Chapter 9
Wayne
Ugh. This was turning into a much bigger clan meet than I’d thought it was going to be.
Jace’s brother’s clan had come for a visit, and it was originally supposed to be a handful of Porter’s closest friends.
It had quickly turned into half the damn clan coming, and everyone needing somewhere to stay.
My mom hosted several of the single, eligible women in my sisters’ and my old bedrooms. Of course. She was so hell bent on getting me married off. I was going to have to tell her about Bianca soon or she’d have me proposing to some dragon female I’d barely met.
It wasn’t new for us to host other clans. We sometimes visited other parts of the world, too. It was a dragon thing, a way we could travel and vacation while still having cover for flying, a place to stay, and not having to be terrified of some human discovering our true nature.
I’d been wearing long sleeves, even through the summer. I was so sure Mom would question it, but she hadn’t noticed. Eventually, I was going to screw up and pull up my sleeve or something.
At the clan meet, Anthony had set up a bunch of picnic tables and folding chairs all over the place so everyone could hang out and bond.
Even though it was cold here in November, we didn’t feel it the same way humans did.
And the human mates, Skye, Briana, and Kaylee, stayed inside with the children, so they were fine.
I was not fine, however, because some of the women from the other clan kept eyeing me. It was just a matter of time before one of them approached me.
“There you are,” Mom said, sidling up and putting her arm through mine. “I’ve been talking to the visiting ladies, and there are several I want to introduce you to.”
I sighed and fixed a steady glare on my mother’s face, trying to find the words to tell her to back off. All I wanted to do after the long day at the party was shift with my clan and then go home and go to bed.
Jace must’ve noticed my mother being a lurking busybody because he appeared in front of us. “Wayne, come with me,” he said in a jovial tone. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
The corners of Mom’s lips turned down, but she let go of my arm and wandered off, thank goodness.
“Thank you,” I said in a low voice once she was far enough away. “She’s dead set on finding me a mate.”
“Dude, you’re going to have to tell her,” he said. “I get it, I put off telling my mom, too, but just rip off the bandage and get it over with.”
We sat at a table after grabbing a couple of beers. “How’s that going, anyway?” he asked. “She still hate you?”
I smiled. Jace had been the one to give me a heads-up about the event so I was able to stick my nose in where it probably hadn’t belonged. “Today went well, though she’s got an ex that’s concerning. He showed up at the end of the event to beg for her heart.”
Jace scoffed. “No way. I can guarantee she doesn’t think about any man but you.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “And how would you know that?”
“That’s what happens when mates meet. I’d be willing to bet she’s talked herself out of any sort of relationship or date since the moment she laid eyes on you.”
Bri had to be aware of what Bianca was for me. But Bri hadn’t said anything to me yet. “Is Briana okay with this?”
Jace snorted. “In a way. She knows why you didn’t try to pursue anything with Bianca. And since Bee is getting her life straight and getting into her online thing, Bri is happy you waited.”
He set his beer bottle down. “But.”
I raised my eyebrows and gave him my full attention. “Don’t expect it to last. Don’t get comfy. Bri is a mama bear, and even though Bianca is her sister, not her daughter, she still considers Bee as one of her cubs.”
I sighed but was saved from further warnings about Bri’s fierceness by the arrival of Porter and a man I didn’t know.
“Hey, Wayne,” Porter said. I’d gotten to know him a bit over the last few months at clan functions, and he was a pretty good guy.
“This is my best friend, Toby. Toby, this is a good friend, Wayne.”
I guessed I’d graduated into good friend. That was fine with me. I could always use a few more friends. Standing, I shook Toby’s hand. “Join us?”
He sat down and looked around. “It’s beautiful here.”
We all nodded and made a bit of small talk. Toby turned the conversation to careers. “I know what these two do, what do you do, Wayne?”
“I’m a chef,” I said. “I own a personal menu company and help with a restaurant and catering company in town.”
His eyes widened. “Hey, we’re in the same field, somewhat. I’m a nutritionist.” That sparked a nice conversation between the two of us about the ties of quality food and health, until finally Jace sighed exaggeratedly.
“You’re boring us,” Porter said. “Talk about something else.”
We both laughed and I let them lead the conversation as I thought about Bianca’s racing heart. I’d smelled her attraction to me. She’d tried to hide it, but then she’d admitted she’d crushed on me back when I worked for her. That was the best news. It gave me something to work with.
Not long after we finished our beers, Anthony gathered everyone together for the clan run. Sammy had shown up and created a barrier for us to use to fly under, and then we shifted and hit the air.
It was amazing. The cool breeze rushed over my scales as I glided over the water, brushing my long claws through the surface, and letting the water trail behind as the wind dried me.
My good mood before my shift was only elevated by my dragon’s hopeful attitude.
He was just as ready as I was to have our mate with us and the way today went, it looked like we would be able to make it happen.
When Skye rang the big bell, we all headed in to eat.
I’d handled the food for a couple of these clan runs, but since I had Bee’s event going on today, Skye had taken care of it, with Briana and Kaylee helping.
Briana was about to pop, with her baby due any time now, but she was a busy bee.
She couldn’t stop moving and helping, even after we all sat down to eat.
A woman from Porter’s old clan sat beside me. And she was very attractive, for sure, but no matter how she batted her eyelashes, I was still spoken for. I couldn’t begin to be attracted to her, even if I’d wanted to.
Carleigh, the woman from the other clan, didn’t get the hint. I was trying to figure out a way to politely explain that I had someone I was very interested in, when Sammy appeared out of nowhere.
“Get lost,” she said. “He’s taken.”
Carleigh sat up straight and scoffed.
“Be nice,” I said and shot Sammy a look, but I couldn’t hide the laughter in my voice. Carleigh was being pretty blatant, anyway.
Sammy shrugged. “I’ve been away for too long. I need someone’s life to meddle in.”
Oh, geez. That did not bode well for me. Sammy was quite the force to be reckoned with. “Do you have any words of wisdom for me?” I asked.
She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “Your future seems tame compared to some others. Just keep your temper in check or you’ll end up alone and very sad.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that.
“But you know that already, don’t you?” She patted me on the arm. “Okay, I’m bored of you now.”
She disappeared without a sound, which was always startling in itself.
“I got her a bell, but she won’t wear it,” Jace said from the table behind me. “I’m going to glue it to her nose next time.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She was such a weird little witch.
I’d had enough to eat, though, and my eyelids were scratchy. It was time for me to go home and sleep.
As I said my goodbyes, my mother cornered me against one of the picnic benches. “You didn’t talk to any of the women,” she hissed. “I saw you talking to that sweet Carleigh, but Sammy scared her off. You’re never going to settle down and give me grandbabies if you don’t talk to women, son!”
“Mother, I’m not sure I ever want children,” I said. “So, get that out of your head.” I pulled her in for a side hug. “I’ll find my mate when it’s time and not a moment before. And when I do, when the time is right, I’ll tell you, okay?”
I was going to tell her about Bianca, and soon. But first I had some more work to do.
That started with Bri. I decided to make a pitstop before heading home and walked to the main house. She’d be in there with the kids and other women, hopefully resting after she’d run around all over outside, taking care of all of us.
Sure enough, Bri, Kaylee, and Skye were in the living room with their feet up. The other little ones were nowhere to be found. “Uh, Briana? Can I talk to you?”
She arched an eyebrow, but Kaylee and Skye stood. “We’ll go make sure the kids are okay with Hayden,” Skye said.
On their way into the hallway, Kaylee stopped and poked me in the shoulder. “I might be six months pregnant, but if you don’t do right by Bee, I’ll kick your ass. You know that, don’t you?”
I stiffened my spine and saluted Porter’s lady. “Yes, ma’am. I’m attempting to do just that.”
She nodded once. I knew damn well she meant it, too. If I hurt Bianca, they’d all be lined up to kill me.
I sat in the chair across from Briana and dry-washed my hands. “Bianca is my mate,” I said bluntly.
She nodded her head. “I know.”
“I’m not, like, asking permission from you or anything,” I said. “But I wanted to tell you where I’m at. My intentions, I guess.”
She rubbed her protruding belly and arched an eyebrow. “Your intentions?”
I grimaced. “Such an antiquated word, but yeah. I quit working for Bianca because I couldn’t stay out of her business.
And at the time, I wasn’t against a relationship with her, but I wasn’t all for pursuing one, either.
” I sucked in a deep breath. “My father, he had a temper. A bad one. And it got him killed.” Spreading my hands, I tried to sound meek and nonviolent.
“And though I’m a beta dragon, I inherited his temper.
I’ve worked on it for years, but still it sometimes escaped me. ”
“And what are you doing to make sure your temper doesn’t become a problem for my sister?” Bri asked.
“I started yoga, actually,” I said with a laugh.
She smiled, so she must’ve known what good it could be. “That’s great. What else?”
I sighed. “And therapy. That’s a private thing for me, so I’ll ask you not to share it. But I’ve got a handle on myself like I’ve never had before. That was a big motivating factor behind my career change, too. Reducing the stress in my world so I can live my best life.”
She nodded. “It sounds like you’re doing all the right things.”
I beamed at her. “I’m trying. And now that I’ve got things more settled and figured out, I plan to pursue a relationship with Bianca. I understand she’s a bit more settled now as well, more on her own two feet.”
Pride spread across Briana’s features. “She is. I’m very proud of her.”
I was too, though I didn’t really have a right to be. I couldn’t help it, though. I was going to be so proud to have her on my arm, to tell people she was with me.
“But Bianca is an adult. She can make her own decisions.” Briana shrugged. “We coddled her, sure, but you can’t come ask for her hand like some old-fashioned gesture.”
I shook my head. “No, no that’s not my intent. I just wanted you to know that I mean the best for your sister.”
She sighed. “Okay. You have my blessing, such as it is. But I do have some advice. If you win her heart, don’t break it.
Just don’t.” The warning in her eyes was enough.
She’d be coming after me with Kaylee. “And,” she continued, “tell her about the dragon thing sooner than later. She’s going to be pissed, especially when she finds out I know and have known all this time.
” Briana sighed. “I don’t look forward to that part. ”
Damn. Neither did I.