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CHAPTER TEN

SAMUEL

I raised the phone to my ear, feeling a wave of dread settle over me as Sheriff Davidson’s name flashed across the screen.

It wasn’t hard to guess what he’d want this early in the morning.

I kept my eyes on Blake and Finn, who were standing by the window, their expressions tense but slowly softening.

At least it looked like they were sorting things out; maybe they’d come to some understanding while I was gone.

“Samuel,” Davidson’s gravelly voice came through the line, pulling my attention back. His tone was grim, and I could already feel the tension setting in.

Davidson continued, “You need to get down to the outskirts, now. A local roadhouse burned to the ground just before dawn.”

“What happened?” I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

Davidson took a shaky breath, and I heard a muffled sound, like he was covering the phone for a moment.

“No one saw anything, but this isn’t any ordinary fire, Samuel. The entire building was cinders by the time we got there. Too clean, too fast. You know what I mean.”

“Supernatural?” I replied, though it wasn’t really a question.

I knew exactly what he was hinting at.

He paused, then continued in a softer tone. “Look, Samuel, I need you and Blake out here. With your hunter knowledge… you might have a better shot at identifying what did this.”

I closed my eyes, frustration building. This rogue dragon wasn’t just some mindless beast—it was cunning, purposeful.

If I had acted sooner, we might not be in this mess, but with the mating bond fresh between Blake and me, I’d been wary of drawing attention to him.

A rogue of this magnitude could cause far more damage than anyone realized, and now it seemed that hesitation had cost us dearly.

“I understand, Sheriff. I’ll head out there right away,” I replied, glancing over at Blake. “I’ll need more details when I arrive.”

“Of course,” he replied, sounding relieved. “I’ll brief you when you’re here.”

The line went dead, and I shoved the phone back into my pocket, bracing myself before turning back to Blake and Finn.

As I approached, Blake immediately caught my gaze, his expression worried.

“What’s wrong? Who called?” he asked, stepping closer, searching my expression.

“It was Davidson,” I said, casting a wary glance at Finn. “Another incident. A roadhouse burned to the ground just outside of town. He thinks it’s tied to the rogue.”

Blake’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening around mine. “Are there…more victims?” he asked, his tone tense.

I swallowed, nodding. “Yeah. More bodies. Davidson didn’t give me the details over the phone. He’ll brief me in person.”

“I’m heading out alone,” I said firmly, my eyes lingering on Blake’s face.

I knew he’d argue, but the last thing I wanted was to drag him or Finn into this mess.

The rogue wasn’t just any dragon—it was powerful, dangerous, and cunning.

And if I walked into a trap, I’d have a hell of a time protecting both of them.

“No,” Blake said immediately, his brow furrowing. “We’re coming with you.”

“Blake,” I replied, placing a hand on his shoulder, “I need you to stay here and look after Finn. He’s still recovering, and I can’t afford to be distracted if things go south.”

Blake clenched his jaw, about to argue, but Finn spoke up.

“Samuel’s right. I’m banged up, and if something happens, I won’t be able to keep up. I’ll only slow you down,” Finn said.

Blake turned to him, his expression torn, but then he nodded, reluctantly accepting the logic.

His eyes met mine, intense and fierce.

“Are you sure you don’t want backup?” Blake asked.

I smirked, pulling him close for a moment, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.

“I can take care of myself,” I assured him.

He gave me a measured look, his worry evident, but then he reached up, tracing a hand along my jaw.

“Just…be careful. I don’t want to spend my day patching you up,” Blake joked.

I chuckled, pulling him closer, savoring the feel of him against me.

“I’ll be fine. And besides, you’ll have Finn here to keep you occupied,” I told him.

He rolled his eyes, but a small smile curved his lips.

I reached up, gently cupping the back of his neck, pulling him into a soft, lingering kiss.

The kind that let him know I’d be coming back. The kind that promised a whole lot more once I did.

When we broke apart, he whispered, “We’ll be fine on our own. Don’t worry about us.”

I nodded, a flicker of pride warming my chest. He was strong, resilient.

I’d known that from the start, but now I felt it more keenly, the bond between us giving me a sense of certainty I hadn’t known before.

I brushed a stray lock of hair from his face, meeting his gaze.

“We’re both hunters, after all,” Blake added.

I grinned, squeezing his shoulder. “That you are.” I agreed.

As I turned to leave, I cast one last glance back at him and Finn, both standing side by side.

Finn offered me a small nod, and Blake’s gaze held a quiet resolve that made my heart swell.

With that, I stepped outside, feeling the crisp morning air hit my face.

My dragon stirred restlessly, eager for the hunt, the chance to finally confront the rogue that had left destruction in its wake.

I moved towards the truck, taking a steadying breath as I slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel tight.

This rogue wasn’t just a threat—it was personal. I’d let it linger too long, let it terrorize these people and put Blake at risk.

But not anymore. I’d end this, for the both of us. And then, once the dust settled, I’d return to that cabin, to Blake.

As I drove down the winding roads, my thoughts kept drifting back to him, to the soft brush of his lips, the fierce spark in his eyes.

He was mine, and I’d fight the world to keep him safe. The rogue dragon had left a trail of devastation, but today, that trail ended.

Today, I’d finish what I started.

And once it was done, I’d return home to my mate.

As I pulled up to the charred remains of the roadhouse, a gnawing sense of dread settled in my gut.

The image of Blake and Finn flashed in my mind—two skilled hunters, yes.

But still, my mate and his friend were back at the cabin, and every protective instinct I had screamed at me to turn around and return to them.

I shook off the feeling, trying to focus. They were capable. Blake had reminded me of that, but the hollow ache in my chest lingered.

I couldn’t let my worry cloud my mind; I had a job to do. The lives lost here demanded justice.

Stepping out of the truck, I surveyed the scene.

The roadhouse was no more than a charred skeleton, its beams twisted and blackened, still smoldering in places.

Firefighters—exhausted but determined—were packing up hoses and equipment, while paramedics quietly moved around, tending to some of the bodies pulled from the wreckage.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and ash, a grim testament to the sheer ferocity of the flames.

Several stretchers were lined up nearby, covered with white sheets, but even from a distance, I could tell that whatever lay beneath them was beyond recognition.

As I moved toward the sheriff, the weight of guilt settled heavier.

This rogue dragon had been my responsibility, but I’d been distracted.

I’d let my guard down, too wrapped up in the heat of mating and the thrill of getting to know Blake.

I pushed the thought aside; second-guessing myself now would do nothing to solve the problem at hand.

Sheriff Davidson spotted me and walked over, his face set in a grim line.

“Samuel,” he said, giving me a nod. “Where’s your partner? Figured he’d be joining you.”

“Blake couldn’t make it,” I replied, my voice steady. “But I’m here, and I’ll help however I can.”

The sheriff didn’t need to know the details; what mattered now was getting to the root of the problem.

Davidson took a deep breath, then gestured to the ruins behind him.

“We’ve got seven bodies so far,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with anger and sadness. “All of them locals. They come out here after shifts, or to catch some live music on the weekends. Good people, every last one of them.”

I nodded, the sense of urgency sharpening with each word.

“You mentioned on the phone that you suspected this was no ordinary fire,” I prompted.

“Exactly,” Davidson replied, his eyes narrowing. “Whatever did this, it wasn’t normal. The way the place went up in flames, so fast, and with this much destruction—it doesn’t add up. And that brings me to why I called you.”

He hesitated, casting a glance at the wreckage. “I’ve seen plenty of fires in my time, but nothing like this,” he said.

“It could be some sort of fae creature,” I suggested, keeping my tone neutral. “Something that manipulates fire.”

Davidson frowned, clearly skeptical, but he sighed and nodded.

“If you say so. You’re the expert here. I reached out to a friend of mine in the Bureau, and he confirmed that hunters from the Guild have been reliable before. Trustworthy,” Davidson said.

Relief surged through me.

Knowing that the sheriff wasn’t going to pry too deeply into our cover gave me some breathing room, at least for now.

As Davidson continued briefing me, I kept one eye on the tree line, searching for any sign of the rogue dragon.

At this distance, I should feel its presence. If it decided to show itself here, now, there’d be no hiding what I was.

I’d have to shift and reveal my true form, putting our entire operation at risk.

But if that was the price for ending this threat, I’d do it without hesitation.

“So, about what I told you earlier,” Davidson continued, his tone cautious. “You asked why I suspected this was more than just a fire. One of our witnesses, a truck driver passing by, swears he heard howls. Wolves, from the sound of it.”

“Wolves?” I echoed, my mind racing.

Davidson nodded gravely.

“We found two burnt animal corpses as well. Not much left, but we’re fairly certain they were wolves. I’ve seen strange things in this line of work, but this…” He shook his head. “It’s like nothing I’ve encountered before.”

The implications were unsettling.

The rogue dragon had a much deeper connection with the wolves than I realized if it was using them as its eyes and ears.

And if that were true, then it wasn’t just a simple beast—it was intelligent enough to lay traps, to bait its enemies.

A realization hit me with sickening clarity: the destruction here might be nothing more than a diversion, a lure to pull me away from my mate.

Davidson gave me a firm pat on the shoulder. “I’m headed back to the station. If you find anything, call me.”

I nodded, watching as he and his team pulled away, leaving me alone at the scene.

The rogue had to be nearby, lurking just out of sight, reveling in the chaos it had unleashed.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, letting my senses expand outward, scanning for the faintest hint of movement, a shift in the air.

But there was nothing.

Time slipped by, my patience waning as I waited. And yet, the rogue dragon didn’t come.

I felt a flicker of anger, quickly replaced by unease.

If this was just a trap, a distraction, then that meant only one thing: the real target was elsewhere.

I cursed under my breath, realizing I’d been played. The rogue had never intended to confront me here.

It had drawn me away, leaving Blake and Finn vulnerable back at the cabin.

Without another thought, I bolted for my truck, slamming the door shut and gunning the engine.

The roadhouse fire had been a brutal diversion, and I’d taken the bait.

My hands clenched the wheel, my foot pressing harder on the accelerator as I sped back toward the cabin.

All I could think of was Blake, his iron will, his fearlessness.

But he was still human, still vulnerable, and he didn’t know what he was up against.

The trees blurred past as I pushed the truck faster, my mind racing through every possibility, every nightmare scenario.

I’d let myself get too close, too complacent, and now my mate was in danger.

I had severely underestimated my enemy but I wouldn’t make that mistake again.