1. Find Them

“Raven, Pentu, look at me… focus on me, what do you feel? You’re the Goddess of Death, you will always feel death and their souls when they move through the veil, focus, what do you feel?” Mummo grabs the sides of my face and makes me look into her dark eyes that show endless wisdom and time.

‘Raven get in there!’ Ruby screams in my head, trying to pull me into the fire to find our pups.

“I feel… I feel Jacoby’s death, I feel Thane is on the edge… I can’t feel anything else, Mummo they’re in there. Phoenix, Gunnar, and Roan are in there with Ares and Kitty,” I nearly scream, feeling so much panic coursing through me as I try to focus all my energy on the burning structure in front of me.

‘They can’t last forever! Raven, move, the fire won’t burn you, our pups need you!’ Ruby orders, trying to force me to move and walk straight into the fire.

“I have to get in there,” I cry while forcing myself from Mummo’s grip, not exactly sure what to do or how, but I need to find my pups.

‘I will protect us, just find our babies,’ Ruby begs while reaching out grabbing my hand, making me look down.

I feel her touching me, like energy encompassing me in a way I can only describe as a shield.

“Raven!” I hear Osric, Embry, and Jonathan all scream in horror as their fear overwhelms the bond when I step into the flames.

“Ares!” I scream, covering my eyes like I’m trying to block out sunlight, feeling the heat of the fire licking my skin without burning me.

‘Keep moving, your aura won’t let you burn,’ Ruby reassures while pointing in the direction of our den.

“Raven!” I hear my name called out behind me when I turn to see Liliana following me into the fire.

My eyes widen seeing the flames extinguish around her like her aura is smothering the fire surrounding her.

“Lily, Gunnar and Roan are in here… so are Phoenix, Ares, and Kitty,” I sob while looking around at the burning remains of my home Osric and Embry built for us.

“We will find them; I can feel they’re in here and alive. Remember what Mummo said, you would feel it otherwise,” Liliana grabs my hand, and begins to lead our way, cutting a path through the flames as I push heavy debris out of the way.

‘Hurry!’ Ruby cries frantically when I block the bond as it quickly becomes distracting from the overwhelming rage and fear coming from my mates.

“Ares, Kitty if you can hear us call out!” Liliana yells, slowly making her way towards where the den stairs should be.

“Mumma! Mumma Raben!” I hear Phoenix’s tiny voice coming from what I can only assume is the remains of the den door that has collapsed onto the stairs.

‘Raven, she can’t hold it much longer,’ Ruby whimpers while pacing through the flames over the top of where the stairs are.

“We’re coming! Phoenix, is everyone ok?!” I yell, whimpering at the thought of my children being in this and surviving somehow.

“Huwwy!” Phoenix cries out, making my heart race. I begin ripping everything out of the way, not caring about hurting myself.

The fire still doesn’t burn me, but grabbing the damaged wood does cut me and leave splinters in my hands.

Ruby recedes into me, helping me ignore the pain lending me more energy. I only care about making my way to this tiny voice that gives me hope my children have survived.

“We’re coming Phoenix!” Liliana calls out, helping me rip the largest piece of debris out of the way of the stairs revealing the den is virtually untouched.

“Mumma Raben, Aunty Lily!” Phoenix cries with has her arms out stretched. My heart stops when I look to see the walls of the den are glowing gold while her eyes glow fiery orange.

I look at the floor to see Ares trying to help Kitty who is unconscious with the twins laying bundled up at Phoenix’s feet.

“Phoenix, how?!” I gasp, realizing the glowing of the walls is her protecting them, keeping my pups alive when they shouldn’t be.

“She’s a witch, a very powerful one at that,” I hear a soft voice come from behind me, before Benjamin and Osric rush into the room.

I look to the stairs to see Helena’s eyes glowing gold as the heat of the fire fades when the flames begin to die.

“I had to sabe dem; I didn’t see till it was too late. I couldn’t let dem die, I couldn’t let her hurt my Gunnar,” Phoenix cries while running into my arms. I hold her so tight and shake my head feeling beyond grateful that this little girl found her way into our lives.

“I sowwy Mumma Raben, I sowwy I didn’t see… I didn’t see till too late,” she cries into my shoulder, as I watch Osric take Gunnar and Roan out of the den. I pick up Phoenix and hold her tight as Benjamin helps Ares.

“You have magic, Phoenix you’re so special and you never have to be sorry for not seeing the future. You saved your Gunnar, Roan, your Daddy, and Kitty. I can never thank you enough,” I barely recognize my voice as I carry her up the stairs to see the fire is completely out.

“You comed through da fire to find us, eben when you scawed,” Phoenix wipes my face and hugs me tighter, my heart squeezes in my chest when I hear her whimper the begin to cry.

“I will always come for you, just like Papa Benjamin and Daddy Ares, you’re my little girl too,” I confess, walking towards my mates I notice everyone standing in front of the house with looks of horror on their faces as they look at the destruction.

“You!” I hear a violent angry snarl and growl, as Phoenix’s chest vibrates against mine making me turn to see who she is looking at.

When I turn, I only see Valery and Michelle trying to calm a frantic Nikki down as he fusses over Kitty.

Phoenix growls louder, I flinch and drop her when her body heats up hotter than the fire.