3
I arrived freshly showered and in the only other pair of clean clothes I had brought with me. Motorcycle saddlebags didn’t provide a lot of room for packing items. As I raised my hand to knock on the front door, it swung open, and a group of cubs ran out on four legs, dodging my feet as they went.
“If you don’t clean up, you won’t get supper!” a female voice bellowed from the back of the house. “And remember, gigi doesn’t serve cubs who arrive late either.”
I smiled to myself as I walked across the threshold and closed the door behind me.
“Hey, Wyatt, come on to the kitchen. Straight down the hallway.”
The aroma of pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and celery wafted down the hallway, getting stronger as I ventured farther into the house. The potent cinnamon scent of an apple pie joined the mouthwatering enticement when I walked through. Casey, the alpha of the South American Pride, turned and beamed a smile at me. I had only met her the once when I accompanied Leo to Brazil, but hers was a face you didn’t forget. Her features weren’t extraordinary, but the life she exuded and the warmth she greeted you with was. Being enveloped in her hug was a surprise. I was slowly realizing this was a touchy-feely pack. Another thing I would have to get used to.
“I am so glad you came, though Mama Sue wouldn’t have taken no for an answer and most likely would have sent one of the guys to drag you here.” She pulled a beer out of the fridge and handed it to me. “Go on out back. Mack and Rook are out there bullshitting and telling stories with Jerome. Sterling and Reana are on their way.”
“Wow, is everyone coming tonight?” I didn’t think the family get-together was until this weekend.
“Not everyone. There are still a few who must work. Sterling is closing the bar for the gathering this weekend. You will get to meet everyone else then.” She winked at me. “I figure a small dinner would be best tonight.” She shooed me toward the door, effectively pushing me out of the kitchen.
I took a pull on the bottle in my hand and surveyed the back of the house and grounds. The porch wrapped around the house, though the back part was much deeper than the front. Plenty of seating was spread under the awning for family and friends. Squeals echoed from the side of the house announcing the incoming group of cubs, in human form this time. The four of them—two boys and two girls, ranging in age from maybe three years old to ten—skidded to a walk as soon as fingers snapped.
“I told you not to run around screaming, didn’t I?” a firm yet gentle voice admonished them. I couldn’t see who it belonged to, but my guess was their gigi, the alpha’s mate.
“Yes, ma’am,” four voices answered in unison.
“Now, go sit and wait for dinner to be announced.”
Four sets of feet stomped up the steps of the deck I currently stood on.
“And no grumbling! We have company. Show him our best manners.”
I felt four sets of eyes turn toward me, each showing curiosity and a little fear. I inclined my head and smiled. When they got closer, I crouched and motioned for them to come closer. “I think your gigi is talking about me, don’t you?” I put my finger to my lips to keep them from speaking. They nodded yes. I saw a glint of mischievousness flash through their eyes. “Well, my name is Wyatt, and I am honored to meet you all. I think dinner is almost ready, so do as your gigi said and have a seat so we can all eat.”
Without a word, they went and plopped onto two wicker couches and waited. Their eyes never left me. I was impressed they hadn’t asked a ton of questions.
“Just wait, their questions will come during dinner. They all have a talent for asking the most inappropriate questions while shoveling food in their mouths.”
I had felt her approach when I spoke to the kids, so her comment didn’t surprise me.
“I have a few of my own, though they can wait until you are settled in and not surrounded with half the pack.” Suzanne laid her hand on my arm, and I gazed down at her. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. You may call me Suzanne, Sue, or Gigi, whichever feels most comfortable for you.” She smiled and reached up to pat my cheek. “I am just happy to have you with us. Now go, talk to the men while I help Casey finish things up inside.”
Jerome, Mack, and Rook seemed to be in deep discussion as I approached. Jerome was the first to look up. “Wyatt, dear friend, glad to see you made it. How was your trip?”
“Smooth and uneventful, sir, thank you.” I grasped his outstretched hand in a firm handshake.
Mack smiled and gave me a half hug, the type that was manly in gesture but welcoming. “Good to see you, man. It’s been too long.”
“And you, how are things running down south?”
“As smooth as can be expected. We still have a few members who are finding it hard to accept Casey as alpha, but Jonah is keeping them in line with the help of his team.”
I turned toward Rook, the only one who hadn’t spoken yet. “And you, how are things going with travels?” I knew Rook and his mate had been traveling to some of the smaller packs since she had opened her women’s center.
His face was ragged with lines of fatigue as he took a drink from his mug. “It’s tiring, but seeing the joy on Jazz’s face when she helps someone reach their breakthrough point is worth every sleep-deprived minute.”
One of the kids ran toward us and said, “Gigi says dinner is ready, come eat!” then sprinted back to the house, disappearing inside.
I shook my head. “I don’t know how you keep up with him.”
Rook laughed. “I don’t either some days. Come on. Let’s eat.”
* * *
Dinner was a rather quiet event. Everyone was more focused on filling their bellies rather than talking. After the dishes were cleared and coffee had been poured, Jerome sat back and pinned me with his gaze. “So, what are your plans, Wyatt?”
“Well, sir, I don’t have anything definitive.” As I relaxed in my chair, I extended my legs, crossed my ankles, and took another sip of coffee. “I would like to travel back to my homeland. Visit where my family used to live.”
“You’ve got the itch now.” Sterling smiled. “It happens to all of us after a time.”
Rook and Mack smiled but didn’t add to the conversation.
“What itch is that?”
“Your dragon wants to move. He wants to find his place and his mate.” Sterling looked wise and smug at the same time. “Even though you don’t.”
The mention of a mate brought a cloud of sadness over me. “Well he’ll have to just keep wanting. There is no mate out there for us.”
“How can you be so sure?” Jerome interjected.
“Because I’m the last dragon left.” My shoulders slumped in defeat. I hadn’t said that out loud in a very long time.
“Have you searched everywhere?” Rook gently asked, his voice calm and comforting.
“I’m not supposed to, the legend says if I am blessed with a mate I will find her when I least expect it. My family was the last, and after my grandparents died, it was just me.” I sighed. “I have checked the underground reports over the years for any suggestion of another dragon shifter and found nothing.”
“Not all corners of the earth are reported on, Wyatt. It might be worth a search.” Mack looked around. “Da and I found a few things you might want to check out, snippets from old legends that may suggest a dragon is or was there.”
“I’ve researched everything out there. I appreciate it, guys, but I know my fate. This is just a vacation to break up the monotony of my position with Leo.” I tried to smile.
“You haven’t had access to the council’s library,” Jerome mumbled from behind his mug. “I think you’ll find what we have interesting. But tonight is not the night to discuss it.” He rose and put his mug in the sink. “I’ll have Suzanne bring the folder to you in the morning. Tonight, just relax and enjoy not being on duty for the first time in your career.”
I watched him leave the room. “That’s it? Just relax and we’ll talk tomorrow
?” My eyebrows raised, and I looked at Mack. “Has he always been like that?”
“What, you mean dangle a big juicy steak in your face and keep it just out of reach until he decides you can have it?” His smirk widened. “Yup, my whole life. No use trying to talk him out of what he has his mind set on. You won’t get the information until tomorrow. Try to enjoy yourself tonight.”
Rook and Sterling nodded in agreement. My frustration escalated, and my inner dragon paced. We didn’t want to wait. If Jerome had information that could lead to another living dragon, we wanted it now.
The back door opened, and I whirled around, ready to attack. Stephen stood in the threshold, his hands raised in surrender. I took a few deep breaths to calm and relax myself. He wasn’t a threat. He was trusted.
“Hey, Wyatt.” Stephen walked up and placed his hand on my arm. Using his newly recognized omega powers, he calmed my dragon and absorbed the frustration boiling under my skin. “Better?” he asked as he let go of my arm.
I met his eyes, seeing a slight glow behind them. “Yeah, wow. Man, Sterling told me about your powers, but that was amazing.” Then concern hit me. “Hey, are you okay? That was a lot to take in.” I didn’t want my emotions to hurt him.
“Yup, it was nothing compared to what I dealt with while Sterling and Reana were doing their courting dance.” He laughed. “I could use some food though. Any leftovers?”
“Yup, in the fridge. Help yourself.” Rook gestured across the room. “They may still be warm. They haven’t been in there long.”
“Stephen!” Suzanne exclaimed, greeting him as she walked in. “Let me get you a plate. Sit with the other boys.” She hugged him and chastised him lovingly. “I was worried. I expected you to be here for dinner, on time.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry, Sue. Duty called. Marla needed me to defuse a situation at the bar. I came as quick as I could.”
Sterling perked up. “Situation? What situation? Everything was fine when I closed up.”
“No worries. It was a lover’s spat. Humans. Their emotions put some of the other patrons still lingering outside the bar on edge. I just had to calm them and air out the hormones a bit.” He took a bite of the sandwich Suzanne had placed in front of him. “I also suggested they needed to go work things out somewhere with a bed and closed doors.”
Rook spit out the coffee he had just sipped. “You told them what?!” The shocked look on his face was comical. “Our shy Stephen told them to go shag and it would solve the problem.”
He nodded. “Yup.”
“Well, good for you. Maybe these omega powers are giving you the backbone you needed,” Mack said.
“No, he’s just getting the confidence he should have had a long time ago. He’s realizing he is worthy of the pack and that some days we aren’t worthy of him.” Sterling’s voice was full of pride.
A yawn escaped me. The stress and travel of the day were catching up. “On that note, I think I’ll head back to the cabin. It’s been a long day full of firsts.” I stood.
“Get some sleep, man. When you are up and around, come back over in the morning. Da and I will be here.” Mack took his mug to the sink. “I’m going to grab Casey and the cubs and head out too. It’s already past their bedtime.” He saluted as he walked toward the living room.
Rook stood too. “Yeah, I should go check on Jazz. She zonked out when we got here, but she should be rousing soon.” He slapped my back. “Good to have you here.”
Sterling waited till they left before addressing me. “I know you don’t believe someone is out there for you, but if Jerome and I both can be given a second chance at love, then I believe there is someone for you too.”
His words brought forth emotions I hadn’t felt in a long time. I nodded my thanks and stepped out the back door. I took the path around to the front of the house where I had left my bike.
I pulled into the shelter at my cabin and caught a faint whiff of smoke. My senses went on high alert, and I scouted the exterior of the cabin, checking for footprints or anything out of the ordinary. I examined all the windows and doors for any damage or signs of entry. After finding nothing, I went to open the front door but something caught my eye.
There on the welcome mat, glistening in the moonlight, was a golden scale.
4
I picked it up and caressed it in my hand, recognizing the smoothness on one side and the rough texture of the other. It was almost identical to mine, though it wasn’t, of that I knew. Our scales were our armor, the exterior rough and textured to deflect attacks. They were stronger than Kevlar, but the underside was smooth and soft so to not hurt our skin. My scales were a silver tinted with blue. Even the smaller scales around my eyes were a dark ebony. I raised it to my nose and inhaled deeply, and a hint of smoke swirled with the crisp scent of mountains, snow, and female. My inner dragon perked up and growled, pushing me with a need to find who this belonged to. For the first time in decades, I had hope that I wasn’t the last dragon left. The need to change and fly came over me like a punch to the gut. I fought him with everything I had. “Now is not the time. We need to investigate. It could be a trap.”
“No, go now. Must find her.”
A series of deep breathing and years of practice were the only way I kept him at bay. “We must be smart. The appearance of a dragon in the air will get us killed. We haven’t lasted this long to throw it away on a hope.”
He wasn’t happy about it, but he backed down and let me take charge. “Can’t wait long.” I knew he was right, but I needed all the information I could get before we took off in search.
Sleep was elusive that night. I tossed and turned, dreaming of a golden dragon when sleep finally came.
* * *
Jerome and Mack were waiting for me when I arrived at the main house the next morning. “Did you sleep well?” Jerome inquired as he took us into his office.
“Fair enough. The first night in a new place is always hard,” I replied.
“Of course.”
“No worries, you’ll get used to it soon.” Mack smiled. “Especially after the gathering this weekend. Those always exhausts us all—”
“Yes, son,” Jerome said, interrupting him. “We all know how excited you are for the gathering, but I feel Wyatt is here to discuss other matters.” He pushed a folder across his desk toward me. “This is all we have collected so far. Some of it may not be helpful, but I don’t like to eliminate anything until we can prove it’s useless.”
I leaned forward to take the folder and opened it. It was a compilation of copied pages. Some had just a paragraph or two, others had multiple pages. I skimmed the first couple and raised an eyebrow. “These are kids’ stories.” I closed the folder without looking further, disappointment weighing on my shoulders.
“Yes, they are written as such. Our ancestors didn’t keep a history book like humans. For centuries we hid among them. The only way to pass down our heritage was through stories, myths, and legends.” Jerome stood and grabbed a book off his shelf. “This is a book of old Romanian myths and legends, but if you read deeper, then you will find the history of one of the first shifters known.” He placed the book back and grabbed another. “This is a detailed guide to the native tribes in a small corner of Africa, but if you know how to dissect them, you’ll find the history of the only known condor shifter family.” He placed it back on the shelf with care. “All these shelves are filled with books like those, detailing the history of each shifter species through fairy tales, myths, and legends.” He sat again in his oversized leather chair. “I have spent many years searching the globe for these. I don’t have a complete collection, but it is the largest known to the shifter council.” He took a deep breath. “Unfortunately, dragons were not high on my list to acquire until recently. I wish I had more to give you but know that I have contacted everyone I know around the globe. If there is a story or myth about dragons, they will send it.”
I looked at the folder in my hand with a different attitude.
I am a fact type of guy. In my line of work, you couldn’t go on a myth or rumor. I needed hard evidence to believe someone’s story. The thought of having to believe what was in this folder was hard for me to wrap my brain around. “Okay, I’ll give it a better look.” Skepticism lay thick in my voice.
Jerome smiled. “That’s all I ask.”
The doorbell interrupted our meeting. “Suzanne is out. I need to get that. I’ll be right back.” He left the office door open when he left.
“Man, I know it’s hard to believe, but Da knows what he’s talking about. Give him a chance to help you.” Mack squeezed my shoulder and followed his father out.
Alone in the office, I opened the folder again and set to read each page with a different eye. I took each sentence and tried to read between the lines to find the truth Jerome said was hidden there. My ears always tuned to the sounds around me. Even in the safety of the alpha’s office, I was prepared to fight if needed—a side effect of my years of military and security training.
“Yes, I know he’s here, and I must speak with him.” An unknown female voice echoed down the hall. “I can find my way. You go hurry Stephen along. I don’t have all day to wait on him.”
I stood, slid the folder underneath the calendar on Jerome’s desk, and faced the doorway. My legs spread shoulder-width apart and my hands grasped in front of me, a loose and relaxed pose. I was ready to move in any direction, prepared to greet whoever thought they needed to speak with me. I did not expect who I saw walk through the door.
Short and elderly were the first two thoughts through my mind. My nose registered her lack of scent next. No scent at all. Warning bells went off in my head, and my inner dragon perked up. Not a single one of my inner assessments showed on my face. Again, thanks to years of training. She walked forward with purpose and was quicker than I expected.
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