Page 14 of Her Enemy Dragon Captor (Dream Team Shifters #5)

CHAPTER 14

A lex shifted in his chair, struggling to focus on the meeting. His mind kept drifting back to Jane—her smile when she'd woken beside him, the wonder in her eyes as she'd experienced her partial shift. The memory sent warmth spreading through his chest.

"Alex? Did you hear what I said?" Jack's voice snapped him back to the present.

"Sorry, what?" Alex straightened, trying to appear attentive.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "I was asking about your progress on securing a mate. Any developments to report? Did you get on the website I suggested?"

Alex hesitated, feeling Dylan and Cindy's eyes on him. Cindy gave him a subtle but meaningful look that clearly said, Tell them! But he wasn't ready—not when Jane still didn't know the full truth.

"Oh, no, but actually, I'm... working on some promising leads," he managed, avoiding Cindy's gaze.

Dylan coughed pointedly, but thankfully didn't expose him. Alex silently thanked his brother for the discretion while resolving to discuss the situation with him privately later. He just needed a little more time.

"Well, work faster," Jack said, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Cindy cleared her throat, shifting the conversation as she moved to the center of the room. "While we're waiting on certain developments ," she said with another pointed glance at Alex, "I should update you on the furries' progress. While we've had success getting a few dozen more to transform, it hasn’t been without some collateral... well, complications.”

"Complications?" Jack asked, leaning forward, frowning.

"The recruits aren't handling the truth well," Cindy said, her usual cheerful demeanor sobering.

Again, she locked eyes with Alex for a split second. Was that a sympathetic look?

Or a warning?

"Some of them have kind of been...um...freaking out when we get to telling them about the whole invasion thing... A few have kind of had mental breaks. Some are even trying to leave."

Jason frowned. "Freaking out? We knew that part would be a little challenging for a handful of them... "

"Challenging is one thing," Cindy replied. "But we've got people having breakdowns. But it’s more than a handful. More like half. They signed up to explore their inner animals, not fight an alien invasion. These people are used to rolling around on the floor to feel free... not to learn the best places to bite a Krita or how to sever limbs with a swipe of their claws..."

“They need to grow a pair, if you ask me...” Brian murmured.

“Grow a pair?” Cindy echoed, displeasure in her voice.

“Yeah, that’s my new favorite earth expression,” he replied nonchalantly.

“Wonderful, so glad you are getting so familiar with our colloquialisms...”

Alex felt his dragon stir restlessly within him. This only intensified his concerns. If Jane reacted the same way... The thought sent a fresh wave of anxiety through him.

Maybe I shouldn’t have left the door unlocked?

Perhaps it was premature. But he needed her to trust him. And the thought of keeping her locked up. The idea of her being unhappy, even for an instant ate at him.

Still, I have to keep her safe. No matter the cost.

She's a government agent, for god's sake. She can take care of herself.

His dragon paced with frustration, urging him to return to their mate, while his mind was practically torn in two by his conflicting motivations.

"We don't have time for hand-holding," Jack said firmly. "Do your best to get them onboard, but it is what it is. Lester, what's the latest on those readings? Do you have a more precise idea of where their portals may form? Or when?"

Lester's face grew serious as he pulled up a display showing pulsing energy signatures. "I can’t say where beyond a few zones... northeast... southwest....and as far as when... possibly within days, not weeks."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in.

“Could you be a little more vague?” Jason finally murmured.

“I am sorry, that’s the best we can do at the moment.”

“It’s better than nothing...” Jack offered as he ran a hand through his hair.

"And the rebellion on Oncara?" Alex asked, turning to Dylan, desperate for any distraction from his inner turmoil.

"Getting worse," Dylan replied grimly. "Armed clashes have broken out. Security forces are deployed. Alex, you are out of time...why don’t you just tell-“

Alex stood abruptly, cutting him off before he could say more. "I need to go."

But he knew Dylan was right. He had to handle this. He was out of time.

"Alex, we're not done here," Jack protested.

“Securing a mate is primary right now, right?”

“Well yes...but...”

“I can’t do it sitting here listening for the hundredth time about how urgent it is, now can I... please... I have to act... you know it, and I know it...” His dragon was ready to break out, his frustration palpable.

For an instant it was unclear if Jack would take this as a challenge, or would allow him to go...

“Very well. I can’t argue with your logic.”

As Alex quickly headed for the door Jack spoke once more. “Let’s hope your lead is the real thing. For all our sakes.”

I should have said that a month ago.

His mind, no, his entire focus returned to where it belonged. Jane.

As he headed down the hall toward the building exit he was intercepted by Dylan.

"Hey," Dylan said, falling into step beside him. "Got a minute?"

"Not really."

"Just hear me out," Dylan insisted. "Look, you need to tell her everything. Not just the shapeshifter part—the whole thing. Portals, alien planets, the Krita... all of it."

Alex stopped walking. "You don't think I know that?”

“Then do it.”

“Did it occur to you that if she reacts like some of the recruits have that this will all be for nothing?”

Alex gestured to indicate the entire warehouse, the compound, the very alliance.

“We can’t afford that. I just don’t want to screw it up. If she bolts or ‘freaks out’ it could be the end. Of everything?”

“I guess that is a lot of pressure...”

“You think?” Alex said, practically fuming.

"Maybe," Dylan said, an idea seeming to form in his head, "we could have Cindy talk to her?”

Alex met his eyes, his jaw set. "I thought of that but, no. She is my mate. It’s my responsibility. I will handle it."

"Okay, but there's no time to ease her into it." Dylan said bluntly. "If anything, I downplayed the threat the separatists pose."

Alex shook his head. "I know.”

"Then do it," Dylan clapped him on the shoulder.

"That’s where I am headed," Alex muttered, turning to go.

As he headed back toward the cabin, his steps quickened with each passing moment. His dragon's restlessness become a full-blown anxiety that only grew stronger with every step.

What if she's gone?

I was a fool to not lock her in. It was premature...

Damn.

He silently cursed to himself. Might his gesture of trust just have destroyed everything? Had she fled?

Alex broke into a run, his heart pounding. The bond between them tugged painfully in his chest, urging him forward. He rounded the corner near the meditation buildings and stopped dead in his tracks.

There she was—alive, and looking ... well, rather displeased.

But safe.

He could even sense her dragon... maybe it wasn’t fuming but it wasn’t exactly purring like a kitten either.