Desert Force Academy

Ticking Timeline

Xander

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie before picking up my drink.

"Penny for your thoughts, old friend?" Johnathan asked.

I glanced around the library where we were waiting before finally replying. "I can't shake the feeling something more serious is wrong. Kyras abuse is obvious, but her entire body locked up in that mall. You saw how long it took for her to finally tell us what she saw."

"The warriors didn't find anything when they searched. Is it possible she just saw someone who looked like him?" Johnathan asked. It was an obvious question, but still hearing it out loud made sense.

"It's possible, but her reaction was ptsd. She went into freeze mode not even a fight or flight. She needs trained to fight. I hate the thought of her not being confident enough to stand up for herself." I began to pace the room. "It's more than that though. When I marked her last night her blood had wolfsbane in it and I would swear some silver. I took her to the hospital shortly after we arrived back from shopping and had her blood drawn. The Dr. took some hair samples and did some scans as well. Kyra claims her wolf is to weak to shift but what if they were keeping her weak?"

"Using those things to keep her weak would work in small doses but what would be the purpose in keeping an omega weak? Also she would have had to had considerable amounts in her system for you to be able to sense it after she had been here for more than 24 hours." Johnathan replied looking thoughtful, taking in the information I had given him.

"Did Madeline have any of those things in her system when you and her mated?" I asked, wondering if they were trying to keep all pack members weak.

"Not that I know of but none of that would have affected her being a dragon. She had been starved which was keeping her weak. We did have her blood drawn but there were no reports of poison. It's possible it just was not working on her so they went a different route. It's something to consider that they are keeping them all weak. I still can't fathom why keeping an omega weak would be necessary." He replied still looking like he was mulling the information over.

"I'm going to kill them all. Every single scar and bruise on her body is a price they will pay." I replied feeling my wolf surface.

"Save some of them for me brother. I still have a score to settle with that pack as well and my patience is wearing thin." Johnathan replied with a knowing smile.

Those that had hurt our mates had a ticking timeline on their life and they were not even aware of it. Justice was coming for every single once of them. I heard the door open and all of my thoughts changed as I watched Madeline pull my little mate into the room.

I set my drink down crossing the room quickly, I did not even notice Johnathan and Madeline quietly leaving the room. Kyra was beautiful. The pink and silver glittered next to her white porcelin skin. Her hair was up proudly showing off my mark displayed on her neck. She was stunning, a healthy pink glow was starting to show on her skin. I thanked the goddess that wolves recovered quickly from physical ordeals.

"You look stunning, baby girl." I was finally able to speak. I placed my hand on the side of her face feeling her lean into me. Marking her had resolved a lot of the issues she seemed to have towards me being an Alpha but I could still sense her hesitancy at times to speak her mind.

"Thank you." She replied, her ice blue eyes had not left mine since she walked into the room.

I finally stepped back picking up the velvet box from the table and opening it. A pink diamond necklace shimmered against the deep gray velvet lined box. She gasped and stared for a moment at the necklace before looking up at me, "May I?" I asked lifting the necklace. She nodded still in slight shock turing around for me while I clasped the necklace around her neck. I tried not to think about the scaring covering her back. I needed to stay calm with my thoughts around her, my little warrior had been through enough already. I turned her around looking at the pink stone nestled in her cleavage. "Beautiful." I finally said, looking at her face not at the necklace. She outshown any jewel that would surround her.

"Thank you Xander, you have done to much." She said her eyes fluttering looking down.

"It will never be enough." I said lifting her chin so she could see the sincerity in my eyes. "Baby girl, you deserve everything good in this life and I intend to give it to you." I left no room for arguing before placing her hand on my arm. "Shall we?"

She gave me a megawat smile and nodded. I still marveled at how small she was for a wolf. "Was your mother short like you?" I asked as I slowly escorted her down the hall towards the ballroom.

"No, she was quite tall like most wolved. I look like a little mini version of her with the exception of my height." She replied answering my unspoken question since I knew she did not look like her father. The noise of the ball room enveloped us as we finally stepped into the room. I guided her towards our group where Madeline and Johnathan were standing greeting those along the way. As we approached the group I noticed a large framed man smiling at me.

"Joshua" I greeted the man fondly, he was Johnathans brother but had stayed living in Scotland for most of his life and had a deep scottish accent. "This is my mate Kyra. Kyra this is Joshua and his soul connection Meg."

"Ah, finally!" His deep voice boomed. "I thought this man was going to drive us all into the ground with his training. Perhaps now with this little lovely she can distract you enough to give us a break." His laughter was infectious causing everyone around him to laugh as well.

"I wasn't that bad." I attempted to defend myself but deep down I knew it was true, training had been all I had for a long time now.

I watched Madeline scoff and roll her eyes as she took Kyras hand pulling her in next to her and Meg. Joshua handed me a drink while we all fell into a comfortable conversation. I glanced around the ballroom and noticed Alpha Zachariah watching Kyra with a look of complete abhorrence on his face. I shuddered knowing Johnathan and I would still have to play nice with this man until we could find out more about his pack. I looked at Johnathan who had followed my gaze. I could see the muscle in his jaw tick and knew he was thinking the same thing. Playing nice would be difficult but best we get this all over with.

I looked at Madeline who nodded in a silent understanding to watch Kyra.

I leaned down closed nuzzling the side of Kyras neck inhaling her sweet scent to calm my nerves. "Johnathan and I need to speak with a couple of people. Don't leave Madelines side until I resturn." She looked back at my with utter trust and understanding. The moment took my breath away for a moment before I turned stepping next to Johnathan and heading towards Alpha achariah of the Desert Moon pack, a man I had a sinking suspision would one day be our enemy.