed time to think and come down from my high.

I ignored that voice and let August Hayes lead me down the street to the restaurant.