AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t, Draco,” I huff angrily. He’s the last person I want to see right now. With my fists curled on my sides, I fight the urge to shift into dragon form, remaining calm only for the sake of appearances.
There isn’t much to salvage right now since I stormed out of the meeting.
But Draco made the mistake of touching my shoulder, spurring my anger as I turned around abruptly, a puff of hot smoke escaping my lips.
A sense of recognition flashes in his eyes despite how dark they’ve turned. I can only imagine that he’s serving as a mirror for me to see how the anger has turned me monstrous. It’s only because I feel a flicker of fear prickle my skin that I take a deep breath to douse the flames of my fiery rage.
“Listen to me, Aragon,” Draco says sternly, his commanding voice wielding to dominate the error he’s made.
His only saving grace is that he’s the alpha. None of us can disobey when he uses the depths of his innate being in his voice. It’s a trick he owns only because of his title.
One that is highly frustrating right now. Compelled to heed the alpha, I drop my head and lug in a few breaths to calm down.
“You’re wrong for this, Draco,” I mutter as I lift my head and meet his eyes. “You know that Felix looks forward to starting a family.”
“And you looked forward to being the clan beta, right?” Draco smirks knowingly as he lifts a hand to my shoulder.
“I knew nothing about it,” I shrug, simultaneously removing his touch. It’s not what I need right now.
“But the moment you heard about it, you thought I’d pick you,” Draco sighs. “I’m sorry, Aragon,” he apologizes earnestly as he shoves his hands into his pockets. The way his lips curl as he purses them with uncertainty makes me suspicious.
Raising a brow, I ask, “What are you not telling me, Draco?”
Draco sighs again with discontentment. His eyes soften apologetically, filling my gut with dread.
“Did you know about this?” I implore skeptically. “Did you know you had to choose a beta today?”
Draco shakes his head fervently. “Of course not,” he assures. “I was just as surprised as anyone in that meeting.”
“Then why him, Draco? Why Felix?”
Draco hangs his head, staring at the pointed tip of his polished dress shoe as if the answer lies there. “Your birthday is in a week, Aragon. I thought that I’d give you an early birthday gift.”
Scoffing, I stare blankly at my eldest brother. “By not picking me as your beta?” I gripe, throwing a hand in the air that lands defeatedly at my side. “I get that Felix is older, but—”
“But you’ll get your mate first,” Draco reveals abruptly.
“What?!” I bleat as I feel the heat draining from my face as it pales with disbelief.
Draco nods. “I’ve already informed the council that you’ll be next in line for the human mate selection process.” He points behind him. “They’ve already consulted the cube. Your mate has been—”
“No…” I interject, shaking my head in disbelief as the world around me threatens to shatter. Stepping backward, I move myself further and further away from my brother. Too horrified to say anything more, all I can manage is a string of nos until my back hits the wall behind me.
“Aragon, please,” Draco protests as he remains where he’s standing, a frown furrowing his brows. “I thought you’d be happy about this.”
“Happy?” I scoff. “How can I be happy about making a weak human my mate?”
“Lily and I are perfect examples of the success of this process. The Cube’s knowledge—”
“Don’t tell me about the Cube’s knowledge!” I snort, lifting a dismissive hand in the air to stop him from going on. All he’ll do is try to convince me about the human mating process.
One that he was lucky enough to succeed in. Only because his human mate, Lily Turner, turned out to be his fated mate. Fated by the Gods, as he likes to boast. But it still remains rare amongst the dragons.
Even father and mother weren’t lucky enough to be fated mates. It’s always been a rare occurrence known only to dragons who existed when the world wasn’t as damaged as it is now. Back when dragons were free to soar through the clouds without fear of being seen.
Nothing will change my mind. Humans are weak and cannot be expected to carry something as sacred as the dragonspirit within their frail wombs. That’s why we exist—to save them from the perils of menace that threaten to wipe their existence out.
Not even the threat of our own existence being wiped out is enough to change my mind. We’re mystical creatures, while humans are just the most basic creatures to ever exist on Earth.
