The Moons gift: volume 2 of book 1: Moon Series

By Amanda Steel

"Shifters, magic, a storyline filled with romance, adventure and suspense… look no further and dive into this enchanting world."

Two years later Olivia is all grown up in college and determined to put her younger years behind her as she focuses on her future.
But her newly built walls are tested when she stumbles onto Marcus, the man whose last words haunt her and she was determined to be strong and overcome the pain he promised to bring.

With a new meeting does that mean they'll give into their bond and defy the Law and Elders that forbid it, or will they reject each other once and for all and bring the wrath of the Moon Goddess upon them all?

Will darkness arise bringing war to the lands of shifters or will it be prevented by the choices of Olivia and Marcus?

 

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The Moons Gift is the first book in an exciting, paranormal shifter romance series, The Moon Series. If you love daring adventures, twists, suspense, heroes, and fated mates, then you won't want to miss out on this… get The Moons Gift today! 

 

 

Content Warning: 18+

This paranormal romance contains steamy consensual adult situations, fated mates, adult language, violence, a couple too stubborn to just accept each other without a little conflict, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and a guaranteed happily ever after with a dash of cliffhanger.

 

The Moon Series:

1. The Moons Gift: volume 1 and volume 2 (book is divided into two parts/volumes)

2. The Moon's Warrior

3. The Opal Dragon

4. Moon's Shadow: Hidden Secret

 

 

*The Moons Gift volume 2 of the book 1 in The Moon Series*
This is a continuation of the story The Moons Gift volume 1 of book 1 and cannot be read as a stand-alone.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Steel
• Release date: Nov 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9789534959923

Book preview

Chapter 1

Growing Up

OLIVIA

~ Two years later ~

 I t’s been two years since that horrible birthday where I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest.

The moment I saw Tyson while I was sitting on the ground crying after falling, I didn’t care what he was doing there or how he knew where to find me.

He carried me all the way back home. My parents were out of their minds with worry and had tried asking me what happened the next day, but I didn’t speak about it. I felt completely numb.

Nights were the hardest. Every time I laid down in my bed and closed my eyes, I would see his face, hear his voice. It was torture.

In school, we avoided each other, and at some point I noticed he wasn’t even having lunch in the school canteen anymore.

The day of graduation was the last time I saw him, and I barely managed to stop myself from crying when he made his speech as an honored student and smiled and thanked the crowd. I couldn’t look at him as he stood on the stage, so I folded my hands tightly in my lap and looked at them instead.

But I felt his eyes on me, and my heart fluttered and started racing. I scolded myself, my heart, trying my hardest to not let myself feel anything. And the more time that passed, the easier it became, especially during the day as I kept myself busy, never allowing my mind to drift away to a memory of him. That was why I hated nights—I would dream of him almost every night.

After allowing myself some time to dwell in my misery, and after seeing everyone around me worry about me and try to be careful what they said around me, I decided that was enough of my self-pity.

I surprised them all one day by finally simply saying yes to Tyson’s advances towards me. He tried for months to talk me into going out with him, and finally I accepted, but only as a friend, to which he was more than happy to agree to.

We went out, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. Damon wasn’t too happy to learn I was spending time with Tyson, but I tried to explain to him that we were more like friends than anything else. So he set it up for us all to go out and spend time together, saying the more the merrier, and I just didn’t care. I felt empty inside, without any spark of life in my heart.

As time passed, the realization that the day Marcus would claim Samantha as his own, his Luna, started to grip tightly at my heart. Thankfully, Marcus went abroad to study, so after our graduation, I hadn’t seen him again.

Starting the college year, I focused on my studies, and I loved the classes I attended. I met new friends and was happy I was on campus with Mandy, Lizzy, Annie, and Damon, and his two sidekicks, Zen and Wyatt.

We were inseparable. The only addition to our group was Tyson, who attended the same campus we all did, and now we were spending even more time together.

Walking to my English lecture with Mandy and Annie and our new friends, Tessa and Harley, we chatted happily about an assignment that we had been given by one of our professors.

I’m exhausted, Annie complained as we walked through the campus grounds.

It was the second year—the year Marcus turned twenty and the year the Alpha title was to be passed down to him. I was silent as I tried to shake my gloomy thoughts from my mind and actively listen to my friends chatter.

Tessa and Harley were both Fae, and we met on the first day of our English lecture and quickly became friends.

I know… this project was hard. It took me the whole night to write it and finally be happy with my results. I just hope Mrs. Harris likes it, Tessa said, exhaling a breath.

Oh, I’m sorry ladies, I have to go greet someone, but I’ll catch up with you all, so don’t wait for me, Mandy said to us as she waved at James, who was slowly approaching from the center of the campus ground with a huge grin plastered on his face when he saw her rush towards him. She jumped into his embrace and he twirled her around as a loud laugh escaped from her throat.

The sight of the two of them made me happy for them, but I also felt a slight pang in my heart over my own situation. I shouldn’t feel envious, but I had to move on, and I was determined to do just that.

Lizzy was texting with someone on her phone, not looking where she was going and she almost bumped into a student that was walking our way with a few of his friends. I managed to pull her by her arm and successfully avoid the incident, and she looked at me with raised eyebrows.

You should better watch where you’re going because you almost collided with that group that just passed by us, I told her, and she turned around and saw the group I just mentioned.

Oh, thank you, yes, you are right. She giggled and I glanced at the screen of her phone to see who she was texting with. I saw Logan’s name. I was curious as to what was going on between them, but I was mostly curious about Marcus. I stopped myself from asking, though.

She noticed me looking at the screen of her phone, and her cheeks reddened and she hurriedly closed her phone screen and tried to make up an excuse. I… it’s not⁠—

But I cut her off. It doesn’t matter, Lizzy, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it, I said softly, making her visibly relax.

While the other three girls chatted ahead of us, Lizzy whispered to me, You know… they’re coming back home soon.

I looked at her, contemplating what she just said. They? They who?

She leaned closer and whispered even quieter, Logan and Marcus, and their friend Tanner.

At the sound of Marcus’s name, my breath hitched in my throat.

He’s coming back? Is it because of the Alpha ceremony he’s to attend? Is it time already? So many questions played in my head that I didn’t notice someone calling my name.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I stopped walking and turned around to see Tyson.

Hey! Didn’t you hear me calling you? he asked me, a little out of breath.

He looked like he had been running, but the only thing that my mind was registering was Lizzy’s words.

Oh no, sorry, I didn’t hear you. I-I was talking about something with Lizzy. I gave him my best fake smile, which I had perfected.

He smiled and leaned closer, and I took a step back. He frowned, took a deep breath, and blew it out, and I could tell he was frustrated when he said, Ollie, we have been seeing each other for two years now. Don’t you think it’s time to take the next step in our relationship?

Lizzy gasped while I stood frozen for a second before saying, You know the ‘relationship’ you’re talking about was purely friendship. We never even kissed, Tyson… you know I need time. I hoped he would accept my answer.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he said, Olivia, I get it, but it has been two years, and don’t you think that maybe we deserve a chance to at least try to see how we feel about each other and what being together feels like? You know I would do anything for you.

I know, Tyson, and thank you for being supportive and being a great friend to me through all this. I know it might not be easy for you because of your feelings for me, but please understand and give me a little more time. Can you please do that for me? I pleaded.

Okay, I will give you time, but not long. I will accept this only if you agree to go out on a date with me ALONE next Saturday.

My eyes widened because I couldn’t believe what he had just said. How is that even agreeing to give me time? A week? Not even a week, as Saturday was only a few days away.

Tyson, I— I started, but he cut me off.

Saturday, Olivia. Please give me a chance and I’ll show you how it would be if we were together. He pleaded with me as he took my hand in his and lightly squeezed it.

I-I… I tried to think of any reason against going out with him, but none came to mind. Okay, but as friends.

He grinned and pulled me into his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around my little frame. He kissed the top of my head and said, Thank you, princess. You will see, it will be perfect.

Chapter 2

Girl Talk

OLIVIA

O h my Goddess! I can’t believe you agreed, Mandy said as she threw her arms up in the air in disbelief while walking back and forth in my room.

I rolled my eyes. What was I supposed to say? And I said, it will be a friendly date, not a couple’s date, so spare me your nagging, Mandy.

Looking inside my closet, I tried to find the dress I had in my mind to wear for tonight. It was Saturday already; the week flew by so fast I barely managed to blink with all my studies and assignments I had to do.

What got you to say yes after two years, Ollie? Mandy stopped walking and looked at me with her eyes narrowed.

He gave me no choice, and plus, isn’t it finally time for me to move on and try new things? I thought you would be happy I’m doing something like this for a change, but guess I was wrong, I said as I took out my dark blue dress with white stripes.

Her eyes grew soft as she blew out a breath. She grabbed my shoulders and said, Oh Ollie, you know I want you to be happy, I do, but I can see you are still hurting and it pains me to see that. And you never opened up to me about that night. Please tell me what happened.

I was silent for a moment. She was right. Maybe admitting it out loud to someone would set me free, make things easier by facing them. Taking a deep breath, I said, W-we had a serious talk.

Mandy nudged me to tell her more, so I continued. I-I asked him some things about Samantha and he… he answered honestly.

What things? Mandy asked gently.

Closing my eyes, letting the memory of that day come back to my mind, I continued. One day at school, Samantha pulled me into a dark, empty classroom and… well she told me that h-he will claim her in the Alpha ceremony that will happen on his twentieth birthday as his L-Luna.

Mandy’s eyes grew wide and she gently asked, So you asked him about that?

Yes. He said it is his father’s wish, and he is to do it.

She was quiet for a while, thinking before she spoke again. But did he say it is his wish?

I tried to remember if he ever said he wanted that, but I couldn’t remember if he had ever said that or not. Only that it was his father’s wish. I don’t think so, I can’t remember, but I do remember him saying it’s his father’s wish and he will do it.

So, he is to follow what his father wants, but it might not be entirely willingly?

I-I guess so. He said that we should avoid each other and something about far from the sight, far from the heart, because when his ceremony happens and he claims her, he said we are to… I couldn’t finish as my throat tightened and tears fell from my eyes.

Reject each other? she continued for me. I only nodded in response. She pulled me into her arms and held me tightly as I took deep breaths to compose myself.

Finally, I decided I had cried enough. I won’t be weak anymore, I have to move on. He did, didn’t he?

Well, he’s a fool, and I’m sure soon enough he will realize that too. She pushed me slightly away from her and wiped away my tears.

Well, even if he does, the Law forbids us to accept each other. My voice broke from the sadness that I felt inside my heart.

Damn Law! Damn Elders! Mandy released me and started to yell at no one as she walked around my room, feeling furious.

Shhh! Mandy, calm down, someone might hear you.

I don’t care! Why wouldn’t mates accept each other? They are chosen to be together for a reason! It’s not fair!

I pressed my hand to her mouth to try to get her to stop shouting, but she smacked my hand away.

The war was ages… centuries ago! Things have changed, and so should the Elders’ views. She sat down on the edge of my bed and took several deep breaths.

I let her calm down and sat next to her, rubbing her back in silence.

I’m sorry. I’m calm now, she said.

Good, because I need to get ready or I’ll be late. Standing up, I took my dress and walked to my bathroom.

I know you always had a crush on Tyson, I heard her say from the doorway to the bathroom.

Yes, and? I asked as I finished zipping my dress and walked to my vanity so Mandy could do my hair.

Well do you still? I mean, even when you meet… the one we shall not name? she asked me while pulling my hair up.

I thought about it for a moment before answering. Well, he is a shifter like we are, and I’ve known him much longer, and I guess all that makes us a better match.

She rolled her eyes at me. Don’t give me that. Do you still have a crush on Tyson?

Blowing out my breath, I said, When I’m with him, it’s simple, no rush or pull. I like his company and he’s really sweet and kind. But it’s different with Marcus…

She smirked. How different?

It’s like everything around us stops existing when he’s near me, and the pull is so strong that sometimes I would find myself not being able to resist him. It feels like when we’re together, we’re complete, like two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly. It’s safe and warm, a happy feeling. I can’t fully describe it… I spoke slowly with a dreamy look on my face that Mandy noticed. When I noticed her still smirking at me, I scowled at her.

And is that all you feel? No need, desire, lust, wanting to rip each other's clothes off? she teased.

I am no saint! Of course I feel that, but I fight it, I answered quickly, making her chuckle.

I found it easier to give in to the bond as it is easier and… oh so much better than you can imagine, she said with a dreamy look on her face. I turned around in my chair to smack her shoulder.

Hey! What did you do that for? she asked, rubbing her shoulder.

Don’t talk to me about your sex life with my brother! It’s horrifying and I wouldn’t be able to look at you or him ever again! I don’t need more scars, thank you!

She laughed and said, What?! He is so good!

Mandy! I screamed at her, making her laugh some more.

Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing you, she said when we heard a sound by my door and turned to see who was there.

So good, babe? James was leaning on my door frame with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at us with a smirk on his face and a raised eyebrow.

We gaped at him like two fish—no pun intended—and Mandy immediately turned bright red, making him chuckle.

James! What are you doing here? I asked him sternly.

He pushed himself from the door frame and walked towards Mandy. Totally ignoring my question, he grabbed Mandy’s hips and pulled her into him, leaning down over her. So good, hmm?

Mandy went a deeper shade of red that I didn’t think was possible. He snickered, and leaned further down and kissed her full on her lips, and soon enough, the two were deepening the kiss, making me gag.

Enough, you two, I told them sternly, making Mandy look apologetically at me while James was annoyed.

He pecked her lips once more and smacked her ass. Do your magic, babe, and when you’re done, I’ll be waiting so we can create some of our own magic. He winked at her, making her gasp and me gag.

James! Out! Now! I pointed my finger at the door and he left the room laughing at us.

That asshole.

Mandy managed to compose herself after a few minutes, but she seemed eager to finish doing my hair, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I was running out of time or because she couldn’t wait to go to James. I would rather not think of the latter.

Finally, finishing my hair and my makeup, I was ready to go when Annie walked in my room with Lizzy typing on her phone.

Mandy, can you help me out for a moment, please? Annie asked her and they both left the room, leaving me and Lizzy alone.

I watched her silently until she finally looked up at me. Oh, you look beautiful, she said with approval in her eyes.

Cocking my head to the side, I said, Thank you. And you look happy.

Her cheeks reddened. Maybe.

What’s the occasion? I asked her.

She thought about it for a moment, then she said, Well, I know you saw the other day I was texting with Logan. And I told you he’s coming back…

Yes, and? I remembered she said they were coming back, but I didn’t dare to ask about Marcus.

Well… they’re back, she said.

I stopped breathing.

Chapter 3

La Vita

OLIVIA

Standing there in my room with my mouth gaping, I stared at Lizzy, feeling stunned by her words.

She said it so casually, like it’s no big deal.

Oh my Goddess…

My eyes widened when I realized Marcus was back. Oh no.

Lizzy… I started to say but was cut off by the front door doorbell ringing.

A moment later, I heard my mom call my name. Ollie! Tyson is here to pick you up, dear.

Exhaling a breath, I answered, I’ll be down in a second.

Lizzy approached me and asked me in a hushed voice, Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?

I was annoyed by everyone putting their noses into my life.

I’m moving on, Lizzy, I have to. What other choice do I have? I asked, grabbing my purse and not waiting for her answer.

I went downstairs and found Tyson waiting for me. He looked handsome with his hair nicely styled, a dark blue button-up shirt, and dark pants.

The moment he saw me walking down the stairs, a big smile appeared on his face.

Wow! You look beautiful. He took my hand and softly kissed the back as he smiled at me.

Thank you. Oh and you too, I clumsily replied to him, making him chuckle.

Ready? he asked me and then led me to the door.

He pressed the handle and started to open the door when it was suddenly slammed closed. I saw a tanned arm pressing the door and knew exactly who it was.

Oh boy, this isn’t going to be good.

Tyson quickly turned around and said, What the hell are you doing, Damon?

Damon looked at me briefly, then turned his hard gaze back to Tyson and got closer to him. The two stood close with their chests almost touching each other.

If you try anything she doesn’t want, you better sleep with one eye open, fish stick, Damon said with a growl.

Tyson pressed his chest against Damon’s and narrowed his eyes at him. The way you’re acting, I might start to think you’re jealous.

I’m watching over her because I care for her, and if the situation was different, do you really think she would be going out with you or me, huh, sharky? Damon taunted him, making Tyson growl.

Hey, cool it, you two. James stepped between them and separated them from each other.

Now listen up here. If anyone is going to threaten to break any guy’s arms and legs who’s taking my baby sister out, it’s going to be me. So Damon, I appreciate you stepping in as I know you see Ollie as a sister, and I’m always down for the two of us going against a horde of guys, but I can easily take Tyson down. He turned towards Tyson and continued. Because if you hurt her in any way—friend or no friend—I will take you to the ocean and drown you.

Tyson raised his eyebrows and Damon scratched his head. Both were looking at James when Tyson spoke. You do realize I’m a Siren too, right? I breathe in the water just like you.

James chuckled. I love challenges, and that is one hell of a big one, now isn’t it?

Damon started to laugh and clapped his hand on James’s back. That was a good one!

James joined him while Tyson rolled his eyes and took my hand. Let’s go, princess.

When we were inside his car, I looked up to my porch and saw Damon and James watching us with arms crossed, while everyone else was waving excitedly and saying, Have a good time!

We were finally on our way to wherever Tyson was taking me, and I asked, So where are we going?

He kept his gaze straight ahead and smiled as he said, Well for starters, we’re going to see a movie.

That’s a wonderful idea. I wanted to check out the newest one that just recently got released in theaters. Everyone has been saying it’s really good.

I’m glad you’re excited about this plan for our date. I was hoping that you’d approve of my choice.

When we got to the movie theater, Tyson parked the car, and when he got out, he headed to my side to open my door. Taking my hand, he helped me out of the car and we walked to the cinema.

Tyson bought two tickets and a snack for us, and before I knew it, the movie was starting. The movie was pretty good, and I found myself starting to relax and enjoy myself a little bit. When it finished, we headed back to Tyson’s car while we discussed the parts of the movie that we liked.

So where are we off to now? I asked him.

Do you like Italian?

Italian?

Yes, Italian food. Do you like it?

Oh, yes I do. I smiled, trying to relax a little bit. I felt okay during the movie but had started to feel on edge again afterwards. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lizzy telling me that Marcus was back in town.