Page 1 of Anaki

Chapter One

Anaki

Iused to stay down in the water for days. Hide in the vegetation, among the fish and other creatures that lived here. They didn’t bother me; they stood by me.

They didn’t see me as a threat because they knew I only fed when I really needed to.

I took only what I needed. That was what I was taught. I never forgot my mother’s lessons when she told me never to kill for the sport, only to feed. Preferably, I should only take the lives of the animals that can no longer contribute to the ecosystem.

The murky water surrounded my body, blocking any visibility except for a faint glow of light trying to penetrate the darkness. My hair floated around my face, tangled and wild, as the final bubbles escaped my lips and rose to the surface.

Light won’t reach this far down. Too cloudy a day.

My lungs burned, and my throat constricted.

I can only stay down here for minutes, unlike I used to.

I never was the strongest dragon, but I’d like to think my swiftness and lungs were beyond superior. I breathed air and water. Not that anyoneknew at the club.

Everyone was worried about themselves. Which they should be all of us were slowly dying. To talk about our problems wasn’t for the faint of heart.

There were the few who talked to me about their better days, how their mates rejected them for no other reason but stability, higher ranks in packs, or just plain cruelty. It swung both ways. Males rejected females, too, but this group… well we were different. Ready to help each other, and we believed in something better.

Once I heard there was such a group, the Iron Fang, I knew I had to get here fast. Being around souls like me, kindred spirits and all, it brought a spring back into my step. I think it made me better, at least for a while.

My body settled into the muck. My chest tightened, and I could feel the sting of the icy water seeping into my bones. I gritted my teeth against the numbing cold, and I could no longer feel my fingers or toes. Each second became more of a motivational struggle to move, but I allowed myself to feel it all.

It was almost as if it were a form of punishment or penance.

Not good enough.

What a weak dragon I was.

I couldn’t keep the cold away, I couldn’t breathe in the water, I couldn’t swim as quickly.

I wanted to feel something other than the hopeless feeling of loneliness. I’d rather feel the pain.

I squeezed my eyes tight and opened them again. An ugly catfish was staring right at me.

I could stay here. Let the waters that once soothed me and my dragon take away the ache in my soul. I didn’t want to deteriorate in front of my brothers. I wanted to be remembered as the lively one who made their lives brighter, even for a time.

People have given me sideways glances lately.

I couldn’t even carry a keg over my shoulder. I could barely roll it to the front of the bar without becoming winded.

Locke was getting better. Never thought his wolf would ever return. Thank the goddess, Journey told everyone to leave the mangy wolf alone. After not even a month’s time, he came crawling back and can shift into human form for short periods.

Locke was psychotic, his methods questionable, brutal, but he brought this club together, and he was going to make it a pack again. I had that much faith in him.

It gave everyone hope. I had hope for them, too.

I let out a low groan in my throat.

Useless, weak, unworthy.Those words chanted in my head.

If my mate strode in the bar tonight and if I somehow could get their attention, would they stay? Or would they reject me?

Staying down here would be for the best. The easiest way, so I did not have to face it.