Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Z ane woke up the next morning, his mind still reeling from the events

of the night before. His dragon practically purred with satisfaction, reveling in the memory of finally taking Alena in his arms. Though he had not spoken the words of claiming, that didn't seem to bother his dragon too much.

Mate, his beast rumbled.

He didn't want to think about it too much. As right as it had felt, he had stopped short of a full claiming ritual.

Whatever. He had not planned on it going that far. At all. But it had. Boy howdy, had it.

Zane couldn't shake the nagging sense of guilt and uncertainty that gnawed at his gut. Had he put her in danger by consummating their bond? But technically, there had been no claiming.

Oh, please.

Could he still protect her from the hate that filled their town? What if they were discovered?

He tried to push away the image of Alena's flushed face and passion-glazed eyes, the feel of her soft curves pressed against him. It was a mistake, a moment of weakness. It could never happen again.

And yet, even as he told himself this, Zane knew it was a lie. His dragon would never let him walk away from her, not now that they'd tasted the sweet nectar of her surrender. She was theirs, consequences be damned.

Mate!

Zane forced himself out of bed, his body still humming with the aftershocks of their lovemaking. Afterward, they had laid under the stars for what must have been an hour before each decided it was best if they returned to their respective homes.

He shook himself to clear his head. He had to focus, to come up with a plan. Alena's warning about the Riders' shady dealings still rang in his ears. He needed to get to the bottom of it, to protect his clan and his town.

But first, he had to face his brothers. The mere thought made his stomach clench with dread. He had showered for thirty minutes, scrubbing himself all over. It wouldn't do for Dash and Striker to smell Alena's scent on him. Not at all.

Zane took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders as he prepared for the day ahead. One thing was for sure—he was walking a razor's edge now. One false move, and everything he held dear could come crashing down around him. Including Alena.

What a damn mess.

His phone buzzed insistently, jolting him out of his brooding thoughts. A quick glance at the screen revealed Beth's name, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Of course, she'd be dying to get the scoop on his mysterious lady companion from last night.

"Hey, Beth," he answered, trying to keep his tone light. "What's up?"

"Don't you ‘what's up' me, mister," Beth retorted, her voice brimming with barely contained curiosity. "Spill! Who was that girl? I've never seen you so smitten before."

Zane sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "It's complicated, Beth. She's… well, you can't tell anyone…"

"Zane, please… of course I won't tell anyone. What is it?"

"She's a bear."

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line before Beth let out a low whistle. "A bear? Damn, Zane. You sure know how to pick ‘em."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Zane found himself grinning. "I guess I like a challenge."

"More like you've got a death wish," Beth quipped. "Seriously, though, what's the deal with you two? I thought bears and dragons were sworn enemies." Beth was one of a handful of humans that Zane knew about who were ‘in the know.' Made sense, as she did lead the ghost tour in town, after all.

"We are," Zane admitted, his heart clenching at the thought. "But Alena… she's different. She's… well, pretty sure she's my mate."

Pretty sure? You know she is.

Beth hummed thoughtfully. "Your mate? Jeez. So, in other words, you don't really have a choice in the matter. But what about your family? Your clan? They're not exactly going to throw you a parade for shacking up with a bear."

Zane groaned, the weight of his responsibilities crashing down on him once more. "I know, I know. It's a mess. My brothers are already on my case about the Riders. If they find out about Alena…"

He trailed off, not wanting to even contemplate the fallout. Dash and Striker would be furious, betrayed. As his brothers, they would probably understand, or at least try to. But the repercussions it could have throughout the dragon clan and on their business could be catastrophic. They might even cast him out of town for the greater good. And what choice would they really have if it got out?

"If you really feel that strongly—if you know , that is, then maybe you should leave," Beth suggested gently. "Fly away with your lady love and start fresh somewhere new."

Hearing her say it aloud was a little shocking, but for a moment, Zane allowed himself to imagine it: a life with Alena, free from the constraints of their feuding families. They could go anywhere, be anyone.

But then he caught himself. I can't leave my family.

"It's a fairy tale, Beth. I can't. My clan needs me, now more than ever. But don't think part of me doesn't want to just say ‘screw ‘em' with the attitude they give me at times. But in the end, blood is blood. I swear, though, it would serve ‘em right for this Forsaken Riders business to blow up in their faces, but I can't let that happen."

Beth sighed, and Zane could see her in his mind's eye rolling her eyes. "I get it. But you can't keep straddling the fence forever. Sooner or later, from what I can, see you're going to have to choose—your blood or your mate."

Zane's dragon reared up at the word, possessive and fierce. Mate. Alena was his mate, and the thought of losing her made his very soul ache.

He had a sort of flashback again to the previous night. God, it had been divine. He felt a rise in his sex again just at the thought of her.

Get a grip!

But he couldn't turn his back on his family, either. They were a part of him, as surely as his wings and scales.

"I don't know what to do, Beth," he confessed, his voice raw with emotion. "I feel like I'm being torn in two."

"Do you want my advice?" Beth asked, her tone gentler now.

"Please," Zane begged, desperate for any glimmer of guidance.

"It's simple, really," she began, and he could hear the smile in her voice. "You've got two problems: the Riders and the feud between your clans. So, just solve them both. If you are really confident the Riders are up to something, then expose them. And then, with the bears and dragons, just bring peace between your clans! Boom, happily ever after."

Zane barked out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Simple, huh? Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you're a guy," Beth teased. "You need us women to point out the obvious sometimes."

Zane's smile faded as he considered her words. Could it really be that easy? Just take down the Riders and convince his clan to make nice with the bears?

Even as his rational mind scoffed at the idea, his dragon stirred within him, hopeful and determined. For Alena, for their future, he had to try. He liked the simplicity of Beth's analysis. She was right.

"Thanks, Beth," Zane said, his resolve hardening. "I needed that clarity. Or maybe it was a kick in the pants."

"Anytime, my friend," Beth replied, and he could hear the grin in her voice. "Now go save the world and get your girl. And don't forget to invite me to the wedding!"

With a chuckle and a promise to keep her updated, Zane hung up, his mind already racing with possibilities. He had a plan now, or least the beginnings of one. The how of it was going to be another matter, though.

But still, now he at least could almost believe he had a shot at the happy ending he'd never dared to dream of.