“I thought we could come to an arrangement, you and I, and stop this war altogether. You have something I want, and I have someone you want.”
What is this fruitcake talking about?
“You’re trying to tell me that this whole declaration of war could end with a simple exchange between us?” I scoff out a dry laugh. “Hell Duncan, we’re still not sure what this war is about.”
“There is a lot you do not understand, Raven. Just know this, right now, the fate of this war is in your hands.” Pretentious jackass.
Since I met him 8 years ago, I knew there was something wrong with him. My wolf took an instant dislike to him. I don’t believe I can see auroras, but what I can see coming off of him is not right. It’s dark and hangs heavy, making my skin crawl and hairs stand on end.
“What is it you want?” I’ll play his game.
“The Moonstone,” he says this with a serious face.
Laughter echoes off the surrounding trees as I bend in half, catching my breath. Oh shit. That’s a good one. With a deep inhale, I compose myself and stand straight. His eyes are shooting daggers at me as he stands stiffly. Sorry buddy, guess that wasn’t the response you wanted?
“Never,” a simple response to such a simple-minded request.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to say no, Raven,” he chastises me, “As I said, there is a lot you don’t know. Hell, about the outside world or even just about yourself. You and I are more similar than you could ever imagine.” His smile is smug as his eyes now gleam in triumph.
The tangy copper taste of blood fills my mouth as I bite my lip. I refuse to give him any satisfaction in knowing he’s piqued my interest.
He continues, “we won’t get into all of that right now, but I will give you this tidbit for free. You could say I have special abilities that made it almost too easy. No, they made it entirely too easy for me to gain an army.” He leans back against a tree, crossing his legs at his ankles and his arms across his chest. “Raven,” he calls louder, I know whatever he says next, he’s watching for my reaction. “Do you not question how your faithful and loyal mate could so easily disregard that sacred mate bond and his bond with his children?”
The pain from my lip keeps me in the present as I work hard to keep a neutral face because he damn well knows I question it.
“Well, I’ll tell you how I ranked higher with your mate. I didn’t give him a choice. That ability I mentioned comes from my father, who happened to be a witch-”
If he says anything more, I don’t hear it. My brain spins over his words as it all clicks into place. He’s a hybrid. Wolves are not immune to witch mind manipulations. In the past, packs would hire a witch to help protect them from other witches, but for many years now, it’s been hard to get a witch that will help the wolves. They’ve retreated into their own company.
“So you manipulated my mate’s mind and essentially have control of him. Is that what you are saying?” my wolf comes forward to join me and has my words coming out in a growl that vibrates through the air.
Relief pours through me as I exhale sharply. Now I understand why Rafe acted like a total baboon. He’s under Duncan’s control and probably doesn’t understand what is happening or what he’s doing. He didn’t leave me and the kids by choice. Damit, I knew something was off, I should have trusted my gut more. Nothing could willingly pull Rafe from our side.
“Exactly,” his smile grows as my eyes grow wider as the last puzzle piece falls into place. He said he had someone I want. This is his trade, freeing Rafe in exchange for the Moonstone.
My wolf lets out an outraged roar that has the trees shaking. He’s asking us to choose between our mate and our goddess.
‘No,’ I yell at my wolf when she tries to force a shift. ‘We can not attack him,’
‘I want to rip his throat out and bathe in his blood.’
‘Oh my goddess, that’s a bit much.’ I cringe at the images she sends me of us doing exactly that with her tongue hanging out in glee.
“I understand the enormity of what I am asking Raven. The Moonstone for your mate’s freedom. I will give you a few days to think it over and meet you back here. But understand this, Rafe is not the only one. The majority of my army is comprised of wolves that are manipulated. Do you know what it’s like to have your mind manipulated, Raven?” he doesn’t wait for me to answer as he continues with glee.
“No, I don’t suppose you do. Well, just imagine this: when you’re under mind manipulation, you don’t have any control or say if you’re told to do something. Oh, let’s say I told Rafe to attack you the next time he saw you. Guess what? He would. If I told one to kill themself, they would without a second thought.” Pushing off the tree, he stands to his full height. His hands rub together as he steps further into the clearing, closing the distance between us.
“You don’t want to find out what will happen if you fail at handing over this stone, Raven. Meet me back here at the same time in two days.” The firm, serious tone of his voice takes place of the false friendliness he’s spoken in this entire time.
“What makes you think I could even get the Moonstone for you?” I ask, curious about what he knows.
Tsking at me, “Raven, I know you can, because from my understanding that is your charge. Is it not your duty to protect that stone? Two days Raven, don’t fail Rafe now.”
A slip of my control lets my wolf take over. Shifting in mid-jump, she leaps forward, but with a sickly smile, Duncan disappears into what must be a portal before we can reach him.
Digging at the spot he just stood, we sit down and let out a mournful howl that lasts until the backup finally arrives. Nice, a little late guys. We will need to work on response timing, the thought flits across my mind.
I shift as they close in. “Wake the council members and tell them we need to meet,” I say before shifting yet again and running through the woods back to my house. Upset growls rumble in my chest the entire trip back. Not paying mind to any of the warriors or even Billy as I speed past.
My mind and heart are torn. If ever someone has been put between a rock and a hard place, this is it.
My mind is racing with so many thoughts and none of them are good. I don’t need to talk with the other council members to know what their answer will be, hell it would be mine too if only this were someone else. Right now, my battered and bruised heart is only calling out for its mate that it now knows didn’t leave us by choice. A giggle escapes as I let myself in my back door. The Rafe I know and love is still there. He didn’t leave me. I feel my cheeks push up into my eyes as I can’t hold in my happiness any longer.“Mama?” I stop, startled that Jade is awake, sitting on the bottom stair of our staircase.“Baby, why are you up so late? You should be sleeping.” I walk towards her after toeing off my shoes at the door and pick her up. She places her hands on my cheeks and forces me to look at her.Unease settles in my stomach at the furrow of her brow and the seriousness in her
I skip heading home as the sun is making its grand entrance on this day. After going round and round with no answers or ideas, we finally called it a night or morning, I guess. My thoughts wander to the Moonstone that I have locked away at home. To do with as I see fit. My mate would be worth it. But first I want to know more about the stone.I haul my tired legs up the large stone staircase to the library, pushing through the heavy wood doors. Once inside, the stale, still air assaults my nose as I glance around, trying to remember where everything is. This wasn’t my scene, whereas for Rafe, if he wasn’t at home, he was here, buried in books and learning everything he could. A sigh escapes as I give up and go look at the directory board. Of course, there is no section specific to our origins or creation, so I take a guess and go to the oldest section I know of.Stars dance across my eyes as I press the heels of my palms in
“I don’t know what I would do without you,” I say to Haylee as I walk down the stairs after putting the kids to bed.“Good thing you will never have to know. You are stuck with me,” she says as I hug her and I feel her shock while we embrace. I’m not a touchy person, but today I have hugged and kissed the kids more than ever before and feel the need to hug Haylee, too. I don’t know why, but I know things are changing and I feel the need to hold those I love close.“I have to say I’m surprised Phil is not sending an army to accompany me. The few warriors that will be in the treeline on the edge of our border will be enough. I want to get there and get back. I need to find another way to free Rafe from Duncan’s control. There has to be a way.” I murmur the last part more to myself as I think things through.“If there is, I know you will find it. Stay stron
I said nothing to the warriors as I passed by them as I crossed over into pack lands. My steps are slow as I mindlessly make my way back home. Relief rushes through me as my house comes into sight. I want to get inside, kiss my babies and climb into bed so tomorrow can finally come. I trudge up the steps and quietly open the door in case Haylee is sleeping.I’m not surprised to see her awake watching tv in the living room. She shuts it off and stands up as I close the door behind me.“How did it go?” Her eyes are wide as she stays rooted to her spot. I quickly cross over to her with tears now streaming down my face. Taking me into her arms, she hugs me and slowly lowers us down to the couch. “What happened, Raven?” concern coats her voice.“He-had-Rafe-with-him-” I hiccup out through my tears. “At first- it was like- he wasn’t even there Haylee,” I cry out, “h
After spending some time with Jade in the morning and asking if she recalled what she said the night before, she didn’t. I walk her to school and then head straight over to the library, saying thanks and giving fake smiles to those I pass who offer me their sympathies, not stopping on my mission.I walk straight to the back and strain on my tippy toes to reach the book that Finn had pulled the day before. After a few little hops, I manage to get a grip and pull it, opening the secret door.“Shit,” I spit out when the lantern is not where I saw Finn replace it yesterday. I plaster myself against the wall and use my sight the best I can in the pitch-black stairwell and slowly make my way down. A sigh of relief as I feel that I’m finally at the bottom and walking into the room. I’m pleasantly surprised to see Finn is here.“Finally you are here,” he says with no preamble. “I pulle
“The Moon goddess’ temples,” Finn shouts as he jumps up from his seat.The book drops from my hands, startled by his outburst.Leaning down on the table, he looks at me, “the Bloodstone is hidden in one of the Moon goddess’ temples.”My breath stutters, “are you sure? Any idea which one, cause there are five of them.” Excitement growing at the possibility of finding it.“Yes, I am sure. Which one, though, of that I am not.”“Finn?” I twist my hands together on the table in front of me. I’ve thought a lot about what finding this Bloodstone would mean, and the thoughts I have are darker than I’m used to, I don’t want to share them for fear of him stopping me, but I fear if I don’t share them, I won’t be stopped.He gazes at me knowingly.“If I find this Bloodstone, you know I w
“Arrogant assholes. Do they forget who you are?” Finn grumbles as we leave the Half Moon pack, upset with how they dismissed and treated us callously.“You mean who we are? We’re equal Finn.” I glance out the side of my eye at him.He scoffs, “we all know that’s a lie, Raven. As much as we preachthat everyone in our pack is equal, it’s not true at all.”I stumble at his words. Swinging around to face him, he comes to a stop.“Is that how you feel? You don’t feel you’re treated the same as everyone else, the same as me?”He weighs his words before saying, “the same as everyone? close. We may not have the hierarchy like this pack here,” his hand swings out, motioning behind us to where we just left, “but the groups or cliques make up for that in our pack. The council, though they say they are not above anyone, always act like they are a
After an uneventful trip, we finally make it to the city and the temple. The same as the last village, we shift before entering. The difference between this city and the last village is that even though the streets were empty when we arrived, you could tell it was a lived-in village, but here it has an empty, eerie feel to it. There are no lights on in the run-down houses or shops we pass. I see no movement nor sense any. The only light comes from the temple up on the hill.“I’m wishing I would have just stayed home at this point. Nothing about this journey has been what I expected. And from your reactions, it’s not normal either,” Finn mutters as we take slow, calculated steps through the town, peeking in windows that show they have abandoned this town some time ago.“The last one was weird. No men that anyone remembers? Now, this? This town, since it houses a temple, should above any others be thriving and teeming with life.”