Page 1 of Claimed By His Omega Dragon’s Fire (Nesting Ever After: Season Two)

1

Aiden

Sweat drips down the side of my face and my lungs burn in a way I’ve come to love. My feet carry me forward as a podcast plays in my earbuds. It’s still early morning so there’s barely anyone awake and moving around our little town.

My brain is blissfully silent. My morning runs are some of the only times I get where I’m not stressed about everything that’s going on or worrying about everyone in my pack. This is the time where I’m allowed to just be Aiden without all the baggage that comes with being the pack’s alpha.

Ever since I was a little boy, I knew I would become pack alpha. My father was pack alpha before me and his alpha grandmother before him. This territory has been passed down from generation to generation for as far back as I’ve known.

I love what I do. Truly.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t a lonely job. Everything is put on my shoulders and I gladly take it, but I’m still only one man. Sometimes, it gets to be a lot. The paperwork and the rituals and the responsibilities and the needing to judge a person in a split second. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, yet there’s a tiny voice at the back of my head whispering for me to find a partner to help with it all.

I don’t need a partner to help with the workload of being pack alpha. Instead, I long for someone to take care of me after I’m finished taking care of everyone else. Is that too much to ask for? Come on, universe, get your shit together and lead me to my mate already!

Rounding the corner, I pick up the pace a bit. I want to get my heart racing just a little bit more. I want to push myself just a little bit harder. I want to push myself to my physical limits because if I’m doing that, surely I won’t have enough brainspace to overthink, right?

Even the podcast blaring in my ears isn’t enough to distract me from the ache inside my chest. If it was just the ache that came with running, I’d be able to deal with it, but it’s an emotional ache. It’s an ache that’s come from running this pack alone since my father passed away. I’m so incredibly lonely and I’m only just now beginning to admit it to myself.

Not only is my run supposed to help put my mind at ease, but it’s also a great way to keep an eye on my territory. I can pick up on any new scents and see if anything is amiss.

I see my house come into view and I slow my run to a light jog. Then I begin to walk, lifting my arms over my head and stretching from side to side as I walk. I want my muscles to have a moment to cool down before I’m home. My heart rate slows, my breathing becomes regular, and my muscles relax. There’s always a calmness that washes over me after a good run and today is no different despite the war of emotions rattling around inside my chest.

Once inside, I toss my phone and headphones onto the table and head straight for the bathroom. I take a quick shower to wash all the sweat away before getting dressed and ready.

Jeans and a brown pullover will have to do for today. I grab a pair of loafers, my keys, and my phone before heading back outside. I’m supposed to meet with Harry and Alex this morning. They’re essentially my assistants who help me with all of my paperwork and administrative duties. I would be lost without those two.

This afternoon I have a meeting with Michelle about expanding her bakery and then tonight I’m supposed to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, my neighbors who’re old enough to be my parents and more or less treat me as their son when I’m not in the middle of pack alpha duties. Everything is perfectly catalogued inside my brain.

Instead, all of that is tossed out the window when I step outside and see a crowd of people waiting for me. How the hell did I not hear them before now? Jesus, my head really is all messed up this morning if I somehow missed this .

I freeze, my eyes widening in surprise. I look around, finding my entire pack out there.

“Umm?”

“Surprise!” Avery, our pack medic, calls out, stepping through the crowd and walking over to me.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s the anniversary of you becoming pack alpha and we wanted to celebrate and share with you just how much we appreciate you,” Avery explains with a grin.

I open my mouth to reply but nothing comes out. My eyes dart from face to face, finding my pack surrounding me with grins plastered across their faces. All the worries and longing and loneliness evaporate from my chest in that moment. I’m surrounded by my pack, the people I’ve been tasked with overseeing and taking care of, who in turn, take care of each other and me.

“Oh,” I finally say, not really knowing what else to say. I’m overwhelmed with such a kind and thoughtful gesture.

“Come on,” Avery says, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with him. I see Avery’s mate, Frost, in the crowd of people, smiling as well, their pup in his arms.

They’re a perfect reason why I love what I do. Avery met Frost during a Christmas vacation and Frost didn’t have a pack. When they mated, I got to meet Frost. Within a moment, I was more than happy to welcome Frost into our pack, knowing he would be a great addition. He slotted into place like he’s been here since birth.

Avery leads me through the crowd of people towards Mr. and Mrs. Hunt’s backyard. We go through the back gate and inside, I can see a table with a large cake on it.

“Normally, we wouldn’t serve you cake for breakfast but today felt like a special day,” Avery says with a chuckle.

“What about my work?”

“Harry and Alex only told you they needed help to make sure we could plan our surprise at just the right time. By the way, thank you for always running at the same time every day. It made today that much easier for us.”

I feel my cheeks heating and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m becoming a predictable old man without even realizing,” I say with a chuckle.

“It’s okay,” Avery says with a smile. “Being reliable isn’t a bad thing, Aiden.”

“If you say so.” I sit at the table that Avery directs me to. Then he passes me a piece of cake as everyone files into the Hunts’ back yard. Everyone gets some time to stop by me, give me a card, and talk to me for a few minutes.

I get a lot of thank yous that leave me feeling emotional and overwhelmed. I love this job and I don’t do it for the thanks or attention, but that doesn’t mean my pack’s words don’t hit me square in the chest. They love me just as much as I love them.

Ellie bounds over to me, a woman so full of life and excitement. She’s our local hairdresser and Avery’s best friend. Not that I would ever want to be on anyone’s bad side but especially not Ellie’s. When she joined the pack, she was so ready for me to reject her and fight me on it, but instead, I knew she’d fit right in. I don’t know if I just have an extra sense that comes with being pack alpha but I can usually get a pretty accurate read on people, and I knew this was her place.

“Heya, Aiden! Since everyone else is coming to say some sappy shit I thought I should as well.”

“You don’t have to--” I start to say but Ellie cuts me off.

“Nah, it’s okay. I actually want to.” She crosses her arms over her chest, looking a bit uncomfortable before she plows on. “Ever since I came here, you’ve never made me feel bad for not being a wolf and I really appreciate that. You’re a really good alpha. If I had a sibling, I’d totally try to get them to hook up with you.”

I sputter and ignore the way my cheeks turn bright red. “Ellie!”

Ellie grins and ruffles my hair. “The rest of the year’s haircuts are on the house. To say thank you,” she says before adding. “One of these days I’ll matchmake you with the perfect omega.”

“Okay, I think that’s enough Ellie time for today!”

She giggles as she walks away. Frost comes and fills her space.

“Thank you again,” Frost says as he steps over to me, resting a hand on my shoulder. “After I was kicked out of my pack, I never let myself hope I’d have something like this again. I craved community but never thought I would find it again. So thank you, Aiden, for letting me come here and stay.”

I shake my head, doing my best to breathe through the tears that threaten to spill. “I’m glad you’re here, Frost. You make Avery happy and having you around as a handyman has meant taking a few tasks off my docket which I appreciate more than you know,” I tell him, both of us chuckling.

“You’re a good alpha, Aiden.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

“Avery and I have a gift for you. More than the party and the cards, that is.” Frost pulls something from his back pocket, handing it over to me. “This is for you.”

I take the envelope and open it up, looking inside. There’s a gift certificate for a week-long stay at a lodge that’s not too far from here.

“Before you ask, yes, it’s the same lodge where Avery and I met. I’m not saying you’re going to meet the love of your life there but I’m also not saying it’s completely off the table,” Frost explains with a laugh. “The owners there really are something special, and the place is quiet and fun even if you’re there by yourself. You work really, really hard, Aiden. We wanted to give you some time away. You deserve a break so you can relax and recharge.”

“But what about--”

Harry jumps into the conversation. “Before you say no, just know that Alex and I have everything under control. It’s not like you’ll be gone long, Aiden. Just a week to rest.”

“I can’t ask you to--”

“You’re not asking. We’re offering.”

“This is too much.”

Frost shakes his head. “Everyone pitched in a little bit so none of us are breaking the bank by giving you this. Come on, Aiden. When was the last time you actually took a break?”

I open my mouth to respond before snapping my mouth shut again. Fuck. When was the last time I took a proper break? Have I ever taken a break since my father died? I don’t think I have.

“Jesus,” I breathe out, running my fingers through my hair. “Okay, I see your point.”

Harry and Alex high-five each other, like somehow they’ve just won instead of me being the one to receive such a generous gift. My pack is ridiculous but they’re mine and I love them.

“Fine,” I finally say, rolling my eyes for good measure. “I’ll go. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Respectfully,” Harry says with a grin. “You’re gonna love it and we all know it. Stop being a brat.”

“A brat? Me? Harry, I thought we were friends !”

“We are, which is why I’m telling you to go . Enjoy some time away. Let yourself recharge. And hey, if you’re lucky, maybe the universe will cross your path with some cutie-patootie.”

“Not you too,” I say with a groan, covering my face with my hands. The people around all laugh at my expense.

The rest of the day is more of the same. People coming and talking with me, giving me cards to read later, and lots of excitement over my future vacation. When I finally get back home, I feel like I’m in a trance. I’m warm from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair. I’m loved and appreciated and cherished.

Maybe everyone is right. Maybe a little vacation away from the pack is exactly what I need to properly recharge. Everyone kept teasing me about finding my mate during this vacation, but I’ll just be happy to sit outside with a book without the thought of someone asking me for help.

At first, I was unsure how I felt about this gift but now, in the privacy of my own home, I’m filled with excitement. This is going to be a good thing and when I come back, I’ll be an even better alpha because I’ll finally be rested.