32. Rowan
Rowan
“There’s something so damn good about diner food,” Luca said, sitting back and smiling.
In the time it had taken me to eat my burger, he’d demolished three and a side of chili fries. Dragons and their stupid appetites.
I smiled, too, nodding. “I’ve eaten at a lot of diners in my time, and this is hands down one of the best. Actually, we need to try their milkshakes next.”
Luca groaned playfully, patting his stomach. “I do love a shake.”
“Imagine if your mate ends up being a health nut?” I chuckled, feigning shock.
The horror on Luca’s face made me descend into giggles. It was so much fun to tease him. Luca had a sweet tooth, a terrible one. The idea of him being paired with someone who didn’t like a sugary treat was actually kind of depressing.
“I would have to teach her the glorious ways of junk food. Well, that is, if I’m lucky enough to find my mate.”
My chest pinched, and I flicked my stare to my food. Not everyone found their mate. Some dragons simply had lasting relationships with others they were in love with. Finding a fated mate was rare, and while everyone hoped for it, it wasn’t the reality for most dragons.
And for that, I felt like Luca probably hated me. I’d found four—and I wasn’t exactly as thrilled about it as I probably should be.
“You’ll find her,” I assured him, my voice quiet.
“I never thought I would be jealous of the North Oak Alphas.” He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “They’ve been a disaster for so long, but now… things are seriously looking up for them.”
“Hey, don’t be like that. You’ll find your mate.” I smiled, squeezing his hand. “I’m sure of it.”
“But would she make a good Alpha?” he questioned, his expression uncommonly serious.
“My partner has to help me rule our horde, and not many people are built for that. North Oak got you. In my opinion, they hit the jackpot because I know few people—let alone a human—who would be better than you at that job.”
“In your opinion.” I grinned, shaking my head. “And whoever she is, she’ll be perfect for you. That’s the whole point, remember? Fated mates are perfect for one another.”
Past me—Emmeline—had been perfect for the North Oak Alphas. The question still rattling around my head was, was I perfect for them now? Had my life experiences made me too headstrong?
Luca hummed. “Eh, I know, but there’s only so long I can wait before I have to think about what’s best for my horde.”
Alphas needed mates. They needed to continue their bloodline to help protect the people under their care. It made sense. The fact that Luca was clearly getting worried he would miss his opportunity tugged at my heartstrings, though.
“You’re not an old timer yet; it could still happen.”
The table was silent as we both picked at our fries. I licked the salt off my lips, wondering what to say. Luca was one of my closest friends, and it still seemed like he was a bit… off.
Luca gave me a look, and I cocked my head to the side. “Are you okay?”
He chuckled lightly. “That’s my question. You’ve been through so much the last few weeks. How are you coping with it all?”
Shrugging, I popped a fry into my mouth. “I told you, I’m fine. I meant it. I’m not going to pretend that everything is sunshine and rainbows, but I’m settling in, in my own way.”
“But do you want to leave?” he asked pointedly, staring right at me. “Just say the word, and I’ll take you back to my horde. Having you there for my sister’s birth would be ideal. You know we will protect you.”
I looked at the Alpha for a moment. He was genuinely concerned for my well-being, and I appreciated it so much.
“Thank you, Luca. I mean that,” I said, placing a hand on his forearm. “But no. I don’t want to leave. There’s no way I can leave them now.”
“Because of how badly they need a healer?” he scoffed, clearly still unimpressed to a degree. “Say the word, and I will find someone who could at least do a better job than their last healer to take over.”
“Not exactly,” I said with a sigh, rolling my lips between my teeth.
Luca cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t have to explain that one. But…”
My chest pinched, but I pictured that stupid bunch of Alphas and what’d been going on, and what I was feeling became so undeniable as the thought of them made me smile.
“Would you believe me if I said I was… falling in love with them?” I admitted in a quiet voice.
It felt wrong to say it out loud, but so right at the same time. Fast, unpredictable, sudden, it was all those things. But it was also undeniable, comfortable, and… nice.
I expected my friend to be comforting or surprised. Instead, he simply laughed.
I made a face at him. “That’s not exactly the reaction I expected.”
Luca settled, shaking his head as he patted my arm. “Because I think it’s pretty obvious you’re falling in love with them. Or at least some of them.”
“Yeah, Bastian can go jump off a cliff, for all I care. Then again, I have seen a softer side of him. It’s just not directed at me, which I’m sure has some kind of explanation, but he hasn’t been one for sharing, of course.”
“He’s an idiot,” Luca declared. “I’m sure, in time, he’ll realize just how big an idiot. I’m serious, though—my offer to leave at any time stands.”
“I’m pretty sure if I left, I would have two or three dragons hot on my tail. I wouldn’t want to bring that to your doorstep, anyway.”
“It would liven the place up a bit, though.” He shrugged, the corners of his mouth turning down.
I shook my head. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to disrupt the people of North Oak any more than they already have been. I care about the dragons here.”
A slow smirk spread across his face. “Any dragons in particular?”
Giving him a fake scowl, I said, “You’ve known them longer than me. What do you think?”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: they are good people. They’re just a little broken right now. And I get why. They need… Well, shit, they need some healing. And look at that, you’re a healer.”
An unladylike snort escaped me as I rolled my eyes and swallowed down a fry. “Well, if anyone knows anything about being broken, it’s me.”
Luca eyed me, that serious face firmly back again. “You’re not broken. You’re still worth a million of them. And you need to remember that. Anyone else in your position would be running for the hills, but you’re staying and helping. Even when one of the Alphas is being a complete asshole.”
“Only a partial asshole now,” I tried to defend Bastian. “But yeah… I don’t think I can leave anytime soon. Though if Poppy doesn’t want to stay here, I would happily travel to you when her time is near.”
“Would your prison guards allow that?” he asked.
I waved off his concern. “I’m sure they would. It wouldn’t be like I was running for the hills. I’d just be going to help a neighboring Alpha. They can’t complain when it comes to that.”
“They shouldn’t be complaining at all. They managed to find their mate twice, despite impossible circumstances.
Some of us would kill for the chance to find our mate, even once.
Also, Poppy is considering staying here with Samuel, at least until the babies are born.
She’s a smart dragon and won’t say no to staying where a good healer is. ”
“The right woman is out there for you somewhere, Luca. I know it,” I assured him.
“And I would be more than happy to look after Poppy. I prefer her to you.” I laughed.
“Anyway… want to hear how I’m causing problems with other Alphas?
” I asked, innocently resting my elbow on the table, batting my lashes.
“Good Lord, what have you done now?”
“Do you know Byron from Birch Creek Horde?”
Luca frowned. “I met him a few years back at a large gathering of Alphas. He’s not what I would call pleasant…”
I nodded. “Yeah. That’s the impression I got. Well, I may have royally angered him.”
“How?”
“So, remember the whole ‘I got kidnapped’ thing?”
Luca frowned. “I remember. Pregnant rogue?”
“Yeah. Well, it turns out they became rogues because Allison is Byron’s daughter. He was trying to marry her off to another Alpha who she didn’t like, someone three times her age. Only, she found her fated mate in Colin and decided to run away with him, and got pregnant.”
Luca spluttered around a mouthful of soda. “What the hell?! You can’t be serious.”
“That’s why they were rogues. Byron is pissed at her for disobeying him. I… Well, I offered them sanctuary in North Oak. They and their baby are part of my horde now.”
“You really pulled rank?” he asked, his voice tinged with pride as he leaned back and really looked at me, eyebrows knitted together.
“I’m not proud of it, but I did what I needed to do.” I shrugged. “It may have upset the guys for a moment, but most of them came around.”
“You should be proud of it. I am. You’re coming into your own as a horde Alpha—yes, you still have a way to go when it comes to your guys, but I have faith. If it’s what you want, you’ll get there. And Bastian… Well, he’d better wake the fuck up.”
“So… can I count on you if Byron kicks up a fuss?” I asked sweetly.
A very impolite snort escaped Luca. “Oh, sure, because now it’s my problem.”
I opened my mouth, gasping playfully.
Luca grinned, polishing off his last fry. “You know I’m there whenever you need me, Rowan. Now, more fries?”