Rayne’s POV
The cabin was a cozy two bedroom and my favorite part was the hot tub that sat on the back deck. Hopefully tomorrow we could get some use of it while we recover from tonight. Emma hooked up her Bluetooth speaker as we jammed and got ready. She also brought a bottle of rum and vodka and some soda to mix with it. Two hours passed in a flash of an eye as we were getting dressed to head out. Emma had curled my long blonde hair with a wand giving it a beach wave look and I did my eye makeup in natural shades because I hadn’t decided what I was going to wear yet. Emma on the other hand knew what she had planned for me to wear when she handed me a wrapped birthday present. Inside was a complete outfit perfect for the occasion. “Emma, you shouldn’t have.” I tell her as I hold the crop top up to my chest. “The birthday girl deserves a new outfit.” She says as I give her a hug thanking her. Half an hour later and we are walking into Rider’s. The bar was hopping due to the cover band playing and we were happy we got there early to get a table. We hadn’t eaten since breakfast and I was starving. When the waitress approached the table, we made eye contact, and I couldn’t believe it. “Becky!” I said as I got up from my chair giving each other a hug. “Rayne, I hardly recognized you girlfriend. How are you doing?” She asks me. “I’m doing great. I’m coming up on my last year of college.” I tell her as I sit back down. “What brings you back here?” She asks as she looks at my friend Emma. “It’s Rayne’s twenty first birthday and of course I wanted to see your cover band that’s playing.” Emma said to her. “Well happy birthday Rayne.” Becky said and then took our order. The bar continued to fill up as we ate our meal and I looked around at all the faces in the room remembering some and others looked new. I excused myself to go to the bathroom to of course brush my teeth because I just ate and yes, I’m that werido that carries a truth brush in my purse. After I freshened up I headed back out to our table and saw that Ethan had come like he said he would and he had already joined Emma at the table. “You made it.” I said as I sat back down in my seat. “Told you I would.” He said as his attention drew to the front door and I turned to see who he was looking at. No flipping way. Of all the places I could have gone tonight I let my best friend talk me into coming here, where my high school crush was, Reese Cooper. He had grown up a lot like Ethan had but I would know his face anywhere. Behind him as normal was two of his best friends Eric and Shawn from school. Reese’s eyes scanned the room and when they landed on me my heart skipped a beat and I felt like I was holding my breath. Shawn shook Reese by the neck and he broke eye contact and I felt myself finally able to breathe again. I down the drink I had in one long gulp and sat the glass down. “Can I get you another drink?” Ethan asks and I shake my head yes. “And a shot too.” I say because this is going to be a long night.Rayne’s POV Emma had excused herself to use the bathroom before the band began to play and Ethan was at the bar talking to Reese about something and I forgot that they had become friends the last year I was in school with them. I watch Ethan talking to Reese and had zoned out and didn’t realize someone had approached me. “Rayne.” I looked up to who was calling my name. “I knew that had to be you. Wow, do you look great!” “Derrick. Wow it’s been a while.” I say to him taking in how much he had grown and I started to wonder what they were putting in the water around here. “What bring you back here?” Derrick asks. “I’m here with a friend to watch the cover band.” I tell him and he smiled and said, “Me too.” Emma came back to the table at that moment and she introduced herself to Derrick and as they talked my eyes wandered back to the bar where Ethan and Reese were. Reese whose back was turned from me was now staring in my direction with a stern look on his face and I wondered
Rayne’s POV Turning my body around I noticed Emma and Ethan getting down together and I was wondering if love was in the air tonight. I continued to sway my hips but when I looked over my shoulder Reese was gone from his spot and my heart sank but I kept on dancing until I felt a set of hands on me. I didn’t have to turn around to see whose hands were on me. My body instantly began to shiver to his touch as his one hand rested on my exposed abdomen pulling me in closer to him. As I continued to sway my hips to the song Feel It, I leaned my body back into him just enough that I felt my back just barely touching him. I heard what sounded like a growl come from him and decided to lean my head back against his chest still swaying my hips getting lost in the abyss of ecstasy from his touch and the beat of the music. His other hand came around me and he placed it right above my breast as his hand gently wrapped around my neck. My neck rolled against his chest to the new sensation of his
Reese’s POV When I heard the noise I turned to see Shawn trying to hold back Kera. Of all the nights for her to start her shit it had to be tonight. Kera knew we weren’t a couple and that I would never take her as my Luna, but she continued to pursue me even after I told her we would never be. Rayne had walked away and went to her table where Ethan and her friend sat at giving me a chance to go check on the situation with Kera. When I made my way to the other side of the bar Shawn and Eric sat alone at our table. “Where the hell is she?” I asked them. “She left after I told her to go home.” Eric said as he picked up his beer and took another drink of it. “Are you sure?” I asked him again making sure Kera wasn’t going to cause anymore issues tonight. “Yes, I’m sure. I walked her outside myself. She shifted and took off into the woods. I’m sure she just needs a good run to blow off some steam.” Eric says and then Shawn says, “What’s the deal with you and Rayne? I had to take a
Reese’s POV It didn’t take long before we were pulling up to the packhouse and when the SUV came to a stop I jumped out and gently pulled Rayne’s body into my arms as I raced into the packhouse being greeted by the pack doctor and my father. “What’s going on?” My father asks as I passed him and started to climb the stairs to my bedroom carrying Rayne’s bloody body as the others were on my tail. Once I laid her on the bed, I stepped back to let the doctor look over her injuries. My clothes were covered in blood and so were my hands and arms as my father looked at me checking to make sure I wasn’t hurt. “What happened son?” He asked me once again. “And who is this girl?” “Rayne Summers. Kera attacked her outside of Rider’s bar.” I tell him. “Rayne is human she wouldn’t have been able to protect herself. Why would Kera attack her?” My father asks confused. “I don’t know why she does half the shit she does. All I know is she is obsessed with me and I am guessing me dancing with
Rayne’s POV My eyes fluttered open as I took in a deep breath. Was I alive or did the wolf kill me? I sat up quickly taking in my surroundings and realized I had no clue where I was. The room had a masculine look with the touch of a contemporary style to it. I was now beginning to wonder if I got so drunk last night that I went home with some stranger and dreamt the whole wolf attack when I looked down at my arm and there were no bite marks but it seemed so real. As I pulled the covers off my body, I assessed my apparel. Yep, definitely went home with some random guy, whose tee shirt was I wearing now. Pulling the shirt to my nose I inhaled and something within me stirred as I took in the scent of mint or was it spearmint. Either way what was this weird feeling inside of me? Putting my feet on the floor I stood up and that’s when the pain hit me. It felt like I was being ripped from the inside out. I screamed in pain not caring who heard me. The door busted open and Shawn stood i
Rayne’s POV “Rayne don’t listen to him. Get in the jeep.” Emma says to me as she grabs my hand pulling me towards the jeep. I look at Reese standing there stiff as a board with his jaw clenched and his hands in fists. He knew he couldn’t make me stay but he wanted to and at this moment I wanted to stay but Emma was pulling me to the jeep and I honestly had no clue what was going on and desperately needed to talk to her. So, I got into the jeep and we drove off towards the cabin that she had rented for us for the weekend on the outskirts of town. “Here.” Emma said passing me my friendship ring. “It must have slipped off your finger.” Sliding it back on my finger I looked at her, “What the hell just happened back there?” “I’ll explain everything when we get to the cabin and off their territory.” Emma said and I was confused. Who’s territory? What was Emma talking about? The rest of the drive to the cabin I looked out the window thinking about what just happened and how on God
Rayne’s POV My legs began to tire after I had run for what felt like hours but I knew it wasn’t that long. I was exhausted not only physically but mentally too. Nothing could have prepared me for what I had learned tonight about my parents or what my best friend had done to me. Emma had taken away a part of me without my consent and I couldn’t accept that she had done that to me. I felt betrayed by her and I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive her for this. Than I realized that I had been lied to my whole life. My parents and my grandmother have kept this secret from me too. There was nobody that I could trust and once again I felt alone in this world and I didn’t know where I even belonged. Emma had made it very clear that if I was a wolf that the town of Canyon Ridge wouldn’t accept me but what about Ridgewood? I was only half wolf. Reese did say I wasn’t leaving but then did he know that I was half witch? Would he still accept me knowing this? I needed time to think a
Reese’s POV After Rayne got in the jeep and left with Emma I was fuming. I couldn’t stop her from leaving on her own free will. I would never force her to stay here but I wasn’t happy about the fact that the one person she trusted the most has been lying to her for years. “Shawn, where are we with finding Kera?” I asked him as we made our way to my office. With Rayne not in my protection, I needed to find Kera before she has the chance to finish what she started. “Eric is still tracking her as we speak.” Shawn tells me and I’m wondering what is taking him so long to find her. “Well find out where he is so I can send some more men out to find her.” I order him and I can feel my wolf is aggravated that I let our mate go. Ethan was quiet as he followed me to my office. “What’s up with you and the witch?” “I don’t know. Something seems to pull me to her.” Ethan tells me as he rubs the back of his neck. “You don’t think she put a spell on me or anything, do you?” “She suppress
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