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

“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

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.”

We’re only halfway through our journey when I had to shift out of my wolf because her anger and thirst for vengeance were too much. I needed a chance to think for myself and it’s easier to push aside her thoughts when in human form. But now the image of my claws slicing into Rafe replay like a highlight reel, not releasing me from its clutches. There was so much force behind that swipe that my stomach churns at the memory of it. I know he will heal, but my heart still breaks from any amount of pain I cause him.“Do you want to talk about it?” Finn asks, finally breaking the silence.“No, I don’t,” I say rather harshly, but I can’t find it in me to care right now. I can’t care about anyone else’s feelings when I have to find this damn stone and get my mate away from that prick.“I know this is hard on you-”“No, you don’t know Finn,

She said Rafe is home. What about Jasper, though? Why and how is he back? Is this a game Duncan is playing, sending Rafe back to spy or infiltrate from the inside somehow?Goddess, all of these questions and I have no answers.I pushed Finn and Lucy to the max yesterday and today, trying to get home. “Raven, we have to stop for the night,” Finn yells.I slow down looking over my shoulder to see him, and Lucy stopped, their chests heaving for air.“We were about a week’s journey from the pack. We won’t be able to get back running nonstop like you have us doing.”I hang my head. Dammit, he’s right. If I keep pushing them it could lead to worse things that would delay us further. I turn around and walk back toward them.“I’m pretty sure there’s a lake over that way, so we may be able to find shelter near there for the night,” I sa