Chapter 8 Poppy #2
The spines on Violet’s long neck lifted, reminding me of a wolf’s hackles. His eyes were sharper now. “Why does an alpha assign your duties? Why don’t you get to decide?”
Sorrel laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “C’mon, that makes no sense. Konrad’s our alpha. Don’t you understand how important that is?”
“I’m an alpha, too,” Violet said in a low tone. “What’s that have to do with anything?”
I blinked, turning my surprised gaze on the dragon.
I knew he was a fellow shifter, but I hadn’t even considered that possibility.
He didn’t act like any alpha I’d known. He didn’t talk down to me, and he didn’t treat me like a fool.
I felt disoriented by this sudden knowledge, like the entire planet had tilted.
Sorrel kept arguing. “No, you don’t get it. Konrad’s our clan alpha. He’s the leader, he makes all the decisions. It’s a huge responsibility, so he’s doing us a favor by making sure nobody makes mistakes.” He faced me. “Anyway, Poppy’s really excited, right?”
My stomach churned, but I gave a stiff nod. “I’ll get my assignment any day now,” I agreed, dodging his real question.
As if struck by arrows, I felt the sudden burn of Violet’s piercing gaze. It sent a shiver rippling down my fur. It was intense, the sensation almost physical. The dragon radiated raw power in a way I’d never felt before.
And for once, I wasn’t afraid of it.
Daring to meet his gaze, I lifted my face. Our eyes met. His irises were a vivid, severe shade of purple, like the darkest shade of a striking sunset.
But like a sunset, it was painful to look at for too long. The beauty never lasted. It was fleeting, a momentary reprieve before the cold, harsh night to come.
The spell broke when Violet’s gaze flicked back to Sorrel. I released my held breath. I felt shaken, and I didn’t understand why.
“And what about you, kid?” Violet asked.
“I’m not a kid,” Sorrel grumbled. “I’m—well, I’m not supposed to get my assignment for another few years, but...”
My ear twitched. But what? There were no buts. He wasn’t old enough, period.
“Right now, focus on hunting,” I told Sorrel quietly. “Don’t think so far ahead.”
Being a hunter was the best chance he had at a good life. I didn’t want to think of him getting a worse position, like a basic chore worker, but the ‘better’ alternative was something I’d rather not imagine, either.
“You need help hunting?” Violet asked.
His offer dissolved the uneasy atmosphere. I preferred having a concrete task to focus on.
“We’re trying to catch hares,” I explained.
“For Konrad,” Sorrel chimed in.
Violet’s eyes narrowed slightly for a second before returning to normal. “Over there. I see one nibbling on a twig. I’ll stay still and pretend to be a big rock. You guys chase it in my direction, then I’ll catch it.”
“But you’re hurt,” I pointed out. I didn’t want his injuries to worsen by helping us.
Violet snorted. “C’mon, Poppy, I’m not dead. I can still move enough to catch a hare.”
My heart warmed. I felt safe when he said my name, and the kindness of his words touched me.
“All right,” I conceded. “Sorrel, let’s use the funnel formation.”
“Right. Uh... what is that, again?”
I explained as we rounded behind the hare.
We crouched low to the ground—thankfully, Sorrel paid attention and followed my lead—and crept up close before launching at it.
I knew neither of us were fast enough to catch a hare at full sprint, but as it bolted in Violet’s direction, I felt a flash of hope.
It was too panicked to recognize the unfamiliar shape of a completely still dragon.
Seconds later, Violet swiped with precision. His claws swiftly dispatched our prey.
“Violet, you did it!” I cried, bounding over to him.
He grinned. “You guys did most of the work. Here, kid.” He pushed the hare towards Sorrel, who grabbed it eagerly. It was a nice big one that barely fit in his jaws.
“Konrad’s gonna be so happy,” Sorrel exclaimed through a mouth full of fur.
My moment of joy quieted. Once more, it all circled back to our clan alpha. At least for Sorrel.
As worry crept over me like a fog, I felt Violet’s gaze on me again, but I didn’t look back to meet it.
I was too caught up in my thoughts, and dreading our return to camp.
The idea twisted my stomach. I just wanted to stay here with Violet, where everything felt safe.
I wanted to accept his offer to fly us away to his strange warm island.
But as long as we belonged to the tundra clan, that future was nothing but a dream.
Sorrel dropped the hare long enough to speak properly. “It’s getting dark. We should head back.”
It was barely mid-afternoon, but that meant nothing to the winter sun. Sorrel was correct. Konrad would get suspicious if we took too long to return. The last thing I wanted was for him to hunt us down and discover Violet. I doubted he’d appreciate the dragon’s presence.
“I already asked once, but... you’ll come back eventually, right?” Violet asked, staring into my eyes.
The individual hairs on my neck shivered. “Yes, I will. As soon as I can,” I promised.
“Thanks for the help,” Sorrel said before picking up the hare. He swished his tail, summoning me.
I wanted to stay. But I had no choice but to leave.
My throat felt hoarse from talking for so long. I sipped the hot chocolate Taylor had so kindly made for me. I was terrible at hiding my emotions, so when I walked back into the kitchen with a sullen expression, my friends immediately knew something was wrong.
After my impromptu babysitting duties had ended, the parents thanked me and collected their kids. When I was free, Taylor and Alaric pulled me aside to the quiet living room.
Sensing my bad mood, Muzo tagged along for moral support. The others quickly caught him up to speed on my story so far. I was grateful that I didn’t have to repeat it all over again, but hearing it summed up in someone else’s words made it feel surreal. Like a bad dream.
Except for the four of us, the room was empty. My final words lingered in the air for a few silent beats. Then Alaric spoke up.
“How do you feel, Poppy?” he asked. He sat on the couch across from me, cradling a hot tea in his palms.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I can keep going. I just need a minute.”
“You sure?” Muzo asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
Taylor and Muzo sat flanking me on the couch. The tiger omega gave me a long, hard look, gauging my true feelings. But it really was how I felt.
I met Taylor’s gaze with enough determination that he sighed and conceded.
“All right,” he said. “We’re listening, Poppy. But if you need to stop, or take a break—”
“Or need a snack, or something,” Muzo interjected.
“Or another drink,” Alaric added, raising his mug.
“—then we’ll drop everything to get it for you. Deal?” Taylor finished.
Their compassion warmed my soul. None of them had to sit here listening to my tale drag on and on. They could’ve been with their mates and children, or having fun with a hobby, or even relaxing on the beach beneath the sun. Instead, they chose to be here with me. I didn’t take that for granted.
“Thank you,” I murmured. I took a sip of my hot chocolate, a sweet reminder that I was safe here in the present, then closed my eyes. “Ah. Where was I...”
We returned to the clan right on time. Konrad was pleased enough by Sorrel’s offering that he didn’t remark on the fact that we were nearly late. But that didn’t make me feel any better. If anything, Konrad’s shower of praise on my brother only twisted the dull knife into my stomach harder.
I spent the night mired in my own thoughts, their directions torn into two.
Half of me was deeply concerned about Sorrel, but the other half couldn’t stop thinking about Violet.
An alpha dragon... He was so novel and fascinating, a man unlike anybody I’d ever met before.
He almost didn’t feel real. But he was. I’d touched him with my nose and memorized his scent. He was tangible. A real person.
That night I lay in my cramped cot, restless and unable to fall asleep. Viol’s offer to fly us away repeated in my mind. Was he joking, or did he truly mean it? I spent all night bouncing the possibilities back and forth—the highest of hopes versus gut-wrenching despair.
My mind wasn’t any clearer the following morning. The lack of sleep jumbled my thoughts further and I plodded through my daily routine in a daze.
“Poppy.”
Konrad’s voice hit me like a slap. I hadn’t realized how unfocused I was until he stood right next to me, blocking the morning sun with his massive body.
“Y-yes?” I said, standing to attention.
“It’s time.”
That was all he said. He let the words sink in, then strode purposefully away.
My knees weakened, but I forced myself to stay upright. I wouldn’t buckle. I would accept my purpose and position, my fate in the tundra clan.
And yet, even now, I couldn’t stop thinking about Violet. I wished he was here. The idea of him secretly watching gave me a pathetic morsel of hope. It was embarrassing, but I clung to it like a mouse dangling over a chasm. The fantasy was all I had.
Konrad summoned the clan. It was time for my duty assignment.
Sorrel bounced beside me, his tail wagging non-stop. “This is so exciting! What d’you think you’re gonna be assigned? No, wait, don’t tell me. I want it to be a surprise.”
The list of options for omegas wasn’t long. In order of importance and rank, it went: chore worker, guard, hunter, fighter, and finally, the greatest honor: child-bearer.
My fatigue was quickly stripped away by my frayed nerves. I nearly jumped out of my skin as a polar bear sauntered close and sat beside me, but I relaxed when I recognized Rorik.
“Good luck,” Rorik said to me, a loose smile playing on his lips.
“You, too,” I murmured.
As Konrad took his place in the center, a silent hush fell around the gathered shifters. Everybody hung on his next breath.