CHAPTER 2: RETURN OF THE DRAGON

Ty’s POV

I barely remember boarding the plane—just that the second I sank into my seat, the world slipped away again. Guess cross-continental travel has a sedative effect on dragons too.

By the time I was standing at the local bus stop, surrounded by curious eyes, I could already feel the shift in energy.

People stared.

Some tried not to.

Others? I could practically hear their thoughts undressing me on the spot.

The air reeked of arousal—raw, unfiltered, shameless.

But five years of brutal dragon discipline had scorched any trace of weakness from my system.

No flings. No flirts. No hormone-driven distractions.

Not anymore.

Let them look.

They wouldn’t survive my fire anyway.

I slumped into the final bus, exhausted. Three rides and one jetlagged coma later, my body still ached for a bed.

Then—finally—the trees. My pack’s forest. My land. My blood.

And waiting at the border?

My family.

“BROTHER TY!” a high-pitched squeal exploded across the clearing.

Tyra.

My little sister was a baby when I left, but now she was a leggy, toned, gorgeous 13-year-old with the same wild grin I remembered.

“Come here, Angel,” I grinned and scooped her up like no time had passed. She laughed, breathless as I spun her around. My chest felt tight with joy I didn’t know I had room for.

“Welcome home, son,” Daddy Caius said as he pulled me into a strong, grounding hug. “We missed you like crazy.”

“We’re so damn proud of you, Ty,” Dad Tyson added. “Mastering the hardest dragon powers in half the time? That’s my boy.”

“Must be your and Daddy’s genes,” I teased.

Dad chuckled. “You know that’s not how it works for dragons, kid. That’s all you. You’ve grown into a hell of a man.” Then he leaned closer, voice low and mischievous. “Now help me prank Zoe. I swear I’ll go feral if that woman paints another glitter rune on my tail while I’m asleep.”

I laughed out loud. Yeah... Poor Dad. Being Alpha Stone’s dragon guardian had its cons. Especially when that Alpha was an unstoppable prank queen.

When we walked into the pack house, I nearly collapsed on the spot from the smell—home-cooked heaven. All my favorite dishes lined the table like a welcome parade for my taste buds.

And then I saw him.

That crooked grin. That messy hair. That infuriating sparkle in his eyes.

Jax.

My best friend.

“Holy hell, Jax!” I ran to him and wrapped him in a tight bro hug. “I missed your ugly face.”

He stepped back and poked at my abs. “You were a skinny, four-eyed nerd the last time I saw you. What the fuck happened?”

“I evolved,” I smirked. “Shed my glasses, my bones, and my patience.”

“Yeah well, you look worse,” he shot back.

I lunged at him, and we instantly turned the house into a warzone of laughter and insults.

Then Dad and Daddy walked in mid-racket.

“I told you, Tyson, we should’ve sent Ty to a normal play school,” Daddy groaned. “Look what he’s turned into.”

“Why is it always my fault?!” Dad huffed, then swatted us both on the back.

“Nghhh! Uncle Tyson!” Jax yelped.

“DAD!” I cried.

Before things escalated further, Tyra popped in with a perfect save: “Dinner’s ready! And I made brownies!”

Jax and I bolted for the table like hungry wolves. I barely beat him and snatched the plate like it was a sacred treasure.

“Not again!” Jax wailed. “You brownie thief!”

“You snooze, you lose,” I said smugly, stuffing five into my mouth like a starved beast. “Mmmmf—so good. You want one? Suck my tail.”

“Sharing is caring!” he pouted.

“I’d rather kiss your ass.”

“TY FUCKING JACKSON!” Tyra shrieked, stomping into the dining room. “PUT THOSE BROWNIES DOWN NOW!”

I flinched and dropped the plate like it was cursed.

Damn women. I love them. But thank the skies I’m bi—I need options for survival.

Tyra walked over, cool and smug, placed the brownies right in the middle—and fist-bumped Jax.

Hold up. What?

“You’re siding with him now?” I gaped. “My own sister? Traitor!”

“Who’re you calling evil, you satanic menace?” Jax growled playfully.

“You, obviously. Pussy.”

That led to yet another wrestling match where Jax somehow ended up straddling me and I locked his arms behind his back, growling victoriously.

“Why are you two doing each other in public?!” Daddy gasped from the doorway, dramatically covering his eyes.

“WHAT?! No!” I scrambled back like I’d been slapped by fire. “That’s not—we weren’t—I’m not into him like that!”

“Yeah, same!” Jax barked. “Even if he were the last man on Earth—nope!”

“But what if Ty’s your mate?” Dad teased with a wicked grin, wrapping his arms around Daddy.

Jax smirked. “Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

Tyra gasped. “Your 19th birthday’s tomorrow?”

“Yep. That’s when Alpha wolves start sniffing out their mates,” Jax said, staring at me a little too long.

“Wait, I thought wolves found mates at 18,” she asked.

Jax nodded. “Normally, yeah. But Aunt Nyssa said some of us are bound by prophecy. We’ll know at 19.”

“Let me make one thing clear,” I said, glaring at Jax. “This dog is not my mate. I can’t smell anything remotely attractive from him.”

“Permission to kill, Uncle Tyson?” Jax growled, eyes glinting.

“Granted,” Dad said too fast.

I shot him a glare. “I’m your only son!”

“Exactly. I’ve suffered enough.”

“Horrible father.”

“Proud of it.”

“I’ll help Alpha Stone prank you next.”

“Horrible son.”

“Also proud.”

“I hate you.”

“Mutual.”

“STOP IT!” Daddy finally exploded. “Food’s getting cold. Ty’s tired. Sit your asses down!”

We all quieted like scolded pups.

Later, Jax nudged me with a rare softness in his eyes.

“I missed you, brother.”

“Me too, dog,” I smirked.

But my heart whispered something else entirely.

It whispered how good it felt to be home.

Even with the chaos.

Even with the unresolved storm waiting around the corner.