Shadow Moon

Shadow Moon STAR TOUCHED: WOLF BORN BOOK TWO MICHELLE MADOW Ruby In the small town of Pine Valley, nestled in the Adirondack mountains of New York, I’m sitting at a bar with Hazel, the most powerful witch in the local coven. She’s sixteen—three years younger than I am—and yet, her experience with magic spans a lifetime. I, on the other hand, only found out about the supernatural world a few days ago. It feels like an eternity since then. Unlike Hazel, I’m a wolf shifter. However, I’ve only been able to shift once, and I can’t use the element wielded by wolf shifters—earth. But I’m not powerless. A different, never-before-seen magic courses through my veins. I can create illusions with my mind. The witches say I’ve been blessed by a cosmic goddess. Or, as they prefer to call it, star touched. It's a plausible theory, considering the mysterious star tattoo that materialized on my right hip the same night I received my magic, bestowed by an ethereal woman who appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly. But other than seeing if I could create an illusion to make Hazel’s fake ID have a picture of me instead of her so I could get served alcohol at the bar, she didn’t bring me here to teach me more about magic. She brought me here to introduce me to her boyfriend, Benjamin, and his best friend Tristan. Both of them human. She wants to set me up with Tristan to get my mind off the craziness of the past few days. Little does she know that there’s a slim-to-none chance I’ll be interested in Tristan. Because I have a mate. Connor. A mate who rejected me. The cold way Connor looked at me when he rejected me seared my heart and left a scar there for all eternity. Sure, Connor and I barely know each other, but it doesn’t matter. He’s my mate. The other half of my soul. And he doesn’t want me. He hates the fact that I’m his mate, since he’s promised himself to his long-term girlfriend, Autumn. Autumn, who I’m pretty sure would rather see me dead than anywhere within Connor’s vicinity. She’s a powerful shifter, and she’s made it abundantly clear that she could end my life with a flick of her wrist if I dare to cross her. Luckily, the witches took me in as one of their own. They told me I can trust them, but I’m well-aware that it would be foolish to let my guard down around any supernaturals in Pine Valley—or the rest of the world. “Ready to meet Tristan?” Hazel slurs. She’s had a lot to drink in the short time we’ve been here. And, from the way she’s using her elbow to prop herself up on the bar, she’s clearly a lightweight. “Sure,” I say, despite the wave of guilt that crashes over me at the thought of considering anyone other than Connor. It’s ridiculous. I need to get a handle on my emotions. If I ever want to experience love, I can't spend the rest of my life brooding over Connor. I owe it to myself to give Tristan a chance. Hazel's eyes, shimmering like liquid glass, shift toward the entrance. They light up as two guys walk in, and she waves them over. The first has sandy blond hair and a confident stride, like he owns the place. With a broad smile, he seems like the kind of guy who could be the star quarterback of a football team, surrounded by adoring cheerleaders vying for his attention. The other one has light brown hair, chiseled features, and golden eyes that pierce through my soul the moment his gaze locks with mine. My breath catches in my chest. He’s mesmerizing. And from the way that a few of the other women in the bar glance over to check him out, I’m not alone in my opinion. But his focus remains solely on me, seemingly oblivious to everyone else. I almost reach for Hazel’s arm to say something to her, but I stop myself just in time. Because she hasn’t told me what Tristan and Benjamin look like. For all I know, the guy with the golden eyes is her boyfriend and not his best friend. I need to snap out of it and keep my cool. Autumn already hates me for being mates with her boyfriend, even though it was totally out of my control. The last thing I need is for Hazel to think I’m pursuing hers. The guys reach us, and the blond one takes the spot next to Hazel. The chairs at the bar are high, and he wraps an arm around the back of it, right below her shoulders. “Hi.” He smiles down at her, and she’s looking up at him with total adoration. He gives her a short kiss, and she all but melts into him. I feel a visceral sense of relief when I realize the guy with the golden eyes is Tristan, not Benjamin. Unsure what to do with my hands—or with any part of my body—I pick up the beer in front of me and take a sip, even though it’s far too bitter for my taste. “Hi,” Hazel says to Benjamin, her cheeks pink either from kissing him or all the alcohol she’s consumed. Probably both. “This is my cousin, Ruby. She’s visiting from out of town.” She directs her attention to me. “This is my boyfriend, Benjamin, and his friend, Tristan.” At the sound of Tristan’s name, I look to him again. He's standing right next to my chair, his arm only inches away from mine. I swear I can feel a surge of electricity pulsing between us. “Ruby,” he says, my name sounding like music when it escapes his lips. “It’s nice to meet you.” The three of them are watching me, and it takes me a moment to realize they’re waiting for me to respond.