DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Night World or any characters contained in the series. They are LJ Smith's. I own Adren (pronounced A- dr- n) and his soulmate.

The scents of blood, fear, and pack filled his nostril as he ripped into the throat of a faceless vampire, who thought it was safe to attack the black wolf with the vivid green eyes. He discovered too late that the wolf wasn't any ordinary werewolf.

Adren Foster lapped in the excitement and fears him and his fellow Circle Daybreak members created inside the Night World stronghold. He released the mauled vampire and lunged at another foe releasing every feral urge he had inside him.

The fighting was over too soon for Adren and he was forced to change back into a human form he longed to remain out of.

Guess I haven't gotten over 1891, He thought to himself removing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from a dead shapeshifter and put them on.

Adren was well muscled, his tan skin rippling over his abdomen and strong arms. His sable black hair hung just above his collar fell in silky waves. His emerald green eyes watched his commando team round up the survivors and tie them up before taking a look around the place.

"Hey Adren." His second in command, Ash Redfern, said coming up behind him.

To his dismay, Adren jumped and crouched down low with a growl before he knew it.

Ash held out his hand to show he was unarmed, which didn't mean a thing since Ash was a vampire. A lamia vampire directly descended from the legendary Maya, to be exact.

"Didn't mean to scare you, fur ball, but we found something downstairs you might like to see." He told Adren with a smirk, his eyes the color of wine.

"Show me." He told the vampire.

Ash snickered and led Adren up the hallway, down two flights of stairs, past Daybreakers hauling prisoners upstairs and up to a large thick safe like door in the basement.

A chill went up Adren's spine and he froze as a group of vampires, human, shapeshifters and witches tested the locked door for ways to open it.

No, it can't be. Adren thought his blood running cold, his heartbeat accelerating and breath coming faster. Not him. Please Goddess, let it not be him!!

Ash, ever watching for weaknesses, spotted Adren's fear.

"Something the matter?"

"No." Adren replied a little too quickly. Ash just smirked and nodded.

As the vampire walked away to call for a blowtorch, Adren silent fell deep into the recesses of his mind. Back into the deepest parts of his memory, unlocking the past.

***********

Danger always excited her. She loved the thrill and adventure it gave her. She would sneak across forbidden Dragon lands when she was supposed to be gathering roots and berries for the clan's winter stocks. Just one moment of excitement would get her through all the tongue-lashing Elder gave her for her foolishness.

Her long black hair was the color of the space between the stars and her eyes were the color of emerald rock that flashed with a wild nature. Thus Adren Far Star was aptly named.

When everything began, she was out with the hunting party tracking a herd of caribou. Like her peers, she wore an animal skin shirt and pants and carried a deadly looking spear for the kill and protection.

To her right was the leader, Kel, a burly man of twenty. He held up his hand signaling the party to wait while he picked which of the herd looked the weakest and easiest to take down. A minute later Adren saw Kel signal and point to a fat buck that moved with a limp. Without another word, party split up taking up positions to surround the beast.

All was quite. The caribou peacefully grazed. Suddenly a piercing yell broke the silence, sending the herd running. Seconds later, ten hunters sprang up and ran after their prey, sending their spears flying. A moment later, peace returned with the smell of fresh blood and the thud of a dead beast.

"That was a short hunt." Kel said to Adren as her and the rest tied the beast up and prepared it for the journey back to their caves. "Maybe we need better prey. I can make a pretty necklace for you with wolf teeth."

Adren didn't spare the man a glance, "If you desire to yank teeth from a wolf, do so. But don't go crying to Elder when you lose your hand."

One of the hunters chuckled as Kel scowled and stormed off.

The clan warmly greeted the hunters when they returned from their hunt. Children danced around and patted the fat buck while thoughts of juicy warm meat filled their heads. Young women gazed coyly at the young men fluttering their eyelashes at them and sending Adren looks of contempt and disgust.

"I see the hunt went well." Elder said as she hobbled out of the caves with the help of two stout boys. "Tonight we feast on choice meat!"

Adren cheered with the rest of the clan as they all went back inside the safety of their home.

That night cerebration was in the air. Dances honoring the Goddess and the gift of caribou carried on. Pretty faces fawned over the hunters while the children listened to their tales of the hunt.

Elder came up to Adren just outside the cave as she sat gazing at the horizon and at the vast night skies.

"What are you thinking upon?" The white hair woman asked the younger girl.

Adren looked up into olive colored eyes that were once like her own, "The hunt no longer excites me. Nothing does."

Elder chuckled and patted the girl's shoulder, "Perhaps it is time for you to settle down and take a mate. Kel seems interested in you."

Adren scowled and looked back at the sky, "Kel's only interest is killing what the Goddess has given us. He doesn't see the beauty and magic that is all around us."

Her expression turned dreamy, "The colors of the sky. The scents of the air."

"You see things as a shaman would." Elder told her, "Maybe the Goddess's will is for you to take my place."

Adren sighed, "I feel so confused, Elder." She looked up at the woman, "What do you think I should do?"

Elder helped Adren to her feet and smiled, "I think tomorrow you should go and see what the Goddess brings you."

Adren looked at her and smiled.

At dawn, Adren packed her sleeping furs, a spare shirt and pants, a flint and her spear then left her clan. She first walked with the sun and then along a river eating berries she found along the way. At nightfall, she stopped and made shelter in a hollow oak tree near the river.

The next day Adren awoke at dawn to the sound of thunder. When she stuck her head out she glimpsed the most threatening sight she had ever seen in her life.

It's gray wings spanned more than fifty feet. Its black scaly body was twenty feet long. When it opened its mouth to release bursts of black energy, Adren saw long sharp teeth that were as tall as she was. This creature was a nightmare come to life. The most horrible thing in the world.

It was a dragon.

Adren quickly darted back inside the tree.

"Please don't let him have seen me!" Adren whispered as the creature roared. "Please Goddess, let it not have seen me."

Come out, come out, Adren heard the dragon say in her mind. I know you're here