Maple
Maple paced in the living room after taking two short power naps around midnight. There had been no word from Raymand, Drake, or Zac. Anne drove home and grabbed her kids, they slept in the other spare bedroom while Ash crashed on the couch. Yet Maple could barely stay asleep with the nightmares creeping in. She glanced at the clock then sent a quick message for Melissa to open the store for her. No way in hell Maple could focus on opening up with Cora missing. She shoved a hand through her hair and peeked at the door expecting to find Cora running in with a smile on her face. I should’ve done better! The bitter taste of failure sat in her mouth ever since she fully healed from the silver.
“Did you hear anything?” Ash stretched on the couch.
“No which is bugging the ever-loving hell out of me.” Maple growled low and turned toward the kitchen. After chugging a glass of water, she returned to pacing. She debated if her choice to not work had been for the best, she had the energy she needed to get out. Her wolf clawed at the barrier for the hundredth time since the attack. We need to save our energy! She reminded her wolf which only made her beast scowl.
“Have you eaten?” Ash asked. Maple glanced where the pizza had landed by the front door. Hints of sauce stained the white doormat.
“Not since lunch yesterday.” The scent of pizza lingered in the trash, both of them had been destroyed when Raymand had dropped them. Ash eased into the kitchen without asking and started cooking. He only stopped a few times like when a neighborhood dog barked, or a car backfired. Maple rolled her shoulders in an attempt to ease the tension built up.
The roar of Raymand’s engine pulled into the driveway followed by Drake’s truck. Maple bit on her lower lip. Her keen ears heard three heartbeats, not four. She swallowed hard trying to keep the despair from consuming her. The blame of Cora being taken rested all on Maple. She hadn’t been quick enough to dodge the fucking blades.
Her back still ached from the long cut up but without the silver on her flesh, she healed with only pink scars. Soon even they would disappear, at least she hoped. Some cuts, if they were open for too long, they wouldn’t fully heal. Maple’s eyes stared at the front door while she picked at her nails. The door opened, Raymand’s slumped shoulders shattered the little hope she had. Tears fell down her face as he pulled her into a hug.
“I’m so sorry, Maple. We hit a dead end when they hit the fucking river.” He buried his head in her hair. His scent brought hints of comfort, but the lack of Cora still broke her heart.
“I should’ve…” Maple’s voice cracked, the words failing to leave her lips. I’ve failed as a mother.
“No, I was late. I don’t blame you one bit.” Raymand shook his head. “If you want someone to blame you blame me. I ran late or I would’ve been here.” His eyes stared at her. She didn’t bring it up but deep down she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself until Cora was safe.
“Do you have some kind of plan?” Maple asked as she pushed away the tears.
“We need to eat, and I need some rest, then I’m going back out there and looking again.” Raymand rubbed her back. It didn’t sound like much of a plan, but Maple didn’t press it yet.
“We are coming with alpha,” Ash chimed in with Zac.
“Anne and I are getting together with other parents to give them warnings about these bastards.” Drake walked away toward the spare room. The patter of feet upstairs from Drake’s oldest almost sent Maple into another round of tears. She wanted Cora safe at home not being in the hands of those awful hunters. Raymand pulled her to the table while Ash brought over a mountain of food. Cold fingers seemed to wrap around her stomach and a weight rested on her chest. Maple took small bites of food, she didn’t know if she could keep it down. Her head spun as the fear of never seeing Cora whirled around in her thoughts. After eating in almost silence Raymand grabbed Maple and they drifted up the stairs to his bedroom.
“I want you to know something.” Raymand pulled off his shirt, her eyes roamed over his toned chest. Her heat would soon start but now she couldn’t think about sex no matter how sexy her alpha looked.
“Are you sure you want to bring this up now?” Maple didn’t want to hear about his wish to give up Cora again.
“Yes. All night when I looked for her, I struggled to find the right words.” Raymand scratched his stomach then grabbed her hand to bring her close.
“What are you getting at?” Maple asked. She let go of a yawn. Her heart ached enough to keep up this back and forth shit.
“I want to keep Cora with us if you still want her.” Raymand’s words settled into her sleep-deprived mind. Maple lifted her gaze to meet his.
“You want Cora to live with us?” Maple blinked a few times making sure she heard him right. The weight of their fights over Cora slowly eased off Maple’s chest.
“Yes.” Raymand nodded. Maple’s heart tightened, she hugged his wide body tightly.
“I’m so glad you changed your mind.” Maple kissed him. If Cora had been home everything would be perfect.
“Now I need to bring her home.” Raymand sighed. The sadness in his eyes made her heart hurt even more.
“A little sleep and then we will go out and find her.” Maple hugged him again.
“We?” Raymand pulled back and met her gaze.
“You’re crazy if you think I’m staying back when I can help you.” She raised an eyebrow. Every passing minute Raymand didn’t come back with Cora earlier had been as painful as the silver blades cutting her flesh. Over her dead body would she be staying home waiting for Cora to come home. Going stir crazy seemed to be the understatement of her life.
“But last night you were severely injured.” Raymand’s concern touched her but she couldn’t stay back. It would break her into bits.
“Now I’m healed.” She showed him her arm where the angry pink scar kissed her flesh. “I’m going with you or I will get out and do it on my own.” Maple folded her arms in front of her chest. Raymand glared at her and she returned the look. They stood there for a few moments, she let him weigh his options.
“Fine but you better stick close to me. I don’t need to be worried about you and Cora at once.” Raymand wrapped his hands around her waist.
“I can deal with that. Oh, and if you try to leave without me I will chase your ass down.” Maple jumped into bed before he had a chance to argue. He climbed in after her, pulling her body into his. With his arms around her, sleep came easier than earlier.
Cora! I will find you! She raced after Cora’s fading dream-shadow. No matter how hard she pushed herself, she couldn’t get any closer. Maple’s eyes snapped open and her body bolted up. The door creaked open and she turned ready to fight.
“We’re ready when you are.” Drake lifted his hands up at the door. She let out a shaky breath and nodded. He closed the door leaving her alone with Raymand. Maple glanced down at him to find him wide awake. Maple wanted nothing more than to have Cora home and safe.
“We’ll find her.” Raymand kissed her neck.
“I know.” They climbed out of bed and walked into the shower together. The hot water did little to ease the tension.
“Raymand! I think we have a lead!” Ash yelled through the door.