Wings of Fire (Rebel Moon Shifters #5)

Chapter 1

Major stepped inside Ripley’s and was headed to the bar when he was stopped by one of the bartenders.

She stood in front of him with a hand on her hip, eyebrow arched.

A Jupiter Madness song was playing through the overhead speakers, so he was well aware of what she wanted.

Major grinned and began belting out the lyrics.

When it got to the chorus, she joined in.

The customers were used to their impromptu bouts of karaoke.

Some sang along, while others cheered and whistled.

Their duet was interrupted when someone bumped into Major from behind.

By the scowl on his partner’s face, Major knew who it was.

Ignoring the newcomer, Major held out his arm, and his little sister grabbed on.

He escorted her to the end of the counter, where she joined her twin behind the bar.

Nadya and Nahla were the loves of Major’s life, filling the void until he found his one true love – his mate.

He was pretty sure he had found her, but the female lived a thousand miles away.

“Hey, Little Demons,” Major greeted both lovingly.

Nahla had already poured his favorite beer, so she placed it in front of him, then leaned over the bar and tapped her cheek. Major obliged smiling, smacking a kiss there.

“Hey, Maymay.”

Major groaned at his sister’s nickname for him. He didn’t truly mind it until a different female sidled up to his side, leaning against his arm. “Hey, Maymay,” Fallon parroted.

Clasping the glass between both hands, he gave Fallon a side-eye. “You don’t get to call me that.”

Fallon ran a sharp nail over his bare skin, and he pulled his arm away.

Not getting the hint, she took the stool next to his and ordered a vodka tonic.

Major had made the mistake of hooking up with her once about eight months ago, and Fallon took that to mean they should exchange mating bites and order wedding invitations.

Ever since, she had attempted to get him alone.

She asked for rides on his bike, offered to cook him dinner with sex for dessert, and blew up his phone at all hours of the night until he had to change his number.

Fallon was a knockout, but Major wasn’t interested.

He could do worse, but he could also do so much better.

Major only wanted one female, but with their homes on different ends of the country, he didn’t see how they’d make it work.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t willing to try. For her, he’d do just about anything.

The reason Major was in Ripley’s, the local bar owned by fellow Hound, Anders Davidson, was to talk to the twins about their mom’s upcoming birthday.

It wasn’t a milestone, but Natalia, or Lolly as he and Marshall called her, was special, and they missed her something fierce.

She and their dad, Maveryck, had moved to Vermont, along with several of his uncles and their mates.

Being Gryphons, they didn’t age, so they couldn’t remain in Troy without humans eventually noticing.

Nadya headed to the other end of the bar to serve another customer while Nahla mixed Fallon’s drink.

She slid it across the bar to the female, then moved over to stand in front of Major.

Before she could say anything, the phone rang.

It was the bartender’s job to answer it if the manager was otherwise occupied, and since the portable was on the counter next to the register, that was obviously the case.

“Ripley’s, how may I help you?” Even though the music was loud, Nahla was a Gryphon and could hear the customer perfectly fine.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Fallon leaned into his space and whispered.

Major downed half his beer, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Fallon reached over to the caddy and grabbed a cocktail napkin. When she held it out to him, he ignored her. She placed it in front of him anyway.

Nadya returned after pouring the customer’s drink. “We were thinking the weekend of the twenty-first. That’ll give Anders plenty of time to work on the schedule, and you can have Hallie mark you off that weekend.”

“Are you planning a get-together?” Fallon asked.

“No,” Major and Nadya replied at the same time.

Nahla hung up from the call, punched the order into the point-of-sale system, then joined them.

“Does that work for you?” A group of four sat at the other end of the bar, and she held up a finger, moving to take their orders.

The phone rang again, and Nadya turned to answer it.

Fuck, this wasn’t the right place or time to plan a birthday party.

Major finished his beer, dug a twenty out of his wallet, and placed it under the glass.

Yes, he still used paper money. It was quicker than handing over a card.

Catching Nadya’s attention, he made the motion of calling her with his hand. She nodded and refocused on the call.

When he stood, Fallon did as well. “Let me pay, and I’ll come with you.”

Major didn’t wait. He strode to the door, stopping long enough to say hello to Truett, another Hound, who was the bouncer slash floor manager. They bumped fists, and Major exited the building. He was almost to his bike when Fallon caught up to him and punched him in the shoulder from behind.

“You’re a dick, Major Lazlo.”

When he turned to give her a piece of his mind, she pulled back like she was going to take another swing at him, but a blur came out of nowhere, shoving Fallon to the ground.

Nahla dropped on top of the other female, straddling her chest. “Don’t you ever put your fucking hands on my brother, you bitch. ”

Major pulled his feisty sister off Fallon before they could really get into it. With both of them being shifters, they were strong, but Nahla was scrappy as fuck. “She’s not worth it.”

Nahla wrenched herself out of Major’s grasp and flung something at Fallon. “In your hurry to accost my brother, you forgot your credit card. Next time, I’ll toss it in the trash.” She stood between Major and Fallon with her arms crossed over her chest.

Fallon picked her card off the ground after getting to her feet, shoved it in her pocket, then flipped them off with both hands before storming away. Nahla turned, her grin evil. “You should’ve let me have a go at her.”

Major tapped his sister on the nose. “Nah. Like I said, she’s not worth it, but thanks for defending my honor.”

“Pfft. I was defending your pretty face.” Nahla patted his cheek. “Love you, Maymay.”

“Love you too, Little Demon.”

Nahla gave him a two-fingered salute and took off jogging toward the entrance.

Major shook his head, laughing. Little Demon fit both the twins.

They were quick to defend him and Marshall as well as each other.

Major climbed on his Harley and headed toward his own twin’s home.

He cranked Jupiter Madness and let the loud music drown out thoughts of the last few minutes.

Instead of focusing on Fallon, Major reminisced about the long weekend he and Tabitha spent together.

While in New York visiting her parents and little brother, she stopped by the Steele Securities office to introduce herself.

“Hey, Tabitha. What brings you by?” Hallie’s voice carried to Major’s office.

He stood so quickly that his chair flew backward against the wall.

He couldn’t get to the front office fast enough to finally put eyes on the redhead.

He slowed his steps before turning the corner, but just barely.

Tabitha was decked out in cream-colored pants, an emerald sweater that showed off her assets as well as made her eyes pop, stiletto boots that put her close to his six-four height, and a long wool-looking coat.

Her hair draped over her shoulders, and Major wanted to fist the strands.

One red brow was arched when his eyes finally met hers.

Smirking, she answered Hallie, “I was in New York visiting the fam, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello. You must be Major.” Tabitha approached, holding out a hand.

“Indeed.” Major finally found his feet and closed the distance.

Tabitha’s perfume was subtle but enticing, and he wanted to bathe in her scent.

He clasped her outstretched hand and brought it to his lips.

He inhaled, and in that moment, he knew this female was something special.

What he didn’t expect, though, was for Tabitha to place a hand over her stomach as her eyes squeezed shut.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine. Just…” Tabitha waved her free hand in the air. “Not expecting you to be so gentlemanly.”

“Let me guess. Your brother told you what happened in West Virginia.”

“My brother, my mother, and my father.” Tabitha winked at him, and Major’s heart skipped a beat.

“And you still wanted to meet me?”

“Definitely. Why don’t you show me around?”

Major held out his hand. “After you.”

“Don’t mind me. I’ll just sit here and file my nails,” Hallie deadpanned.

Major stuck his tongue out at his cousin. She just wiggled her eyebrows since she knew how long Major had wanted to meet Tabitha. After showing her around the building, they stepped into Major’s office. “Do you have plans tonight?”

“Why, Mister Lazlo, are you asking me out?”

“Yes, Miss Stone. I am. We can start with dinner or a drink and see where the night takes us?”

“I would love to see where we end up,” she husked. Major was in deep trouble with this one, and he was there for it.

It was the best seventy hours of his life. They would have had more time together, but Tabitha had to return to Atlanta for a job. They exchanged numbers, and since that weekend, they had talked, texted, and video chatted often. As the saying goes, Tabitha Stone ruined him for all others.