Blood Moon

Blood Moon THE HYBRID WOLF SERIES: BOOK TWO CIARA DELAHUNT Contents Also By Before you Read Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Epilogue Bonus Content Author's Note Acknowledgments About the Author Also By CIARA DELAHUNT THE HYBRID WOLF SERIES Lone Wolf (Prequel) Wolf Bait Blood Moon Truth Bites Fated Pack Blood Moon The Hybrid Wolf Series: Book Two © 2023 by Ciara Delahunt All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual persons living, or dead, businesses, or locations is purely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover art by Anna Spies of Atra Luna Graphik Design Contact information: www.ciaradelahunt.com [email protected] First Edition: June 2023 Characters Eve O’Connor (hybrid) CRESCENT PACK* Luke Whelan – surname pronounced ‘wee-lan’ Tom Whelan Max Whelan Helena Whelan (human) Alice Whelan (hybrid) Darren Paula Dylan Joshua Liz Sorcha Maggie Áine FAOLCHÚNNA PACK* Ryan McKenna – surname pronounced ‘mac-ken-ah’ Damien McKenna – pronounced ‘day-me-en’ Rebecca McKenna Nick McKenna Mary McKenna Fiona – pronounced ‘fee-own-a’ Nadine * Werewolves unless otherwise indicated. OTHER Kate Craig Treasa - pronounced ‘trah-suh’ Agnes Alison (witch) Jonas (vampire) Darius (vampire) Alec (vampire) Larissa (witch) – pronounced ‘la-ris-ah’ Spencer (hybrid) Harold (vampire) Before you Read The Hybrid Wolf Series is aimed at adults and includes scenes of violence typical of the paranormal/urban fantasy romance genre. Some of the content in this book may be triggering for some readers. To learn more about content, tropes, and triggers in my books, please visit my website: www.ciaradelahunt.com/content-warnings Author Note: By the end of this series, you’re going to be fluent in Irish slang. I have tried to substitute in places to make it easier, but there are some terms I can’t take out in order to stay true to my characters. MAM is not a typo! We don’t say mom over here. I know our names have too many vowels, but revert to this when you get stuck and enjoy the ride. Chips: Fries (we call chips ‘crisps’ here) College/university: interchangeable Faolchúnna: wolves “For fuck’s sake!”: exclamation of frustration, similar to ‘What the hell?’ Garda: police officer (Bán Garda is a female police officer) Gardaí: police plural Garda Station: police station Lift: Elevator Mam: mom/mother (it’s not a typo!) Puke: vomit Path/footpath:sidewalk Runners: trainers (shoes) Tracksuit bottoms: joggers Piss: to pee ‘You’re taking the piss’: you’re pushing it/better be joking It’s highly possible I’ve missed something here. If you’re ever confused, give it a google or hit me up on the reader group or social media and I’ll explain! To the readers looking for they next paranormal Irish book boyfriend. Prologue MARY She’d never wished someone dead before, but with every rise and fall of his chest, she willed him to cease. Damien’s death would save them a world of pain. The alpha was beyond saving, born with an insatiable thirst for power and a penchant for violence. What began as an outcast with sick ideals and a vendetta had morphed into a powerful alpha with dangerous connections and a deep-rooted hatred of anyone who would dare stand in the way of him gaining power. The loss of his father at a young age, coupled with his inability to connect with others, made him the perfect candidate for his mentor to lead astray. His first born dying at the hands of a hybrid werewolf was the alpha’s breaking point. Damien was never going to do good in the world. It took very little misguidance to mould him into the villain he was destined to be. The pack landing in his claws after Mary’s father’s passing was the beginning of the end. His rise to becoming alpha was steeped in her brother’s blood, in lies, and betrayal. The Faolchúnna pack once stood for loyalty and strength. Now, one of the oldest packs in Europe was a shell of its former glory. All thanks to him. Mary’s fingers tightened around the handle of the blade pressed to the alpha’s chest, the tip hovering over the spot his cold heart beat in spite of her. Just one silver dagger to the heart, that’s all it would take. He deserved it. She should have ended this years ago, it was a mistake to let Damien grow in strength. She remembered it clear as day. Something switched in his brain as he went from an angry young man out of his depth, to a calculated monster. All because she thought the pack could be saved. Mary tightened her slick grip on the hilt of the dagger and exhaled a shuddering breath. The intricate carvings in the bone-made handle dug into her skin, the small bite of pain centering her spiralling thoughts. “You deserve this,” she hissed, pure hatred lacing each word. “I never believed anyone was born evil until you came along. Everything you touch withers and dies, you’re a poison to this world.” A lump formed in her throat as she pulled her arm back, ready to plunge the dagger into the depths of his heart, when the sound of footsteps pricked her enhanced hearing. She paused and cursed under her breath, quickly stuffing the dagger into the sheath, then the pocket of her apron as the footsteps grew louder. When the door swung open, she was refilling the empty glass of water beside the alpha’s bedside. Her hand didn’t shake