LOGINDo you think Iniko is starting to figure out what Brooke is doing?
InikoI’m not sure I understand all the methods that the dragons are using to help Brooke connect to her dragon, but they’re obviously working. I’d been worried about my mate getting hurt in sword fighting class, then I’d watched her blasting that Beta with her strength.I thought Alpha Cedric was crazy for putting her with someone at his level. I was right, it was just for the wrong reasons. It wasn’t Brooke who needed to be protected, it was Beta Rolph. I stood by, in awe, watching her.She’s obviously untrained, although she has more skill than I do since I’ve never been to sword fighting class. But it was very apparent that Alpha Cedric was right. What my mate lacks in technique, she makes up for in strength.As we’ve been talking over breakfast, I’ve been watching her. Somehow, in the couple of weeks that I’ve been distracted with my own shit, she’s changed. I noticed it somewhere in the back of my mind, but now I’m really looking.Her body, which was always lean, is now becoming
BrookeWhen Raina and I returned home, I wasn’t surprised that Iniko was gone, but it still made my heart hurt.Then, I pulled on my resolve. The entire reason I’m getting stronger so quickly is so I can claim my dragon and make sure he never leaves me again.I puttered around our apartment, cleaning our already clean space while I waited and hoped that he’d return.Finally, around midnight, I gave up and went to bed. Even though I know I have to claim him, it still hurts that he’d leave me again. He swore he’d stay, yet he’s not here.I cried myself to sleep, expecting to have a restless night like I’ve done every time he’s been away. However, when I wake, the light is shining in my room and I realize I’ve overslept.I also realize quickly that there is a lot of heat at my back.“You were crying last night,” Iniko says by my ear.My head spins around so quickly that my nose smacks his.He doesn't move, instead, his grey eyes study me.“I told I’d be back if I left.”“You weren’t clear
InikoAfter leaving Brooke to meet with Edur, I make my way to my father’s house. As much as my father antagonizes Alpha Cedric, he’s ended up with his own smaller version of a packhouse. Besides Merethyl and my brothers and sisters, he has several shifters who used to live in the forest he protected that now live here with their families.“Hello, Iniko, have you come to fight with dad again?” my half-sister Terra asks.“No, I’ve come to talk with him. Is he around?”“Dad’s always around. The better question is if he’s busy with mom. You’re lucky, they’ve just gotten back from afternoon classes, so they aren’t going at it yet,” she says, grinning.Knowing how much I can’t get enough of my own mate, I’m not surprised.“Well, look who’s here.”“Hello, Bajaro,” I say as she walks over. “Thanks for helping Brooke connect to her hyena, although that whole bone crunching thing is kind of gross,” I say.“What is with you dragons? Your dad eats humans and elves like they’re candy, but I crunch
Raina“Hi, Raina! Ready to go flying?” Brooke asks as she walks up.“I thought maybe Iniko would want to take you flying,” I say. I heard that he’s back and telling everyone he plans to stay. I hope he does. Mistreating your mate isn’t how dragons act. Mates are sacred, above all others in this world, unless of course, you’re claimed by a rider who isn’t your mate. Thankfully, we now know that the mate bond supersedes the rider/dragon bond.The smile on her face fades. “He’s meeting with Avani.”“And you don’t expect him to be here when we return, do you?” I ask.She shrugs, trying to pretend like it doesn’t bother her. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter. That’s why I’m getting stronger. Eventually, I’ll claim him and he’ll never leave me again.”I grin. “Look who’s coming into her own.”Her smile returns. “I wanted to talk with you while we’re flying. I have so many questions.”“I have questions, too,” I say as we walk to an area where we can strip out of our clothes before flying.“Like wh
BrookeAfter class, Iniko takes my hand. “Are you going to Alpha Cedric and Tana’s packhouse now?”“Yes. I’m not sure when Edur will arrive, but I’m excited to see if he can help me connect to my bear.”Iniko holds my gaze as he leans in. Just before his lips press against mine, he smirks.“You’re never going to defeat me in a race, beautiful.”Before I can answer, he kisses me quickly, then begins leading me to the packhouse. Rather than argue, I let it go. When we walk in, Kenna is there with her family. Alpha Cedric is holding his new grandson, Ylyndar.“Hey, Kenna! How are you feeling?” I ask.“Perfect. Come meet my son,” she says, smiling.Everyone knew that their son was going to have the elf gene, but I guess I haven’t seen elf babies before. I didn’t expect that his ears would already be pointy, although I’m not sure why it hadn’t occurred to me.He has his father’s dark hair, too. However, when he opens his eyes, they are his mother’s color of blue, the same color as Alpha Ce
BrookeI raced to Avani and Merethyl’s home where Bajaro lives. Since their home is more of a community environment, I knocked first, but then walked in.“Hey, Brooke. What brings you here?” Enki asks. He’s only eight and a half in his human form, but he’s a full-grown dragon. It’s taken time for me to adjust to hybrids that look like children in their human form but are fully developed in their other form.“Hey, Enki. I’m looking for Bajaro. Is she here?”Before he can answer, she comes walking out, holding one of her little ones. This one smells like a bird shifter, so I’m guessing she got Shiv’s eagle gene.“Hey, Brooke. What’s up?”“It worked, Bajaro! It worked,” I say, rushing over and hugging her, careful not to crush her baby between us.“That’s great! Was it the bones?” she asks.“Eww! You’re doing that now, too?” Enki asks.“As if you don’t eat bones, Enki,” Bajaro says, rolling her eyes.“I eat animals whole when I’m in my dragon form. That’s very different than crunching on







