Well, Cedric may not have been prepared for that, but he certainly showed what an Alpha of Alphas is capable of. I hope you enjoyed this bonus chapter. Updates Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
I didn’t know the kestrel and I barely trusted Ishir, but I didn’t have a choice. I can’t fly to my cave of treasures, so I need Ish to carry me if we’re going to get there in this century. We pick up the kestrel first. She’s still healing from her injuries, but she looks pretty good. “Are you able to shift?” Ish asks her. “I think so. It’s good to see you again, Tana.” She says to me quietly. “You as well. I never got your name.” “Jena.” “Well, Jena. Ish here thinks it’s a good idea for all of us to move to the city. What do you think?” “Umm, well, I don’t have any money.” “Good thing for you, Tana has money and I have jobs for both of you.” “What kind if a job?” She asks. Jena is young. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s barely an adult. “Apparently, I’m going to need a babysitter in a few months.” Jena’s eyes go wide. “Oh.” Is all she says looking at my stomach, before turning to Ish. “What about my sister? I need to find her.” “I’ll search for your sister once we’re settl
The man who called himself my half-brother ran while he had me fighting his ‘pack’ members. I have to assume he stayed someplace and watched until he realized I had defeated everyone who betrayed my pack. I never even got his name, but if I ever see him again, he’s a dead man. It’s amazing how quickly things can be destroyed and how much longer it takes to rebuild them. The pack was decimated. My pack members had been starved, tortured, beaten and raped. The first order of business was to provide food and medical care to everyone. I found a couple of people who were knowledgeable and healthy enough to triage the injured while I went hunting. As I began to bring in food, those that still had energy to stand began pulling together a fire and setting up a spit for cooking the meat. All day I continued to hunt and bring in meat. Those that could, helped to clean and cook the food. They started by feeding the weakest in the pack, including the pups, then moved on to those who were workin
Adjusting to life in a big city is, well, an adjustment. When we arrived in the city, Ishir took Jena to a pawn shop and sold one of the diamonds, leaving the rest with me. With the money we made, we bought some high-end clothes, some food and a hotel room for a week. The rest of the week, the three of us would go into upscale jewelry stores, selling a couple of diamonds at a time. We constantly rotated who the two were going in to sell the diamonds. We also moved around the city, starting with the east side, moving to the north side and all the way around, so we weren’t seen in close proximity selling our diamonds. When it is all said and done, we have nearly six million dollars. Ish found a penthouse apartment, in the tallest high rise in the city. He said it had gone up for sale, but I think he convinced the people to sell it to us, for the astronomical price of 4.5 million dollars. Caves are free, and they have a better view. He insisted that we needed an upscale car to go with
My search for Tana is on hold again. As desperate as I am to find her, I am also desperate to make Troy pay for what he did to my pack. I explain to Bastian what the Arena is. Now the underground tunnels make much more sense. This is how they are getting the supes into the cells without drawing attention to themselves. We take the rest of the day to study the map, deciding who will go with us to fight the humans and rescue the supes, and who will stay to protect the pack. Bastian and I agreed that if Troy gets away, the first thing he will do is try to come back and take over the pack. Therefore, I leave Bastian behind to guard the pack with half our warriors and I take the other half as we begin the trek to the new arena. We run for three days. When we get close enough, we find our trackers and begin searching and watching. I know better than most what to look for, so I see it first when what looks like a Keeper exits an area near us. “What day is it?” I ask my warriors. “Thursda
The next morning, I see him. Troy. He’s walking in with the leaders. So, he’s now hunting his own kind for the humans. And he thought he was Alpha material. I can’t help the snarl that starts in my chest. One of the warriors puts his hand on my shoulder. My head whips around as I bare my teeth. “Alpha. If you attack him now, we won’t be able to help all these supes. We all hate him, but we need to keep our heads.” I look at him more closely as I rein in my anger. He’s right, I need to focus, but not many would have had the guts to say that to me. “Are you related to Bastian, by chance?” “Half-brother.” He says with a smile. I tuck that knowledge away for later. I need a Gamma for my pack and this warrior may have just won himself the spot. I refocus my attention on the arena. Troy is here, and Tana might be here soon. If so, I have to speak to her. We watch as the spectators enter the arena. “Enjoy what little time you have left assholes.” One of my warriors says quietly. When
We make a plan to attack the arena where Palila is being held. Jena doesn’t like being left behind, but I need someone to watch Kenna for us and, in truth, she would only be in the way. Ishir and I sit down the next night and talk through our plan. “We need Avani.” “Why? I’m able to shift again, and I’m at full strength.” “This is a new arena. I saw the bars on the Commander’s box. They are prepared for an uprising. While having one dragon is great, having two will ensure our victory.” “Your confidence in me is astounding.” I say sarcastically. “I know you are strong, Tana. I know you are fierce. But we don’t know what they may have planned. Two fierce, apex predators are better than one.” He says. “So, what are you, then? Chopped liver? Last I looked, tigers were considered apex predators as well.” “There’s apex and then there’s dragons.” “Fine. But I have no idea where to find him.” “I do, but if we don’t want to raise suspicions, we’ll have to leave after you’re done with w
“So, you’re one of the Elemental Dragons.” I make the statement rather than asking the question. My voice is rough and deep because I haven’t shifted back yet. I’ve never come into contact with a dragon before today and I’m not exactly sure what to expect. I’m not thrilled that Ishir left without telling me where Tana is. And now I have a dragon to contend with. “I’m the Earth dragon.” Avani says. “So, what do you want with Tana?” He asks making my head snap to him. “You know Tana?” “Of course.” He’s looking at his nails as if he’s bored with our discussion. “How do you know her?” That gets his attention. He looks at me, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t know what she is, do you? I clench my teeth. I don’t, but this arrogant asshole seems to. His eyebrow raises and a smirk crosses his face. “Well, know this. If Tana doesn’t want to talk to you, she won’t. She has a very strong personality. I’m guessing you did something to piss her off?” “That’s none of your business.” He shrugs
As we fly away from the arena, I have time to think. Ish and Palila are quiet on my back. Cedric is a Lycan. He’s not an Alpha werewolf like I thought. He’s werewolf royalty. And while I feel bit excited that a royal identified me as his mate, I’m also angry. He judged me for not telling him that I was a dragon, for letting him believe that I was an Alpha werewolf, when he did the exact same thing to me. “Tana, whatever you’re thinking about, you need to stop. Your body is becoming increasingly hot and neither of us up here are dragons.” Ish says from my back. I chuff at him, apologizing for losing myself in my thoughts. “And I told you it’s uncomfortable when you do that.” He says. As day breaks, we stop to make camp. I can’t exactly fly into my penthouse in the light of day. When we stop, Ish goes to get food and wood to make a fire. I take a look at Palila. “How are you feeling?” I ask her, looking her over. Her arm doesn’t look right. “My wing was broken. I shouldn’t have bee
Eight Months Later “Momma, Kenna blew her fire on me!” My young son comes running into the room, his arms raised and big alligator tears streaming down his face. I reach down and pick him up, putting him on my hip around my growing, pregnant belly. “It didn’t hurt you, did it?” I ask. Our son, even though he has the Lycan gene, is immune to our fire. He got enough of the dragon blood to give him immunity from the dragon's heat. It had taken much longer this time to get pregnant. I was worried that it wouldn’t happen, since my uterus ruptured with Liekki’s birth, but Cedric had promised to try as many times as needed to put a pup or dragon in me. And he didn’t fail me. I’m considered a high-risk pregnancy, but so far, three months in, everything is going well. Kenna comes walking in behind Liekki. “I warned him, Momma. I told him if he touched my gemstones that I would blow my fire on him. He didn’t listen. He touched my gems, Momma.” “Sweetheart,” It’s so strange talking to Kenna
Two Months Later I haven’t gotten Tana pregnant yet. We knew that it would be difficult after her uterus ruptured with Liekki, but my mate wants another pup or dragon and I’m doing my best to give her one. I can’t say that the constant trying to get her pregnant isn’t fun. But I know she’s becoming more and more convinced that she’ll never have another baby. We still haven’t found The Chief. We’ve gotten close, found old facilities and learned how he detonates the explosives he puts into the dragons’ brains, but we haven’t found him yet. Ishir did find a doctor that would help us. He’s human, in his mid to late thirties, but he doesn’t seem to care that we're part of the supernatural community. Or, more specifically, he fascinated by us, especially the dragons. At first, I thought I might have to kill him. He kept staring at Tana and Kenna. But when Avani, Zephyr and Kaylani showed up, I realized it has more to do with the beauty of the dragons than my mate and daughter. Ishir expl
A few weeks later, we’re joined by Avani, his elf friend, Merethyl, Kaylani and Ishir. Ishir is the best tracker in the group. With the work he does searching for missing humans and supernaturals, he travels all over and has the potential to find the hidden bunkers where the Chief is creating his hybrids. “We have to consider the fact that there will be more dragons.” Bastian says. His mate, Jena, recently delivered their baby, so he’s been out for awhile. I left him here while we went to bring down the arena. He wasn’t happy about it, but I needed him focused, and protecting his mate and unborn child had him laser focused on protecting the pack while we were gone. “Not only will there be more dragons, but we need to figure out how this Chief is able to kill them from a distance.” I have an idea about that.” Merethyl says. “I asked my brother to do some research for us and he found that, in the past, hunters would insert small mini explosive devices into the brains of supernaturals
We’re halfway home from the battle at the arena when we hear Kaylani’s lament. “Something’s wrong Cedric. I need to go to her.” “Then, let’s go, Tana. I’m with you.” “I am too, Momma.” Kenna says. Ishir decided to run home before meeting us back at the pack, so Kenna isn’t carrying anyone. We turn and follow the sound of Kaylani’s cry. I’ve never been on this end of a dragon’s lament, and it’s heartbreaking. When we find her, we land, and I immediately see why she’s crying. She is standing over the young dragon. I shift quickly, rushing over to look at the young dragon who is lying broken on the ground. “Kaylani, what happened?” “I don’t know. We were talking and flying when she screamed. Then she just fell from the sky. I tried to catch her, Tana. I swear I did. But she just dropped so fast.” I lean over the young dragon. There’s blood coming from her mouth, nose and eyes. I lift her eye lids and see that her eyes are blood red. Not the pupil, what is supposed to be the lighter
I was nervous about helping Kaylani heal, but she’s a great instructor. She’s patient even when she’s in pain. She helps guide me through healing her and how much energy to push into her, especially since she’s not a fire dragon. Because we were together, I knew something was wrong when we heard the other dragon. “Kaylani what’s going on?” I ask her. My hands are still healing the hole in her wing, but I turn to see another dragon flying in our direction. “I don’t know, but she’s not a dragon we know.” As soon as the hole is healed, she’s up and flying over to where I can see Tana is trying to not fight the young dragon. A dragon that looks very much like her and Kenna. Kaylani turns back to me. “Help Avani, he’s still trapped.” I look around and see the tides are turning. My pack is taking out the hunters and those that are left are starting to run off. My pack is chasing them down. I race back over to the arena, rushing into one of the entryways. I see Kenna struggling to get t
I only watch Cedric fighting Troy for a moment. Kaylani and Avani both still need help and Cedric looks like he’s holding his own against Troy. I turn back to Kaylani. “I’m going to shift and try to pull the harpoon out.” As I shift, I see hunters fighting past the pack. They are trying to get to me and Kaylani. I begin throwing fire balls at them, setting them on fire. They begin shooting at us and while silver doesn’t impact me, I know the paralytic will. I’m sending more fire balls at them, but there are too many. I’m standing in front of Kaylani who is using her water where she can, but she doesn’t want to douse my fire. Suddenly, I see the hunters start going down on my left. I turn, focusing my attention to the hunters getting through on the right. Cedric emerges on the left from the smoke and fires still burning the flesh of the hunters. He runs over to me, dropping his sword and grabbing my arms, looking me over. “Are you alright, Tana? Are you hurt?” “No, I’m okay.” “Wh
When Tana dropped me off, I had one goal in mind. Kill Troy. However, as soon as I got out of the fire and could see, I realized that the hunters were going after the pups. I immediately jumped in, protecting them, killing the hunters so my pack members could get them away. The rest of the pack that isn’t still underground begins fighting along side me. The pack will always fight to protect its own, but when it comes to our pups, we’re fierce. I make sure the group with the pups gets away safely before focusing on the group of hunters that is following my pack out of the underground. I can see the she-wolves that were captured are exhausted and starving, but they are fighting. It makes me so proud of my pack, proud to be their Alpha. As I’m fighting, I hear a dragon scream and I look up to see Kaylani has taken a harpoon to the wing. It looks like she flew in front of Kenna and took the harpoon to protect my daughter. That’s twice Kaylani has saved my family. I don’t know if I can e
The next morning, we’re all up early. The pack is split in half, half coming to attack the arena and the other half staying to protect the pack and pack lands. Kenna and I shift, and Cedric and Ishir grab their bags of grenades. Cedric has his sword thrown across his back as he puts the harness on me. He grabs his bag then walks up my wing, getting himself settled on my back. The pack members coming with us shift, grabbing their bags and begin running to the arena. Once Cedric makes sure everyone is shifted and on their way, he gives Kenna the signal and she lifts into the air. Once they are far enough away, I lift up and we begin making our way to the arena. About halfway there, we meet up with Avani and Kaylani. I notice the Avani has a female on his back. I’m surprised, but I don’t have time to wonder about it. We lift up higher into the air so that we can see the arena from high above the clouds. We watch for Cedric’s pack and when we see them getting closer, he gives the signal.
When Tana and Kenna arrive back at the pack, it doesn’t take long for news to spread that we have two additional dragons on our pack lands. The warriors with missing mates all came rushing to ask about it. We are meeting in my office when they find us. “Alpha, did you find them?” “Have a seat.” I tell them as they come in. “Just tell us.” Another demands, causing me to growl a warning at him. Tana steps up to him. “All of you, have a seat. We have much to discuss and not much time to do it. Any time wasted arguing is time that we should be planning how to rescue your mates and pups.” They all walk in and sit, but they are restless. “So, you did find them?” “Yes, your mates and your pups are all alive.” Ishir tells them. Almost as one, I see their noses go up as they sniff the air. “This is Ishir. He’s a tiger and was in the arena with me and Tana. You can trust him. This,” I point to Avani, “is Avani, the earth dragon. And this,” I point to Kaylani, “is Kaylani, the water dra