I was sleeping when I felt her sudden movements. I opened my eyes, the room darker than it had been when I fell asleep due to the day coming to an end and night gracing us with its presence.

“Gavin?” Judy whispered, her voice coming out hoarse.

Relief flooded me, and I buried my face in her hair.

“Thank the goddess,” I breathed, peppering kisses along her hairline. “You’re awake.”

“Did I worry you?” She asked, peeking up at me through hazy eyes.

“Yes,” I admitted. “How are you feeling?”

I reluctantly released her so I could take a better look at her face and get her some water.

“I’m okay,” she said, sitting up as she watched me walk through the room. I went into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water before returning to the bedroom a moment later. “Honestly, I’m fine. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

She looked uncertain, though, even as she spoke those words with as much confidence as he could muster. I handed her the glass of water and sat at the edge of the bed as she took small sips. My wolf was still on edge after what had happened. I reached over to her and brushed a strand of damp hair away from her face and behind her ear.

“You are still a bit warm,” I tell her. “I’m going to have Eliza come back to check you over.”

She grabbed my arm before I could make any sudden move.

“Wait,” she said quickly. “Eliza doesn’t need to come here for this. I’m okay, honestly.”

“She was here earlier, after you passed out. She’d want to know that you are awake and take a look for herself,” I informed her.

Her face lost some of its color as she finally took a look around the room before her eyes shifted

towards the window.

“How long had he been out for?” She asked, though I could tell from the tone of her voice that she already knew the answer.

“Hours,” I told her. “The entire day pretty much.”

She swallowed, not saying anything for a long while before she let out a breath and looked at me.

I cupped her face, my thumb drawing lazy circles around her cheekbones.

“Judy, tell me what happened,” I say, keeping my voice low. “I know something is going on, and I

need to know what it is.”

“Nothing is ” she tried to say, but I cut her off.

“Don’t lie to me,” I said firmly, but gently at the same time. “I’m your mate. You can trust me. Tell me what’s happening to you so I can help you because I cannot stand to see you hurting… It’s destroying me and my wolf. We need to be able to help our mate, so please… give this to me.”

I was aware I was begging, and it was pathetic, but I couldn’t help it when it came to her. Her eyes fluttered shut, a tear slipping down her cheeks. I wiped it away with my thumb and wrapped her in my arms, pulling her flesh against me.

“Talk to me,” I whispered, rocking her back and forth. “Please.”

“You’re going to think I’m crazy,” she finally said, her voice coming out muffled against my chest.

“I’d never think about,” I assured her.

She sniffled and peeked up at me through her dark lashes.

“I had this dream a couple of weeks ago… an older woman, maybe middle–aged, came to me and told me that blood calls to blood. At the time, I didn’t think much about the dream, but then we went to the Blackwell Manor, and I saw her….”

I raised my brows.

“Saw who?”

“Esme Blackwell. It was her… the woman from my dreams. Only much older. She obviously didn’t say anything while we were there. But she kept staring at me. Then, as we were leaving, I heard her speaking in my head… her mouth didn’t move, so I knew it was in my head. She told me once again that blood calls to blood.”

I swallowed. I had no idea what this meant or why the elder Blackwell would be coming to my mate in her sleep, but I had a sense of dread wash over me,

“It could mean anything,” I told her, running my fingers through her hair. “We can figure this out.”

She shook her head slowly.

“I had another dream not long ago that she came to me again and said the same things. Only this time, she was much younger than in the previous dream. She was around my age,” I explained. ” Then, right before I passed out earlier, I saw her face in my head, and then her words echoed over and over again. Blood calls to blood. I felt this sharp pain in my temple, and then I passed out completely. When I woke up, I saw her again.”

“You saw her?” I asked. “Just now?”

She nodded, nibbling on her lower lip.

“Then what?”

She stepped towards me and unclasped her necklace, handing it to me. The pendant was in her closed fist. I opened my hand to take it, and when she dropped it into the palm of my hand…” she paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Gavin, it was the Moon Gem. She handed me the Moon Gem and said that my destiny awaits and that blood calls to blood.” 2