The Moonlight Breed 8: Leap in the Dark by Gabrielle Evans (chrysanthemum read aloud .txt) 📕

no closer to finding a solution to their goblin predicament. Braxton wasn’t so naïve to think that things wouldn’t end violently, but he hoped to avoid casualties—for either side—if at all possible.

Talon wanted to fight the goblins on their own turf, while Logan thought it would be better to take the fight to the little town just outside of Rawlins. Xander didn’t have much to say on the subject, but when he did, Braxton was the only one who heard it since the guy refused to shift back to his two-legged form.

So, Braxton had been forced to relay the information to the others, and he’d received several chuffs and head-butts to his thigh when he’d gotten lazy and decided to paraphrase. Xander had been against going to the goblins, reminding them that though their problems were with only two, it was more likely for the rest of the clan to become involved if a bunch of Enforcers invaded their territory. He’d also been steadfastly against duking it out on coven lands as well.

In the end, everyone had figuratively thrown their hands into the air and gone to bed, exhausted, frustrated, and worried about what the following days would bring them. Everyone, that was, except Xander, who continued to prowl the common room in jerky, agitated movements as he paced the carpeted area between the fireplace and the sofa.

Braxton had informed their friends that Xander’s refusal to shift was because he was being his usual, overprotective self. It was the simplest explanation, and one that wouldn’t be questioned. However, he had a good idea that his lover’s hesitation had a lot more to do with anxiety about how his transformation would affect his arm.

“You aren’t climbing into bed and shedding all over the sheets. You’re going to have to shift back eventually, so let’s just get it over with.” He knelt down in front of his mate and cradled his furry face. “Remember what we talked about? The worse that can happen is that nothing changes.”

Xander closed his eyes, and heated, sticky breath fanned over Braxton’s face. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The cliché floated through Braxton’s mind, and his heart broke for his lover. Xander’s disjointed thoughts mingled with his own, giving him a clearer picture as to why the simple task was so hard for the alpha.

Everyone had noticed that Xander had use of all four of his legs, and lots of congratulations had been thrown at him. If his transition didn’t heal his arm, he’d have to deal with the pitying looks and condolences when the pack awoke for the day.

“Fuck them,” he said with steely conviction. “I love our family, but if they think any less of you because of this, they aren’t the men I think they are.” Pushing to his feet, he took a step back and rested his hands on his hips as he adopted Xander’s patented no-nonsense expression. “Now, I’m going to bed. Are you coming with me or not?”

Watching a tiger shift into a grown man was not a pretty thing to witness. Bones and flesh contorted and remolded. Hair receded in some places while it grew in others. Fingers sprouted from paws, and pink lips formed over sharp, pointed teeth.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, but it wasn’t something he’d ever really gotten used to, either. Thankfully, it was a quick process, and within seconds, his sexy, Latin warrior was curled naked on his side.

Braxton stood frozen in place, waiting with baited breath for Xander to move, speak, grunt, or hell, do anything. He did none of those things. He just lay there, facing away and unmoving. A lead weight formed in the pit of Braxton’s stomach, and his throat constricted.

Moving to Xander’s side, he crouched down over his lover and stroked the curve of his back. “It doesn’t matter, love.” It hurt to see the man he loved in so much pain. “It doesn’t matter.” He pushed the raven hair back from Xander’s face and bent to place a soft kiss on his temple. “Come to bed with me.”

A long, tired sigh fell from his mate’s lips, and his shoulders turned as he began to roll toward Braxton. There were other things they could try to heal his arm. Surgical medicine wasn’t exactly Dr. Woods’s specialty, but Destin might know of something that could help. After this latest letdown, it would probably be a while before Xander was ready to take another stab at it, though.

“What about Willow?” Blaise’s mate had healed Talon’s heart. The elf had abilities unlike anything Braxton had ever seen before. If anyone could help, it would definitely be him. He could have smacked himself for not thinking of it sooner. “I’ll call him when we wake up.”

“No.”

“Xander—”

“I said no,” Xander repeated with narrowed eyes. “No one else needs to be involved.”

“Well, that’s nice…but fuck you. This whole macho pride thing you’ve got going here is not working for me.” Jerking to his feet, he began the march to his bedroom without a backward glance.

He’d follow Xander to the ends of the world, even if the guy had too much testosterone to stop and ask for directions. Maybe it was because he was so used to the strong, confident Xander, but the guy’s negativity and lack of cooperation were driving him insane. He wasn’t trying to be insensitive, but he wanted to pull his hair out and scream.

There was absolutely nothing he could do for his mate if Xander wasn’t going to let him help. What made it worse was that Xander obviously had something against helping himself as well.

“I have never met a more stubborn, mule-headed, pessimistic ba—oomph!”

Over six and half feet of hot, naked flesh barreled into him from behind and tackled him to the floor. His arms were stretched over his head and pinned to the carpet right there in the hallway while Xander attacked his mouth like he was the last drink of cold water in hell.

When