Page 1 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

Rowan

After a while, all the roads started to look the same.

Especially in the dead of night, when the scenery around me had been reduced to the small area in front of my car, illuminated by the headlights. Driving in the dark had an eerie quality, and I watched the sides of the road, waiting for something to jump out at me from the vast expanse of darkness.

I had no idea how long I had been driving. It had been at least a day because the sun had risen and set since I had left North Oak. I hadn’t stopped. Not once, not even for a bathroom break. The terror gripping me pushed me forward, through exhaustion and hunger. Even when my hands had cramped on the wheel and my legs had started to go numb, I kept driving.

Only now, that fear was becoming less frantic with every mile I put behind me, the tightness in my chest loosening to a dull throb, and the reality of my situation was sinking in.

I hadn’t left with a destination in mind. I’d just gotten into the car and driven like a bat out of hell. Now, I was starting to notice the slow changes in the world around me, from tall trees and undeniable green, to sparse pasture, then to more sparsely populated desert, sand replacing grass, rocks and boulders replacing shrubs and brush.

The roads were familiar, and I drove along them without thinking about it. I didn’t need to, operating on instinct and memory. All I knew was I needed to find somewhere safe. And there was one place in the world that I could think of, where I would want to go.

Well, that was a lie.

Where I truly wanted to be was with my clan, but that wasn’t safe. Not for me, not for my mates if I’d stuck around. Tanner, despite everything, had been clear. If I had stayed, my past was going to come for me, for my mates.

I couldn’t let that happen.

My chest constricted at the thought of them, fear mixing with regret and sorrow so much that it choked me. Bastian, Orsen, Greylen, and Phoenix were probably freaking out. I’d left without a word, just fled into the night like a coward.

There was no other choice, though. I had to protect them—protect myself—so I’d just done it. I was running on pure instinct, and I needed to get to safety. No one was safe at North Oak with Cyrus there. I was only human; I couldn’t fight back. He’d nearly killed me one time already. I couldn’t stand up to him again, terror locking my muscles even as I considered it.

Stop, Rowan. You’re here.

The thoughts felt disconnected, hardly my own, but I managed to slow the car, blinking to focus on what was in front of me.

When I reached the large gates, I didn’t have to ring the bell to get anyone’s attention. The oversized, electric wooden structure opened, letting me drive down the ridiculously long driveway. It was the middle of the night, but the desert was still warm—honestly, I’d gotten used to the chillier temperatures in the east, and I preferred them.

Like most of the southwest hordes, the lands belonging to the Southern Dust Lands Horde were enormous. Almost unbelievably so.

When I pulled up outside the main building, a familiar face appeared, striding through the oversized front door and coming to my side of the car to open my door. My legs shook, the adrenaline dissipating, leaving me utterly exhausted and muddled.

“Rowan?” the familiar voice greeted me.

“Alpha Ash.” I did my best to smile, but it didn’t reach my face.

Ash was not only the Alpha of the Southern Dust Lands Horde, but I considered him a friend, a landing point where I could stop moving for a second.

“What brings you out here? And at this hour?” he asked, his brows pinched together as he regarded me, clearly concerned.

“Greeted by the Alpha? I must be special.” I chuckled dryly, words difficult to form, thanks to a heavy combination of physical exhaustion and emotional upheaval.

Ash laughed. “Most are asleep. Theo is inside,” he said, mentioning his second. “But no call? What’s up? You… Rowan, you look exhausted.”

I shook my head, swallowing a sob as the emotions I’d pushed down for days bubbled to the surface. Despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t speak.

“Hey.” His expression went from confused to worried as he tugged me into a hug. “Tell me what’s wrong. You know if I can help, I will.”

In many ways, Ash had been a big brother to me. He had supported my decision to leave and had even bought my SUV for me—even though I knew full well that he wanted me to stay.

“I… I think we need to sit down and talk,” I replied softly, flittering between numbness and utter despair.

“Come in.” He guided me into the building. Given the late hour, there weren’t many people milling about, but there was the odd dragon here and there who turned to look at me, brows scrunched, eyes narrowed. Some faces were familiar, some were not. It’d been years since I’d been here.

“Let’s get you into the warmth.” Ash gestured at a few people who thought to approach, telling them that he had me and to move my car. I didn’t remember when I’d given him my keys.

He smoothed the few ruffled feathers of those around us, saying I was a friend in need of help, and I didn’t argue. Hell, I didn’t speak at all. The next thing I knew, I was in a small room, sitting on a bed with a dragon standing in the doorway I hadn’t seen in ages staring at me, so much worry painted over his face that I wanted to scream.