Never Trust The Moon

By Brick ONeil

Cole Harris has never had a Mate in all his years as a Wolf under Alpha Joe Ballard where he works construction as one of four Beta Wolves. Codi Wilson has been running from a rival Alpha Wolf and his Betas the past year for doing research and writing he can't remember. Are there other reasons Cole should protect Codi?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brick ONeil
• Release date: Nov 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310710230

Brick ONeil

Brick ONeil grew up in America’s heartland, the midwestern United States, receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Religious Studies then moving to the southern United States for his Masters in Human Resources, living in both Oklahoma and Texas for some time before settling in the Pacific Northwestern coast in the Emerald City, Seattle.He has been writing professionally since 2001 and before that was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the private workers’ compensation field, still holding his Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification. He began writing articles and working on projects for clients while writing his first novel, Aside of Murder under his writing business, Lione Services.Now he has ten books under his belt in four genres, fiction-mystery, fiction-short story, non fiction-cookbooks and non fiction-biography. He has his mystery series, The Rose Petal Wine Murder Mysteries with two books published now out of the seven; the cookbook series, “Simple, Healthy, Fresh”, with books 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and the Ultimate; three books of short stories, Different Dreams; Unrelated: A selection of short stories and Triad: Fates, Furies and Graces finally,his short biography, Silver Linings on Dark Clouds (My Life with Alport’s Syndrome) is out as well.Find him online:http://brickoneil.com (pages for each book)http://linkedin.com/in/brickoneilhttps://www.facebook.com/brickoneil

Book preview

Never Trust The Moon

By Brick ONeil

Published by Lione Services at Smashwords Edition 1

Copyright 2015 Brick ONeil

Discover Other Titles by Brick ONeil

Simple Healthy Fresh 1.0

Simple Healthy Fresh 2.0

Simple Healthy Fresh 3.0: Dinners

Introduction to Simple Healthy Fresh

Ultimate Simple Health Fresh

Aside of Murder

The Bamboo Killer

Silver Linings on Dark Clouds (My Life with Alport’s Syndrome)

Different Dreams

Triad: Fates, Furies and Graces

Unrelated: A Selection of Short Stories

All on my website, http://brickoneil.com all my above books, blog, contact information and other news.

Send me an Email: [e-mail]

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CHAPTER ONE

Cole Harris was working in the early summer heat on the north end of Seattle in Washington State, in King County. His Alpha, Master Joe Ballard, owned Ballard Corporation that held a Construction Company and a Landscaping Company, plus other holdings around the world. The prior two employed his four Beta’s (second in commands) along with the rest of the wolf pack, the pups. Master Joe was obviously the Alpha, at six foot six and three hundred pounds of pure muscle but was so good natured that he was considered a big ole teddy bear. Master Joe had been Alpha Wolf his entire adult life, looking fifty two, no one dared counter his word. He had been a Wolf for far longer, though.

Joe was much older and just stopped aging at fifty two. Indeed, he was several thousand years old, was turned by mysterious stranger in what was ancient Mediterranean area around Ten B.C. He had seen much and been through much in all that time, he liked being under the radar, which the Wolf Council in Germany liked about him. Joe had a level head, was slow to anger and act, therefore was the natural choice to lead the Pacific Northwest region of Wolves.

Cole considered himself not a bad Beta. He had worked his way up in both the business and pack and was happy where he was. At thirty nine and six deuce, he was fond of saying and at two hundred fifty pounds of pure muscle, he felt he was a great addition to Master Joe’s pack. He was found in the Northern Italian region of the world around 1500 A.D., broken and wandering with amnesia, as a new Wolf and had been turned and let loose. Joe found him, nursed him back to health, taught him how to be a wolf. He was still ruled by his emotions and his Alpha kept a close eye on him every full moon. Therefore, Cole promised his undying loyalty and affection. He hadn’t broken his promise in all those years.

Cole Harris had coal black hair and eyes, he could hold his own in any fight. Some of the pups called him dark, swarthy with his Italian heritage, huge chest and narrow waist, he could be fearsome in any fight.

Setting the shovel down under a Red Flowering Dogwood tree, he was in charge of the crew working on some landscaping, breaking up some concrete parking lot for a gazebo with a walkway and flower garden for the Ladies of the King County Auxiliary. They performed many good works and deeds in the city and had decided to upgrade the look of the business end, to accommodate clients that came to donate.

Hey, Don, how deep is that asphalt? Cole hollered to a stocky well-built man in his twenties, manning a Jackhammer who had taken a break as well. He was down to his wifebeater, wiping sweat off his brow and scalp with a blue handkerchief.

A good six inches, some spots are ten plus it’s mixed with a dense sand, making this almost unbreakable. He flexed his 25 inch biceps and winked at Cole. For a regular man, good thing last night’s full moon helped me energize! For me, this will be a piece of cake, Brother! Both men laughed at the inside joke, not wanting anyone outside the pack knowing they were Wolves.

You need a break there, Don? Bill? There’s some lemonade over in the... Before he could finish the sentence, the three men heard a pounding run from the alley between the Ladies Auxiliary building and the Flower’s and More shop next door, ‘Izel’s Azaleas’, which sold more than Azaleas, but she couldn’t think of anything else that rhymed with her name. The trio of men tensed up when they heard a man’s strangled cry of fear, for nothing upset a Wolf more than hearing someone smaller or weaker than them hurt or in trouble.

A shorter man burst from the alleyway, wildly looking around him for an escape. Cole tensed, ready to pounce on and fight whomever was harassing this gentle looking soul. The tiny man saw Cole, raised his head, did the oddest thing to Cole, he smelled the air. A look of relief washed across his face but was quickly replaced by another look of fear as he jerked his gaze behind him and raced for Cole.

Cole sniffed the air and caught a scent of coffee cake and spread his arms out wide, welcoming the frightened man, placing one arm around the guy’s shoulders while the man buried his face inbetween Cole’s furry, muscular pecs, trying to make himself as small as possible. Don and Bill ran in front of Cole and the man, now firmly in the safety zone, ready at once to protect their Beta and friend.

The little man was wearing a black chambrey button down, dark blue wranglers that cupped his butt perfectly and dark brown suede work boots. He noticed there were no rings on his fingers but did have small diamonds in his ears. The guy only came up to his chest but seemed to enjoy the fur between his pecs. All the pups called his chest hair and body hair fur because it was so dark black and thick, like a pelt. His Wolf’s fur was the same dark fur but silky.

From the alleyway burst two henchmen well-known to Master Ballard and his pack belonging to Alpha Declan Edwards pack from the neighboring county, Snohomish, north of King County. What they were doing in Master Joe’s territory was breaking the treaty that resulted from Last Winter’s War. Also against the treaty was terrorizing and harassing normal citizens like this scared, tiny man clutching and hiding in Beta Cole’s shadow.

Terrorizing innocent citizens, eh Turner? Cole asked with narrowed eyes at the tall, bald muscular Beta. They fought during Last Winter’s War while Master Joe and his allies were turning the fight against the Edwards Pack, well-known for breaking laws and hunting smaller, weaker humans.

Just having a bit o’fun, Harris. Turner spat out with a stream of tobacco juice and scratched his dirty chest fur. His smile barely hid his extended canines, causing Bill and Don to pump up their muscular chests and arms in defense, softly giving off warning growls and nips.

Might want to call of the kittens, Harris, Hayes, the other man, who was Edwards’ first Beta, They could do themselves a mischief. The two packmates of Cole’s sneered back, giving off a fighting scent while Cole was crushing the shaking and frightened man so he felt safe.

They could tear your throats out without batting a paw, Hayes. Don and Bill smiled at the two other wolves, who began swaggering down the sidewalk and around the other corner.

Is he ok? Bill asked, turning towards his older Beta, face changing to full concern.

Does he need anything? Don began walking to the truck where Cole was going to suggest the two workers take a lemonade break. Don came back with four glasses of the sweet, ice cold tart drink, handing one to Bill and two to Cole. Cole was gently pushing the now slack man away from his chest, giving the other two men another concerned look.

The man was around five foot seven inches tall, coming up to Cole’s chest and shoulders, his blond hair was cut short and his dark red moustache and beard felt soft against his furry forearm. The man kind of stocky but not muscular like a wolf, more like a smaller than average human. Cole was looking at the man’s face, decided he was indeed gentle and friendly. He was also so frightened he had had a seizure and currently was staring at nothing in particular. For some reason, this scared Cole more than anything had in his entire life, even fighting in last Winter’s War. His phone started buzzing and ringing in his pocket.

Setting the drinks down on a small rock wall, while continuing to hold the now slack man, he was digging the device out of his pocket. He saw the name on the screen and answered immediately.

Master Joe he said reverently.

Cole, what’s wrong? I felt you and the boys were scared and ready to fight. Holding the truth from Master Joe would be stupid, because an Alpha could hear his Betas’ and pups’ thoughts and feelings automatically but not vice versa. Hearing your Alpha’s thoughts was against the Pack Law and they respected Master Joe too much to even try to lie to him.

Some of Edwards’ pack was chasing an innocent. The man ran right up to me while we confronted Turner and Hayes. They’ve left the area and we’re concerned about this man, who I think was so frightened he had a seizure. Cole responded quickly to his Alpha’s question, not leaving anything out.

Be right there, boy. I’m at the feed store just a few blocks away. Master Joe abruptly and roughly answered. If there was one thing that upset Master Joe more than anything on Earth, was seeing a smaller or weaker person getting hit or harassed by a bigger man. He oftentimes got into many fights protecting others, as he instilled in all his boys and pack to protect the innocent. Not more than five or six minutes later, the huge, muscular Alpha Wolf sauntered from the same block the two Edwards’ men disappeared around. The Beta and the two sub-wolves, Bill and Don, immediately bowed their heads in deference to their Alpha.

Master Joe was a sight to behold, looking every bit a tall, furry, muscular mountain of a man. His demeanor gave the aura of dominance and respect. Many men found themselves deferring to the rough looking man-creature. He held just enough humanity to blend into society, yet enough wolf to scare off other wannabe alphas.

Easily covering the few spare yards between himself and the group, he saw Bill and Don still in a protective stance, even while holding glasses of lemonade. Cole was protectively holding a tiny man, clutching Cole’s huge arms with his face in back in Cole’s chest. In a deceptively calm voice, Master Joe slowly came up in front of Cole.

So, what do we have here? He looked in Cole’s eyes, meaning it was ok for Cole to look back into his Master’s eyes without meaning to challenge him for dominance.

Just then the door to the Women’s Auxiliary burst open and three women with two and three piece suits and mile-high hair scurried across the parking lot and sidewalk, all talking at once, hoping to garner favor with the huge mountain of a man to donate to some of the charities they headed.

Master Joe was the picture of politeness, never giving the impression he was anything other than pleased to see the three busybodies. He nodded at each one, Helen, Jess, Padma, they tittered a hello back, nodding at the group of men, in general. The three women were human, being none of the paranormal creatures, although Bill was heard to complain they resembled Harpies and Tony was known to give snide comments about kappas out of water.

Helen was the mouthpiece for the group and did all the talking whenever they were in public, stating she was ‘President for Life’, a title she selflessly ‘endured’, while wearing red and sometimes black or white power business suits.

We saw the entire thing, Mr. Ballard! Those two no-good ruffians from the next county, Edwards’ men, were chasing that poor little man from the alleyway! She exclaimed, in a huff. Jess and Padma nodded in sync, as if they were marionettes.

He’s so tiny! Jess, what was called a handsome woman, also slightly taller and almost as blocky as Cole, in a slimming outfit in dark midnight blue.

Who would chase such a gentle soul? Padma, wearing a dull pink pants suit, asked with a sorrowful voice, not really expecting an answer. The Edwards boys were notorious for causing mayhem in their own county, spreading out to neighboring ones, including across Elliott Bay to Kitsap and up north to Skagit. They were notorious for stealing from homes, damaging what they couldn’t haul off and harassing anyone coming across their path. The local and state authorities knew them well, having had them on probation at one time or another. Turner and Hayes began wandering with their Alpha’s blessing.

Don’t worry ladies, well take extra care of this gentle man. Master Joe swept his arms to include not only himself, but the boys in his pack-they had no idea that is what he meant, but they nodded knowing fully well that the responsible, and quite good looking, Joe Ballard, had everything now in control.

So be it, Mr. Ballard, Helen intoned, Your reputation proceeds you. The three turned as one body with three heads and went back inside the building.

Turning to the three men, who presented the back of their necks to their Alpha-a sign of submissiveness. What do we know? He asked, giving permission to talk to him.

Cole looked up again and began again Just what I said earlier. He, Cole nodded to the little man still in midst-seizure and clutching his muscular biceps, ran from between the buildings, looked around then ran straight for me. Cole straightened up a little with pride that someone actively sought him out for safety and comfort.

Looking at Don, Master Joe asked What did Edwards’ men do?

Don looked up with his head still bowed, a little unsure of himself. They swaggered out and mouthed off to us. That Turner was hell-bent for trouble, alright. Master Joe nodded at the younger pup, Don and gazed over at Bill and gave a small smile, to let them know they did the right thing in moving in to protect Cole and the innocent.

What’s happening with him now? Bill asked a bit worried. Think they got to him before he came out?

No, I think the stress just caught up to him, pup. Bill sighed with relief at his Master’s explanation. "He’s a bit overwhelmed and his body and mind is breaking down to