Sunrise felt like it took an eternity to get here. But luckily, it’s almost time. All night, I thought about Raelynn, wondering if she was okay. I’ve never been through so much agony in my life.
We get to the lake, and my heart pounds with each torturing second I have to wait. Zayne and Sebastian stand with me while Bailey and Ryker wait by the lake’s edge. Then, finally, the sun rises, and the rays shine through the trees onto the water. Bailey and Ryker search around, and dread settles like a rock in my stomach when I don’t see anything magical appear.
“What the hell are we going to do now?” I hiss through gritted teeth.
Sebastian places a hand on my shoulder. “Give it a second. The herb will show up.”
Jerking around, I run my hands angrily through my hair. “All I want is to find Raelynn. She could be thousands of miles away from me right now.”
“We still have a few more days until the full moon.”
I huff. “It doesn’t mean Soren won’t force himself on her in the meantime.”
“I see it,” Bailey shouts.
Turning around, I watch as Bailey and Ryker pluck the herb from the ground. The plant shimmers like diamonds in the sun as it sticks up through the snow. I’ve never seen anything like it before. For a few minutes it’s visible, and then the next, it disappears.
Bailey and Ryker both have a handful of the herb, and they gently place it in a small, leather pouch. Bailey hurries over and nods toward the forest. “This should do it. Let’s go.”
While on the way back, Ryker and Bailey take the lead. “The others should be arriving soon,” Ryker explains. “Colin and Kami are ready. Faith and Tate got on the road last night, and Chase and Kara flew in this morning from California.”
As much as I’d love their help, I can’t put them at risk. “You’re all mated. If something were to happen to any of you, I would never forgive myself.”
Sebastian throws an arm over my shoulder. “This isn’t just your fight, brother. It affects us all.”
I meet his gaze. “What about Tyla? Do you really want to put her in danger?” Then I jerk my focus over to Zayne. “And Amelie? She’s pregnant. What if something happens to you? Those kids will lose their father.”
Zayne sighs. “Then so be it. Tyla and Amelie are sitting this out, but they understand that we have to fight.”
Sebastian agrees with a nod.
Ryker glances back at me. “Bailey’s sitting it out as well.”
Bailey stops in her tracks. “Like hell I am. We fought the Dark Luna’s wolves before. I can do it again.”
Ryker pins her with his stare. “No. I need you here.”
They stay locked in each other’s gazes, and I can only imagine what they’re saying through their bond. I wouldn’t let Raelynn fight if the situation were reversed. They have a son that needs to be taken care of, just like my brothers have their own children to think of. I never thought it’d come down to this—a war between the light and the dark. After a few minutes, Bailey gives a clipped nod when all the staring is done.
Knowing they’ve fought the black wolves before makes no sense in my mind. I was part of it all, but that portion of my life is missing. What made it so horrifically bad that the Great Luna wanted to take it all away from me?
When we get closer to Bailey and Ryker’s cabin, I sense everyone there, even Faith. I haven’t spoken to her since finding out our memories had been taken away. It makes me wonder if she’s had visions of black wolves and hadn’t told anyone about them. Once the trees thin out and Faith sees me, she runs and throws her arms around my neck.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” she says, hugging me tightly.
Across the way, I meet her mate’s gaze. Tate’s expression is neutral, but I can see the worry and concern in his eyes. “Neither do I,” I admit in all honesty. “What do you know?”
Faith lets me go and throws her arms in the air. “Apparently, we went through some major shit that messed us up.”
I step back so I can see her face. “I’ve been having visions.”
Her brows furrow. “Of what?”
“Black wolves … and you,” I add, averting my gaze. With my memories of that time gone, I don’t know if I failed her. I’ll never forgive myself if I did. “Do you remember anything?” I wonder, meeting her eyes again.
She saddens. “No. I don’t think I want to remember either. From what Bailey told me, it was bad. I’m putting my faith in the Great Luna and trusting that she had a reason for making us forget.”
“You better not be coming with us.”
“She’s not,” Tate calls out, finally joining us and shaking my hand. “But I am.”
“Thank you.”
Faith slaps my arm. “You both better come back safely.”
Tate pulls her into his arms and kisses the top of her head. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
They walk with me the rest of the way to the cabin, and I look around at everyone. I see my brothers, Bailey and Ryker, Colin and Kami, Tate and Faith, and finally, Chase and Kara. Chase and Kara walk over, and Chase blows out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry you’re going through this shit, Micah. Just know that we’re going with you, and we’re ready to fight.”
Glancing back and forth between them, I end up settling on Kara in the end. “You’re going, too?”
Chase guffaws. “Like I could keep her away.”
Kara gives me an evil grin. “You boys are babies compared to me. I’ve been fighting my entire life.”
“All right, everyone, listen up!” Bailey shouts.
We all focus on her while she circles around the group, placing the moon thyme leaves and its flowers in the hands of those of us heading into war. “If you eat the plant, it’ll heighten your senses. You’ll be able to sniff out the black wolves.” She places a twig of the moon thyme on my palm and continues around. “We know Rae was taken from that house in Wilson. You should be able to pick up their scent there.”
Faith links her arm with mine, squeezing me hard. “Please be careful.”
“I will,” I promise her. Then, to everyone else, I say, “Are you ready?”
Kami is the first one to pop the flower into her mouth. “Hell yeah. I’m ready to kill something.”
Shaking his head, Colin chuckles. “That’s my girl.” He eats the plant and starts toward his car. “Let’s go save our friends.”
Faith stares down at the moon thyme and watches me eat it with curious eyes. I swallow it down, and it has an earthy and slightly lemony flavor with a hint of mint. Within seconds, every sense in my body heightens.
“How does it feel?” Faith asks.
`Taking in a deep breath, I close my eyes. I can hear animals from miles and miles away and smell them as if they’re right next to me. “It’s pretty amazing,” I say, lifting my eyes to the sky. Now I’ll be able to find Raelynn and put an end to the black wolves for good.
A car pulls into the driveway, and Kami squeals. “It’s about damn time,” she hollers.
Faith lets my arm go and takes off toward the vehicle. “This is exactly what we need.”
I recognize the energy coming from the car. The person inside is not a wolf … but a witch. The door opens, and out steps Tia, waving at everyone. “Surely, you weren’t going into war without me?”
Faith and Kami barrel into her, saying how we could use her magic. They’re right. Tia’s magic is one of a kind. However, there was a time when she fought on the wrong side. When Faith was abducted by the Blue River pack alpha, Killian, Tia was his witch. Granted, she didn’t want to be there, but her family had a blood bond with Killian’s family. Tia had no choice but to serve him and do whatever he asked, even if it meant hurting innocents. Luckily, Killian allowed me to stay by Faith’s side as her protector. Tia was the one who came up with the idea to help us save Faith. She used her magic on Tate and me, glamouring us to look like the other. So, while Killian believed I was the one by Faith’s side, it was actually her true mate, Tate. Tia can use that same magic and glamour me to look like someone else. It could be my ticket to rescuing Raelynn.
Tia walks over to me and smiles. “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do. We got this.”
“Yes, we do. Let’s go find my mate.”
Everyone piles into their cars while Zayne and Sebastian ride with me. When we arrive in Wilson and drive past the house Raelynn was last at, it’s as if the scent of the black wolves sucker punches me in the gut. I can smell them. What I don’t like is that there are more than one … several more.
I’m coming for you, Raelynn.