VALERIAN'S POVHercules stared at him intently after his little speech in which during that period, everywhere was so quiet and tensed up you could cut the tension with a knife."Greetings Valerian of Red Sun Hill city." Hercules finally spoke up after a while, nodding to him in return, the action a vague movement and he waved to the table where the reminder of Valerian's team sat on one side and presumably the higher-ranking wolves of the Crescent pack on the other side. His voice was a deep rumble of sound and accented -I guess due to the British inflection from living in England- unlike most of the shifters I've met."Have a seat. Your people have been most helpful and I appreciate Red Sun Hill city's assistance on this matter."Hercules relaxed as well, and it was as if the lessening tension between the two alphas permitted everyone to breathe again. I could pick up murmurs of conversation as people began to talk softly. Jared took their bags and began piling them off to the side

VALERIAN’S POVSophia leaped, halfway across the room before the door even hit the wall. I was in a blink of time behind her, leaping for the opposite corner. There was a large bed in the room, two thin and bloody bodies on it, and two shifters were on the other side, huddled in corners, guns in hand.I saw the male's fire, time slowed and the bright flash of a shotgun was aimed in my direction.I felt the silver shot graze my ribs but I ignored it, the pain negligible and I forgot about the minor injury as his clawed hands sank knuckle-deep into the man's torso and arms.My weight crushed the male under him, squishing him in the corner, the gun dropped to the floor as the man's arms broke.Valerian lifted the man and rotated on my heels, throwing the semi-naked man towards the door, the space there clear of any furniture. The man hit the wall hard, and lay limply, alive but badly injured. I sniffed at him scornfully and turned my head in time to see Sophia pinning her target to the

VALERIAN'S POV"Sir, we have seven of the Crescent pack wolves. Others are still missing. Also, no signs of the people in charge." Valerian spoke to his father, the webcam image spotty enough to grant me some buffer between myself and what I was certain was a look of extreme displeasure on his father's face. The ultra-fast netbook was placed precariously on the center console of the SUV, and I tried holding it in place with one hand while placing the other on the wheel, watching over the screen as the Crescent pack picked over the scene."I told you to hold off until we had confirmation of who was in charge, Valerian." His father was seriously displeased, no getting around it. I tried to look contrite even though I wasn't feeling it but my energy was depleted and I was in no mood to get into another fight with him. I hoped the fuzzy signal was enough to mask his grimace as I would never admit that he had no intention of waiting once I got here and we were able to get the location of w

VALERIAN'S POVStanding outside, I placed my hand on the railing looking out at the night sky. I wanted to let out a roar to let out my frustrations but I also didn't want to cause any commotion and worry my team members. Still no leads.I was trying to calm myself while waiting for everyone to pack up and get ready to move.I felt frustrated and tired, being up for over twenty-four hours will do that to you.I felt like going for a run, out in the wild with my wolf roaming free. Free from responsibilities and to just be."Sir, we're ready. Time to go." Sophia came up behind him, startling him. Damn.I didn't even hear her come up, he was losing focus, and out here, that will get you killed."Where's Alpha Hercules?" I asked her quietly."I'm not sure but last I heard, he and his team were getting ready to leave too." "Okay."Since the little incident, I haven't been able to talk to him or apologize for what I did, seeing as he's been avoiding me like the plague.Even if we'll never

VALERIAN’S POV"Goodness, Valerian, are you alright?" Jared swore as he jerked the wheel in surprise, looking over at him in concern. Sophia cursed loudly as she almost topples off the seat to the floor. I sat still, not moving, my eyes scanning the road ahead of them, part of him expecting to see the border crossing from his dream. I didn't know how long I was asleep but whatever that was, it had come on fast and strong. I could still feel the cold burn of the night air, and the sensation of pavement setting loose under his paws as he ran."I'm... I'm fine. Probably just a bad dream." I sat back in my seat and tried to relax. My heart was racing, and I could feel sweat cooling on my forehead. By the Fates, that would hands down be the oddest dream he had ever had."Huh, some dream." Jared scoffed disbelievingly. I eyed him and shrugged, unsure of what to say or how to explain my reaction to a 'dream'."You've never done that before though, you're sure you're okay?" Jared glanced at h