Page 33 of Dragon’s Revenge (Irresistible Dragons #7)
Chapter Thirty-Two
O liver looked around the meeting barn. A large group had gathered for the pack meeting, most of the pack present, even though they had no idea what to expect. In the back of the barn, close to the door, sat Duff Bás, all by himself. His shoulders were hunched, and he didn’t look anything like the skilled warrior he apparently was. In fact, he looked so lonely and somehow sad that Oliver’s heart went out to him.
Oliver sat next to Fallon and his mates. Adar was on duty, guarding the meeting barn, and Delton had decided to stay home. He’d done an intensive trauma counseling session with Wendell that had lasted hours, and he was exhausted. Initially, he’d wanted to come, but Oliver had insisted he stay behind and relax.
Rhene was all smiles as he looked around the room. “Thanks, everyone, for coming. We’ll start with an announcement from Sivney and take it from there.”
Sivney rose. Oliver frowned as he took the omega in. He looked a tad pale. Was he okay?
“It’s good to see you all.” He took a deep breath. “Many of you have come up to me in the last two weeks, asking if I’m okay. I am. Well, I’m sick as a dog, but for a good reason. I’m pregnant.”
Ah, that explained his appearance then. A loud roar flowed through the barn, followed by thunderous applause. Sivney grinned. “Thank you,” he said when things had quieted down again. “As you can probably tell, I’m already fed up with it…and still have four more months to go. But my mates are over the moon, and Abigail is excited to become a big sister, so it’s all good. But it does mean I have to scale back. As much as I want to pretend I’m superhuman, my body has made it crystal clear that I’m not.” He shot a look at Naran. “And Naran may have threatened to lock me in our room if I don’t slow down.”
“As if he would live to tell the tale,” someone commented, and that got a round of laughs, including from Sivney himself.
“My point is that I’ll be out of commission for a while, and we have too much going on for our pack alpha to do it all by himself, so he needs help.”
Rhene rose again and took up position next to Sivney. “Luckily, we have a solution. Zack has offered to serve as third-in-command, effectively taking over from Sivney while he’s on pregnancy and paternity leave.” He gestured at the dragon omega. “Zack, will you come forward?”
Zack raised his chin, barely reaching Rhene’s shoulder when he stood. Rhene wrapped his arm around him. “Zack and I met at the Dragon Council, where he immediately showed me his courage, determination, and leadership skills. He managed to convince most of the omegas present to trust Erwan and me and to ultimately join the new Doyle clan. In doing so, he saved countless lives. And since his arrival here, he’s worked tirelessly to help everyone settle in, mediating conflicts, getting help where needed, and doing whatever he could to make everyone feel at home. This is all the more remarkable because he was new himself…and because I wasn’t there initially, so it was just Sivney and Zack. He did such a phenomenal job that I have no reservations about accepting him as my third-in-command, but under the circumstances, I figured an official vote would be the best way forward.”
Oliver quickly looked around him again and couldn’t spot anyone looking at Zack with doubt.That was a good sign.
“We will now open the floor to anyone who wants to ask him questions before we bring it to an official vote.”
“Why do you want to be a leader in our pack?” Sivney asked Zack.
Sivney’s question was a bit of a soft one, of course, but that was okay. And the question itself was fair.
Zack met Sivney’s gaze directly. “I want to serve this pack and clan to the best of my abilities. I believe in the vision Rhene and Erwan have for a united future between wolves and dragons. And while I’m aware I’m young, I have the skills to help make that vision a reality.”
Rhene nodded approvingly. “You don’t have experience in leading, correct?” he asked.
“No, alpha. That was impossible in a clan where omegas were considered third-class citizens. But I think I’ve shown since we left the Dragon Council that I’m a natural leader.”
That was one word for it. Zack was bossy as fuck in the same way Sivney was, and he’d earned respect from people. Oliver admired the hell out of the fellow dragon omega. It took serious balls to stand up in a pack meeting and speak your mind. Even more so as an omega. But to do so as a newcomer, knowing Duff Bás was in the audience? Yeah, that was badass.
A few other pack members asked Zack about his background, his strengths, and how he would handle certain leadership situations. Zack answered each inquiry thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Finally, Rhene addressed the group. “Are there any objections to Zack becoming our official third-in-command?”
Oliver held his breath, but the barn remained silent. No one spoke against Zack.
“All in favor?” Rhene asked.
A chorus of ayes echoed through the space, Oliver’s own voice among them. The pack had resoundingly supported their new third.
“It’s decided then,” Rhene said with a smile, extending his hand to Zack. “Congratulations, Zack, and thank you for your willingness to serve.”
A thunderous applause rolled through the barn, especially from all the dragons, Oliver included. It meant so much to see an omega dragon be elevated to this important position. It made him proud and so, so grateful he’d found this pack.
“I’m honored,” Zack replied, standing tall. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.” With a last slap on his shoulder, Rhene turned back to face the crowd. His face grew serious. “Now that’s out of the way, it’s time to talk about the challenges we’re facing right now.”
Sivney nodded. “As you all know, our pack and clan have experienced rapid growth in recent months. This is wonderful in many ways. It means more hands to help with the work, more minds to contribute ideas and solutions. But it also presents logistic challenges.”
Rhene took over again. “Our lands can only sustain so many before resources become strained. And there are social considerations as well, in terms of cohesion and hierarchy. Packs function best with a certain range of members. That’s why the Hightower pack split from the Hayes pack a few years ago.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the implications sank in. Oliver’s stomach tightened. Were they suggesting…?
“What are you saying exactly?” Wilmer called out, echoing Oliver’s thoughts. “That we need to split the pack?”
Rhene held up a hand. “We’re not there yet. But it’s something we need to start thinking about and prepare for as a possibility. The question is complicated by the fact that we’re a mixed pack of wolves and dragons now. The clan can’t be divided.”
“There’s also the issue of our clan identity and structure,” Sivney said. “Most of our growth has come from dragons seeking refuge, not wolves. That’s throwing off the balance between wolves and dragons, and we’re not sure how that will work out in the long term. Plus, we’re super imbalanced on the omega ratio versus alphas and betas.”
“You can’t separate the pack and the clan,” Jermon said. “We have multiple triads with both wolves and dragons.”
Yeah, no shit. Oliver was in one himself.
“That’s something we’re well aware of,” Rhene said. “And don’t forget that as the pack alpha, I’m also mated to a dragon.”
Somehow, it felt wrong to label Erwan as “a dragon.” He was their king, the White Dragon, not merely a dragon. And not just the pack alpha’s mate, though he was that too.
Oliver’s thoughts churned as he listened to Rhene and Sivney discuss the challenges facing the pack and clan. The idea of splitting them apart seemed unthinkable, yet the leaders were right—they couldn’t ignore the realities of their rapid growth forever. The pack couldn’t split without fracturing the clan. But the clan couldn’t grow indefinitely without straining pack resources and dynamics. It was a catch-22 that made his head spin.
“Does that mean you’ll refuse any new dragons who want to join?” Fallon asked, his voice small.
“No, absolutely not.” Rhene’s tone left no room for misunderstanding. “Our doors are and will remain wide open to any dragons wanting to join. And we will consider any new wolves who want to join the same way we always have.”
Well, that was a relief, at least. Oliver wasn’t sure how many more dragons were out there, searching for a safe haven, but there had to be at least a handful more dragon omegas trying to escape their situations.
“I think,” Zack said, his voice carrying a note of determination, “that we need to focus on what unites us, not divides us. We’re all here because we believe in a shared future, in the power of collaboration and understanding between wolves and dragons. We believe in the original pact between the dragons and the wolves, and we want to honor the blood vow our ancestors made. Standing in that tradition will make us stronger.”
Nods and murmurs of agreement met his words. Oliver felt a swell of pride. Zack was already proving his worthiness as a leader.
“Well said,” Rhene affirmed. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Jermon cleared his throat. “I also want to point out that my brothers and I have vowed servitude to the wolves to atone for the wrongs committed by our father and uncle. That is a debt we fully intend to repay.”
When Oliver had first found out about that, he’d been shocked to his core. Alpha dragons, kneeling for wolves? Offering their apology and insisting on atoning for what they hadn’t even done themselves? Unthinkable, yet they had done so freely. Oliver couldn’t help but think the gods had to approve of such a deep sense of honor, of justice.
“We’re not going to make any rash decisions. But I want everyone to start thinking about creative solutions. How can we adapt our structure and traditions to accommodate our growth and diversity? This is a challenge, one we must rise to.” Rhene looked around the room, his expression serious yet calm. “We’re in uncharted territory here. A mixed pack and clan, growing at an unprecedented rate. We need to figure out how to make this work in a way that preserves our unity and strength. I want to be clear. No decisions have been made yet. This is the beginning of a conversation we all need to have together as a pack and as a clan. We’ll need everyone’s input and ideas to determine the best path forward.”
Sivney nodded. “In the meantime, we ask for your patience and understanding. Change is never easy, but we have faith in the strength and resilience of this community. We’ll find a way through this together.”
The weight of their words hung in the air as the meeting concluded. Oliver’s mind raced as he filed out with the others, lost in thought. He nearly jumped when a hand brushed his shoulder.
“You all right, angel?” Adar asked softly, concern etched on his handsome face.
Oliver leaned into Adar’s touch, seeking comfort. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Were you able to hear what was being said?”
Adar nodded. “I was positioned right outside the door.”
“The idea of splitting the pack and clan… It scares me. We’ve worked so hard to build this unity.”
Adar pulled him close, his strong arms providing safety amid the uncertainty. “I know. But we have to trust in our leaders, in the strength of our bonds. We’ll find a way through this.”
Oliver nodded against Adar’s chest, wanting to believe him. The pack and clan had already weathered so much upheaval. Surely, they could navigate this challenge too.
As they walked a little farther away from the barn, Oliver spotted Zack engaged in an intense conversation with Abner—one of the new dragon omegas—and Fallon. The newly appointed third-in-command was already stepping into his role, listening intently to the concerns of his packmates.
Farther ahead, Rhene and Sivney stood with their heads bowed together, no doubt strategizing their next moves. The weight of leadership hung heavy on their shoulders, yet they carried it with grace and determination. Adar was right. They should trust the leadership. Easier said than done though.
“Trust doesn’t come easy to me,” Oliver said softly.
“No wonder after what you’ve been through. It’s much easier for me. Lidon and Palani set a great example, and so far, Rhene and Sivney have shown a similar devotion and integrity.” Adar pulled him close, his strong arms enveloping Oliver. “They’ll guide us through this.”
Oliver nodded against Adar’s chest, breathing in his mate’s calming scent. “You’re right. I just… I finally feel like I belong somewhere. The thought of that changing is scary.”
Adar tilted Oliver’s chin, meeting his gaze. “Hey, no matter what happens, you’ll always belong with Delton and me. We’re not going anywhere.”
Warmth bloomed in Oliver’s chest at the fierce love and protectiveness in Adar’s eyes. “I know. Thank you.”
Adar kissed him softly. “I love you, angel.”
“I love you too.”
He was almost reassured…until he spotted Duff Bás slip out of the meeting barn, unnoticed by anyone else as he hurried off. What was he up to? Oliver might’ve felt sorry for him, but that didn’t mean he trusted him. No, only time would tell what the dragon slayer was truly planning.
Because Oliver didn’t believe for one second that he was here just to observe…or to have his mind changed about how evil dragons were. No, his goal was to kill all the dragons, and he was merely biding his time.