LOGIN“Thanks, Sam,” I said, and hung up the phone. I looked at Bear. “It’s not good.”
Our mates left after lunch to do a communal soul walk at Elara’s. Sam had just given me an overview of their journey.
“Luna told them the bad times are coming again,” I said grimly.
Bear swore under his breath.
“They’ll fill us in when they get here, but
I slammed my keys down on the small table near the door and shuffled my way to the small couch.I was back to being a damned invalid. I couldn’t keep my thoughts away from bringing Vanessa and Selwyn down. The nosebleeds started again, the spasms were debilitating, and the nightmares kept me from any kind of sleep the past two nights.Bina was nowhere to be found. Not that I knew where to look. Even though I paid for the rooms, the front desk couldn’t, or wouldn’t, confirm anything beyond the fact that she’d turned in her key.I drove around, trying to catch her scent, but that came up with nothing. I couldn’t trace her beyond the front desk.Now what was I going to do?I could go back to Silverpine and face the music, but I’d probably end up dead, like Bina said. I
I knew Maw and Bear were scheduled to leave, but I didn’t realize the huge gap I’d feel once they left.It wasn’t a joyous departure, not with Luna’s ominous warning hanging over all our heads. Elara texted to let me know she was coming over within a few minutes. I told her if she came this early, she’d have to come downstairs and work out with me.Surprisingly, she agreed. I pedaled the stationary bike and waited for my no-longer-mine mentor to arrive.Doc Payten left a short while ago and gave me explicit instructions to do this human-type exercising for the last part of my pregnancy. Without my superhuman wolf physiology kicking in, he didn’t want to take any chances with my physical health.Gabriel, of course, was thrilled that someone would be using this equipment. Of course, he said that as h
Bear and I sat for a few minutes absorbing the impact of Luna’s warning. I could see the exhaustion in his face.“I’m not sure I can make it through another one of these, Gabriel,” he admitted.“You’re not going to be alone this time,” I reminded him, but it sounded hollow even as I said it.“In the end, we’re always alone,” he said with sadness. “When you’re the hunted, you don’t know who to trust. Everyone can turn on a dime to save themselves.”I wanted to refute his claim, but I had no foundation in which to do so. I didn’t want to believe that wolves would do that to each other, but on some level, he was right. If it meant you could live or your child spared, you’d give up your neighbor in a heartbeat.
Bina and I never had that conversation. She tried to broach the subject twice, but each time, I subverted it into anything but. I know she was pissed off about it, but I didn’t quite know how to tell her that there were no feelings behind the attraction.There was a time when that wouldn’t have bothered or stopped me from getting what I wanted. I’m not sure why it was stopping me now, but it was.I could hear Bina slamming things on her side of the wall between our rooms. With my heightened senses, I could also hear all the unflattering words she was using to describe me.We hadn’t even talked about the hit she had when scrying for her father.On top of all that, Auron would not settle down. Just in the last hour, he started pacing. I still couldn’t hear him, but I could sense his snarling and nipping.
“Thanks, Sam,” I said, and hung up the phone. I looked at Bear. “It’s not good.”Our mates left after lunch to do a communal soul walk at Elara’s. Sam had just given me an overview of their journey.“Luna told them the bad times are coming again,” I said grimly.Bear swore under his breath.“They’ll fill us in when they get here, but Sam said they’ve been through an emotional ringer.”“No doubt,” Bear grumbled. “Four hundred years is too soon to deal with another one of these, Gabriel. You have no idea.”“Unfortunately, I don’t think we have a choice.”We heard the women approaching the front door before it opened. Both of us ran toward the entrance to greet our mates.Soree and Maw came through
“Luna, what do you mean?” I blurted, looking up at her from my knees. “I’m sorry, I meant no disrespect.”She smiled down at me. “I know, Soraya.”I looked down, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I go by Soree now.”“You must return to your origins,” she instructed.“But it’s not safe,” I reasoned.“Embrace your origins, and the path will become clear,” she pushed.I stood up, now more thoroughly confused. “Luna, can you just tell me?”She looked off to her left, and a wooden bench suddenly appeared. “Let’s sit.”The air shimmered in front of me, and Maw and Elara stood in their human forms.“Goddess,” they said in unison, bowing.“E
I downed the contents of my glass, and moved toward the door. Sam fell in step behind me, and together we entered the cabin.The first thing that hit me was the smell. I’m not sure what Soraya did to the food, but nothing I cooked ever smelled this amazing.The smell of apples and c
I couldn’t stop moving. If I stopped, I’d hurt something, someone, or me. I’d already cleared a path from the house to the shed from pacing.I downed another shot of bourbon-mead. Enough to take the edge off without actually getting a buzz.I walked up to the side of the porch, as t
It was almost dawn before I saw the cabin off in the distance. Hours of trekking as human, and time resting as a wolf so I could defrost and transfer some of that heat to the woman were a definite necessity.I hated to take the extra time, but I think if we hadn’t, neither one of us would
I opened my eyes, feeling refreshed. I sat up and stretched, taking in the beautiful meadow around me.Birds sang and butterflies flitted in the early morning sunshine.Somewhere in the distance, I heard the rush of water. I realized how thirsty I was, so I got up and ran toward it.







