Page 31 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

A sigh slipped out, and I sagged. “I’ve been sort of… No, I’ve been a colossal ass since Rowan returned. And while I might have felt like I had a good reason for it, I’ve seen the damage it’s done, and it wasn’t worth it. I was being a bit too much like my father.”

Snorting, Luca laughed hard, and I found myself joining in. When we both settled, he offered me a sincere smile and nod.

“Got it. Probably a smart move. Still…” He shrugged. “That’s the thing about mates; all will be forgiven in the end.”

A broken chuckle escaped my mouth. “That is some stellar optimism.”

Luca shrugged again. “I have to stay positive, otherwise waiting for my own mate is going to drive me insane.”

A very specific cry sounded through the cabin door. Luca and I stopped short, jerking our attention to it, excitement squeezing my muscles. We waited for a moment, not hearing anybody cheering or telling us to come in.

After another few minutes, another bout of crying came.

Two babies. Twins.

In a flash, Luca ran up to the door, cracking it slightly.

“I heard crying! Am I an uncle?!” Laughter erupted from inside the cabin, and I smiled, the center of my chest warm.

It was a few seconds before Rowan called out, “You are! Come and meet your nephews!”

He didn’t need telling twice.

Luca rushed inside, and I was hot on his heels, taking in the room. Poppy lay in the bed with one baby held to her chest, and Samuel was walking up to Luca and handing him another baby as Poppy said, “You two get to be the first visitors to meet Lucas and Liam.”

I watched Luca meet his nephew with complete awe. Samuel went over to Poppy as I just stared, saying something that didn’t register. There was a baby, a brand-new life, two of them, and they were here. After so much hard work on Poppy’s part, they were here.

It was incredible.

And they needed protecting.

When I glanced at Rowan, she smiled at me, clearly exhausted but thrilled for the new family. Messy hair aside, she was glowing, and a burning need in the middle of my chest gripped me. If she wanted this, wanted a family, I’d do anything to give it to her—and there was no way in hell I’d let anyone hurt her.

Or your whole horde, Bastian. There are babies in North Oak for the first time in years. You have to do something. Time for you to get your head out of your ass and protect your people.

I reached into my pocket and looked at my phone, an internal battle raging in my mind.

Hordes were usually pretty insular. They dealt with their own issues without seeking help from outside sources. We had gone against the grain when we had accepted Luca’s help, and for good reason. The horde had been damaged, almost irreparably so, and it was going to take gargantuan efforts to make it right. We needed Luca’s help.

Only, that help wasn’t enough.

I was eternally grateful for the support, but I couldn’t deny the concern in the back of my mind. Others might have thought it would work itself out, but I knew. I knew we were gearing up for war. If Byron had decided to take his daughter back, no matter what, and had been supporting my father, that would have been a serious issue.

That was a fight. One I didn’t know if we could win on our own.

Clenching my jaw, I looked across the joyous scene at Rowan and then back down to my cell.

As I scrolled through my contacts, it hit me that my father would be horrified at me seeking help from outside hordes. He would have belittled me, called me weak and pathetic. It was that knowledge that made me press dial. I was going to be a very different Alpha from my father, just like I’d promised Rowan. I was going to be a better Alpha, and I was going to keep my clan and my horde safe.

Whatever it took.

Greylen

“I’m free, motherfuckers!” Nix declared, bounding into Rowan’s room, and I had to roll my eyes at the perpetual puppy dragon.

“Calm down, or I’ll send your ass back to the clinic,” she grumbled, following him into the room.

Nix, unfazed, jumped onto Rowan’s bed. “I suppose if you put me back in the clinic, at least I’ll get to spend more time with you.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she mirrored with an eye roll.