The Journey Home

*Rayne*
*Arizona*
**Mature scene later in chapter**

Rayne sat in the passenger seat of Parker’s jeep as they crossed the border into Arizona. They had left Redwood Pack with the promise to return for visits later. Sebastion and Arianna promised to give the proposal Rayne gave them some consideration. They both wanted to meet more supernatural creatures first. Learn about the world outside werewolf cultures.

Rayne was happy to teach them both all that she knew about other species. Even she knew that there was more for her to learn. To teach others what she knew was going to be fun. There was so much more out there in the world than just werewolves.

Sebastion was curious about The Collectors. Why they did what they did to the supernatural races. Rayne only knew that they collected supernaturals for money, and the power that came with it. Humans did sideshows in circuses to make money on what they called freaks. It was like what they were doing with the species of supernaturals they hunted. Rayne wanted to know what the humans that paid to see collections thought.

Did they think it was magic? Did they think it was make up? Did they know that the people they paid to see were prisoners? How would they react if they knew the entire truth? One day Rayne had hope that her group could make it safe for the world to know of the existence of supernaturals. It was a dream, and she knew that it would be hard.

“How about we stop at the next exit, we need gas, and I want to call ahead to let Fred know we are coming,” Edmund said from the back seat.

“Who is Fred?”

“He is the Alpha of the Starlight Moon pack. They are about an hour away from Jade Moon. They were allies of ours back then.”

“That is one pack that Arianna said took in some survivors,” Rayne looked back at her father.

Edmund was happy when she told him that there were survivors from Jade Moon. That they had been taken in by other nearby packs. He was eager to know who survived, fearful to know who had died. He was ready to reconnect with people who thought he had died all those years ago.

“We can stop there afterwards. It will be nice to see familiar faces again.”

“Would you stay here, in Arizona, if given the choice?” Rayne asked as Parker made the turn to get off the freeway.

“Why would you ask that?” Edmund leaned forward in the space of the seats.

“This is closer to mom, to all you ever knew. Your home.”

“Oh, my girl, no. No, I would not stay here,” He stopped talking as Parker pulled into a gas station.

Rayne suddenly felt like a child again. The feelings she felt when she was told her parents had died that night. The agony. The feeling of helplessness. The overwhelming sense of loss. It was like she felt that all over again as they got closer to what was once Jade Moon. Perhaps the feelings were amplified this time because her father was here with her now. It terrified her he would stay closer to her mother. A very selfish part of her wanted him to always be close.

She was brought out of her thoughts as her door was opened. Her father stood, holding his hand out to her. His eyes were soft, yet haunted by his own pain. His pain ran deeper than anything she could imagine. Her mother was a topic they hadn’t really talked about. Each holding on to their pain until they were ready to share. Her pain was years old, while his was fresh in his mind and heart.

“Rayne, my sweet child, come here,” Edward motion for her to get out of the jeep.

She got out of the jeep to stand next to him as Parker got out to fill up the jeep with gas. “I want you to be happy, papa.”

“I will always carry your mother with me. I will always want her near me. That can never be. That does not mean that I am unhappy. You are my world. Knowing that you are safe is all I have ever wanted. Where ever you are, that is home for me, Rayne.” Edmund pulled her into a big hug when he finished speaking.

Tears fell from Rayne’s eyes as her father hugged her. She knew that as long as she had her father by her side, she could do anything. “I don’t think I could handle losing you again, papa.”

“One day that will happen, but with luck that day will be a very long way off.” He hugged her tight once more then stepped back, “Do you remember that day you came home caked in mud?”

“Alec and I fell in the river as we were chasing Bridgette to the tree house,” Rayne laughed at the memory.

“You came home in tears, with mud all over your face. You mother looked like she was going to commit murder, but you turned those eyes on her, and her anger deflated. You could always do that to her. You would make her so angry one moment, then laugh the next. The times you two got along so well were the best days. You were the light of her life.”

“I miss her so much sometimes. I don’t remember a lot, but sometimes I get flashes so strong, it is like she is still here with me.” Rayne whispered as she places her palm over her heart.

“Mia will always be with us, Rayne. We must hold on to her, for that keeps her alive.”

“I haven’t pressed you to talk about her much. I know it hurts you,” Rayne looked away from her father’s eyes.

“I do not mean to keep her memory from you. For you it has been years since that night, but in my mind it is still fresh. Having my memories back, after so long of being in the dark, is a blessing and a curse.” Edmund cupped Rayne’s face, moving it back to look at him. “I do not mean to hurt you by keeping my memories to myself.”

“I know, papa,” Rayne looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“Hey, I promise when I am ready, I will share them with you. Just give me a bit of time to recover.”

Rayne threw her arms around his neck to hug him tight. He held her close for a few moments, then stepped back to wipe her tears.

“Everything will be fine. Now go in there and get some food. I am going to call Fred. That is a conversation that may take a bit.”

“Alright,” Rayne closed the door of the jeep, “Parker, do you want anything?”

“Give me a few seconds here and I will meet you inside. I need snacks,” Parker said with a hungry look on his face.

Rayne just laughed at his face as he talked about food. There was a little burger joint attached to the gas station. A bacon cheeseburger was in order for him. She made her way inside the burger place, ordered for the three of them, then sat down on a stool to wait. Her emotions were all over the place after talking to her father. Parker asked through their mind link if she was ok. Rayne just told him she would be fine. She knew that it was the truth, but it would take time.

Almost fifteen years of grief was still buried deep within her heart. Grief for the death of her parents. For remembering that her mother had died to protect her from the monster that Wilson had become. Grief for the innocence that he took from her in so many ways. All the feelings that Rayne thought she put behind her were now flooding to the surface. Going home was going to be a lot harder than she had imagined.

Parker joined her a few minutes later with a bag full of drinks, snacks, a bouquet. As he sat down her number was called, so she got up to grab their order.

“What are the flowers for?” She asked when as she came back with their bag of food.

“For your mother,” He reached into the bag, then pulled out a single white lily, “and for you.”

Rayne smiled as she saw the lily, then leaned over to place her lips on his for a quick kiss, “Thank you.”

“Are you going to be ok?”

“I will be eventually. This trip has been eye opening,” Rayne whispered.

“How so?”

“The closer we get to Jade Moon, the more emotions I feel. Emotions and memories that I thought I was over. That I had hoped was in the past.”

“Baby, you have lived through more trauma than anyone should have to. None of which was your fault.”

“I know this. I had just thought I had moved past the grief and anger.”

“Those emotions will always be with you, Rayne. Anything in life can trigger that pain, causing those old wound to reopen. Past trauma like this will never fade completely.” Parker reached out to grip her hand as he spoke.

“How did you get so smart?”

“I read some books once,” Parker said with a grin.

Rayne closed the distance between them to give him another kiss. She intended to be a small kiss, but Parker had other plans. He pulled her flush against his body to deepen the kiss. His hands fisted in her hair as he nibbled her lower lip, before slipping his tongue in her mouth to taste her. Then with obvious reluctance he stepped back, panting as he looked at her kiss-swollen lips.

“Follow me,” Rayne grabbed his hand as she pulled him towards the bathroom.

“Oh, now?” Parker laughed.

“Yes, I want you. Now,” Rayne pulled him closer towards the bathroom.

“Ray, as much I want to pin you to the wall and make you scream for me, this is so not the place.”

“We have done it in far worse places,” Rayne whispered in his ear as she pulled him closer to the bathroom.

“Yes, but I want more time than we will have in this seedy little burger joint,” Parker almost growled as she bit his ear.

“Well then, you better make that time count now,” Rayne pulled him into the bathroom, closed the door behind them. Then laughed when Parker flicked the lock on the door, spun her around to pin her against the wall.

“You are a little minx, my love,” He said before he crushed his mouth to her’s.

Rayne made quick work of his belt, undid his pants, then slid her hand down to release his erection. Parker’s hands lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, then one hand moved her panties aside. He slid inside her in one smooth motion that had her letting out a moan of pleasure into his mouth.

She growled as he thrust, wrapping her arms around his neck as she held on tight. The bond between them flared, tingles erupting all over her body. The sex had always been amazing between them, but the mate bond amplified every sensation ten times over. Parker’s hand went down to her ass, then he moved her up and down over his throbbing erection, his teeth going to her neck to bite the mate mark he left there.

The feeling of his teeth over her mark causes her to reach the peak of pleasure. Her orgasm ripped through her body as he continued to move her up and down. Soon Rayne felt his body tense up as she felt him approach his release. She moved her mouth to his neck where his mate mark was, then bit down hard. Parker let go of her neck, let out a low moan, then he reached his orgasm.

They both stayed how they were for a few moments. Breathing heavily as they enjoyed the rippling sensations of their pleasure. When they could breathe easier, Parker gave her one last slow kiss, then set her on her feet.

“You will tempt me to do so many naughty things for the rest of our lives, won’t you?” Parker asked as he kissed her neck.

Rayne lets out a throaty laugh, “In every way that I can, my love.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up so we can get back on the road,” Parker smiled at her.

Rayne snickered as they cleaned up with the limited supplies the dinky bathroom offered. She didn’t want to go back to the jeep smelling of sex. Once they were presentable again, Parker gave her knuckles a light kiss, then unlocked the door. The smell of grilling meat reminding them both that they had food waiting for them.

Parker grabbed the food, while Rayne carried the bag of munchies and flowers. They headed to the jeep, getting knowing looks from the employees and customer of the burger place. Rayne didn’t care one bit. Bathroom sex was so worth it. Parker had successfully distracted her mind. It was more than just sex, and they both knew it. He comforted her with his body, but it was the tenderness of his kiss over her knuckles that soothed her. One simple action soothed her soul more than any words could.

Edmund was just ending his call when they reached the jeep. He smiled at them as he shook his head. From his expression, Rayne could guess he knew about the bathroom escapades. The three of them just laughed as they got in the jeep.

“Newly mated and can’t keep your hands off each other. I remember those days. Sneaking away at every chance you can to....” Edmund stopped as Rayne cut him off with a look.

“Ok, I so do not want to hear about any of your adventures,” Rayne laughed.

“Why? Afraid your old man had more game than your mate?”

“Hey now, I have plenty of game,” Parker looked offended for a moment.

The three of them burst out laughing, then Parker pulled out of the gas station parking lot, turning them back towards the freeway. Parker and her father were like two teenagers sometimes. The competition between them was laughable, downright sad. Rayne could tell that the future would be full of interesting days.

Rayne took a deep breath as the jeep merged back onto the freeway. The feelings she felt earlier came back to her as they sped down the freeway. Each mile taking her closer and closer to the past she left behind. Back to the place she swore never to return to. Now here she was, speeding down the freeway to the place of her nightmares.

Despite all her fears, she knew one thing was clear.

Jade Moon was waiting for them.