Chapter 40 - Bye Shirley

**Kaida's P.O.V.**

Shirley thinks she's going to get a chance to go after Hailey, but she's mistaken. It's time to take out the bitch who thinks she's running the show. I want to finish her so I can go to the Blue Moon pack and let them know I'm here to help.

After decades of being alone, I hope to find my mate. Dragons sometimes never find mates, but Selene assured me I would have a mate. She's the Moon Goddess for werewolves but has the ability to help anyone.

When she pulled me to her realm and said she wanted me to help her daughters in the coming months, I agreed. Hailey may have only been aware of what was going on for a little over a week, but Selene knew the time was getting close. She wanted me to eliminate idiots like Shirley, who were a nuisance. Selene said that while I was helping, I would come across my mate. She didn't say when or where, but I believe I'll come across him soon.

*"I sure hope we find him. I'm tired of waiting. The next man who hits on you will get a surprise. He may think you're a hot piece of ass, but I'll show him how hot we can get."* My dragon Binnie mindlinks me. Dragons aren't male or female. Although my dragon's name is Bernice, it likes to go by Binnie.

*"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll meet him soon enough."* I mindlink back. Binnie is a beautiful emerald-green dragon with ruby-red eyes.

Now, to get rid of Shirley once and for all. I change my appearance and put on a pair of jeans and a crop top. Looking into the mirror, I smile. I snap my fingers and appear just outside the Crimson Moon packlands. This is almost too easy.

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**Shirley's P.O.V.**

Anger is building up inside me to a boiling point. How hard can it be to find some stupid little human Selene put the legends into? I slam my fist on the desk in the alpha office just as there's a knock on the door.

"Come in," I yell. Malcolm walks in with a big smile. "What do you want?"

"I have a surprise for you." He pulls in a young woman behind him. She has a light tan complexion with long black hair, and she looks terrified.

"Who is this?" I ask him. Looking the woman up and down.

"This is Hailey. She's the luna of the Blue Moon pack and the keeper of the legends. She said she was kidnapped by another pack and got free. She wanted to see if we could help her get home." Malcolm smirks at me, and I look from him to the young woman in shock. This is her? This weak-looking nobody is the keeper?

"Please come in. I can help you." Malcolm acts like he's going to sit down, and I shake my head. "Thank you, Malcolm. I'll come find you later."

"Thank you for helping me. I just want to get back to my mate and my pack. I know they're looking for me." Hailey says. Her eyes are filled with tears, and it takes everything in me not to laugh. Of all the packs she could have come to, I'm glad it was this one. I want to get this over with as soon as possible. It's time to take her to Zaleria. Hopefully, I can change the witch's mind about wanting something from me in return. I know everyone wants me, but I don't trust her.

"Come with me. I have someone who can help you get home quickly." I lead Hailey out of the office, and we go down the back stairs.

"I'm so lucky I found one of the good packs. So many people have been coming after me for these legends. We even had an alpha from a pack come to us yesterday. He said his mate was after me, and he came to us rather than telling her where I was. She sounds like a crazy bitch." I know Hailey is talking about Luka and me, but I don't want to let her know, even as I shake with rage. How dare he speak about me like that?

"She does sound crazy," I say, trying to hide how furious I am. Who does she think she is coming here and speaking like that anyway? She looks ridiculous in her jeans and crop top. Doesn't she know men want women in dresses that show their curves? I take her to the forest, and we stop where I wait for Zaleria's cabin to appear.

"Why are we here?" Hailey asks, looking around nervously. When the cabin appears, I smirk.

"The person in there will help you." She hesitates, but I'm done being nice. I shove her to the door and knock.

"Come in." I spin around because it sounds like Zaleria is standing beside me, but no one is there except Hailey. I open the door, and we step inside. Where's the witch?

"Hello?" I ask, walking further inside. The door slams behind me, and I spin around. Hailey is there with her arms crossed, smirking at me.

"So you want my legends?" I see Hailey speaking, but why does she have Zaleria's voice.

"What's going on?" I ask, looking around again. That witch must be playing tricks on me. Suddenly, Zaleria is standing where Hailey was.

"Did you really think the keeper would fall into your lap that easily? You're even more stupid than I thought." Zaleria walks toward me, and I back up. Why is she looking at me like that?

"Did you do all this just to trick me into coming here? Are you that desperate to be with me?" I ask. Why else would Zaleria want me here? She snorts and shakes her head.

"I never wanted you. Shirley, you're as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. Oh, and I have another surprise for you." Zaleria spins around and is suddenly a petite woman with long strawberry-blonde hair. She's beautiful. How is she doing that?

"Is today magic trick day?" I ask, trying to back up to the door.

"No. I killed Zaleria a couple months ago. My name is Kaida, and I'm a dragon shifter. Now I'm going to show you what we do to people who threaten the daughters of the Moon Goddess." Dread washes over me. Dragon shifters are worse than witches. Their magic is more powerful than any other supernatural being. Not to mention the large fire-breathing dragons they can shift into. What is she talking about? I didn't even know Selene had daughters, so how would I threaten them?

"I never threatened one of her daughters," I argue while inching closer to the door.

"Hailey is one of her daughters. Selene sent her to earth to be born as a human to throw everyone off. You planned to kill her for those legends, but the only one dying is you." Kaida walks toward me with a smile that gives me chills.

"You can't kill me. I'm the luna of the Crimson Moon pack." My argument is weak, but I can't think of anything else.

"You're a werewolf without a wolf, so you're just a pathetic piece of flesh." Kaida blocks me from reaching the door.

"What are you going to do?" I ask, backing away from her. She smiles and opens her mouth wide. I see the flames and feel the heat before the fire touches me. I scream as I fall to the ground, burning alive. My last thought is that I hope Luka and all Selene's daughters burn in hell.

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**Hailey's P.O.V.**

After our training yesterday, I was exhausted. Jessi kept us going for hours, and we were like zombies when we finally ate dinner before falling into bed. She was the only one that seemed unfazed. I was genuinely impressed by how patient she was training everyone. It did crack me up how Wyatt refused to leave her side when she was sparring with some of the men. He glared at them the entire time, daring them to have improper thoughts about his mate.

At breakfast, Jessi wanted to get back to it, but we persuaded her to wait until after lunch. I was already dreading our after-lunch training as we headed to the dining hall. Why did the morning have to go by so quickly? Just as we sit down, we get a mind link.

*"A dragon is flying overhead, and I think it's going to land in the packlands."* Darius mindlinks us. We jump up and run outside. A dragon? Why would a dragon be here?

When we get outside, we see the enormous green dragon circling above us. Jessi comes to my side, holding a sword.

"Have you ever fought a dragon?" I ask her. She shakes her head as it gets closer.

"There's always a first time." Of every warrior we have here and even the men who came with her from the palace, I think she may be the only one who could take on the dragon and win.

We all watch as it gets closer and closer. I can't believe how big it is as it prepares to land. When its paws touch the ground, the dragon disappears, and a beautiful woman stands in its place. She keeps her eyes on Jessi as she smiles.

"I come in peace. My name is Kaida, and as you see, I'm a dragon. Selene sent me here to assist her daughters. I have just left the Crimson Moon pack, and I've taken care of that bitch Shirley, so that's one less headache for you to worry about." She walks closer, and I relax a little.

"How can we be sure you're on our side?" I ask when she comes to a stop a couple yards from us.

"I'll show you." Kaida waves her hands, and suddenly, we see and hear her speaking to my mom. It then switches to her killing Shirley; I can almost smell the burning flesh from the fire. "Is that enough?"

As I prepare to respond, Kaida suddenly freezes and looks toward the packhouse. I turn and see one of our recent additions staring at her with wide eyes. He runs down the steps and stops in front of her before speaking.

"Mate."