I rush outside with my boys on my heels and see Bledsoe walking onto our ranch like he owns the place. He’s flanked by Colton and Rigs.

My body tenses when we make eye contact. An hour ago, I would have given anything to face this guy and end his life, but things have changed. There are more important things to do right now.

Vesuvius is trying to take our mates and enslave the shifters of this town. We’re going to need help to defeat him. All the help we can get, even from our enemies.

“Come back for more?” Kneecap roars when he sees Bledsoe.

I can sense Kneecap’s furious grizzly bear and I know he’s about to release him. “Not yet,” I say, ordering him not to phase. “Let me talk to them first.”

We stop about ten yards from each other. I’m facing him with my crew by my side, and him with his.

I shoot a quick glance at Rigs, but he just stares back at me.

“There’s a larger matter at hand going on in Redemption Creek,” I say. “Larger than our issues and our feud. You have to listen to us.”

Bledsoe flicks his long black hair back, revealing the ugly tattoo of the Grim Reaper on his neck. He grins as he glares at me. “There’s nothing larger than my hate for you and your crew.”

“Bledsoe,” I say, narrowing my eyes on him. “You know how much I hate you, and how long I’ve been waiting to tear that arrogant head from your evil shoulders. I wouldn’t be saying this if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

“What is it?” Rigs asks.

Bledsoe shoots him a warning look and he slinks back.

“The dragons,” I explain. “They’re trying to turn the shifters of this town into mercenary slaves. They’re going to be kidnapping everyone’s mates and using them to force the shifters to execute their vile agenda.”

“Is that true?” Colton asks with a look of horror on his face.

“Shut up!” Bledsoe snaps. “I’m your alpha! I do the talking!”

Colton and Rigs both shut their mouths and drop their eyes to the ground as Bledsoe puffs out his wide chest.

“And you need our help?” Bledsoe asks, clearly loving this.

Asking my enemy for help is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ll do it for Kennedy. “Yes,” I say as a bad taste fills my mouth. “We need all the help we can get.”

Bledsoe chuckles. “If we had my way, the dragons would have been defeated a long time ago and we would be ruling this town.”

“Maybe,” I say, staring back at him. “Or maybe we’d all be dead.”

“I take it you’re the first crew in line for Vesuvius’ plan,” Bledsoe says with a smirk.

I take a deep breath and nod. “Yes. He’s going to try to kidnap our mates.”

Bledsoe lets out a horrified gasp, but then starts laughing. “Why do you think he let me go?”

Oh no. I’ve been wondering why Vesuvius let Bledsoe go on the street. Now that I’m about to find out, I’m feeling sick about it.

“Why do you think I showed up at Kennedy’s door after all these years?” he asks with a knowing grin.

“You’re working with him,” I whisper. How come I didn’t see it before?

Colton and Rigs glance at each other. They clearly haven’t been filled in on their alpha’s plans.

“Vesuvius hired me to chase after Kennedy, knowing the sight of my beautiful face would drive her back into your arms,” he explains with a proud look. “He knew that it was only a matter of time before you two bonded and then he could use her to control you.”

He turns to the other women and sneers. “Like he’s going to use all of these whores to control their pathetic men.”

“Watch your mouth,” Lachlan hisses.

Bledsoe is loving this. “For playing along with the dragon’s little game, I get to have my own crew on this lovely ranch.” He’s smiling as he opens his arms and looks around at our land, which he thinks will soon be his.

“We’re not going down without a fight,” I warn. “You’re three against six and we have the famous Kneecap on our side.”

“And me,” Tito says, stepping forward.

“Right,” I say, motioning to him with my head. “And we have the cock kisser over here.”

“That was only one time!” Tito complains.

“You may have a bunch of grizzlies,” Bledsoe says with a dark smile on his face. “But I have an ace up my sleeve.”

He puts two fingers into his mouth and lets out a shrieking whistle.

Out of the darkness, a huge orange dragon appears in the sky.

We let out a collective gasp as Vesuvius’ dragon soars over the trees and lands beside Bledsoe and the boys.

The monstrous dragon towers over them. His head is the size of my pickup truck and his teeth look like they can pierce even Kneecap’s unbreakable body.

We all take a step back and gulp as we stare up at it. I was worried we’d be outmatched with the shifters from Colwood and the shifters of Redemption Creek by our side. Now, we’re totally fucked.

Bledsoe grins as he watches me. “Looks like the odds just evened up a bit.”