Chapter 2 All Families Have One

I winced as I was manhandled. I couldn't burn through the fabric bag and that was concerning. My captor had traveled several miles and not all those were on the ground. I shivered from the chill in the air, having shifted back to my human self. I smelled pine meaning we were near the Ural mountains. We stopped and I was tossed against a hard rocky wall. I yelled out, "ouch," and the bag was ripped open. My eyes widened as I grabbed the torn bag and covered my nudity.

"Who the fuck are you and why do you look like my dad?!" I yelled out and the man with black shaggy hair and amber eyes looked at me oddly and spoke in Russian. He introduced himself as Zath Volkov and he was searching for his brother Zurac. I was nodding and smiling by the time he'd finished. I looked up and noticed that his eyes had a red shimmer like Noah and Ezra's. He was obviously part or entirely demon. My father had taught me his native tongue so I explained who I was and where my father was. His disposition immediately changed and his back muscles bulged out as his eyes turned red. I was grabbed and taken further into the darkness and placed in a cell with thick iron bars.

"It appears that the two brothers are not on good terms," Adira whines.

"Thanks captain obvious," I growled and shifted back to my wolf to stay warm. I was about to curl up to sleep when I heard howls fill the night air. I yelped and howled loudly, happy that the cave walls were amplifying the sound.

"закрывать!" Zath shouted for me to shut up. Too late, I thought, hearing the answering howls. They'd be here soon. I kept my eyes on the entrance and was surprised by seeing two sets of red eyes entering the cave. Ezra and Noah, it had to be. Plus I recognize their demon's scent. I shifted back to my normal self and told them to be careful. Zath Volkov cursed in Russian and grabbed me out of the cell. He shouted that he was going to tear me in half if they didn't turn and bring him Zurac's fiery hide.

"He's my dad's brother and wants his wolf's hide in exchange for me. Don't skin my dad and just rescue me please," I said softly and watched Noah grow two feet larger. Suddenly my father's wolf came storming inside the rugged cave and I was dropped from the demons' now-clawed hands. Noah rushed towards me and scooped me up into his gray arms. Zath sniffed the air around Noah and said clearly in English the simple word mate. It happened quickly I watched Noah's eyes as Zath's talons sweep off both of Noah's lower legs. I watched the pain flash in his red eyes then the extremities flying up into the air. Ezra cursed and waved his hand creating an opening.

"Take him to his great-great-grandfather, Raven," Ezra said gravely and I nodded as I grasped his chest and dove into the opening Ezra created. My naked back hit a warm shag carpet and I looked up to see a lovely woman with long black hair and startling green eyes. Noah was staring at my breasts and I turned him onto his back so he could see the woman.

"Honey, our Noah is in pieces once again and a lovely woman has brought him this time," she said cheerfully and smiled happily at me. I wasn't paying attention to the woman and watched Noah's eyes as they rolled back into his skull.

"Please hurry, he's bleeding out," I cried and watched a handsome man kneel down beside Noah and snap his fingers. The woman told me her name was Lilith and handed me a robe. I thanked her as I stood up and watched the gold blood, Noah had leaked all over me, dripping down onto the carpet.

"We've made a mess," I said softly and Lilith waved it off, literally and the mess on the floor and my person vanished. I stood there with my mouth open in shock.

"Wish I had that skill," I mumbled sourly and she chuckled.

"So you're Noah's great-great-grandmother and Ezra is your son, correct?" I asked curiously and she grinned and said,"Ezra is our great-great-grandson or something equivalent to that."

"Damn you look fabulous," I laughed and shook my head as I realized that the devil was very handsome. I watched him create the same intricate designed metal legs as he once did on Noah's hands and marveled at his beautiful workmanship. The man turned and grinned at me.

"You're his mate and have a demon wolf, Adira I believe. She is how you're able to come to my domain. I am Lucifer and it's a pleasure to meet my grandson's, future love. Don't get me wrong he loves you already but as a close acquaintance and not as a mate. Worry not for love overcomes all," he said with a charming smile and I giggled.

"Please help him relearn how to walk, dear. I'm afraid it's going to make him a complete asshole like his grandfather Mortas.

"As long as it doesn't cause him to commit mass murder like Mortas I think I can manage," I said sincerely and he looked pleased.

"Della is Zath's mate, you'll need to get them both together before you can start to get Noah," Lucifer said firmly and I grunted in annoyance.

"Go back and let Ezra know that Zath must be with Della before Noah can return and you're going to be his caretaker. Now go through that door there, it will take you straight to Ezra. You may take the robe for decorum. I'm certain we will meet again," he said sincerely and I thanked him as I headed through the door. I saw Ezra looking down at the ground so I followed his sight to see my father lying on the floor in a puddle of gold blood.

"What are you doing? Take him to hell," I screamed and heard my dad laughing at me.

"I'm fine daughter, only a small scratch. Ezra is upset because his son's girlfriend is currently getting plowed by my brother and the pair will certainly run off together," he mumbled sourly and I gasped saying that it was perfect. Both men eyed me oddly and I explained to Ezra what Lucifer had said. Ezra smiled and told us he'd be back in a moment and vanished. I looked around and saw that we were in our rec room at home.

"Did you meet the devil?" My father asked me and I nodded.

"Yeah and he seems alright. Noah got hurt badly and I've got to help him learn to walk again. I hope that I can help him," I muttered sadly. My dad ruffled my hair and told me I would do anything for Noah without complaining. I cock my brow and he shrugged.

"Did mom tell you that he's supposedly my mate?" I asked candidly. He nodded his head and told me that Noah had a good family. I agreed and jumped a bit as Ezra reappeared looking upset.

"Raven will need to help him heal. He's in a very bad place and has withdrawn into himself. I feel you're the only one he will speak with. Please help him, Raven," he said pleadingly. I glanced over at my dad and he nodded telling me that I should go.

"You'll be fine and your wolf will guide you. I entered through the passage and was about to open the black door when Lilith shook her head.

"I'm sorry dear but that Della is in there. She rushed inside and locked the door. We believe that they're both engaged physically," she mumbled sadly and my brow furrowed.

"Open it," I said firmly through my gritted teeth. Lucifer waved his hand unlocking it and I stormed inside. Rude? Perhaps, but I wasn't happy with miss humps a lot using Noah. I walked in and stopped seeing Della and Noah lip-locked. I rolled my eyes.

"Della, your mate Zath is looking for you," I said softly and both of them eyed me.

"Della nor I believe in the whole mate concept. We feel it's more important to experience all that there is in the now and not pretend that our other half is truly out there waiting for us. Isn't that right Della," Noah announced and I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"Well, your obvious new best friend was getting plowed by said mate not more than twenty minutes ago. So live in that moment, brain-dead fool,'' I sighed contentedly and he glanced over at Della and asked if that's what he was smelling. Gross, I thought and bit my lip when he told her to go. If anything Noah appreciated commitment. Della hesitated as she looked between Noah and me. I held my hands up in surrender and was told I was only relaying information.

"I just left Zath satisfied in his cave home when he told me what had happened to Noah. I raced here. I do care about him but he isn't my mate," she mumbled sadly and I felt bad for what I'd done to her by spilling the truth. Noah was lying on the bed and rubbing his eyes. He glanced over at Della and me and asked us both to leave him. I chewed on my bottom lip and stepped back as Della walked past me out the door. I was turning when Noah told me to wait. I stood there not moving.

"Why are you here in hell, Raven?" He asked me and I swallowed nervously, unsure of what to tell him.