Christopher’s POV Our SUV and another SUV that the pack lent us was packed with my men and Eric as we headed off to Canyon Ridge. Sarah was doing much better this morning and was almost back to her old self after she had a healthy breakfast. She sat beside me in the backseat as I watched out the window as the mountainous terrain passed us by. Spring was definitely on its way as streams of water trickled off the mountain sides wetting the roads and the sound of the water splashing filled the SUV as the tires kicked it up. Rosella’s address was programmed into the navigation system of the SUV and as we approached the town of Canyon Ridge, I could feel the amount of power radiating from it. A warlock or a witch would never be able to sense this, but a person of demon blood would be beaconed to it. Which would explain why Joshua had so many demon blood men working for him. Joshua had to be feeding these men some kind of power he was harvesting to keep them under his command. As we c
Reese’s POV Last night Rayne told me she was still in some pain and asked me if it would be okay to wait one more day to start her training with Ethan and of course I agreed to let her wait one more day. I didn’t want to push Rayne’s body after the attack she had with Kera until she was ready. She then asked me if it would be okay if her and Emma went to the cabin to use the hot tub to soak her muscles and spend the day with her best friend. I thought this would be a good idea for the two of them to spend some time together after everything that they have been through. Today I had a lot on my plate to get the warriors ready for the attack we were planning on doing next week and I wouldn’t have much down time to spend with Rayne anyhow, so I was okay with them going to the cabin. The girls packed a bag to take with them for an overnight sleepover that they had planned and to tell the truth I wasn’t too thrilled with spending a whole night away from them, but I planned on looking in
Rayne’s POV “I’m not even going to ask you how or why you know this spell.” I said to Emma as we rode in the back of the SUV that Christopher and his men were taking to Canyon Ridge. “It’s the first spell all teen witches and warlocks learn to avoid their parents when sneaking out of the house.” Emma tells me, like it’s no big deal. The ride to Canyon Ridge wasn’t the most comfortable ride but it was going to have to do. Once we got there and everything was unloaded then it would be much easier to ride along with them if need be. Last night when I went to Emma begging her for the ring she refused to let me go alone and insisted she come with me. That’s when we put our plan in motion. I just hope that when Reese and Ethan find out that we have left they will forgive us. I figured that we had a day before Reese would find the note that I had left him hoping that gave us enough time to figure out where my mother was being held. When the SUV finally came to a stop and everyone got
Rayne’s POV How did Christopher know that I was here? Emma looked at me like what do we do. We both had the same idea to turn and run out the door but when we turned to make a run for it, Eric stood blocking the doorway. “Rayne, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I don’t think you are going to like the hard way.” Christopher now says to me and I wonder what the hard way would be but quickly remembered I was dealing with a man that hunted supernatural creatures for a living and opted not to find out. I looked at Emma and she knew as she started to chant and the invisible spell she had put on us fizzled away. Christopher stood and walked over to me standing only inches from me when he says, “Do you know how much trouble you two are in?” “I didn’t mean to burn it down.” I tell him thinking he was talking about the building I just lit on fire. “Wait. What did you burn down?” Christopher asks, and I realize he wasn’t talking about the fire, and I place my hand over my m
Rayne’s POV We cross the town line and I hear Emma take a deep breath knowing that we were out of Canyon Ridge. I hadn’t realized that being back here stressed her out until now and I wondered if she was putting on a strong face for me. Just when I was going to ask her if she was okay, Sal slammed on the brakes and Emma and I flew forward but thankfully we had our seat belts on. “What the hell, Sal!” Emily said out loud to him as she grabbed the back of her neck. Sal didn’t say a word but kept his eyes straight ahead and I unbuckled my seat belt and moved between the two front seats to see out the windshield to see what had caught Sal’s attention. Standing in the middle of the road was a huge black wolf and I recognized him right away. “Conner!” I yelled as I opened my door and jumped out of the SUV. “Rayne!” Sal yelled for me, but I didn’t listen and I stepped in front of the SUV. Conner’s wolf was hunched down in the front and its teeth were bared as saliva dripped from it
Christopher’s POV We parked our vehicles where Rayne and I previously had and split into two groups as we ascended the side of the mountain. When we got to where Rayne and I had been earlier today the pendant began to glow once again and I knew we were headed in the right direction. We came to the top of the ridge and we lowered ourselves to the ground when we saw lights from a cabin peaking through the trees. This had to be the cabin that Rayne spoke about that Conner had built. A group of my men took to the tree covering and circled around to come from the back. I waited patiently to give them enough time to get in place. I had no clue what we were about to encounter and we needed to be on our toes. From what Lucas said there should be two guards on Alexandra but that was before everything Joshua was doing was exposed and if I was him I would have heightened up the security on her. Movement came from inside the cabin as it shadowed the light from the window and I motioned to m
Rayne’s POV Reese held me tight in his arms like he was afraid if he let me go, I would run off again after I told him about Christopher and I finding my mother’s location. I had no intentions of going back to Canyon Ridge to help Christopher because he had promised to bring my mother back to me. Although after the amazing sex we just had, I may want to defy him now and then just to be punished again. There was a knock on the door followed by, “Alpha Reese you are needed in your office.” We both looked at the clock and wondered what was so important this late at night. Reese pulled his pants on while I too decided to get dressed because I worried what the urgency pertained to. We walked downstairs together as Sal waited at the bottom of the stairs for us. “Good you brought Rayne.” Sal said as he followed us to Reese’s office and I began to worry if something happened to Christopher and his men. “Is everything okay?” I ask Sal as we walk into Reese’s office. Sal looks at me a
Reese’s POV It took every ounce of energy Rayne had to tear down this wall and I was beginning to think it was taking too much from her each time she took one down. Ella too looked weak and Caleb had her in his arms. Hunter yelled for Eric to go and get one of the SUVs after seeing the sight of our mates’ condition. Rayne’s mother was now frantic that something was wrong with Rayne and Christopher was trying to assure her that Rayne would be okay and that it just takes a lot out of her and she needed time to replenish her energy. The SUV driven by Eric pulls up and we begin to load our mates in the vehicle when we hear something coming our way through the woods. We tell Sarah and Alexandra to get into the SUV and we tell Eric not to stop until they are back at Ridge Moon. Eric peels out in a hurry driving our mates and women to safety as we all gather waiting to see what is approaching us. Glowing red eyes began to emerge from the darkness and then they began to step out of th
Rayne’s POV “Rayne we are going to be late.” Reese yells for me as I add the finishing touches to my makeup. One year has passed since Reese brought me to the packhouse and so much has happened in that one year. But what matters the most in that one year is the relationships that were built and that I finally feel like I belong somewhere. Reese now steps into our bathroom and stands behind me and I lean back into his arms. “Baby you look beautiful. I don’t know why you are in here fussing with your makeup.” Reese says to me as he leans to my neck and places a kiss where his mark lays on my flesh. “It’s not everyday that my husband takes me out.” I teased him. “Well maybe he should take you out more often if you are going to dress like this.” He says as he places his hand on the bare flesh of my belly and then adds, “You know your heat should be coming soon and I thought maybe we might want to try for pup number two.” His hand started to move south of my belly and I elbowed hi
Rayne’s POV The sun was shining and the air smelled like fresh cut grass as I walked out of the backdoor of the packhouse onto the deck. I took a deep breath staring down the path between the chairs at my mate who looked stunning in his tuxedo. Everyone was standing and facing my way as I took a step forward towards the man of my dreams. There was no groom and bride side at our wedding because everyone here had become one big family. The seating was intermixed with wolves, warlocks, witches, hybrids, hell hounds and demons. Some had found love during the preparation of war and others had found an alliance. As I looked at them all sitting together, I realized that Joshua did quite the opposite of what he had set out to accomplish. Instead of conquering and dividing, it united us as friends and in some cases mates. Walking down the path I smiled at each and every one of them knowing that they were gathered here today to witness the love that Reese and I share and I was so grateful
Rayne’s POV Sal brought the SUV to a halt in front of the packhouse as he raced to the back seat to get Sarah. He gently picked her up and carried her inside where Reese was heading for the door. One of his men must have told him that we were coming in fast and worry plagued his face. He looked at me first and realized it was Sarah not me hurt this time. “What happened?” Reese said following Sal carrying her to the basement. “She needs to feed.” Is all Sal said as he walked her down the steps to the basement. The man behind the bars stood and looked our way when he saw Sal carrying Sarah’s limp body. “What happened to her?” The man asked behind the bars. “She needs to feed. Please help her.” Sal begged him. “Bring her to me.” The man said and Reese opened the door and Sal walked Sarah’s body into the cell and laid her on the small cot. The man lowered himself to her and placed his hands on each side of her face and then pressed his lips to hers. Sarah’s hand began to mov
Rayne’s POV My heart ached for Ethan seeing him in so much pain as Emma held onto to life by a thread. This wasn’t the way this was to end. We were all to grow old together, raising our children as friends. There had to be something that we could do to save her. When we got back to the packhouse I headed for the small library in hopes of finding something in one of the books to point me in the right direction to find someone to help Emma. I pulled a few books that looked promising from the shelves and took them over to the table and began to scan through them. Book after book I tossed aside finding nothing useful in them. The door opened and Sarah walked in but stopped when she saw me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone was in here.” She said and went to turn away. “Please don’t go. I could use someone to help me.” I said to her, knowing that she was an adamant reader. Sarah shut the door and walked over to me and asked, “What are you looking for?” “Something or anything th
Conner’s POV My mother and the Red Moon Covent lifted the spell off Canyon Ridge and the Covent members that had left returned to their homes along with the hybrids. None of my pack had perished during yesterday’s battle because the wolves did all they could to just wound them and not kill them. Hunter’s pack doctor looked over the wounded and bandaged them up and were sent to their homes to rest. I was so happy that my pack was going to be able to coexist with the Red Moon Covent and that we were all going to be able to reside in the same town. No one was going to be taken from their families and that was my number one concern. After a long conversation with my brother and Hunter about my mate, Eve, they decided it would be best for now to take her back with them to Crescent Moon pack so they could get her the help she needs. We weren’t sure if Joshua had her under a spell or if she had just been brainwashed by him but the one thing I knew was she needed to get help after she t
Rayne’s POV “Rayne.” I heard someone calling my name with the most angelic voice I have ever heard. When I open my eyes, I see a beautiful woman dressed in all white with long white hair and bluest eyes, I have ever seen. I thought I had died and went to heaven and she was an angel. Slowly I sit up and I look around at my surroundings and it has to be the most majestic place I have ever seen. A beautiful pond sits in front of me with flowers blooming everywhere and little fairies dance around the pond going from flower to flower. I look back at the woman and say, “Is this heaven?” A soft giggle comes from the woman before she says, “No my child this isn’t heaven. This is my realm where I live.” “I’m sorry but who are you? And why am I here?” I ask her confused. “My child I am the Moon Goddess. I am the creator of the wolves.” She says and I remember Reese telling me about her and Ella saying that her powers come from the Moon Goddess. “I don’t understand why I am here. Did
Rayne’s POV Reese had a SUV brought to the door for us while Christopher called his men and gave them a heads up that we were on our way and to keep an eye out for Joshua because he had escaped. I then began to worry if Christopher would go to the hospital to find my mother there, but I heard him tell them to double up on her protection detail. Reese pulled me into his arms and held me close to him and I knew he wasn’t happy that I was going with Christopher. Sal then appeared by my side and I knew that Reese had spoken to him because he said, “Are we ready to go?” Reese then placed a kiss on my lips and said, “Come back to me.” And those words hit me hard because they were the same words he had said to me the first time I went to Canyon Ridge after finding out I was a wolf and he was my mate. “I always do.” I said to him placing one last kiss on his lips before I pulled from his embrace and walked to the SUV where Sal now waited for me with the back door open for me to get in.
Rayne’s POV Slowly I made my way back through the tunnel and to the locker room. I had never been so happy in my life to see light and to breathe air that didn’t smell of rotten egg. The door was still open to the hallway and I proceeded with caution not knowing what was still going on. I know Joshua’s men had retreated to the building and I didn’t know if Conner had taken control or if they had overpowered him. As I walked through the hallways back to the large room, I heard a door shut coming from down the hall to my right. I stopped and listened to see if I could hear anyone talking or moving around but I heard nothing and I debated if I should go and check on it or just let it go. But then I wondered if it could be Joshua. We weren’t certain that he had taken the tunnels and for all we knew he could still be in the building. Of course, I couldn’t just keep walking, I had to check it out because I wanted nothing more than to get my hands on Joshua. As I walked down the hall t
Christopher’s POV “She isn’t your Luna. She is the Luna of the Ridge Moon pack who is here to take your army down.” I told Joshua. Joshua looked back towards Rayne amazed by her abilities. She was exactly what he was expecting his army of hybrids to be, but she was the only one strong enough to use both sides of her abilities. Not even his Alpha standing next to him possessed the strength that Rayne had and I know he knew that too. “Conner claim what is yours.” Joshua told Conner and that’s when Conner moved from his side and moved towards Rayne. I knew Conner would never hurt Rayne and I knew she was trying to lure him from Joshua side so when she took off running, I knew exactly what she was doing, and I wanted it this way. I wanted Joshua all to myself and Rayne was giving me this moment I have been dreaming of since I was imprisoned by him. Joshua’s attention went back to me once the Rayne and Conner’s wolves disappeared from our site and he says, “You are six years too