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

BLAZE

I hate every moment of preparing for this union, and I have since the moment it was proposed to me at a council meeting, more than two months ago.

What the hell had possessed me to agree to mate with this female? The elders had been in consensus that I needed a mate, and that time was running out for me to bring an heir into the crumbling pack dynamic.

Of course, I know the answer to my own question.

It’s necessary to secure our pack’s unstable future. The rogue faction wreaking havoc has made everything more difficult, and we need a show of solidarity.

The infertility curse plaguing our bloodline is only making things worse—no Alpha in our pack has successfully produced an heir since my great-grandfather.

When he died childless, his nephew took over.

Then another nephew, then another. For three generations, the Alpha position has passed sideways through the family because no one could produce sons.

I’m the first direct descendant to claim the Alpha position in three generations, but only through my grandmother’s line—which means I still carry the same cursed blood. No one in our pack has shown any promise in breaking the streak.

And that is why I have to look outside Shadow Pine for new blood.

The pack elders keep records of bloodline magic going back generations. Crow shifters have ancient fertility magic that can rebirth what dragons have lost. And that is why mating with this crow shifter is necessary.

Her lineage could break the curse plaguing my dragon lineage.

I could have done worse than Madison. She is beautiful, with those dark bedroom eyes and mane of black hair, although I would have preferred a stronger mate.

A mere crow shifter doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in me.

She’s no warrior, that’s for certain, but at least she’s easy on the eyes.

But her animal form won’t do much good if we go into battle.

I vaguely recall meeting her at that full moon party, but she struck me like so many other females did.

Flighty, distant, undisciplined. It was no wonder she hadn’t made that much of an impression on me that time, but looking at her on the driveway of my estate, I had a hard time looking away from her.

And it wasn’t just because of her ethereal prettiness.

Dropping back against the high back of my office chair, I lose my gaze in the flickering light of the flames from the fireplace. Usually, I find peace in the sanctity of fire, but my mind is too restless this evening. With Madison’s floor above me, I’m distracted.

A part of me wants to have her dine alone and avoid her entirely until the ceremony, but what good will that do? It’s better to get it over with and spend the time with her now. Sooner or later, we have to get to know one another.

I’m stuck with her whether or not I avoid her.

Smothering a grunt of dissatisfaction, I rise to dress for dinner, striding across the thick carpeting toward the heavy oak doors and finding my house manager on the other side of the threshold.

I barely look at him as I pass. “Any issues with the newcomer?”

“No, Alpha. Lillian is with her now. She seems to be settling in well.”

She better be. I’d spared no expense setting up her suite. I don’t have time to listen to a spoiled brat nagging about some forgotten luxury. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder how she’s faring up there, all by herself, without even one of her pack members to help her get settled.

I’m surprised no one came with her. It wasn’t against my wishes. I hadn’t forbidden anyone from coming with her, but she had shown up alone, anyway. Was that because she has no friends, or because she doesn’t trust me? Both thoughts bother me equally. It makes me wonder who I let into my house.

In a few days, her entire pack will be here to keep her company, and maybe one of them can stay after the ceremony so she has someone familiar nearby.

I head up the back stairs to the west wing, my private section of the house, and enter the bedroom to change into a proper suit and tie.

I wouldn’t admit it, but it’s nice to have someone to share a meal with for once.

Except for the occasional enforcer or council dinners, most of my meals are spent alone.

That doesn’t mean that they need to be done improperly, though.

My father, who knew I’d be the Alpha of Shadow Pine one day, had been a stickler for details like this. I consider what he would have to say about Madison and this whole mating arrangement. He would have wanted to see me mated, to see more heirs for the pack.

Of that I’m certain. Even on his deathbed, he asked about heirs.

It’s a moot thought. My father had always done what needed to be done for the pack. He would endorse this union and tell me to suck up whatever feelings I have about it.

If it’s for the good of the pack, then it must be done.

Snapping on a pair of silver cuff links, I give myself a final once-over in the mirror and run a hand through my chestnut hair.

No grey yet, no lines—remarkable considering the stress of losing my father and all the pack’s recent troubles.

But I’m only thirty, so it’s not surprising.

The issues will catch up with me eventually.

For now, I’ll just take it one day at a time.

Retreating from the west wing, I make my way toward the staircase and freeze.

Madison emerges from her suite in the east wing, well across the way in a long, form-fitting gown.

Every piece of the blue fabric clings to her petite but curvy frame.

Her ebony hair lies loosely over bare shoulders, taking me aback for a moment. She’s breathtaking.

At least she’ll look good on my arm.

Quickly, I avert my eyes before she can catch me staring and hurry down the stairs, but my pulse hasn’t resumed its normal rate after seeing Madison in such a made-up state. I wasn’t expecting to see her like that.

The dining hall is lit with candlelight, the chandelier set to the lowest level, and the scent of dinner sweeps through the swinging doors as the staff hustles back and forth in last-minute preparations.

I take my seat at the head of the table and lay the linen napkin on my lap, keeping my eye purposely averted from the doorway as Madison slips inside, her assistant a respectable distance behind her.

I personally picked Lillian to manage the future Luna.

As unassuming as she appears, she is one of the sharpest staff members I have in my house.

Her powers of observation are unparalleled, and if there’s an issue, she’ll figure it out without my eyes on Madison, and she’ll report back to me with everything I need to know.

Madison sits at the far end of the table, casting me an uneasy look.

“Have you settled in sufficiently?” I feel like it’s the first question I’ve asked her since she arrived, and a spark of guilt ignites inside me.

Her dark eyebrow rises as if she’s holding back what she really wants to say. I can tell by the flash of her dark eyes, but for some reason, she’s keeping herself in check. A part of me appreciates it, but another part wants her to say what she’s thinking. Or do I?

“Define sufficiently,” she finally says. It’s not the way she says it so much as the way she’s looking at me that sets me off.

My nostrils flare. “Do you not know what the word sufficiently means? I think there’s a dictionary in the library. Maybe Lillian can take you there later.”

She scoffs and sits back, folding her arms over her chest, causing the swell of her cleavage to mount more. I can’t help but stare at the creamy flesh of her breasts as her skin turns red.

“I know what it means. I just don’t know…” She trails off and inhales. “This isn’t my home.”

Here we go. She’s already complaining, and she just got here.

I grit my teeth as the staff watches us like a tennis match, though they remain against the wall, unmoving otherwise.

“If there’s something you need, you can inform Lillian, and she’ll see that you get it. I’ve done everything to ensure you have everything you want.”

Madison slides her napkin onto her lap without answering, and one of the staff members approaches to fill her wine glass.

“Well?” I prompt when she doesn’t respond.

Her head tilts upward. “Well, what?”

“Do you need something?”

A smirk touches her lips, and I notice for the first time how full they are.

She truly is exquisite, despite her terrible attitude. Our children will be beautiful. Hopefully, they will take after me in the matter of personality, but I won’t mind so much if they look like her. At least one of them.

I find myself getting a little excited at the idea of making children with this feisty spitfire, despite her manners.

She doesn’t respond to my question, her eyes averted as if she’s again wrestling with her innermost thoughts, and her silence irks me as much as her answers possibly could.

The swinging doors from the kitchen open, and the chef brings two cloche-covered plates out.

He nods at us in greeting before setting my meal in front of me first and rounding the table to serve Madison her dinner.

A scowl forms on her face as she’s served second, and I catch it before she can hide it.

My hand tightens around my fork. “This is my house. I am the Alpha.”

“I didn’t say anything,” she protests, her luminous dark eyes widening innocently. Her feigned guilelessness only angers me more.

Our eyes clash across the table, neither one of us yielding as the chef stands next to the table, waiting for us to sample his dish.

“Er…” He clears his throat delicately. “Tonight’s dinner is a honey-glazed salmon, lightly dusted in smoked paprika and fresh garlic.”

Grimacing, I take a bite of the fish and allow the velvety texture to melt on my tongue. “It’s good.”

The chef grins with relief and glances at Madison, who bobs her head approvingly. “It’s very good. Thank you.”

The chef appears surprised by her expression of gratitude. “I’m glad you like it. It’s my job, Miss.”

“Not everyone does their job well.” The underlying jab doesn’t go unnoticed, and my appetite depletes entirely.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Again, Madison disregards me, like I’m not even sitting at the table, and my temper flares.

“Are you suggesting I don’t do my job well as Alpha of Shadow Pine?”

Through thick, black lashes, she stares at me. “I never said that!”

Heat rises up my neck and ears. I don’t need this, not from her or anyone else.

“Bring my dinner to my study.” I stand and stalk out of the dining room as Madison gawks at me.

“You’re really just going to leave me here? After I got all dressed up?” And she has the audacity to sound shocked.

“I was prepared to have a nice dinner and get to know you, but obviously, you have another agenda.” I stomp out of the dining room without waiting for a response and head back down the hall toward my study.

I half expect her to follow and apologize for her behavior, but by the time I reach the double doors of my office, her footsteps are nowhere behind me.

This was a mistake. I should have taken the time to get to know Madison before agreeing to this mating.

It’s too late to do anything about it now.

The ceremony is in three days, and both our packs will be in attendance.

I can’t put off mating any longer, not when we’ve already given the land to Granger, who will undoubtedly keep it and demand I mate with this wretched crow anyway.

But am I going to be able to handle a lifetime with that female and her attitude?

I guess I’m about to find out. I just need to keep my eye on the prize. Heirs. That’s what this is all about. The good of the pack. That’s what my father would say. I can do it for the benefit of something bigger than me.