Reese’s POV Walking Rayne around the packhouse I realized why it might take time to convince her to be my mate. Rayne wasn’t brought up as a wolf she was raised in a normal human like home. Even though Emma had said she is part witch Rayne was never exposed to even that side of her. I could feel the wolf growing stronger inside her especially when we made love last night and today when I took her on my desk. Her walls are starting to crumble that she had put up after she found out her best friend betrayed her and I wanted to be the one responsible for her shedding them. What Emma had down to Rayne was betrayal of the highest and I don’t think Rayne will ever forgive her for that but we did need to talk about that and about her coming here to live with me. So, I took her next for a walk outside to show her the grounds so we could have some privacy so we could talk about the important decisions that need to be made sooner than later. The snow crunched under our feet as we walked
Rayne’s POV If Reese kept assaulting my neck like that, I was going to give him whatever he wanted. “Fine I will stay here and we can figure out how I can see my grandmother.” I say giving in to him. I was glad Reese took me on the tour of the packhouse and the grounds. He introduced me to so many members and I found that a ton of them I already knew from school. It was crazy how I had lived so many years of my life surround by wolves but never knew they existed or that my own father was one. Talking with Reese today also took away a lot of my stress I had on what I was going to decide for my future. Thankfully tomorrow Reese was going to help me get transferred to the local college here in Ridgewood. I’d also need to call tomorrow and let the diner know I won’t be returning for work. That evening after dinner I excused myself and went to lay down. The night before had taken a toll on me and Reese was understanding as he walked me to our room. He kissed my forehead before he le
Rayne’s POV As Reese held me tight in his arms, I began to second guess if Emma as telling me the truth about my grandmother. Maybe I should have called the hospital and verified she was truly there, but why would she lie to me about my grandmother. “I’m going to miss you.” I tell Reese looking up into his beautiful green eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to hold you for as long as I can before she gets here.” Reese says and I know this is really hard on him not being able to accompany me. So instead of talking I pulled him down to me and kissed him hard. I wanted to remember what I had waiting for me back in Ridgewood. Headlights beamed on us, and I turned to see Emma’s jeep pull in. Emma jumped out and walked over to us. “Thanks for meeting me halfway.” She said to Reese as he had a possessive arm wrapped around me. “You better return her when she is ready to come home.” Reese tells Emma and I can see them in a stare off. “You have my word that I will retu
Rayne’s POV Warm masculine arms were wrapped around me when I finally woke up. Conner had done what I asked he had stayed with me. It had been over a year since I had seen him last he had left for a big-time job he got in California. Conner and I have had our share of fun together but we never went past second base. He always said he didn’t want to hurt me being his sister’s best friend and that he knew he wasn’t going to stick around here. Conner must have felt me staring at him because he pulled me in closer to him. “Emma is going to kill me when she finds out I’m sleeping in her bed.” I giggled because he probably was right. “You think it’s funny?” He asks and he begins to tickle me as he rolls on top of me and then he stops and looks into my eyes. “I’ve missed you Rayne.” “I’ve missed you too.” I tell him as I bite down on my bottom lip. Conner takes that as his opportunity to lean down and kiss me. The kiss started out soft but quickly turned into more as I moved my hand
Rayne’s POV It was a Monday night and the Diner wasn’t as busy as Friday was. We had a few of our regulars and some people passing through because of their holiday traveling. The last five hours felt like forever and I was happy that everyone was starting to clear out so I could clean up to go home. Down to one table I walked over to ask them if they were ready for their check. The guy sitting at the table looked up at me and said, “You look familiar sweetie what is your name?” “Rayne.” I told him as I put the check on the table. “Where you originally from?” he now asks. “Ridgewood. It’s about forty-five-minute drive from here.” I tell him with a smile on my face trying to get a good tip because I needed all the extra cash, I could get today with it being slower. “I have a friend from Ridgewood. Do you know Reese Cooper?” The man asks and something hits me hard when I think of Reese. My heart starts to flutter and my breathing became hitched. I began to get lightheaded and
Rayne’s POV “For me?” I asked him confused because when he left a year ago, he didn’t even say goodbye. “I messed up Rayne. I left town to get away from my parents and everything. If I only could tell you everything it would make stuff so much easier, but I can’t tell you my family affairs. But I know now that I should have taken you with me Rayne. I shouldn’t have left you here with them.” Conner said and I wondered what he was talking about. His family has been so good to me and I am thankful for everything they do for me. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about Conner. Your family has been good to me.” I tell him confused. Conner moves toward me, so we are standing only a foot apart now. “Rayne my family isn’t what they seem to be. I left town because they didn’t want me to see you anymore. So, I left thinking I could get you out of my head and you never drifted away from my thoughts. I dreamt about you every night and everything reminded me of you. Rayne I’m in love w
Rayne’s POV Everything came crashing back to me that happened over the weekend as the ring laid in a pile of ashes on the sheets. My heart began to race as my wolf side push forward but then I felt a surge of magical power fighting my wolf inside of me. It was as if they were at war with each other inside of me fighting for dominance. “Rayne, are you okay?” Conner asks as I look at him feeling like I’m about ready to short circuit and he reached out and grabbed my hand and my body began to calm to his touch. “Rayne what is it?” My breathing began to regulate, and I was finally able to speak. “The ring, your mother put a spell on it and your sister gave it to me to wear knowing damn well what it was going to do to me. Conner, I think you awoke my witch side with us being together and somehow broke the spell.” Connor looked at me in disbelief. “You know you’re a witch?” ‘Without that damn ring I know I am half witch and half wolf.” I tell him and I could see the relief in his e
Conner’s POV It wasn’t hard to believe that my mother had done this to Rayne. I wanted my family to all burn in hell after I heard that they suppressed her powers. My mother told me to stay away from her because they didn’t know if she would ever get her powers and if she did they were worried she wouldn’t be able to control them. And to think this whole time she was controlling Rayne made me sick. The person that shocked me the most was my sister. How could she ever do this to her best friend? My mother had to have said something to her to convince her to betray Rayne like this and I was determined to find out why. Sitting on the bed in the bedroom I am waiting for Rayne to get ready with a small jewelry box in my hand I was planning on giving her last night but after what had happened, I questioned giving it to her. I wondered if she would think I was like my family and would take off at first sight of it? Rayne must had entered the room without me hearing her. She came over
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