Blood Mood Ch 01

Blood Moon

Yarrow

'I hate being back in town.', I thought as I grabbed yet another box from my beat up old mustang. I slammed the door and walked up the wooden stairs to the small Victorian the town of Moon Hollow provided me, I was the new sheriff after all.

This was more than enough house for me, but I wouldn't complain about having it to myself. I laid the box on the kitchen table and pulled out the bottle of brandy from inside, not my favorite but it was all I had for now. "Cheers to another year alone." I said to the empty air before tilting the bottle back and taking a long drink.

It wasn't that I couldn't get a date or even a quick fuck, I was tall, broad, muscular, and had green eyes and sandy colored hair that made the ladies swoon. It seemed my personality was the issue, I pushed people away when they got close. Or at least that's what my exes said, I let out a growl of frustration and set down the bottle.

I grabbed my keys and locked the house deciding a walk might clear my head, the town main street wasn't that far anyway. I had seen a diner on my way into town, maybe a coffee and a sandwich would be better in my stomach than booze.

People greeted me as I went and I realized how quickly word spreads around small towns like this. The walk to the diner was nice and a bell rang above my head as I pushed into the building, "Go on an seat ya self, I'll be out in just a sec!" A smooth a drawling voice said from the back and I took a table in the corner.

I watched as a beautiful red head appeared from the back kitchen carrying several plates and a couple mugs of coffee to a table on the other side of the restaurant. I couldn't help but stare at the curve of her hips and her perky ass as she bent over to lay the plates on the table, and when she turned her face took my breath away.

Her bright blue eyes were filled with mirth and mischief as she made her way to my table, her name tag said 'Vanny'. "Howdy there hun! What can I get fer ya?" she drawled and stepped a little closer to me. I smelled her and her scent was like clover and wildflowers, "I'll just have some coffee and a sandwich, house special I'm not picky." I told her with my most charming smile, she blushed which was sexy as hell on her and wrote something in her little notepad.

"One blue plate special comin up. An that's at no charge for you sheriff." She crooned at me and bounced away, coming back a second later with a mug of coffee. I thanked her and smiled as she disappeared into the back again.

She had definitely been flirting with me, so I wondered if I could get her number.

Vanessa

I bolted into the kitchen as soon as I had the sheriff's order and confronted my fry cook Lonnie. "Ya didn't tell me the new sheriff was fuckin hot!" I whisper yelled at her and she cackled as I placed the ticket for the new sheriff's food. "Shit! I didn't get his name!" I scolded myself and Lonnie laughed again, "You can ask your dad, apparently the sheriff there is gonna be running the truce between Moon and Blood packs. Though he's officially part of Blood pack himself." Lonnie told me as she threw chopped ham and Swiss cheese on the grill top.

"Wow, daddy'd be pissed as hell if he found me flirtin with a Blood. Even if he's the new truce officer." I said pouting, not that my pack leader of a father had ever stopped me from stepping out of line. Lonnie snorted and put bread onto toast and I turned to go out and give the sheriff some more coffee.

I walked to his table with a little extra swagger in my step as I grabbed the carafe and made my way over. "So sheriff I didn't catch a name." I said my little southern twang made his eyes shoot up to me. He laughed and it was smooth and felt like a warm shower as it washed over me, I couldn't hold back the shiver.

Then I smelled his scent, leather and mahogany, my wolf shivered next. I filled his coffee as he spoke, "Yarrow, Sheriff Yarrow Dusk, but most people call me Row." He said and I pulled up short in my pour. "As in Adonis Dusk?" I asked a twinge of apprehension gripping my stomach. If he was related to the leader of the Blood pack, I definitely shouldn't be involved.

"Yeah, he's my cousin. How do you know him?" He asked me, his green eyes narrowed suspiciously. I sighed and set down my carafe sitting at the table with him and extending my hand. "Vanessa Lustrous. Moon pack second in command, we are gonna be workin together quite a bit."

I told him and his jaw dropped as he saw the moon tattoo on my wrist. The bell over the door rang and I turned to see my father, Nyx Lustrous, walk through the doors. He looked across my diner to where I sat with Yarrow and grinned, which wasn't good. Nyx ran a hand through his jet black hair and fixed his amber eyes on me.

I sighed he was about to pass off his work to me, again. Nyx walked over to the table and pulled out a chair next to me casually throwing his arm over my shoulders. "Vanny, darlin! So glad ya already met the sheriff, that makes this easier. I'm goin outta town with ya Ma. So I need ya runnin head on this here truce." He said and smiled at the two of us.

I pushed his arm off of me, I still questioned how we were related. "Daddy, ya can't just run off cause ya don't wanna deal with Blood pack." I scolded him and he smirked and patted my head like a pup. "Watch me princess." Nyx said before rising and heading back out the door.

I let out a frustrated growl and let my head rest on the table, then I heard Yarrow laughing. "Well looks like you and I are gonna be working together a lot more from now on." Row said and patted my hand right as the bell for the cook rang.

I rose and hustled off to get his food ignoring the sparks that were going off under my skin where he touched.

Yarrow

My hand felt like fire where I had touched her, and my inner wolf salivated at her smell. 'Cool it Row. She's the co-leader of the Moon pack. Can't be showing favorites.' I thought as she quickly returned with my food and made sure to brush my hand as she set down a hot ham and Swiss with fries. "Enjoy, we like it when the local law eats here. Good fer business." She said then her head snapped around at a commotion outside the door.

I looked too and saw my brother Sable and a Moon pack member arguing outside the door. "Dammit all, Carson." Vanny mumbled beside me and we both rushed to the door. "Get outta here ya damn Blood." Carson growled, swiping his dark brown bangs out of his hazel eyes, his square jaw set with his gritted teeth. "Like to see you make me Moon pup." Sable snarled back, green eyes narrowed.

I burst through the door first, bowing up to my younger brother and pushing him back. "Back off, Sable, we are at peace and I'm keeping it that way." I said and Vanny was right behind me, her finger in Carson's chest. "Damn straight, Car, I don't want no more bloodshed! Ya hear, an daddy's away so I'm in charge so ya got no choice but to listen." Vanny said and Carson spat but backed off walking past all of them and into the diner.

"Oooo I have half a mind not to even serve him!" Vanny growled and stormed in after him. "What's the story there?" I asked as Sable chuckled. "Oh, they used to date. Then he tried to tie her and she lost her shit on him, nearly took his face off, literally." Sable said and guided me in, I tilted my head towards my seat and food and we walked over and sat.

"Man, to try and tie with someone who isn't your mate, that's ballsy." I said as I tried to hear the whispered argument happening on the other side of the diner. Vanny looked pissed as Carson tried to flirt with her and then she slapped him and pointed to the door. Carson stood, growling and took a threatening step toward Vanny, I leapt from my seat but Sable put a hand on my arm stopping me from interfering.

Vanessa

Carson was in my face, his teeth bared at me threateningly, so I pulled back and slugged him with all the strength I had.

The punch sent him ass over heels toward the door and he was sporting a split lip when he rose. "I said get out Carson! An ya ain't allowed back!" I snarled, taking a step towards him, my fists clenched.

Carson scrambled out the door, if there was one thing he learned when we broke up was he didn't mess with me when I was mad. "You ok Vanny?" Row said from behind me and I whirled my short curly red hair bouncing around my face as my blue eyes met his green ones.

"I'm fine, sheriff, just takin out the trash." I said and quickly wiped the booth down. I felt eyes on me and turned, the sheriff had gone back to his brother, but his eyes were on me as he ate and I felt fire building in my belly as his eyes flared with a feral light.

I made my way to the table and took Sable Dusk's order. It was the same as always a cheeseburger, no pickles, no onion, extra ketchup. "You been eating the same thang here, as far back as I've owned it." I said as I walked away, "Don't know why I even bother, Lonnie Sable's usual!" I called into the back and went about doing busy work in the front as I waited for the lunch rush and occasionally filled the sheriff's coffee. Soon the rush started and I didn't need to keep myself busy to occupy me from staring at Yarrow Dusk and drooling.

Yarrow

"Row, you can't keep undressing Vanny with your eyes." Sable whispered and I snapped my attention back to my brother. He laughed at my expression and no doubt red face.

"Geez, is the attraction that obvious?" I asked as I ate my sandwich half heartedly. It was good even at room temperature, and the fries were crispy and well seasoned. Sable continued to taunt me as we waited for his food and I picked at mine. "Tell me honestly, how bad have the tensions between the packs been?" I asked and Sable whistled.

"It isn't really the packs, it's a sect of each pack that refuses to see peace. Carson Adams is one of them in Moon pack, but till recently Vanny kept him in line." Sable told me and I sighed. I remembered Carson being a dick head. "And who in our pack is being a problem?" I asked and Sable smiled. "Rutger and his cronies." Sable said as Vanny set down his burger and fries.

"Rutger, that asshat has been kicked outta here more times than I can count. Him an his boys keep makin trouble with my pack." Vanny said. "What kind of trouble?" I asked as Sable began to inhale his food, some things never changed. Vanny looked around the crowded diner the whipped out her notepad and wrote something down.

"Text me, maybe we can meet up and talk after close tonight." She said and handed me her number. Sable stared at me with his mouth open, then choked on his burger as I growled at his hopeful expression. I quickly entered her number in my phone and texted her.

Vanny

Test

Vanny

I'm standing in the

kitchen. What?

Just wanted to

make sure this

worked. 😜

Vanny

You're strange.

Thanks

I put my phone back in my pocket and winked at Vanny as she stepped out of the kitchen and rolled her eyes at me.

Sable smiled at me and finished his burger, as I turned back to my sandwich. It was cold but I still ate the whole thing. I said goodbye to Sable and Vanny then headed out of the diner and toward the sheriff's office. I needed to get my uniform and gun, I didn't want the gun but the law said I needed to carry it.

The sheriff's office wasn't far from the diner and the brief walk cleared my head. I sighed and put on a smile before pulling open the door and walking in.

Vanessa

I whipped out my phone as I flipped off the open sign and started texting sheriff Row.

Yarrow

Hey just closed u can

Come any time.

Yarrow

Awesome!

Be there in a bit.😁

I rolled my eyes, he was gonna be one of those emoji guys. I laughed to myself. I was almost giddy and my mood was elevated for some reason. Then the moon caught my eye, it was nearly full, nearly hunting day.

I shivered and went over to the counter and ducked behind it pulling out my calendar. "Fuck!" I growled as I noticed my cycle would peak at the moon hunt this month. The bell above the door rang, and in walked the reason I would be cooped up during the hunt. Sheriff Yarrow looked even more handsome in his uniform than he had in the tight shirt he'd had on this morning.

I felt the heat of arousal flare in my belly and sink low between my legs. 'Great, I'm horny as hell too. He's gonna smell it.' I thought and sure enough the sheriff tilted his head and took in a deep breath. The responding scent from him caught me off guard, it was strong and smelled like mahogany and musk.

I felt my pupils dilate as my wolf fought for control, 'No ya don't, bitch.' I thought as I smiled warmly at Row. "Howdy there Row. Can I get ya a slice a pie? We have some coconut left." I said and had the pie on the counter with a fork before he could object.

Row smiled and I melted as he sat down and said, "Thank you Vanny. It's been a long day and some sugar from you is sure to make it better." he winked at me as he said it and I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth to keep from moaning.

'What the fuck is going on with me?' I thought as I came around the counter and sat beside him as he took the first bite of pie and groaned in delight. I shivered at the sound 'He can groan like that In my bed, damn.' I thought as I squirmed a bit in my stool. "So tell me, what trouble has Rutger and his crew been causing your pack." He asked between bites of pie.

"Mostly just crossin into our territory durin hunts, but they like to cause fights in town too." I told him watching as he licked the fork wishing that tongue was somewhere else. "Well the fights in town will stop, and I'll up patrols around Blood territory so they won't be crossing no man's land." He told me as he finished his pie, then he took another deep breath and rumbled deep in his throat.

I whimpered, I couldn't help it, the sound was primal and I was horny as hell. "You're almost in heat. I can smell it." he whispered, moving off his stool and coming towards me the feral look back in his green eyes. "Yes, my cycle started today. I'll hit my peak during the hunt." I told him holding my head up high and tossing back my hair exposing my neck.

It was a signal I was willing to accept him as a potential partner, my shewolf recognized him as a good mate. His nostrils flared again and I saw him shake his head in frustration. "This is a bad idea, I'm supposed to be impartial. If my pack finds out I slept with you..." he said shaking his head and clearly fighting his instincts. I stepped up to him and ran a hand over his chest pushing him back against my front counter. "My address is 532 Grimm Hollow circle." I whispered and I ground my hips into his, feeling the hardness that tented his pants and trembling in anticipation.

I smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek, slipping my key into his hand. "Lock the door on the way out, Sheriff." I said with a wink before swaggering out of the diner and to my little purple Versa.

Yarrow

"Calm the fuck down Row." I whispered to myself in the darkness of the diner. There was a small key in my hand that I don't remember how it got there. "God I nearly lost fucking control. I've never lost control over a bitch in heat before." I said rubbing my temples and trying to get rid of the headache there. I had nearly transformed when she had shown me her neck.

Just that little bit of vulnerability from a top ranking female was enough to turn my wolf into a horndog. Sometimes being subject to your instincts sucked, and now I was left to weigh the pros and cons of going to her house and ravaging her. I walked to the door and pushed out making sure to lock up behind me. Then I started the walk home, Vanny's scent and invitation heavy in my mind.

I walked into my house to find all my boxes put away and a note from my sister Gena.

[Dear little brother, I put all your shit away while you were at work. You're welcome.

Love Gena]

I rolled my eyes if she wanted brownie points she could have tried to earn them without touching my stuff. She always knew how to get under my skin, I noticed the boxes labeled 'bedroom' were untouched in the hall and I was grateful she at least respected that boundary. I grabbed the boxes and headed to the room I had claimed as mine, honestly with so many rooms in this place I'd probably get a roommate. 'Or maybe we can try for a mate.' I thought as Vanny's face floated through my head.

"I'd have to be damn lucky for her to mark me." I said to myself. In our culture females chose their mates, when they decided on a mate they marked them. "Yeah, damn lucky." I whispered and began to finish unpacking.

Vanessa

I was on the internet googling the sheriff's address, 'What the fuck is wrong with me?' I thought as I wrote it down then double checked, it was the next street over. "Am I really gonna go over to his house?" I whispered to myself and thought, 'Yes you are you horny slut. Cause you wanna fuck him.' I let out a frustrated growl at my own thoughts and looked through my closet for some tight shorts and a sleeveless tank that hugged in all the right places.

I grabbed a six pack from my fridge and threw on my shoes before kenneling my Cane Corso Valentino. "Mommy will be back in a little bit, maybe. You'll be ok. I love you." I told him before grabbing my keys and heading out the door locking it behind me. I took the short walk to the sheriff's house and stepped onto the porch.

My hand was shaking nervously, 'Glad I have my cup in.' I thought randomly then rang the doorbell. "Coming!" Row called from inside and I immediately felt both the urge to jump for joy and the urge to run. Before I could do either the door whipped open and Yarrow Dusk stood before me in only a pair of gray sweatpants. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my eyes from drifting to his crotch, I raised the beers and smiled.

"Howdy neighbor, wanna share a nightcap?" I said and winked at him. He let out a long breath and didn't move for a moment as if he were debating letting me in or not. "Vanessa, you are testing my control. If you come in here, I can't promise you'll go home tonight." He said and I could see the wolf in his eyes. I shivered causing the bottles in my hand to clank, "I won't have to worry about repercussions, but you will. What will Adonis say?" I whispered and he laughed. "Adonis can fuck himself, he may lead the pack but he doesn't control me. I'm here doing him a favor anyway." Row said and I stepped forward and said seductively, "Then let me in, the beer is getting warm." the lock on the screen door clicked and I turned the handle.

As soon as that barrier was gone his hands were on me, he grabbed my arm and pulled me over the threshold slamming and locking the front door behind me. Row snarled and took a step back from my trembling body, gaining control and turning away from me. "The kitchen is this way, you can pop those in the fridge, I have some cold ones already in there." He grumbled and walked away. 'Why am I trembling!' I thought angrily I had been treated roughly by partners, fuck I even enjoyed it most of the time this was ridiculous.

I followed him into the kitchen and opened the fridge while he watched me like a hungry predator from the other side of the kitchen. I grabbed a beer for us and turned to find him right behind me, "Hey Row, why do you and Adonis not like each other?" I asked and he growled and pulled away. "Adonis wasn't the first choice to lead the Blood pack. I was, but I left town instead, and dumped all the responsibility on Adonis." Row said not looking at me, my jaw hung open. "Ya got pure blood, born Lycan." I whispered and he nodded. 'Shit, that makes this tricky.' I thought as my wolf started salivating at the prospect of being held down and taken by Yarrow.

I opened my beer and sipped at it, letting the taste settle on my tongue before settling on whether I wanted it or not. It wasn't too bad so I gulped half, letting out a giant burp after. "Pardon!" I yelped, my head feeling fuzzy and my stomach getting warm as the alcohol hit my empty belly. "Well shit, I forgot to eat dinner." I said as my legs gave out.