The Dragon alarm sounded in the distance. Devin’s whole body tensed. He knew they were false alarms, but they still got him worked up. On the front lines, when that alarm sounded, there was nothing fake about it.
“How long does it usually go on?” He’d been more than just a little distracted the first time he’d heard the shrill, piercing sound. Keeping Lena safe had been the pivotal thought in his mind.
“Maybe a minute.” His father stood up. “I wish they’d stop sounding them. Everyone knows the Dragons never get in this far.”
“Going running tonight?” Devin could hardly think with the Dragon alarm ringing. He wanted to be distracted; he needed his father to speak.
“It’s going on a bit long now.” His dad walked over to the window that faced the street. Devin joined him to peer outside.
A sight tremor overtook his hand, and he put it in his pocket so his dad wouldn’t notice. Why was he so worked up? His nose twitched and he bounced from foot to foot. Where had all of this energy come from?
He swung open the door and walked outside where the alarm sounded louder.
A noise caught his attention over the ringing hell assaulting his ears. He turned in the direction to see Lena tromping down the street. She looked worn out and for a second he wanted to wrap her up in his arms. The woman worked constantly. His heart melted at the sight of her seconds before he remembered his anger.
He narrowed his eyes, ignoring the alarm as she looked up to gaze at him. Her violet depths called out to him and he sighed. Gods, Lena looked so beautiful even when she was tired. He stood up. Their argument had to end, and he would put a cease to it if she wouldn’t.
A flutter in the air caught his attention. Instinct made him look skyward even as he chided himself. Everyone reminded him all the time that Dragons didn’t come inland, but something bugged him. Of course, he could be crazy. That was always a possibility.
The skies were an empty blue, no clouds visible in the evening light. He scratched his head. Maybe he should take up the war pack on their offer for counseling.
He almost looked down. Almost. One second all was well and the next second they were there. Their wings spread out in open defiance to any who would threaten them, the Dragons soared through the sky. They glided on the breeze as if they were birds, harmless to the Wolves below.
But Devin knew better. And he knew what would happen even as he understood he was virtually powerless to help it.
The Dragons had spotted Lena. She seemed easy prey to them, and she hadn’t even looked up. His woman had no idea she was about to be taken.
“Lena.” The growl in his voice didn’t help. All she could hear was what everyone else could hear: the damn Dragon alarm.
Still, he took off at a run even knowing he’d never make it in time. “Lena.” He roared again. He couldn’t be too late. He couldn’t be.
Devin looked so handsome in the early evening light. Yes, she was doing the right thing apologizing to him.
“Lena.” Devin shouted her name and she looked back up. He wanted to speak with her? Why was he running toward her like that?
She stopped, stunned by the view of Devin charging down the long distance of their street. What the heck was he doing? Realization dawned on her all at once. Taking a step back, she stared up at the sky as utter panic filled her.
Tears filled her eyes as she covered her mouth to keep in her scream. She needn’t have bothered. Dragons had great hearing. They’d all had to learn about them in school. It was one of the reasons the alarms were so loud; somehow they were supposed to keep them away.
Lena had never seen one in person before. They were beautiful in their deathly approach. The lead Dragon—the one she knew would kill her—had purple and red scales that danced among its natural green color. The other one, still farther away, looked slightly brown.
She started to run with no idea where to go. Inside was safe, unless a fire Dragon arrived to scorch the building. Still, she knew she’d never make it time. Calling the shift onto herself, her bones and muscles cracked. Usually she liked to be calm and focused during a shift, but this time she needed to keep moving. It made the pain of the transition that much worse.
Lena had only gotten into her Wolf body, which added to her speed, when the talons hooked onto her back. Growling, she fought. They might take her, but she wouldn’t make it easy. The claws dug into her spine as she fought to keep herself on the ground and not be dragged upward.
The Dragon alarm stopped—gods what a joke they’d proven to be—and the loudest growl she’d ever heard filled her ears seconds before the Dragon dropped her. She’d only been inches above the ground even though it had seemed like miles. She whimpered, turning around to see what happened.