Page 17

Unwelcome

Ozyn

I followed my mate to the gate where several vehicles were waiting instead of going to spend time with my sons, or going home with Deke, like I really wanted to. Dealing with unwanted visitors was not on my list of tasks for the day, but it was Deke’s job. He had to. Where he went, I followed.

My visit with Georgia hadn’t left me feeling as raw as I thought it would. Her comments made me feel more healed than I’d initially thought. It was true I’d spent two years waiting to get to Deke, slowly coming back to myself. My healing had started long before I came to Sweetwater.

When we arrived at the gate, many of the humans were out of their cars, shouting and screaming for us dragons to go back to where we came from.

The problem was, we were from this realm. We might have lived in Abrocaelum for the last couple of millennia, but like all supernaturals, we came from the human realm. Dragons were around before humans were. I would not point this out to them. It would not help matters, only muddy the waters.

“Can I help you?” Deke asked in a reasonable manner when he neared a police officer who was waiting not so patiently at the closed side gate.

“There’s been a complaint about dragons flying over the town.” The officer looked ready to use the weapon at his side, though on who, I was unsure. He did not strike me as unreasonable.

“Well not over the town, but there were dragons flying. My mate was reunited with his family today. They celebrated with a flight over pack land.”

“How do you know where they went?” the same officer questioned. The other police officers were pushing the humans back towards their vehicles. The people didn’t look keen to move.

“I was on my mate’s back.” Was that pride I heard in his voice? Had he enjoyed flying that much? I wanted to preen!

“So you know exactly where they flew?”

“Yes.” My mate had endless patience. He stood firm while exuding calm. “We were given permission for dragons to fly in the area as long as they stuck to our land. I reminded them of the boundary before they took flight.”

“He did,” I agreed.

The officer stepped away to speak into his radio. When he returned his gaze landed on me. “Which dragon are you?”

“I’m his mate.”

“No, which color?”

“I was the white dragon.”

“Why did you fly over the school and scare the little kids?” The officer looked angry. Did he truly believe I would do such a thing?

“There was no school.” I tried to stay as serene as Deke at the accusation. “We flew over the lake, the orchard, and the factory where the pack makes their cider. We did not see any humans on our flight.”

That was a small lie. We saw people, but they were shifter children in the community center when we flew by it. They looked so excited to see us! I had to resist the urge to show off for them with my precious cargo aboard.

The officer turned to Deke once more. “Where is your Alpha?”

“Unfortunately, he is unavailable.” The officer’s face darkened with anger. I believe he thought we were not taking this matter seriously enough for him. Deke explained further. “His mate is in heat. Our Alpha is with him. Our Second is on his way. I am the Head Enforcer.”

“Right. That’ll do, I guess.” He stepped away once more to speak into the radio again. I did not try to listen in. Somewhat happy with the response, he returned.

“So you swear they did not fly over the human areas?” He looked mildly frustrated now. Clearly he’d figured out he was on a pointless errand.

“We stuck to pack lands as we promised we would.” My mate was so unflappable. I wanted to return to our home and demonstrate how that made me feel.

A sigh escaped the officer. “You dragons planning to stay for a while?”

Are you? I asked my family.

Not if the humans are going to be like this. We’ll visit a little longer but return today, Rezoth set down the law.

Agreed, the others affirmed.

“My family are only visiting for the day. They will return to Abrocaelum later.”

“Alright.” The officer fished into his pocket, pulling out a white rectangle which he handed to Deke. “Here’s my contact details. The precinct would appreciate a heads up before you all go flying again if you could. Then we can save time and not drive all the way out here.”

“Sure,” Deke agreed easily, a friendly smile on his handsome face.

“Move everyone out of here!” the officer barked at the remaining cars. Most had driven off when it was clear the complaint was false.

We waited until everyone had left, checking in with Melody, a raccoon shifter, before turning to go back to the house.

Chase rushed up when we were nearly there. “Sorry! I couldn’t get off the phone with the mayor to speak to the police. You obviously had it handled.”

“What did the mayor say?” Deke asked.

“Just that he’s looking forward to going home now. He thinks the aviary got some humans to complain.” Chase caught my arm. I allowed the touch. “You’ll have to lie low for a bit. Maybe only fly around the lake?”

Touched by his concern, I patted his hand. “I will, thanks.”

He perked up. “It sucks I missed you flying! Does anyone want to carry me over the lake?”

Valethar approached Chase, he slung an arm over his shoulders. “How about you come through the portal with us later and I’ll take you on a short flight. I’m sure the elves won’t mind.”

“They won’t if I ask them first. That’d be awesome! Thanks, Vale.”

We might have been unwelcome with the aviary and humans, but the shifters in Sweetwater seemed happy to have dragons in their pack.

Safely inside the mansion, Winter served us tea in the library. It hurt, though I understood, that he kept his distance. He was another reason to push for a bond with Deke. Once the beastly part of me felt secure and Deke knew I only belonged to him, I could have a friend. My mate was right, having friends was important, yet we were too fragile for it just then. I’d only been free a couple of weeks. There was plenty of time.

We spent some time catching up on matters of the kingdom, which felt odd. I was torn by wanting to know everything, and also not caring at all. These issues were not mine now. It had been too long for me. My people felt like strangers. Not my sons, though. They were my beating heart.

Seeing the changes in them brought both pain and joy. Rezoth was more confident, poised. Ryoko was, as always, his shadow. He had grown bolder. Nhil was quieter, not unhappy, just at peace with life, though he kept looking around, appearing unsettled. Gedith, my sweet boy, had clearly been pampered a little too much. His brothers never said no to him, even if it meant giving the last bite off their plates. Balon… he was harder, stricter with everyone aside from Gedith. As their alpha, he likely took on the burden of keeping them connected. Life would not have been easy for him.

Vale? I used our bond to speak to him alone. I was grateful I still had access to it considering my new pack bond.

Yes, Ozyn?

We need to help Balon. I worry for him.

Ah, picked up on that did you? He’s had his heart broken recently. Do not worry, he’ll be fine. Maybe he’ll see a shifter here who catches his fancy.

Something as easy as heartbreak was a relief. Time would heal that wound.

While I would love my boys to be closer, I fear we are not welcome here. Perhaps it will settle.

Everything will work out as it is meant to. We have the Great Drakon and The Luna on our side. Now pay attention. Your wolf is getting worried about you.

I tuned back into the conversation, snuggling closer to my mate, who kissed the top of my head affectionately. It was so sweet I couldn’t help the swell of love I felt for him. Deke could not have been more perfect for me. He was handsome with his lightly tanned skin, pretty silver-blue eyes, sharp features, and strong body. To his core, he was a protector.

He took a small sandwich off the platter and added it to my plate. Then, proving he really did know me, he picked up the cupcake I’d kept an eye on, also adding it to my pile of food. He was wonderful.

Deke had told me tales of his time as the Alpha of the pack, seeing it as his shame. Not to me it wasn’t. I saw it as him learning where his true role lay, and that was as the protector, or Head Enforcer, as his title was. The role was ideal for him. He did not need to take the spotlight, just watch over his family, his pack.

I did worry about him being hurt. He’d nearly died thanks to his job before I got to meet him. I must have broadcast some of that over the pack link.

If my job is a problem, I’d give it up for you without thinking. Our bond, what we have together, our future family, is all more important than a title. Larken is nearly ready. He could replace me .

No, I protested. It’s part of who you are. I just need to be there to protect you in return.

All too soon, the boys had to leave. We walked with them to the portal. Hugs were exchanged along with promises that we would visit. As long as things with the humans stayed quiet I had hope I could steal Deke away for a night or two. After Kade was done with his heat, though.

“Are you sad you aren’t going with them?” Deke asked me as we walked home hand in hand. His touch was always grounding. It reminded me I was free, I had a future filled with love and happiness.

“Not really. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Yet to dragons our years apart aren’t an issue. I missed them dearly but… promise you won’t get upset?”

“I’ll try.”

“Well, there was a time I accepted I would never leave that dungeon.” I focused on the distance ahead, not my mate beside me, who’d stiffened. “Glorin was done with me. He kept me only as a trophy. I knew the only way I’d get out of there was when I was dead.” I heard his sharp intake of breath. “So you see, I’d already mourned my boys. I never thought I’d see them again. Getting to see them now, even just for a few hours at a time, being able to fly with them, it’s worth everything to me.”

“Right, that’s it.” Before I knew it, Deke was hoisting me over his shoulder and running for home.

I let out a shriek of laughter which attracted the attention of everyone nearby. They laughed and pointed at the picture we made.

“Love hearing you laugh,” Deke said, not even breathless as he carefully moved me from his shoulder to the cradle of his arms as we entered the house.

“You make it easy to laugh.” I pressed my face into his neck, loving his scent. He always smelled like the mountains of home and the aniseed candy my papa fed me in my youth. Desire for more of his touch, his taste, his scent filled me. My cock filled. Kissing up his throat, I sighed. “Will you touch me again?”

“What would you like me to do, my dragon?”

“Anything, everything, as long as you touch me, my wolf.”

Deke laid me on the bed, stripping me out of my clothes before he let his fall on the floor. He covered my body with his, the weight of him so arousing and soothing at the same time. This wolf was my home, my soul. His touch set a fire within me. I burned only for him.

His lips were soft and warm when they met mine. He kissed me deeply as he used my slick to coat our cocks. His hand wrapped around us both, stroking as his tongue entered my mouth.

Neither of us took long to find our release. Now that I’d had a taste of what it was like to be with him, I wanted him even more. I reached for his hand, licking our spend from it, reveling in the taste of us combined.

“Let’s do more of that,” I sighed into his shoulder when he pulled me on top of him to cuddle.

“As often as you like.”