Page 18 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)
Maseo
W alking through the maze of hallways in the barracks left Maseo disoriented.
He felt all the curious stares as he walked alongside Jaega.
Although he had only known the general for a short time, Maseo had developed a profound respect for him.
The half-wolf shifter hadn’t expected such a heartfelt conversation, but he held Jaega’s words close to his heart.
When Jaega stopped in front of a door, Maseo almost ran into him. In the small space, the dragon general seemed almost impossibly large, yet his voice was kind. “If anyone harasses you or tries to haze you, please tell me. I do not tolerate bullying in my ranks at any level.”
Maseo shook his head. “In my experience, that only makes the abuse worse.”
“You will find things are very different here in Tiora. As you are under my clan’s protection, you should be shown the same respect as any member of our family.
I refuse to allow my warriors to treat you poorly because of your father.
To do so would undermine our authority as the ruling clan of Valzerna. Understood?”
Maseo bowed his head. “Yes, sir.”
Jaega gave Maseo’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Good. We will have your clothes and other essentials delivered to you later tonight. Now, let me introduce you to your bunkmates.”
The army barracks in Norello were dilapidated and in desperate need of repair since Nasume had neglected the buildings during the long era of peacetime.
They were cramped with too many uncomfortable cots, each with the thinnest straw mattresses and a single threadbare sheet, making it impossible to get a good night’s sleep in the frigid kingdom.
Worse still was how the wind slipped through the cracks in the wood, chilling the soldiers to the bone during the brutal Kunushi winters.
It was a surprise to Maseo to see a spacious area that looked downright luxurious compared to what he was used to at home. Instead of being crammed with too many beds, the room contained only four cots, each topped with a fluffy duvet cover that beckoned Maseo to wrap himself in its warmth.
The three lounging men sat up at attention to salute when Jaega entered.
“At ease, gentlemen.” Jaega nudged Maseo forward. “I am entrusting our newest recruit to your care. Maseo is under the protection of the Ariake clan, and I expect him to be treated with the same respect as any member of my family.”
The three men studied Maseo with inquisitive expressions.
Jaega gestured to each person as he made introductions. “This is Bitris, Drayden, and Sudryl. I trust you will all get along well. Should you need anything, you can ask them, myself, or Lieutenant Norkon.”
Maseo’s heart hammered with nervousness about how he would be treated once the respected general left him alone. “Thank you, sir.”
“Welcome to our ranks.” With another squeeze of his shoulder, Jaega exited the room.
The awkward silence shattered when Bitris spoke first. “Okay, I have a shitload of questions.” The dragon shifter had a leaner frame than Jaega’s, with black hair pulled into a long braid. His yellow eyes studied Maseo with interest.
“I bet your first one is whether he’s single,” Drayden said, causing the other two men to laugh.
He was also a dragon shifter, with midnight-blue eyes bright with amusement.
He gave Maseo a friendly smile and gestured for him to come closer.
“Make yourself at home. I promise Bitris only bites if you ask.”
Maseo sat on the empty bed. “That’s good to know.”
“And I bet your second question is if he’s interested,” Sudryl teased Bitris. To Maseo’s surprise, the man was a tiger shifter, with orange-and-black striped hair and amber eyes.
Bitris pretended to pout. “What’s wrong with wanting to give Maseo a warm welcome?”
“Because your idea of a warm welcome means we have to leave the room so you can fuck,” Drayden said with an amused snort.
Bitris smirked. “Hey, you’re welcome to stay and watch. I’m generous like that.”
“Sorry, but we’re not indulging your voyeurism kink,” Sudryl said in a dry tone, making them all laugh. “Your dick’s needs can wait. I’m dying to know how a halfling wolf pup came to be a member of the Ariake clan and joined our ranks when our majestic monarch famously loathes wolf shifters.”
“In fairness, he only loathes one wolf,” Bitris added. “It’s a pity that King Nasume’s personality is so legendarily awful when he’s that beautiful. What a waste of a gorgeous face.”
“Don’t act like his terrible personality would stop you from sucking his dick,” Drayden retorted with a laugh. “It sure as hell didn’t stop you from hooking up with Hagel.”
“In my defense, when Hagel was sucking my dick, he couldn’t ruin things by talking.
And he looks so pretty on his fucking knees for me.
” Bitris shifted his attention back to Maseo, who tensed under his appraising gaze.
“But Drayden is right. More than learning every inch of your beautiful body, I need to know how a half-wolf shifter got a personal introduction from our illustrious dragon general, claiming you as a member of their clan.”
Maseo tried to find a tactful way to explain his situation without mentioning his father.
He knew the secret would come out, but he wanted the chance to make a good first impression before his lineage ruined his chances.
“King Kitsuki and his consort saved my life, so I want to serve them in any capacity I can to repay their kindness.”
“How noble,” Sudryl said, a note of approval in his tone. “But I still find it strange that His Majesty would bring you into the Ariake clan for that alone.”
“His Majesty must be serious about it if he gave you that ring,” Drayden added.
Maseo ran his thumb over the dragon holding a diamond, which flickered with Kitsuki’s silver fire. “I don’t understand why he thinks I’m worthy of protection.”
“It’s strange, considering he already has a mate he worships,” Sudryl said. “Who are you really?”
When Maseo hesitated to answer, Bitris walked over to stand in front of him. “Wait a minute,” the dragon shifter said as he tilted Maseo’s chin up to inspect him. “With this jawline, those lush lips, and that downright gorgeous face, do you know who you look like?”
“Someone you want to fuck?” Drayden guessed, making the other men laugh.
Maseo’s breathing hitched when Bitris caressed his cheekbone with his thumb. He struggled with being the center of attention when his secret was dangerously close to being revealed. Even though it was shameful, he requested, “Please don’t. I have nowhere else to go.”
“Oh, you poor pup,” Bitris tutted sympathetically. “You beg so beautifully. It makes me want to do things that will make you forget all your problems.” The scent of his growing arousal took Maseo aback.
Drayden reached out and pulled Bitris to sit on his bed. “Stop harassing the poor guy. He just got here and is clearly overwhelmed. The last thing he needs is for you to make things worse.”
Bitris ignored him, giving Maseo a heated look. “You must be someone special if His Majesty is willing to take you , of all people, into his care.”
“What do you mean?” Sudryl asked.
Before Bitris could respond, Lieutenant Rylan Norkon entered the room.
“Well, well, well. It seems the rumors are true.” He flashed Maseo a flirty smile as he settled next to him on the bed.
It startled Maseo when Rylan draped an arm over his shoulders and pulled him closer.
“It’s good to see you again under better circumstances. ”
“You know him?” Sudryl asked.
“Not as well as I’d like, because he’s off-limits,” Rylan replied. “ Especially for you, Bitris.”
The dragon shifter pouted at being singled out. “Why?”
“Trust me, you do not want to tangle with his protector.” Rylan grinned at Maseo. “Isn’t that right?”
Maseo toyed with his ring, struggling to understand why Kitsuki would care about someone showing interest in him. Still, he enjoyed feeling special to the dragon monarch. Rather than answering, Maseo said, “I’m here to fight for Valzerna’s sake.”
“Is that all?” Rylan hummed with interest. “Fascinating.”
Maseo blushed at the implication. “I don’t know why you think I’m so special.”
“Because we both know if he walked in here right now and saw me sitting with you like this, he’d remove my arm for touching what’s his.”
Maseo furrowed his brow in confusion. “No, he wouldn’t care, because I’m not his.”
“Sure, pup.” Rylan laughed, sounding anything but convinced. “You keep telling yourself that. I know what I saw.”
“Who do I have to fight?” Bitris teased, though Maseo wasn’t entirely sure it was a joke. The interaction confused him, especially since it seemed Bitris had figured out his connection to Nasume.
“Someone you’ll never defeat and definitely don’t want to piss off. But if you protect Maseo, I’m confident you’ll find yourself handsomely rewarded,” Rylan said with confidence. “There’s not a Power alive who could save you from the ensuing wrath if you harm him.”
Bitris’s nose flared as he tried to scent the truth in Rylan’s words. “Wait, you’re serious.”
Drayden snorted. “That’s rare.”
“All the more reason to believe him,” Sudryl pointed out to his friends. “Message received, Lieutenant.”
Drayden huffed as he pushed a stray hair behind his ear. “Do you have any idea how irritating it’ll be that Bitris knows something the rest of us don’t? He’s going to lord that shit over us.”
“He won’t if he knows what’s good for him,” Rylan warned. “As far as you’re concerned, Maseo is the most important nobody you’ve met. There’s a reason the Ariake clan honored you three with the privilege of protecting him.”
“Because keeping him all to yourself in your private room would give the wrong impression?” Bitris asked with a cheeky grin.