“Raven, wake up. Wake up. I got the call. We must go we’ve a meeting to now.” Dominic said. He shook Raven awake with this urgent explanation. “Okay. Okay. I’m awake. What’s going on? What meeting?” Raven sat up in bed and clutched the sheets to herself. Paul stood there looking away from the bed. She realized he must have come in with the message for Dominic. “The Oracle is demanding to see you now and it seems you’re being called by name.” Dominic said. He explained the meeting and the twist no one expected. “What do you mean I’m being called by name? I thought you didn’t use my name.” Raven wasn’t all the way awake yet and couldn’t figure out how the Oracle had her name. The Oracle shouldn’t know her name or anything about her. “I didn’t tell Gregory that you were the Dreamer. But the Oracle’s did not name you as the Dreamer. But she is demanding to see you by name. So, we’re heading there now to see her.” Dominic sat besi
“Okay, I guess if I must. Lead the way.” Raven still sounded like she was beaten down. As if she believed she didn’t have a choice. Dominic stopped in the doorway and looked at her back as Raven approached the stairs. Paul stood two stairs down taking note of Dominic’s hesitation. “Raven, I’m not forcing you to go. If you don’t want to go. Or if you don’t feel you’re safe then we won’t go. I want to know what’s going on that’s all.” He could see her as she shifted on her feet. “It’s not about whether I want to. It’s about whether I’m the right wolf for the job.” “Do you know why you’re being summoned?” “No, but it won’t be for something minor. I don’t think my aunt understood the concept of what my mom and me can do. I think she used us as spies, but we’re much more than that. At least, that’s what I feel when I think about what she said. I wish she’d contacted me already. So, the only thing we can do is see how this plays out
Dominic thought hearing these two females say this to Raven was the most terrifying thing he’d ever heard. Because of whom said it and the connotations that reverberated from it and the spontaneity of the response. Luna Wolversen was known to be a little different about guessing things or having feelings about someone. She’s known for building plans around those feelings for good reason. Then there’s the Oracle. But the cherry on top for Dom was Gregory’s mutter beside him. “By all that’s sacred Goddess what did you mate me to? I love her, but she scares the living crap out of me. What are we getting ourselves into this time?” “I think what you just said will become my new motto.” Dominic had never heard a more accurate statement in his life, and he doubted he’d ever forget it. “It’s something I’ve been saying in one version or another since the day I’ve met her. I should have known I wasn’t walking into a simple human’s dream. But n
“Not what I had planned or by choice if I’m honest with you.” Raven said to Lily. But Luna Wolversen caught their attention by busting out laughing.“You joined the ranks then in a long line. I had wolves running for cover because this one got frisky in his study on the sofa. Did warn me about what he might do? The poor human widow he’d kidnapped along with her son. No, he didn’t. So, there I am yelling at one of the most feared wolf shifters on the continent afraid he might kill me because my dead husband warned me his brother was the type to kill people who got in the way of his family. Yes, it’s overrated Raven. Just whack him over the head with a rolled-up newspaper and tell him he’s been bad and get on with living.” “Rolled-up newspaper?”“Okay, I didn’t do the newspaper thing. That was his mother to his father. Believe me when I say the ones everyone fears are a mess. You should ask his mother about the state his father was in when she first met him. He’d fallen out of a
“Am I correct to believe what you just said, the protections that prevented us from entering the Dream Realm aren’t working so I could follow Raven in. Taking my physical form and objects with me? Leave the realm in a different location later. Like the dragons do.” Dominic asked the Oracle. He couldn’t believe what he heard. It boggled his mind not because he could enter the Dream Realm again, or that he could do it in his physical form. It’s the fact those creatures could cross over into this realm and harry them which bothered him more. The innocent was in danger. The Red River Pack was an example of how dangerous these things were. “Yes, Alpha Jones. That’s what I’m saying. Just like the dragon shifters do. Add in I suspect we’re on a timeline as well. After they have everything repaired, we don’t know what they will do with her. We do know these gods can be killed so it’s an option and a warning.” Lily said. She watched him and enjoyed the changes in his ex
“So, just wearing these makes it impossible for them to find me? No one will pull me into the Dream Realm. Or track me? Is that right? Are you sure?” Raven asked. She stared at the heavy necklace that now hung around her neck. It looked like a cheap piece of costume jewelry and nothing special at all. Tarnished silver. “Yes, that should work for now. On to finding out what’s going on with the others. If we can get the information we need. Then we can get this show on the road.” Lily went a computer and sent off an email. “Okay, now we must wait. I’m sorry but I’m not even sure where to send you in there and the place is vast.” “That makes sense. I’ve never wanted to wander around there. It’s scary as anything. Things get crazy and everyone is always telling me to stay away and how dangerous it is. So, I did. I tried.” Raven said. She gave a little shudder. The place had a cold gray almost dead feel to it. With landmarks from the past and present in
“Is there a way of tracking her? If the nightmares can hunt us. We’re wolves don’t tell me we’re useless at hunting.” “It’s not that Raven. It’s finding someone who knows how to do that who’s willing to risk going back in there. The complication to that is finding the person willing to keep silent about what we’re doing. Add in, will they be missed out here?” Lily hated saying this to her. But the truth was, they had eyes and ears of several factions waiting for an opportunity to do many things. Some of those opportunities were worse than others, but no one wanted any of them to happen. That’s why Lily hated being what and who she was. The fact she had to grow up the hardest way possible and learn lessons the worst way didn’t matter. She had to deal with her regrets in the dead of the night alone these days and pray no one paid the price if she screwed up again. Lily had seen snippets of Raven’s life and not by choice. The Goddess or som
“Are you sure you are okay with explaining this to the Pack over a video call? What about how the Pack feels? Won’t they feel like they are being dragged down or used? Shouldn’t they have some kind of choice in this?” Raven asked as they settled into a set of guest rooms at the Oracle’s Facility. “Pet, stop it. Packs aren’t a modern convention. Yes, I’m fine with telling them they have a mission over a video call. If they don’t appreciate it that’s their problem and maybe they need to find a new Pack. I’m sick of stepping around everyone worrying about how they feel and how they’ll react. We fucked up and now we’ve a chance to do something to repair our mistake. A Pack isn’t a democracy in a modern sense so it’s not like I’ll be voted out. It’s a lot more difficult than that too get rid of an Alpha, but we still must be careful. Honesty is important. But honesty and how the details are disclosed must be tempered. That’s where the limit is placed. Who learns wha
“Raven, I’ll say this right now. I’m looking to make a shift away from it and while some people will not like this I don’t care. But I won’t tell them why because I don’t want to put you in danger. If one of my enemies or rivals decides to use, you against me or use your abilities they may try to kidnap you. So, we’ll say nothing to anyone outside of our Pack and we’ll speak with those within the Pack that must know.” Dominic said. He tried to assure Raven about her safety and his sincerity. “Dominic we can’t tell anyone about what I can do. For one thing, no one would believe it. For another, you’re right they might try to use it. I never thought they might try to use me against you by kidnapping me.” Raven felt stunned at the thought that she was agreeing with him and accepting her. “So, what do we do now? You say I’m the important one, but I don’t feel like it, and I don’t know how to proceed. Or do I say, how we proceed with this.” Raven looked to Dominic a
“We couldn’t help Tom?” Kelly asked. She’d missed their arrival and Tom being bundled off to the healing center. “No, we couldn’t. Those arrows hit him when he was in this realm. We couldn’t do anything about the poison. Even in the Dream Realm the poison would kill him, and his mate must be a Dreamer to bring him back. Everything and everyone have limits no matter how powerful they are. Well, that’s what I’ve had to come to terms with.” Raven watched Brigid’s haunted face as she said this. The other dreamers were there with them now and they’d been discussing their abilities and learning about what they could do. Their situation within the Dream Realm and how much danger they were in. What dangers came from the realm and what came from the Fae. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m exhausted. There’s just too much to take in. I need time to take this all in.” Raven wanted to spend time with Dominic. She had so many questions for him. How had he
Their arrival didn’t go unnoticed for long. Which they were all thankful for. Brigid, though, was in a panic. She could do nothing in this realm to help save Tom. The arrows were poisoned. At the first mention of poison, the trickle of people became a flurry. Lily got word out to the closest healing center to expect him and arranged a mage portal to get him sent right there. In moments Tom and Luke were gone with two other wolves from their Pack. Raven watched as people moved about all weary of Brigid. They were unsure how to respond or interact with her. Did they worship her? Treat her as a ruler? Approach her as a friend or an enemy? What did they do? How did someone interact with a being they thought of as a god for thousands of years? Especially, when they’re standing directly in front of them looking rather bedraggled and lost. “Reality is never what the stories tell us. I wish it was. A goddess in one realm is a nobody in another realm. What c
Dominic’s mind was still scattered, but he could move, and he did. He knew who he was and who Raven was. What was different was more than he had time to think about as they made their way back to where they needed to go. They had found their objective, and he had to push his mate to get them out of there. The enemy was in there and they now swarmed over the land searching for the small female with them. If they found her, then they’d find Raven. Both were creatures who could twist the very air of this realm into whatever they wanted. Goddess, he’d been killed hours ago. He remembered the searing pain as the Fae tore into him with a magical wild-fire spell. Dominic remembered his body being torn apart and burned piece by piece. These sick creatures created a spell that could keep their victims alive until the last piece of them was consumed. Yet, the Fae creature hadn’t realized his mate was a Dreamer and there. Brigid walked Raven through recreating
“I still don’t know if I can do this.” Raven listened to Brigid’s words and instructions about how she was supposed to build a new body for Dominic. She claimed he’d be the same as he was before. If that’s what she wanted. Oh yes, she’d hinted at the fact that Raven could tweak things if something needed changing. But she’d warned her that it couldn’t be too big of a change. Raven didn’t know what Brigid meant by that. But she was still having problems believing she could do this. How could this be something she’d be able to do? If she didn’t Dominic would stay dead. If she didn’t try, he’d be dead when they returned to their reality. If she tried and failed, at least she could say she tried. If she succeeded, she’d have Dominic back. What did she have to lose? Other than hope. “You won’t know if you can do anything the first time you try to do anything until after you’ve tried to do it.” Brigid said. She was being humorous and smiled at her in a mo
Raven didn’t know how long or where she was. But she knew something was wrong long before her mind was fully functional. When she realized that she couldn’t find Dominic that Raven knew something was wrong. When Luke noticed Raven was awake, everyone moved to her side. “Hey, hey, Luna Jones, are you back with us? Okay, take it easy. Breathe. Breathe. Calm yourself. You’re okay. It’s not what you think. We need to talk, but we can’t if you get upset again.” “Where’s my mate? Where’s Dominic?” Raven sat up from where she lay on the ground in a strange place. “Where am I?” At least she recognized Luke and Tom, but she didn’t recognize the female. “Please Luna Jones, stay calm and relax. We need to explain this to you. There’s a limited time to change the outcome and we can’t stay here long. Please listen to this. It’s unbelievable but it’s a miracle. Just listen to her.” Tom begged Raven. She didn’t know what Tom was speaking about, but sh
Raven didn’t know what happened to Dominic or how to get him back. He and the guard he’d attacked were fighting in the cage on top of the column. “How do we get Dominic down from there?” There was no way she would leave without her mate. Tom and Luke turned on her. “Luna Jones, we understand our orders and your feelings. There’s nothing we can do. You and the lady here are our priority to get out of here.” “I’m going back in there to get him back. Our Pack needs him.” Raven found Tom holding her back with the help of the female. “No, you can’t. Only a living person can switch places with him. Also, the Keeper will return at any minute. He won’t let the guard, or your friend live long.” The soft voice of the female had Raven’s reacting violently to this. “We can’t leave him behind.” As we spoke in hushed tones the creature Raven assumed the female called the Keeper returned. Raven panicked and she had to get to Dominic now. So
One cage was left up on a high column with a lone occupant. Raven gasped when she saw the being move. “They’re alive up there Dominic. She’s up there. That’s her. I know it. I don’t know how, but they won’t let us use our abilities here. So, she can’t rescue herself. They’re practically tapping her of everything she has because they’ve used up or killed all the others.” “These were the others I assume.” “Yes, I think so. At least, most of them.” “Looks like someone was angry. How are we going to reach her? They shattered all the other columns.” Tom asked. He tried to work out a way to get to her, but like everyone there it was one of those monumental tasks. “We don’t have climbing equipment, and the column is solid stone. I don’t see any cracks or veins. It would take days or weeks to work our way up making footholds if we had the gear. That’s if anyone knew how to use it. I’ve only gone to a rock-climbing gym a few times.” “
Raven stepped away from the others without a word. The males debated what they found lying on the ground, but they found nothing long or strong enough to work as the tools they needed. Luke went through his pack searching for anything. “Need out strips want. Function and form are one. Take from the scrap and bring it value, beauty, use, and form.” Raven said half to herself. She muttered under her breath as she stared at her hands as if the debris in her hands was an object to study. Her hands moved over it. Pressing, pushing, and pulling at it as she tweaked the object. The object glowed with a faint light that pulsed with each movement of her hands. “This should work to pop the hinges out.” Raven returned to Dominic’s side, and in her hands lay a thick rod and a heavy mallet. She offered them to Tom who hesitated to take them. “Uh, thanks.” When he did take them, his features changed to show a look of surprise. He felt the weight of the mallet and