Page 19 of Luna Rising

Winter’s mother hesitated. “I don’t know for certain who she is.”

“That’s easy,” I interjected. “Look for the white wolf.”

It was a detail that just popped into my mind, though not from a dream. There was no accompanying memory; I simply knew it to be true. Just like my life with Hayden in London.

“All seven females are white wolves,” I said, barely recognizing my own voice. “Meant to represent purity.”

“That should make it easier,” Colleen agreed. “That leaves the Capricorn boy. Walter and I will handle him.” She grinned at Winter’s father. “He’s very persuasive, too.”

Mrs. Wynn cleared her throat and spoke up for the first time. “If my son can spare me for a few hours, I’ll join you. Their alpha and I knew each other as children. I might be able to help smooth the way.”

“Charlie will escort you,” Ewan said, a finality in his tone that didn’t invite argument.

“You got it, boss.” Charlie gave a two-finger salute.

“What about the lone wolf?” Winter asked. “Shouldn’t someone go to her?”

“She was difficult to track down,” Colleen assured her daughter. “We need to focus on the wolves in packs—they’re the ones in imminent danger.”

I frowned. “What about the fae?”

The room fell silent, and no one would look at me. I turned my glare on Ewan, but Walter spoke first.

“Those we’ve tracked down have gone missing.” A wry smile spread across his face. “Three guesses what happened to them...”

Late that afternoon, long after everyone departed, Ewan and I said goodbye to his mother and left for our new home. He seemed uncharacteristically nervous as we trooped through the snow. I tried to engage him in conversation several times, but he had no interest.

The only pack members we encountered were on four legs. They bowed low when we crossed paths, dipping their heads. Thanks to more of Essie’s tea and another large glass of Ewan’s blood mixed with tonic, my thirst never flared.

With our vampiric speed, the trek didn’t need to take nearly as long as it did. Ewan insisted that the more we acted mortal, the easier it was for the pack to accept us as their alpha couple, so we trudged along at a human pace. An hour after leaving his mother’s, we finally reached a two-story cabin on the opposite side of the canyon.

Ewan paused at the doorway and scooped me up into his arms so quickly that I yelped. “You thought I wouldn’t carry my bride across the threshold?”

He twisted the knob and pushed the door open with his hip. Candlelight cast soft shadows. A fire burned in the hearth. Someone had wound twinkle lights around the narrow spiral staircase to the second level and scattered rose petals throughout the floor.

“What do you think?” Ewan asked, voice thick and husky.

I wiggled out of his arms to stand on my own two feet.

The sunken living room had dark, plush furniture. From where I stood, the coffee table appeared to be a slice of geode. A stone hearth surrounded the flames burning in the fireplace. The wall behind it was glass and provided a stunning view of the town below.

“I know it’s not a palace.” Ewan studied my expression as I took in the cabin. “You can redecorate however you want.”

Turning to face him, I grabbed two handfuls of his flannel and drew him toward me. “I love it.” My mouth found his. “Let’s check out the bedroom. I’ll race you upstairs.”

He could’ve beat me, but Ewan let me win. The bed was enormous and set back in an alcove. When I flopped onto the mattress, it molded around my body.

“This is what I imagine sleeping on a cloud is like,” I said.

Ewan chuckled as he leaned over me and threaded his fingers with mine. “I’ll take you to heaven every night, so I guess it’s appropriate.”

“You talk a big game,” I teased.

He dipped his hips, reminding me just how large his game was. “You’ve never left my bed unsatisfied.”

Memories invaded my mind, a collage of all our times together in the first life and this one. I squeezed my eyes shut. Ewan’s fingers gripped mine tighter. His power washed over me, drowning the fragments of the past and sending the pieces into the abyss.

“They’ll stop when you have your entire memory back.” He ran his nose down my cheek, inhaling my scent.

---