Four hours later I found out how they powered their buildings. On the dunes were fixed several hundred solar panels. I stared out over the horizon in the shade of one of the solar panels on the dune. Hiking up was far more difficult than I thought. The view was stellar, however.

It was so great that I could see Daniel climbing up toward me for a good ten minutes.

"Gosh," he panted. "That was a long hike," he complained.

I nodded.

"How was your flight up here?" he asked.

"I walked."

Daniel laughed.

My voice jumped to defend myself. "I've only had my wings a couple days. Well four or five. But, I've only been conscious for, like, one of them."

"Pity. I guess I only saw them because you were protecting your beau from his brother." His voice was harsh.

"You guys have a lot of history?"

He snorted bitterly. "He attacked my pack. Nearly killed me. Stole my ability to shift. Asserted himself over my pack. I guess you could say we are great friends."

The silence was hot. The sun was relentlessly beating down on the sand.

"He took my family from me."

My heart pounded hard. That was a feeling I knew. But, Damien?

He glanced at me. "Which compounds my confusion why he brought you here, knowing Daria and I were here. Surely, he doesn't want you knowing all his dark, dirty secrets. Unless he has you so utterly entranced you will forget my words as soon as he comes back."

"What?" A strange feeling rumbled in my stomach.

"Naomi, what do you want?" His voice was full of suspicion.

I remained silent. Despite the strange tone, I truly considered it. I had never asked myself that question. My entire life, I wanted to shift, to be a werewolf. Now, I had no desire. I didn't answer.

"You are truly his mate? Bound to him?"

I looked for a hint of intent in his face, but it was even, unreadable. I nodded slowly.

"Well, I pity you." With that, he left and began walking down the hill.

I watched him for a few minutes, trying to unravel the mystery that was Damien. He intended to overthrow the evil Wereking. I was his mate. Yet, I could not help but feel like there was so much more to the story.

I looked down the dune and slowly shrugged out my wings.

My heart began to pound furiously in anticipation. Joy flooded my veins. I wanted to fly. Really badly. My body was aching to have the wind blowing around me. The need was like hunger deep inside me, drawn to the surface by the scent of the wind.

I looked down the dune in front of me. With a running start, I knew I could glide down to the ground. I took a deep breath and backed up a few feet. Run and jump. Easy.

Before I could realize how stupid this was, I sprinted down the incline and jumped, pumping downward as hard as I could.

My stomach plummeted as I lifted off the ground, soaring across the sky.

I couldn't help it. I gasped in joy.

Daniel's head popped up and I saw him watch me fly over him.

The view was gorgeous. The desert stretched as far as my eye could see. The ripples in the ground echoed for miles. The sky was a bright blue, illuminated and complemented by the golden sand.

I looked down, startled to see how high I had gotten. I began to flap my wings and soared higher and higher, dipping to either side to turn. I was unwieldy, like a child who just learned how to ride a bike. But, I think I was a natural.

I could make out my giant shadow on the sand far below.

After what felt like hours free in the sky, I began my descent toward the town. As I neared, I saw that a crowd had formed on the outskirts, watching me. I landed about fifty yards away, and they quickly scattered. I grinned broadly. Wait until Berry saw me now.

+++++++++++++++

Everything was dusty. I had come to that realization after a few days. Sand covered everything and invaded every corner. For the most part, everyone ignored me, so I had ample time to observe and watch how this pack worked. Like any other, they had a pecking order. Yet, they were smaller. There were less than fifty werewolves here. It didn't look like many of them grew up in the pack. Some were old and permanently tanned. Others were fresh and constantly pulling leaves off the aloe plants that decorated the base to soothe their sunburns.

Almost all of them walked broadly around me. I didn't blame them. After all, I wasn't even a werewolf. Despite being in a new pack, I still felt like a disease.

My daily consolation was twofold.

After two weeks, Berry would be joining me. I would have a friend. Maybe she would be able to help me integrate with this community.

My flights were greatly improving. Eventually, I would be able to take off from a standing position. In the meantime, I trekked up the dune and glided off. I would fly for hours on end, practicing turns and landings.

I gained a nickname among this pack: vulture.

It was the only bird I saw in this part of the desert. However, I couldn't help but think about the double meaning. Was I sucking resources?

As I stared at the dusty corners of the dining hall, I gave myself a resolution.

Once I saw Daniel and Daria take a seat near the back of the hall, I stalked over to them. Daniel looked up to me in shock and Daria turned around with a solemn expression on her face.

"I have your answer, Daniel."

He cocked his head to the side. "Excuse me?"

"I have your answer," I repeated. "Of what I want. I want to fight."

Daria frowned and looked at me. "Sit." I blinked a few times and sat in the end seat between the two of them.

"You want to fight? You're not a werewolf. How are you supposed to fight? Fly away?" Daniel asked.

I turned away and looked at Daria. "I don't expect to just fight. I want to train. Maybe I can learn how to use the old magic—"

"No." Daria's quick answer gave me pause. "I don't know what Damien has told you about that, but we will not have it here. It is banned by the king for good reason."

"Oh," I said. "I didn't know that."

Daria stared at me harshly. "I'm sensing a pattern. I don't care what rank you were at your old pack. I don't care if your father was a beta or you grew up with a silver spoon and magic potions. Here, at Joshua pack, we have all fought for what we have. If you want to fight, you will learn it the hard way."

I blinked and stared back. "What?"

"The hard way. I'm not going to treat you like a princess."

My mouth gaped open. Did she really think I was some high-ranking werewolf? That I was anything but abused for the past seven years? The utter folly of that twisted my heart. Was that why everyone avoided me? They thought I was proud? That I thought I was better than them? I wanted to defend myself, to prove that I wasn't what they thought. No words came out. Finally, I simple said "okay."

"What?" Daria asked, surprised.

"I am not what you think I am," I said simply.

Daria stared at me for another few seconds and then nodded. "Fine. Join Daniel and his crew in an hour. Final decision is his."

Daniel sputtered. "I don't want her," he said. Daria silenced him with a glance. Daniel glared at me and grabbed his food. "Oh, look. My appetite disappeared, just like that. Enjoy your food."

"Why—?" I began.

Daria stood up and left as well. I sighed. I had ended up where I began.

Alone.