WREN‘Lovebird…’“Mm…Lu?”‘Lovebird…wake up...’“Lu? Where are you...”‘…You have to wake up…Get up.’“Lucius…Help me…”Slowly, my head drifts into reality. My eyes are having trouble adjusting to the light.My hands slide out on either side of me. I feel soft fabric. I pull them back in. My eye opens to a slit. My sight adjusts to what I allow it to see. I see white curtains blowing inward from two doorway to outside.“Lu?” I put my hands under me and try to lift myself up and I fell back down. My head is throbbing. “Lu, what happened?” I mumble.I open my eyes a bit more. This is not my house.I lift my head as my eyes adjust more. Looking around, I take in decorative walls, a fancy headboard on a King-sized bed and a door to a bathroom.Where the fuck?...I groan as I lift myself up.I roll over and slide backwards off the bed, practically fall on the floor. My legs barely work. I observe the space I’m in as I hang off the end of the bed.My head slowlu turns to my feet and I glide

LUCIUS“Remember! Xavier’s mine!” I growl as I fire a gun that Luke gave me.I ran into this battle with full force. Every Dragon I kill is feeling my revenge for hurting my Wren. The man in charge will feel the most of it when I get to him.“Go! We got this!” Luke yelled.I handed him the gun and shifted. Running through the fight, I shredded as I went. They won’t be holding me back this time.I’m painting the desert floor with Dragon blood and I’m loving every second of it. I’m running on pure hatred right now.The Dragons have been our hell for years and now I’m going to be the one to pull all of us out. By spilling the contents of Xavier’s body all over this Alliance.I fight my way to the entrance of the compound and I’m hit from the side. I’m sent skidding across the sand. I stand and shake the sand off and search for the one who’s dead next. Out of the dust, blood and fur, a very large, shaggy black wolf prowls my way. He’s drooling and snarling.Devlin.My wolf lowers his head

LUCIUS OK. So far, I haven’t killed anyone, so it’s probably a good sign that I’m able to survive being on the outside. It’s not that I don’t remember what it’s like out here. I still kind of remember normal life at seventeen, but the world out here has changed a lot. And it’s freaking me out. I don’t deal well with agitation. Wren has been a total God send getting me through this. I would have probably gone off if wasn’t for her. With just a touch or when she holds my hand, I get this calming feeling all over. Like there’s something in her touch that was designed to specifically calm me down. Wren wanted me to get the whole experience of what it’s like to be part of the Falcon Ridge group. She says I need to have fun. Honestly, I don’t. I just want to lay naked in the sheets with her now that my council meetings done. And because that’s what I want, I’m now walking toward a bar called The Falcon with Bastian, Luke, Jayson and River in front of me. They showed up at the hotel say

LUCIUSI take a deep breath in and stretch my arms out as I walk out of the trees into the clearing. I’m so glad to be home.Wren jogs up under my arm and I wrap it around her shoulder.The clearing is partially filled with stacks of wood and other building supplies. I’m excited to dig in and help build my home like I did when we first settled here.Laughing and walking down the hill, Curtis comes with open arms. “There’s the Alphas. We thought the city swallowed you up.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a bro hug and gave Wren a tap on the arm.“Not a chance. The city can stay there. I got everything I need here. I’m glad to be back.” I smile and we all head to the village.“Well, we had a rough couple of days, but I think things are quieting down.” Curtis informed.“What’s the problem?” I ask.“The Dragons.” He sighed. “Some are having issues with them.”“They aren’t causing problems, are they?” I cross my arms.“No, it’s the opposite, actually. They’re model pack members, but

LUCIUS“Curtis, is everything ready for tonight?” I meet up with him as he walks through the courtyard.“Yep. We got the tables an hour ago and the Alliance will be bringing some food and some more alcohol later.” He bounces his brow, grinning.“Ok. The Alphas have confirmed they’re coming?” I wrap an arm around his shoulders.He nods. “As far as I know, they’re all coming. Seems they’re all excited for this.”“That’s great. God, are you supposed to be this nervous. I feel sick.” I hold my stomach.Curtis chuckles. “Relax. You already love her. This fated thing is just a formality.”“Yeah. Hey, did the Alliance bring that sheet music I asked for?” I pressed a hand to his chest.He walks over to a supply box and searches through it. “Uh…. yep. Right here.” He hands me the music.I take it from him. I wave it between us. “This baby is going to make everything perfect.”He laughs. “Look at you. Lucius Drake. Hopeless romantic. Who knew.”I laugh. “Don’t get used to it.” I smack his arm w