** Josie''s POV **


    Frank takes us back to the bookshop and into a small apartment above it. He turns on an old- style desktopputer.


    “It takes a while to boot up," he motions to theputer. "Why are you in this realm?" he asks, leaning against theputer desk and crossing his arms over his chest, waiting for an exination. I give him a rundown of the previous day''s events, skipping out the part where I killed people.


    "You can use theputer to email him but I''d expect that if he could get here, he would be here by now," Frank says, clicking the mouse.


    "He''s probably still unconscious, but I have to try something," I sigh. "Is the only way you have to contact him?"


    "Yes," he gestures for me to use theputer. I move around and see the nk email page. Deacon''s name is at the top and just the sight of it sends a thrill through me. What the hell do I say? I''m not sure how secure this is so maybe I shouldn''t put too much information in the mail.


    ''Hey D,


    I hope your head is feeling better. I took an unexpected trip here with your assistant. We had a slight disagreement and parted ways. Now I am left here alone without the means to return. I''m visiting family at the moment and was hoping you or Luke could join me here as soon as you are able. Hope to see you soon. J.''


    I hit send, hoping he receives it and it''s not too cryptic.


    "Done," I breathe.


    "Great. Now what?" Freya asks.


    "I didn''t n this far ahead. I thought they''d already be here. Now we wait I guess," I shrug.


    "There''s a bed and breakfast across the road, if Deacon shows up I''ll send him there," Frank


    says.


    "Thank you, Frank. I really appreciate your help," I tell him and we leave.


    We check into a double room in the bed and breakfast and I begin to pace our small room. I need my bonds. I feel like I can''t breathe without them and the thought of spending a second


    night away from them is too much.


    "I''m going to attempt to port back to them," I say, suddenly making the decision.


    "If you can do that then why haven''t you already?" Freya frowns and looks at me like I''m dumb.


    "Because I''m not fully trained to do it. Every time I have it has been by ident. There''s a chance I could get stuck between the realms," I admit.


    "What happens if you get stuck?" she asks.


    "I have no idea," I sigh.


    "Then don''t do it. Just wait a little longer. If they are anything like you say then they''lle for you," She says, taking my hands in hers. "Have faith in them," she smiles.


    "I feel like there''s no air without them, Freya, like a part of me is missing, I need them. What if they can''t get to me? I can''t go back to my old life. I don''t belong here anymore," I suck in panicked breaths.


    "Hey, calm down. Panic attacks are not going to help, it won''t get them here any quicker," Freya tries to calm me before I full anxiety attack takes over.


    "Wait that''s it," I almost shout in excitement, shoving my old shoes back on my feet.


    "What? Where are you going?"


    "Running, I need to get my heart rate up," I tell her, already jogging on the spot.


    "How on earth is that going to help?" she asks, already putting her own shoes back on to join


    1. me.


    "It''s going to get their attention," I smirk.


    "Fine, but I''m sure they''re already aware that you need them," she


    groans.


    We run to the edge of town, my increased speed means Freya has no chance of keeping up with me so I keep running back to her every time I get too far ahead.


    "Go on without me," she pants, leaning over with her hands on her knees whilst she tries to catch her breath. I continue to jog on the spot.


    "Let''s go this way," I say, leaving the path to go into the wooded area.


    "Are you insane? You want to go traipsing through the woods in the dark?" she huffs.


    "What''s wrong? Scared there might be wolves in there?" I raise an eyebrow.


    "Don''t be ridiculous, we dont have wild wolves in this country, I''m more scared of... Oh, are you going to turn into your wolf?" she asks, suddenly finding some more energy to follow me off the trail.


    "Only if you want to see her. She could do with a run," I grin.


    "Hell yes!" she squeals. "Wait, she doesn''t bite does she?"


    "Actually yes, she has a habit of biting, but I highly doubt she will bite you,"


    “Erm, I''m going to need a little more reassurance than that,” she chews on her


    lip.


    "Well you are not trying to kill any she cares about and I doubt she''s going to mark you as her intended baby daddy so you''re good," I shrug.


    "Wait, she wants puppies? How does that even... actually no, dont tell me," she shakes her head as if to shake the thought out of her mind as we tramp deeper into the trees. I stop when I feel we are far enough away from civilization.


    "Don''t make a sound whilst I check there''s no one nearby," I say and focus on my hearing. I listen intently and hear nothing distinctly human. If anyone is out here they''re extremely silent. "Okay, the coast is clear, if I run off just wait for me here," I say, then I call my wolf forward. Allowing her to take over. Her warmth spreads over my body as I drop down onto all fours, seamlessly shifting into my wolf form.


    "Holy shit!" Freya gasps, taking a step back. My wolf assesses her, tilting her head to the side curiously. This is the first time she has seen a human through her own eyes. She sniffs the air, taking note of Freya''s scent. She can detect a hint of fear in her scent so she lowers herself to the ground, making an effort to seem as harmless as possible. She lets out a small whine and Freya edges closer. "Can I stroke you?" she asks softly. My wolf yips and Freya crouched beside us. She reaches out a shaky hand and strokes the top of my wolf''s head. "You''re so soft," she breathes, then scratches behind my wolf''s ear, which she loves. "Oh, you like that huh," Freyaughs as my wolf closes her eyes. "You are beautiful," she says. "Now go have a run, I''ll wait for you here," my wolf rises to her feet and takes off running. She stays close to Freya, not wanting to go too far in this strange world alone. She takes time to sniff the new scents and I feel her sadness when she can''t detect any of her mates. She throws back her head and lets out a mournful howl.