Chapter 13
ZACK
I nudged my sleeping mate, and when he didn’t wake, I peppered his face with kisses. He whimpered, and without opening his eyes, he pecked me on the lips.
“This is the best method of rousing me from a nap.”
“We have an invitation to join the den in a run.”
Ford closed one eye. “You know dragons are not fond of their feet pounding on the ground. It’s an inefficient method of traveling.” He grinned.
“Well, sorry that the rest of us don’t possess a set of wings.” I yanked the covers off him. “Come on, it’ll be fun. You can soar above us and make sure no bad guys are on the horizon.”
“Somehow I doubt a den of polar bears needs protecting.”
“Only from humans,” I muttered.
My mate agreed to come, and we arrived at the den as everyone was assembling in the meeting place. Weston was beside Asher and holding their toddler. Alpha beckoned me, and I took my mate’s hand as we strode through the crowd.
We had come here together as a couple once before. It had been a nice time, but I knew that Ford had been uncomfortable when we first arrived. I couldn’t blame him. It was a big deal meeting your mate’s den. By the end, he’d really liked them, and I was sad to feel his nerves once again.
“You all probably remember Ford from his last visit. This time we will be honored to meet his dragon. I’m sure he won’t mind questions from our cubs, but let’s not try to overwhelm him.
” Asher was the best. “Being a dragon shifter, he will be flying overhead while we pound the earth. Have a good run, everyone.”
Alpha kissed Weston and their daughter, and we stripped off our clothes. I blew my dragon mate a kiss and told everyone to stand back. Scales unfurled over his human body until his arms and legs vanished. The crowd gasped as horns channeled upward from his head, and he flicked his tail.
Den members ducked as my mate leaped into the sky, and his wings flapping sent a wind whistling through the den.
“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Quick, let's shift so we can follow him.”
Unless my mate wanted to be tracked, polar bears didn’t have much hope, but there was a flurry of fur and the den set off. My bear was better than the rest of the den at keeping the dragon in his sight.
As my bear trudged along the trail, other bears passed him. But speed alone wouldn’t help them find the dragon. And I had an advantage because Ford would always scent and look for my beast while ignoring the others. Besides, I knew his flying style when I was in my fur.
He’d soar straight up and then zoom lower. Anyone watching would think he was going to crash, but he’d pull up just before he hit the ground. Ford’s beast was kinda reckless, and it was thrilling for him to be so close to disaster.
Once he finished his daredevil act, he’d glide over the treetops searching for me, and when he found my beast, he’d stay close. I didn’t have to look for him because he always found me. It warmed my heart that my mate’s beast was so in sync with my bear and me that he knew where we were.
My bear was trotting at a leisurely pace while the rest of the den were far ahead. The breeze carried their huffing and panting through the woods as the dragon hovered close by.
Look up, I told my bear.
My beast’s head fell back as the dragon swooped over us, and he was so close, his green eyes glittered in the afternoon sun.
When we returned to the meeting area, the other den members had shifted and were lying on the ground, complaining that trying to keep track of an airborne dragon was almost impossible.
I smirked and didn’t say anything as I put on my clothes, and Ford made a perfect landing close to where the new building would be situated.
“That was more fun than I thought it would be.” Ford pulled a T-shirt over his head.
The den members gathered around, bombarding him with questions, and I stood back, pleased they were not only not afraid of him but that they were wanting to know more about dragons.
When we finally got away, it was almost dark.
“That went well, I think.”
My mate nodded but didn’t say anything. He was probably as tired as I was.
We were too exhausted to cook, so we heated up leftovers and crawled into bed early.
I was almost asleep when Ford shook me.
“Mmmm, what is it?”
My mate flicked on a lamp, and I blinked.
“I learned something today.”
Was that all? Surely he could have waited until morning to tell me.
“Okay. Was it that polar bears can’t keep up with a dragon?”
“No.”
My eyes snapped open because his voice had that undertone of regret that I’d picked up on early in our relationship. I sat up and took his hands.
“What is it?”
“I realized how much my dragon needs this, needs a den. And please don’t think it’s because you’re not enough for me. You are.”
I wanted to be more for him. More of everything and to fill that emptiness inside him. But I couldn’t. That wasn’t my role, which was to love and support him.
“I know you aren’t. A den is part of who I am. Do you need a flight? Is that what you’re saying?”
My mind was filled with possibilities. Ford would leave to find a new flight because he couldn’t return to his previous one.
I’d remain here because dragons were very territorial.
Or he’d go back and forth living a half life in either place.
He’d experience guilt at not being present for his flight or for me 100% of the time.
He kissed my cheek. “No. That’s not it, but I used to think I did. But at one time, I thought I might and I didn’t tell you. Are you mad I kept it inside?”
I took him in my arms and placed my lips on his head. “I’m not, I promise.” And I was telling the truth. “Not at you. I’m a little mad at me, though. It means I didn’t make you feel safe.”
I’d planned on discussing big things when it was the right time. But it had snuck up on me sooner than expected and bitten my ass, leaving my mate feeling guilty.
I needed to make a grand gesture and reassure my mate that I’d stay by his side and trusted him completely. It had been my choice to leave the den because of Asher’s stepfather’s actions all those years ago. But his reign was over and I left it open, allowing me to visit any time. I wasn’t rogue.
But my mate didn’t have a choice about being an outsider in his birth flight.
“Hey, no matter where you decide you want to be, I’ll be there with you. That’s what mates do. I’m happy being here, and the den loves you, but if your dragon needs more and that needs to be elsewhere, we will make that happen.”
Ford crossed his legs and peered at me. “You’d give up this place and the land that you love to come with me on my quest?”
I giggled because he made it sound as though we were knights searching for the meaning of life. “Sure, why not.” As a builder, I could get a job anywhere and could support us even if Ford couldn’t.
“But you might be far from your den, and then you’d be feeling like I am now.”
I slid down onto the mattress and pulled him beside me. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m secure in the knowledge that my den will welcome me back no matter how long I’ve been away.”
That wasn’t always the case when Asher’s father as Alpha and his stepdad was making the decisions.
“What if I can’t find a flight that accepts me? I’ve been tarnished, and every flight in the country may have been warned not to accept me.” He put his head on my chest and a tear slid onto my skin.
“You’ll have to create one of your own.”
“A flight of one isn’t much of a flight.”
He’d have to scour the countryside for dragons who for whatever reason didn’t belong to a pack. That’d be kind of cool.
“And you’d have to be an honorary dragon to lead the flight.”
That wasn’t happening. “You are enough. Omega or not, you would lead it.”
Ford snuggled into me. “Hmmm, I like that idea. Maybe I can get a crown.”
“What?” Crowns were for royalty, and monarchs weren’t elected.
Ford slapped my chest. “That was a joke. But human myths from all over the world tie dragons to royalty.”
“Should I get out of bed and bow?” I tickled him, and he chortled because he was ticklish.
Ford flipped onto his back. “Now that you mention it, you could get on your knees.” He pulled the bedding down, exposing his length.
“Sire, your wish is my command.” I shuffled between his legs and took his cock in my mouth.
“Oh yes, Just like that.”