Chapter 6
Rowan
Mate?
What the hell was he talking about, “mate”?
Griffin didn’t get a chance to reply before the Alpha grabbed him again, throwing him against the wall with a loud growl.
I glanced around the room, noticing my bag on the other side of the arguing Alphas.
My taser was in there. It wasn’t your run-of-the-mill human taser, either.
It would be strong enough to knock this feral Alpha on his ass.
Spending so much time around dragons, I came prepared with something guaranteed to take one down—in case of emergencies.
This sure as hell felt like an emergency.
With my back pressed against the wall, I tried to sneak along the edge of the room, staying away from the dragons tearing each other apart.
Griffin was holding back. I had seen him fight for his life.
This was a man he respected, going by the handful of words he’d gotten out.
But the snarling was growing louder, and the coppery scent of blood permeated the air.
The moment my canvas bag was within reach, I grabbed it, rummaging through the confines until I found the familiar rectangular shape of my taser.
After dropping the bag, I pulled the cap off the weapon, keeping my eyes on the fight in front of me.
The last thing I needed was to get caught by a stray flying fist. Unfortunately, I hadn't had the foresight to buy a ranged weapon, so I had to get up close and personal to protect Griffin and disable his attacker.
With my focus fixed on the fight, I didn’t notice the other Alpha entering the room behind me. As I raised my arm and edged closer, a powerful hand snatched my wrist, spinning me around with ease.
A pair of bright green eyes met mine, framed by a stunningly beautiful face. Despite the panic coursing through my veins, I couldn’t help but think about how easily I could lose myself in those peridot irises—just for a moment.
“Emmeline…” the man said, wistfully, almost like a prayer. His voice was rough yet melodic.
“No. Rowan,” I choked out, sounding way more unsure than I wanted. I shook myself back to the present, yanking toward the fight behind me. “Make him stop! He’s hurting Griffin!”
My friend was losing—badly. His face was a patchwork of blood and red splotches that would turn into nasty bruises. The sight made my stomach drop, and my veins froze up as my eyes prickled with tears.
I tried to pull away, but the Alpha simply wrapped his arm around my middle, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. A moment later, I was airborne and heading out the door.
“No! Let me go!” I shouted as my taser dropped to the floor, clattering and clinking.
There went my safety net.
I frantically clawed at the arm in a feeble attempt to force him to let me go, but it was useless. His arm may as well have been a band of steel holding me against his chest as I kicked and scratched.
Out of the corner of my eye, I registered that we were entering another bedroom, and my stomach turned uncomfortably. Before I could get a good view of my surroundings, I was gently tossed onto a bed.
No, no, no. This is bad. Bad, bad, bad.
Jumping up, I looked around frantically. The door was blocked by the Alpha, and I was backed into a corner. There were no windows or doors I could escape through, either. Terror clung to my throat; my mind forced to drum up images of my attack as my body shook uncontrollably.
The dragon in question looked at me, utterly confused, his brows pinched over his eyes.
“Emmeline?” The hushed question dripped with desperation.
My head buzzed as the panic soared higher.
My best friend had just been beaten to a damn pulp, and now I was alone with some feral Alpha in what seemed to be his bedroom.
I had no idea what he wanted from me, and fighting back wasn’t happening, no matter how much I wanted to. I was easily outmatched by this dragon.
The only help I could count on was in the other room, fists being driven into him like a punching bag.
“Who the fuck is Emmeline?” I sobbed, the urge to cry finally winning, tears streaming down my face. It felt so wrong, so pathetic. I’d stood up for myself, but it was happening again. A dragon I didn’t know was about to attack me, just like before, and again, there was nothing I could do about it.
“You’re… scared?” The Alpha frowned, those dark brows low as he growled at me. “You know we can’t hurt you! Why on earth did you leave?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” These dragons most certainly could hurt me. The only person a dragon couldn't hurt was their mate, and I had no idea who this Alpha was, so I highly doubted that would apply. “Who are you?”
“Why are you lying? You know us.”
My attention jerked to the doorway, where the Alpha who’d attacked Griffin stood, his cold stare locked on me.
“I’ve never fucking met you guys!” I shouted. I was probably waking up the entire den, but I didn't care. Maybe someone would be able to help Griffin if I did.
Looking over the new Alpha in the doorway, I cringed at the blood decorating his fists. Griffin’s blood. Where was my best friend? Knowing him, I could guess he was at least unconscious. Otherwise, he’d be ramming through these Alphas to get to me—loyal to a fault.
“You do know us, you heartless bitch,” the taller Alpha growled, prowling forward.
His enormous hands found my hips, and I gasped.
My stomach lurched, and I flinched, not wanting to meet his eyes.
The angry, dark-haired Alpha shoved his face into mine, desperate rage filling his expression.
He was panting with exertion as his gaze raked over me.
Despite his anger, despite the terror that made me tremble from head to foot, I couldn’t deny there was an odd pull.
Something in me wanted to reach out and touch his cheek, draw him closer.
Had I hit my head? Why the hell would I be drawn to a psychopath who’d just beaten the shit out of my best friend?
“You remember me, don't you?” he crooned, leaning so close his breath fanned over me.
A maniacal grin stretched across his face while a rumbling sound emanated from his chest.
A purr.
Dragons didn't purr for just anybody. It worked on mates, which meant this attempt to calm me down was ridiculous. Except, my body reacted instinctively, muscles relaxing, tension leaching from me as wetness gathered between my legs.
“You might think you don’t remember me, but your body sure does, little human.”
One of his hands circled the nape of my neck, tangling in the hair there, keeping me in place while he lowered his lips to mine, searing a bruising kiss against my lips.
I should have slapped him, pushed him away, refused the kiss, but my traitorous body reacted differently, leaning in closer, molding my form to his. For a brief moment, I was lost to insanity as the taste of him set my body ablaze—dark and smoky, rich and sweet.
Thankfully, reality flooded back in. Crashing back to my senses, I raised my hand to the Alpha’s cheek, raking my nails down his face.
They were longer than usual, after days without a good filing, so they left a nasty scratch.
The dragon growled into my mouth, letting me go.
I lurched back, a frantic gasp escaping my chest.
Spinning away, my eyes landed on the open bathroom door.
Without a second thought, I darted toward it.
It was a dead end, of course, but it was better than being in the same room as the feral dragons who were far too interested in me.
The Alpha was surprised enough by my reaction that he didn’t make it to the door before I slammed it shut, engaging the lock.
With my back to the door to keep it closed, I shook my head, dropping my face into my hands.
Sure, if he wanted to, he’d just tear down the damn thing, but I was really hoping the idea of damaging property was enough to keep him from ripping the wood off its hinges.
After running my hands through my hair, I tried to breathe, attempting to rein in my confused, horrifically overwhelmed brain.
What had just happened?
Five minutes ago, I was sitting with Griffin in his bedroom, drinking fine whiskey and reminiscing about the good old days. Now, I was locked in a bathroom, hiding from two feral Alphas, one of whom had just shoved his tongue down my throat after beating the shit out of my best friend.
Alpha Orsen? Was that what Griff had called him before the attack? What sort of horde was this if the Alphas attacked their own members and forced themselves on a woman who’d only come onto their territory to help a sick kid?
Looking down at my body, bile rose in my throat at the bloody handprints on my thighs and hips where Orsen had touched me.
I stood and grabbed a towel, desperately trying to wipe off the mess with a sob.
Griffin’s blood. And I was on the wrong end of all this.
I helped people. I healed them. All this violence was—
I couldn’t keep my hands from shaking as I scrubbed frantically at the fabric until the skin underneath began to burn. Even as the red faded from my clothes, I could see it, all the crimson that had covered me after the attack, the scars I’d had to face every day after.
I wasn’t safe. I was never safe. No matter where I went, some dragon could do this to me. Again. I’d made a mistake in coming here, a terrible mistake. Despite everything inside me that ached to help the innocent dragons in need, it was clear that Jenkins was right.
I didn’t belong.