Page 11 of Bound By the Moon

“Of course, you two would be in cahoots. I rememberthe good old days, when you hated one another.” I rolled my eyes.“Now, I have to worry about practical jokes, and nonsense.”

“Hey,” he started, still chuckling at my expense.“I’m proud of you though, seriously. You stood your ground, and letthem have it.”

I took a good hard look at my mate then, and Ifinally realized what he’d been doing. I had been half mad at himfor playing along with their insanity of not including me, but Ifigured on some subconscious level he thought he was protecting metoo. That wasn’t the case. “You’ve been waiting for me to stand upfor myself for a while now, huh?”

“I may have been wondering what was taking you solong.” He smiled, and pulled me into a hug then. “You’re a strongwoman, Jess, and I promised you a while ago that I was not going tostand in your way. I meant that, and along with it, that meansmaking sure you can speak for yourself when something is botheringyou, because you’re right, wolves smell weakness quickly.”

I hugged Mikael back tighter then. “This is why youwere always perfect for me.” He leaned in and kissed the top of myhead before I managed to look back up into his sparkling green eyesthat so closely matched my own. “I need to go get Willow from thegirls. I think my dad wanted to run the possibility of using adecoy by you, so you might want to check in with him realquick.”

“Okay. Are you bringing Willow back here, or shouldI meet you guys at our house?”

My mom interrupted then, as she passed us to headback inside her house. “Can you bring her here, I wanted to makedinner for everyone. It’s been a while since we’ve all been able tosit down for a meal together.”

“Sure, I’ll be back shortly.”

~*~

When I got back to my parents’ house with Willow, itwasn’t to a warm family dinner and welcoming environment. Instead,everyone looked like someone had shot their favorite dog. “So,what’s going on with you guys? Why does everyone look so grave?” Iasked as I looked around my parent’s living room, taking in theseriousness that permeated the air. To my surprise, Gabriel-thehunter-was there as well. He stood immediately when he saw me enterthe room and didn’t bother attempting to sit back down even afterhe knew that I saw him. Avery half stood to welcome me into theroom too, but I waved them both off at that point. “Seriously,what’s up? I thought you went home?”

“Avery was just telling us that more girls have gonemissing from his pack.” My father informed me.

“Well,” Avery corrected, “the most recent was fromour pack. Tess called to tell me about it before I left. I figuredI’d stay here and fill you guys in on everything she told me. Theothers were strays we picked up from you when those harem girlswere brought over.”

“My eldest, Tessa, was convinced that our attacksmight just be copycats committed by a wolf. She actually suspectedthe one you sent to us, Nicholi. At least she did until she waswith him when the last girl went missing. It doesn’t seem as thoughhe’s involved at all.” Avery almost chuckled. “Truth be told, Ithink she only had him pegged as a suspect because she can’tunderstand why he gets under her skin the way he does.” My fatherclapped his hand on Avery’s back as he stood beside him.

“On that note, I’m going to grab some beers.” Myfather mentioned before walking off into the kitchen.

“I’ll take you up on one of hose, Jameson! Besides,you already owed me for my youngest daughter.”

I quirked up an eyebrow, and fought the laughterthat was bubbling up. Poor Avery was dealing with two daughters whowere of mating age all at once. It couldn’t be easy on him havingto let go. It wasn’t that long ago that I got to see firsthand howhe doted on them. “So, what do we know about the girls who havedisappeared?” I asked while we waited for my father to bring backthe beer.

“They’re all the same. Tall, dark hair, light eyes,and when we manage to find their bodies they are drained of blood.”Avery didn’t look pleased to be the one informing of the victimdescriptions.

“We already figured out that they are looking forsomeone that fits my description. You already heard about what welearned from Tamara. There are multiple dark ones responsible forthis. They have a specific destination, and they appear to belooking for me. Am I missing anything?”

“No, that’s about the gist.” He turned to his phonethen and started speaking. “What do you think is going on withthat, Serena?”

“They spoke of draining the girls on a specificsite?” There was a bit of static crackling through the phone lines,meaning Serena was probably on the country roads, still headed towherever her sister Gwyn lived.

“Yes, at least that’s what Tamara thinks sheoverheard.”

“And they’re looking for someone who fits yourdescription?” Serena directed her question to me this time.

“We think so. Although, when it comes to wolves, I’mobviously not alone in my features.” I shrugged as if she could seeme. “It could be someone else. We’re only speculating because ofwho I am.”

“As you should. It sounds to me that they are doingsome sort of blood ritual, and there’s only place near both of yourpacks that I can think of that they would need a blood ritual toenter.” Serena had everyone’s full attention now. “I’m going tohave to consult with my sister on this first, because I don’t knowthe exact location. If they’ve found it, we need to keep Jessicaand Willow safe at all costs.”

“Just what is it you think they’ve found?” My fatherasked Serena as he passed the last beer in his hand off to Gabriel.At that point, I wished I could have snagged one for myselftoo.

“The portal between this world and the next.”

“A spirit portal?” Avery sounded shocked.

“I thought they were all sealed up years ago?”Gabriel added his question.

“All but one was sealed completely. That is why Ineed to speak to my sister before we even worry about thatpossibility. She will know which one was left open, and what itmeans that someone may have found it.”

“I guess Gwyn will be doing double duty when youfinally get there then, huh?” I mentioned.

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