Page 93 of Sparks Flying

“How am I supposed to be angry about this when the two of you are so lovey-dovey?”

“Being angry didn’t help Gia, or Elias, or even Ryan. So why not try to just be happy for a change? Happy because your baby boy found his true mate and the love of his life, despite the fact she’s not from Ravenden and isn’t a raven. Today was a rough day for all of us, but we made it through because we stuck together. Bailey played a big role in that, not just for me, but for all of us. Can’t you at least try to pretend to be a little happy for us?”

Tears pricked my mother’s eyes, and then she jerked Bailey from my arms and hugged her. Watching them embrace damn near made me tear up, too.

“Listen up all you bird-brained gossips. This is Bailey, my newest daughter-in-love. She’s a Davenport now, and us Davenports stick together. If you don’t like it, tough.”

“Go Mom,” I said.

She pulled me into their hug.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“It’s what I should have done for your siblings, too. I guess you could say this old bird is learning from her mistakes.”

*****

It’s amazing how much life can change in a few weeks’ time.

Not that long ago, I was little more than a child living life on a whim with minimal responsibilities. I used people for my own pleasure and entertainment and, in hindsight, I didn’t really love living my life that way.

I was a shifter, and I was created for companionship. Who knew that would come in the form of a wolf? My very own little wolf.

Just the thought of her permanently fixed a smile upon my face. I never knew I could be so happy. Sure, I wasn’t naïve enough to believe our life together would be all hearts and chocolate, but I knew it would be a great one, with Bailey by my side. She might not be perfect. Hell, I for sure wasn’t, but we were perfect together.

Seeing her rise up and run into battle alongside me to save my kind made me realize that we would always be victorious in whatever life threw our way as long as we faced it together.

“Dean, get in here. Patrick’s coming to,” Bailey yelled.

I could hear his moans as he slowly awoke. The paralytic agent from the smoke had put them in a comatose state. They’d been out for nearly a week and we were all worried they wouldn’t wake up again.

“Patrick?” I said, as he slowly opened his eyes.

He groaned. “Where am I?”

“You’re still in Ravenden,” Bailey told him. “Do you know who I am?”

“Bailey,” he managed to say.

“That’s good. What do you remember last?”

“Give him a minute.”

“No. In training, he said you need to get a firsthand report the second you can in a situation like this. That way, no one else can contaminate it.”

“I’m not sure anyone could have imagined a situation like this.”

“True. Patrick, how do you feel?” she asked.

He groaned again. “Head hurts. What happened?”

“Can you tell me what you last remember?”

“Smoke. It was everywhere. Screams. Falling. I think I talked to Dean.” His eyes opened wide. “Some sort of airborne tranquilizer.”

“That’s good, Patrick. Archie has a team of scientists looking into it. He flew home earlier this week, as he wasn’t out there with the rest of you.”

“The other interns?”

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