Chapter Seventeen
1125 Words
Luna Princess Ayla
I smiled as I walked with my sister and Bluey around the territory. I know there were warriors around us in the shadows, but it was nice to feel a little normalcy.
Nate and I had a good night with the kids. My parents came in around midnight and even though I told Thea to rest, she said her boobies were going to explode if she didn't feed the boys. We got up early with Rosie, so they could sleep until the boys needed them. And now, Nate was with his friends, and I was with my sister.
I giggled as Bluey was pulling Rosie down the path through the trees.
"Bluey, slow down," I called out. "She's only little."
Bluey stopped at a stream before taking a drink of water.
"I love her," Rosie wrapped her arms around her thick neck.
"I love her too," I knelt and patted the blue-nosed bully.
"Is she staying here?" Rosie looked at me.
"I would like to take her home with me, but I don't know, sweetie," I told her.
"Can I come visit?"
"Of course, sweetie," I smiled at her.
Being here, with my father and his family, my family, has been good for me. I'm feeling better in this less stressful environment. But soon, Nate and I will go home and back to dealing with finding my mother's ex-mate.
"Stay close," I hollered after them when we walked into a clearing and they both took off running.
I looked up when something cast a shadow over the area.
"What the," I muttered. "Rosie," I yelled when the darkness came closer. I rushed over to her and Bluey before I was hit by a gust of wind and dust filled the surrounding area. I scooped up Rosie while Bluey barked at something I couldn't see through the dust cloud. Where the hell were the warriors?
"Dragon," Kaia growled.
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Put her down, I need to shift." She demanded. "Now, there's no water."
As Rosie's feet hit the ground, Kaia shifted and howled at the sky. She could see better than I could, and now I could see the person stalking us. Bluey continued to bark as Rosie held onto Kaia's fur.
"Nate," I screamed through the link.
Kaia bared her teeth as the dust began to settle. A tall, naked man was standing near us, watching. His skin was dark, and his long black hair hung down in dreads. But it was his eyes that pulled my attention—crystal blue eyes.
"My queen, I didn't mean to frighten you," He knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
"Ayla," Rosie cried. I quickly took control and shifted back. Now, wearing my dress, I picked up Rosie and held her to my chest.
"Bluey," I scolded. Stop." She whined but stopped barking and came to stand with me.
"Why are you here?" I demanded as I bounced my scared sister on my hip. He didn't get a chance to answer as wolves surrounded us.
"Baby, are you okay?" Nate grabbed onto me, but I couldn't take my eyes off the stranger kneeling. "Baby?" He gripped my cheeks.
"Yeah, yes, I'm okay," I exhaled.
"Who the hell are you and why have you entered my pack?" My father growled, approaching the stranger who was still kneeling.
"Dad," I went to move, but Nate stopped me.
"Do you have any idea what he is?"
"He's a dragon, but he is also kneeling. If he wanted to hurt me, he could have, couldn't he?"
"I would never hurt you, Queen Ayla. I'm here to plead for your help," his voice was deep. When he rose from the ground, he was tall and imposing with his oversized frame. His body was hard muscle and naked.
Nate pushed me behind him and the wolves around bared their teeth. "You do not get to make demands of my mate," he argued.
"I'm not here to make demands. I'm here to ask for the queen's help," the stranger confessed.
"Help?" I moved from behind my mate. "Why would a dragon need my help?"
"You are the Queen of the Sea. That title covers all living creatures in the ocean, not just mermaids."
"Okay, yes, that I understand, but you're a dragon, you fly," I pointed to the sky. "That's not an ocean." He chuckled, which caused Nate to growl.
"No disrespect, my queen. Dragons fly, but we also swim. Most of my kind live in the seas that you yourself rule over."
My head began to throb, and I fought the urge to throw up. This was all too much. Now dragons exist.
"My Queen, are you feeling alright?" I pushed my lips together.
"Baby?" Nate mind linked me.
"I need to speak with him, but I need to move this to the pool," I told him.
"No," he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Nate, this is what I do. If something is happening, I need to help," I defended.
"Then he can go see the king and princes. This is not something that you need to deal with."
"And how the hell is that fair?" I exclaimed. His chest rumbled in warning.
"I will hear you out," I turned to the stranger, ignoring my mate. "Follow me." I turned around, but Nate gripped my arm, stopping me.
"You will go to the Crimson Tide Pack and speak with Warrior Xander. If he deems it important, then you will be able to speak to the Queen," Nate said, and I gasped.
"Nate." I ripped out of his hold.
"I will do what you ask, Prince Nate," he bowed his head. "Wishing you the best, my Queen." He bowed once more before he shifted into a beautiful emerald-green dragon. The dragon bowed his large, scary head before taking to the sky with a swoosh.
I turned and held Rosie to me, protecting her from the dirt.
"Are you okay?" I kissed her forehead.
"Can we go home?" She whispered and I kissed her again.
"Of course."
"Do you want to tell me what the hell that was about?" My father demanded.
"Watch your goddamn tone," Nate yelled. Rosie began to whimper.
"Enough, both of you. Dad, I don't know. I didn't know dragon shifters existed until now. I will call Xander and ask him about it." I replied. "And you," I pointed at Nate. "We will talk later."
I turned on my heel and walked away from the chaos, carrying my sister.
"Bluey, let's go," I called out. She bumped into me while she ran up beside me.
"Ayla, the guy was scary, but I liked his dragon," she sniffled.
"He was. I've never seen a dragon before."
- Writer
