Page 2 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

“Here’s your cut,” said Roy, the self-proclaimed leader of our small group, as he handed me a single coin. I stared at it, knowing full well the payment for this job had been over thirty coins.

“There must be some mistake,” I said, drawing the attention of my two guildmates. We had just returned from a nearby town where we dealt with a magically infected mushroom outbreak. On a regular day, these kinds of jobs were simple—low-level magic, cast by mages who wanted to bully normal civilians, nothing that normal level adventurers like us couldn’t handle.

But when they both gave me blank stares, I knew exactly how this was going to go. I rolled my eyes, already bracing for the inevitable.

“There’s three of us. It’s only fair we each get ten coins. We all contributed equally, didn’t we?”My voice was steady but laced with frustration as they exchanged a quick glance, one that spoke volumes before Roy finally spoke up. “Look, Sabrina…” he started, rubbing the back of his bald head, a nervous habit when he knew he was about to say something I wouldn’t like. “We can’t split it that way. It wouldn’t be fair to us. I mean… we’re betas, and you’re just an omega.”

The casual way he said it hit me harder than I expected, like my worth could be measured by something so simple as my designation. My hands tightened around the coin, the weight of the unspoken rules between us pressing down even heavier than before.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I growled, my fingers twitching toward the dagger strapped to my hip. I couldn’t let my anger take over, not if I wanted to avoid being kicked out of yet another guild. As an unmated omega without an Alpha to vouch for me, finding guilds willing to accept me had already been a struggle.

Roy’s eyes flicked to my hand, his jaw tightening. “Easy, Sabrina,” he said, raising his palms in a placating gesture. “No need to make this a bigger deal than it is.”

My grip hovered just above the hilt, my heart pounding in my chest. “A bigger deal? You think cheating me out of my share is no big deal?”

The other guildmate, Jax, shifted uncomfortably but stayed silent, not wanting to get caught in the middle. Typical.

Roy took a step forward, his voice softening like he was trying to calm a wild animal. “It’s just how things work, alright? You knew this when you signed up. Omegas… you’re not like us. You should be grateful we let you join at all.”

My blood boiled. Grateful? I clenched my jaw, my knuckles white against the dagger. “If I hadn’t fought just as hard—no, harder—you two would still be neck-deep in that mushroom mess.”

Roy’s smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. “It’s not about the fight. It’s about our designations. ”

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong. In Earis, omegas were always seen as the weaker, more fragile ones. Of the three designations, Alphas were at the top. Known for their dominant nature, quick tempers, and fierce protectiveness, they were expected to defend and claim what belonged to them. Omegas, on the other hand—although rare—were seen as the opposite: gentle, nurturing, and natural peacekeepers.

By the time omegas reached adulthood, they weren’t supposed to be unmated. Society believed that omegas, being biologically weaker, needed an Alpha to provide for them, to care for them. Betas, the most common status, were seen as the standard, the baseline of normal. They didn’t experience heats or ruts, nor did they release pheromones.

I closed my hand around the coin and shoved it into my pocket. I still had enough to get by for the month. I’d let it slide this time. Finding quests that accepted omegas was hard enough, and finding guildmates willing to work with one was even harder.

“Don’t count on me saving your sorry ass next time,” I muttered, turning to leave. All I wanted now was a warm bath. I was covered in possessed mushroom slime, and I needed to wash it off—fast.

As I walked away, the sound of Roy grumbling something under his breath barely registered. I was too tired to care. My boots squelched against the muddy ground, the stench of the mushroom slime clinging to me like a curse. I cringed, desperately needing to scrub every inch of my skin clean. The streets of the town were quiet, the sun already sinking behind the hills, casting long shadows over the worn cobblestones.

I reached the inn, my temporary home between missions, and pushed the door open with more force than necessary. Alina, the barkeep, gave me a quick glance, but said nothing. She had let me rent a room at the inn, even though it was against the rules. I think she felt sorry for me, but that didn’t mean she liked me. It cost me twice the usual price—her way of having some leverage. I headed straight for the stairs, not bothering to speak to her .

The moment I stepped into my room, I peeled off my slime covered clothes, tossing them carelessly to the floor. I’d deal with cleaning it later. Right now, all that mattered was the steaming bath waiting behind the door. The water welcomed me, its warmth sinking deep into my aching muscles. As the grime washed away, so did some of the frustration.

But not all of it.

The unfairness of it all gnawed at me. Betas like Roy could walk through life without ever questioning their place, while I, just for being an omega, had to prove my worth ten times over just to scrape by. Truth was, I was an anomaly for not being mated to an alpha yet. I leaned my head back, letting the water soothe me, but deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be enough to drown out the growing resentment.

When I finally forced myself to step out of the bath, the chill in the air wrapped around me like a reminder of the reality I couldn’t escape. I dried off, pulling on my worn clothes before heading to the small room I called my own.

The room was as simple as they came, just a bed, a wooden chair, and a window overlooking the quiet street below. But it was mine. And it was a space where I didn’t have to pretend or prove anything to anyone. I shut the door behind me and sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a long, weary sigh.

I reached for my medicine bag, my fingers trembling slightly as I pulled out the small bottle of suppressants. My lifeline. Without them, I’d be vulnerable and exposed. The moment my scent broke free, it would be like blood in the water. Alphas would come out of the end of the world, drawn to me like predators. I shuddered at the thought, quickly popping the pill into my mouth.

I couldn’t let that happen. Not again.

It wasn’t just fear, it was survival. An unmated omega could throw an entire village into chaos with nothing more than their scent. Omegas had become so rare, so coveted, and not for any reason that felt remotely human. It wasn’t about love, or care, or connection. It was about possession. Status. Power. To them, we weren’t people. We were trophies. Breeding stock. Something valuable to be traded or claimed, passed from one hand to another like an expensive gem, shiny and hollow inside.

The very thought of it turned my stomach.

I swallowed hard; the pill sliding down my throat with a bitterness that had nothing to do with its taste. I wasn’t an object. I wouldn’t be reduced to some prize for an Alpha’s ego. But it didn’t matter what I thought, did it? In their eyes, I was just an omega.

Just another piece of property waiting to be claimed.

I clenched the medicine bag in my hand, hating how much I needed it. How much my survival depended on keeping myself hidden, on suppressing every part of who I was just to stay free. But what other choice did I have? Without these pills, I’d lose everything.

My mind threatened to wander back, to places I’d spent years trying to bury. But tonight, I refused to waste another hour alone in this empty, drafty room, wallowing in self-pity. I’d just come back from a grueling, thankless mission—not much glory, not much gold—not much of anything, really. Shrugging on my frayed, well-worn coat, I headed out, feeling the familiar weight of its fabric like a piece of armor.

???

The guild’s bar was a noisy, lively place. Adventurers of all kinds gathered here after completing quests, swapping stories, and spending their hard-earned coins on ale and food. The smell of roasted meat and the sound of clinking mugs filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the usual loneliness of my small room, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the noise.

The warm, honeyed scent of mead filled the guild hall as I sat at one of the long wooden tables, cradling the bottle I’d just bought. The laughter and chatter of the other guild members buzzed around me, a comforting backdrop to the thoughts swirling in my mind. I’d been looking forward to this moment—a taste of mead, something I’d heard about but never indulged in.

I uncorked the bottle, took a sip, and let the sweet, rich flavor wash over my tongue. It was as good as they said, maybe even better. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the simple pleasure; the warmth spreading through me like the crackling hearth at the far end of the hall.

Then reality came crashing down. I’d been so confident I’d make ten coins from my last job that I forgot Roy and Jax had swindled me. I reached for my coin pouch. My fingers brushed against the nearly empty leather, and my heart sank. With a sense of dread, I tipped the pouch into my hand, counting the last few coins.

“Six coins,” I muttered under my breath.

I’d spent nearly everything on the mead, and now I was left with barely enough to get by. I stared down at the bottle, the amber liquid glistening inside, mocking me with its indulgence. What had I been thinking? As an unclaimed omega, I should have known better. I’ve always been careful, always frugal, knowing that most jobs require Alphas or Betas. I’d let my guard down, let myself indulge just this once, and now I was paying the price.

“Damn it, Sabrina,” I whispered to myself, frustration bubbling up inside me. I couldn’t afford to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I needed coins, and I needed them fast.

There was only one solution: I had to take on a quest. And not just any quest—a decent one that would refill my purse and keep me from scraping by on coppers.

I pushed myself up from the table, the mead bottle still in my hand, and made my way across the guild hall. The quest board was mounted on the wall near the entrance, a familiar sight that had always held a sense of promise. As I approached, I scanned the parchments pinned there, looking for something that could turn my luck around .

As expected, most of the jobs required alphas, or were too dangerous for the payout, or too trivial to bother with. But then, near the bottom of the board, I spotted a notice that caught my eye.

URGENT.

Needed help with hatchlings.

No Alphas .

The reward wasn’t extravagant, but it was enough to keep me afloat for a while.

“Fifty coins for being a babysitter? Perfect,” I murmured, pulling the notice from the board. It was straightforward enough, and if I moved quickly, I could complete it before anyone else claimed it.

I folded the notice and slipped it into my pocket, feeling a small spark of excitement. Fifty coins would be more than enough to cover my expenses for the week, maybe even enough to treat myself to a proper meal for once. Babysitting some dragon hatchlings sounded almost too easy, but I wasn’t going to complain. Besides, how dangerous could a few baby dragons be?

I scanned the room, looking for the one who posted the request. Zephyr, the notice had said. The name was unfamiliar, but then again, I didn’t really mingle with dragons. They usually kept to themselves unless they needed something from us. That was fine by me—dragons were often too unpredictable and too violent. The Dragon Wars was a good example of that.

I spotted him at the back of the bar, sitting alone at a large table that seemed to have been cleared just for him. Even sitting down, he was hard to miss. His presence was overwhelming, like a smoke cloud that had drifted into the room. His long, dark red hair framed a sharp, angular face with eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. The air around him seemed to crackle with restrained power, and I could tell immediately that this was no ordinary dragon.

Oh.

I felt a deep pull on my lower belly when my eyes met my future employer’s pale green eyes. He was definitely an alpha—as if his entire appearance didn’t give it away already. Even while seated, I could tell he was tall—likely taller than half the men in the guild—with a broad build, muscular shoulders. I swallowed hard as my eyes landed on his bulging biceps beneath his white linen shirt. He sat there, arms crossed, staring at me intently. He was an alpha, alright.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog that had clouded my mind, a lingering effect of the immense power radiating from this dragon. If I wanted this job, I had to pull myself together. There was no way I could fall into the omega stereotype now. Bracing myself, I walked towards him, who watched me with a deep serious expression.

“I’m here for the job.” I slammed the parchment paper on the bar table in front of him, trying to appear confident, hoping that he hadn’t smelled the slightly submissive scent that was coming off me. I did take suppressants to prevent this kind of involuntary reaction, and it was rare for me to respond this way to other alphas. But sometimes the pheromones given off by an alpha could be stronger than suppressants.

As an omega, it was in my nature for my body to react to their pheromones, which was often dangerous because an alpha could easily make an omega go into heat—and once an omega goes into heat, they become vulnerable to the world. However, since I had been short on money for awhile, I had been taking my suppressants irregularly, which was a practice that could lead to dangerous reactions, making the omega a ticking time bomb.

I knew the risks, but I had no choice—jobs that accepted omegas were rare and usually paid poorly. That was exactly why I needed to succeed in this mission. With the kind of money it promised, I could be set for at least a few months, if I lived frugally.

“I've taken jobs as a caretaker before and I’m good with kids. I’m an omega, so it’s part of our nature.” I shrugged, trying not to shake under his intense stare. I didn’t know much about dragons. They were notorious for their reclusive nature, especially since the Dragon Wars, when they withdrew even further from the world around them .

The dragon looked confused. “Caretaker?” His voice was deep and gruff, and when he spoke, I could see his pointy canines, reminding me that he was a predator by nature. That if he wanted, he could tear me apart with those sharp teeth.

“Yeah, for the babysitter job? Are you not looking for someone to take care of your baby dragons?” Now, I was the one confused.

“Baby dragons? Is that what you thought?” he asked, looking perplexed, taking a long gulp from his drink, which, judging by the scent, was an incredibly strong liquor. It had the rich smell of something expensive. I glanced down at my mead, feeling a twinge of regret and guilt. It had cost me my last coins while he drank his liquor with carefree abandon.

“That’s what the request sounded like,” I said, trying not to sound on the defensive, feeling my face heat up in embarrassment. “A delicate job, something that required care and attention. And as an omega, I’m usually good with that kind of thing.”

“You weren’t entirely wrong,” he said, avoiding my gaze and maintaining his pale green eyes firmly on his drink when he continued. “But there’s no baby dragons.”

I frowned, trying to piece together what this man was saying. “Then what is it about?” I asked.

He leaned over the table, closing the distance between us, and his scent enveloped me, forcing me to battle the delightful dizziness it brought. It was intoxicating—warm like a cup of apple cider, with a subtle smokiness that hinted at a campfire just burned down, leaving behind the rich, charred scent of wood and a faint metallic note reminiscent of blood. It was both powerful and alluring.

I could feel my omega stirring within me, eager to submit and offer my neck for his claim. His pale green eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, my heart raced in my chest, fearing he could see through to my deepest feelings.

“The thing is, my lady.” He paused once more, gauging my reaction to the term as if uncertain about using that title. I was no lady; that much was clear from the fraying threads of my old dark blue coat, my simple white blouse and dark pants. “I don’t know if you’re strong enough for this job.”

He might have thrown a bucket of iced water on my face with that statement. I felt my face heat with embarrassment and anger; I couldn’t stand being underestimated by alphas and betas alike. I was already running low on patience after being swindled by those damn betas. I was exhausted.

“First of all, my name is Sabrina, not ‘ lady ,’” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “And why on earth would you assume I’m not strong enough for a low-rank job that accepts omegas? What makes you think I’m weak, alpha?” I challenged, my words dripping with defiance as I fought to reclaim my dignity.

His green eyes sparkled with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher as he gazed down at me. “Alright, Sabrina.” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. For a moment, I was captivated by his veiny, muscular arms. My gaze traveled from his arms to his strong, elongated neck, and finally to his full lips, which seemed to hold an unspoken challenge. When I met his eyes again, I found them fixed intently on me, an eyebrow arched in amusement. “You look frail; you don’t have the body of a warrior.”

He completely ignored the heat rising in my cheeks from being caught admiring him. My heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and indignation swirling within me as I fought to regain my composure.

A pulse of annoyance throbbed in my head. “And how any of that matters—”

“I need an omega to help me rebuild my clan and give me an heir,” he interrupted, his voice steady but laced with a vulnerability that caught me off guard.

I laughed nervously, thinking it was a joke—a very bad one—but still. However, by the deep frown of his eyebrows, I knew he was serious. The air seemed to leave the room, and I felt like I was drowning in the weight of his words.

Of course, the job asked for an omega.

Omegas were biologically suited to bond with shifters of any kind. When Omegas went into heat, the pull was irresistible to both the omega and the alpha, making it easier for conception .

I rolled my eyes at him. Typical . It was so typical of alphas to come to a small guild and try to buy an omega for their perverse needs. “Did you seriously post a quest for sex? Why? A big dragon like you can’t find his own partner without resorting to this?”

He cringed at my words, bringing one of his hands to pinch the bridge of his nose, as if I had just given him a headache. “Please, it’s not like that.”

“Well, it is exactly what it sounds like, buddy,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. He looked somewhat taken aback by my response, as if he wasn’t used to people speaking back to him. Hell, given that he was an alpha and a dragon, he probably wasn’t. But I’d dealt with enough Alphas who acted as if I should lick the floor they walked on. I wasn’t afraid of him. Even if he seemed capable of snapping my spine in half with a single move.

At least he had the grace to look slightly ashamed. “This isn’t about…sex.” He winced as if the word itself offended him. What? Was he an asexual alpha? That would be a first. But when he spoke again, I was once again caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone. “I'm the leader of my clan and the last dragon of my bloodline. My council has been pressing me to find a mate and rebuild the clan for years.”

“Then just find a dragon omega and marry them. What’s the problem?” I almost laughed at his horrified expression at my suggestion. For such a big dragon, he had a surprisingly cute side.

“I’m not…” He struggled to find the right words. “I don’t have time for relationships. My clan suffered many losses during the war, and we’re not as stable as I would like us to be. But my council won’t let me do my job as long as I am without a mate or an heir. I’m the last alpha of my family; that burden falls on me.” I stared at him, observing the frustration that had taken over his shoulders.

I could see the weight of his responsibilities in his eyes, the strain imprinted into every line of his face. It was clear he was not just grappling with the council’s demands, but with the immense pressure of his role. The frustration was not just with me, but with the entire situation that had him cornered.

Here was this alpha bearing his motives to an omega that he didn’t even know.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked, my voice softer than before, as I tried to understand the depths of his struggle.

He sighed deeply, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Because I need someone who understands what’s at stake. And because, despite everything, I need to find a solution that doesn’t just serve my clan’s interests but also… aligns with what’s right for me.”

I could sense a flicker of vulnerability beneath his tough exterior, and it was in that moment that I realized this wasn’t just about duty or tradition—it was about finding a way to reconcile personal desires with the heavy burdens of leadership.

“Maybe there’s a way to do both,” I suggested, trying to offer some hope. He had stirred my sympathy—who knew I could feel that way toward an alpha? “Maybe you can fulfill your obligations while still finding someone who truly matters to you.”

He looked at me, a mixture of hope and skepticism in his clear green eyes. “Maybe. But I don’t have time for that. At least, not yet.”

“And if I accept…” I said after a long pause. “Will I be free to leave after giving you an heir?”

“You’ll be free to leave after giving birth. But you’re also welcome to stay and pretend to be my mate if you wish.” His tone was steady, as if he had rehearsed this many times in his mind. “I’m not looking for a wife. I just want the council to let me do my job as the clan’s leader without treating me like a child,” he admitted, a hint of frustration slipping through his, so far, controlled demeanor.

His honesty struck something deep within me. It wasn’t just the burden of leadership weighing him down—it was the isolation that came with it. I had never thought much about what an alpha like him went through, especially one tasked with rebuilding a broken clan.

I crossed my arms, trying to process everything. “So, what you’re saying is, you need me to be your mate..but it’s just a role. A facade to keep your council off your back?”

His green eyes met mine, unblinking. “Yes,” he said simply. “But it wouldn’t be just that. You’d have a place within my clan. You wouldn’t be tied down, but you wouldn’t be alone, either.”

A part of me bristled at the idea of being used for appearances, even if he wasn’t demanding more from me. But there was another part, a quieter voice in the back of my mind, that felt an odd sense of understanding. I had spent most of my life being overlooked, treated as if my worth was tied to my status as an omega. He was offering me a different kind of arrangement—one where I had a choice. I studied him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of deceit or hidden intentions. But all I saw was a man caught between duty and desire, trying to find a solution to an impossible situation.

It all sounded too good to be true, and I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me. The thought of being bound to a dragon alpha was a terrifying prospect. The part of me that craved freedom, that feared being trapped in one place for too long, screamed louder than any temptation.

“Sorry, big dragon,” I muttered, standing up from my seat. His eyes widened, as if he couldn’t quite believe I was walking away from him. I couldn’t quite believe I was walking away from that much gold either. But I wasn’t about to second-guess myself. “It’s a no from me.”

I heard him call out after me, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Wait...wait a second!” But I didn’t pause. I turned on my heel, leaving the bar without a glance back. I could almost feel the pull of his presence—his warm wooden scent trailing behind me, like a shadow I couldn’t outrun. But I kept walking, pretending not to notice as he followed.