Stella's POV

I smiled softly as we landed in the field, and looked up at the sky, grateful that it was clear tonight, as I seen my parents' Stars. I glanced over at Patrick, who landed beside me, looking up at the night sky in awe.

"I can see why you would wait till we were adults, Stell. This is breathtaking." He said softly, glancing at me with a bright smile.

I chuckled softly, looking around. "I was always so protective of this place when I was younger, always thinking that this place would ONLY belong to momma and I. I...guess I was too naive to understand the darkness surrounding us at the time." I said, shifting human, wearing purple skinny jeans, purple Nikes, and a plain white t-shirt with a silver and amethyst bracelet.

I stood there, hugging my denim jacket close to me, shaking my head slightly, seeing the blue and purple wild flowers growing along the hillside, knowing that humans didn't know that they existed.

Patrick shifted as well, walking over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, standing behind me. I laid my head against his shoulder, looking up at the sky, as Patrick spoke softly, laying his head on top of mine.

"We can't change the past, Stella, and even if we wanted to, the outcome would be the exact same thing. These things happen for a reason, even if we don't like the way it sounds."

I sighed, glancing up at him. "Why do you sound EXACTLY like my mother?" I asked, smirking, earning a chuckle.

"I couldn't give you an answer even if I knew." He said, smiling, pecking my lips, which automatically made me peck his back.

I laid my head on his shoulder again, looking up at the stars, sighing as I was remembering what my uncle said that day when we were caged like cattle ready for slaughter,

"Those stories are just myths and fairytales told to us when we're hatchlings."

I frowned, wondering why he would think that, but was brought out of my thoughts as Patrick nuzzled my neck, making my lean against him.

"You need to relax, Love, or your gonna have gray hairs from all the stress." He said, kissing my cheek when he brought his head up to look at me, making me snort.

"I think I've had enough stress the past 18 years to give me plenty of grey hairs, Rick." I said softly, getting a sigh from him.

"I still regret leaving you, Stell, it didn't matter if we were kids, I should have done something to bring you with me and Ma to Illinois." He growled softly, making me frown.

I turned my body around so I was staring right at him, seeing his eyes slightly yellow, pointing out his dragon was peaking through. I leaned my forehead against his, bringing his attention to me quickly.

"Patrick, it was nearly twenty four years ago when we were separated. You have no reason to blame yourself. You said so yourself, these things happen for a reason, and if the universe wants to kick our scaly asses with some hunters to see how well we fair against them, then we'll just kick the universe's ass right back along with the hunters." I stated sharply, but smiled lightly to show I wasn't angry with him.

Patrick sighed, closing his eyes, chuckling softly, before opening his eyes again, showing his blue/green eyes again, saying,

"Now YOU sound like your father, Stell."

I giggled softly, about to say something in return, but was interrupted by a dragon's roar....No, not just one, but...Two of them... I turned, trying to look for the two dragons, wanting to figure out who it was, hearing another roar, but this time, this one was in pain.

Patrick let go of my waist, as I stepped forward as two dark dragon shapes came into view. One of the Dragons were blood orange, or, at least from what I could see, and the other was harder to tell with how dark his scales seem to be. They got closer to us, and as Patrick and I watched, they seemed to be making sure the other was injured enough to have deep scars to last eons.

I walked forward a couple more steps, trying to get a closer look, when I felt Patrick's hand grip my wrist firmly, yet gently.

"What if they decide to attack you as well? They seem pretty intent to fight each other until the other drops.....Permanently." He stated worriedly, a frown slowly etching it's way over his eyes as they flicked up at the two dragons.

"Then I'll just stop them. I need to keep them from killing each other...and maybe one of them can explain the reasoning?" I said softly, glancing up at them as well.

I heard Patrick sigh in defeat, and I felt his hand let go of my wrist, as I glanced at him.

"Be careful." He stated firmly, narrowing his eyes at me, getting a nod from me.

"I will, Rick." I said, and quickly made my way to the two, shifting in the process.

As I got closer, I heard the two speaking, and made the decision to sneak close to them, hoping to catch what their saying. I was surprised that neither noticed me, but I suppose they were too focused on themselves to worry about anyone watching. I tilted my head slightly, as the darker one spoke with a snarl.

"You're gonna pay for what you did to my family, Torres!"

I glanced at the blood orange one "Torres", as the darker male named, just smirked.

"Your 'Family' was weak, and when I find the other after your dead, I'll make sure they're the last." He purred.

I was slightly confused as to who they were speaking about, but decided to end the fight here, jumping on the darker male's back. Just as I did, it was like trying to ride a bull, because he started to buck and snarl, trying to get me off his back.

I didn't notice "Torres" took this distraction as a ticket to leave, and flew off, a dark laugh echoing as he left, with a promise of future pain and suffering for anyone who got in his way.

I was tossed off, being pinned down with a large maw glaring down at me.

"That dragon had killed thousands of my people, niña (girl)! I could have ended him there, but I didn't..Because of you!" He snarled.

I glared right back, finding my reason was valid. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice you COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED" I snarled back.

The dark male opened his maw to speak, when he was tackled off of me, and pinned under Patrick, who seemed to be pretty pissed...if the smoke tendrils were any indication.

"DON'T touch her." He hissed lowly, digging his claws into the darker dragon's shoulder in warning, before taking them out, earning a hiss in pain, and made his way over to me, as I was twisting around to stand.

He nuzzled my cheek lightly, standing close beside me, as I watched the other dragon get up carefully, flaring his wings slightly. That let me get a good look at the faded scars, and soon to be new, along his form. It made me wonder where exactly the scars would stay, if he were human. I glanced at his right wing, noticing what seemed to be burns within the wing, as well as the other when I looked at it.

'What kind of fights caused this?' Patrick sent to me, making me glance at him, and I seen him eying the dragon as well, more than likely seeing where he would be able to weaken him quickly if he needed to.

'I'm.... not really sure.' I sent back quietly.

"Are you two just gonna stand there and watch me, or can I go and hunt that Bastard down?" The male snarled quietly, making me glance at him again.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep him from killing anyone just yet.

"....Alexander Diaz. You?" He stated agitatedly, narrowing his eyes slightly at me.

"Stella O'Brian, though if you want to get formal, QUEEN Stella O'Brian." I said, shuffling my wings slightly.

I watched as Alexander's eyes widened slightly.

"Q-Queen!?" He shouted in surprise, making Patrick and I wince slightly at the noise, as I nodded.

"Yes, I was previously the Princess...but I had to force my uncle to step down from the throne." I said calmly.

Patrick nodded as well. "Her Uncle was doing favors for Thomas Richards, a human-" He was cut off sharply by Alexander who snarled,

"I KNOW who that human is, but I want to know why her uncle would do favors for an asesino de dragones. (Dragon killer)"

"Because he wanted power. He had my parents practically assassinated to take the throne. That, and he tried for years to have me hunted down; Given to him as a trophy. I've been moving from one city to another to avoid Thomas's hunters, and when I had enough? I took it upon myself to slowly deteriorate his company. Take out a few deceased dragon shipments here, blow some power grids there. Trust me when I say that I despise my Uncle, because I turned this entire kingdom against him for his treasonous act." I stated firmly, frowning softly.

Alexander frowned hearing this, "He's no better than Eduardo. Both of them need to pay for their sins."

I watched as Patrick sighed softly. "Eduardo made a deal with Richards didn't he?" He asked earning a nod from Alexander.

"Not only with him though. The cartel. He's the reason why my pack is dead and why I lost my best friend." Alexander hissed.

I frowned. "The cartel hunted dragons too?" I asked in disbelief. I never thought they could go that far.

Alexander nodded slightly. "They wanted workers, or us dead. They targeted packs like mine. Poor tribal packs that moved around a lot. Whenever we'd cross Mexico city, the wealthy called us impuros (unclean). My friend was the alpha's daughter she... could be dead now."

"What was her name?" I asked curiously.

"Kyla. " He said.

"We know someone named Kyla." I said lightly, wondering if we were speaking of the same person or not.

"What's her last name?" He asked wide eyed.

"Rodriguez." I said simply.

"S-She's alive??"

I nodded. "She never told me much of her story, but Andy, one of our friends, found her at the mating grounds a few weeks ago. We've...Kinda adopted her into the pack." I replied kindly.

"Mating grounds?" Alexander asked raising a brow.

I chuckled slightly. "American custom." I said.

Alexander nodded slightly. "I want to see her." He stated very bluntly.

I glanced at Patrick slightly.

'Should we?' I sent to him questioningly.

'Well it's clear he didn't rat them out, so maybe we should.' Patrick sent back.

I nodded slightly at him, then turned my attention to Alexander.

"Okay, but it may have to wait till tomorrow. Till then, I can lend you a spare room for the night." I offered.

"That'll be great, thank you. I am in your debt." Alexander said bowing his head slightly.