Chapter Four

Pearl

Navigating through Rylan’s mind was an experience. It wasn’t pleasant or terrible, just dark and full of foreboding. I couldn’t figure out why it was like this. Reuniting with me should have been a happy occurrence, but it didn’t feel like that.

The light behind me illuminated the space around us, and while the shadows roiled and shifted, I couldn’t make out distinct shapes.

Rylan didn’t look back or side to side, just straight ahead with his wolf keeping pace beside him. It was strange to see the two of them at the same time, but it also felt natural. Like this was how they always were.

I squeezed Rylan’s fingers, hoping to reassure him that I was all right. Something more was going on though.

Finally, we were standing in a dimly lit area that seemed well used, which was probably his regular headspace.

Rylan turned, eyes flicking to the light behind me before meeting my eyes. I wondered if he could feel the presence of another in it. Telling him would lead to more questions which would waste time that we didn’t have.

‘What now?’he asked, his wolf tilting his head like he was confused.

‘Return to yourself, then command me back.’

‘Command you?’His eyebrows scrunched adorably, like they always did when he didn’t understand.

‘You arethe alpha. Your command demands obedience.’

I expected him to argue or maybe question what I was talking about, but instead he took a breath and nodded.

He tried to drop my hand, but neither one of us could break the connection. His lips pulled down into a frown before he lowered his gaze to his wolf, its eyes sparkled like he knew something Rylan didn’t.

Pulling me closer, Rylan stretched my hand toward his wolf. As soon as my skin made contact with his wolf’s fur, he was able to release my hand.

I smiled at the wolf before looking up at my mate, and the arms I was dying to return to. His jaw was clenched, but I couldn’t make out what he was feeling. In the next second, he was gone, leaving me with his wolf, who seemed incredibly eager to be alone with me.

‘He blames himself,’the sock-footed wolf revealed, speaking into my mind.

‘How are we able to speak to each other?’I wondered, not that I didn’t want to get to know his wolf.

‘Pulling you through our mind also pulled the mate bond closer. Making it more solid.’’

‘So, the bond is in here?’

‘In here? Yes. Once outside, we won’t have this contact until the mating is complete.’

The reminder of the mating sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. I wasn’t a horn dog normally, but now that I’d had a taste of my mate, I couldn’t seem to get enough.

‘We feel the same.’

If I was in my body, I would be blushing scarlet, but here inside of Rylan’s mind, there was no embarrassment. Just understanding and acceptance.

“Pearl.” My name echoed in the space.

The words brought memories of me to the forefront of Rylan’s mind. They played around me like little projections. My face flashed in every direction, and for several moments, I got to see what I looked like through my mate’s eyes.

“Pearl!” This time, my name was called with more emotion.

I could feel his worry about me in that one word. Rylan had seemed emotionless guiding me through himself, but those emotions weren’t being suppressed any longer.

‘What does it mean?’I wondered, unaware that I had directed the question at Rylan’s wolf.

‘Coming back to himself to see his hand holding the blade that was lodged in your throat…’The wolf growled, like he couldn’t help himself. ‘It messed with both of us.’

‘You said he blames himself?’

‘Yes, but he won’t listen to me.’The wolf shrugged, and I had to suppress a laugh. He seemed to feel the way I did about his human half—exasperated.

“Pearl… please.”

Those softly spoken words hurt my heart. I sensed his regret, but what he didn’t know was that I didn’t blame him in the slightest. Seeing that I forgave him for his part in this, maybe he could forgive himself.

The desire to tell him, to make him see how much I needed him was just what needed to happen. Darkness closed around my vision. I was weightless, but with the Moon Spirit’s presence all around me, I knew that I was in good hands.

I settled into my body, feeling strange but also relieved that I was back where I belonged. I took stock of my body and found that I was whole again with no pain in my neck. Or anywhere, really.

My eyes opened, and Rylan’s face was the first thing I saw. Eyes the color of a summer storm, with a hint of green that was his wolf. I had a new appreciation for his irises. Ones that I could read a little better after being in his mind.

I smiled, my heart leaping to find myself returned to my body and here with him.

“I’m back,” I announced out loud. My wolf huffed in my head, but I could sense her relief.

I gave her a mental hug, promising that we would go for a run the first chance we got. She agreed then let me turn my attention to what was happening in the room.

Estella’s white wolf was whimpering. I thought that maybe she was in pain until I realized that it was just the wolf.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, sitting up and throwing myself off the couch.

Rylan grabbed me, but I shook him off, crawling until I was face to face with the white wolf. Her body trembled fiercely while her eyes rolled around in their sockets.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I said, trying to soothe her, but I knew she’d waited years for this. “Rylan, I promise I’ll explain later, but right now I need you to say her name. Like you did mine.”

I was facing the wolf, but I could feel the danger he posed at my back. My first instinct was to turn toward him, but I couldn’t look away from the distressed wolf in front of me.

“Estella,” Rylan said, his voice deeper than usual.

“With feeling, like you’re calling her,” I instructed, hoping that was what was needed in order for her to return.

“Estella,” Rylan called again, voice even deeper than it was before.

A flash entered my mind, reminding me of the light that I’d traveled through Rylan’s mind with.

“The light, Rylan. Picture the light.” The trembling in Estella’s wolf had steadily gotten worse, until she was vibrating under my hands. “Hurry!”

“Estella!” Rylan roared, his voice a command that rattled me to my very bones.

A light flashed, illuminating the space we were in, forcing my eyes to shut. As soon as it faded from behind my eyelids, I flicked them open, meeting the gaze of her wolf.

A body was curled on the floor at the wolf’s feet. I recognized the dark hair that mixed with the white wolf’s fur.

I sighed in relief, happy beyond words that this worked. Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at Rylan, who now stood closer with a confused look on his face.

“Thank you,” I whispered, grabbing his hand as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“What the hell just happened?” a male voice asked, drawing my attention.

“This is Deacon, my friend,” Rylan hurriedly introduced, tripping over the word friend, making me frown. “I’d also like to know what happened.”

I launched into an explanation of the Between, that I was sent there so my body could heal, and so I could meet someone. With the Moon Spirit’s help, we devised a plan to get us both back.

“It had to be the alpha,” I revealed, turning to Rylan and smiling. “Only the true alpha could call us back from the Between.”

“I didn’t know I could do that?” He looked shocked at the revelation.

“That doesn’t explain who she is,” Deacon pointed out, raising his hands in surrender when the white wolf growled at him.

“This wolf and the human are the same.” It was the simplest way to explain it, but I knew it wasn’t nearly enough. “This is Estella, and this is Estella.” I pointed to the girl then the wolf. “The same, just in different forms.”

“Why is she like that?” Rylan looked over both.

“I don’t know, but the human side has been stuck in the Between for years, separated from her wolf.”

“I’ve never heard of a shifter being split into two different forms.” Deacon was staring at them, curiosity clear in his eyes.

“Neither have I,” Rylan added, frowning as he tried to make sense of what I was saying and what he was seeing.

“The Moon Spirit wanted them reunited.”

“Are they stuck like this?” Rylan glanced at me, like I had all the answers.

“I don’t know. The Moon Spirit tasked me to return with her. Beyond that, I’m just as lost as you are.”

“Well, let’s take her somewhere more comfortable,” Deacon stepped toward the two versions of Estella while Rylan lifted me up and out of the way.

The white wolf growled; a low sound full of menace that spoke volumes to everyone in earshot.

“I just want to help,” Deacon assured her, gathering the human in his arms before standing and carrying her down a hallway, where I assumed the bedrooms were.

“Where are we?” I took in the unfamiliar room.

“Some place safe.” Rylan avoided my eyes.

“Rylan…”

I reached for him, but he backed away, looking at everything but me. I frowned. I thought he’d be happy to see me, but I was getting the cold shoulder.

What the fuck?

His wolf had warned me that he was in a mood, but the silent treatment wasn’t what I expected. Was he upset with me?

Without warning, emotions flooded through me, making my lungs seize as I fought the overwhelming feelings. I glanced down at my hands, hoping to distract myself from the wave building inside, but crimson drew my attention.

My once white dress was now stained red. I swallowed, staring at the dried blood that coated me from my neck to my feet.

The amount was staggering, and my knees weakened at the sight while my stomach twisted.

I was coated in my near death, and that realization sent me over edge. Before I could fully collapse, hands grabbed me and lifted me into strong arms. My head spun and darkness descended, closing me into an embrace that I was happy to escape into.