Page 4

Chapter Four

Anaki

F or the entire flight, I studied Elena’s condition to give her the best possible care.

If I was going to be on a care team for our future Luna’s family, I was going to be the best. It gave me something to concentrate on and made the darkness fade inside me.

Pouring drinks and listening to everyone else can drag you down.

Not that I didn’t love my job, I was just lost in my own darkness now.

This change of scenery was good. Not to mention helping Locke and Emm.

I was glad to help and be a part of a specific team.

It was long overdue, because our president and the rest of the guys lacked finesse when saving humans.

They didn’t have a personal touch and could have trouble rounding up frightened humans.

It was obvious that Emm hid her family for a reason, and until we knew why, we needed them with us.

Our club and territory were a fortress. Along with Bones and Nadia being medical personnel, they should all be well taken care of.

I’m not sure why they needed me that much, unless they think I will go mother hen, like I did Nadia when she first arrived.

Which I rather enjoyed.

As I crossed the threshold, a celestial force seemed to guide me forward .

It couldn’t be that easy, could it?

This had to be the will of the powerful goddess or the intervention of fate itself that brought me here.

Or Journey…

Upon my entry to the small home, a veil lifted from my mind, dispelling the clouds of despair that had plagued me for years. It was as if the sun itself had come out after decades of darkness, illuminating a path before me with newfound clarity and purpose.

She stood with her head held high, her brown eyes narrowed at us, the people who had come to turn her world upside down. She showed strength and stubbornness in her stance, even with the burdens she carried.

I knew she had a son, with a male who had treated her poorly. Thank the goddess he’s dead, so I didn’t have to hunt him down myself, because she was worth everything.

In that split second, I knew she was worth more than my previous mate ever was, in all the years I stood there pining for them.

She would be worth it. She would be worth pursuing because someone had broken her heart, just like mine had been. I would be the one who would heal her because she was already healing me.

I could feel the exhilarating sensation of my dragon stirring within me, its scales pulsating with energy.

The sight of its shimmering blue and white hues danced vividly in my mind's eye.

Suppressing the urge to fixate on the majestic creature unfurling within, I redirected my focus to the captivating woman standing in front of me.

I laid my hand on Nadia’s shoulder to steady myself and lowered myself to her ear. “Please do the introductions.”

Nadia’s back stiffened. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to speak; we had this thought out, but damnit, I couldn’t. I was stunned into silence .

I could hear Elena’s heart fluttering in her chest; she reacted to me. I puffed out my chest in pride at that.

I focused my gaze on her face, capturing the intricate details of her velvety skin, the delicate freckles sprinkled across her nose, and the faint scar gracefully etched on her lip. A symphony of colors and textures danced before my eyes, as if my vision had heightened.

Elena was shorter in stature than her sister, but still very much of perfect height to have her bury her nose into my throat, to…

Elena threw the cane in her grandmother’s direction. My heart jumped in my chest when I saw her screaming at her. Her grandmother, unphased, grabbed her shoe and was ready to throw it at Elena. My heart leapt in fear when I saw she was about to be struck.

While it was only a shoe, I would allow nothing to strike her. Nothing!

I stepped around Bear, who had blocked half my body, and strode over to Elena, who had no way to hold herself up securely, now.

Elena wobbled and grabbed the table before I arrived. With the gear on my body, I could not touch her with my skin. Curse these fucking gloves.

I carefully scooped her up and settled her into the cozy rocking chair.

As I held her, I could hear the soft rhythm of her heartbeat gradually calming, a soothing melody to my ears.

The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of fresh, clean linen, wafting through my nostrils and filling me with a sense of comfort.

I suppressed a low groan as I took a deep breath, the scent of anticipation filling my nostrils. I could feel the front of my pants constricting, my muscles tensing as my jaw clenched tightly.

Gods above, she was healing me, while she had to sit there in pain.

Hang on, love, I’m going to heal you. Take away all your pain.

I tucked the blanket under her legs and tried to recall all the information I read on the plane about her sickness. Dragons don’t get sick like this, unless it is with magic or when pertaining to a bond.

I felt the heat of her stare while I tried to make her comfortable.

She won’t reject me, will she? She won’t… do what they did to me… will she? No, I refuse to believe that. They were heartless. So far, no second chances have done that, but no other shifter has been in my predicament.

Will she be as accepting of my past? Of what I am?

A trickle of my sweat beaded enough to drip down my temple.

The whistle blew from the kettle, and it was a perfect time to break away. The gear was getting too hot. I craved to get into the water, to feel the coolness against my skin once again.

It was all happening too fast, I couldn’t believe I’d found her.

While my dragon stirred beneath my skin, I asked, as calmly as I could, if anyone wanted any tea. No one seemed to be the wiser as I pulled mugs down from the shelves like I owned the place.

I was good at that, making myself at home. A quirk not everyone appreciated, but I was trying to make the mood light.

I shrugged off my vest and gloves and glanced at Elena, who was staring at everyone else warily.

Pay attention to me.

My dragon lifted his head and yawned. He had full rows of teeth, all appearing to be intact, his tail was swishing, and his long ears were pulled back and twitching, urging me to put my eyes back on the prize.

He hadn’t claimed her, hadn’t seen her yet, but by the gods and the universe, he was pushing.

We were both overwhelmed. It was too good to be true. There had to be a mistake. Was that what Bear felt like when he met Nadia?

I watched as Bear took Elena’s wrist.

I suppressed a guttural, cavernous rasp that was hovering in my throat. My dragon hadn’t seen her eyes yet; once he did, it would be all over. We would have leaped over that chair and taken Bear out for touching what was ours.

I shook my head. Surely not. It was Bear, just making sure she didn’t shoot us. Because if she were anything like her sister, she would.

Which was hot, but I could die right now in my weakened state. So, it was a good idea to take it away.

I swallowed and listened while Elena argued with her abuela in the corner about eating rocks. Secretly, I hope she looked toward me while I poured the hot water into the mugs.

“There is no way you are a vampire,” Luis' voice said, full of skepticism.

“Yes, they are real. Why don’t you touch my fangs?” A smooth voice came from the back of the house. “Come see, don’t be shy.”

I rolled my eyes and pressed my fingers into my eyes. Quillion was going to overstep. The Moonlight Outcasts didn’t kill anyone on this mission, so they were going to toy around with the boy to make Elena make a fuss.

It sounds like they already talked to the grandmother, who is very open to the idea of us being here. Or she found them. She appears to be in everyone’s business.

I’d read her file, she had to be part Wiccan; a human with some magical power, and very in tune with the understanding of bonds. Quillion had already infiltrated the home and rummaged through her books, and had piles of ancient texts on bonds.

At least, the grandmother approved.

It was Elena I would have trouble with. She and the Luna seemed oblivious.

And right now, Quillian was making this more difficult for me, upsetting my mate’s child. This will not bode well for me in the future. Especially, if it will make her body physically hurt.

“Hey! You got some sharp teeth! You really are a vampire! ”

This time, the ruckus was loud enough for Elena to hear.

I heard her suck in a breath, her heart beating fast. She stood up, unsteady on her feet, and I grabbed her arm with my ungloved hand.

She was trembling in rage, but once my hand connected to hers, I felt the jolt of connection I was looking for.

My dragon reared back his head, his bright eyes glowing in the dark recesses of my mind.

He let out a powerful roar, demanding that she pay attention to us.

Her steady footsteps echoed through the room, the sound reverberating against the walls. As she made her way towards the doorway, the soft glow of the hallway beckoned her forward.

Suddenly, a gasp escaped her lips, a mix of astonishment and fear, as Quillion materialized before her. The air seemed to hold a faint scent of musky cologne and dried blood. My nose wrinkled in disgust, remembering the scent from so long ago.

Quillion's flawless complexion glowed under the dim lighting, casting a radiant aura around him. A sinister smile stretched across his face, revealing his sharp, predatory fangs.

“Hello Elena,” he mused as he draped his arm lazily over Luis’ shoulder.

“Get your arm off of him,” she growled and leaned into me.

She leaned into me.

His eyebrows raised. “Huh, she acts like her sister. Good luck to the lot of you, you are going to need it.” He took his arm off of Luis and patted his head. Luis frowned slightly, but he went and hugged his mother after he saw her distraught state.