Prologue
Olivia
Olivia Foreman hooked her arms over the wooden fence, gazing at the field in front of her, mountains looming in the distance. It was incredibly peaceful in this corner of Montana, although she often found it hard to truly find that peace within herself.
That’s what happens when a person is kidnapped and held captive, she guessed. Inner contentment was harder to come by, and things she’d never taken a second look at or thought too much about now seemed like possible threats.
Six months. It’d been six months since she and the other female dragons were rescued from Fernandez’s evil clutches, and she still wasn’t back to the Olivia she knew before her life changed irrevocably.
Thinking she’d one day get back to the woman she was before was most likely asking too much, though. She wasn’t the person she was back then, and it was becoming increasingly clear to her that she never would be again.
She felt beyond naïve for ever believing that could happen. At first, it made her feel powerless and hopeless. But she was finally making strides in accepting her new reality.
It wouldn’t happen overnight, but she’d get there. She knew she would. It was a miniscule amount, but already she could feel the contentment and acceptance creeping into her soul.
Glancing over her shoulder, she looked back at the large farmhouse she and the other four dragons were living in. Some of them had come to that same realization early on, but others were still struggling.
And her sister, Fiona, was one of them. A heavy sigh escaped as she faced the mountains again. When they were at the Blood and Bone Enforcers MC clubhouse, waiting for Fernandez to be dealt with, Fiona had spoken to Jalina, one of the Enforcers’ mates.
Every shifter had a gift. They could be mental or physical, and some were things humans could do, but the shifter was exceptionally good at; and some shifters had supernatural gifts.
Jalina was a psychologist, and her gift gave her the added bonus of being able to heal people from trauma they’d experienced. Fiona had resisted speaking to her, but ended up having a late night conversation with her over ice cream one night.
When Olivia saw her the next day, her sister appeared calmer, like the guilt weighing her down had lifted off her shoulders. Olivia had been hopeful that she was turning a corner and beginning to heal, but that didn’t seem to be the case now.
And she had no clue what to do about it.
Why are you stressing so much about this? Give it time, her dragon said softly.
Frowning, she shook her head, still gazing at the mountains in the distance. How is that even a question? She’s my little sister. I’ve always looked out for her, and that’s not going to change. Of course I’m worried. She’s not improving with time. At least, not very much. She’s nowhere near the funny, goofy sister I knew.
You’ve come to the realization that you’ll never be the same as you were before—and even knowing that, it’s hard to accept and adapt. How is she different? You’re holding her to impossible standards that even you can’t meet.
Hands tightening on the wooden rail, her frown deepened as she let her animal’s words sink in. Her dragon was right. She was being a hypocrite, expecting her sister to do something she acknowledged that she couldn’t even do herself.
I really hate it when you’re right, she grumbled.
Shouldn’t come as a shock, because I’m always right. You’ve had twenty-six
years to get used to it. I’m surprised you’re not there yet. For a smart woman, you can be damned stubborn and completely blind sometimes.
Olivia rolled her eyes, but she didn’t reply. She couldn’t. Her dragon was usually always right, no matter how much it irked her.
Inhaling the crisp air she loved so much, she closed her eyes and let a small smile form on her face. Everything was going to be fine. She just had to give it time. Her sister would work through her shit—they all would eventually.
She just had to keep in mind that everyone was different, and they all healed in their own way at their own pace. Everything was better now. They were free, their tormentor was dead, and now they had their own beautiful piece of land where they could start their new lives.
They were in a much better place now, and things were looking up. Satisfaction filled her as she turned to look at the old house they bought.
They were going to make it.
Chapter 1
OLIVIA
They were driving her nuts.
Olivia sighed as she walked around the perimeter of the yard on her daily walk. Just a week ago, she’d been staring at the mountains, her heart at peace as she realized they were going to make it. They were going to overcome their pasts and embrace their futures.
But now she was pretty sure they’d all kill each other before that ever happened.
The others been taking shots at each other almost nonstop for the past week. She wasn’t completely innocent—she’d snapped a few times when she reached her limit with all the sniping back and forth.
But the others…
She knew they just needed time. They were five completely different women, and with the exception of herself and her sister, they were all essentially strangers. They hadn’t known each other until they were captured and stuck in the same cell.
After the Blood and Bone Enforcers rescued them, they clung to each other. They trusted no one else—to the point that they all cramped together in one room at the Enforcers’ clubhouse, even though there had been other rooms available for them.
There’d been some tension between them all back then, there was no denying that. But they’d been so scared and felt so unsafe that even within their small group, they kept to themselves.
Then Fernandez was killed, along with his guards, and they were suddenly free. The man who kidnapped and imprisoned them, the man who planned to sell them off to the highest bidder, was gone.
And they were finally free to sift through the remnants of their lives, to find themselves again—or rather, in most cases, find who they were now. Because none of them had escaped as the same women they were when they were captured.
They found this beautiful piece of property in an isolated part of Montana and moved here to try to heal. Yeah, the house was a run-down mess, in danger of falling apart around them, but the land… the land was why they came here.
And in the last six months, they’d slowly begun healing. Bit by bit, their true personalities came out as it truly sank in that they were free. It was a glorious sight to witness, but it also meant a lot of learning to live with the women they really were—not the scared shells of women who skulked in the shadows and couldn’t relax enough to be open about who they were.
But their true personalities were clashing, and no one seemed willing to back down or compromise. Sierra was the only one who tried to stay out of it—but even the shy, timid dragon snapped. It was rare, but it happened.
She knew they’d get there. They’d learn to live with each other in peace without all the bickering. Eventually. She just hoped it happened before they really did kill each other.
And if they didn’t stop constantly snapping at each other, Olivia was going to be the one who did the killing.
She’d just paused to look at her favorite view of the mountains when a shout came from the direction of the house. Heart immediately racing, she spun around just as Carlie ran onto the porch. She spotted Olivia and waved her arms to get her attention, motioning her toward the house.