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To Rise Again Ch. 01

By: squeeker78



The following is a work of fiction that came from the recesses of my own mind. Any names or places are all of my own creation. Any characters that may engage in sexual activity are over 18. I hope you enjoy what I have tried to create. 

This is my 1st attempt at writing anything, so please be kind. Comments are welcome..good or bad. 

Also...THANK YOU to all of "My Boys", without you I never would have done this, you know who you are.

*

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.  To live and love again.  Beautiful and Captivating to look upon.  Magical and Magnificent to behold.  A constant cycle of being torn down.  Just to be lifted up once again.  That is what love is.  A struggle through life.  To find the good within the bad.  No love is perfect.  Like the Phoenix You need to know when to let go.  So you may rise again.  To know the Beauty and be Captivated.  To feel the Magic in a touch.  So rise from the ashes and fly toward the skies.  Draw upon your inner strength.  So you may learn to live again.  So you may feel love again.  Think of the Magnificent Phoenix As a Symbol to never give up.

The day started like any other. River awoke to the buzzing of the alarm and rolled over to slap it quiet. Pulling himself out of bed he staggered to the bathroom turning the water on in the shower to let it heat up as he took his morning piss and brushed his teeth. Stepping in under the hot water and letting it beat against his body, feeling it work on loosening up muscles from a night of restless sleep. He didn't linger this morning in the shower like usual, knowing he needed to be in the office before Mr. Donavan got in. Finishing quickly and stepping out, he dried off as he walked back into the bedroom where he stood in front of the mirror on the closet door.

Taking a moment to look his body over before getting dressed, he was nothing spectacular, he knew that. He stood an even 6' and weighed in around 165. His body was not big by any means. He was lean and had good definition to his muscles. Years of running and swimming made sure of that. He had a mop of curly brown hair and eyes the color of mud. There was a light dusting of hair that trailed down his abs to run into his well trimmed pubic hair. He was not overly endowed, but was happy with what he was blessed with. As he turned around to gather his clothes he took a peak at his backside and admitted to himself that he had a nice ass. It was firm, round and muscular. River arrived at work and headed straight to his desk to get everything ready for when the boss arrived. Demands were placed on him that, he thought had nothing to do with the job he was hired to do as a personal assistant. He was treated more like an office gopher. However, he needed the job, he needed the money. He worked hard and did what was asked of him without complaint. Who knew that being a personal assistant would consist of fetching coffee, lunch, dry cleaning and any other little menial task Mr. Donavan could think of for him to do. As he sat there waiting for the day to begin, his mind started to wander. He was trying to figure out how his life had gone to shit over the last six months. 

He was in a relationship that he thought would last. Little did he know that she would just pack up and walk away like they never meant anything to one another. How could she just take the one thing he loved the most away from him? Raivyn, his angel, his life. That bitch left while he was at work. She didn't even have the consideration to leave a Dear John letter. He had no idea where she went, and every time he tried to call her cell it went to voicemail. He sat there questioning himself. What did I do to make her leave? Am I that bad of a person? Did I not satisfy her anymore? Oh Raivyn, my sweet Raivyn, how could she do this to me, to you? River was brought out of his thoughts by his boss calling his name over the speaker on the phone. 'Great, let the fun begin' he thought as he answered. "Good morning Mr. Donavan, I'll be right in." He stood and gathered up what would be needed for the morning briefing. Just like every morning, he went into the office, placed his items on the side of the desk, went over to the corner and got the coffee that Mr. Donavan always wanted him to prepare. Like he couldn't figure out how to make the damn thing for himself. 

As such, River was never real comfortable around his boss. His steel grey eyes always left him feeling unsettled and he couldn't explain it. It was almost like he could see into him and know what he was thinking. His expression was one of disinterest yet calculating and always hard. Placing the coffee on the desk, River sat in the chair opposite his boss and asked "Where would you like to start this morning Sir? We have the meeting coming up at the end of the week with the board of trustees and the Charity event itinerary to finish up before the end of the month." 

Mr. Donavan sat there for a moment just staring at River, almost like he didn't hear what was said before he finally acknowledged the question. "Let's start with the meeting that is coming up with that sorry bunch of money hungry vultures. Then we can move onto the Charity itinerary and any other pressing matters after that." 

River shuffled through the files that he brought in with him and pulled out the facts and figures that would be needed for the Board of Trustee members and handed it over to Mr. Donavan as he pulled up the numbers on his PDA. "As you can see by the numbers, we are well above the expected median for this quarter and as always, we are ahead for the year as well. That should make the Board members happy. I've also made sure that all of these facts and figures are laid out in a way that should be easy enough for them to understand and that the company is taking good care of their interests and support."

"Nicely done Mr. Addison. Maybe now they will stop hounding me and trying to get me out of the way. Realizing that I am turning a profit, even if I do have to spend a little more than they would like me to. Now, where are we with this Charity event?" 

River once again shuffled through the files and pulled out the itinerary for the Charity event that the company was hosting for a local group called Sanctuary. From what River understood of the group, it was started as a way to support and offer a safe place for children and young adults who felt they may be at risk for abuse, neglect or abandonment. It also offered a place for those who needed someone to talk to about whatever was going on in their lives that may be stressing them to the point of self-harm. 

"Here you go sir, this is the schedule for that night. As you can see, you will need to be there by 5pm so you can mingle with all of the contributors. There will also be a light dinner served at approximately 6pm. I have already placed your order sir." River scanned the list to see what else he needed to point out. "There will be a total of 5 guest speakers with you being the last. All in all it should be over by 11 o'clock. Any questions so far sir?" Mr. Donavan glanced at the sheet for a moment before raising his head to stare at his P.A., noticing how he shifted in his seat under his gaze. Was he afraid of him he wondered? It appeared to Mr. Donavan to be that way, if River's body language was anything to go by. Well, he would have to see about fixing that little problem. He couldn't have those that worked closely to him being afraid. 

"As always Mr. Addison, you seem to have everything in order. Did you place an extra dinner order for the date I am expected to bring along with me to this shin-dig? And what about you, it will be necessary that you attend as well." Seeing the look of concern on River's face he continued. "I will need you there to keep me in the loop, reminding me of who is who and that I have my speech prepared. I can't go up there with a charity like this and not be prepared." River sat there not really knowing how to react to what he just heard. In all the time that he worked for Mr. Donavan, he had never been required to attend a function like this. He didn't think he could handle being in a big group of people like that. 

River brought his eyes up from where he had been staring at the floor and answered Mr. Donavan honestly. "Sir, I was unaware that I would be required to attend this function. I was going to make sure that your speech was typed up and ready for you so that you would be as prepared as you could be for when you were on stage. I was not informed that I would have to be in attendance, therefore I've already made plans to be out of town for that weekend due to personal reasons sir." River sat there playing with his fingers as he waited to hear what the big boss mans' reaction would be. He didn't have to wait long.

"Well I'm sorry to tell you that you will have to cancel your plans. You really don't have a choice in the matter of attending or not. I am telling, not asking you to be there. I expect you to be in a tux, you need to look your best, since you are working for me. You were hired to be there for me as I saw the need. As far as I am concerned, you are needed there to keep up good relations with some of our clients that will be in attendance. You are needed there to make sure that things run smoothly and no one screws up what is to be a good night. You are needed there to make sure I don't make a fool of myself up there on that stage by not being prepared. That is what you are being paid for. So you will be there. You will act happy about it, AND you will do as you are told. Have I made it clear to you Mr. Addison?" 

River just sat there, not believing he was going to agree to submit to this man. That is how he saw it, he had no choice. He either submitted and did what he was told or chance getting fired. As much as he was starting to not like his position he still needed the job. He had responsibilities in his life that he had to take care of. Once again, he raised his head and looked at Mr. Donavan. "Yes sir, very clear. I will be sure to have all that you need and require to be in order by the end of this month. I will also make sure that I help you maintain a proper image for the company by being at your beck and call and doing as I am told." Once he got that out he cast his eyes down again, unable to look at Mr. Donavan for more than the time it took to speak.

"Ok, now that we have that settled, I need you to schedule a few things for me." And that is how the next hour went for River sitting there in Mr. Donavan's office. Taking notes and making sure he had everything he needed to call, email or fax information to people of importance. By the time he had everything taken care of it was time for lunch so he headed out of the office and down to the little deli on the corner. He stood there and waited to step up and place his order. The girl behind the counter knew him from all the times he had been in there and asked if he wanted the usual order. 'But of course' he thought, had to keep the boss man happy. He placed his order and went down to the end of the counter to wait for the food to arrive.

As he stood there he took a look around, just kind of people watching, when he saw a little girl with straight black hair sitting in a high chair over in the corner. He thought of his Raivyn. Wondering where she was. How she was handling not having daddy around every day to play with her? Damn bitch of an ex-girlfriend taking her away from me. 'If I only knew where she was'.

River was brought back to the here and now by the girl at the counter letting him know that his order was ready. "Thank you, I'll see you tomorrow about the same time." He said with a smile that made her blush. River had no idea what his smile did to the people around him. He headed back to the office quickly with the coffee and sandwiches so that Mr. Donavan couldn't find something else to complain about. And that is how the rest of the week went. Mr. Donavan demanding things of River and River just looking towards the floor and saying "yes sir, anything else sir?"

******

Mr. Eithen Donavan sat at his desk trying to figure out what had changed in his young P.A. over the last few months. He had hired a confident, level-headed, self-starter of a young man that had proved himself a great asset to Eithen and the company. That River seemed to be gone and in his place was a weak and submissive boy who does not see himself as worthy. Eithen thought to himself, 'that will never do. I need to find out what has happened to bring this change about in River's personality.' Not even realizing that a lot of it had to do with how he came across as domineering and all alpha male.

Eithen picked up the phone and dialed a number from memory. "I need you to do some digging for me" he told the person on the other end of the line. "Name is River Addison, date of birth is August 5th of 1986. Find out all that you can for me. I want you to go back as far as you can." Eithen hung up the phone and sat there contemplating what he should do and how to go about getting the River that he hired back. This River would never survive the demands that Eithen had to place upon him to get the jobs done that needed to be done. He would find a way, he had no choice. He had to have River as his P.A., had to keep him close. 

To Rise Again Ch. 02



For River it was an incredibly long and stressful week at work, and it wasn't over yet by a long shot. He still needed to sit down and write out a speech for Mr. Donavan. 'Might as well get this done so I have one less thing to worry about. Can't have him looking bad up there now can we?' He set about getting everything ready for his night of writing. Going to the kitchen he grabbed a glass, a bottle of chilled red and a bag of pretzels and placed them on the table. After that he went and turned on the cd player to rotate through some of his favorite songs. That being done, he finally sat down at the table and turned on his laptop to begin writing a speech that needed to appear heartfelt and genuine. 'I hope this turns out the way he wants, never was any good at this sort of thing in school.' 

{Start Speech}

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Let me introduce myself, I am Mr. Eithen Donavan, head of Wulphsbough and Associates. Thank you for coming out tonight in support of a worthy cause. We are all here for one reason and one reason only. That is to see that the young children and young adults have the help and support that they need and deserve. There are too many that go without. Too many that get lost in the cracks of the system. Too many that are just simply forgotten about. 

Sanctuary is a group that was started up to support and offer a safe place for children and young adults who feel they may be at risk for abuse, neglect or abandonment. It also offers a place for those who need someone to talk to about whatever is going on in their lives that may be stressing them to the point of self-harm. It is Sanctuary's goal to help as many of these kids as they can, but they can't do it all on their own. They need people that care, people that want to make a difference in the lives of the children who seek them out. With your help, and the help of companies like my own, they can branch out into more parts of the state and offer their services to more of the at risk youth of our country. 

Please, ladies and gentlemen, look in your hearts. Think of how you would feel if it was one of your own. You would want them to have a safe place to go, and that is exactly what Sanctuary offers. A safe place that will welcome any and all that are in need. This will not just be a place for the economically challenged or down-trodden. It will provide a safe and secure location for ANY child that needs the love and support that they do not receive at home or elsewhere.

If you should have any questions there is a number listed on the information packet located on all of the tables. Once again, thank you for coming out tonight in support of a cause that I feel is beneficial to so many.

{End Speech} 

'Thank God that's over, I always did hate trying to write shit like this. Let alone for someone else. Let's just hope it is up to Mr. I Think Too Much of Myself Donavan's standards.' River stood up and stretched after sitting there for a few hours trying to make sure the speech was just right. Looking at the clock on the wall he noticed that it was going on midnight. He gathered up his glass and the half empty bottle of wine and took them into the kitchen. He would clean up after he got back from his morning run.

Saturday morning, River slept in for the first time in what felt like years. He rolled over and looked at the alarm to see that it was just after 9:00. 'No wonder I feel so rested' he thought. River decided to skip his run today and just relax around the house for a change, after the week he had. Getting up he took care of personal matters before heading into the kitchen and cleaning up his mess from the night before. 

Sitting there at the table with coffee in hand, he started thinking again about his baby girl. The house just wasn't the same without her running around and leaving a trail of toys in her wake. He missed her good morning kisses and her sweet little laugh when he would grab her up and make her fly through the house. Raivyn was his life, daddy's precious angel. He would give anything to have her with him. He needed to find where his ex took off to so he could get his daughter back.

River didn't even realize that he had been crying as he sat there, until he noticed the tears that had fallen from his face and hit his hand. He had to get out, he had to get his mind on other things. He went and got dressed and headed out for a day of mindless running around. 

******

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of town in a large house that overlooked the lake, Eithen sat at his desk going over reports from his betas. He really hated all the paperwork that accumulated during the week while he was in town playing the normal human. Eithen was also starting to get frustrated that he hadn't heard anything back yet on the River situation. He knew that something in that report would let him know what had caused his P.A. to change over the last few months. River was never one to talk about his personal life at work, he came in did his job and went home. Eithen actually knew very little about him, other than what was in his employment file. But, the one thing that Eithen did know was that River needed help with something, and he was going to fix it whether River wanted it or not.

A knock at the door a few hours later brought Eithen out of his musings. Looking up, Eithen saw one of his runners standing in the doorway. Smiling, he said "Come on in Lonnie, what can I do for ya today?" "Excuse me for bothering you Alpha, but there is a package that has just arrived for you marked Urgent." Eithen got up and went around the desk to take what Lonnie had brought for him. Knowing that it would be the information that he had been waiting for concerning River. "Thank you Lonnie, and you didn't bother me a bit. In fact you just gave me a reason to stop working for the day." Eithen placed a hand on Lonnie's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before leading him out of the office and headed towards the kitchen in search of something to eat. Once they got to the kitchen, Lonnie bowed to his Alpha and bid him a good afternoon, before making his way out of the house.

Once he had his stomach satisfied, Eithen went back to his office holding the package containing what he hoped would let him help out River. Sitting down, he carefully opened and pulled out the report that was in it. Knowing that the change in River's behavior and personality started a few months ago, Eithen chose to start at the back of the report to see what was there. What he read there made him aware of some of the changes in Rivers' behavior, but it did not explain all of it. He had the money and the resources to locate this woman and then locate the child.

Eithen tried to figure out how any woman could do that. She takes off with her daughter just to turn around and give her away, when the father was already there taking care of her. Well, he was damn sure going to remedy that situation real quick. Grabbing up the phone he dialed yet another number from memory. "Donavan here...yeah....I need you to locate the whereabouts of one Ms. Angelica Laurentis, and I need her or that information within the next 24 hrs." 

With that taken care of, Eithen started at the beginning of the report to find out what else he could about Mr. River Addison. Nothing really on the first couple of pages of any interest. The family seemed to keep to themselves. There was an incident that happened when River was younger that required them to move without any warning. Graduated at the top of his class from both high school and college. 'Always knew he was a smart boy,' Eithen thought. 

Scanning over a few more pages he didn't see anything that stood out. 'Wait, what's this? Interesting, the company insurance pays for something called Sertraline? If I'm right that's an anti-depressant. Says here that he was on it before he even started for the company, so it has nothing to do with what has recently occurred. I wonder what happened to cause River to be on something like that? He doesn't come across as being depressed. He just seems to lack the self-confidence that he once had.' Eithen decided that there was still a lot he needed to learn about River and the only way to really do that was to actually befriend him. 'Shouldn't be too hard', he told himself. 

******

River wasted the day just running around and doing nothing, but it managed to keep his mind off of his problems for awhile. Once he got home, he decided that he really didn't want to be alone tonight. At least not right now anyways, so he showered and headed out to his favorite little bar where he could just sit and drink his worries away. River walked in and nodded to the bartender while taking a look around to see that the place was fairly empty like usual. That was what he liked about this bar, it never got crowded. He sat on the stool at the counter and paid for his beer, closing his eyes enjoying the cold rush he got from that first swig.

River had been sitting there for about 20 minutes when he was approached by a woman he would consider to be a hottie. She was tall with long sensuous legs, small perky breasts, dark auburn hair that went to her waist and an ass that was made for grabbing. There was just something about her that drew him in as she sat next to him. She placed her order and cast a sideways glance towards River with a shy smile on her full pouty lips. They started talking about nothing important and had a few more drinks. After about an hour of idle chit-chat she suggested that they go back to her place.

'What the hell', he thought to himself. It had been at least 6 months since he was with anyone and it was time he got some relief. He never did the bar pick-up routine, but like he thought before, there was just something about her. They paid their tabs and walked out to catch a taxi back to her place. Hands were wandering on the ride there, and by the time they got to her apartment they were both more than ready.

As soon as River was in the door she had him pressed up against the wall and was trying to devour him. She bit down on his bottom lip and forced her tongue down his throat. He needed to get control of this situation, he needed to show her how good it could be. They managed to make it to the bedroom unharmed as they stripped out of clothing without ever really losing contact. By the time they reached the bed they were both naked and River backed her up until she fell on her back and he lay on top.

There was nothing gentle or loving about what happened in that bedroom. It was hard and fast. River had her screaming and begging for more. And he gave her what she wanted and then some. After they had their first release, he gave her a few minutes before he flipped her over and got a look at that ass that he just had to slide into. She was unsure about what he wanted to do next, but he managed to persuade her with little touches in all the right places. 

River placed the head of his cock at her entrance and started to rock back and forth, teasing it open to allow him in. Once River got the head to pop in he gave her a few minutes to adjust to his invasion, until he noticed her moving her hips. He held nothing back after that point. He was in heaven, a hot, tight heaven. This was how he liked it. He couldn't hold back much longer. He could feel his orgasm building up fast. He reached around to make sure she would cum again with him. As he felt her muscles clench around his shaft he let go of his own release with a primal roar that sounded animalistic. 

He pulled out as gentle as he could so as not to hurt her and went to get cleaned up and dressed so he could head home. He needed to get out of there. He got his release, but he felt unsatisfied. He managed to slip out while she went to clean up. That is why he never did the bar pick-ups. They were a quick fuck, and that was it. Nothing more. He liked to have some feeling involved in his sex. But he was not ready for a relationship after what Angelica did to him. Stupid bitch ruined his life by taking everything that mattered to him away. As soon as River got home he went in and scrubbed himself clean. Trying to erase what he just did. He felt dirty now. He crawled into bed and slept restlessly.

******

Eithen was awoken by the ringing of his personal line early Sunday morning. Grumbling he answered "this better be fucking good to wake me at this hour." What he heard on the other end of the line had him up and getting dressed in record time. "Anything else I need to know before I get there? Uh huh...ok....thanks." Eithen stormed out of the house and jumped into his truck heading for the safe house, where he was to meet with one Angelica Laurentis. 'That bitch better have a damned good reason for abandoning her daughter' he thought to himself as he sped to his destination.



To Rise Again Ch. 03



Eithen arrived at the safe house within 20 minutes of receiving the call letting him know that they had located and brought in Angelica for questioning. He pulled up and turned off the engine, just sitting there for a moment trying to calm himself down before he had to confront this...this woman. Eithen got out and walked into the house nodding at one of his betas. "Hey Troy, what did you find out from our 'guest' so far?" "Nothing much as of yet Alpha. We located her 2 towns over, hooking on the streets. Looks like she has a substance addiction of some kind. She won't answer any of our questions concerning River or their daughter." "Take me to her, let's see if I can get her to talk." Eithen ordered his beta with an evil little grin on his face.

******

Angelica looked up when she heard the door opening to the room that these people had placed her in. She was scared, she just wanted to go home, she had no idea who they were or what they wanted with her. Why did they keep asking her about River and Raivyn? How did they even know about them? "Who are you? What do you want with me?" her voice quivered as she stared at the intimidating man that came into the room. He stood easily at 6'5 and pushing 200lbs. of solid muscle. He frightened her like no other has so far. 

"Hello Ms. Laurentis, all of your questions will be answered after you have answered all of mine." Eithen sneered as he looked her over. What did River ever see in this woman? Just looking at her repulsed him. It was apparent that she was addicted to something. Her hair was dirty and stringy, she had dark circles under her eyes and she looked like she weighed in around 90lbs soaking wet. This could not be the woman that River had loved and had a child with. 

"Let's start out by asking where your daughter is Ms. Laurentis. If what you tell us is the truth, then things will go a lot better for you. If you choose to not be honest, then let's just say...you might not enjoy the outcome." Eithen stood there with his legs spread and his arms crossed over his massive chest, knowing that he posed a very intimidating image. Especially to one so little. He watched the fear and uncertainty play across her face. He just knew that she was going to try and deny knowing anything. He didn't have to wait long for the lies to start. 

"You've got the wrong person. I don't know who this lady is that you're talkin' about. My name is not whatever it was you said. This is a mistake, I don't know anything. Just let me go, please, I won't tell no one about what you did." Angelica didn't know what to do. She didn't want to admit that she fucked up where her daughter was concerned. She had to find a way out of this. She figured if she pleaded and cried enough that they would believe her. How wrong she was.

Eithen pulled a chair over and sat it in front of Angelica. Sitting down, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees so he was eye to eye with her. He just sat there staring, watching her squirm in her seat. "I suggest you tell us what we want Angelica." He noticed how she flinched when he used her first name. 'Let's see how she reacts to all we know about her' he thought. "Yes, we know exactly who you are. We know that you are 23 years of age. We know that you were born here in the city. We know that you were involved with a man named River Addison for the last four years. That is until you decided to run off 6 months ago without warning. Taking your daughter, Raivyn with you. We know that you no longer take care of her. We know that you just gave her away when it got to be too much for you. We also know that you have substance abuse problems. What we don't know right now is where you have placed your daughter." 

Eithen sat there and let her take in all that he said. Knowing that there was no way for her to dispute any of it. He waited. By now she was sobbing, trying to catch her breath so she could respond. They knew, they knew what she had done. She couldn't get out of this. God she needed a fix. If only they would let her have her bag. If she could calm down, she would tell them everything. She just needed her stuff. Eithen noticed that Angelica kept glancing over into the corner where someone had placed her bag. "Troy, grab that bag for me will ya. Let's see what's in there that has her attention."

Troy walked over and grabbed up the bag that they took when they picked her up that morning. Opening it and taking a look inside, he saw what it was that she wanted. Troy handed the bag over to his Alpha with a smile on his face, knowing they now had what was needed to get all the information they wanted. Eithen sat back in the chair just out of Angelica's reach as she eyed the bag that he now held. Opening it up and looking in he saw what appeared to be a kit for heroin. There was a charred spoon laying in the bottom along with a lighter, hypodermic needle and three small baggies with a beige colored powder in it all tied together with a string. He could now see the signs, it had been awhile since her last fix. This was going to be easier than he thought. 

"Is this what you are wanting Angelica?" he asked as he pulled out her stash. He watched as she licked her lips and noticed the sweat that was starting to run down the side of her face. "Is it starting to hurt yet? Tell me what I want to know and I might be nice and let you have a taste." Angelica kept her eyes on what this man had in his hand. It was exactly what she needed. She could feel herself starting to shake. Could she do it? Could she tell them what she had done to her daughter? She had to, she had no choice. She knew, she knew the pain would start soon. She couldn't take the pain. "Please...I need it...please...I beg you...I'll tell whatever you want. Just...just...let me have some." 

'How fucking pathetic', Eithen thought as he waved the shit in his hand around watching her reactions the entire time. "Ok Angelica, you can have a taste. Right after you tell us where Raivyn can be located at, and we verify what you have told us. Then you can have as big a taste as you want. Does that sound like a deal? " Angelica sat there, never taking her eyes off his hand. She just nodded her head, agreeing to tell them what they wanted to know. "Sometime today, Angelica...I can hold out for a long time, but can you?"

Angelica jerked her head up and stared into steel grey eyes, knowing he would keep her from feeling better until she told them. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She swallowed a few times and tried again, the sooner she said it the sooner this man would hand over her meds. She struggled to remember exactly where and with who she left her daughter. The large man was starting to get angry, she could tell. His eyes bore into her.

"I gave her to some people...a couple...they said they would take care of her. They said they would make sure she was safe. I can tell you where they are, she's with them. They promised to love her...they did...they said they would ummm...." By this point Angelica was visibly shaking with need and was starting to ramble, but Eithen still did not have a location. "WHERE ANGELICA?" he demanded loudly as he stood to tower over her, trying to get her to focus once again. "Oh...oh...ok...sorry...ummm...They have a little place over on the corner of...ummm...uhhh...the corner of Hyatt and Depot." She sank back into the chair and wrapped her arms around herself, rocking back and forth, exhausted from trying to remember.

Eithen nodded at Troy to have him verify. "Thank you Angelica, if we find that Raivyn is there and safe, then you can have this." Waving the little bundle in front of her. "While we wait, can you tell me why Angelica? Tell me why you would give your child away to strangers? Didn't you know that there are places out there that would have helped you or even taken Raivyn in, if that is what was needed to be done?" He sat back down and waited to find out what would cause a mother to just give her child away.

Angelica sat there for a moment with tears running unchecked down her face as she looked at the floor still hugging herself. Finally, she looked up at this man and gave him what looked like a look of regret. But he would soon realize that was far from the truth.

"I...I just...I just couldn't do it anymore you know...all she did was cry for her daddy. All day long it was 'I want daddy, where's daddy, I miss daddy.' She didn't love me, didn't want me." Angelica was quiet for a moment, as if thinking about what she just said. She had dropped her gaze to the floor after that part. She looked back up with hate filled eyes this time. "Fucking brat is what she was. I was never good enough for her. 

Didn't she know what I gave up for her and that worthless piece of shit father of hers? River....HA, what a fucking joke. Ruined my life is what those two did. Said he loved me and then got me knocked up. Because of them, I lost my family and the money that I was to inherit. He promised to take care of us, he was full of shit. All he cared about was that brat. He didn't want me anymore after she was born. His life revolved around his precious little Raivyn....so I left and took the one thing that mattered the most from him. Make him suffer, stupid freak that he is. Not normal I tell ya, not normal at all." She sat there whispering to herself about how River was spooky and creepy. How his daughter was just like him. Not normal, she kept repeating over and over again.

During Angelica's little rant, Troy had returned with the confirmation of the location and that there had in fact been a little girl there that fit Raivyns' description. However, no one had seen the little girl for at least a week now. Eithen decided to torture Angelica a bit more since he was unable to retrieve Raivyn. "Angelica, listen to me ok. Raivyn is no longer with those people. Do you know where they would take her?" That made her stop talking to herself and looked up. Shaking her head no, now they wouldn't make her feel better. Raivyn had to be there, she just had to be. "Please...c'mon...I told you what I did...I told you where I left her...let me have my stuff...please...oh god...please. Not my fault she isn't there anymore. Maybe they realized how much of a brat she was and disposed of her. Maybe they sold her...please...give me my stuff..."

Eithen could not believe what he just heard come out of this woman's mouth. If he could get away with it, he would dispose of her as she so kindly put it. "No Angelica, I'm sorry I can't do that. Raivyn wasn't there, therefore you don't get this." He turned and walked out the door handing the bundle over to Troy to hold onto for the time being. Screams could be heard all through the house as her withdrawal started to really kick in.

Eithen headed back out to his truck, pulling out his cell and made a call to the only person that he could count on to find Raivyn and bring her back safely. "Hey pops, got a delicate situation that needs to be taken care of ASAP....yes sir, I'm heading your way now....ok pops, see ya in a few."

******

Back on the other side of town, River was just getting up and starting his day. He dressed for his morning run around the park and headed out the door. As soon as he started down the street he grabbed his head and fell to his knees as he was hit with an intense, blinding pain that turned his vision white. It only lasted a minute but if felt like an eternity. As the pain subsided, River got a flash of an image in his mind. RAIVYN!!



To Rise Again Ch. 04



River woke up in his bed later that day not remembering how he got home. He did however remember the pain that he experienced and the image of his daughter that he got right before he started his run. Strange, he thought to himself, that's never happened before. 

He remembered while growing up, his mother would often get headaches that came out of nowhere and laid her up for a few days. Maybe it was a genetic thing that was just now showing up. It still did not explain the sudden flash of images he got of Raivyn being held in a room somewhere, scared and alone. She was only three, who would do that to a child? 

River figured that taking a shower would make his head feel a bit better. Just moving made him a little queasy, but he had things to do today. He had to figure out a way to find Angelica, and now that Mr. Donavan was making him go to the charity event at the end of the month, he had to find another time and another way. 

He had hired a private investigator to find them, but so far, no information had been turned up. Then there was that image of Raivyn he had this morning. That scared him. Was it just his imagination? He had to know what caused the painful episode. He wished that he could speak to his parents, but they were gone and never coming back. 

Standing under the hot spray of water he let the tears come. The tears that he had held back for so long now, the tears that he refused to shed. Tears for the loss of his parents, tears for the loss of his daughter, tears of anger and sorrow. 

He let them mingle with the spray of the shower. He had hoped that Angelica would come back with his little girl. That she would realize she was wrong. Wrong about leaving and wrong about taking Raivyn away from him. 

Raivyn was his world, she became the center of his life the day she was born and he held her in his arms that first time and looked in her eyes. They created a bond at that moment, father and daughter, that no one would ever be able to destroy. 

That night, River sat down and made another list of any and all people that could possibly know where Angelica and Raivyn had gone. He had been down this road already once, 6 months ago when she first took off. Every lead he got was a dead end though. Not even her family knew where she was. Like they cared anyways, after tossing her out when she got pregnant with Raivyn. Screw them and their money.

He worked late into the night, racking his brain for anything that he could remember of their lives together. The four years that he thought they were happy. All he managed to do was make his headache worse. He stood up and turned to head to the bedroom when he was struck with the blinding pain again. This time he collapsed to the floor in a heap, the pain was worse. He got more flashes of an image, of his Raivyn. She was crying out for her daddy, the lady that held onto her was being too rough. The last image he saw before passing out made it appear that Raivyn was looking right at him. 

****** 

Eithen pulled in to the drive of his parents place and was greeted at the door by his mother. "Hey Ma, how are you feeling today?" 

"Won't complain dear. You really need to stop by more often young man, we don't get to see you nearly enough." 

"I know Ma, I need to make more time for you and pops. Is he available? I really need to talk to him?" 

From the look of desperation on her son's face she could tell that something was wrong. Taking hold of Eithen's hand she led him through the house and into the kitchen where she left him to sit at the table while she went to retrieve his father. A few minutes went by before they returned. She decided to let them talk while she made some lunch. 

"Hey pops, I'm really sorry to have to call you in on this, but it is...." Eithen was cut off from explaining by his father who simply held up a hand for silence. 

"I know that Eithen. I'm always your last resort. Now.... tell me what has been happening and who it is that I need to help you find." 

Eithen gave a sigh of relief, he never doubted that his pops would help. He just didn't like the thought of having to put him back out there in the field after all this time. "Well pops...." And for the next 3 hours Eithen filled his parents in on the events of the last week, his reasons for doing what he had done and then finally getting to the reason for asking his father for help. 

"Oh that poor child, you have to find her Devon." 

Eithen smiled, his Ma was always there to nudge his father along.

"You know I will my dear." Turning his attention back to Eithen he asked, "What all do we know about the people that this Angelica person left her daughter with?" 

The rest of the night involved numerous phone calls and people coming and going from the house. Plans were being made and set into motion. They knew that they needed to find this little girl before it was too late and Eithen needed to find her for River's sake. He needed to keep him sane and emotionally stable. 

He knew the only way to do that was to reunite him with his daughter. So now, his first priority was to the safety of Raivyn, his second was to River's well being. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to keep him close and happy, he just knew that it had to be done. 

******

Eithen made it back to his place just after midnight. It had been a very long and emotional day. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep, knowing that he had to go into work the next morning and face River, pretending like he knew nothing of the situation. How was he going to be able to pull that off, he wondered. 

Oh well, I'll sort it out in the morning, he thought as he drifted off. 

That night Eithen dreamt of River. It was a strange and pain-filled dream. He saw River lying there on the ground, writhing in pain, covered in what appeared to be blood. As he tried to get closer to him, he was held back by an unseen force. The harder he fought to get to where River lay, the further back he was pushed. 

He stood there, unable to do anything. Then he noticed the figure kneeling beside River on the ground. It was a child, it was Raivyn. She turned her head and pleaded with her eyes for Eithen to help her father. He felt useless, he felt.... BEEP.... BEEP.... BEEP. 

Damn alarm, he thought as he reached over to smack it quiet.

Monday morning Eithen made his way into the office a bit earlier than usual. He wanted to try and avoid River as much as possible until he could confirm that they had a lead on Raivyns' whereabouts. So, he just sat in his office, going over reports and notes for the week ahead of them when he noticed how late it was. 

It was well passed the time for River to have arrived, yet he had not notified Eithen that he was at his desk as he would normally do. Eithen got up and headed over to where River's desk was located. Not seeing River brought back images of his dream the night before. He suddenly had a bad feeling. 

******

River became aware of his surroundings as he slowly managed to open his eyes from the throbbing in his head. 

"Oh God, not again. What the fuck is wrong with me?" 

He tried to stand up but did nothing more than fall back onto the floor in pain, his whole body ached. Reaching up, he felt for any damage he may have done to his head when he landed on the tile floor. Pulling his hand away, it was sticky and red. "Oh shit!" 

Once again he tried to get up but he found he just didn't have the strength, so he just laid there. He felt so tired and weak, his hands were shaking and he just hurt. 

"Fuck, I have to get to work. Mr. Donavan hates it when people are late or don't show up, this can't be happening, not now."

River managed to finally roll over onto his hands and knees before the throbbing in his head started up again. That was as far as he got before the pain increased to a roar and he fell to the floor again and passed out.

******

An hour later there was a knock at River's front door. Eithen just knew that something was not right, not after the dream he had the night before. When he got no answer, he started pounding and calling out. "RIVER.... I know you're in there.... c'mon man, open the door, it's Eithen." 

He waited a moment, just listening. He was about to turn around to look for a back door when he heard it. Faintly, he could hear moans of pain coming from inside. If it hadn't been for his sensitive hearing he never would have caught it. He had to get in there, he had to make sure River was ok. 

"Shit, looks like I'll have to break the door down." 

Eithen glanced around to make sure no one was near before he did a partial shift and forced his way into the house. What he found made him stumble and stop in his tracks. Just like in his dream, laying there on the floor was River. He had a small puddle of blood under his head, and Eithen could hear him moaning from the pain he was in. 

"River, Oh God, what happened?" Eithen asked as he made his way over to where he lay on the floor shaking. Eithen knelt down beside River, placing a hand gently on his face, stroking it, trying to get River to talk to him, but he was unresponsive. He needed to get help, and he needed it fast. 

Pulling out his cell he dialed 911 and waited for the dispatcher. "Yes, my name is Eithen Donavan, I need an ambulance sent over to 1-6-9 Gaylor Lane.... Yes.... I found my friend laid out on the floor shaking and unresponsive. He may have hit his head as he fell. There's a small puddle of blood that I can see.... Yes.... Please.... Thank you ma'am." 

After what seemed like hours, but was really only a few minutes, Eithen was able to hear the sirens approaching the house and let the dispatcher know that they were there before hanging up.

******

The first thing River became aware of was the feeling of laying on something soft. The last he remembered was trying to get up off the floor, after having another one of those episodes. Where am I? he wondered. He tried to open his eyes, but it was way too painful. "Ohhhh.... I freakin' hurt everywhere," he said out loud to himself, or so he thought. 

"River, oh thank God, let me get the nurse, don't move.... okay?" He knew that voice.... but it was all wrong. That could not have been Mr. Donavan, his boss wasn't concerned about anyone but himself. But he knew that deep, husky voice belonged to no one else.

"Good evening Mr. Addison, I heard that you were in here talking just a moment ago. My name is Molly, I will be your nurse for the night. Do you think you can open your eyes for me please Mr. Addison?" As she was talking, River could hear her moving around and checking the machines that he was hooked up to. He just noticed that he had an IV in his left arm, wires attached to his chest and a bandage on his head. 

"H.... ho.... How.... umm .... how did I.... ohhh it hurts. How did I get here?" River finally managed to get out. His head was pounding and his body felt like it was being weighed down by a ton of bricks. "My head is freakin' pounding, is there anything I can get for it, please? And it hurts to open my eyes." 

"Oh, sweetie, I know you hurt right now, you took a pretty hard hit to your head when you fell. I'll see about getting you something for the pain. The doctor should be in shortly now that you're awake. We really need you to try and open those pretty brown eyes though." Molly was trying to be as gentle as she could and keep her voice down, and River really appreciated it. 

"Molly, who else is here with you? I can hear someone else in the room." 

"Well Mr. Addison, if you would just open your eyes you could see for yourself who is here with me," Molly said with a hint of a smile in her voice. 

River struggled once again to pry his eyes open, noticing that Molly must have turned down the lights. It didn't seem to be as bright or as painful this time around. His vision was a little blurry, but he was able to make out the shape of the person standing just to the left of the lady he assumed was his nurse. He knew that body just like he knew that voice, he wasn't wrong. It was Mr. Donavan that was in his room. 

River wondered why his boss would be there.

Blinking a few times to make sure, River just laid there and stared at this man, who over the past week has made him feel like less of a man. 

What the hell is he doing here? I'm nothing more than a paid slave to him, must be here to make sure his investment was safe. That was the only reason River could think of. 

River was fuming, he really did not need this on top of everything else that was going on with him physically and mentally. He still didn't understand why this was happening to him. 

"What the hell are you doing here Mr. Donavan?" Eithen was taken aback, not so much by the question, but how it was put to him and River noticed the pained look that momentarily crossed his face. 

Well too dam bad if I hurt his feelings, he thought.

Eithen took a moment to calm down before answering. "When I realized that you had not shown up for work, I knew something was wrong. You have never missed a day of work, and you didn't call in. I was concerned, so I went to your place and found you lying on the floor. I called for an ambulance.... you were unresponsive when I tried to talk to you. You scared me River." Eithen mentally cringed when he realized what he had just said. Why did I just say that?

River wondered why he was acting like he cared? He had never been anything other than a dominant ass, and it had just gotten worse the longer I worked for him. 

"Why should you care Mr. Donavan, I'm nothing more than a simple employee that you can push around?" 

"Oh River, you have never been a 'simple employee' as you put it. The office couldn't run without all that you do for me and everyone else. I know that I am tough on you, but it really is for the best interest of everyone involved." 

By this point River was ready for Mr. Donavan to leave, he couldn't take anymore of this garbage. " I think it's time for you to go Mr. Donavan. I appreciate the help you gave to get me here, but you need to leave." River was getting more pissed the longer he had to listen to this man. 

Molly who had been standing there the entire time just shook her head, understanding what was going on, even if they didn't. "Mr. Donavan is it? I'm going to have to ask you to please leave, visiting hours are almost over as it is and Mr. Addison here needs his rest. You may return in the morning to check on him again." 

Eithen went from staring at River to looking at the nurse, nodding his head he said, "thank you ma'am, I'm sorry if I caused any additional stress to River." With that, he turned and walked out the door. 

"There has to be a way to get him to trust me, I need him to trust me." 

Those were the thoughts going through Eithen's head as he left the hospital and headed to his parents place to see what had been found out concerning Raivyn.



To Rise Again Ch. 05



River lay there trying to figure out what was going on with his boss. He saw the concern and the worry on his face, he also noticed a hint of what appeared to be a look of hurt when he told him to go. But what did he really expect? All of these thoughts were going through his head, making him think about all the times that Mr. Donavan had demanded things from him instead of just asking. If he didn't act like such an Alpha male, then maybe the employees would not be so afraid to approach him with their ideas and concerns. 

But noooo.... his attitude deterred them, therefore making River the one they came to. So it was always him that had to bring it all to Mr. Donavan's attention. Praying that whatever it was did not set the boss off. Just thinking about that man put River in a bad mood, and he so did not need any added stress to his life at the moment. River was brought back to the here and now when he realized that someone had entered his room. Looking up, he saw an older gentleman in a white coat. 'Must be the doctor Molly was talking about' he thought.

"Hello Mr. Addison. It's good to see you awake finally, you had us all a little worried."

"Finally, what do you mean finally? How long have I been here?" Now River was more confused and afraid. It couldn't have been more than a few hours. Right?

"What is the last thing you remember Mr. Addison?" the man in white asked, avoiding the question.

"Ummm... I remember getting up and heading to bed. After that, nothing. Again, how long have I been here?" He couldn't tell anything by watching the doctor. 

"You took a pretty nasty hit when you fell, you were brought in unresponsive, but all of your vitals were normal. You just would not wake up, and we did not understand why. As for how long you have been here, it has been three days."

"THREE DAYS!!! I have been here THREE days?" Suddenly River started having flashes of images. Images of his daughter. He couldn't explain them, he couldn't tell anyone about them. His head was pounding again. It hurt so bad.

The doctor noticed the pained expression on his patients' face and assumed that he was just hurting from his ordeal and from the stress of it all. He had no reason to think otherwise. 

"Sir, I need you to try and calm down. We still don't understand why you wouldn't wake up. We will need to run a few more tests before we can release you. But you NEED to calm down. We don't want to chance you slipping again into a coma."

"Make it go away... please... make the pain go away... my head... it hurts so bad." River begged of the doctor. The man walked over and inserted something into his IV, and he felt himself drifting off to sleep soon after. He did not wake up again until morning. 

******

Eithen pulled into the parking deck of the hospital and just sat there, not sure if he was up to feeling the anger towards him from River. 

I know that I can be a difficult boss, but I have to be hard on my employees from time to time. They need to remember who's in charge. I don't think I've been that bad. So why does he hate me? I need to get him to understand why I have been harder on him, he needs to know that it was for his own good. River needs to learn to take commands and still feel like he has control. I can teach him that, if he is willing to learn. I need to get him to trust me. How can I let him know all of what I have done and learned about his daughter without him feeling like I have invaded his personal life?' All these thoughts, and no answer in sight. 

Eithen managed to get out of his truck and head into the hospital, hoping that River would be in a better mood after a night of regular sleep. Stepping out of the elevator onto the floor that River was on, he saw the doctor standing there by the nurses' station. As he got closer he called out. "Hey Doc, having a good morning? Ma and pops said to remind you about dinner this weekend." 

"Ah, Eithen my boy, always good to see you." Doc said while pulling his nephew into a hug. 

"How is he today Doc, is he going to alright?" He knew he had no right to ask this, but he needed to know. 

"Mr. Addison seems to be doing better this morning. We're still not sure why he was out of it for as long as he was, there was no reason for it. However, all of the tests have come back normal, and his vitals have never wavered. It's a good thing you found him when you did though. No telling how long he may have laid there, and from what you have told us, there is no one else right now in his life. He's a lucky young man to have you as a friend." 

Eithen just stood there, not willing to correct his uncle. Doc stood there a moment in thought while looking at Eithen, he had to ask the question that had been nagging at him since the morning that River was brought in.

"Eithen, I understand that this young man works for you, but what you have done, by being here at his side, that is not normal for a boss and his employee. What does he really mean to you?" 

Eithen had to think about that. What did River mean to him? He felt the need to protect him, to keep him safe, to make sure he was happy. But what did all of that really mean? He had never been like this with anyone before, it confused him. Looking at his uncle he answered with what he knew. "I honestly don't know, it confuses me, these feelings. This desire to keep him safe and protected. Do you understand any of what I'm talking about?" 

His uncle sighed and then just nodded his head in the affirmative. "All I can tell you Eithen, is to talk to your parents about this. They can answer your questions far better than I can." With that, Doc turned and headed to check on his patient. 

Eithen followed his uncle into River's room and stayed close to the door in case he was not wanted there again. He noticed that River looked better this morning. He had more color to him, not so pale. Eithen also noticed that River was looking right at him. "How are you feeling today River? You look better, bet you can't wait to get out of here huh." He knew he was starting to ramble, but for some reason he was suddenly nervous. He did not like this feeling, he liked being in control. And control is one thing he did not have at the moment.

River watched as the door opened and the doctor came in, noticing someone else behind him. He did not expect to see Mr. Donavan again so soon after last night. He thought he made it clear that he was not wanted here. "What are you doing back here Mr. Donavan? I thanked you last night for getting me here, what more do you want? Are you just here to make sure I'm not playing hooky, or are you here to find out when I'm gonna be able to come back to work? Gotta keep that leash on your employee huh." 

Eithen was hurt by what River was ranting, but he refused to let it show. Rather he went into business mode and made sure his face was expressionless. "Actually, Mr. Addison, I came by this morning to check on the well being of my most valuable employee. I was not concerned about when you would be returning to work. The only thing I was concerned about was what caused you to be here in the first place. 

I can see that you are still in the same mood as you were last night. And if I remember right, Nurse Molly said that was not good for you. So, as a concerned boss, I suggest you calm down and stop taking your shit out on me. Are we clear Mr. Addison?" 

Eithen hated to do it, but it seemed like the only time River actually listened to him was when he let just a touch of his Alpha power seep out and he became more dominant.

River dropped his gaze and simply nodded, pushing his anger into the background for the time being. He knew that he was being unfair to Mr. Donavan, but there was just something to that man, it made River want to defy him one second and submit to him the next. It confused him, it scared him, and it angered him. No one had ever made him feel this way before, and he did not like it. "Yes sir, I'm sorry for taking it out on you."

The doctor just stood there with his mouth open, not believing what he just saw. In just a matter of minutes his nephew was able to make this man who had been nothing but angry and defensive anytime he was awake, calm and complacent. If he didn't think that these two were mates before, he had no doubts about it now. But, he had a job to do and he needed to pull himself together. Walking over to Mr. Addison's bed he picked up his chart and made a few notes on it before turning his attention to the man himself. 

"Mr. Addison, I am happy to inform you that all of your tests have come back normal, therefore we see no reason to keep you here any longer. You will be sore for a few days still and you might experience some headaches for the next week or so from hitting your head. 

Now, I understand that you live alone, is that correct?" Getting a nod he continued, "Ok, well do you have anyone that can either come stay with you or would let you stay with them over the next few days? Since we are still unsure of what is causing you to have these episodes, you are not to be alone in case you should have another one." 

Doc. noticed the panic on his patients face, already knowing the answer was going to be no. He got his answer as Mr. Addison slowly looked up and shook his head no, quietly saying that he had no one. "Unless we can release you to someone that will guarantee us that you will be looked after for the next two or three days, I'm afraid that you will have to stay here."

This was Eithen's chance to prove to River that he was not a bad person. Probably his only chance to gain his trust and friendship. Before he realized what he was doing, he stepped forward and cleared his throat getting his uncles attention. 

"Doc, he can stay with me. My house is big enough as you know, and there is always someone around. He will be watched carefully, and if there are any signs of a reoccurrence we can have him back here in just a few minutes." 

During all of this, he kept his eyes locked with Rivers, he could see the doubt there. He had to make sure River did not turn down his offer. "I am not giving you a choice in this River. You either come home with me or you stay here. As I see it, you are better off at my place where you can be more comfortable. And I am sure that my Ma would be more than happy to make sure that you are well fed and taken care of." Eithen and the doctor both chuckled with that last part.

"Ok... if I really don't have a say in this, then I guess I'll be going with Mr. Donavan here. I just need to stop by my place before we go anywhere to grab a few things." 

River thought to himself, what the hell am I supposed to do now? There is no way I can live with this man for the next three days. I have to find a way out of this. I have to come up with something.

"So when can I get out of here? You've all been great, but I really hate hospitals." 

The doctor informed him all he needed to do was to get his discharge papers ready and he was free to go. Within the hour River had all of his paperwork signed and was ready to get the hell out of there.

******

As Eithen went to get his truck from the parking deck he scolded himself for his reaction and behavior when it came to River. "What the hell am I doing? I want him to trust me, not hate me or fear me. So what do I do... I demand that he come and stay with me. Not even giving him a choice. Well done Eithen, what a great start at changing his feelings about you." 

Eithen pulled up in front of the doors and got out to help River into the truck, knowing that his help was not needed or wanted. He just had to do it though, something in him made him want to be there for River. Once River was in the truck and all settled in, he took off toward River's to get whatever was needed to stay at Eithen's place for the next few days. 

It was a silent ride, neither said a word to the other. They both were lost in their own thoughts. 

Eithen was thinking how he was going to reveal to River what he knew about his daughter and how he came about that information. 

River was thinking of ways to get out of staying with his boss while he recuperated from his most recent episode. He also needed to figure out what the hell was going on with him and these images he kept getting of Raivyn. River just knew that something was wrong, he feared for his daughter's safety. 

Pulling up in front of River's house, Eithen turned to him and asked if he needed any help getting his things together. This was it River thought, I just need to tell him thank you again for finding him and getting him the help he needed, but he was ok now, and that he would be fine on his own. Glancing over at Eithen, he got caught in the look that was aimed at him. He was unable to look away, unable to voice his denial of needing to be looked after. River was only able to nod and say "yes, please." 

They gathered up what River would need and then headed out of town to Eithen's place. Once again the ride was silent. This time Eithen was thinking of how to explain all the people that came in and out of his home without revealing a secret that was only meant to be learned by his mate. 

While River sat there thinking about what happened back in front of his place. Never had he been affected by someone like that. Never had he been unable say what he wanted to. What was it about Mr. Donavan that made him react the way he did. 

So lost in thought, neither realized that they had arrived and stopped in front of the house. They sat there, both unmoving, both unsure of what to say or do next. 

Eithen cleared his throat, looking out the window towards the house. "Well, here we are, home sweet home. Let's head in and I can show you where you can put your things. After that we can have some lunch, I'm not the greatest cook, but I manage. Then I will show you around the house." Getting out, Eithen walked around to make sure that River was able to get down ok, knowing that he was still hurting. 

Grabbing the things that River brought with him, they headed into the house. Eithen led him down a hallway till they reached the end, pointing out where the bathroom and his office were along the way. 

"You can use this room while you're here. If you need anything else for it, just let me know and I can get it for you. I want to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible." Eithen was interrupted by his cell ringing, looking he noticed that it was his pops. "Sorry, I have to take this. If you need me, just holler." 

With that, Eithen left River to get settled into what would be his room for the next few days.



To Rise Again Ch. 06



River just stood there and watched as Mr. Donavan turned and walked out the door, wondering what he had gotten himself into. He took a moment to look around the room that was now his, it wasn't really anything impressive. Dark wood floor, walls painted a hunter green color, big picture windows looking out to what appeared to be a garden of some sort. No pictures on the walls, no knick-knacks of any kind. 

There was a decent sized closet and a chest of drawers with a mirror above it, other than that, pretty scarce. The only thing of any real interest was the bed located in the center of the room. Apparently hand-made, it was a massive king sized dark wood four post bed with a canopy perched on top. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the carvings of wolves at play along the head and foot boards and on the posts were wolves howling at the moon. All in all... it was beautiful but still masculine. 

Finally getting his things put away, River was unsure of what to do next. He didn't feel right just going out and wandering the house himself, so he sat on the edge of the bed... and waited. Losing himself to his thoughts, River closed his eyes and began thinking over all that had occurred the last few days. 

The first episode he had worried him, the second frightened him. Not knowing if the images of his daughter were all his imagination, or if it was something else. What he saw scared the hell out of him, Raivyn looked so small and afraid. He knew, somewhere deep inside that it was real. What he was seeing was happening, but who would believe him? They would just think he was nuts, that he hit his head a little harder than they thought. No... there was no way that he could tell anyone about what he saw with his episodes.

River was so lost in his thoughts, that he was unaware that he was being watched from the doorway, not until he heard Mr. Donavan ask if he was ok. Jerking his head up, he saw the concern on his boss's face. River had been crying again as he thought of Raivyn, his baby girl, he had to find her. She was his life, all that he had left. 

"I'm fine, just tired I guess. Been a long couple of days for me is all. I umm... want to... to thank you Mr. Donavan. Thank you for allowing me to stay here, even if it isn't really necessary, I'm sure this is an inconvenience for you as well." 

"River, please call me Eithen while you are here. We are not in the office, and that is the only place that I want to be called Mr. Donavan. Also, I really don't mind you being here, if I did, I never would've suggested it, so drop it. You ready for some lunch? I know that hospital food couldn't have been very appetizing." 

River just sat there, watching Mr. Donavan shift from foot to foot in the doorway, almost like he was unsure of himself at the moment. He had to be wrong though, Mr. Donavan was always in charge and sure of everything. Realizing that he was waiting for an answer, River just nodded his head and stood up to follow.

As River walked behind Eithen he took in his surroundings. Not bad he thought to himself as he looked around at the home of his boss. It wasn't anything like he expected it to be. He figured with someone like Mr. Donavan, the home would be sterile and plain looking. He was not expecting it to be warm and inviting. Dark wood flooring, large picture windows looking out over the yard and the woods beyond. A high ceiling with sky lights every few feet added a nice touch making it seem more open and bright. 

The walls were a pale blue color to offset the darkness of the woodwork and floors. Just ahead of them he could see into a large room with a cobblestone fireplace being the main focus, surrounded by dark leather couches and chairs. Above the fireplace was a painting with what looked like wolves running in the woods. It was a beautiful picture. River noticed that there seemed to be a lot of carvings, statues and paintings all depicting wolves in some sort of activity. 

Walking into the kitchen, the first thing that River saw was the huge hand-made table that could easily seat twelve people around it. The backs of the chairs and the rim around the table also had wolves carved into them. Mr. Donavan really seems to have a thing for wolves he thought. Turning around he realized that he was being watched. 

"You like what you see so far? I know it's not much, but it's home, I can be myself here." Eithen said as he started taking things out of the fridge to make sandwiches with. "So... what do you want? I have just about anything you could possibly want in here. My ma makes sure that I stay well stocked. Oh, and just a heads up for ya, my parents will be over tonight for dinner." Eithen looked up at that point to see River just standing there with a strange look on his face. "You doin' ok over there River?" he asked. 

"Um... yeah, I'm good. This is just all so strange for me. You're not anything like you are in the office. You are always so... so uptight and stern while at work. I can't not think of you as Mr. Donavan, but this... you just seem so laid back and like any other guy. It's not right, it's not how I pictured you. All I ever think is that you are a no nonsense, egotistical, self-righteous bastard. Sorry, but that is how you come across to everyone in the office." River blurted out before really thinking of what he was saying, glancing up at Mr. Donavan to see his reaction to what he just admitted. He wasn't expecting to see the smirk on his boss's lips.

Eithen couldn't help but laugh to himself as River went off on his little rant, he knew how he came across to his employees and that was exactly how he wanted it. However, when it came to River, he needed to make sure that he showed his true self. Well, maybe not his TRUE self, not yet anyways. That is one side of him that no one outside the pack could know about. 

"River, I am well aware of how I represent myself in the office. But we are not in the office now are we? No... we are in my home, and who I am here has little to do with who I am there." Eithen stated while staring at River to make sure that he was paying attention to what he was saying.

"That is just a job, something I have to do to pay my bills. I am NOT there to make friends, I am there to work and to make sure that my employees are capable of doing the job that they were hired for. SO, if you really want me to be the... how did you put it? Egotistical and self-righteous bastard that you are used to in the office while you are here in MY home as MY guest... then I guess I could do that for you. BUT, I really don't want to have to be that person while in my own home, just so YOU, can keep that image you have of me from shattering to pieces." With that said, he turned and finished pulling out the stuff to make lunch acting like nothing just happened.

River stood there, mouth agape not believing he just said that to his boss of all people. What the hell did I just do? Oh shit... I am so going to get fired over this, I just know I am. Should I apologize? Maybe... yeah, that's what I need to do. Tell him that it must be the meds that the doctor has me on. Oh man, I really can't be here now after what just happened. River really gave himself a talking to in his own head while standing there, not paying any attention to what was going on around him. It wasn't until Mr. Donavan slid a plate across the counter to him did he notice that the food was ready.

"Eat up River, I know you have to be hungery after being in the hospital a few days. And don't worry about what just happened here. I just hope that I made my point clear to you. This is my home, and here I can be me, I don't have to be the hard ass that you THINK you know. So please, for me, don't fret over it and you are still welcome to stay for however long you need to be here."

River was still unsure of what to make of this man. Here in this place, he is not Mr. Donavan the boss... he is Eithen the man. That is something that he will have to keep reminding himself. Eithen was nothing like Mr. Donavan, not really. He could get his point across just as easily as he could in the office with the right tone of voice. That voice, it made River do things that were so unlike him. It made him want to do what was commanded of him, yet it infuriated him at the same time, making him want to rebel and tell that man to go to hell. He was so confused, maybe he had hit his head harder than he thought. 

"Why don't you go lay back down for a bit, my parents won't be here for a few more hours and the rest would do you some good. I will wake you before they get here so you have time to shower and get dressed. Maybe after dinner, I can show you the rest of the house. Does that sound like a plan?" Eithen asked as he cleared away the dishes and put the food away. A look of concern crossed his face, River looked a little pale and like he would pass out at any moment.

"Yeah, I think that sounds good. Umm... thanks for the lunch Mr. Don... I mean Eithen." River said as he headed back towards the room he was staying in. Not even bothering to undress, he just layed down on the bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

******

Eithen watched as River slowly made his way back down the hallway before turning to finish cleaning up the kitchen. He knew he had at least a good three hours before his parents got there, and he was worried about how River would do around them. Hopefully it goes smoothly and they all get along well. His Ma would be the easy one, knowing her, she would be ready to adopt River by the end of the night. That's just how she was, always the mother to whoever may need it, and he loved her even more for that. Maybe they could talk a little about Sanctuary and how that was coming along. That would be a safe topic for them all and it would keep the focus off of River.

Eithen took the time that he had before waking up River to get some things done concerning pack business. He had reports to read and requests from his members that he had to decide if they needed his approval. The pack had the weekly meeting coming up in a few days, and he needed to figure out what to do with River during that time. He couldn't take him to that, but by then River should be ok to be on his own for a few hours at least. 

Eithen buried himself in paperwork for the next couple of hours while still thinking about how to tell River about Raivyn. He knew that it would not be an easy thing to talk about, and he just hoped that River didn't do anything rash once he found out.

After putting all of his papers away, Eithen headed down to wake River so they could get ready before his parents got there. He reached out to knock on the door and stopped short, he could hear River in the room moaning like he was in pain again. Without regards to River's privacy he just walked in to make sure he wasn't hurt, stopping just inside the door he took in the scene before him.

River was laying there on the bed curled up moaning and crying in his sleep. Eithen couldn't make out what was being said, but knew that River must be having a dream of some sort. Walking over, he gently shook River awake not wanting to startle him. "Hey River,it's time to get a move on man, need to get up and showered. C'mon, that's it, open those brown eyes for me so I know that you're alright." 

"Oh, uhhh... hi, is it time already? It feels like I just fell asleep." River said as he stretched out, not knowing the effect he was having on Eithen as he arched his back up off the bed and making little moans of pleasure. 

What the hell is going on with me? Eithen thought as he turned and walked back out of the room before River could notice his problem. "Uh, yeah... been a few hours and my parents should be here in about another hour. Hope you like steak...." Eithen said as he headed towards his own room to get ready.

Hopping in the shower, Eithen couldn't get the image of River out of his head. The way he looked stretched out and sleep rumpled in the middle of that big bed. The noises he made, oh god, what he wouldn't do to hear those again. 

"What is going on with me? I have NEVER been attracted to River before... so why now?" he asked himself. Looking down was all the proof he needed of his desire.Trying to ignore it, he grabbed up the body wash and started soaping up, but his body and mind had other ideas.

As he washed up, he let his mind wander and his imagination take over. Standing under the hot spray of water he closed his eyes and let his hands glide slowly over his body as he pictured River's arms wrapped around him from behind, slowly trailing his hands up and down his chest and stomach. Fingers grazing across his nipples until they hardened and then lightly pinching them. One hand remained on his chest as the other slowly made its way down to wrap around his hard and leaking cock. 

Gently, he started stroking up and down, teasing the head with a swipe of his thumb on every upstroke. He could imagine the feel of River pressed up against his back, his breath ghosting across his skin. With that, he sped up his strokes, getting closer to his release. He could imagine River slipping around to the front and kneeling down, stroking Eithen's cock as he looked up, eyes full of lust. That was all he needed to go over the edge. Bracing himself on the wall, Eithen experienced probably one of the strongest orgasms that he could remember while thinking of River. 

"OH God... I can't believe I just did that, River of ALL people to get off thinking about. Why now and why him? He has enough shit going on in his life right now without me adding more to it by wanting him." Eithen really had no idea what any of this meant, all he did know was that he wanted that man who was currently down the hall. 

"Damnit to hell... I can't do this, I have to forget what I just did. I can't have him, he not only works for me, but he is also straight as can be. I am not about to subject myself to the hassle involved with any of that." Making up his mind, Eithen got dressed and headed to the kitchen to get everything ready for dinner and his parents' arrival.

******

River got up and quickly showered to wake himself up and hopefully shake the memories of what he was dreaming from his head. He was still having a hard time understanding what all these visions were about and now he was dreaming about Raivyn. What exactly was going on with him? Each episode he had was stronger than the one before and the images were more clear, now you add in the dreams and you come up with.... River didn't have a clue, but whatever it added up to couldn't be anything good.

After getting dressed he headed out to the kitchen to see about helping with dinner before Eithen's parents got there. "You need help with anything Eithen?" River asked as he came around the corner into the kitchen. 

"Nah, I think I got it all covered in here, but thanks." Eithen said without looking up. "Go ahead and sit there and relax while I get all of this ready, my parents should be here any time now." 

River just nodded and sat down at the counter that seperated the kitchen from the dining area of the house. "So, is there anything I need to know before they get here? Like names, occupations, things like that. I just want to make sure that I am prepared and don't come across as some imbocile in front of them." 

River watched Eithen work around the kitchen, unable to keep his eyes from following his every move for some reason. What am I doing? I can't be staring at my boss like that. Hell, I don't even like men. I'm beginning to think that I need to have my head examined again. Coming out of his musings, River noticed Eithen looking at him strangely. "What... is something wrong? Do I look ok?"

"Oh... yeah... you look good... I mean... umm... what did you want to know about my parents?" 

River was getting confused by Eithen's behaivor, hell, he was confused by his own. "What do I call them? Can't really go around refering to them as Eithen's mom and Eithen's dad now can I?" He asked with a little smirk.

"No, I guess you can't. My fathers name is Devon and my mother is Siobhan. My mother is a retired social worker and my father is a retired foreman with the local train yard. There really isn't much to tell, just ask them and they will answer anything you may want to know about." Eithen said as he finished up the last bit of prep work for dinner just as the doorbell rang.

"Do you want me to get that for you while you finish up in here?" River asked standing to head to the door. 

"Nah, I'll get it... just sit here, it'll only take a sec to get it and it saves you from being uncomfortable from the start." Eithen had a point, so River sat there and waited for him and his parents to come into the kitchen.

"River, these are my parents, Devon and Siobhan." Eithen introduced as they walked back in. The first thing that River noticed was how much Eithen looked like his father. Standing he walked over and shook Devon's hand, then turned to do the same with Siobhan but stopped before his hand even touched hers. 

"You alright River? You look like you just saw a ghost." Eithen questioned as he stood there watching River and wondering what was going on. 

Blinking a few times, River turned to Eithen, then back to Siobhan. He had to be seeing things, this could not be real. The woman standing in front of him was in his dreams the last few nights. He couldn't let them know that though, so he lied.

"Yeah, sorry, I'm good. Forgive me if I was rude. You just reminded me of someone I knew." Reaching out again, River lightly held onto Siobhan's hand while looking her in the eye. She knows, he thought, I don't know how, but she knows.

"Ok then, well dinner should be ready soon if you would like to take a seat. Ma, can you help me bring it all out please?" Eithen asked as he headed back over to get everything. Dinner was well under way and everyone seemed to be getting along. River stopped staring finally, and just kept his eyes down for the most part unless he was answering a question. It looked like it had turned out to be a good evening.

"Here, let me clear this up Eithen. It's the least I can do for your hospitality and allowing me stay here for a few days." As River stood and started gathering the dishes, he could feel the pain start in his head. "NO... oh no... not again... not now... please... not now." Dropping the plates he grabbed his head and fell to his knees as the pain increased. Rocking back and forth on the floor, he waited for the flashes to start, he didn't have to wait long. Eithen's parents just stood there, not sure what to do, while Eithen dropped to the floor next to River and pulled him into his lap waiting for whatever was happening to end.

"Please, no more, it hurts, make it stop. Raivyn, oh god, my baby girl... what are they doing to you. Daddy's gonna find you sweetie, be strong for daddy... please my angel... daddy will find you. Please make it stop, I can't stand this... my head is going to explode... please. Raivyn... my baby... I have to find her... gotta save her... they are hurting my Raivyn..." River was unaware of the fact that he was speaking outloud until he saw the looks of sadness and confusion on the faces of Devon and Siobhan.

"River, look at me. C'mon man... look back here at me... that's it. Hi there, you ok now? The pain going away? You had us scared there for a minute." Eithen was still holding River and gently rocking him as he spoke softly to River, brushing the hair away from his face. Devon and Siobhan exchanged knowing glances with eachother. It was just a matter of time before the boys realized what was happening between them. 

"I think I'm ok now, thank you. Ummm... was I talking during all of that? Did you really hear all of that?" 

Seeing their nods, River hung his head and started to cry. He didn't know what to do. They were going to think him crazy if he told them what he sees during his episodes. He had to try and explain it to them though. He had to make them understand that his daughter was reaching out to him for help somehow.




To Rise Again Ch. 06



River looked at each of them before clearing his throat and wiping his eyes dry, working up the courage to tell them what he was sure they were wondering. "How to explain this... I'm not even sure myself what is happening to me. It started about a week ago, I got this severe pain in my head and brief flashes of images... but not just any image. Images of my daughter, Raivyn. You see..." and River went on to tell about all that had occurred in the last six months.



To Rise Again Ch. 07



Eithen and his parents sat there while River told them his story, they watched the emotions play across River's face as he talked about his daughter and how his ex just took off with no warning. Devon and Siobhan both gave their son a look, telling him that it was time to reveal what he knew. Eithen knew that it was going to be hard, but he really didn't have a choice now. Waiting for River to finish up, he thought about the best way to start this. From the beginning I guess,just please don't let him hate me after this. I don't think I could handle that anymore, he thought to himself.

"River, there is no need to be ashamed or embarrased by what you just revealed to us here. None of us think of you as crazy... if you say that you are getting visions of Raivyn during your episodes, then who are we to say differently. I for one believe you, as I am sure my parents do as well." Eithen said as he looked up to where his parents were sitting at the table. Pops had a serious expression on his face and Ma looked like she wanted to pull River to her and hold on til he got out all of his pain and sadness. Tightening his hold on River a bit, he knew that now was the time to let River know all that he had learned concerning Raivyn to this point.

River looked back and up into Eithen's eyes, seeing the truth there, they didn't think him crazy or unstable. He also saw something else there, something that he was unsure of how to interpret. Without breaking eye contact, he tried to pull away from where he sat in Eithen's lap. He was to comfortable there, it felt too right. 

Eithen wasn't about to let go though, he pulled him back against his chest and continued to hold on, offering support and comfort. "River, I umm... I need to tell you a few things. Things that will be hard for you to hear. Just remember that what you learn tonight, was all done for you. Can you do that for me please?" With a nod from River, Eithen began.

River couldn't believe what he was hearing, that didn't sound like something Angelica would do. It had to be wrong... it just had to be. "Are you sure Eithen? 100% positive that it was Angelica that you spoke to? That doesn't sound like her. I can't even imagine her doing something like that. I know she was kinda distant when it came to our daughter... but that... just giving her away.... I can't, I won't believe it. There has to another explanation." 

River just sat there shaking his head back and forth, not really wanting to know how Eithen found out all of this. But he needed to know... he did... he had to get his Raivyn back, he had to know that she was safe. He would deal with Eithen later for digging into his personal life. But if it helped him find his daughter, then maybe he could forgive him.... eventually.

"River, I swear to you that all I have told you came straight from Angelica herself. I wouldn't, no change that... I couldn't make something like that up. Please don't hate me for what I have done, but I needed to do it ,needed to do it for you. I knew something was going on in your life... why didn't you come to me? I would have helped you from the start. I know that I am a hard-ass at work... but am I really that unapproachable that you couldn't trust me with something this important? You know what I do, you know that I started up Sanctuary to prevent things like this from happening. You could have came to me." During all this Eithen continued to hold River and gently stroke his hand over River's hair and cheek, unaware that he was doing it.

"I know all of that Eithen, I really do... but this was me, my life, not some stranger that you felt the need to impress. Until this moment, I knew nothing of what happened to Angelica and Raivyn. That damn P.I. that I hired never had any info for me... or so he said. Wonder what he was getting for keeping his mouth shut all this time? " River wasn't sure what to think right now... he had to get away for a bit... he had to think. 

"Can you let me up please Eithen, I need to go lay down. The episodes always wear me out. I am sorry that I ruined your night. Mr. and Mrs. Donavan, I hope the next time we see one another that it goes better." Once Eithen let go, River got to his feet and made it to his room where he broke down sobbing. 

How could she? How could she do that to our daughter? That BITCH... if I ever see her again, she will be lucky to walk away. Oh baby, my beautiful Raivyn, what did mommy do? I promise you Raivyn, daddy will find you. Daddy will make it all better. With those thoughts going through his head, River fell into a restless sleep.

******

Back out in the kitchen Eithen sat at the table with his parents, going over all that had happened. From the start of the evening it had been kinda unsetteling when River froze up meeting Siobhan, to the time River left to go lay down. "Ma, tell me what that was when you got here... I know you understand what happened." 

"I do son, but I am not sure how to explain it really. I think River and I have a connection of some sort, how I don't know, but we do. He has been in my dreams for the last week or so. I never understood them. I didn't think much about them after having them, just chalking it up to strange dreams. But now... like I said, I can't explain it." Siobhan answered as the men in her life just gave her a confused look.

Eithen knew that he just added to River's turmoil, but what was he to do? River had a right to know what he did about Angelica and Raivyn. Did it ease his mind any... maybe a little, because now he no longer had to hide it, but it still weighed heavily upon Eithen. And to top it all off was this pull he felt towards River. Did River feel it as well? At times it seemed that he did, but he wasn't sure. They could work on that after they located Raivyn. She had to be first priority, and everything else would just have to be put in hold. 

"You still with us son? You look like you were a million miles away. What's going on in that head of yours?" Devon asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to see if his son would verify it for them.

"Yeah, I guess I was pops, just thinking you know. Now that we know River and his daughter have a strange connection and apparently Ma as well, maybe we can use that to help us locate Raivyn easier. Right now, we have run out of leads. She just seems to have disappeared, with no trail to follow. But, I will damn sure find one that will take us to her." Adding quietly "I have to, for River's sake." 

"Ma... pops... I talked to Doc this morning, and he said I should talk to you guys about something. That you would be able to answer any questions I may have. Do you think you could hear me out before saying anything though?" 

Devon and Siobhan looked at each other for a minute before turning back to their son and letting him know that they would do as asked.

"Ok... so here's the thing, River has worked for me now for over a year. I have been around him almost daily during that time, and until just before all of this stuff with his daughter started, I never thought of him as anything other than another employee. For some reason, I'm feeling very protective of him, I want to be near him, I want to keep him safe and happy."

With a blush he continued, "I'm starting to respond physically around him and that has never happened to me before. I am confused, scared and... I just can't do this. I can't WANT him. What am I going to do? What does it all mean? Can you fill me in here a bit please?" Eithen looked at his parents as he pleaded with them to help him. He needed to know the answers to these questions.

"Well son, that's easy for us to answer, but what do you think it all means? Think real hard on what you know about pack history, pack life, and about what you are starting to feel and then let us know what you think it means." Siobhan told her son as he sat there wanting an answer. 

Eithen did what his Ma asked of him... he thought about all he learned growing up about pack history, laws, legends, stories and then he took a good look at how he was feeling and reacting to River over the last few weeks. It only took him a few minutes to come to his conclusion... but that couldn't be... could it? Could River really be his...

Jerking his head up when he realized what it meant, he stared at his parents. "Is that even possible? I thought mates were always of the opposite sex to secure our race. Are you sure? I didn't think... I mean... really? He's my mate?" Nothing was making sense to Eithen at the moment.

"If River is my mate, that would explain the need to protect. I thought it would be an instant pull though, like as soon as I saw my mate I would know without a doubt who they were." Eithen was really getting confused now on this. If River was his mate, then why did he not know that sooner?

Devon leaned over the table and looked his son in the eye, making sure that he had his full attention before he explained what has happened. "Eithen, son, it doesn't always work that way. With two weres it's an instant connection, however, when it comes to finding your mate as human... well then it can get a bit dicey. You may not have realized that River was your mate, but your wolf has always known it.

I bet if you think back to when he was hired and started working for you, that you would start to see things that you thought were just insignificant. Did you have to keep him close? Did you have to know where he was? Did you feel like something was not right once he left and you couldn't see him? Think about it tonight. I bet ya that the answers you seek will become clear."

Eithen couldn't get his mind to wrap around the fact that he had a mate, and not just any mate, but River as his mate. How the hell is he supposed to deal with that? How could fate do this to him? His mate is a straight man. Fucked up is what it is. He had to just ignore his instincts and concentrate on Raivyn right now. After walking his parents out, Eithen went into his office and picked up the phone calling Troy to see if they had anything new. He had to get his mind on other things right now.   

******  

River woke up the next morning confused and disoriented, not remembering where he was. Once he did, the previous night rushed back to him, making him curl up and start sobbing again. What he learned couldn't be real, but he somehow knew that it was... all of it was true. Angelica taking off with Raivyn, getting into the drugs and not wanting to take care of their daughter anymore, just giving her away like an unwanted pet. 

Then with all of that, there was this pull he felt towards Eithen. That scared him, he has never looked at a man in that way before. So why now, why his boss of all people? He would just ignore those feelings for now. He needed to concentrate on Raivyn first and foremost. They had to find a way to find her. Between all of them they should have a better chance now. He hoped anyways.

After getting up and dressed he headed to the kitchen where he could smell bacon and eggs cooking and the oh so wonderful aroma of fresh made coffee. "I hope there's enough coffee there for me, or you might not like me to well this morning." River commented as he walked into the kitchen and startling Eithen. "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on ya Eithen. I will be sure to make plenty of noise next time I come into a room with you, don't need ya to burn yourself or anything like that now do we?" River said with a little laugh in his voice.

"You seem to be feeling a bit better this morning River, and yes, there is plenty of coffee here for you.Please help yourself to anything you want while here. How are you holding up after last night? I know it must have been hard for you to hear, but you needed to know what I did. I'm just sorry that I couldn't give you any real answers. However, I did find out after speaking to one of my men last night that they have a new lead that may pan out for us. I should hear back sometime in the next few hours. Until then, try and relax. Yeah, I know... easier said than done... but for me... please try." 

Eithen watched as River's shoulders drooped a bit and started to shake. Before he knew it, he was around the counter and had River in his arms, just holding him while he cried. Eithen wasn't sure how long they stood there like that, but it felt so right holding him like this. But he couldn't think of that right now. Raivyn came first, after they find her then he can explore his options where River is concerned.

"Umm... thanks, again Eithen. It seems like all you do anymore is take care of me when I fall. Thank you, I mean that. You have proven to me time and again over the last few days that you are nothing like I had you built up in my mind. And for that I apologize, I shouldn't have made assumpions on your personal behaviour based solely on how you are in the office." River opened his eyes and realized that he was still holding onto Eithen. Letting go, he slowly backed up and turned to grab a mug for some much needed coffee. 

"Do you think we can go over what you have today, I need to find her Eithen. She's my life, I have to get her back. I don't care what it will cost, or what I might have to sacrifice, there is no price to high to ensure the return of my daughter." 

Eithen stood there, taking in all that River was saying, he was impressed to say the least with his ability to try and hold it all together to get done what needed to be done. Then again, it didn't really come as a shock, this here is the River that he hired. The confident, get the job done no matter what, young man that he first met a year ago and just knew that he was the one he had to hire.

On the inside River was terrified, but he wasn't about to let that show. He had to be strong if they had any chance of getting his daughter home safe where she belonged. But that wasn't the only thing that had him shaking. All these feelings and thoughts were bombarding him anytime he was within touching distance of his boss. He couldn't think about that right now though, he had to think of his daughter.

"Yeah, that's fine River. Let's get some food in us and then we can head back into my office. I have everything in there that we have uncovered." 

River was relieved a bit that he had Eithen on his side for this situation. He knew if anyone could find her, it was Eithen. He was the type of man that got what he wanted, and right now he wanted to find her. River knew that nothing or no one would stand in the way of Mr. Donavan once he really got started. He was a very intimidating man when he wanted to be.

With breakfast out of the way, they headed back to Eithen's office where he pulled out a file thick with papers and notes. He handed it over to River to look at while he made a few more calls to see where they were on the new lead. River spent the next hour going over all the information while still trying to hear what Eithen was finding out from his people. As he read the report on the "interrogation" of Angelica, it about made him sick. He needed to take a break after that. He got up and paced the floor for a bit, waiting for Eithen to finish his call. As soon as he hung up River was questioning him.

"Well, what did they find out? Did they locate her yet? Please tell me they have..." and with that River collapsed into the chair. Eithen once again was there to help catch him. They just sat there with River in Eithen's lap. They both knew that it was wrong, that they shouldn't allow themselves to get into situations like this. They couldn't stop it though, they had to be near each other. And if that meant that Eithen was holding River, then so be it.

River turned his head a bit to look back at Eithen, just gazing into his eyes. He could see all kinds of emotions in play, all of which scared him. He couldn't help how his body reacted though. Eithen was thinking the same as he looked into River's eyes, his beautiful brown eyes. He watched River for any indication that he should stop what he was about to do.

Seeing only confusion, he slowly lowered his head. Bringing his mouth closer to River's, making sure he gave him plenty of time to move or change his mind. Once Eithen realized that River wasn't going anywhere he lightly brushed his lips against Rivers. Just a gentle touch, a barely there kiss. He kept his eyes locked with River's the entire time. It felt like heaven, so soft, so warm, so right. This is where he belonged. 

River sat there, watching as Eithen lowered his head, he knew what was about to happen, but he didn't care. He was confused, but he wasn't scared anymore. Being here in Eithen's arms felt right, it felt like coming home. He needed to know what it would feel like to have those lips against his. As soon as he felt Eithen's breath across his skin, he knew he had to have more. 

After that first little taste, he surprised himself and Eithen it seemed by initiating the next kiss. This one was harder, more exploratory, but just as right as the first one. Wrapping his arms around Eithen's neck he turned more to get a better taste of this man. He knew that this is what he had been missing, why he never felt complete in any of his relationships. Was River actually gay? Or was it just Eithen? He didn't care at this point. He needed to be held, comforted, even loved by this man.

Eithen couldn't believe that River was responding as he was. He was expecting to get punched at least, not kissed back with such vigor and emotion. Maybe River just needed the emotional and physical support that Eithen was offering up to him. He wasn't about to complain, he just hoped that River didn't regret what was happening once he thought about it. 

As Eithen was getting ready to wrap his arms around River to pull him in closer the phone rang, interrupting what they had started. The intrusion seemed to be the thing that finally brought River from his emotionally charged trance. He hopped out of the chair and walked over the the window, wrapping his arms around himself as he stared into the backyard. 

What was I thinking? What was I doing? I'm not gay, I'm not. I can't be... can I? OH GOD!!! With Eithen, my boss. I can't let that happen again. But it felt so good, so right. What is it about that man, that I can't seem to resist? NEVER, have I been attracted to men, never. River stood there questioning himself and his actions while he waited for Eithen to finish up. Not even realizing that he had raised his hand and was tracing his lips where just minutes ago, Eithen's had been. 

The only thought in his head by then was that it was right, that it was where he was meant to be, that Eithen was the person that he needed in his life. Nothing else mattered except finding Raivyn and bringing her home. He needed her home so he could feel complete once again. Whatever happened between him and Eithen from this point forward would just have to happen as fate had mapped out. He wasn't going to run from him, but he sure as hell wasn't going to make it easy for Eithen either.



To Rise Again Ch. 08



Unlike River, Eithen didn't have the chance to think about what had just transpired between them. Troy was on the phone giving an update on the search for Raivyn. "Yeah Troy, I'm listening. Has pops been able to locate the couple yet? Uh huh... yeah... ok. Let pops know I will get a hold of him later for a more detailed account... thanks Troy, let me know when you find anything else out."

"DAMIT-IT to hell, so fucking close." Eithen grumbled slamming the phone down, startling River out of his thoughts. "Sorry about that; that was Troy, my uhh... second in charge of security. The lead they had was good." Seeing River getting worked up he made his way over to where he was. Slowly reaching out, he waited for River to pull away from his touch. When he didn't, Eithen pulled River into himself before continuing. 

"Shhh... the lead was good, but it didn't pan out. I'm so sorry River that I can't give you better news. My men tracked down where the couple was last located. However, by the time they got there, the people were long gone. It's almost like they know we are searching for them and are just a step ahead of us."

River tried to keep it together, he had to be strong, not only for himself but for Raivyn. What good would he be to her when they found her if he didn't? He knew that Eithen would find his baby girl. Maybe it was time to start trusting again. After what Angelica did to him, it would be hard, but he had to do it. Eithen needed to know ALL about the visions and the dreams. Not just the little bits and pieces that he had revealed to them the night before.

Looking up from where he was being held in Eithen's embrace, River knew it was time to be completely honest. He could see the concern in Eithen's eyes, and something else he wasn't ready to put a name to right now. He needed to let this man in, and trust him to be there for him and offer his support and strength.

"Eithen, I uhh... I wasn't totally honest with you and your parents last night." Looking away, River tried to pull out of Eithen's arms, only to have him hold on more tightly. Giving up, he leaned into Eithen, struggling to come up with the words needed. 

"I umm... only told you all a part of what I've been seeing during my episodes. And I have been having dreams as well lately." Stopping for a second, he looked up again to see if Eithen was angry with him for holding back. All he saw was a look of confusion, so he continued.

"The dreams actually started a few days before my first episode, but I thought nothing of them. They were just strange dreams. I dismissed them, thinking that it was due to all the stress. That is until I saw your mother. She has been in all of them Eithen. ALL of my dreams, how is that even possible? I never met her before last night." 

"I don't know River, but I do know that nothing is impossible." Eithen replied softly as he started running his hands up and down River's back in a soothing manner. "Last night, when you met my Ma, what went thru you're your head? It couldn't have been easy for you to come face to face with a person in your dreams?"

River thought back to the night before, to the moment that Siobhan walked into the kitchen. What did he feel? What did he think? Disbelief, shock, even that his mind was playing tricks on him. Making him think he was seeing someone that he wasn't. So many things he thought of as he stood there looking at this woman who should not exist. 

"Eithen, if it's alright with you, I need to sit down. And I think I may need one of my pain pills before I go any further." River asked quietly, while looking away. 

"Of course it's alright. Why didn't you say something sooner River? You should have told me. There is no reason you should be in pain." Not letting go, he lead River over to the sofa in the corner of the room before releasing his hold on him. Once River was seated, Eithen walked over to the wet bar on the other side of his office and pulled out a bottle of water. "Where are your meds at River? You just need to sit there and get yourself together while I get everything you need." 

Looking up into those steel grey eyes, River knew that Eithen was talking about more than just his meds. He couldn't think about that right now though. He needed to get everything into some semblance of order, so he could finish telling Eithen about his dreams and the visions. He could reflect on what was occurring between Eithen and himself later. It wasn't a priority right now.

"I think I put them on top of the nightstand beside the bed. Both bottles please if you would." River said as he looked back down at his hands laying there in his lap shaking slightly. He watched Eithen turn and walk out of the room from below his lashes, unable to take his eyes off of this man. As he waited for Eithen to return, River took the time to try and remember everything that he has seen in his dreams and those damn flashes of images. His dreams were pretty simple to explain, just strange. The images, visions, whatever you want to call them will be tougher. Trying to piece them together and all the details he had to remember.

"Here ya go, take these and then continue whenever YOU are ready. River, we don't even have to do this ri..." River stopped him before he could finish. Grabbing Eithen's hand, he gently pulled to encourage him to sit beside him on the sofa.

"Yes I do, I need to talk about it. Maybe if I can describe it to you, then it might make more sense. Maybe all of the pieces will finally start falling into place. Eithen, I NEED to do this." River pleaded while squeezing Eithen's hand, unaware that he never let it go.

Nodding, Eithen could see this was something that River needed to do right now. Turning himself, he leaned back against the arm of the sofa, waiting for River to describe what he had seen and dreamt of over the last week or so. Eithen still wondered what River's connection with his Ma was, he would just have to be patient and listen to what he had to say. 

After taking his meds, River just sat there for a few minutes gathering his thoughts. "Ok, well let's start with your question from before. When your mother walked in last night, everything from my dreams came flooding back, like someone had flipped a switch. It was surreal ya know. I thought my mind was playing tricks, there was no way that the woman from my dreams was a real person. Yet, there she was; standing right in front of me. That's why I froze up, no way was I going to admit to anything. I told myself that surely none of you would believe me, thinking that I was crazy and in need of some serious help.

"The dreams, even though I thought them strange, they are pretty simple to explain. So let me start with that ok." Glancing up, River saw Eithen watching him and he knew then that he was really being listened to and not just being placated. "Like I said earlier, they started a few days before my first episode, which was Saturday morning. They are always the same for the most part, only the location of where the woman enters changes from dream to dream." 

River seemed to go into a trance-like state as he began telling Eithen of his dream. Staring ahead, yet unseeing, his eyes glazed over as he brought the dream to the forefront of his mind, remembering it. River was reliving all that he had dreamt.

"It starts out with me walking in the park alone, always alone. I'm searching for Raivyn, hollering her name, just like I used to when she and I would play hide-n-seek. Raivyn, oohhh Raivyn, where's my angel? I wonder, oh gee I wonder where my Raivyn could be? After that I would stop and listen, waiting to hear her giggle, always giving away her hiding spot. But it never comes, there is only silence. With the silence comes the fear, I can't find my baby girl. I start running, still searching, still calling out to her. By now, I know that I won't find her, I never find her.

"As I slow down to a walk again, the scene changes. I am no longer in the park, I find myself standing in a field of wildflowers. All around me, as far as I could see was this field, nothing else. Slowly turning in circles, trying to figure out where I am, which way I need to go. That's when I see her, the woman. She just appears a few feet in front of me. Beside her is the most beautiful wolf that I have ever seen. He is huge for a wolf, but for reasons I can't explain, I am not afraid. I watch as the woman gently strokes the head of this animal beside her. She then leans down, whispering something in a language I don't recognize. 

"I am captivated by this animal before me, unable to look away. His coat is a magnificent shade of black, reminding me of a newly polished onyx stone. And his eyes, his eyes are the color of brushed steel, they never waiver from watching me. I feel the need to get closer, to touch, to run my hands over and thru that fur. 

"I can't move, no matter how hard I try, I can't move. The woman is watching me now. She speaks, but I don't understand. She keeps repeating it over and over again. The same phrase, I just don't understand it. As she continues trying to get her message to me, the wolf at her side walks towards me. He watches me, never taking his eyes from me as he circles around where I stand. He stops just to the right of me, I try to reach out, but still, I can't move. He seems to sense this. He makes his way closer to my side, and places his head against my hand.

"In that instant, once we are connected, it's like magic. I can feel it, I know that this beautiful animal would never harm me. I also realize now that we are touching, I can understand the words the woman is trying to tell me. Turning my attention back to her, I listen to her message. But it makes no sense to me. Repeating it over and over again, she tells me to trust in myself, believe the unimaginable, see with my mind, and listen with my heart. 

"I want to ask her what it all meant, but as quickly as she and the wolf appeared, they were gone. No trace they were ever there, just gone. After that, the scene changes back to the park, where I began. I am still searching for Raivyn, always searching. This time however, I am not alone. This time, my beautiful wolf is beside me."

River seemed to come back to himself as he finished detailing his dream to Eithen, right before he passed out from overexertion. Eithen was immediately across the sofa and had River held against him. He wasn't sure what to think, what to say or what to do. He had sat there listening to River, what he heard was to say the least, amazing. 

There were stories of old, which he had read about growing up. Pack myths and legends, talking of Native American Shamans, being able to take on the form of their wolf brothers in dreams. They were known as Dream Walkers. But as far as Eithen knew, only the descendants of the Shaman were able to enter the dream world. Nowhere in his studies of pack lineage, was there a mention of any pack member being related to the Native American Shamans. The question now, how was his Ma capable of doing it and not be aware of what it was? 

What really got to Eithen was when River talked of the wolf in his dream, the black onyx coat, the steel grey eyes, he knew without a doubt that it was him. When in full wolf form, he stood larger than any other in his pack, his fur was the blackest of blacks and his eyes only seemed to become a more startling shade of grey. Eithen also knew that he was very intimidating in wolf form, which is why none have been ballsy enough to challenge him for the Alpha status. They knew they wouldn't stand a chance against him. But, why would he appear in River's dreams beside his Ma? Were they all connected some way? The only answer Eithen could come up with was that River and he are to be future mates. 

Eithen sat there, holding River, stroking his hair away from his face. "What are you River? Normal people don't have dreams and visions like you've had. I can't even imagine the pain and heartache you have had to endure. I promise from here on out that I will be here for you, giving you the strength you need to continue with this fight. Be the shoulder to lean on when you need comfort. Whatever you need River, I will give to you, this I promise. If only I could say these words while you were awake." Eithen whispered as he continued stroking River's hair and face gently, waiting for him to come around. He had so many questions that only River could answer. At some point, Eithen fell asleep with River in his arms, where he was destined to be.



To Rise Again Ch. 09



It had been too long since the wolf had been free... Starting off with a slow trot, it remembered all the times and many miles it had ran through those woods. With the wind in its face and the soft mossy forest floor under its paws, the large black wolf ran. It ran, chased small prey, and smelled all the things that it had been missing. This is what it had needed... to just let go and be wild again. 

******

River was enjoying the day, just walking through the park on the edge of the city. The sun was high in the sky, the weather was perfect. He had been there many times before, walked all the trails in and around the park and the woods that lined it. He let his mind wander as he listened to the chatter of others taking advantage of the beautiful day. 

******

The wolf ran for what seemed an eternity, taking everything in. It slowed to a walk deciding where to go next. It knew that the park was just beyond the tree line ahead, it needed to avoid being seen by the humans. As the wolf got ready to turn and go back it heard something approaching his location hidden in the brush. It looked up and saw a man walking along the trail leading from the park.

******

River felt the need to take a certain trail as he passed by it. He followed it thru the woods for about a mile until it forked off. He didn't remember this trail, never had he been this far in. He stood there contemplating which way to go. Feeling childish he closed his eyes, spun around a few times and just started walking. When he opened them back up, he saw something big and black move. It felt like he was being watched.

******

The wolf stalked towards this man, circling, it wanted to play a bit. The wolf had not been free in so long, it needed to have a bit of fun. It was just one man, no one would know. It would just toy with him, scare him, and then watch him run away in fear. Closer and closer he came, the wolf waited for the right moment. When it was about to make his move, it recognized his prey. It could no longer have his fun. It would never harm this man, its mate, River.

******

River stopped to listen; he heard movement coming from his left. As he turned toward the sound, he saw something move. He started to worry, backing away slowly only to have whatever it was come out of the underbrush and stalk towards him. River recognized this animal... from his dreams... his wolf. That is how he thought of this beautiful animal, the wolf belonged to him now.

******

The wolf needed to get closer; it needed to feel River's hands on him again. Stalking forward, it stopped a few feet from where River stood, and waited to be recognized before approaching any closer. Once it saw what it was looking for, it lowered its head and slowly closed the distance between them. To show it meant no harm, it sat down at River's feet and whimpered. 

******

River stood there watching his wolf come towards him, he felt no fear. The wolf approached, head lowered to stop at River's feet. He reached out slowly to place his hand on his wolf's head, stroking gently. River knelt down to look into those steel grey eyes; he couldn't resist the need to touch that powerful animal. River buried his hands in the wolf's fur. Once again, the magic happened. Like electricity, not a jolt, more like a soft current that flowed from one to the other. It made his body tingle.

******

The wolf rubbed its head against the hands of its mate. It needed more contact though, slowly standing, it nudged River in the chest which caused him to fall backwards. The wolf walked forward so he stood directly over this man. Never once taking its eyes off River, it began to lightly growl deep in its chest. It needed its mate to touch him again. The things it felt as this man ran his hands over its body, the wolf couldn't get enough. 

******

The wolf surprised River, but he got over it quick enough. As he stared into his wolf's eyes, he grabbed him around the neck and rolled to the side. River was not going to allow this animal to dominate him; it had to understand that River would not be intimidated. River laid there, his hands still embedded in his wolf's fur. He didn't want to remove them, but he knew he needed to get off the ground. His wolf whimpered when he tried to move, River knew how it felt. Slowly he let go, got to his feet and looked back down to where his wolf stayed. He turned and started walking down the trail knowing his wolf would follow.

******

Located somewhere in the city in a rundown building was a little girl. She had been passed around from person to person, each worse than the one before. She couldn't remember when she had eaten last, she was so hungry. The clothes she had on were all but rags and did nothing to keep her warm.

Where was her mommy? She had promised to come back, but her mommy never did. What she really wanted was her daddy. She missed him the most; her daddy always made her happy. As long as she thought of him she would be ok. Thoughts of her daddy always made everything else go away and made her feel like she was wrapped up in his big arms.

When she slept, she dreamed of playing hide-n-seek with daddy, he would always call out her name as he walked right by where she hid. But she couldn't make a sound; if she did then the mean people that had her would know where she was. They couldn't find her, she wouldn't allow them to. They were mean and hurt her. No... she wouldn't allow it.

She was young, only three, but she was smart. People used to say she had an old soul in her. She managed to sneak out of the room the mean people had placed her in, but they had come back too soon for her to get out. She had to find a place to go where they wouldn't find her. She ran up the stairs, all the way to the top and hid there until it got dark.

She slept for awhile, dreams of her daddy in her head. She tried to call out to him, but he couldn't hear her. It didn't matter how loud she yelled, he never heard her. When she woke up, she made her way back down the stairs. She stopped every few feet and listened for the mean people. 

She made it to the front door, but it wouldn't open. The mean people made sure that no one could get in, therefore she couldn't get out. She tried the windows, but they all had bars on them. She had to find a way out; she had to find her daddy. He would protect her, keep her safe and make her happy again. 

She heard the mean people moving about above her, she had to hide again. She found stairs again, this time going down. She followed them all the way down and into a big open room. She saw doors along the walls but they were all locked. She needed to find a place that was small she could fit into. 

After she tried all the doors again, she found one that opened and led into a smaller room that was filled with boxes, crates and cabinets. She climbed up a stack of boxes and into a cabinet all the way at the back of the room. She knew the mean people wouldn't look for her here, she would be safe, and she wouldn't let them find her. 

She sat there in the dark and thought of her daddy again. It made her miss him even more, but it made her smile. She fell asleep to thoughts of hide-n-seek, playing in the park and piggy back rides. Her dreams took her to a happy place; a safe place.

******

As River walked along the trail he could hear his wolf behind him. He stopped and waited for it to reach him before he continued. He didn't know where they were headed; he just knew they had to this direction. His wolf stayed right beside him, always within reach. 

He didn't have to speak to his wolf, they were connected somehow. River was unsure of what or who his wolf was supposed to represent, but he could care less. This wolf would forever be his. He felt is with his whole being.

They continued to follow the trail thru the woods until his wolf stopped suddenly, eyes and ears alert. River tried to get it to move, but it wouldn't budge. He watched as his wolf searched the surrounding area. River didn't see or hear anything unusual, but obviously his wolf had. It looked up at River before it took off at a dead run. 

Up ahead there was a clearing, his wolf headed in that direction. River tried to follow but his wolf was too fast. Once he reached the clearing he looked around, he had been there before; in his dreams with Siobhan. River turned around in a slow circle like he did in his other dreams, he figured Siobhan would show up. She didn't appear however, so he just felt foolish. 

River looked around again and realized that his wolf was no longer with him. He turned to head back towards the trail that would lead him to the park when he heard the wolf's howl. Where had it come from though? Again he headed for the trail, again the wolf howled. He scanned the tree line until he spotted his wolf.

The wolf waited for River to approach before it took off at a slower pace to ensure its mate could keep up. After about fifteen minutes, the trees thinned out and River noticed they had come to the edge of town. Why had his wolf led him here? All he saw were houses and buildings that had been abandoned and condemned. 

He looked down at his wolf; it just stared up at him like River should know what this place was. He had decided to turn back and go about his walk when he heard Siobhan's message in his head. Trust in yourself, believe the unimaginable, see with your mind, listen with your heart. So he did just that.

River closed his eyes, cleared his mind, took a deep breath and waited. He was just about to give up when he got a flash of an image along with a sense of something he couldn't explain. He saw Raivyn; she was in a dark place. He could feel her, she was scared; but he could tell she was in a happy place within her own dreams. 

River wondered if he could reach out to her this way. He thought of his baby girl and told her that daddy loved her very much and that he would find her. He imagined his arms around her, holding her tight as she slept. He tried to send feelings of warmth, love, comfort and protection to her as well.

He opened his eyes, not knowing of what he just did helped any, but he had to trust in himself. He looked at the spot where his wolf had been before he closed his eyes... he was gone. River spun around, but the wolf was nowhere to be found. He took one last look at the area he had been led to. Could this be that place Raivyn was being held? He stored it all to memory before he headed back.

River wondered where his wolf had gone as he walked the trail that would take him back to the park. He would stop time to time to look around for his wolf; he spotted it finally on the trail ahead of him. He made his way to it, but with each step that took him closer, the wolf would run just that much further ahead. Frustrated, he gave up and watched as his wolf vanished. 

River had just entered the park from the trail when he collided with someone. He looked up to apologize only to look into a pair of steel grey eyes under a shock of shiny black hair, like onyx. He was looking at Eithen, but how? It couldn't be... no... not possible. His wolf was an animal, Eithen was a man. They couldn't be one in the same. 

Believe the unimaginable she said. NO... could it? His wolf, steel grey eyes, black fur the color of onyx. Eithen, the same steel grey eyes that drew him in, hair the color of black onyx. OH... MY... GOD!!!

******

Eithen laid there and thought about the dream he just had. He had been in his wolf form, but he was still aware of all that had happened. The run, finding River, the clearing, the buildings and then nothing. He woke up as River stood there eon the edge of town. Strange as hell he thought as he played with River's hair. He needed to touch River while he could, he didn't know when he would get another chance.

****** 

Lonnie ran into Eithen's office and stopped just beyond the doorway. He could see his Alpha on the sofa, but he was awake so he said what he came for. "Alpha, forgive me for barging in without notice, but you were not answering any of your phones. We received an urgent message from your father. He believes he has located the couple but requires back-up from the pack." Lonnie rattled on unaware of the deadly look in his Alpha's eyes.

Eithen had turned his head as the door opened and his runner came in and started to ramble on. Before he could speak, Lonnie started in on his message unaware that he had just broke Pack Law. Eithen realized that Lonnie couldn't see River on the sofa with him from where he stood by the door. As he stared Lonnie down, he released just enough of his Alpha power to get Lonnie to shut-up for a second.

Lonnie knew he had fucked up somehow when he felt his Alpha's influence. He stopped talking and walked over to where his Alpha was laid out. What he saw made him nervous, he had just spoke about the pack in front of a human. "Al... uhh... umm... Eithen, I am so sorry, I didn't think. I was told to come give you this message as quick as I could. I never considered the possibility of him being there with you. All I saw was you and I just started talking, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to break the ..."

Eithen held up his hand and silenced Lonnie. He understood that his runner had no idea that River was in the room before he spoke. Lonnie was still young, a pup really; but he knew the laws and the consequences for breaking them. He knew he should have walked into the room, waited to be acknowledged, and then given permission to speak. If he had done that, he would have known there was a human present. Eithen would have to think about the punishment later.

"Lonnie, I understand you did what you thought was right, however you went about it the wrong way. You are lucky that River is asleep and did not hear what you were saying." Eithen stated with authority, yet quietly as he looked back down to the man in his arms. 

"Thank you Lonnie for the message let Troy know that I will contact him within the hour. You are dismissed. BUT Lonnie... keep in mind that this matter WILL be discussed at a later date. Do you understand?" Eithen asked, as he pushed a bit of his power out. "Yes Al... Sir, understood." Lonnie said as he bowed his head and walked back out of the office.

Damn that was close; thank god River didn't wake up. I'm not ready to have that conversation yet. Eithen thought to himself, just as River started to stir. "Hey sleepy, you feeling better now?" Eithen asked as he looked down into beautiful brown eyes.

******

River woke up a little confused. He had been about ready to tell Eithen about his dream, next thing he knew he was in the park. Was that a dream as well? It had to be; but what did it all mean? The wolf again, the buildings on the edge of town, Raivyn in a dark place and then Eithen. He would have to think about it all later.

He blinked a few times to get his eyes to focus; as he did River looked up into a pair of striking steel grey eyes. Not now, I can't think about his eyes he told himself. He noticed a look of concern cross Eithen's face, and then remembered the question he had yet to answer.

"Yes, I feel much better now. And thank you I guess, for catching me again, it seems that is all you do anymore." River said quietly as he tried to get up. Eithen wouldn't remove his arms however from around River. He needed space, he needed to think; he couldn't do that when he was this close to Eithen.

"Let go Eithen. I need to get up." River said as he pushed himself up off Eithen's chest where he had been laying. He had to think of something to talk about or he would've happily crawled back into the protective embrace Eithen offered, and he wasn't ready for all that. "Did, I hear someone talking a minute ago?" he asked as he looked around, but saw no one else in the room.

"Um... yeah, sorry about that. One of my men came by to give me a message from pops." Eithen replied as he stood and walked over to his desk chair. He needed to hide the evidence what River's body against his did. "They think they have found the couple that Angelica gave Raivyn to. Pops needs a few extra mean though before they go in." 

Eithen looked over to where River sat on the sofa, he could see the look of hope in his eyes. "I really hate to do this, but do you think you'll be ok for a few hours alone? I wanna be there when they talk to those people." He couldn't let River know that he would be the one in charge of getting the information they needed to finally find Raivyn.

River jumped up with a look of disbelief on his face as he stared at Eithen across the room. How dare he try and keep me out of something that concerns MY daughter. He raged inside, but knew it was not wise to anger this man who had already done so much for him. He took a deep breath to calm himself before he responded. 

"NO, it's not alright; I have to go with you. They have my daughter, I need to be there. There is no way that I am going to stay here while you run off to be the shining knight... huh uh... not gonna happen." River said with conviction, as he stormed over to the desk to make sure he got his point across never breaking eye contact.

"River... I understand you want to be there, I do. You can't go though, I won't allow it." As soon as Eithen said it, he knew it was the wrong thing to say. He was not dealing with an employee or even a friend right now. He was dealing with an emotional parent, he knew better.

"Allow it... You won't ALLOW it... and why the hell not? Give me one good reason why I should sit my ass here and do nothing while you are out there finding MY daughter!" By the end of his rant, River was fuming.

"DAMN-IT River, you're not going. I don't have to give you a reason, this is not a choice you get to have. Either you stay here alone and behave or I send my mother over here to keep watch and make sure you don't do anything stupid. What's it going to be River?" Eithen was not about to let River go in there when he didn't even know what the situation was yet, he couldn't chance River's safety.

River was not happy about this at all. This was his daughter they were talking about. He had every right to be there. Fine, if Eithen wanted to be this way about it, then he would figure something else out after he was gone.

"OK... fine, have it your way. I'll stay here while you go do your thing. I don't need a damned sitter though. Just go Eithen, find out what you can and bring my daughter home to me." With that, River turned and walked over to the window and stared out into the woods. He never heard Eithen leave, he had other things running thru his head; like how to locate the place from his most recent dream.



To Rise Again Ch. 10



Eithen watched as River turned and walked away, shutting him out. He stood there not sure if he should go to him. He could feel his wolf pacing, it wanted to comfort its mate. Eithen knew he couldn't do that however, not yet, River had just dismissed him. So he turned without another word and left River to his thoughts.

As Eithen headed to his truck he pulled out his cell, he needed someone here ASAP. There was no way he would leave River here unwatched after he had been so adamant about going. Eithen had a bad feeling River would do something irrational out of emotional distress. Parents, after all, were known to act before they thought, and River would be no exception.

"Hey Troy, I need you to get over to my place and stay out of sight. I want you to keep an eye on River for me; I have a feeling he's gonna try something stupid.... yeah.... he knows we're going to talk to them.... I told him he couldn't go, he was pissed about that.... What did you expect me to say to him?.... no, just get your ass here Troy."

After that was taken care of, Eithen dialed up his pops to get all the details about where and when they were to meet up. He hopped into his truck and sped off to have a much awaited conversation with these people and hope that Raivyn was still with them. Eithen didn't know what he would do if she wasn't safe. 

****** 

River waited about 30 minutes to make sure that Eithen was gone before he went out and headed into the woods. He knew that Eithen lived on the same side of town as the park from his dream; therefore the woods behind the house should lead him to where he needed to go. As he walked, he thought back to everything he had seen in the dream, all he needed to do was find a trail. He stopped from time to time, closed his eyes, thought of where he needed to go then would continue walking.

It took River about an hour before he came across a trail in the woods. He took in everything around him and knew he was where he needed to be, it looked as it had in his dream. He headed down the path a bit further when he saw the clearing ahead of him. River raced into the middle and stopped to turn in a circle trying to locate where he had spotted his wolf by the trees. Once spotted, he took off again. Unaware of the extra large chocolate brown wolf that had been following him.

Where are you going man, traipsing thru the damn woods like this? Troy thought as he stalked behind River to Lord only knew where. He had to agree with Eithen; that River had decided to do something stupid, and was happy to make sure his Alpha's mate was kept safe and unharmed. He needed to find time to contact Eithen to let him know where they were. Troy just hoped that he could get there before River really did something crazy. 

******

Eithen pulled up in front of the address his pops had given him, it looked like any other house that you would see in the middle of a suburb. Eithen knew that appearances could be very deceiving though. He walked up to where the others were parked and talked about what they knew and what they still needed to find out from the people inside the house. 

Once they all had their instructions, Eithen and his pops walked up to the door and knocked. They never expected it to be answered by an elderly woman; they just stood there a moment as they made sure they had the right address.

"May I help you gentlemen?" she asked as she kept the door closed a bit.

"Sorry to bother you ma'am, but is this the residence of a Mr. Turner and his wife?" Eithen looked at his pops and unasked questions passed between them.

"Yes it is young man; I'm just here to keep an eye on the place for my son and his wife while they are out of town for a few days. Is there anything I can help you with?"She asked with a look of suspicion in her eyes.

"Do you know where they might be? It is imperative that we speak to them as soon as we can." Devon spoke up, as he watched the woman to see if she would lie about the couple's whereabouts. He noted the suspicion and confusion she had with them asking questions.

The woman glanced between the two men standing on the stoop, wondering if they could be trusted. She thought herself to be a good judge of character, and they looked like they might be able to help her. She opened the door the rest of the way to let them enter. "Please, come in out of the heat for a moment, that way we can speak in private without all these damn nosey neighbors." 

Eithen signaled for his men to stand-down but stay alert. He didn't know what they were walking onto. The woman led them into the kitchen and offered a drink, they politely declined. They just wanted to get the information they needed to locate Raivyn.

"Ma'am, could you please sit, we are not here on a social call. We came to ask your son and his wife some questions. Now, do you know where they currently are?" Eithen questioned.

"Call me Edith please, and no I don't know where my son and that woman he married are. They asked me to stay at the house for a few days and I have not heard from them since. That was two weeks ago, and to be honest, I'm worried for my son. I never trusted that woman and I told him that. But what does a mother know right? Edith wiped a stray tear away and took a few deep breaths before she continued.

"He changed you know, after he met her. My son was a good man, but something in him changed and not for the better. He started drinking more and missed enough work to the point he lost his job. He stopped speaking to me on a regular basis like he used to. There is no way to prove it, but I believe he has been using drugs and that wife of his has convinced him to do something bad." She dropped her head in her hands and started to cry.

Eithen and Devon exchanged knowing looks before Eithen decided to be just as honest as she had been. "Edith, we came here today to try and get information from your son and his wife. We know that they had a little girl with them awhile ago, but when we arrived to where they should have been, they and the girl were no longer around." 

Devon looked from his son over to Edith, he waited for her to acknowledge what she had just heard before he told more of the story. "The childs name is Raivyn, she is the three year old daughter to an employee of my son Eithen here. Her mother took off with her about 6 months ago and when she figured out that she didn't want her anymore, well, she just gave her away. From what we have learned, she gave Raivyn to your son and his wife. All we want is to reunite her with her daddy." 

Devon had to take a moment as he wondered how any parent could do that to a child. He shook his head to clear away those thoughts before he spoke up again. "Do you have any idea where they could be hiding out at or even give us a few names of their friends? Anything you could tell us would be helpful." Edith nodded as she stood to gather anything she could find in the home that would help find that little girl.

****** 

River continued to fight his way through the woods, as he tried to locate the area that he and his wolf had come out of on the edge of town. He had to be close; he hadn't come all this way just to have it wrong. Just when he thought he must've made a wrong turn somewhere he noticed the trees thinned out, he headed in that direction and came out on the backside of some abandoned apartment buildings and homes. He knew he was in the right place, now to find Raivyn. She was there somewhere...he felt it.

He didn't even know where to start.... this was as far as he got in the dream. Again, he did as Siobhan had told him and closed his eyes to see with his mind. River blocked everything out, cleared his thoughts, evened his breathing and pictured Raivyn. He immediately saw her in a dark room, he had no idea what he was doing, but he felt like he needed to reach out to her, his mind to hers.

******

Troy stayed hidden in the shadows of the trees as he watched this man, his Alpha's mate just stand there with his eyes closed. What the hell are you doing now? Who wanders the woods for over an hour just fucking stand there with their eyes closed? Guess it's time to call Eithen and let him know what's up. Troy shifted back to his human form and pulled his cell out of the pouch that he had attached around his ankle.

"Hey man, you need to get your ass over here to the east end of town.... ya with all the abandoned places.... your guy is just standing there with his eyes closed.... yeah, that's what I said.... no, he's just standin' there man, not movin'.... yeah I got my eyes on him.... don't worry I won't let anything happen.... I understand.... yeah.... ok.... see ya here in a few."

******

River kept the image of Raivyn in his mind as he reached out. He searched, felt and listened to everything his heart, mind and body were telling him. She was there, just barely but she was, he felt her fear. 

'Daddy's here baby girl, daddy's gonna find you and keep you safe. Raivyn... baby... can you feel me?' River had no idea what the hell he was doing, it just felt like the right thing to do. He kept at it, trying to make contact with his little girl.

'Come on baby, open your mind to daddy, I need you to feel me here.' River called out to her but nothing, he had to find something that would make her aware of his presence. Then suddenly he remembered, 'Raivyn, oohhh Raivyn, where's my angel? I wonder, oh gee I wonder where my Raivyn could be?' He waited a few minutes then repeated it again and again. After the third time he began to feel something stir in his mind. Could it really be her, did it work?

What he felt faded in and out.... not quite sure if it was even real. Maybe he just hoped that whatever it was that he was doing had worked. He kept at it though, he couldn't give up, not after he had come this far.

******

Raivyn sat there, she was scared, she knew the mean people would find her sooner or later and she didn't want that, she couldn't let them. All of a sudden she felt an overwhelming sensation of being held and it made her feel so safe. It reminded her of when her daddy would hold her, his arms wrapped around her. She closed her eyes and whispered to him as if he were there with her. "Daddy, hold me and keep me safe. I miss you daddy and I love you." With that, she felt herself drifting back off to sleep.

She dreamt of playing hide-n-seek with her daddy again. He was calling out to her, trying to find her. She still felt those warm loving arms around her, she knew she would be safe here in her dream. She forgot about the mean people that had her and started to giggle. Her daddy was funny, he sang out to her in goofy voices. 

'You can't see me daddy.... hehe.... can you find me?' Raivyn said as she heard him say her name again. 'Daddy.... oh daddy.... where am I.... I see you can you see me?' She liked playing hide-n-seek with daddy, he made her feel so special. 

******

River was unaware of the things around him as he concentrated his all on Raivyn. He kept sending her his love and his strength along with the questions of where she was, what she saw or anything else that might help them find her. He just hoped that she felt him. He thought he heard her giggle, but he couldn't be sure. It was faint and broken, almost like a bad connection on a cell. River did not want to give up, but he started to feel drained of energy, he had to stop, at least for now. He would rest a bit then start again. Maybe if he moved closer to the buildings, he just had to try something different.

******

Eithen pulled up behind the buildings and sat there as he watched River just stand there, he could see that his eyes were closed and he had a look of intense concentration on his face. "What is going on with you River? Why come here of all places?" Those were the questions that Eithen asked himself before he got out of the truck and headed to where River stood.

He spotted Troy hidden in the shadows of the tree line and motioned for him to stay where he was but remain alert. Slowly Eithen made his way closer and closer to River and stopped a few feet away and called out to him getting no response. Eithen didn't know what River was doing, but from the look on his face, River was in a world of his own. He called to him again softly, it was not his intent to frighten River.

"River.... hey man.... what are ya doin' out here?" Still no reaction, so he got louder. "River, I thought I told you to stay at the house and wait for me to get back. Why didn't you listen to me?" Still nothing, so Eithen walked closer and placed a hand on River's arm to try and get his attention. River swayed for a moment, just before he started to collapse. Eithen scooped him up into his arms before he could hit the ground, then turned and headed back to the truck. Troy was there with the door already open and ready for him to slide into the passenger seat, never once releasing his hold on River. 

Troy ran around to the other side and got in behind the wheel, he knew his Alpha was concerned. He wasted no time getting the truck turned around and sped off to Eithen's home. The only thoughts that went thru Eithen's head as he held River against him yet again were, 'please be ok.... you have to be ok.... I need you.... Raivyn needs you.'

******

River started to stir about 10 minutes from the house, he looked around and tried to figure out where the hell he was and what was going on. He remembered that he found the place from his dream and that he had tried to reach out to Raivyn. He did what Siobhan had told him to and he saw with his mind and he listened with his heart. He knew he had been close, he had felt her, heard her sweet little giggle. So what happened?

He tried to sit up only to become aware of being held against someone. River looked up and straight into a pair of steel grey eyes that were full of concern among other things. The look on Eithen's face however went from concern to anger in seconds. Oh fuck, he's pissed, River thought as he watched a scowl form on those lush lips. What the hell.... lush lip? I can't think of that right now. He shook his head to get that image out before he tried to speak.

"Ummm.... Hi...." he said quietly as he looked around, not willing to look Eithen in the eye quite yet. He knew he fucked up, but damn-it.... he couldn't just stay at the house and not do something. He also knew that he would go back there and try again. With or without Eithen's permission, Raivyn was his daughter, his responsibility. 

"Don't hi me River.... what the HELL were you thinking? I TOLD you to stay at the house until I got back. What would you have done if something had happened to you out there huh? Did you THINK of that at ALL before you decided to take off on your own?" 

Eithen had to stop for a second before he really went off. He needed River to understand the danger that he had put himself in with his foolishness. 

River sat there stunned, how dare this man go off on him like that. He shoved against Eithen's chest so he was able to turn and stare hard into his eyes. This man had another thing coming if he thought he could just command River to do as he wanted. 

"Excuse me.... WHO do you think YOU are to tell ME anything? Oh that's right.... you are the Great and Powerful Mr. Donovan whose shit don't stink. Did you really think I would just sit there on my ass and not do a DAMN thing to find MY daughter? Because if you did, then you were so WRONG." 

River didn't give a fuck if he pissed this pompous ass off. "And another thing Mr. Do As I Tell you.... I am NOT your FUCKING lapdog so don't EXPECT me to obey EVERY TIME you bark an order." River was worked up enough that he failed to notice the look of shock and disbelief on Eithen's face. Or the fact that the guy driving was trying not to laugh as he watched the exchange between them. 

The rest of the ride to the house was silent, River and Eithen both to angry to look at one another, let alone speak. As soon as the truck came to a stop River was out and heading into the house with one goal in mind. Pack his shit and get the hell out and away from that man. The man that made him forget almost everything when he looked into those steel grey eyes. The man that made him so damn angry he wanted to deck him. River couldn't do this anymore, he would leave and find Raivyn on his own.

******

Eithen stormed into the house after River and headed straight for his office. He knew he needed to calm down a bit before he dealt with River, his emotions were in turmoil. He wanted to pull River into his arms to assure himself that he was safe but he also wanted to throttle him for being so stubborn and.... and.... so damn beautiful. 

He fell into his chair and placed his head in his hands, he had no idea what to do. Eithen knew that River was right about some things and he needed to remind himself that River was not pack. He wasn't someone that would follow orders just because he gave them. He needed to apologize for how he treated River, but he didn't know how. Eithen was not a man that liked to be wrong. He sat there, fighting an internal battle, needless to say his wolf won. He stood and headed towards his future mate's room.

Eithen stopped outside of River's door, hand raised to knock yet he hesitated. Could he do this and not lose his temper again? He had no choice really, he knew if he wanted to keep River in his life he would have to. Eithen knocked softly on the door, "River, can I come in?" He got no response, so he opened the door to make sure River was ok, what he saw made his heart skip a beat. 

"River, what do you think you are doing?" Eithen questioned as he watched River go about the room and pack his belongings up.

"What the hell does it look like Mr. Donovan?" River hissed out between clenched teeth. "I'm going home and you will not stop me. I've had enough of your Jekyll & Hyde routine. I thank you for what you have done so far in regards to Raivyn, but she is MY daughter, therefore I will find her myself." 

"I don't think so River." Eithen whispered right behind him. 

River never heard Eithen come up behind him during his little speech. His breath caught at the nearness of this man. "I won't let you go, not now River." River felt strong arms wrap around and hold him close at the same time he felt Eithen's lips brush against the side of his neck. 

River didn't know what to do. His mind screamed at him to pull away and put Eithen in his place. Obviously his body had other ideas though as he leaned back into that embrace. He slowly turned in Eithen's arms so he was able to look into those eyes that made his heart stutter. He knew what was going to happen and he did nothing to stop it.



To Rise Again Ch. 11



"Ok you little brat, we know you're hiding in here somewhere. Don't think that you can get away from us that easily. When we find you, you won't be sneaking out again. After today you will be someone else's problem. Thank God... you have been nothin' but trouble for us, and we sure as hell don't need the cops snoopin' around again. Now I suggest you get your little ass out here before you really make us angry."

Raivyn woke up to voices close to where she had been hiding. The mean people were looking for her, they realized she had slipped out of her room. They couldn't find her, she wouldn't let them so she held her breath and tried to not make a sound. Raivyn had to be patient, she had to get away and find her daddy. That thought brought parts of her dream back to her as she waited for the mean people to go away. If only her dreams were real, she still felt his arms wrapped around her, protecting her. Raivyn whispered softly to herself, "Daddy, where are you... Please... I need you... I'm scared." 

She could hear them just outside of the cabinet she was in. She closed her eyes and waited for the door to open and to be found, but it never happened. She heard them walk away and the door to the room close. Did they really give up that easy? Were they just trying to fool her into thinking they actually left when they were really just waiting for her to come out? Raivyn didn't know what to think about it, so she did what she always did, she closed her eyes again and thought of her daddy.

"Daddy I don't know what to do. Do I just stay here and hide or should I get out and try to runaway?" She knew she was being a silly little girl talking to her daddy when he wasn't really there, but it made her feel better anyways. She could pretend that he was there to answer her questions like he always did before her mommy took her away from him. Raivyn felt the tears start to fall but didn't bother to wipe them away. What was the point? They would just continue to fall until she was back where she belonged. 

She waited for what felt like forever before she decided to be brave and sneak a peek out into the room. Not seeing anyone or hearing anything, Raivyn crawled out of where she had been hiding and looked around again for another way out other than the door. All of the windows had bars on them and there was only the one door. She didn't have much of a choice but to go back out the door and hope that the mean people were gone. As she went to reach for the handle she heard a woman's voice in her head telling her to hide again quickly. That it wasn't safe yet to go out there. Raivyn did as she was told like a good little girl. As she closed the door to her hiding spot a man walked back into the big room and stood by the door, he was there to stand guard.

******

Eithen stood there with the man that fate had determined was his, wrapped in his arms. Was he willing to give his all to River? Would River even accept it? It was a chance he wanted to take with every inch of his body. He wanted to taste that mouth again, run his tongue along that lower lip and nibble until it opened and allowed him access. He wanted to feel River's arms wrapped around him and hear him moan in pleasure. Could he take the offer that was being presented to him? He lowered his head and placed a hesitant kiss against River's waiting mouth. He heard himself groan from just that simple touch. 

Eithen felt a buzz of electricity hum through his body. He pulled River tighter to him, but he just couldn't seem to get close enough. One hand was placed on River's lower back, the other holding the back of River's neck keeping him in place. Eithen needed this man like he needed the air he breathed, never again would he be without his mate. 

River stared into Eithen's eyes, he had never felt like this before. He wasn't even able to explain what it was that he felt. All he knew was that this man holding him made River rethink everything he thought about himself. When Eithen had kissed him, it took his breath away. As their lips touched, he felt that same spark... that connection he had in his dreams with his wolf.

After the first touch, hesitation no longer had a meaning. Mouths tasted, hands roamed and bodies rubbed together, as they both tried to get as close to the other as possible. Before River knew what happened Eithen had him pressed against the wall nipping at his neck, working his way down to where it met his shoulder. River threw his head back as a moan escaped his lips, he never wanted this feeling to end. Eithen's hands seemed to be everywhere at once, skimming down his back, brushing against his chest and grabbing his hips to increase the pressure building between them.

Eithen couldn't get enough, he had to touch and taste everywhere he could reach. He ran his tongue along the side of River's neck as he pressed the lower half of their bodies together, grinding and thrusting. He slid his hands under River's shirt, he needed to feel skin. 

River felt Eithen glide his hands across his skin, causing a wave of pleasure to course through him. He brought his hands up to grab the front of Eithen's shirt and before he could think about it he twisted around, now Eithen was the one against the wall. 

"If we are doing this, we are going to do things my way," whispered River just before he claimed Eithen's mouth with his own. He ran his hands slowly down the front of Eithen's chest and rested them at the top of his jeans. 

They stood there wrapped together, giving and taking, neither knew where one started or the other ended. They both felt the connection with every swipe of tongue, brush of skin and each breath shared, like a continuous flow of electricity. Both were headed for an overload, ready to explode. It was too much, all the raw passion mixed with the emotional stress. River and Eithen knew they were about to cross a line but neither cared. The only sounds in the room were gasps for breath, soft moans and low growls; no words were needed between them. 

River wasn't sure what came over him, all he knew is that he needed to take charge of what was happening or chance Eithen thinking that he could control every aspect of his life. That was something that he was not about to let happen. 

Eithen was stunned for a moment when River turned things around and he found himself against the wall. How had he lost control of the situation? Any questions or concerns he had, vanished as River forced his tongue into Eithen's mouth. When River told him they were doing things his way, Eithen's body responded like it never had before. From the moment River pushed him against the wall, his cock was hard and straining for release. For once Eithen would gladly give up his control, to this man and only this man, his mate. But would his wolf allow it?

River heard the low growls that came from Eithen as he took the lead. He felt them vibrate in his chest and they turned him on like nothing else had. He pulled the bottom of Eithen's shirt up as he glided his hands over Eithen's body while he placed little nips and bites along Eithen's neck and shoulder. If the low growls and little moans were anything to go by, Eithen enjoyed what River was doing.

He pulled back and looked up into Eithen's eyes. What he saw there made his breath catch. River could see the lust, the desire and the passion, but that was not what made him take another step back away from Eithen. There was no way that River was imagining the fact that Eithen's eyes were glowing. Fucking glowing, what the hell.

"What are you?" River whispered while he stared into those amazing eyes that drew him in every time.

"Later baby, later I will explain it all to you. I promise. Not now, it's not time yet." Eithen replied as he gently pulled River back up against him. River just nodded, and then claimed Eithen's mouth once again. They stood there and rocked against one another, they tasted, they touched and they explored. River grabbed Eithen by the hand and started towards the bed when Eithen's phone started to ring.

******

Raivyn didn't know how much time had passed since the man came into the room but she knew that she was getting tired again. Maybe she would just sit there and close her eyes for a bit. She was about to close the door to her hiding place all the way when the man started walking towards where she was. She scooted back farther and made sure not to make a sound as she watched him stop just outside of where she was and pick up two of the boxes and carry them back over next to the door. The man stacked them up and then sat down, falling asleep soon after. She could hear the man snoring and that made her feel a little better.

Raivyn had just wrapped her arms around her little legs and laid her head on top of them as she closed her eyes when she heard the woman's voice again in her head. 'Now my little black bird, go quietly while you can, but hurry.' Raivyn felt like she could trust the voice of the woman, so she did as she was told. 

Before opening the door to her hiding place, Raivyn closed her eyes and thought of her daddy again. It made her feel safe when she did this, so she talked to him even if he wasn't really there to hear her. 'Daddy I love you and I need you. The nice lady is telling me that it is ok to sneak away from the bad people now. I know that you will find me soon daddy. I have to go now.'

Raivyn slowly climbed down from where she had hidden and tiptoed over to the door, the man never moved, he just kept on snoring really loudly. 'Hurry my little black bird while it is still safe to get out.' 

Once Raivyn was out the door and back into the big room she headed over to the stairs and made her way into the kitchen. From here she didn't know what to do or where to go. She wondered if she could talk to the nice lady so she tried by asking a question.

'Ma'am, where should I go now? How do I get out?' 

While she waited to see if the lady would answer Raivyn shut the door that led back down to the basement and turned the lock that was under the handle. She couldn't hear anyone else moving around the house but knew that she needed to hurry before the mean people found her again.

'Go to the back door my little black bird, but hurry, they come.' 

Raivyn turned back around and saw the door that would take her outside over by the sink. She hurried over and tried the handle, but it wouldn't open. "Please, please open." She tried again and again but it wouldn't open. She started to get scared, she just knew that the mean people were going to come in and find her.

Raivyn took a step back and looked at the door for a second. She closed her eyes and thought about being outside, playing in the park with the sun shining down on her. With her eyes closed she walked back up to the door and reached for the handle. This time she turned the handle the other way and heard a click. As Raivyn was just about to open it and walk out and away from the mean people a hand landed on her shoulder.

******

What a time for the damn phone to ring. River said to ignore it as he continued to head towards the bed with Eithen in tow. The ringing stopped as they reached it and River not so gently pushed Eithen down onto his back. River just stood there by the side of the bed and looked down at this mountain of a man that had made him take a closer look at his life and himself. He had no clue what he was about to do, he just knew that he needed to be with Eithen. He raked his eyes slowly down the length of Eithen's body as he worked the buttons of his shirt open.

Eithen leaned up on his elbows as he laid there on the bed watching River take his sweet time to remove his shirt. If it was up to him it would have already been ripped off of his delectable body, but this was River's show. He followed River's hands from one button to the next until he reached the last and let his shirt slide off to the floor. It took everything in Eithen to stay where he was and not get up to claim what was his. His eyes roamed over River's bare chest, stopping at the little brown nubs that were already pebbled up and begging to be tasted. Eithen's tongue darted out and ran across his lips as he visually devoured the site before him. "Come here River," he whispered.

River hesitated for a moment before he took a step towards the bed. He could do this, whatever this was. "That shirt needs to go Eithen, I suggest you take it off." 

Eithen stared at him, knowing that it wasn't as suggestion but a command. He sat up and proceeded to pull off his top, tossing it to the floor with River's. "Now what River? Tell me what you want."

"I think you have that backwards Eithen...I ask the questions and I give the commands right now. All you have to do is what you are told." River stated in a voice that was low and breathy. He saw the shudder that went through Eithen and that pleased him. River took another step closer so he was able to reach out and touch Eithen. He ran one hand through Eithen's hair while the other traced the lines of his face. 

So sexy he thought to himself. This was all new to River, but it felt so right. He didn't think about anything other than the man sitting in front of him. He placed one knee on the bed as he leaned forward causing Eithen to lay back. River didn't stop until he was right above Eithen, his hands braced on either side of his head.

"What am I going to do with you Eithen?" River asked as he grabbed one of Eithen's hands and pinned it above his head.

" You make me feel things I've never felt before." River said as he ran the tips of his fingers lightly across Eithen's chest. "You make my heart race, cause my breath to catch and I can easily get lost in your eyes." River whispered as he scraped a nail across Eithen's nipple and watched the look of pleasure that crossed Eithen's face. 

River leaned down and licked Eithen's lips, "mmm... you taste good, I just can't seem to get enough." River moved down and ran his tongue along the side of Eithen's neck, tracing the vein that popped out. He continued to taste and nip all along Eithen's shoulder and collarbone until he reached his left nipple. 

"Now what do we have here?" he asked right before he swiped his tongue softly across it, still scraping and pinching the right nipple. 

Eithen's back arched and he moaned as River continued to do things to him that he never thought he would enjoy. No one had ever played with his nips before, let alone bite and lick them. If he had known they were so sensitive... oh my god... the sensations went straight to his cock. He pushed up and rubbed his hardness against River's stomach. He wanted to let him know what he was doing to him. Eithen took his free hand and placed it on the back of River's head, holding him to his chest, silently begging for him to not stop.

River looked up at Eithen, and the look that Eithen saw in his eyes almost scared him. This was a side of River that he never expected to see. He looked so sure of himself, confident and dominating. What that look made Eithen feel and how it made his body react scared him even more. He was an Alpha, but he wanted to submit to River. "River... oh god... River I need you. Do to me what you want baby."

"I planned on it Eithen. Gonna take my time. Gonna taste all of you before the day is over." River never stopped teasing or tasting making sure what he said got through to Eithen. River was in charge here and he would do it his way and in his own time. As his fingers reached the snap on Eithen's jeans his tongue traced the muscles of his stomach. He couldn't get enough, and he sure as hell was going to get his fill.

Just as River reached Eithen's little trail of hair that lead into his jeans the damn phone rang again. "Do NOT answer that Eithen. They can call back later." River said sternly. He had made it this far, and he did not want to stop, he wasn't sure if he would be able to let go like this later. 

Eithen looked back and forth between River and the phone that he grabbed up as it started to ring again. "River, baby, I can't ignore this. It's my Ma, this could be important. I'm sorry baby, so sorry." 

River watched as Eithen flipped open the phone, he couldn't blame him though knowing that it was family. What he wouldn't give to be able to talk to his own parents again. He tuned out what Eithen was saying to his mother as he flopped down onto the bed, trying to get his body to calm down since the moment was dead. He needed to do something, he was strung too tight. River got up and walked over to where his shirt had fallen and picked it and Eithen's up. He tossed Eithen's shirt to him before he pulled his own back on and buttoned it up. 'Damn phone. Might as well unpack my things again since it seems that I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.' 

As River started towards the chairs where his bags were sitting he felt the pain start behind his eyes. "No, not again, not now. Don't do this shit to me. I'm tired of it."

The pain was more gradual this time, but he knew what it was. He looked over to where Eithen was still sitting on the bed talking to his mother on the phone, he needed to sit before it really hit him. He was not to be that lucky, just as he headed towards the bed the pain exploded. River grabbed his head, sank to his knees and cried out.



To Rise Again Ch. 12



"Ma, I love you and all but this better be a life or death situation or I WILL hang up and call you back later." Eithen hated the fact that he had to interrupt what River had been doing to his body, but his mother only called if it was important. There was no way he could ignore it even if he had wanted to.

"Don't you take that tone with me Eithen Alexander Donovan! You know darn well I wouldn't call you unless I really had the need to."

"I know Ma, I'm sorry. What can I do for you today?" Eithen asked as he watched River get up and start to pace. This call needed to be quick. He really wanted to pick back up where he and River had left off at.

"Eithen, ever since I realized River and I were sharing dreams I started thinking," she hesitated for a few seconds. "There is a part of our family history that you never knew about and it was never recorded in the Pack archives for certain reasons. I promise to tell you about that later though. If what I think is going on is right, then you need to make sure that you really listen to River when he has an episode or even talks about one of his dreams. It is very important that you get any and all details that you can Eithen."

"Ma, I already have my own ideas when it comes to you and the dreams. As far as listening to River, I already do Ma. He has told me about his dreams in vivid detail and from what he has told me, well, let's just say that there is no way that I couldn't pay attention. Whatever it is that is causing him to see what he does is hurting him Ma. I need to find a way to make it stop. I can't stand to see him in pain like that." 

Eithen glanced back over at River, he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of the man for more than a few minutes. When River moved, it was with an elegance that made his eyes follow all the curves and lines of his body. The thought of seeing all of that beauty and grace vanish in a flash and be replaced by pain and suffering was something Eithen did not want to endure if he could help it. He would give anything to take the pain and make it his own. Eithen tuned back into what his mother was saying as he pulled his eyes away from River and what he was doing.

"Eithen listen to me, I'm thinking that I may be connected to River's little girl in some way as well. My main purpose for calling you has to do with her. I fell asleep earlier in the chair waiting for your father to get back and I had a dream not too different from the ones I have shared with River. This one was a little different though."

"What did you see Ma?" Eithen was worried now by the way his mother sounded. "You sound scared."

"I dreamt of a little girl, she was around 3 or 4 and had long black hair. She was hiding in a house that looked to be empty. I could see everything that was going on around her along with what the others in the house were doing. If it is Raivyn that I truly saw then you need to find her and do it fast son. From what I saw, she is safe... for now. I was able to see and hear things she couldn't and I tried to lead her out. She's in danger Eithen, the ones that hold her plan to sell her to some man. If he arrives to collect," her voice seemed to falter, "I am afraid that she may be lost to us forever." 

Eithen could hear his mother trying to muffle her cries on the other end, whatever it was that she saw...he didn't know if he wanted to think about. "What else can you tell me Ma, there's more isn't there?" 

"No son, at least nothing else that I saw, just a feeling that I have. You need to promise me Eithen, promise me that if River has another of his episodes or he has anymore dreams that you get him to give you as many details from them. I know his episodes are painful son, I know it hurts you to see him like that, but you need to talk him through it. Hold him tight, support him, but ask questions. 

"River and his daughter have a bond between them Eithen. A bond so strong that I think she is the cause of his pain. She is trying to reach out to River and he doesn't know what it is or how to control it. I guarantee you that he will have another one soon. Raivyn was talking to her daddy in my dream. Keep an eye on him son. I need to go now, just remember that your father and I are here for you and your future mate. We love you Eithen."

Eithen stared at the phone in his hand after his Ma hung up, he had so many questions, but they had to wait. Right now, all he wanted was to feel River in his arms again. Just as he was about to go pull River back into what was interrupted he heard River start to moan and then fall to his knees. He was by River's side in a matter of seconds. Eithen held him in his arms, stroking his hair and rocking him gently as the attack ran its course. 

Eithen whispered softly, "Hey baby, I got you. I'm right here, I'm not letting you go. Can you talk to me baby? What are you seeing? Is it Raivyn, is that who you see?" 

River shook his head. "Not seeing anything. It's dark, so dark, I can hear her, my baby girl. OH FUCK Eithen, make it stop please. The pain, make it stop." 

"If I could baby, I would take it all from you. Talk to me River, share with me what you're hearing. What is she saying, can you make it out?" Eithen continued to hold River tight in his arms while trying to get him to describe what was happening to him.

River tried his best to speak as the pain raged through his head. Whatever it was about Eithen, it helped to be wrapped up in his embrace. He felt the strength and security of Eithen's arms as they held him, like a protective barrier blocking out the worst of it. This time he didn't see anything, it was just a voice... her voice. 

"Just a few words here and there... it's like being in a tunnel... it's faint and distant sounding. She's calling for me though. 'Daddy...love...need... the rest is just jumbled up." River tried to make sense out of what he had heard. "Something about a lady and being told it was ok to runaway. I need to find her Eithen, help me find my baby girl."

River buried his face into Eithen's chest and just took comfort in knowing that he had someone there for him. Someone that believed what was happening and didn't think him crazy. He knew that his life would never be the same again, but he didn't let that bother him. All he wanted was his daughter back safe and in his arms while he was in Eithen's. 

Eithen listened to what River said while he thought about everything his Ma had told him. He couldn't dispute any of it. What River said he heard and what his Ma told him fit together perfectly. Maybe he had been wrong to take River away from where he had gone earlier. He had been trying to talk to Raivyn and it had been his dreams that led River to the edge of town. But how could that be, it was Eithen that had dreamt about the park and the trail and the abandoned house, not River. He never told River about that dream because it had been so real, 'Unless... Oh shit.' he realized that they had shared that dream, both of them, together. 

"River, baby, do you remember the dream you had about the park and the trail and the wolf? Was it because of that dream that you went to the edge of town earlier?" Eithen tilted River's head up to look into his eyes as he asked and watched the confusion cross River's face. Eithen saw the slight nod of River's head before he continued. "Did you feel her there River? Is that where you think Raivyn is at?" 

Again, he saw a slight nod of River's head. If they had shared the dream, then he needed to trust in what they had both seen and felt. Eithen had just dismissed it before, he should have known it wasn't just a simple dream. "River, I'm sorry I brought you back here." As soon as he said it, he knew it had come out wrong. Especially if the look on River's face was anything to go by. Anger, pure and simple. 

"I knew it. I fucking knew it. What kind of game are you trying to play with me here Eithen?" River pulled out of Eithan's embrace. "One minute you want me then the next you are sorry that you ever brought me here. Let me remind you that it was YOUR idea that I come here. I tried to fight you on it. But NO, you just had to have it your way." 

Eithen got up and tried to pull River back into his arms but he sidestepped him and moved to the other side of the bed. "Baby that is not what I was saying, you didn't let me finish." Eithen pleaded with his eyes for River to listen.

"Don't give me that Baby bullshit Eithen! I was starting to TRUST you. I was starting to let you in. HA! What a fool I was. Eithen, I feel things with you that I have never experienced before. Until a few days ago I had NEVER looked at another man. I had NEVER been curious. Then you get close to me. In my personal space and YOU become all that I can look at. WHAT... THE... FUCK... ARE... YOU?" 

Eithen just stood there and waited for River to get done with his little rant. "Are you done now? Can I speak? Good, now shut up and let me explain what I was saying BEFORE you went off." Eithen went from wanting to hold River in his arms to wanting to strangle him. River could push his buttons and rile him up quicker than anyone else. 

"As I was saying before you jumped to conclusions, I am sorry that I brought you back here earlier. I should have listened to you instead of trying to make you do what I wanted. I won't do that again. From now on when it comes to you and your daughter, we can do things your way. I also think that WE need to get back over to the edge of town and do a search of the houses and buildings there for any clues that may lead us to Raivyn."

River felt like shit, he had always been the type to think the worst and then let it take him where it shouldn't. He knew that Eithen hadn't been done talking but he had stopped him anyways. Maybe it was his own fears and insecurities that made him lash out the way he had. From the start of it all, Eithen had been nothing but supportive in his own way. And here River was, trying to push away the one person he could count on. River lowered his head and refused to look at Eithen. He would make it up to Eithen somehow, someway. 

"I'm sorry." River whispered. "I know you have done nothing but try to help and to make sure that I stay safe while we find a way to get Raivyn back. I overreacted, I tend to do that a lot, so you might want to get used to it." River turned his back to Eithen, he felt lost all of a sudden and he didn't like it. Then he felt those arms again, those wonderful arms that made him feel safe, that made him believe that everything would be ok. River let out a breath and leaned back, allowing Eithen to support him in every way. Even with all his doubts and questions, he could not fight the fact that nothing felt more right than being wrapped in Eithan's loving embrace.

River stayed there, content to just be held for awhile. He was so exhausted from everything. He tried to clear his mind and just relax but there was one thing that still bugged him. He had to ask. "Eithen?"

"Yeah," Eithen whispered as he lowered his head and rested it on River's shoulder. He just needed to feel that connection. Nothing more than the quiet intimacy of holding River tight as they looked out the window into the darkening night.

"I need to know and I think by now I have a right to know. What are you?" River felt the slight shift and then Eithen's body go rigid for a moment before he let out a heavy sigh. 

"You're right River, you do have a right to know. I was trying to find the best time to talk to you about that and some other things. You had enough going on with Raivyn and I didn't think you needed anymore to weigh you down." Eithen let go and took River by the hand and hoped that his revelation wasn't too much for River to take. He just needed to figure out where to start. 

Eithen led River out and down the hall to his office. If he was going to reveal all to River, his mate, then he sure as hell would need a drink to do it. What would he do if River couldn't or wouldn't accept him? They knew that River was different already, but dreams and visions were not unheard of. The world was full of so-called psychics, but Eithen would be revealing a world to River that had remained unknown to non-paras. Talk of shifters and were-creatures, would River just think him insane?

"You want a drink? I need a drink." River shook his head, he could tell that Eithen was trying as hard as he could to stall.

"Eithen, we can hold off on this if you want for now. Tell me when YOU are ready, not just because I asked. I have already accepted that you, like myself, are somehow not exactly normal. Neither of us know what I am, but you," River paused to think of what to say, "there is a story there that I want to learn. What we have Eithen, I don't think it is going to change. And if what you have to tell me makes you think I am going to run the other direction, then let me assure you," he looked directly into Eithan's worried eyes, "right here, right now, no matter what it is, I can handle it. As long as you are there to catch me if I should fall. Again." The last was said with a teasing little smirk as River pulled Eithen down next to him on the couch and gave him a gentle kiss. 

Eithen stared into River's eyes, squeezed his hand and began. "Well, let me start out by saying that I am not what I appear to be."

****

Raivyn stopped, afraid to turn around and see who's hand was on her shoulder. She could see out the bottom half of the window. So close to the outside. She let the tears fall, she would never feel safe again. Never feel her daddy's arms around her. This was her chance to run away from the bad people but it was too late. Someone had found her. "I'm sorry daddy, I tried to get away to find you. I love you daddy." Raivyn closed her eyes and saw her daddy standing there and she cried harder. 

"Shhhh, little one, I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." The man behind her whispered. 

Raivyn wasn't sure if this was just another mean joke, but this man felt different than the others. She slowly turned her head and looked up at a really tall man. He was much taller than her daddy. He reached out and brushed away her tears as he squatted down to be on the same level as she was. He just let her look at him and take in his features, the kindness in his eyes and the gentle smile on his lips.

"Are you real?" She had to make sure. It felt like she could trust him, and she was starting to listen to her feelings. He pressed a finger to her mouth to silence any other words and nodded. He stood back up and reached out for Raivyn to take his hand. She hesitated, but only for a moment as she closed her eyes and told her daddy that a nice man was there to help her, that she would be ok. She took hold of the man's hand and together they walked out the door. 

"Hurry little one, we need to go before they see us out here in the yard." They made it to the side of the house where they could see the tree line for the woods. That was where they needed to go. He would have to carry her to lessen the chance of being spotted. "Ok little one, hold on tight, it's gonna be a bumpy ride." Then tall man smiled as he picked her up and started to run towards the woods that lay ahead of them. 

Raivyn watched the house as they ran, she saw the sleeping man run out with a gun in his hand. She watched it all happen like it was in slow motion. The bad man shot at them, once, twice, both just missed them. The third shot hit it's mark and the nice tall man stumbled and fell to his knees. "Go little one, run as fast as you can. Go into the woods and do not be afraid of what you see in there. I will be there to get you when I can. Just keep running and do not stop. Now go my little one, go."

Raivyn ran as fast as her little legs would go. She never looked back but she heard what sounded like a dog barking and growling. She just kept running like the tall man told her. She knew to trust him. She ran until she fell and couldn't get back up. Raivyn sat there on the ground and waited. He said he would find her. He said not to be afraid. She turned around when she heard a rustling in the weeds behind her. What she saw was beautiful. She had no need to fear it. She reached out her hand and waited for it to approach, never breaking eye contact.



To Rise Again Ch. 13



River sat quietly and waited for Eithen to work up the courage to tell his tale. He could see that whatever it was that Eithen was about to reveal scared him. River stayed silent, he wouldn't push for the answers that he seeked. Finally, after what felt like hours, Eithen gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and he began talking. 

Eithen took a deep breath, "I guess there really isn't an easy way to explain this other than to just come right out and say it." He kept his eyes locked with River's to watch for any kind of reaction to what he was about to say. "I was born and raised to one day take over for my father, just as he did from his father. We come from a long line of leaders....better known to those of my kind as Alpha. I am what you would call a Shifter or a Werewolf." Eithen waited for any kind of response from River but received none. He just sat there, holding his hand, waiting for Eithen to continue.

"OK, well umm...I took over as Alpha five years ago when my father decided that it was time for me to lead our pack. There are currently around 150 members that look to me as a leader, a teacher and a role model to their pups. They turn to me to help settle any disputes that may arise within the pack itself." Eithen stopped to let all that he had said to sink in for River. River sat there silently, not moving. Eithen started to worry, "River....baby....you ok? I know it's a lot to take in, but like I said, there was no easy way to explain it. Say something River....please....anything." When Eithen went to stroke the side of River's face, it was like the air was sucked out of the room. River had shied away from his touch.

River sat there and heard the words that had come out of Eithen's mouth, he had expected to hear something, anything...but certainly not that he was a...a...he couldn't even think it. He felt like his life had turned into an episode of the Twilight Zone. Just a few weeks ago he was a simple man with a stressful job, a boss he despised, and a daughter that he wanted back. Now...now he was a man that was having strange dreams, excruciating pain accompanied by visions of his daughter and an attraction to his boss so strong that he couldn't deny it even if he wanted to.

Something nagged at him from his memory, a message he had heard in a dream. One of the dreams that had Siobhan in it, along with the beautiful wolf at her side. The wolf, his wolf, and with that the message became clear to him again. 'Trust in myself, believe the unimaginable, see with my mind, and listen with my heart.' With the realization of what he had heard, River started to breathe a little heavier, his heart beat a little faster and his body began to tremble. 

Eithen tried to pull River to him when he felt the shaking, he knew that River was having some sort of an attack and Eithen needed to get him to calm down. River resisted though, instead he scooted back, released Eithen's hand, and stood up. Eithen was afraid he had just lost his mate, that River couldn't accept him for what he was. He watched River slowly walk away from him, towards the windows that overlooked the backyard and the woods. "River, baby, what's going on in that head of yours?"

River stood at the window, arms wrapped around himself, as he tried to come to terms with his life as he knew it. He heard Eithen speak, but he couldn't open his mouth or make a sound. What could he say to that? He needed time to think, he needed to be alone. River turned around to find Eithen standing in front of him, with a look of pain and sadness in his eyes. He couldn't do this right now. 

He tried to tell Eithen, but his mouth was dry. He shook his head no, as he pleaded with his eyes for Eithen to understand. He swallowed a few times, trying to get his voice back. Again he shook his head no. "I...I can't do this Eithen, not right now." River walked around Eithen and headed for the door, not wanting to see the hurt on Eithen's face. As he reached for the handle he had one more question to ask. "Before I go to my room, is there anything else I need to know?"

******

Raivyn sat there on the ground with her arm raised and hand out as she waited for the pretty doggy to come closer. Her daddy had always told her not to touch strange dogs because you never knew if they would bite, but she knew she was safe. It was so pretty and soft looking. The animal dropped down into a crouch and belly crawled the rest of the way to where Raivyn sat, showing it meant no harm to her. It bumped her hand with its snout, telling her in its own way that she could touch. She rubbed her hands over its head just before she threw her arms around its neck and started to cry.

She was away from the mean people now and all her fear and sadness just poured out of her little body as she laid there wrapped around this animal. She felt safe, for the first time in a long time. She could see the sky without looking through a window, she could feel the breeze against her skin and blow her hair around. She was so dirty and so tired. Raivyn held onto the pretty doggy a little tighter as her eyes started to close. "Just a little nap until the nice tall man comes to find me," she whispered to the animal.

The wolf stayed where it was, unmoving as the little angel slept wrapped around it. It would protect her, keep her safe. It would do what it could to insure nothing happened to her. It heard the snap of a twig and whipped its head around sniffing at the air. It bared its teeth, a low growl emanating from its chest to let the danger it smelled know it was there. It watched a man emerge from behind a tree with his hands held up, showing the wolf it meant no harm to either it or the little girl.

"Hey there boy," the man said in a soft voice as he fell to his knees just out of snapping range of where the wolf lay. The man could see the protective nature of the wolf with Raivyn; he just wondered why it would do it so quickly. "I won't hurt her boy, like you, I just want to keep her safe." The man inched closer as he spoke, hands still held up. "Will you allow me to take her now boy? She has people that are waiting for her to come home." 

The wolf's growls quieted down after it scented the air again, smelling for any sign of deceit from the man. The wolf would let this man take his little angel, but he would follow where he took her. The wolf would now forever protect, to watch over and keep safe from a distance until the time was right. 

The man knew the moment the wolf had accepted him. He reached out and pried Raivyns arms from around the wolf's neck and gently cradled her in his arms to not wake her. "Thank you my young friend," the man said to the wolf as he stood and started into the woods once again. "I think you just made a lifelong friend little one," he whispered to a sleeping Raivyn. 

The man could smell the young wolf as it followed. It didn't concern him though. He just wondered where the rest of the wolf's pack was. He knew the wolf wasn't one of theirs, the man knew all the families and the pups within the Donovan Pack. He would have to inform the Alpha of a possible throwaway. It was too protective of the little one to be a wolf gone rogue, so there seemed to be no threat. He hoped that the Alpha would know what to do for the boy because he didn't see him leaving Raivyn anytime soon.

They had walked through the woods for about 20 minutes when Raivyn started to stir in the man's arms. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around to see where she was. The nice man had come for her, she knew he would. Raivyn looked around again and wondered where her pretty doggy was. "Don't worry little one, he's following behind us a ways. My name is Lonnie by the way and I know that your name is Raivyn." 

"I miss my daddy," Raivyn whispered. "Are you taking me to my daddy now Mr. Lonnie?" 

"That's the plan little one," Lonnie said with a smile. "We just have to make sure we are safe before we can head to where he is ok?"

Raivyn nodded her head and snuggled back up into his arms as they continued to walk. Mr. Lonnie hummed a song as they weaved in and around trees and over fallen branches. Every so often Raivyn would catch a glimpse of her doggy, his light brown fur with white patches. She wondered if her daddy would let her keep him. He was so soft to lie on.

******

The wolf followed behind the man at a distance. He had to keep her in his sight. She was his and he would insure that nothing happened to her. He had been alone to long, shunned by his pack, his family. It was an accident, he never meant for it to happen. He was lucky that he didn't pay for it with his own life. Maybe that would have been better, instead, now he had to live with the memory. The memory of seeing his little sisters face filled with fear as she was pulled under the water. There had been nothing he could do to help. Maybe if he could protect this little girl, keep her safe, his own conscience would feel redeemed.

He stayed alert, focused on all sounds and smells that came at him from every direction. There had been no sign of danger up to this point, but he wouldn't take any chances and let his guard down. He wasn't sure how long the man had walked, but it seemed like he was trying to insure that it would be very difficult to be followed. The young wolf noticed the man had started to walk a bit slower, his gait seemed off, like he was in pain. He chanced a closer look, he trotted up alongside the man, and then he saw it. A hole in the shoulder of the man's shirt with splatters of blood around it. He knew now, danger would be close.

******

Lonnie should have waited longer before heading off into the woods after being shot. It felt like someone kept sticking a hot poker in his shoulder. He would heal fine, he had experienced worse, but back then he didn't have to carry the weight of a sleeping child. Lonnie owed this to his Alpha though, prove himself as a member of the pack and wasn't just a screw up. He tried his best to cover their tracks. He knew it was just a matter of time before they sent out the search party for Raivyn. She had seen all of them, would be able to identify them and was now a threat to what they had going.

They were roughly thirty minutes from the edge of the woods located behind the Alpha's home, when Lonnie noticed a shift in the air around them. The animals ceased their chatter, aware of the danger headed their way. The young wolf at his side seemed to be aware of the change as well. Lonnie watched as it took off back towards where they had come from. He couldn't just stand there and wait for them to show up though; he had to get Raivyn to safety. Lonnie took off again, headed for his Alpha's home when he heard the first shot ring out. He hoped the young wolf would be smart and stay hidden.

Raivyn was jostled awake from Lonnie speeding up; she knew the bad people were close. She tightened her arms around Mr. Lonnie's neck, hiding her face in his shoulder. She didn't want to go back with the mean people, she just wanted her daddy. She was scared; she could hear the mean people shoot their guns. "Mr. Lonnie," she whimpered, "are they going to hurt us? Where's my doggy? Did he go after the bad people Mr. Lonnie?" 

Lonnie tried to think of answers to her questions that wouldn't frighten her more than she already had to be. "Your doggy will be ok little one, he can protect himself and he won't let anything happen to you. I am also going to do my best to not let them get you again. Your daddy has been looking for you and it's time for you to see him again." Lonnie hoped what he said would ease Raivyns mind a little. 

Another shot rang out, they were getting closer. Lonnie needed to find a place to hide Raivyn. "I'm going to put you down here little one and I need you to crawl in under the bushes for me ok? Stay here and be as quiet as you can so they don't find you. I will be back as fast as I can, then we can go see your daddy together. Can you do that for me little one?" Raivyn looked up at him with a tear-streaked face and nodded her head as she wormed her little body out of sight. 

Lonnie made sure he was far enough away from Raivyn before he allowed the change to take over. In the blink of an eye, where he once stood, there was a wolf with golden red fur. He scented the air and took off to where he knew he would find the people that were after Raivyn. 

Raivyn laid there with her eyes closed and just listened. She heard shouting, growling and more shots. Then it was silent, too silent, Raivyn knew something was wrong. She did what Mr. Lonnie told her though and didn't move or make a sound. It was starting to get dark out when she heard the crunch of dried leaves. A minute later she felt something bump her hand and knew that it was her doggy. At least he was ok. 

Her doggy kept bumping into her, trying to get Raivyn to move. "I can't leave doggy," she whispered, "Mr. Lonnie told me to stay here." This time the wolf gently bit down on her sleeve and tugged until she didn't have a choice but to go with him. "Are we going to find Mr. Lonnie? He knows where my daddy is." The wolf looked at her a moment before he started to walk off in the opposite direction of where she knew Mr. Lonnie should have been. "This is the wrong way doggy, we need to go that way," she said as she pointed back the other way. 

******

Eithen wondered if River could handle any more stress, so he decided to hold off on telling him that they were mates, meant to belong to one another fully, in every way possible, heart and soul. He would give River time to digest all he had been told already before he laid that out there in the open as well. Eithen shook his head, "no, nothing that can't wait until later River. I'm sorry baby, I really am. I never meant to frighten you, and I know that this is a lot to take in. Please baby, don't let this change the things that have started between us. You take all the time you need and I will be here waiting for you. I will always wait, now that I have found you."

River had his back to Eithen as he stood at the doorway, he didn't see the pleading look in Eithen's eyes as he spoke. He didn't see the pain and the anguish on Eithen's face at the thought of never being with him. River just needed time to think and absorb it all. He wasn't running away from Eithen, he was drawn to the man and there was no way that he could just walk away from him now. "I know Eithen, and I'm sorry too." River walked out the door, to his room, where he stayed hidden away for the rest of the night. 

River wasn't aware of all the times that Eithen walked up to his door and just stood there, head resting against the frame. When he would raise his hands and place them on the door, knowing that River was in there, slowly slipping away from him. 

Eithen wasn't aware of River standing there at the door either, ready to go back to the office and throw himself at Eithen. Wrap his arms around the man that had become his world in such a short time. To tell him that it didn't matter what he was, but who he was as a man that River had started to fall in love with. 

They were both afraid of how they felt for one another, they both needed the other, yet neither knew how to finally cross that line if it wasn't during a spur of the moment. They both needed to learn to communicate, or what they had building between them would never work. 

The next day there was a strained silence around the office once they got there. The other employees knew to keep their distance from Mr. Donovan, but they chose to keep River at an arms length as well. They only spoke to him if it was necessary, and even then they kept is brief. Eithen stuck to his word and gave River all the time he needed to sort things out. River took the time to go over everything that has occurred in his life over the last 6 months. River and Eithen only spoke about work and kept to themselves at the house. That was how it went for the next week. 

River didn't have any more strange dreams or visions, and he actually started to worry about that. He had done all the thinking that he could because he kept returning to the same conclusion. He had to man up and go to Eithen, to be strong and admit what he felt; about him, Eithen, and also his fears about what was going on with Raivyn. They were no closer to finding her. As each day passed without a lead, he became more afraid they would never find her.

Two weeks had gone by, it was now a few days before the big charity event for The Sanctuary, and River needed to make sure that Eithen was ready for it. He used that as his excuse to leave his room and go to where Eithen sat in his office staring out the window. River walked in silently and made his way over to stand behind Eithen, and placed his hands on the back of the chair. Unsure what to do, River slid his hands down over Eithen's shoulders and wrapped his arms around him from behind and rested his head against Eithen's.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in Eithen's ear before he placed a feather light kiss to his cheek. "I should have come to you sooner," he whispered again in Eithen's ear as he slowly made his way around the chair and sat down in Eithen's lap. Eithen wrapped both arms around River and just held onto him. It had been a long two weeks and all the emotions came flooding out of them both. "I accept you as you are Eithen. I have come to realize that I need you in my life. Whatever you are, it doesn't matter to me. It is you, Eithen, that I am falling for. Forgive me for taking so long to." 

Eithen had been so sure that he had lost River, that he would never hold him in his arms again. He was relieved to know that he was wrong. "All that matters is that you're here now. I really thought I had lost you before I was ever able to call you my own. I need you River," Eithen said softly right before he claimed River's mouth. 

The kiss was gentle but possessive, it left no doubt in River's mind that Eithen had just staked his claim. What they couldn't put into words they put into that kiss. They just sat there and held on to each other, there was no need to do anything more. This was a time to reconnect, to make the hurt and doubts from the last few weeks melt away and be forgotten. 

River pulled back to stare into Eithen's eyes. He saw the same love reflected in them that he was sure Eithen could see in his own. He knew that they still had things to talk about, to work out, but they could get through it together, he was done running. He wanted Eithen at his side to help raise Raivyn. 

They talked long into the night, River told of his past, the reason he didn't do well with large crowds. What he could remember of it that is. He was young, maybe 7 or 8 when his parents decided to have a family outing. They went to a new aquatic exhibit that had opened a month before. 

River was fascinated with all the life that could be found in the ocean. For most of the day he kept his face pressed against the glass as schools of fish swam by, asking his parents question after question. They were only too happy to indulge their only child, and would come up with answers that would make him laugh. It had been a good day, one that they should have been able to look back on and smile. 

It only took a moment though for it all to change. In a matter of minutes it went from a happy memory to one that would become River's personal hell. The seal on one of the tanks gave, water rushed out into the tunnel, the crowd panicked and chaos ensued. River was separated from his parents, everywhere he looked people were running and screaming, as they tried to make it to the exit doors. He was knocked down, stepped on, unseen lying there on the floor as the water level continued to rise. 

River couldn't remember anything after that, he woke up in a hospital with all kinds of wires and tubes connected to his little body. He turned his head and saw his parents asleep in chairs next to his bed. When he asked later on what happened, his parents would go quiet and avoid eye contact. He overheard the doctor and his parents though and knew that he should not have survived. They moved shortly after the incident, it was never spoken of again. 




To Rise Again Ch. 13



Eithen listened and could understand where the panic attacks came from. He would have been messed up after something like that as well. He held River tighter in his arms, "if you ever feel that you can't handle something, come to me ok?" 

"Thank you," was all River could say to that. "Ok, enough about me for now, tell me more about the pack. I want to learn all I can about you and your community here." 

For Eithen's part, he talked of growing up in a pack, what it was like to have so many people to count on. He told River things he had done as a young pup that had them both laughing. Eithen spoke of the close bonds that formed among all the members. He explained that the pack was more than just a group of people, it's like a large family in a way, and everyone looked out for everyone. He only left out one important aspect of Were life. Mates, and how important it was to find the one that Fate intended to be your other half. 

"There is one thing that every wolf strives for, dreams of and prays that it will one day happen to them." 

River turned and gazed up at Eithen, "and what would that be?"

"For the day to come when we find that one person who will complete us and make us whole. The day we find our mate." Eithen waited for that statement to sink in, to see if River would understand what he was saying.

River's mind started to put all the small pieces of the puzzle that were Eithen and River together. "And how do you know when you've found your mate?" 

"Our wolf always knows, sometimes it may take our human side a little longer to figure it out, but the wolf, it knows its mate as soon as it gets a good scent. We feel drawn to our mates and find any excuse we can to be near them. Our mates are to be loved, cherished and adored like no other, we would die for our mates. When we find our mates, there will never be another." 

River was afraid to hope, afraid to ask the question of whether or not he and Eithen were fated, destined to be one. He feared that what he felt for Eithen was one-sided. The need to know the answer was stronger though. He ached for and longed to be held and loved by this man. River asked without words, the question was clear to see in his eyes. 

He got his answer when Eithen tightened his hold, leaned down and whispered one simple yet powerful word....Mine.



To Rise Again Ch. 14



Raivyn had followed her doggy deeper into the woods and away from Mr. Lonnie. She was scared for him, but knew that he would be ok. Her doggy led her to a cave that would shield them from the weather and keep them from being found by the bad people. He grabbed the bottom of her shirt in his teeth and pulled her over to a pile of brush that was laid out along the cave wall. 

It was dark inside, but it didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to what little light was let in from the mouth of the cave. She saw a place in the back where it looked like a fire could be built but she thought nothing of it. Her doggy had already laid down on the little bed of brush and whimpered. She laid down and curled up around her doggy, he was so warm. Her doggy would protect her now, keep her safe.

Once he knew that she was asleep he slowly backed away and went out to hunt. He would have to make sure that there was food for her when she woke up. When he returned, he shifted to his human form and dressed in the clothes he had stashed in the back of the cave. The young pup would have to reveal himself to her; there was no way to cook her food while in his wolf form. He just hoped that he wouldn't spook her and have her fear him once he did. 

He checked on her one last time before he started on the fire. While that was building up and the meat was roasting, he stepped just outside of the cave to gather some berries that were there. He would have to find a way to get her some water, but he had no way to carry it back from the river. He came back in and went over to sit by the fire, where he stared into the flames thinking back to the day that his life changed.

******

He and his little sister had been playing on the banks of the river that ran behind their home. They knew not to go into the water because of the strong undercurrents that were prominent at this time if the year. They were playing hide-n-seek and he was the seeker. He gave his sister plenty of time to find a good spot to hide before he took off into the woods looking for her. He found her trail pretty easily; he would one day be a Tracker for the pack. 

When they played there were no rules as to where they could hide. His sister liked to try and fool him by hiding in the trees to make it harder for him to find her. This day would be no different. He tracked her scent along a narrow path that led up to a butte that rose above the river. Her scent got stronger the closer he got. He had just started up the path to the tree he knew she would have chosen when he heard a pop and a crack. He didn't really worry about what he heard, some of the trees around were old and on the verge of falling over. 

He had just reached the top when he heard another crack, then his sister started to scream. The branch that she had hid on was weak and gave out from the added weight she placed on it. He ran as fast as he could, just to watch the branch and his little sister to fall over the edge of the butte and into the raging river below. 

He panicked, there was no way he would make it back down the path to reach her in time and he knew he couldn't jump from here and be able to help her. He stood there frozen and watched as the river dragged her under time and time again. He snapped out of the grip fear had over him and shifted, he could run faster in his wolf form and just might be able to reach her. 

He had just made it to the river's edge and shifted back scanning the water for his sister. She was no longer visible but he could hear her calls for help. He raced along the banks, searching for her, he couldn't see her. Tears ran unchecked down his face, he couldn't lose her. She was his best friend, his confidant. He would never forgive himself if he lost her. 

He stopped and hollered her name over and over as he tried to pinpoint where she was located in the river. Then he spotted her bobbing in and out of the water, she tried to fight the undertow, but it was a battle that could not be won. The more she fought, the more she went under. He saw that she was tired, that she knew what her fate would be. 

He headed into the river; he tried to save her, his own safety was unimportant. He swam to where she was, ignoring her yells telling him to go back. He waded out deeper and deeper, felt the start of the river's pull on his legs. His sister knew she wouldn't make it out of the river, he saw it in her eyes. He saw the moment that she gave up her fight and let the river take her. He screamed and yelled, telling her to fight, that he would save her. Even though he knew it was beyond hope.

******

Raivyn woke up from another dream where she was in the park with her daddy. She liked it when she had those dreams. They made her happy and forget for just a bit about all the bad stuff. She sat up and looked around; her doggy wasn't there next to her like he had been when she fell asleep. Raivyn could see a shadow on the wall, the fire had been lit. She stood and walked over to the fire and saw a bigger boy, he looked lost in thought. Raivyn wondered if this was who her doggy belonged to. He didn't even notice when she sat down next to him. 

Raivyn looked at the boy for a long time before he seemed to realize that she was there. "Hi," she said with a little wave. "I'm Raivyn, does the pretty doggy belong to you?" she asked. 

He shook his head, now was the time to let her know that he was the wolf, the one that protected her. There was no point in waiting to tell her. "No little one, I am the pretty doggy," he said quietly. He waited for her to say something, anything. She stared into his eyes and simply nodded her head. 

"Ok .... well you're pretty and soft and warm when you have all that hair on you," Raivyn giggled when she said that. "So what is your name then? I can't really go around calling you pretty doggy." 

"My name's Kohlton, but you can call me Kohlt if you want. Are you hungry little one? I got some food here for you." 

Raivyn nodded her head and took the food that Kohlt offered to her. "Thank you," she whispered.

"How old are you Raivyn?" Kohlton thought she couldn't be any older than five.

She finished chewing what was in her mouth before she answered, her daddy always told her never talk with food in your mouth. "I'm three, almost four ...but my daddy says that I am mature." 

"What were you doing in the woods Raivyn? Are you in trouble?" He watched her start to shake a little. Kohlton pulled her over onto his lap and held her tight. "Shhh little one, you're safe here with me," he whispered, as he gently rocked side to side. "You can tell me later if you want."

"No, it's ok ...." And Raivyn told Kohlt everything that had happened to her from the time her mommy left her with the bad people. Kohlt sat there and held her as she cried and he cried with her. He thought his parents and pack were bad, it was nothing compared to what this little angel had endured.

Over the next few weeks, Raivyn and Kohlt had formed a bond that would never be destroyed. He was her protector and her provider. They had fun playing hide-n-seek and tag in the woods. At night he would shift back to his wolf form to ensure that his little angel stayed warm. During the day he would only shift when he needed to go hunt up more meat. They fell into a routine during the time they were in the cave. 

Kohlton had gone back and tracked Lonnie's scent; he promised Raivyn he would try to find Mr. Lonnie for her. What he found could not have been a good sign. There was dried blood, but it wasn't all his from the smell of it. He had put up a good fight. He followed the blood trail until it just stopped. Kohlton saw tire tracks, so he only assumed that whoever had been after Lonnie and Raivyn had taken his body. He hoped and prayed, for Raivyn, that this Lonnie guy was still alive and safe.

******

Between work and trying to locate Raivyn, River and Eithen had no time for themselves over the last few weeks. Even living under the same roof didn't allow them time for themselves. It was now a few days before the charity benefit and they had time to relax which they took full advantage of. 

River had made a simple dinner of pasta and salad for him and Eithen. He had set the table with candles and a red wine. They enjoyed a quiet night together and talked about anything that came to mind. River told stories of him and Raivyn while Eithen talked about things in the pack. 

Eithen needed to feel that closeness again with River. He scooted his chair back, never taking his eyes off of River for a moment and came around the table. Eithen held his hand out in invitation for River to take hold. He pulled River along behind him into the den, where he had a fire going and a throw tossed on the floor in front of it. They stood there, inches apart, lightly holding onto one another. 

As they gazed into each other's eyes, they saw all of the love and desire that still lay unspoken between them. River ran his hands down the front of Eithen's chest as Eithen's hands ran up River's back. They leaned in at the same time, the barest of touches as their lips parted. "I need you River, my life, my mate." Eithen whispered before he claimed River's mouth. 

Ever so slow, they both worked on releasing the buttons on their shirts and sliding them off to fall to the floor. Now they stood chest to chest, skin to skin. Eithen let out a quiet growl which caused River to let out a moan as it vibrated through his body. 

"Mmmm .... do that again," River demanded.

"Do what again? This ..." Eithen smirked as he let out another deep growl that sent chills all over River's body and went straight to his manhood. 

"Yeah .... your growls do things to me," River whispered as he rubbed against Eithen's own impressive length, making them both groan at the contact.

"I want you River; want you so bad .... but we will take this at your pace. We only do what you are ready for. I can and will wait for whenever that may be. Ok?" 

"I know you would Eithen, which is why I say we just go with it and do whatever feels right. And right now, I want to feel you under me again." 

River fell to his knees pulling Eithen down with him. He wrapped one arm around Eithen as he devoured his mouth and gently laid him out on the floor beneath him. River pulled back and stared at the beauty of this man that he could call his. "Just so you know," he whispered, "I want you too." 

River started by placing little nips and kisses to Eithen's ear, along his neck and over his jaw, ending at his lips. He teased and tasted, running the tip of his tongue over them. He would bite down gently only to suck on it after to take away the sting. He repeated this over and over until Eithen had enough and pulled River into a scorching kiss that took their breath away.

River broke the kiss, grabbed Eithen's wrists and placed them above his head. "Don't move," he demanded. "This is my show, my way, remember?"  Eithen just nodded, the thought of being dominated by River excited him. "That's a good little wolf." River whispered as he ran his tongue down Eithen's neck and bit into his shoulder.

Eithen arched up off the floor from the pleasure of the bite, he never knew it would feel so good to be the less dominant one in a relationship. It was all he could do to keep his hands where River had placed them. He wanted to grab hold of his mate and flip him; he wanted to feel River under him as he took what was his. But he had agreed to let River take the lead. 

River licked the spot he had bit then moved down and across Eithen's chest, where his nipples were already hard and just begging for attention. What kind of partner would River be if he didn't show them the attention they deserved? He flicked his tongue over and around the tip before sucking it into his mouth and nipping at it. He repeated this on the other side, never touching Eithen with anything other than his mouth. 

River leaned forward to steal a kiss before he started working his way down Eithen's stomach. He nipped, kissed and licked along each muscle, dip and ridge he came across. He ran the tip of his tongue around Eithen's belly button, dipping in and out before he followed the trail of black hair that led to a spot that River would get to know much better in time.

With each new spot that River tasted, Eithen got closer to losing his battle of staying still. It was a pleasurable torture, and he wasn't sure how much more he could endure. "River .... Baby .... Please ...."

"Please what Eithen? Tell me what you need." 

"Please .... touch me baby .... I need you to touch me."

"I thought I was touching you .... hmmm .... maybe I could do this instead ...." River slowly ran the tips of his fingers over Eithen's chest and across his stomach as he took in the sight of his body as it trembled under his touch. 

"So responsive you are my little wolf ...." River whispered as he continued to touch and tease. This was all new territory for him, being with a man, but what he was doing felt so right, he just let his body take control and tried not to think too much about it.

Eithen looked down the length of his body; the sight of River there took his breath away and his control to slip just that much more. He pushed himself up on his elbows and beckoned River to him. "Come up here River, I need to taste you."

River crawled up Eithen's body until he was just inches away, he breathed in the scent that was pure Eithen and his manhood hardened even more. He slowly stretched out on top, nose to nose, chest to chest, and hip to hip. 

"You moved Eithen and I told you to keep your hands where I placed them. Now what do you think I should do for your disobedience?" River sternly whispered as he stared deep into Eithen's eyes. He flicked his tongue out to tease those lips that begged to be tasted. 

Eithen's wolf was not liking this being submissive thing at all, he struggled to come to the surface to show his mate who was in charge. He was Alpha, he submitted to no one. Eithen had to fight to keep his wolf in check, he knew it would never hurt their mate, but this was something that River needed and he would do what he had to, to make sure he was satisfied. If that meant letting River take control, then so be it. 

Even as the growls grew louder, he bared his neck to River, showing that he would submit only to him. "Anything baby .... I'll take any .... oohhh hell .... umm .... any punishment ...." he moaned out as River leaned in and licked the side of his neck and shoulder. "Bite me .... please River .... bite me again." 

River ran his tongue down where shoulder and neck met, teased the skin there with nips and reveled in Eithen's reaction. The way his body pushed up to meet his, the little growls and moans that escaped, the way his voice wavered as he asked for what he wanted. River stopped to take a second to study the face of the man he had fallen in love with, the man that he was able to control with very little effort. 

As River bit down on Eithen's shoulder, he also increased the pressure to their cocks as he gently thrust up and down. They needed this, just another step to further what had been building between them from the start. He released his hold on Eithen's shoulder, claimed his mouth and continued to thrust. By now, both were rapidly approaching the point of no return. They rubbed, thrust, grabbed, tasted and devoured one another. 

"Eithen .... ahhh fuck .... so close .... " River swore.

"God River .... you feel so good .... faster baby," Eithen pleaded.

"Cum for me Eithen ...." River demanded. 

It started soft, and then grew increasingly louder, the sound of a phone ringing. Nonstop .... persistent .... never-ending, the more it rang the louder it got. It wouldn't be ignored. As soon as it stopped it would start up again. This was what pulled River and Eithen awake where they had fallen asleep curled up on the couch together in front of the fire. 

"I think that's your phone again," River whispered. He turned away to prevent Eithen from seeing his face flush as images of the dream he just had flashed in his mind. 

Eithen watched as River sat up and tried to hide the heat that had crept into his face. Apparently the dream Eithen just had was another one they had shared. Eithen stood and adjusted himself as he walked over to where he had left his phone on the mantle. Checking missed calls, he noticed they were all from Troy. 

"Shit .... if he's tried to call this many times something has to be wrong. Let me just take care of this real quick .... then I think we need to have a talk about these dreams River. From what I see," Eithen's gaze ran down and stopped at the very noticeable bulge in River's pants, then brought his gaze back up to his face. "We had the same dream River, therefore, that has to mean something." 

River agreed, it all had to mean something. What though, he didn't know. "Call Troy, I'll be right here when you get done." 

"Well let's hope that it's some good news on Raivyn, ok?" Eithen walked over to the window as he waited for Troy to pick up.

"What ya got Troy? .... what do you mean he can't be found? .... he's been gone for over a week and I am just NOW hearing about this .... NO TROY!!! I should have HEARD about it the day AFTER he went missing. I don't give a FUCK about that .... he is a member of this pack, MY PACK, and I should have been informed. Get the trackers gathered up and have them here in twenty minutes .... yes here .... yes River's here and he will stay here .... are you really gonna question me Troy? .... I didn't think so .... just get your ass here in twenty."

So many scenarios ran through Eithen's mind about what could have happened to Lonnie. He should have noticed the overexcited pup hadn't been around lately, but he had been so wrapped up in his own personal life he didn't realize. How could he have missed Lonnie not being there? Lonnie made it a point to see Eithen at least once a day since he came to be a part of the pack almost five years ago. 

Eithen thought back on that day. He and Troy had been out on one of their daily runs when they came across a teen boy asleep. He looked half-starved, dirty beyond belief and so fragile. Something about the boy tugged at Eithen's heartstrings and he wondered why he was out there on his own. He needed to find a way to help this kid. Eithen shifted out of his wolf form and made his way over to the boy quietly so he wouldn't spook him.

"Hey little man, can you wake up for me?" Eithen tried to shake the boy awake with no luck, it seemed as though he would have to carry him back. "Troy, grab his stuff, we can't just leave him out here." 

Troy wasn't about to question the new Alpha and did as he was told, there wasn't much and what there was looked ready to be burned. He just hoped the Alpha knew what he was doing.

Eithen gathered the boy up in his arms and headed back towards his parents place, his Ma would know what to do for the kid. The boy never stirred during the trek back and that worried Eithen. He knew the boy was a shifter, and since shifters were not susceptible to human viruses, the lack of any response or movement was concerning. He prayed they had found him in time. 

It took a few days of good sleep and all the food the kid could ever want to get him up and about. They had learned that the kid had been out on his own for about year, after his own pack tossed him out. The kid, who's name was Lonnie, didn't want to reveal why he had been shunned for fear of it happening again, but Eithen assured him that he was safe now. 

When they heard that Lonnie had been abused, ridiculed and scorned because he was unable to shift, Eithen became furious. A pup is something to love and cherish, no matter what. Just because Lonnie was not what they wanted him to be didn't give them the right to tell him he was un-natural, useless and nothing but a burden. There had been many occasions where a pup was unable to shift for one reason or another, they were still pack, and pack supported everyone. 




To Rise Again Ch. 14



Lonnie was placed with a couple that had been unable to have pups of their own and he was loved. He never wanted for anything, his adoptive parents were gentle and caring. They helped him understand that he was worthy and it was ok if he never shifted, but to not give up hope. They showed him ways to recognize when a shift was coming on and how to lessen the pain the first time. 

Eithen hired Lonnie when he turned seventeen to be a runner for him. Just a simple job, but it gave him a purpose and responsibility, and for that Lonnie was grateful. Eithen was aware of the hero worship, but it was harmless. It was because of Lonnie and his story that Eithen came up with the idea of The Sanctuary. For kids like Lonnie that needed some place safe to turn to if they needed it. 

"Hey Big Man, what's going on in that head of yours?" River had walked over and wrapped his arms around Eithen as he had gotten lost in his memories. It was only when he heard River's voice did he come back to the here and now.

"Sorry baby, I was just thinking of the past. I need to fill you in on some things before the guys get here. C'mon, let's sit back down." Eithen pulled River back over to the couch where he refused to let him go and placed him between his legs with River's back against his chest as they sat there. 

"I'm sure you heard my part of the call to Troy." River nodded, but didn't speak, he waited for Eithen to continue. "It seems that a member of the pack has been missing for over a week now, his name is Lonnie. I want to let you know that Lonnie is special to me." Eithen felt River stiffen and knew he needed to explain. "Not special like that baby, but he is important. I'll give you a brief history ..." 

By the time Eithen was done telling River about Lonnie and his past, River had tears in his eyes. "How could they do that to him? How could his parents allow them to do that to their son?" 

"I don't know baby, but that is why I need to find him. The guys that will be here in a few minutes are called trackers, that's what they do, that's what they are good at. They can find him, and then we can figure out what happened and where he has been all this time. Now, you can stay here for the meeting or you can go do whatever until it's over. It is your choice, but I would like you here with me."

"How many will be here?" River was never good in crowds of more than five or six people, and without his meds he was afraid that he would have a panic attack in front of Eithen and his pack. He didn't want to appear weak to them, he already had being a human going against him.

"Besides the two of us, there will be Troy and there are ten trackers in the pack. Why ask how many River?" 

River wanted to stay, he really did, but thirteen people in a small room, just the thought already had him sweating. He could feel himself start to tremble from the anxiety that was building. 

"You're shaking baby, what's wrong?" Eithen questioned as he pulled River tighter to him. "Is it the idea of so many? Does it make you panic? Is that the reason you take meds, to keep from panicking?"

River simply nodded, afraid to speak as he tried to keep his breathing under control. 

"Ok baby, that's fine, if it gets to be too much then you can leave."

There was a knock at the door and then Troy and the trackers entered the room. River tried to get up but Eithen wouldn't allow it. He kept his arms wrapped tightly around River. "Please guys, take a seat and we can get this started."

River sat there for the next thirty minutes, held in Eithen's arms as he spoke to his pack. For some reason, being held by Eithen prevented him from having a full out panic attack . He would still shake from time to time and his hands were sweaty, but he was able to keep his breathing even. He concentrated on the rise and fall of Eithen's chest, their breathing was synced. 

Just as they were about to wrap up the meeting and start on their search there was a noise at the front door. "I'll get that for you Eithen, you finish up in here with the guys," River whispered as he stood to leave. He walked out and down the hall to the front of the house, as he reached the door he heard a thud but didn't think anything of it. River turned the knob and pulled the door open in time to see the body of a young man battered and bruised fall to the ground. "Oh God!! EITHEN!! HELP!!"

The young man looked up at River and tried to talk, he needed to let him know. He used what strength he had left to grab River and pull him down to whisper in his ear. One word was all he got out before he succumbed to the pain and fell unconscious. One word, that struck River with fear. "Raivyn."