Come for Me 2 (The Hunt #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Alaina

I t’s as though I’m floating in the darkness momentarily before I’m met by light. My eyes adjust instantaneously and without difficulty or a need to wince. My limbs that I was struggling to move before are now just as weightless as me. No marks, no blood, and no pain. I know where I am.

The Moon Goddess had called me home. But this home wasn’t what I was expecting.

Both the moon and the sun coexist here among the stars and fluffy clouds, making a forever dusk struck with a midnight sun. Fireflies twinkle among the massive trees. Deer graze among the forest floor, owls unseen howl throughout the forest in harmony with the chirping of crickets. The sound of children laughing and quickly approaching from behind me catch my attention. They’re playfully being chased by a wolf, weaving in and out through the trees. So free and full of bliss, they keep checking behind them to see if the wolf is catching up to them. They breeze passes me, not noticing I was there.

The wolf takes her time, letting the children think they’re outrunning her. She slows to a stop when she sees me. Her eyes are white instead of the gold of a living wolf. I don’t recognize her, but I feel peace and welcome when she stares at me. It’s her sharing her aura with me. She wants me to know that things will be okay.

I nod and give her my best smile.

She resumes her chase into the depths of the forest.

My new home is no different from Bloodhound pack. It even smells like it. I wiggle my bare toes in the dirt and the ground feels the same. The trees’ placement—if I navigated it correctly—would help me find the Hunter’s Quarters and Jemma’s cabin. But I need to find a way to get back to Dax before he burns the entire world.

In my search for my mate, I wander without direction, taking in my surroundings. My hands graze the trees as I pass them. Walking backward, I lean back far enough to see the top of it. They are endless in their height.

Maybe I could see a way out from there , I think after considering climbing a tree. But something tells me to continue walking instead. The place resembles Bloodhound but itself is no longer my home. I need to get back to Dax. So, I turn, and I squint when I see what’s up ahead.

What were bare branches on the tree at Bloodhound pack were now vibrant with capri-blue leaves.

A woman who appears to be in her forties, with shoulder-length mocha hair, is perched on the trunk, gazing out among the living below.

I gasp. The living! Maybe she can help me figure out how to get down there. “Excuse me?”

The woman’s head turns. Her eyes, as blue as the leaves, widen along with her smile, creating crow’s feet that remind me of Jemma’s. At the sight of me, the woman puts a hand to her lips, the other placed over her heart.

I don’t know what she’s shocked about, but I don’t have time to ask. “Hi.” I wave awkwardly. “Do you know how I can get back to Crescent pack?”

She uncovers her mouth, placing a palm on her heaving chest. She doesn’t respond.

“I’m trying to get back to my mate.” She doesn’t respond. “His name is—”

“Dax. I know.” She giggles. “I’ve been watching you.”

I try to mask my reaction by mirroring her laughter. “Oh-kay...” Creepy. But mostly, I’m glad she knows who I’m talking about. She might be useful. “Do you know how I can get down there?” I point to the direction of the living she was just peeking in on.

Again, she just stares at me.

Well, she’s not going to be much help.

If this place is mapped out just like Bloodhound, then the route must be the same.

“Okay... sorry to bother you. I’ll just be on my way.” I move like I’m backing up from a wild animal.

I start toward the opposite direction, when the woman’s frantic voice pipes up again, “Alaina.”

I turn to face her, unsure of what she needs. “Yes?”

She crawls down off the tree, stepping gracefully onto the grassy area. But again, she says nothing. Just stares at me with tears in her eyes, smiling. Her eyes moving back and forth between mine, and I return her search.

She fiddles with a pendant around her neck.

And that’s when it all clicks.

“Mom?”

She opens her arms.

“Mom!” I sprint to her and embrace her.

The smell of honeysuckle and lemons permeate the air as her hair blows in the breeze.

We hug each other tight, coating each other’s backs with our tears of joy.

We pull away, both sniffling. She gently wipes tears from both my cheeks. She moves her hands from my cheeks to my shoulders, squeezing. “My goddess, look at you.”

I laugh half-heartedly.

“You’re all grown up.” She smiles through her tears.

I’ve waited for this moment forever, thought about what I would say to her, all the things I could ask her, but I was speechless. All I could think to say was, “I can’t believe it’s you.”

“It’s been a long time.” She sniffles and scans me again, looking as shocked as me.

I hadn’t even thought of the possibility of her being here. All I could think about was getting back to Dax, before Sam and the rest of the kingdom ends up here with me.

“I—There’s so much I want to tell you . . . ask you . . . but.”

I don’t want to hurt her. But this isn’t home, and I don’t belong here. Once upon a time, this would’ve been everything I ever wanted.

But this isn’t me anymore.

I’ve changed.

How do I tell her I can’t stay when she’s waited forever for me?

I take a deep breath, preparing to break my mother’s heart mere minutes after meeting her.

“You don’t have to say it. I know .” A bittersweet smile dawns her face. “It’s not your time yet, sweetheart.”

I can’t help it. Tears start pouring out of me. I am breaking her heart.

She takes her cardigan sleeve and wipes my tears again. “Shh... it’s okay, sweetheart. I am so happy for you. And I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

Dax’s voice breaks and echoes faintly in the distance. “Alaina, please. Please, come back to me.”

I look around, trying to figure out where my mate’s voice is coming from, but I don’t see him.

“ Go .” My mom spins me around toward the forest in the direction I came from, gently pushing me. “I’ll be here waiting for you when the day comes.”

Dax’s voice starts again. More panicked and unhinged. “Wake her up! Wake her up, now!”

I start toward the forest but stop to turn around and take one last look of my mother. She’s clutching the pendant around her neck. “I’m always with you.” She fades into the breeze.

With a deep breath, I head into the forest again. And darkness welcomes me once more as I leave this kingdom to return to another.