19. Sofia

19

Sofia

G od, she’d been so stupid. She’d thought she knew better than the dragons who were battle tested. Who had rushed headlong into fights, time after time for decades, and had prevailed.

She had never thought the wolves would find her so quickly.

She thought she had it handled. She escaped from them once, and she assumed she could do it again. And she would have been successful, maybe, had she not smelled the smoke.

Those bastards had set fire to the library. The library ! As someone who’d never had enough books to read as a cub, it pissed her off. It wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, obviously, but it was pointless, and it sucked. And it didn’t hurt her, but it hurt the people of Cedar Lake.

Yes, it was closed and there was no one there, not even the librarian, but she could not let them destroy Levi’s town. The wolves were there because she was.

They seemed to be under the misapprehension that because they captured her once, that they could do it again. But they had never truly captured her. She had gone with Koryak willingly. That would never happen again. The wolf she had just fought was a stranger to her, but now a familiar male was close by.

Was it Koryak? Dammit. She yanked away from Levi.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“There’s another one,” she said. A second later Levi was in front of her, blocking her view of the rest of the parking lot.

She grabbed his arms. “It’s not you they’re after.”

“Exactly!” he shouted. He slashed his arms through the air. “We’re not going to let you sacrifice yourself, we’re not even going to let you use yourself as bait. We are all here to protect you. Especially me. I will do anything to keep you safe.”

Now was not the time to break down, now was not the time to cry or lament, but those rational thoughts did not stop her tears.

“See,” she sobbed, wiping at her eyes. “That’s exactly why I wanted to leave. You guys are so kind and you’re such a good clan. I knew that you would help me. You would help anybody . I love that about you. But I can’t let you do it for me. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you, and I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to one of the others. I don’t want to be the reason a clan falls apart.”

She couldn’t stop the flood of tears. Her throat burned. Her eyes stung. And her heart ached as if someone had crushed it flat.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, brushing his lips over her head. She could hear him inhale, as if he was taking a moment to inhale her scent.

She relished the time, but it wasn’t nearly long enough. They both had to refocus.

No. No. No.

Her bear growled.

She felt another wolf.

She reached out with her senses. She pulled away from him. “There’s another one,” she whispered. “Do you feel it?”

“No. I don’t feel anything, other than you and all of the familiar dragons around us. What does he feel like?”

She loved that he didn’t question her or doubt her. “It feels heavy. Oppressive.” She shuddered. “He’s getting closer.”

“I can’t feel him at all. Is it a male?”

“Yes. It’s a male. It’s the pack Alpha.” Her spine stiffened and her shoulders tightened as she felt him. She still remembered that day in the woods when Koryak had offered her money.

“Has he harmed you?” Levi demanded.

“He’s the one who lured me into the compound. He’s the one that lied to me about its purpose. He is the leader.”

“So, he did hurt you and he is responsible.” Levi’s eyes glowed yellow. It was actually quite sexy, but now was not the time. “I will rip him limb from limb,” he growled.

“ Please be careful. He’s ruthless,” she said, pleading with him. She didn’t want him hung up on her past with Koryak. The present was all that mattered, at least until they’d prevailed. She clutched at his arm. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to imply that you can’t take care of yourself. Koryak has no morals. You do.”

“I didn’t take it that way. I’m glad you care. But I’m well trained and I’m ready,” Levi said. “How close is he, can you tell? Do you think you can feel him because of your magic?”

“Probably so.” She knew it was Koryak. He’d been able to sneak up on her in the woods all those months ago, but she had more training now, and a better understanding.

She glanced around the parking lot where the other shifters were subduing the wolves. Brennan had just tied another one up when Levi reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Hey. I can feel him now too. But it’s very faint,” he said.

“Oh no.” Sofia grabbed onto Levi’s arm. “He’s changed courses. He’s running away from us. I’m getting flashes from him—threats.” Her fingers dug into Levi’s skin. “Oh God. He’s headed to the ranch.” Her face went very white. “He’s going to set Kellan’s house on fire.”

“No, he won’t. I’m going to call Kellan, and we’ll tell him. There are still plenty of us at his house. They will make sure everyone is safe.”

Kellan answered on the first ring. “What’s going on?”

“The alpha is on his way to your house. Sofia is getting flashes of his plans. She thinks he’ll try to set your house on fire.”

“I’m on it,” Kellan said, and hung up.

She was so glad Kellan had made sure all the humans and the children were gone.

This was exactly what she had wanted to avoid. She had tried her best. She hated that she lied to Levi, and they still ended up in the exact same place, with the wolves descending on his home.

“Let’s get him,” Kellan said.

“I want you to ride on my back while I fly,” Levi said. “Will you do that?

"Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. His eyes widened, as if he’d thought she’d refuse.

“It’s faster than driving.” Levi said right before he transformed. She’d never tire of watching his wings spread out or watching the shimmering scales ripple over his body. She even loved his glowing yellow eyes.

He looked more majestic than ever as he knelt down for her to climb onto his back. Once she was ready, he took off, leaping into the air.

Her heart was in her throat as they soared toward Koryak. She couldn’t enjoy the bright stars in the sky or the birds-eye view from the treetops, a perspective she’d never gotten to see before. All she could think about was Kellan’s gorgeous house burning, and worse, all of the shifters that could be trapped inside.

“What if we don’t get there in time?” She looked down to see that she was squeezing Levi’s neck so hard that she was nearly choking him. He might have been a big strong dragon, but she could still cut off his air. She loosened her grip but panic still bloomed in her chest. “What if they set his house on fire and they have everyone locked inside?”

Dragon shifters don’t burn. We can swim in lava.

She sat up straighter with her mouth open. Had she known that? All shifters were harder to injure than humans, but a bear could be burned. Not badly, but it would be painful and there would be a recovery involved. They would fully heal… eventually, but it was best avoided.

And even if the dragons didn’t burn, a fire at the ranch would severely affect their strategy and her ability to fight and defend themselves.

She had never processed the fact that a dragon could breathe fire meant that it was fireproof.

And then she jerked her head up. Levi had spoken to her while he was in his dragon form! He had not spoken the words aloud but had sent them telepathically. Her mind raced with the possibilities.

Was she able to hear them because she was a witch? Could he read her mind? Or did he have to deliberately send her a message? Was this because of the bond? And could she do it too?

She was ready to try. That kind of connection would help them defeat the wolves. Can you hear me?

Yes , he said.

Can you read my mind? Is that how you knew what I was thinking ?

I cannot read your mind at all, he said . You are projecting your thoughts very loudly about how worried you are .

I’m sorry .

Don’t apologize , he said. I’ve never communicated like this with anyone. It’s amazing.

It was amazing. Suddenly, she was overcome. She leaned down and put her cheek against his back. There was no denying it; they were bonded. He had been right.

The feeling was incredible. But also overwhelming—it hit her like a tidal wave right in the face, and everything she had thought about mates was being swept out to sea. It didn’t help that she had realized their bond just as they were about to fly headfirst into a battle. Anything could happen to either one of them.

Please don’t let me lose him. She still wasn’t sure what she wanted but having him alive and healthy was her priority.

She felt Koryak’s presence, close by. “Koryak is already there,” she said.

We’re here too. Look down, Levi said.

She looked down, and sure enough, she could see Kellan’s estate spreading out across the fields. Thank God there was no smoke rising from the roof.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She had to get this out. He had to know how she felt. “I’m so sorry I rejected you without hearing what you said. I just have to tell you in case something happens to—”

Don’t say it. We will be fine. And we can discuss this afterward. I am not giving up on myself. And I will never give up on you.

It was completely inappropriate, but after hearing his loving reassurance, her entire body tingled from her breasts down to the space between her legs. She would have to shelve that urge until later. But God, she wanted Levi. She wanted to feel him inside her again. She got her mind refocused, looking down as they circled the estate.

Shifters were moving strategically outside. One of them was positioned at each point. They were ready to do battle for her. It humbled her.

Levi landed softly. Now that we can communicate via bond, I’m going to stay shifted , he said. Stay close!

She wrapped her arms around his neck for one last squeeze. “Please be careful.” She was not prepared to live without him.

You have to be careful too.

Once most of the shifters had positioned themselves around the perimeter of the house, the wolves made their move. They charged forward, at least a dozen of them, running straight toward the house. But a few broke away and ran to the field.

Kellan had planned to keep his farm animals protected from the fight; they were all locked in the barn with one of the vampires guarding them. That particular vampire thought animal blood was quite gross, so he was no threat. But while he was wrangling one of the high-strung horses, a sheep got free and bolted across the field.

One of the wolves, in his animal form, tore forward and lunged at the sheep.

Sofia screamed at the top of her lungs and ran behind him, but she couldn’t get there fast enough. He clamped his jaws right around the sheep’s neck and sank his teeth into her skin as the poor sheep bellowed.

“No,” yelled Sofia “You do not get to hurt these animals.”

Koryak stepped out of the shadows. “We can do whatever we want.”

She wanted to kick Koryak in the teeth, but she had to save the sheep. As she got closer, she could tell which sheep it was. Those sheep—especially this one—had been her companions during her long days hiding on the farm. An innocent animal should not be treated so viciously.

She turned to Levi, who had followed her. “Please save her. I named her Daisy.” She put her hand on his chest. “Please. You can do it.”

Sofia, you are my priority , he said to her.

“The first night I got here Daisy came to check on me. She couldn’t communicate, not with words, but I could tell that she knew I was struggling.. She tried to be a friend to me even though she had no idea what was going on.” Her eyes misted over. “ Please save her. For me.”