Page 137 of Anaki

I grabbed my jacket and slung it over my shoulder.. I didn’t do clean up much anymore, not when I had a family to go home to. Surkash nodded at me when I made for the back of the bar to leave.

Sizzle sat hunched over his beer, the amber liquid barely touched, as he gazed across the dimly lit bar. His eyes rolled with a mix of boredom and envy, watching as the rest of the inner circle entwined with their partners,sharing whispered secrets and stolen kisses. He fiddled with the unlit cigarette between his fingers, tapping it rhythmically on the weathered wooden bar, as if weighing the decision to light it or not. Eventually, he stuffed the cigarette back into his jacket pocket with a resigned sigh and tilted his head back, draining his drink in one swift motion. With a heavy exhale, he pushed himself away from the bar, the stool scraping against the floor, and strode toward the exit, his pace slow and deliberate as he headed for the door.

Bones sat by the door, the chair tipped back on two legs, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. His eyes were dull, like glass marbles. Slowly, he leaned forward, the chair legs thudding softly onto the floor. His hand disappeared into his worn leather jacket, fingers searching with a practiced motion. A faint rustle of fabric was followed by the emergence of a syringe, its barrel glinting faintly in the dim light.

I adjusted my jacket, pulling the collar up against my cheek as I watched him from a distance. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, Bones removed the cap from the syringe and carefully rolled up the sleeve of his worn-out hoodie. His hand trembled slightly as he discreetly jabbed the needle into his leg. He lowered his head, his face contorting briefly in pain, and then he swiftly withdrew the needle. After capping it with practiced ease, he tucked it back into the inner pocket of his jacket, his movements precise and deliberate.

I blinked several times, but before I could link the Alpha, he was already in my head.

“Leave him. I’m watching it.”

I turned to see Locke behind me, and he put his hand on my shoulder.

“Go home to your family. I’ve got it from here.” Locke continued to stare at Bones.

I nodded, my heart pounding, and cast one final, lingering glance atBones, who lay slumped and lifeless on the table. Nadia approached, draping a blanket over his still form and whispering something urgent into his ear. A chill ran down my spine; something was seriously wrong with Bones, and I hoped to the goddess it wasn’t what I thought it was.

As I returned to the cave, I was already peeling off my clothes. I appreciated my human form, but after a long day of bartending, I was eager to unleash my inner dragon.

Elena had been practicing during the day, with her animal self, while Luis was at school. She was constantly at the lake trying to coax her dragon to speak with her. She also started up her editing business again. Many of her clients came back to her after her few-month-long hiatus, and she was ready to dive back into it.

While she didn’t have to work, and I had plenty of gold to sustain us, we all needed something to fulfill our lives, and if she wanted to do it, she was by all means more than welcome.

I continued to strip out of my clothes as I pushed the flap open. The main area of the cave no longer held our nest. It was now a living room with carpets, a large screen tv with video game consoles, a board game cabinet, and even shelving for all of Abuela’s crystals.

Who knows, maybe Luis could use them one day.

The cave was dark as I passed through. Luis was most likely in bed, andElena could be for that matter. She had been tired the past few days and was falling asleep before I even got home.

I let my dragon out, my scales rippling down my body as I did, and went down the hallway, pushing back the thick drapes of our den chamber. It was large. The bear shifters did an excellent job creating an area big enough for both of our dragons to lie. I even got new bedding, and it took a while for Elena to get the nest the way she wanted. I thought she had gotten even more picky about how she wanted things situated in there, but it really turned me on how she would get all growly about it.

“Elena?” I poked my head inside and didn’t see her there. I then backed away and decided to check on Luis.

I slithered down the dimly lit cavern hallway, the cool stone brushing against my skin, until I reached his room. Gently, I moved the soft, thick blanket aside, revealing a large bed. A small nightlight, shaped like a crescent moon, cast a soft glow across the room, splashing stars onto the walls and ceiling, creating a celestial canopy. The tranquil quiet was almost perfect, yet the absence of a window left the room feeling slightly incomplete, depriving it of natural light and the view of the world outside.

Children loved sunlight, and the ability to see the sun’s rays in their room, but I couldn’t allow it. My precious family lived here, and I didn’t want any enemy to get to them. I showed Luis the secret way to get out of the cave, which ended up at the lake. He was appreciative of that, and the window issue didn’t seem to bother him as much as it did me.

I just wanted him happy.

I was quiet when I went inside and nuzzled my nose into his neck to take in his freshly bathed scent. He groaned and petted my cheek. “Hi Dad. Nothing’s on fire right now,” he mumbled before his soft snores took over the room again.

I chuckled softly, leaving him to his own devices and turned backtowards my… our den. As I approached, the warm, inviting glow emanating from our den was noticeably brighter, casting a gentle, golden hue over the stones. The air was filled with the delicate notes of soft music.

My cocks jerked in my seam and I groaned.

She must have a surprise.

A good surprise.

I pranced on my claws up to the den, trying not to giggle.

Scales groaned.“Goddess, pull yourself together.”

I disregarded him and cautiously threaded my head through the blanket, where I was met with an incredibly breathtaking sight. My soulkin stood there, adorned in a vibrant red silk dancing outfit that shimmered in the soft light. The fabric clung to her form, her breasts provocatively spilling over the top, while intricate gold chains, glinting like light, wrapped elegantly around her waist and cascaded down to drape perfectly around her thighs. Each movement sent the chains jingling in time with the music, creating a symphony of sound. Her gaze was fixed on me with an intensity that made me feel as though I was the very force that kept the moon suspended in the sky.

Her hands beckoned me to come over, and I stumbled over the pillows to get closer.

“You are a fucking idiot,”Scales hissed as I got closer to her.

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