Read Hidden Moon (Hot Moon Rising #4) for Free Online

It’s the nerve center
    of the pack.”
    “The diner? All I know is I need to get my sorry old ass over there so I can serve the
    breakfast crowd.”
    Alan’s toast sat, dense as a rock, in his stomach. Dad was seriously in denial.
    Unfortunately, it fell on his shoulders to get him out of it. A few siblings would come in
    handy right about now. So would the support of the pack. Fat chance of getting that.
    “Do you have a will?”
    “I suppose so.” He knit his thick silver brows. “Your mother made me write one
    before she passed. At least I had a sound mind and body back then.”
    “Good. Who inherits your property?”
    “You’re an only child, aren’t you? What the hell do you think?”
    Alan didn’t know whether to laugh or scream, but the will would make it easier to
    escape to his normal life.
    “Got it, but you can’t run the diner anymore, at least not singlehandedly.”
    23

    The breakfast dishes jiggled as Don stood, shoved his chair into the table, and
    hobbled toward the bedroom.
    “Where are you going?” Alan called after him.
    “To put my cooking gear on.”
    “But Rita is coming at eight,” Alan insisted.
    “Screw the caregiver. Moonlight Diner is my life, and I’m going to run it until I drop
    dead.” He flung open the bedroom door then clung to it, panting.
    Alan rushed to his side. “Keep acting like a pigheaded fool and it’ll happen sooner
    than later. You’re dying.”
    “You think I don’t know it?” the older man snapped.
    “Then go to bed and stay there. You need to take it easy.”
    Dad grabbed his T-shirt with surprising strength and shoved him backward. “Fuck
    you!”
    Alan’s muscles contracted as the beast in him jumped to life. A canine lengthened,
    piercing his lip and drawing blood. Reminding himself his father’s fear and loss spoke
    for him calmed the beast down in time. Barely.
    “You win,” Alan said with a measured breath. “Let me grab a quick shower. Then we’ll
    go to the diner. I’ll help you cook today.”
    What about tomorrow? He wasn’t sure he could get through the day, let alone
    another. By tonight, he needed to have a plan in place for his father’s final days. He
    should’ve known the old man would fight him every step of the way.
    Alan trudged toward the bathroom. Maybe some hot water would give him the
    strength he needed to get through the challenge facing him. Whatever he had to do, he’d
    grit his fangs and do it. The sooner he could return to the sane life waiting for him up
    north the better.

    ***

    Shelley unlocked Moonlight Diner and carried in a crate of oranges fresh from the
    grove in her family farm. She’d make her bigger, weekly delivery tomorrow. This
    morning, she needed to tackle payroll and clean the refrigerator, which Don had
    probably left dirty enough to fail a health inspection.
    24

    Much as she loved being surrounded by the pack, she hoped for some time alone. She
    hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, and when she had, she’d dreamed of Alan—sinking
    his wild fangs into her neck in the mating bond while he pumped his hardness into her.
    She’d woken up drenched, especially her panties.
    Before opening the large refrigerator to load it with oranges, she touched her lips.
    Because wolves were quick healers, the swelling had disappeared. Had she really torn
    into his pants like a dog in heat?
    In high school, she’d dreamed of a romantic prom date with him. In it, she accepted
    his corsage, held his hand, and slow danced with him to a love ballad while she gazed
    into his chocolate-brown eyes. While his alluring scent wrapped around them, she
    kissed him, slowly and tenderly. The promise of beautiful lovemaking hovered around
    them, but lust was not part of the picture.
    Acting like a whore in a dirty, old pickup truck didn’t come close to the dream. His
    scent had completely overpowered her, melting away the years and heating her stewing
    guilt to the burning point. Her recent fatigue from doing too