Page 2 of Bound to the Dragon (Wild Fated Shifters #3)

I have little choice but to follow him onto the driveway.

I’m appalled to find my knees shaking.

Get it together, Madison.

I’ve endured way worse than this. It’s only a business arrangement. If it’s not the Alpha of Shadow Pine, it will be someone else. At least this way, I’m mating with someone in power, and with that, I will have some of my own power

“I was expecting you an hour ago.”

A tall, attractive brunet pushes his way through the front of the group, his amber-green eyes flashing with irritation. He’s exactly as I remember him from the full moon party, maybe even more handsome up close now that I’m looking at him with different eyes.

I check out his broad shoulders and rippling muscles as he scowls at us, heat rising up the back of my neck.

Inadvertently, I fixate on his full lips, trying to imagine what it might be like to kiss them, and I’m instantly embarrassed at the randomness of the thought, especially when Blaze is acting like such a jerk.

“Were you?” Jessup lowers his head in contrition. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t realize you were waiting on us. Granger didn’t mention a specific time.”

Blaze’s face darkens more. “Where is your Alpha?”

He barely looks at me, as if I’m one of the pieces of luggage sitting next to the car.

“He had other matters to attend to in the territory, but he sends his regards and assures you that he’ll be here for the ceremony on Friday.”

“He damn well better be.” Blaze’s frown creases his face so severely that I can see every line on his angular features.

Was he always this good-looking? I remember him being so forgettable the last time we met. Now he seems almost alluring. Or maybe I’m so anxious for his approval that I’m seeing him differently.

For the first time, he peers at me, his hazel irises raking over me with so much intensity, I feel like he’s reading into my soul.

My pulse quickens under his intense stare.

Why is he looking at me like a bug under a microscope?

It’s not like he doesn’t know what I look like.

We’ve met before. Maybe he doesn’t remember?

That would be disappointing.

What if he rejects me? That’s a thought that never crossed my mind, and blood drains out of my face. Granger would be furious if I returned to the territory, rebuked and rejected.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “Don’t you remember me?”

Beside me, Jessup inhales sharply.

Blaze’s eyes widen at my blunt question, and I wish I could take it back. Me and my big mouth. Hadn’t I just spent the entire car ride willing myself to behave? To be demure and likable?

“What?” His hazel eyes narrow.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You haven’t said a word.” He cocks his head. “I was wondering if you were mute.”

I’m growing more offended by the second. “You know I’m not mute. We’ve met before.”

A spark of interest ignites in the back of his eyes, but instead of responding to me, he turns to his enforcers. “Get her bags and put them in her suite.”

He hesitates. “And search her for any weapons.”

Insulted, I gawk at Jessup, who gives me a warning look, forcing me to keep my mouth closed. But it takes every fiber of my being to do that.

Glancing back at me, Blaze avoids my eyes. “Dinner is at six sharp. Don’t be late.”

Without waiting for a response, he stalks back toward the house, leaving me alone on the lawn with Jessup.

“Dinner is at six,” I mimic in Blaze’s voice. “What is this? A boarding school?”

“Just try and follow the rules, will you?”

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

“Maddi—”

I throw up my hands. “That’s it then?”

“Behave yourself.”

“I am behaving myself,” I retort. “He’s treating me like a possession.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, I realize that’s exactly what I am.

“You’re not exactly ingratiating yourself to him.”

I stare balefully at Jessup, but I hold back the response bubbling to the surface. It won’t matter what I say to Jessup or anyone else about it. My opinion won’t matter to anyone, even with all that I know. But it should.

The Beta starts to unload the car with the help of Blaze’s enforcers, and I stand idly back, taking in the surroundings that are about to become my new home.

It’s beautiful, I’ll give the Alpha that. I want so much to love it, to look at it with the awe-filled eyes of a naive, young shifter.

I could get used to the splendor of Shadow Pine territory.

It has always been one of the loveliest areas of Texas, even prettier than where I’m from.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to be here.

No amount of sprawling landscape will take away from the fact that this entire mating union is a sham.

But I suppose I should thank the gods for small favors. Blaze could be some kind of troll, some hideous beast, not the tall, chiseled male that he is.

We’ll make attractive heirs for his pack, assuming Blaze ever touches me.

Gauging by the look in his eyes, he has no more interest in this arrangement than I do. But eventually, he’ll have to if he ever wants his baby Alphas to take over his lineage.

A fusion of anger and excitement overtakes me at the thought of having sex with him. I’ve never been so conflicted in my life.

“Come on.” Jessup gestures for me to follow him toward the house.

I hesitate, mustering my courage, but there isn’t time.

I have to follow or be left behind. My eyes trail back toward the house, and the flutter of a curtain catches my attention.

The person behind it is gone before I can get a proper glimpse, but I fully suspect that it was Blaze watching us from the second-story window.

Why didn’t he just see us in if he was going to watch anyway?

What the hell am I getting myself into? Am I going to have to watch my back everywhere around here?

The enforcers silently lead us through the massive front hall, and I check out the exquisite furnishings as we move.

Either Blaze has an amazing interior decorator, or he has a better eye for design than I expected from him. His place is stunning, and that awe I was expecting earlier overtakes me now. The exterior did not do the interior justice.

The winding staircase leads us up into the east wing, and I feel like we’ve been walking for half an hour before landing in front of a pair of pristine white double doors.

“This will be your suite.” The enforcer opens the brass handles and leaves my bags inside without stepping in. “You should find everything you need here, but there is a direct line to the kitchen. They’ll be able to help you if you can think of anything else.”

“And the Alpha?” I demand. “Where’s my direct line to him?”

The enforcer stares at me blankly. “He’ll call on you as he needs you.”

My stomach drops at the cold response, but Jessup steps in before I can demand to know what the hell that means.

“Thank you,” Jessup interjects smoothly. “That’s everything.”

The Beta steers me inside the room and closes the door.

Like the rest of the house, the suite is gorgeous, complete with a fully equipped sitting room, including a writing table, television, and balcony.

To the left, the bedroom door sits ajar, but I don’t bother checking it out.

I’m sure there’s a huge bed and bathroom in there.

The air carries a rich, woodsy fragrance that makes the room feel unexpectedly cozy, though I refuse to let my guard down.

“Am I staying here after the mating ceremony, or will I be sharing a suite with the Alpha?”

Jessup has no answer for me, but why would he? He doesn’t know how things work here in Shadow Pine. Each pack runs things in its own way, each Alpha doing things as they see fit for their groups.

“It’s not going to be so bad, Maddi.” He’s trying to sound reassuring, but the words reek of pity to me.

I take out my frustration on Jessup because he’s the only one in earshot. “Why are you still here? I’m settled. Run back home and tell Granger you did your job.”

“Maddi—”

“Just go, Jessup. I’m fine. I’m doing my duty. I’ll see you back here for the ceremony, okay?”

He looks like he wants to say something else, but he changes his mind at the last minute. “Try to remember why you’re doing this.”

I snort and see him to the door. “Thanks for the ride and the unsolicited advice.”

He grimaces again, and I close the door in his face, locking it behind him. I collapse on the settee. A giant sigh shudders through my body, tears burning behind my eyes.

But I won’t let myself cry. I am stronger than this. It won’t be so bad. Blaze will warm up to me, and I will warm up to him. We just need to spend some time together, get to know one another. Or at least that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself.

I will secure our pack and theirs with this union, as matings do. A mating between packs always strengthens a bond, and an heir for Shadow Pine will enhance Blaze’s standing in his pack.

As long as they don’t know the truth behind what happened when my father was Beta.

No one needs to know that their Alpha mated with such a deceitful territory.

Blaze can never learn the truth about how we gained our power, or this whole arrangement will crumble.

All this weight on my shoulders. I have to grin and bear it.

A gentle knock on the door shatters my moment of self-pity.

Squaring my shoulders, I take a deep breath and stand. “Who is it?”

“Miss Madison, my name is Lillian. I’m your personal assistant.”

Reluctantly, I open the door and find myself face-to-face with a stunning staff member, her blue eyes cast downward. “May I help you unpack?”

“I don’t need any help.” The words roll off my lips before I can stop them.

But they’re futile. She’s coming in whether or not I want her to.

“I’m not to leave your side,” she informs me.

My eyes narrow at her wording, “On whose orders?”

She pales at the question. “Miss, I’m your assistant.”

“I don’t need any help.” I don’t know why I’m arguing. Naturally, the Alpha would provide his future Luna with assistance.

The sooner I embrace my new role, the easier this will be.

She gawks at me helplessly, and I steel myself from taking out any more of my anger on her. It’s not her fault, and not allowing her to stay is only going to make things worse and possibly get her in trouble.

“Fine,” I agree reluctantly. “You can wait here.”

I gesture for Lillian to sit in the front room. She looks around uncomfortably, as if she’d rather not be left sitting here but doesn’t know how to handle the dismissal well.

“Dinner is in about an hour. Would you like help picking something to wear? The Alpha is particular about dinner attire.”

I bet he is. I bet he’s particular about everything.

I almost refuse, but I stop myself. I need to play along if I want this to work. Blaze is going to have to like me, and I want to like him, too.

“Okay,” I agree. “I haven’t started unpacking yet, though.”

Eagerly, Lillian steps forward. “I can help you with that.”

I relent and allow her to assist me in bringing the bags into the neighboring bedroom.

It defies my expectations. A huge, canopied bed sits in the center of the room, enshrouded in sheer curtains.

The window sits open, allowing for a succulent breeze to filter through, bringing through wafts of bluebonnets.

A giant armoire sits next to the balcony doors, and on the opposite wall, a bathroom door sits open. As Lillian opens my bags, I keep one eye on her and explore the bathroom suite. A double jacuzzi tub takes up the far wall, against a one-way glass overlooking the fields beyond.

The enforcer hadn’t been kidding about the room having everything I needed. I can’t think of one luxury that isn’t at my disposal between the double sinks and lines of expensive soaps. There’s nothing missing as far as I can see, and I look hard.

Blaze’s staff has taken care of everything.

On the surface, this place is everything I need, but in my heart, I know it can’t be. I’m not home, with my pack, my family, where I belong. A deep pang of melancholy pierces my heart, and I’m almost brought to my knees.

“Miss Madison?”

Lillian appears in the doorway of the bathroom, and I collect myself as she holds out one of my favorite blue dresses. “Will this suffice for dinner tonight?”

I envision myself walking down the stairs in the slinky cobalt dress, hugging my every curve. Will that get Blaze to look at me with anything other than those disdainful eyes? I doubt it.

He doesn’t want this union any more than I do. Probably less so. I am mating up. He’s mating down, even if it will ensure he bears an heir.

I nod. “Yes, that will do.”

I turn back to take in my reflection in the oval glass mirrors over the sink.

My solemn brown eyes peer back at me intently.

Once, they had been filled with so much optimism, so much hope for the future.

Now they’re faded to a near black. There is no light left in them.

Not since my father and Granger had ruined my faith in the pack.

My loyalty to them is unwavering, but I can’t help but remember how we achieved the status we have.

“Miss Madison, your dress is laid out for you.”

I turn away from the glass to dress for my evening affair.

This is my life now. Abiding by my Alpha’s requests.

And now it’s dinnertime.