She knew she wasn't dead, she was aware of that much. But, she had been so out of it she was having visions of Orion. She remembered the last few days in snippets. She knew she was with Jonathan, she knew she was being brought back to the Western Clan, and she knew Orion was dead. He'd felt so real when he told her she was safe, so strong and solid, like he always had been. Likely she'd just been looking at Olly and her grieving mind mistook him for Orion. That was easier than facing the fact he wasn't around anymore.

Her whole body ached, and she felt like she had been used as a training dummy for Draco's soldiers. In a sense, she had been. If this was what her human body felt like, she didn't want to shift into her dragon anytime soon. The poor beast had tried her hardest against the humans, but they were relentless, and she had little experience fighting. Even if she could have breathed fire, the muzzle the witch Isabel had put on her kept her from opening her jaw wide enough to let the blaze through. When she was finally strong enough she would have to ask Ori- No, not Orion. He was done teaching her to be a dragon. He'd done what he could in the time they'd had together, but she'd seen him bleeding on the floor of that shop. She didn't know a lot about wounds, but she knew that if someone lost that much blood, there was no way they could survive.

She inhaled tenderly to discover the bandages wrapped tightly around her torso, restricting her breathing. She didn't mind so much; it kept her injuries from paining her. After another careful inhale, she smelled her room in the Alpha house, the lingering scent of Nana and Penelope, and Orion. His scent was surprisingly strong for someone who hadn't been in the room in more than a week.

Skylar pried an eye open, staring up at the ceiling. So, she was definitely alive, and she was coherent. This felt much different than the last few days, where she'd been weak and drifting in and out of consciousness during their travels. She was awake for real this time, and she could feel her strength returning. She was at least strong enough to turn her head.

She did so tenderly, sensing someone in a chair next to the bed, and she nearly screamed when she saw who sat there.

It was Orion, but he was pale and his body was limp in the chair. This was a bad dream, a terrible dream, it had to be. No wonder she felt so strong, because she wasn't really awake. She blinked rapidly and tried to sit up, but pain shot through her at the motion. She whimpered and squeezed her eyes closed, trying to wake herself up. This was cruel, even for her unconscious.

Of course, then it had to go make it worse by making the corpse move.

He lifted his head and blinked sleepily with those heartbreaking eyes. All grogginess disappeared when he saw her moving in the bed.

"Skylar!" he exclaimed in a perfect imitation of Orion's rumbling voice, rising from his chair to stand over her.

"No, no!" she gasped, lifting her arms to shield her face from the monster, begging herself to wake up from the nightmare. She couldn't stand this. It was hard enough knowing he was gone without her mind playing mean tricks on her. "Leave me alone!"

"Hey, hey!" the dead man grabbed her forearms with in a warm, surprisingly gentle grasp. "Skylar, calm down. It's me. You're safe."

She slowed her pathetic struggles and stared up at him. His dark hair flopped forward onto a clammy forehead, but his familiar, safe, golden eyes stared down at her, filled with so much love and relief she felt tears spring to her own eyes.

"Orion?" she gasped, gazing up at him.

He gave her a brilliant smile. "Welcome home."

He let her pull her arms from his grasp to cradle his cheeks. He was warm, if clammy. He looked so tired, like he was still healing as well.

"You're alive." She caressed his face, unwilling to lose her grip on him or let her gaze leave his face, for hear he would suddenly disappear. Her thumbs brushed over his cheeks bones and she wanted to pull him to her so she could kiss him, but she also wanted to just stare at him so he couldn't suddenly disappear on her.

"Of course I am," he cocked his head to the side. "And so are you."

"I watched Ashley stab the knife into your chest..." she shook her head slowly, at a loss. "I saw the blood. I watched you die."

"I should be dead, but somehow she managed to mess it up. I simply bled. A lot," he assured her, bending down to kiss her forehead. "God, I thought I'd lost you." He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers.

"You didn't, you didn't," she gasped, grinning up at him. "I'm sorry I forced you to go after Jonathan, I'm sorry this happened. I'm so so sorry."

"Shhh," he said softly, smoothing her hair back from her face. "It's all okay now. We're both safe, we're both home."

She nodded, though the movement hurt. "Draco's still coming," she whispered.

His lips tightened and he nodded. "I know. Jonathan told us everything."

"Jonathan's here?" Of course it made sense for him to be there, he'd been with the dragons who were bringing them back. It was just that the thought of him there, among the dragons, was inconceivable to her. It then dawned on her that her childhood friend and crush knew what she was, and he'd met Orion, the man she was desperately in love with.

Orion nodded slowly. "Yes, and he told us what happened."

"You've talked with him?" she blinked up in amazement and Orion looked away sheepishly.

"Well... yes," he hesitated. "Although I'm not allowed to speak directly to him anymore."

"What happened?"

Orion brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers and she thought she saw the slightest hint of pink sneak into his face. His eyes softened further as he gave her an apologetic look. "I might have hit him."

She shouldn't have been surprised, but she was. She knew how Orion felt about Jonathan, but the knight was one of the sweetest men she knew. What could he have possibly done to make the man she loved hit him?

"You what?"

"I couldn't stop myself, I'm sorry. He's alright, though. Nana has been taking good care of him when she's not in here with you. He was just dehydrated, malnourished, and had a few broken bones. Nothing to worry about."

Skylar just smiled, realizing how little she cared about Jonathan at the moment. Orion was alive, when she'd thought she'd lost him.

"Let's not talk about him anymore, okay? Remember what happened last time?"

"I try not to," he chuckled, moving so that he was next to her on the bed, rather than standing above her. He laid on his side to look at her and she turned her head to gaze back. She wanted to turn over to cuddle into him, but had a feeling that any twisting or adjustment would be agonizing for her. Orion apparently had similar ideas because he moved over to wrap his strong arm around her waist and rest his head on the pillow next to hers. "It killed me to think that might have been the last conversation we had."

"I know. Good thing it wasn't," she smiled

"Everything is okay now," he whispered, leaning over to kiss her temple. "Everything is alright."

She leaned against him, the strength of him enveloping her with comfort and a feeling of home. She liked having him in the bed with her. "When did we get here?" she asked.

"It's been a day and a half since Kordan and Jackson landed with you and Jonathan. Nana has been giving you one of her medicines to keep you asleep to heal. She did the same thing for me. We heal faster if we're unconcious, since our body has nothing else to focus on. I didn't know when you were going to wake up."

"How did you get back here? There's no way you flew here yourself."

"Olly brought me. I made it back to Trael and from there he flew me home."

"He was still in Trael?" she asked. She had thought they would have left shortly after they did.

"There were more volunteers than we were expecting," she felt Orion smile into her hair. "Olly's leading them back right now; they should be here any day."

"He did it," she grinned. "That's wonderful."

"I'm proud of him. So's Dad."

Cold washed over her at the thought of the Alpha. He still didn't like her, and he probably liked her even less since she was the one who almost got his first-born son killed.

Orion must have felt the change in her because his grip tightened. "It's okay. He's glad you're safe."

She chuckled. "Now you're just making things up."

"No, he really is, I promise."

She opened her mouth to respond when the door swung open.

"Good lord, Orion," Nana rolled her eyes, holding a tray of food. Penelope stood behind her, her pretty face twisted in distaste. "She can't have been awake for more than ten minutes. Give her some space."

Orion sighed and kissed her temple before sliding away. She felt empty with him across the room and looked after him longingly. She knew he wouldn't disappear, that nothing would happen to him, but it gave her peace of mind to be touching him.

"Hello, love," Nana smiled, setting the tray down on the table next to her bed. "It's good to see you awake. How do you feel?"

"I've been better, but I think I'll be okay," she grinned at the old woman.

"Good, you look much better. We were worried about you."

She went about checking Skylar's bandages while Penelope sat down in the chair Orion had been napping in. Her birth mother's eyes glistened with tears and she carefully reached over to grab Skylar's hand. She squeezed and blinked rapidly to clear the tears.

"I thought we were going to lose you again," she whispered. Skylar's heart broke a little at way her voice cracked when she said it. She didn't know Penelope very well, but her dragon instincts and family loyalty kept her from treating the woman like a stranger. She saw herself in Penelope, and it wasn't just in appearance. The Alpha female was strong willed, but so kind, something Skylar prided herself on.

She hadn't treated Penelope very well since they'd been introduced, and she regretted that immensely. Penelope had done nothing wrong, and she'd been nothing but wonderful since they'd met. This was the woman who gave birth to her after all, the woman who would have raised her if the world wasn't a cruel place. This woman would have been who Skylar turned to for everything, but they were complete strangers.

Skylar squeezed Penelope's hand back, offering her a sweet smile. "You didn't. I'm right here."

Penelope lifted Skylar's hand to plant a kiss on her knuckles. "Kellan doesn't know what happened. He's off bringing our fighting men, the one's who volunteer, back to help fight off Draco."

"It's probably better that he didn't know," Skylar chuckled. She didn't know her birth father well either, but she knew enough to realize he was a protective man. He saw her as his, as a part of his clan, and she had been in danger. He wouldn't have left her fate to chance.

Penelope laughed along with her. "Perhaps you're right. He'll be happy to see you when he gets back, which should be any time now. He's been gone since you and Orion left last week."

"Why didn't you go with him?" She didn't mean it to be accusing, she was simply curious. Her mate left, it would have been natural for her to go with him.

Penelope shrugged. "I was needed here. All of my children were here, and Kellan could travel faster without me. Besides, it worked out. Victoria ended up needed me."

"For what?" Skylar asked, panic taking over for a moment at the thought that anything could have happened to the Alpha female. "Is she alright?"

"I'm just fine," a voice said from the doorway. Skylar looked up to see Victoria standing there with a Leo, a bundle of blankets clutched in her arms. The sight was so unexpected, it took Skylar a moment to comprehend it. Victoria's massive stomach was replaced with the bundle in her arms, which was squirming and squawking. "We both are."

"You had the baby?" Skylar gasped, attempting to sit up. She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes closed in response to the stabs of pain that shot through her at the movements. This, of course, brought on a chastising cluck from Nana. "You had the baby without us here?"

"Well, little Benny wasn't inclined to wait for you," Victoria teased. She carried the baby over while Nana and Orion helped Skylar sit up. Orion remained perched on the side of the bed with an arm wrapped around Skylar, supporting her while also staying in contact with her. Perhaps he was as anxious about losing her as she was about him. Either way, she wasn't complaining, because the slight contact helped calm her and her dragon.

"Benny," Skylar grinned, eagerly leaning over to look at the scrunched up, pink little face of the newest member of the Nogard family. "Hello there. Oh, Victoria, he's lovely." She reached out to touch one of his fists. She couldn't resist the tiny fingers that wrapped tightly around her finger when she touched him.

"Thank you," the Alpha female smiled, her spring green eyes alight with pure, unadulterated love for the tiny dragon in her arms. "He's perfect."

"He really is," Skylar agreed wholeheartedly. She hadn't been around many babies, especially ones this small. She was looking forward to it, especially because she would get to see this little one grow up, because she would be Orion's mate. She would live in the Big House with all of these people she'd grown to love and need, and she couldn't wait. The only problem was that they needed to stop Draco before she could have any of that.

"How are you, Skylar," Victoria asked. "Jonathan told us everything, and I'm so sorry about what happened to you."

Skylar swallowed heavily, recalling the feeling of terror that had washed through her when she'd stepped into the arena with the heavily armed knights ready to hurt her, wanting to hurt her, even after they'd seen she was a person. "I'm home now, and that's all that matters."

Orion squeezed her against his side and kissed her hair, immediately sensing the change in her demeanor and ready to comfort.

Leo finally spoke up. "You were very brave, Skylar. Not many dragons could do what you did and be sitting up and smiling such a short time after. Nor would they be so ready to continue the fight, like I know you are."

She looked at him, surprised at the compliment. "Thank you, Alpha."

He nodded in acknowledgement. His black eyes almost seemed... warm? She didn't think she would ever have used that word to describe Leo. Perhaps becoming a father again softened him up.

She looked back down at Benny and couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. He had pink, chubby cheeks and the sweetest little nose she had ever seen. He blinked up at her with a bemused expression and she chuckled, reaching out to touch his cheek.

Leo cleared his throat. "We should give Skylar time to rest, she-"

The Alpha didn't get to finish his statement because a someone ran past him in the doorway and nearly tackled Skylar on the bed.

"Skylar! Oh, Skylar!" Laura sobbed. "I was so worried about you, I'm so glad you're okay." She leaned back, releasing Skylar to grab her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

Skylar laughed, albeit a little weakly, and patted her friend's arm. Her only female friend her age, who was so happy to see her.

"I will be," she assured Laura, who wiped a tear from her cheek. "I just need a few days to heal."

"Of course, of course," Laura nodded. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. I was helping Percy and Jed prepare for the arrival of Eastern Clan members and the human army. There are going to be a lot of extra people here."

"A lot of people who won't get along," Skylar sighed, looking up at Orion. His eyes held assurance, although she guessed he was as apprehensive about this as she was.

"They'll be fine. They're all fighting for the same cause," he stated, smiling down at her. "But Dad is right, you should rest."

"I don't want to rest," she argued, leaning forward carefully. "I want to help. This was all my idea, I can't sit around and watch it all get done."

"You can if you almost died a few days ago," Orion growled. "At least for the rest of today. We'll see how you are tomorrow-"

"Those are some mighty words coming from a man who had a very similar argument when he was in the same position not three days ago," Leo raised an eyebrow at his son. "She seems strong, perhaps I misspoke. How are you feeling Skylar?"

Nana piped in, her hands on her hips and a snarl on her face. "I'm sorry, which of you is qualified to tell her if she's ready to move around or not? I'll say when she's ready."

"But, Nana," Skylar reasoned. "I really feel like I need to do something."

"Child," the old woman leveled her intense blue gaze at her, "you feel like that because you're an Alpha. All of your instincts are telling you to do something to help your clan. You need to put yourself first every once in a while."

"I don't want to put myself first, not when all of this is my fault."

Nana let out an explosive sigh. "Fine. If you can walk to the door without any help, you can get up and help prepare. But, if you can't, you have to wait for my say-so. Deal?"

"Deal," Skylar stated with a confident nod. Orion, Victoria, and Laura slid off the side of the bed. Orion, whose face never betrayed his feelings, was etched with worry. Everyone else was simply curious.

Skylar took a deep breath, or as deep a breath as she could with the bandages wrapped around her ribs, and gingerly swung her legs over the side of the bed. As soon as they were on the floor and she put any weight on them, her confidence wavered. Standing up was nearly impossible. Every muscle screamed and she could suddenly feel every bruise, slice, scrape, and stab wound she'd received from Draco's soldiers. She stood up and nearly fell over right there.

Orion dashed out to grab her, but she held up her hand. She had to do this on her own, that was the deal. She looked at the door. Seven steps away. She could make it seven steps on her own.

One, two... stumble... three... She shuffled forward. Her lack of adequate food and water the last few days had caught up to her, and her blood loss. She was lightheaded and the room spun around her, but she was determined to make it. There was also the fact she had a very enraptured audience. She couldn't disappoint.

Four, five... six... the doorway was within reach when her legs suddenly betrayed her. Her left knee buckled and she went crashing to the floor. Just as she was about to hit, a strong arm shot out to catch her. She looked up expecting to find Orion, but was amazed to find Leo instead.

"Sorry, love," he said quietly, lifting her into his arms. He lifted her like she weighed nothing, and she wasn't surprised to find that his grasp felt just like Orion's, if perhaps a bit rougher. Although, he grip on her was gentle as he carried her back to the bed, and she couldn't believe this was the same man who had been willing to send her to her death only weeks ago. She preferred this Leo, the one she was meeting for the first time. The Alpha set down a disappoint princess and gave her a tight smile.

"Rest, and when you can get up, your parents will be here. All of them." He added the last part with a glance at Penelope, who had moved off to the side. Was Violet with Hal and the army? Is that what he meant? Skylar couldn't imagine her proper mother traveling with a bunch of soldiers, but hoped she was with. She missed them both dearly. She also wanted to combine both aspects of her lives, so that she didn't have to keep thinking of them as two very different things.

Leo placed a large hand on her shoulder and squeezed before beckoning to Victoria. The Alpha female kissed Skylar's forehead before carrying Benny out of the room after her mate.

Penelope took Skylar's hand and kissed her knuckles again. "You'll be healed soon enough, darling. You'll be alright. I love you."

Skylar wasn't sure how to react to the kind words, words she wasn't ready to return to Penelope, who was still, essentially, a stranger. So, instead, she offered Penelope a smile, knowing that she had no words that could make up for what she couldn't say. Penelope smiled back, but there was sadness behind it. She quietly left the room, leaving Laura, Skylar, Orion, and Nana.

"You two, go help out. I've got Skylar," she shooed Orion and Laura. The latter listened and waved at Skylar as she dashed from the room, but the former stood fast.

"I'm staying with her."

"No, you're not. You're distracting and are of more help elsewhere. Now, go on," she snapped at Orion.

He didn't take this well and lifted his lip in response. Skylar immediately recognized the mistake; no one snarled at Nana.

"I don't think so, boy," she growled back. "You may be future Alpha, but I am still your elder and will not have you talking back. Skylar needs to get better, and you need to help prepare for our guests. Don't make me swat you like a child."

Nana was never an Alpha female, but she should have been. Orion, one of the most dominant men Skylar had ever met, lowered his gaze his response to Nana's outburst. He glanced at Skylar, who suppressed a smile.

"I'll be fine. Just come see me later," she told him, reaching a hand out. He grabbed it and bent over to kiss her sweetly, but she felt the restrained passion there. She wanted him to grab and claim her right then and there. This was their first kiss since she thought he'd die, and she wanted it to be special. Unfortunately, Nana was watching them.

Orion reluctantly pulled away, with a heavy sigh and a hand on her cheek.

"They'll have a hard time keeping me away," he whispered. "I'll see you later." He pecked her lips one more time before leaving the room.

Skylar almost panicked at seeing him leave; what if something happened to him? She knew it was irrational but she wanted him where she could keep an eye on him, at least for now.

Nana sighed and shook her head after him. "That's the first time he's left your side since you got here."

"Really?"

Nana smiled. "I've never seen him devoted to anything other than the clan. It suits him, even if it gets in my way sometimes." She winked and went about changing Skylar's bandages and applying a paste to her wounds. Her touch was soft and careful, but it didn't stop Skylar from hissing through her teeth and the feeling of someone pressing into her injuries.

"I know it hurts love, but I a few days you'll be as good as new, I promise," Nana said softly. "You're a brave girl. I know you'll make us a good Alpha female someday. After all, you went through this for people you hardly know."

Skylar shook her head. "Hardly know? Nana, you're all my family."

A tear actually dropped from the pale blue eye onto Nana's cheek, where the strong old woman quickly dashed it away before leaning forward to embrace Skylar.

Skylar didn't regret what happened with Draco. She didn't regret anything that had happened to her. If it hadn't, she wouldn't be here, with these wonderful people who took her in when she needed it most. She would do anything to protect them without a second thought.