8. Draven/ Tobias

CHAPTER EIGHT

DRAVEN/ TOBIAS

DRAVEN

I dreamt of the rustic cabin nestled in the mountains, its little green roof peeking out from among the trees.

Memories flooded my mind—of my dad teaching me how to hunt, fish, and respect the woods. He also showed me how to control the frightening beast that shared my skin.

The dream shifted to the day Belladonna appeared at my doorstep, her clothes tattered and her body covered in scratches.

I could still remember the words she said.

“Help me. Please. I got lost in the woods.”

Despite living alone since my dad passed away, I still remembered his lessons in kindness.

Foolishly, I fell for the act. I invited her into my den, believing I could offer aid.

That turned out to be the gravest mistake of my life.

“Here, you can use my phone,” I had told her.

As I extended my cell phone to Belladonna, a sudden shift in the air sent a chill down my spine.

The atmosphere seemed to crackle with an unseen energy, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.

Before I could react, her hand closed around my wrist with an iron grip, and I knew something was terribly wrong.

In that moment, magic surged through me, like tendrils of shadow wrapping around my very soul.

I struggled to break free, but it was as if I was trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape.

I also saw that the injuries she had displayed were nothing but a well-crafted illusion.

A searing pain tore through my chest, I clenched my teeth against the agony, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

A strange, burning sensation spread across my skin.

I staggered backward, clutching at my chest, my heart pounding with fear and confusion.

Shaking with rage, I glanced down, and my blood ran cold at the sight before me.

A dark, twisting rune was etching itself onto my flesh, its lines pulsating with an eerie, otherworldly light.

Each stroke of the rune seemed to sear into my skin like a branding iron, and I let out a half-growl, half-scream.

My mind reeled with disbelief as I watched the symbol take shape.

As the final line of the rune fell into place, I felt a chill settle over me, colder than anything I had ever experienced.

I knew in that moment that my life would never be the same again, that I had been marked by something ancient and sinister, something that would haunt me until I died…unless I managed to free myself of it.

My eyes snapped open, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to my thoughts like cobwebs in a dark corner.

The chill that had enveloped my body slowly receded, leaving me shivering in the wake of its icy touch.

With a frustrated grunt, I pushed the sheets away, my muscles tense with lingering unease.

As I sat up in bed, I touched the lingered rune on my chest and cursed.

My anger simmered just beneath the surface. I was still mad at myself, for my naivety and at Belladonna, for everything she’d done to me.

My thoughts swirled with bitterness and resentment.

What had I done to deserve such a fate? I had always kept to myself, avoiding trouble and conflict whenever possible.

Yet here I was, shattered and unable to fully control my inner beast.

With a sigh, I rose from the bed and crossed the room to the window. The curtains were drawn shut, blocking out the morning sun.

Rising to my feet, I opened the windows, allowing the golden rays to flood the room. Closing my eyes, I basked in the sun's warmth.

Everything felt different now. When I had approached Zane weeks ago, seeking refuge within his pack, I had been desperate, lost in the suffocating grip of darkness that threatened to consume me.

To be honest, a part of me had even entertained thoughts of giving up entirely.

But then, Tobias had walked into my life. In just seven short days, he had managed to become someone really important to me.

Every time we were together, the curse seemed to matter less, and I was hopeful that someday, it would cease to matter entirely. It sounded like I was using him, but I wasn’t.

Deep down, my dragon knew he was the most important person to me—my mate. Such a frightening thing to acknowledge, given I was at the lowest point in my life.

I didn’t deserve him, and yet I couldn’t stay away either.

My phone vibrated from a nearby table. Seeing Tobias's name, I swiped it.

Most people just messaged each other, but Tobias usually called me, knowing I liked hearing his voice first thing in the morning.

My little wolf was thoughtful that way.

"Morning," I greeted.

"Morning. I hope you had a good sleep," Tobias said. "Tim just texted me. My car's ready."

"Shall we pick it up together?" I asked.

"Let's pick it up after my shift?" Tobias asked.

"Sure," I answered. "I'll pick you up at the library at 5 pm?"

"Perfect. Have a great day, Draven."

"You too," I told him.

As soon as I ended the call with Tobias, another incoming call flashed on my screen. Zane. I groaned inwardly.

I knew Zane had good intentions, but he kept checking in every 2-3 days, which was unnecessary, given I had been on my best behavior so far.

I debated ignoring the call, but knew that would only make things worse. Might as well get this over with.

"Zane," I said, unable to keep the irritation out of my voice. "Everything's still good."

"Draven, I know this must feel tedious, but it's necessary," Zane reminded me. "I'm just doing my job."

"I understand...but Zane, I'm really getting better. Tobias--"

"Have you told Tobias everything?" Zane interrupted, and I groaned.

"Not yet. I don't think he's ready," I admitted.

"Or maybe you're not the one ready," Zane said.

I growled in frustration.

"Soon," I said.

"Soon is preferable. If he really is your mate, then he has the right to know about what he's involved in," Zane said.

"Any news of Belladonna?" I asked, desperate to change the topic.

“Doyle tells me he's lost sight of her as she was leaving Raven Port, and there's been no word of her since. We can assume she noticed she was being followed and is laying low," Zane said.

A wave of relief filled me. "Okay then," I said.

We ended the call, but Zane's words lingered in my head. He was right, as usual. Tobias deserved to know the truth, the entire truth this time.

TOBIAS

As Lucinda and I were about to close up for the day, someone unexpected turned up at the front desk. Tom gave me a friendly wave, and I furrowed my brows.

Things had been better between us lately. Although Tom had found a job at the gas station, we still lived together.

He was still searching for an apartment to rent, but he promised that once he did, he'd move out.

"Tom," I said, trying to read his expression. "Is something wrong?"

Did Tom have some kind of emergency? Suddenly, I was worried.

"Nothing's wrong," Tom said. "I just figured I'd drop by and, uh, return this book I borrowed ages ago."

Tom handed me the taped-together suspense novel and I narrowed my eyes. My brother wasn't much of a reader, and I couldn't recall the last time he borrowed a book, let alone returned one.

Glancing at the date stamped on the back cover, my suspicion grew. Two years ago. That meant he wasn't here to return a book at all.

I had mentioned to Tom that I might be home late because of meeting Draven after work.

Wait... was Tom here on some kind of brotherly mission to... I didn't know, see and meet Draven for himself?

It wasn't like I was hiding Draven from Tom. There just hadn't been an opportunity to introduce them yet.

"That's $56.38," I informed him.

Tom's eyes widened in surprise. "What?" he exclaimed.

"Overdue fees," I explained.

Tom grumbled and cursed under his breath, but eventually, he begrudgingly handed over the amount.

The familiar rumble of Draven's motorcycle usually put me in a good mood, but with Tom here to potentially stir up trouble, I couldn't help but tense up a little.

Okay, maybe Tom didn't have that intention, but still, I didn't appreciate him turning up like this all of a sudden.

As Draven strolled in, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

Even though he dressed as he usually did, in boots, worn jeans, a plain shirt, and a battered leather jacket, he looked downright good.

My sleeping wolf woke inside me, excited as a puppy with a treat. Tom looked at me, frowned, then finally glanced at Draven.

It dawned on me that my brother had let some of his wolf out because he gazed at Draven with his amber-tinted eyes and snarled softly under his breath.

This wasn’t good. Tom was immediately going for some kind of pissing contest, not realizing he was about to lose it instantly.

I swiftly positioned myself in front of my brother, ensuring I was the first thing Draven saw.

Draven didn't even notice Tom, or perhaps Tom didn't register as a threat to him. Draven beamed at me, and for those few seconds, I forgot about Tom and where we were.

"Hey," I whispered.

Draven tugged me close without warning. I gasped, surprised and elated by how possessive he was.

Gazing up at him, I stood on tiptoe and initiated the kiss.

As our lips met, I became intently aware of Draven’s warmth. He always burned hot to me.

Electricity sparked between us as he clasped the back of my neck and deepened the kiss.

As someone snarled in the background, Draven and I chose to ignore it. However, when Lucinda cleared her throat rather loudly, we finally parted.

"This is a public library," Lucinda reminded us, casting a pointed glance at Tom, who seemed to be seething with barely restrained fury. "Continue whatever this is, outside. Tobias, help me close up.”

I hesitated, knowing it might not be wise to leave Tom and Draven alone.

"One moment," I told Lucinda, then turned to address both of them.

"Draven, this is Tom, my brother. Tom, this is Draven," I quickly introduced, hoping to diffuse any tension that might be brewing.

"So you're the guy dating my brother," I overheard Tom saying as I helped Lucinda close up.

She shot me an impatient look, so I reluctantly left Tom and Draven alone to assist her.

"It will be fine," Lucinda assured me as we checked all the sections and ensured nothing was left behind.

"You mean Draven and Tom? I'm not too sure," I mumbled, feeling uneasy about the situation.

"Some matters have a way of resolving themselves," she said cryptically, and I hoped she was right.