2. Draven

CHAPTER TWO

DRAVEN

I was seething with anger, unable to think clearly. Bullies were despicable, and I had always been taught by my father to protect the weak, not prey on them.

In the past, I would have shrugged off the incident and walked away, but the current me, broken and irreparable, stood frozen in place, consumed by rage like a volcano on the brink of eruption.

“Draven?” Tobias’ voice broke through the haze of my anger, bringing me back to reality.

I realized then that the air around us had grown warmer, reflecting my simmering mood.

Looking down at Tobias, my brave little wolf, I felt a mix of emotions.

Despite the fear emanating from everyone else in the roadhouse, Tobias held my gaze without wavering.

There was something different in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps even interest.

I knew I shouldn't encourage it, shouldn't allow anyone to get close to me, especially someone as innocent and vulnerable as Tobias.

But despite my better judgment, I found myself drawn his innocence and kindness.

You shouldn't be looking at me that way, little wolf, I thought.

I sized up the group of humans, their leader shooting daggers at me while his cronies held wisely held him back.

Part of me even wished the fool would make a move, longing for the satisfaction of seeing him reduced to a charred piece of meat.

Screams echoed in my mind, followed by the sickening smell of burning flesh. I dragged my mind from the past and tried to remain in the present.

Sweat glistened on the human’s forehead as he muttered something to his friends, their forced laughter ringing hollow in the air.

Finally, they moved to another corner of the roadhouse. A pity.

Turning my attention to Tobias, I noticed his hand was still on my arm. Noticing my stare, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he withdrew his fingers.

It was endearing, I thought, how easily flustered my little wolf could become.

He’s not mine, I immediately thought. He’ll never be mine. My inner dragon growled in disagreement.

"I could use some fresh air," I announced, breaking the tension that hung heavy in the air.

Tobias' face lit up at my words, his smile like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds.

In that moment, his genuine happiness chased away the dark shadows gathering in my mind.

"Stay close, or we might lose sight of each other," Tobias muttered, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd as he made for the entrance.

I didn't know what possessed me to reach out for his hand, but before I could second-guess myself, I reached for his fingers.

Tobias glanced over his shoulder, his expression lighting up with one of those brilliant smiles of his.

Despite the turmoil churning inside me, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth at the sight.

I let him lead the way, stealing glances at our entwined fingers and feeling a pang of absurdity wash over me.

Tobias shouldn't be letting his guard down around me, let alone offering to hold hands.

If he knew the truth about the monster he had befriended tonight, he'd run for the hills without a second thought.

It didn't take long for us to leave the chaos of the crowd behind. They willingly parted at the sight of us, well, mostly me.

I couldn't blame them—my aura and the scaled, fiery beast that shared my skin were impossible to conceal.

I had grown accustomed to the way people reacted to me, but lately, my control had been shaky, frayed around the edges by the ordeal I had endured over the last few months.

An ordeal that had left me... shattered. Unacceptable company.

Tobias and I emerged into the dirt parking lot, the cool mountain air washing over us. With a sigh, I released his fingers, grateful for the brief respite.

As Tobias walked alongside me, I couldn't help but dwell on how nice it felt to have someone touch me without fear or hesitation.

For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the warmth of his presence, wishing that he had entered my life before everything changed.

But lingering here with him wasn't wise; I knew I risked doing something I would later regret.

The more I got to know Tobias, the more I would inevitably want him, and that was a complication I couldn't afford.

I made my way to my parked motorcycle, Tobias trailing behind me.

"Where are you from?" he asked, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.

I hesitated, knowing that revealing too much about myself could lead to trouble. But something about Tobias's earnestness softened my resolve.

"I mean, I know everyone in Red Vine. Born and raised here, you see, and the place is pretty small, nothing much to see," Tobias continued.

We finally reached my motorcycle, and I retrieved my helmet and put it on.

"Oh, you're leaving?" Tobias's question hung in the air, laced with disappointment.

Realising I owed him some kind of explanation, I turned to face him.

It was hard to forget the vulnerability he had shown earlier, confessing his lack of experience in dating.

Though I didn't know the full extent of Tobias's history with the human back at the bar, I could sense there was something between them.

A part of me was tempted to track down the human, hurt him a little, but what would be the point?

"Keep a low profile. Trouble's the last thing you need," were Zane's parting words to me as I straddled my motorcycle, preparing to embark on a spontaneous road trip.

Zane, my new lead alpha, had taken on the responsibility of guiding me through this new chapter of my life.

It still felt surreal to think of myself as a part of a group, let alone under the leadership of someone else.

For most of my life, I had grown up in isolation, nestled in an old mountain cabin with just my dad for company.

We lived a simple existence, minding our own business and avoiding the prying eyes of the outside world.

When my dad passed away, it left me feeling adrift and alone.

At first, I didn't mind the solitude, finding solace in the familiar routine of our secluded life.

But as time went on, I couldn't shake the sense of emptiness that settled over me.

We were the last of our bloodline, and the world viewed us as a threat to be eliminated if we ever emerged into the open.

Our kind had been hunted to near extinction before and if they found out there were still a few dragon shifters out there…well. It would be a quick execution.

Tobias was still waiting for my response, his puppy blue eyes filled with hope and anticipation.

Taking a deep breath, I began to speak, my words feeling heavy with uncertainty, "Listen, I didn't know what made me decide to stop by Red Vine today, or drop by this roadhouse..." I trailed off, realizing I was stalling.

I needed to get to the point, to make him understand.

"But you and me, it's not a good idea," I finally admitted, my voice tinged with regret.

"Why? Because you're a nomad?" Tobias gestured towards the bulky pack strapped to the back of my motorcycle. "Draven, hasn't anyone ever told you that sometimes, it's not so bad to live in the moment?"

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his question.

"You don't strike me as that sort of guy," I replied.

Tobias flushed, his cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment, and I immediately regretted my harshness.

I reached out, cupping his left cheek in my hand, feeling the warmth and softness of his skin beneath my touch.

"I'm bad news," I told him honestly, my voice soft but firm. "You're sweet... and you probably deserve better."

I searched his eyes, hoping he would understand the truth behind my words.

But as much as I wanted to protect him from the darkness that lurked within me, I knew deep down that I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards him.

Feeling awkward, I dropped my hand. I had said all I needed to say, so I busied myself with putting on my helmet.

"You know, most guys just tell me no," Tobias's voice broke through the silence, carrying a hint of bitterness that caught me off guard.

I glanced at him, watching as he turned away, his shoulders slumping with dejection.

Seeing him so miserable stirred something within me, a sense of empathy that I hadn't felt in a long time.

After the incident, my dragon and I had gone from being partners to enemies, our relationship strained and fraught with tension.

But when it came to Tobias, we finally found something in common again—a desire to protect him, to shield him from the harsh realities of the world.

"Wait," I called out, halting Tobias in his tracks, even though part of me wished he had kept walking. "Do you know of any decent motels in the area?" I asked, hoping to salvage the situation.

Tobias turned back to me, his cheeks and neck once again flushed with embarrassment.

It was then that I realized the unintended implications of my words.

"I'm not... propositioning you," I added hastily. "I just figured I could stay the night here. Initially, I wasn't planning on sticking around, but I could give this place another chance."

What the heck was happening to me?

I had never been this indecisive before. Zane had given me one order for this road trip—never linger in one place too long.

I had joined Zane's group simply because he was strong enough to reel me in if my dragon went out of control.

Lingering in Red Vine and forming connections... there was a danger there.

But as I looked at Tobias's hopeful face, I made a snap decision to break that rule.

"Sure, there's the Moonlight Inn, the Rustic Retreat, and the Cozy Cabin Lodge," Tobias began reciting, rattling off the names of the local inns without missing a beat.

“The Moonlight Inn is nice because it's close to the library. That's where I work, by the way. I'm the junior librarian," Tobias said proudly, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice that I couldn't help but admire.

It was clear he liked his job.

Tobias halted, then cleared his throat awkwardly. "Not that that's an incentive, of course."

"Will you show me the way to the Moonlight Inn?" I asked, trying to hide my eagerness.

Tobias looked at me blankly for a moment, clearly puzzled by my request.

It occurred to me that I could easily find the inn with the help of my phone's location app. But I wanted to spend more time with Tobias, even if it meant taking the scenic route.

I took off my helmet and offered it to him.

“Take a ride with me?” I asked.

“A ride? Of course," Tobias replied, finally understanding the unspoken invitation to accompany me.