LUKE Dust clouds rise from the dumpster as I dump a box of wood, drywall and trash into it. My shirtless chest is dripping with sweat. My jeans covering in dirt and dust. I stop and grab a bottle of water. I take a drink. It's hot today, but my body isn't hot from the sun. Rage fills me. The thought that Ian almost killed everyone I've ever known, has me salivating for blood. I will get that blood, but I need to take care of my people first. For my own mental stability, I will rebuild my own house. Show Ian that I'm not going anywhere. It's been a few days since the attack. I spent the early morning checking in with everyone to see how they’re holding up. Joshua has been having nightmares every night. I don't blame him because so have I. I settled my mother and called the Falcon Ridge hospital. Lucy is almost healed. Bobbys spine is healing slower than expected, but he's gained a tiny bit of feeling. I look at the plastic draping the gaping hole of the house I grew up in, blowing

LUKEI couldn't sleep so I had to preoccupy my mind.Alexi showing up the other day did not sit well with me. The fact that she tried to pity me, pissed me off to no end. She knows who did this and where they are, yet she chooses them for some reason.I don't even know why she'd even feel sorry for me anyway. Every time we see each other, she wants to fucking kill me. Yet, she's always letting me go. You'd think she'd be happy to see my life like this. I know her dad would just love this shit.It frustrates me to no end that I can't read her. She hates me, threatens me, but then cares whether I got hurt or not?I felt sick yelling at her. But I couldn't help it. Who she is. Who she hangs with, I can't deal with that. I know, as Alpha, I should just turn her in. Get her the fuck out of my life forever. But there's this part. This one fucking part that's stopping me from calling the damn Unit. It's like a voice in the back of my mind that says don't.My wolf has been going crazy too the

ALEXIIt's quiet.My victory is close. I can almost taste it.The camp is dark except for a few outdoor lights. Everyone tucked in bed after the days training.Standing on top of the dorm building, I disable the alarm and pick the lock of the roof door, letting myself in. I walk down the stairs to the floor Anna Rikers room is on. I slowly walk down the hall.I'm silent like a wolf stalking its prey. Years of stealth training from my father are proving useful now.I turn down a hall and hear voices. I plant myself against the wall with my gun drawn. I slow my breathing as the voices approach.The two girls were laughing and giggling. They walk past the hall I was in without even a glance. Once past, I blow out a breath. I look down the hall and continue to look at the numbers on the doors. After several, I find it. Room 401. I look up and down the hall again and pick the lock.I open the door and slip in silently. Shutting the door behind me, I raise my gun. I search around the room.

ALEXI"What are you doing here?" The door to the safe house opens and I walk in."I need access to the lab." I walk in and turn to the rather handsome man before me.Ollie. Textured, dirty blonde long hair. Well-groomed and very muscular. My contact to the Alliance Laboratories."We almost got killed last time, Alexi. They've upped the security. We can't" He walks into the tiny kitchen and sits down at the table.The safe house is a house in a relatively ghost town of a neighborhood in Red Rock. Dragons have them all over if we ever get separated. Ollie is the keeper of sorts of this house. Helping lost Dragons find their way.I sit across from him. My hands folded on the table. "Please. It's crucial I have access. Give me the codes and I'll do it myself."Ollie leans on the table. "Those codes are useless now. Even without our attack, they change them every week. I can't just cough up codes to you.""Then get new ones." I grit as I grow impatient.He studies me. "What do you need in

ALEXI Three days after Luke captured me, Ollie got the codes I needed. He programmed them into keycards I will use on the doors to the laboratory. He hands them to me. "You're sure you want to do this." He holds them as I put wrap my fingers around them. "Yes, Ollie. I must." I suck in a breath. "You act like you don't have a choice, Alexi. When you do. You have the choice to not pursue this. Your Alpha. His heart is strong. He can give you want you want. You just need to open your heart, Alexi." Ollie held my arms and spoke softly, but with the guidance of a scholar. I smile. "Thank you for these. I must go." I take the key cards and put them in my pocket. Leaving the house, I walk down the dark street. Handling the key cards in my pocket. My thoughts are not of the mission at hand, but of Luke. I feel his heart. His feelings. I'm conflicted. He's right to a point. My father was great. I can never be like him. I couldn't rule a pack and command it with such conviction. Our peo