Page 55 of Moonlight & Mayhem

Chrome muttered, “You weren’t doomed anyway.”

Chris glanced back. “You seem pretty sure.”

“I am,” he said. Something passed between them again—stronger this time, and Moon’s wolf noticed.

Chris turned back to her. “What else?” Moon showed her the drawing, and Chris stared at it and then looked at Mayhem and back at Moon. “Oh,” she breathed.

“Don’t,” Moon warned.

“I didn’t say anything,” Chris said.

“You were thinking it,” Moon grumbled.

“Yes, I was,” Chris admitted. Mayhem grinned, and Moon sighed. Chris pointed at the text. “So, you’re her bonded guardian.”

“Apparently,” Mayhem said proudly.

“Sounds important,” Chris said.

Mayhem said, “I’ve been saying that from the start.”

Moon ignored him, but Chris smiled. “Your mate has a point.” She wanted to point out that Mayhem wasn’t her mate, but she was beginning to realize that she was losing that argument with every passing second. Maybe it was time for her to stop fighting it and just give in to what her wolf wanted.

“Why is everyone suddenly on his side?” she asked.

“Because he’s entertaining,” Chris said.

Mayhem placed a hand over his heart. “Thank you.”

Moon rolled her eyes, and Chris grew serious. “So if Mayhem strengthens your visions⁠—"

“That seems to be what the journal is saying,” Moon said.

“And someone deliberately infected him, which forced the bond to activate faster,” Chris continued. Moon nodded, and Chris’s face hardened. “They weren’t just using him to get to you.”

Moon’s stomach dropped. Mayhem’s hand tightened around hers. “What are they doing then?” he asked.

Chris pointed to the journal. “They were waking you up.” Moon stared at her because deep down, she knew that Christmas was right. God, she was right. Morrigan had said Moon’s awakening began when she met Mayhem. The night root intensified their bond, and their bond intensified Moon’s abilities.

“They wanted this,” Moon whispered.

Mayhem’s expression turned deadly. “Why?” Moon didn’t have an answer, but her wolf did something strange. It looked inward, toward that place where the visions came from. Moon closed her eyes. She didn’t fight it this time. This time, she reached for the darkness and allowed it to rush forward. She saw snow and a mountain road, followed by Christmas standing beside her motorcycle with Chrome behind her. Moon’s eyes widened because she saw his face this time. The man from her earlier vision hadn’t been a stranger—it was Chrome. Chris turned toward him with blood on her hands. It wasn’t hers but his. The vision changed to a cabin and a woman standing inside—Morrigan. And behind her were cages with wolves in them—dozens of them. Moon gasped and opened her eyes.

Mayhem caught her. “What did you see?”

Moon looked at Chris and then Chrome. Christmas frowned. “What?”

Moon struggled to breathe. “The mountain road.”

Chris went still. “And the man?” Moon looked at Chrome, and Chris followed her gaze.

“No,” Chris said. Chrome straightened.

Moon nodded. “It was him.”

Chris looked at Chrome. “You?”

He shrugged, but his eyes had gone sharp. “Apparently, it’s me.” Chris stared at him and Moon almost smiled despite everything. Oh, Christmas was in trouble, but that wasn't the important part—not yet.