Raven Miller closed the main door after the last bar patron. The Moonshine Bar bustled with activity until now. She picked up the last chairs and stacked them on the tables. Later, Raven said goodnight to Jake, the owner, and went to catch the bus. Jake locked the door behind her. At the bus stop, the death march played from her pocket. The ringtone only played for one wolf. He never called with favorable news. Raven avoided seeing, Alpha Dominic Jones of the Humber Valley Pack. Three things set this alpha apart from the other alphas from Toronto. He’s a gambler, single, and he refused to search for his mate. No explanations, nor apologies. Alpha Jones was everything Raven didn’t want in a mate, and she didn’t aspire to be the Luna. She knew they were mates, which complicated things. Raven viewed her situation as an example of how twisted fate was. Call her crazy for avoiding the pain and humiliation of his public rejection.
“Paul, I need you.” Dom called his Beta. Paul sat in the lounge, engrossed in a televised sporting event. “Alpha?” Paul Grouse said. He entered the study. “You need something?” “I need several Enforcers organized for a hunt. We’ve a wolf on the run, Raven Miller. She’s not to leave my territory. I want her brought to me unharmed.” Dom pulled up the file he had on the Millers. “She’s the sister of that idiot Miller, right?” “That’s right. He was at the poker game. Liam took losses, and then he offered his sister for forgiveness of his debt to Klyne. He didn’t ask if he could. She’s mine! He showed no respect. When I reminded him, she belonged to me, and I said I wouldn’t give her away. He scoffed. I thought he dropped it. Instead, he waited until I stepped out.” “You’re kidding. I’ll get the Enforcers.” Paul went into action, but Dom stopped him. “I’m not finished. When I returned, he’d signed the contract agreeing t
“Raven? Come out, you’re not in trouble. We’ve directions to not hurt you. All we’re to do is secure you. Come have a coffee.” Raven’s jaw hung open at this. The voice belonged to the Pack’s Beta. WTF? Her world turned upside down with this. She was sure Paul Grouse didn’t know her. Why would he? She’s an unranked wolf. “I’m not crazy. So, I’m sorry, I won’t leave this room. Tell Alpha Jones you couldn’t find me.” “No can do. He’s coming here. We’ll guard the door while we have coffee. If you reconsider you can join us.” Raven closed her eyes and shook her head. Had she fallen into an alternate universe? The Pack didn’t treat her like this. He must think she’s stupid. She heard his heavy footsteps walk away. Defeated, Raven slid to the floor, unsure how to escape this fate. Her life was messy, and her future was uncertain. “Liam, what have you gotten me into?” ~ ~ ~ The ca
Raven stayed in the back of the vehicle until they reached the Pack’s compound. Alpha Jones ignored her the entire trip. She wasn’t anyone special, which is why she questioned his actions. He’d always ignored her. Alpha Jones never mentioned mates, and she’d never mentioned it. Yet he dragged her back to the compound. Why? The dare? That made no sense. She had a feeling it had to do with her threat to leave. Did he want to keep her near, but not as his mate? He’d have said something. She had no value to him. The vehicle parked before the Pack house. Raven hadn’t visited the Pack house in years. It hadn’t changed. The enforcers exited the vehicle, leaving her locked in the back. She expected nothing less. The enforcer who drove went to release her several minutes later, as he’d received orders to store the vehicle. That’s when chaos reined, Alpha Jones yelled at the enforcer. His eyes glowed in the predawn light with anger. He stormed to the vehicle, causi
Raven left Alpha Jones’s living quarters as fast as she could. Her feet hurt, and she felt tired after having worked all evening. The run home didn’t help her aching feet. Sensible shoes didn’t matter. Raven descended three flights of stairs. After that, she’d the impossible mission of finding something he wouldn’t throw back at her. The place was still abuzz when Raven arrived on the main floor. She tried to move toward the kitchen when someone blocked her way. “What is going on? Who are you?” A she-wolf got in Raven’s face and demanded of her. “I’m no one special and when you figure out what’s going on, please tell me. Because I’m confused, now if you’ll excuse me but the Alpha wants me to deliver him his breakfast.” “Oh no, that’s not something you’ll do. It’ll be my pleasure to do it. It’s not right that some no name bitch does it.” “If you want to go against his specific orders. That’s your decision I won’t stop you.” That stopped the she
Raven went up the stairs and approached the argument everyone listened to. When she reached the third floor, she found Hilary cowering in the corridor outside of Alpha Jones’ living quarters. “You find her and make her get her ass up here. She’s the one who should bring me my breakfast, not you. I don’t want to see you, Hilary. Can’t you understand that? You failed the first time out. I won’t waste my time with you again.” Raven stopped, surprised at hearing him berate another she-wolf like this. She thought he’d singled her out. “Alpha Jones, is there a problem?” “Yes. Where’ve you been? Why’d you send Hilary here with this slop? “Alpha, I didn’t. Your chosen mate insisted on bringing up something your refined tastes would enjoy.” Raven used her truth to put the wolf in its place. Her instincts told her the few words Alpha Jones said that Hilary manipulated the events to blame Raven for her gaff. She wouldn’t stand for that.
“What would being angry get me? Alpha, I’m tired. I haven’t slept yet. Nor have I eaten. My feet are killing me and I’m dragging. Sorry if I cannot summon the energy to curse you and those in higher power. You can assure yourself, in my head I am.” Dominic watched Raven’s back as she set down the tray and glanced out the window. The window framed the sunrise to perfection, and it framed her dark hair and slim curves. He had to swallow to ensure he didn’t drool. “What are you talking about? Why would your feet hurt? Why would you drag yourself?” Dom didn’t remember what she did for a living. He knew she refused to work for him. “When you called, I’d left work after working a twelve-hour shift at a bar waitressing. I’ve been ferrying drinks from the bar to half-drunk shifters before hauling empty glasses to the kitchen. Between patrons yelling orders at me or trying to get handsy with my butt, I tried to contact Liam because I suspected something wasn
Dominic ensured Raven’s participation despite her dislike of his dominance game. He fed every bite to her and wouldn’t allow her to leave his lap. Dom found his nose veering to her throat to catch her scent better. He needed her to change, as the beer and smoke smell diverted attention from her sweet scent. It also had to be in her hair. That thick black hair. Knowing he crossed the lines of civility, Dom still felt entitled to his pet. “Before we nap you will get rid of these clothes and shower. I can smell the bar and patrons on you. I don’t like it.” Raven nodded but did nothing about it. “Oh, no, I meant you would do something about it now, Raven. Strip now and take a shower.” “Here. In front of you?” “Yes, here and now.” He released her from his hold. Now he wanted to know why she felt such reluctance to remove her clothes. Shifting made nudity acceptable, unlike for humans. She stood up and moved to
Raven had gone to the meeting with Dominic and they’d discussed the situation along with as many of the complications as they could predict. Gregory had expressed his appreciation that they’d brought this idea to him before they had put anything into play. It meant he and the Council of Alphas could make plans to counteract any negative fallout.She had to admit she wasn’t sure if they’d be welcome to bring their Pack into the Dream Realm. Or if they would leave this realm entirely. It’s too early to know how they would proceed with this plan.The Dreamers had spread out and had begun to use their training. Stabilizing the timelines, dealing with the more aggressive shadow creatures, and learning about the abandoned things within their area. They had to record everything and the state it was in. With their contact with the mages it wasn’t difficult to reach out to other species who possessed magic. Much of the lost magical items were responding to one kind of magic or another.
“Brigid says she’ll be in touch soon with scheduling so we can have a rotation of sorts. That way we can have a consistent rebuilding going on inside the Dream Realm. So, how are we going to run this place around all that? I don’t even know what anyone thinks about all of this because no one’s dared to speak to me. It’s like they think I’ll unmake them or something.” Raven said to Dominic as she returned from the Dream Realm where she’d had a meeting with Brigid and the other Dreamers. Dominic had seen the changes in her and the Pack. He’d said nothing to anyone about his idea of taking the Pack into the Dream Realm and becoming part of the enforcement powers there. He could see their Pack as a foundation of a future power.He wanted to support Raven the best way possible and he didn’t think he could do it from here.“Raven, love. Everyone is in shock because nothing is how they thought it was. They’re trying to figure out where they and you now rest in the world. People have
“Dominic, don’t worry about it. I know you don’t have to explain to me. When you disconnect your call with me I received a message from someone that explained what was happening.” Lily said as soon as they returned and she made them sit down to eat a meal.“Then can you explain it to us?” Dominic practically begged Lily to explain what they had witnessed even though she hadn’t been there to witness So, he wouldn’t stop the stow for anything and allow her to explain what she’d pieced together through some of her very odd channels, not that any of this was straight forward.“Please tell me she isn’t doing the biggest mistake of all time.” Raven stepped in now and she was practically begging to know that they weren’t letting her do something foolish. It was something they’d all been questioning since Brigid first said she was going to investigate the situation and she didn’t want anyone else going with her, because she didn’t like the idea of the risk. She had Het’ Tur and she didn’
“Does this mean that the danger is over?” Raven asked Brigid as she looked over the woman’s shoulder to see the males in the golden armor.“My family is gone and they won’t be offering the Dream Realm to the Fae again as a travel hub. But there’s still other dangers that they and the Fae abandoned in my realm without my permission. Then there’s the instabilities within it created by their interference and war of Dreamers. Add in now I have the dimension version of surprise boarders complicating all of this.” Brigid glared at the male standing in the golden armor watching her explain this to them.He stood with his guards in eire silence. They hadn’t drawn a single weapon or removed a piece of armor including helmets.“You have got to be kidding. How exactly are they dead? Did he say how he killed them? I mean if he killed your father. How is he alive? Why was he in the prison and not on the throne?” Heather didn’t sound like she bought the story he’d given Brigid.Brigid blink
“What about my brothers? Or brother? What ideas do you have to deal with them?” Brigid didn’t blink, but her tone was her reminding him of the situation she faced rather then asking him for help with a solution.“When I got through with him. He knew I was your mate, but he couldn’t do anything about it and he’d not be the one to sit on your father’s throne.” Het’ Tur said. He was smiling and trying not to laugh. He’d been angry with the brothers. They’d been so focused with their plans and emotions. This was why her brother was going to kill her. She was alive to work for him, but when she escaped he acted like like she’d betrayed him. Or she’d tried to kill him. Het’ Tur knew Brigid had never done anything to betray or hurt any of her relatives.“Het’ Tur, how did he ever learn about where you were or that you were my Fated mate?” Brigid didn’t understand how her brothers would have discovered him among the masses. Or that he was connected to her. That’s what she was asking, but
“That? Is your reaction Lady Brigadetta?” Het’ Tur asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. Brigid winced at the name he used to her question before she looked at him in disbelief.“The woman no longer exists and you know that. She hasn’t existed for so long that I can’t tell you the last time I heard someone say her name. The noble house died ages ago and the few that didn’t have been fighting each other trying to finish the job of ending that noble house. I’ve been surviving in my own way doing my own thing until recently. But I will not answer to that name ever again.” Brigid stood up to him. She didn’t want to be that woman. Her past would stay there and she was determined of that.“Do you have a choice to do that? Really?” Het’ Tur asked in disbelief that she would believe she could believe change her life like this.“Welcome to the modern era and a new realm Het’ Tur. Here, I have the right to chose the way I lead my life. I choose how my life unfolds here.” Brigid s
Dominic didn’t know how to ask Brigid about Het’ Tur. If she didn’t know he was her mate. How would she react to his claim? She must help him get Raven back. First Dominic wanted to contact Lily. He wanted her thoughts on Het’ Tur. Did she know anything about him or what he was talking about? Could she tell if he was lying about anything? Any confirmation of facts he’d been giving out would be appreciated by him.Lily answered faster than he expected. “Lily, I don’t know where to start. Well, I do. Raven’s been kidnapped by a creature who says his name is Het’ Tur and is Brigid’s mate. He wants to exchange Raven for Brigid. Who is he? Do you know him? Do you know if he’s telling the truth?”“Oh, wow. I haven’t heard that name in a long time. A very long time. He was the Head of the Crystal Lord’s Guard. He disappeared when the Crystal Lord did. Mind you that time period is a historical mess. There’s a lot of deaths and missing persons. Missing treasures and all that. He’s ther
“We are stronger together than he can ever be. After all, the fool killed his mate and his offspring. He has nothing, but the fool believed that because he can’t die from old age that he’s all powerful.” Het’ Tur shrugged and acted like he found this entertaining as anything. “Wait, he’s immortal. But not eternal. Is that what you’re saying?” Dominic waved a hand momentarily distracted from his need for his mate by the discovery he’d learned. The big bad wasn’t as big and bad as he’d thought. “That is exactly what I have said. My mate understands this, but her brother appears to not understand it. I want to use it against him once and for all. He seems to use it easily enough against his relatives. I see no reason why I can’t use it against him before he uses it against my mate.” He seemed at ease with the knowledge that death was a lot easier and permanent than it was expected to be. Dominic wondered if he understood how permanent. Permanent was.
“I’m told, I have you to thank for doing what I couldn’t do.” The tall leader in his golden armor stood tall and straight and spoke to Dominic. His posture was stiff. One of his men held Raven’s unconscious body behind him as they lingered close to the portal. Another armor man held a squat brick colored statuette which Heather assumed was the anchor they searched for. “I’ve not said who I am and I’m not sure what I’ve done that you couldn’t do.” Dominic was off put by this creature. After all, it stood almost three times Dominic’s height, and he was fighting his instincts not to try to find it’s throat through the armored gorge. He wanted to get to his mate now. “There’s no need I can see it was you. But I still want her back.” The creature was certain in this as if he saw something only he could and that he felt made him superior to everyone else. “However, I don’t have that luxury.” Dominic crossed his arms struggling with his patienc