The next few days passed in a blur of activity. Nielle had picked up her car and started her job, working a three-hour shift to help with the lunch crowd. Rietta was now staying at the house, too nervous to return to her apartment and unwilling to go to work until the bruises faded. Zephyr left early each morning and came home late at night, busy heading up the search for Raphael. Each night he returned looking exhausted and even more frustrated, quickly eating dinner before burying himself in the office to catch up on the day’s work. A few nights he even went on patrol, hoping to catch Raphael sneaking about the property, but nothing came of it.
Nielle found herself reminiscing about the ‘good old days’ of the previous week when she and Zephyr had had time to themselves. Her mate was so
