Unwanted Mates

Prologue

All of Obsidian was buzzing with excitement. It was the day of Amelia Emery’s wedding to William Stone. The couple had put it off for years and decided it was finally time. After two children and thriving careers in their respective fields, they felt they needed to cement their relationship in the human world.

Amelia, a female alpha werewolf, had a lineage that was anything but ordinary. Her mother, Olivia, a low-ranking werewolf, had been without her wolf, Raine, until after she met her destined mate. Despite her biological father being Alpha Nicholas Williams, she considered her father to be her mother Olivia’s mate, Tyson Emery. What set this family apart was Tyson's unique identity. He was not a werewolf but the Dragon Lord of the Obsidian Dragon Clan.

William Stone was Amelia’s fated mate. Their pairing was not one she could have ever predicted. Will was a born vampire who had come to discuss a partnership between their companies. He had found Amelia while taking a night walk in the forest, and things did not go as well as he had hoped. That night, William had only hoped that Tyson, Nicholas, and any number of angry werewolves and dragons would not end his life after the misunderstanding that had occurred.

Thankfully, things had worked out, leading William and Amelia to accept they were fated mates. They had been happy with their bond and union but admitted they needed an official wedding ceremony due to their notoriety. Amelia’s father, Tyson, had arranged everything, making the event far more grand than either Amelia or William wanted. However, Tyson considered Amelia his oldest child and insisted that it be as memorable for her and all of Obsidian as possible.

Amelia stood in her childhood bedroom, gazing at herself in the full-length mirror. Her wedding dress was a light teal chiffon with embroidered vines and flowers embellishing it. The dress did not have a train at her request to make walking and moving in it easier. William's mother, Eleanor, had hand-painted the veil trailing down her back. She had beautifully illustrated a full moon and starry sky with a wolf howling at the moon and a dragon flying above it. The veil would mean little to others, but to Amelia, it represented her family.

“You are breathtaking,” Amelia’s mother, Olivia, breathed as she took photo after photo of her daughter. Olivia was an award-winning photographer and would not allow anyone else to act as the photographer on her daughter’s special day. “Are you ready to make your grand entrance and marry William in the garden?”

“I’m more than ready, but I’m still nervous for some reason. Why am I nervous?” Amelia asked.

“You are nervous because you hate to be the center of attention,” Olivia smiled. “Everyone is in position and ready for you. Just focus on Will and let everything else go. You know everyone who is out there. Think of it like any of our family gatherings, only they have brought extra friends.”

“So, sort of like the giant Emery Tech holiday parties where Logan, Everly, and I are always singled out and introduced,” Amelia laughed.

“Exactly!” Olivia laughed. “Come on, Lia. Your dad keeps popping into my head and asking if something is wrong. He is starting to give me a headache.”

There was a light tap at the door before it opened. Amelia’s sister, Everly, the youngest of the Emery siblings, stepped in, closing the door behind her. She was wearing a teal chiffon dress that was darker than her sister’s wedding dress. Everly was the perfect mix of her parents. Tyson was a mountain of a man, standing 6’8” tall and heavily muscled. He had rich black hair and amber eyes that seemed to flicker like flames when his emotions heightened. Olivia was a petite 5’4” tall with dark blonde hair and gray eyes. Everly was tall at 5’11” but thin and had light brown hair and gray eyes with amber flecks.

“Oh, Evvs! You are gorgeous!” Amelia gasped as she hugged her sister. “I know we had our hair and makeup done together, but seeing it with the dress, it’s perfect.”

“I think we both chose the perfect dresses. You look amazing,” Everly told her sister. “But I did not come up here to tell you that you look amazing. The groom is getting antsy, our father is about to pace a hole in the floor, and the grandparents want to know if tying the grandchildren to a tree is an option. And Nick and Emma are ready to come up here and drag you downstairs so they can hug the stuffing out of you before you walk down the aisle.”

“I told you everyone was ready,” Olivia giggled as she ushered her daughters to the door and continued to snap pictures.

Olivia continued to take photos as the trio walked down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Tyson’s cousin Kevin waited for them. Kevin was nearly as large as Tyson and looked far more menacing, yet he was a gentle giant to those he loved. His long hair was in a messy bun on top of his head. He had a scruffy beard, which aided in his unkempt appearance. He also had many visible piercings and was nearly covered in tattoos, which added to his look.

“LiLi, you are breathtaking,” Kevin grinned as he looked at the women gliding down the stairs. “All three of you are beautiful. I have the feeling that Jules and I will be working overtime to keep your mates and father calm.”

“Dad is going to be one step from exploding,” Everly giggled.

“Especially from all the attention you will be getting, young lady. You look entirely too mature and grown-up to be sweet little Everly,” Kevin said as he kissed Everly’s cheek. “I will be watching you. Not because I don’t trust you, but because I love you and I don’t know and trust all the guests who are here. I have run checks on all of them, but that is quite different than knowing them and their character.”

“Thank you, Kevin,” Olivia said, smiling at the big man. “We all appreciate it.”

Kevin chuckled, “It’s my pleasure. Now, let’s get Lia and Everly where they need to be. Tyson is yelling in my head, demanding to know what is taking me so long to walk you to the garden.” He offered his elbows to his young cousins and said, “Shall we?”

Amelia and Everly giggled as they accepted his offer. They began the short walk to the doors leading to the garden. When they reached them, Tyson was waiting for them. He smiled at his daughters as he placed his hand over his heart.

“My girls aren’t little girls any longer. When did my children grow up?” Tyson asked, shaking his head. “You are beautiful. That includes you, my little wolf.” Tyson grinned as Olivia, still taking pictures as quickly as she could to capture every moment of the day. She was wearing a deep amethyst dress similar in style to the ones her daughters wore. “That color will always be my favorite that you wear.”

Olivia smiled at her mate and, through the mind link, said, “You can show me how much you like this color by helping me get undressed this evening after the wedding.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Tyson replied, his eyes filled with lustful flames.

“Enough of that,” Kevin laughed. “Olivia, do you want to get some pictures of Lia and Tyson while I take Evvs outside?”

“Yes, please, and we had better let in the other set of parents,” Olivia giggled as she pointed to the glass door behind Tyson. Nick, Amelia’s biological father, and Emma, her stepmother, were pressed tightly against the door, peeping inside and waving at the group. “Those two are so cute.”

As Tyson opened the door, Kevin laughed, “I never thought I would hear the word ‘cute’ used to describe an Alpha werewolf and a dragon-witch hybrid.”

“Maybe not, but I will accept it and take it as a compliment,” Emma laughed as she came in and hugged Amelia. “Lia, you and Everly are stunning. I will admit, I had my doubts when you chose the dresses, but after seeing them with everything today, you were right. They are perfect, just like you.”

Nick saw Amelia’s lower lip quiver and chuckled, “Emma, you are going to make her cry if you keep doting on her. We cannot have tears before she walks down the aisle, and hopefully, we won’t have any today unless they are tears of joy.” Nick smiled at Amelia as he kissed her cheek. “I love you. You look beautiful. Now, if we don’t go out there, your grandparents and mother-in-law will come in here and get you. Joe is holding Elise’s hands so she can’t bite her nails.”

“Oh, goddess. Let’s go. I want to get just a few shots of Tyson and Lia, and then he will walk Lia down the aisle,” Olivia said as she took charge.

The group was all smiles as Nick and Emma were first out the door and hurried to find their seats. Kevin again offered his elbow to Everly to escort her to the alter to act as maid of honor for her sister. He grinned at William and Logan, who was acting as Willaim’s best man.

Olivia could not stop grinning as she snapped photos of her mate and daughter moments before he would walk Amelia down the aisle. She could only hope that all of her children found the same type of happiness that she had found with Tyson and Amelia had found with William.

“I think I have enough pictures if there is such a thing,” Olivia smiled. “I will be near the altar to catch every step you take down the aisle, and so you can have a moment alone.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Amelia nodded, unable to hide her join.

“You’re welcome, baby girl,” Olivia replied before she excused herself.

Tyson smiled at Amelia and said, “Amelia, there are no words for how proud I am of you and how much I love you. Nick might have fathered you, but the moment I met your mother, you became my daughter. Never doubt that, even when we might have to focus on your brother or sister more than you, I still love you with all my heart. I also know that you have William to watch over you and the two beautiful granddaughters you have given me. Seeing his love for you and the girls lets me rest easy at night.”

“I love you too, Dad,” Amelia grinned. But, if you keep up with the mushy stuff, I am going to be ugly crying, and that is the last thing I want on my wedding day.”

“I get it,” Tyson laughed as he offered Amelia his elbow to lead her down the aisle. “Your groom is waiting.”

Amelia took her father’s elbow, and on cue, Kevin and his son Julian opened the glass double doors for their cousins. The men were beaming as the pair stepped into the garden. All the guests turned to watch them, all wearing nearly identical expressions of joy. Tyson’s mother, Elise, Olivia’s mother, Marie, and William’s mother, Eleanor, were all wiping tears of joy as their mates and significant others did their best to comfort them.

William, Logan, and Everly were smiling at them as they waited. Aunt Freya was officiating the ceremony and beaming as she glanced around the garden. Aunt Freya had been a rogue for many years and usually avoided crowds. That is why the family was taken by surprise when she insisted that she be allowed to perform the ceremony.

When Tyson handed Amelia off to William, he kissed her cheek tenderly and smiled at his children. He gave William an understanding nod before taking his seat. Amelia and William had been mates for years. But for some reason, this ceremony made Tyson emotional as he symbolically gave his daughter to her mate, who had been with her for years.

“Reign it in, Big Boy,” Kevin chuckled in Tyson’s head. “Everyone around you is feeling your aura slip.”

Tyson did not reply to his cousin. He focused on pulling his aura inward so no one would be bothered by his swirling emotions. Tyson smiled at his family at the altar and wiped the tears of joy. Even though he was the Dragon Lord of the Obsidian, he did not try to hide his emotions.

The ceremony was conducted faster than any wedding Tyson had attended before. He was not sure if that was at Amelia and Will’s request or if Aunt Freya was getting her fill of the crowd and ready to find a quiet place to sit and watch the activities to follow. Tyson did not mind, regardless of the reason. He was happy it was over, and they could move on to the reception.

After they kissed, Amelia and William hurried out of the garden to where the tables and food were waiting. They had wanted it to be a celebration, and it would. While only specific guests had been invited to attend the wedding, everyone in Obsidian, the pack, and the clan were invited to join the party that would take place afterward.

As her family joined her, Amelia noticed that her brother, Logan, was missing. She frowned as she looked for him.

“What’s wrong, my love?” William asked as he kissed her temple.

“Where’s Logan?” Amelia asked.

Olivia smiled and replied, “Logan refused to go for a walk before the wedding and is feeling it now. He walked over to the park for a quick break and will be back soon.”

Amelia sighed, “I hope that’s all it is. He has a habit of not telling anyone if something is wrong.”

-

Logan was in the park closest to the Emery family home. He was close enough to hear the party but far enough away that Logan could find the peace he needed. He placed his hands on the trunk of a large alder and lowered his head to rest his forehead on the trunk. It would not work as well as lying on the ground, but it would have to do. He did not want to lay on the ground the way he usually did to calm the unease his fairy magic gave him when he needed to commune with nature.

As Logan rested with his eyes closed, the scent of fresh peaches and vanilla drifted on the breeze. He felt his wolf and dragon stir, and he sniffed the alluring aroma. Logan opened his eyes and turned to see a young woman standing there, shaking her head.

“Mate? She is our mate. Why does she look upset to have found us?” Amos, Logan’s wolf question in his head.

Before he could formulate a reply, the girl spoke. “Of all the mates, why did it have to be you?” she asked.

“What do you mean? Do you know me? Have we met before?” Logan asked her. He was trying to figure out who she was. He could smell she was a dragon. She had long dark brown hair and brown eyes. She looked familiar, but he had met hundreds and even thousands of people as the heir to the Obsidian Clan.

“We met a long time ago. My grandfather is Derek Night. He and my father brought me here when we were children. They said it was a magical place where dragons, wolves, and all other sorts of creatures lived together in harmony. They might think that is good, but I don’t. You might be my mate, but I will not accept you,” the girl spit.

“But you don't even know me,” Logan tried to reason with her.

“I don’t need to know you to know that I will not be the mother to children who are part werewolf. I am the daughter of a dragon lord, and I should be bringing forth the next generation, not some mongrel mix.”

“I am the son of a dragon lord and will be the next leader of this clan!” Logan yelled at her. “But none of that should matter! We are fated mates. There is a reason we have been paired.”

“There is no reason that is good enough for me to take you as my mate,” the young woman said as she stood tall. “I, Reagan Night, reject you, Logan Emery, as my mate.”

Logan was nearly brought to his knees when those works left the woman’s lips. He knew that if he did not accept the rejection, it would only become more painful and solve nothing. Logan steadied himself, standing tall, and he looked Reagan in the eyes.

“I, Logan Emery, accept your rejection. This bond is broken,” he said in a clear, commanding voice.

Reagan clutched her chest and cried out as the bond severe for the pair. Logan let out an anguish-filled roar that shook the entire clan. That was the last thing he wanted to do because of the number of humans in the clan for his sister’s wedding, but he could not prevent it.

-

Logan's roar rattled the dishes they were eating from and unnerved several.

“Logan!” Amelia gasped as she sat at the table with her family.

“I’ll go,” Tyson said as he stood and motioned for Kevin to join him. “Jules, you and Jonah stay with Lia and the family.”

Derek Night and his son, Steven, stood and hurried to follow Tyson and Kevin toward the park. Tyson raised an eyebrow and looked at the two dragons.

“Something happened to my granddaughter. We can both feel it. If that bellow was Logan, they are most likely together,” Derek said as the men jogged to the park.

Tyson nodded and sped up to a run. He would have preferred to shift and fly the short distance, but he could not take the risk due to the wedding guests. Running at human speed to reach his son was the best he could do, and it made him angry.

When the men arrived, they saw Reagan and Logan several feet apart as they faced each other. Both were panting and clearly in distress. Tyson was fighting to control his aura as he approached the pair.

“What is going on here? Logan? Why did you roar when you know that it is to be restricted due to the wedding?” Tyson questioned.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop it. I roared after Reagan rejected me as her mate,” Logan said, not taking his eyes off the woman before him.

“What?!” Derek blurted out. “Reagan! Why would you reject Logan? He would be a wonderful mate to anyone. I don't understand this.”

“I rejected him because I refuse to be with someone like him,” Reagan spat.

Steven gaped at his daughter as Kevin eased his aura around Tyson and Logan to keep them calm. He shook his head at his daughter before he dropped his head in disbelief.

Steven sighed, “I am sorry for my daughter’s reaction to finding you, Logan. My father is right. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a mate, and I can never express how sorry I am for this. I’m unsure if Reagan understands the full implications of what she has done and how this could affect far more than just her. Please understand that her opinion is not what she was taught; neither my father nor I share it. I don't know when Reagan decided that she is superior to others because she is the daughter of a dragon lord, but when we return home, she will find that she is wrong about that.”

“We know, Steve,” Tyson said as he put his arm around his son’s shoulders. “Take care of your daughter. Kevin and I will take Logan back to the house. If you want to take Reagan back to Derek’s house, I will have someone drop off some food for you. The gods know we have enough, and I think the smokers were refilled right before the ceremony started.”

“They were. That is why Kyra was not at the ceremony. She said she was happy to man the smokers and grills and look at the million pictures Olivia will take today,” Kevin grinned.

“Thank you,” Steven nodded before he put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders and pushed her toward his father’s home.

Derek waited until his son and granddaughter were out of hearing range before he spoke. “Tyson, Logan, I am so, so, sorry Reagan did this. I have always told her that the mate bond is sacred and it should not matter who the mate is as long as they are good to you. I don’t know why she rejected you, but I will get to the bottom of it. I promise that. You are a good man, Logan, and I hope this does not cause you or your family issues down the line.”

“Thank you, Derek, but I know why she did it. Reagan said she did not want to be with me because I was mixed with a werewolf. She said that as the daughter of a dragon lord, she should be giving birth to the next clan leader and not some mongrel mix,” Logan told him. “I told her that I was the heir to Obsidian, but that didn’t matter.”

“I am genuinely sorry, Logan, to all of you. I helped you save Olivia’s family and maintain that Ben was the cutest wolf pup ever. I say that with authority because after you let me retire here, I have seen a lot of wolf pups, and they are all cute,” Derek said, forcing a weak smile. He shook his head and said, “I will do my best to find out why she did this. I’m sorry, but I have to run. Steve is in my head telling me he is ready to throttle Reagan. Right now, I might help him. Will you please give Lia and Will my apologies?”

“Of course, Derek. If you need any help with Reagan, let one of us know, and we will do what we can,” Tyson said. “I will have someone bring a platter of food over to your house in about an hour. There will be some wedding cake included, but would you not let Reagan have any? I don't feel like she deserves it after this. There were so many ways that this could have been dealt with that were better than what she did.”

“I will go a step further and eat mine in front of her,” Derek said with an evil grin. “She is my granddaughter, and I love her, but right now, I do not like her.”

Derek turned and walked toward his home in Obsidian. Tyson and Kevin had taken positions on either side of Logan and watched the old dragon walk away. They waited until Derek was nearly out of sight before they broke the silence.

“How are you doing, Son?” Tyson asked

“I don’t know. I came out here to recharge, and instead, I found my mate and had her reject me before I knew what happened. She didn’t even tell me her name. I learned it when she said it in the rejection,” Logan sighed. “Now what? What if she is my only mate, and I don't get a second chance? What if I never have a mate? That means no kids, and there is no one to take over the clan after me.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I thought I would never find my mate when I met your mom. I have faith that the mate you are meant to be with is out there, anxious to find you,” Tyson said. “Now, let’s go back to the house. I have your mom in my head, driving me crazy, and I don’t want to tell her about this through the link. It needs to be in person.”

“I agree,” Kevin nodded as he led the way back toward Tyson’s house. “I Jules in my head along with you grandparents and a few others. Let’s hide in the living room and break the news to everyone.”

“I’m sorry for ruining Lia’s day. I can't believe this happened today,” Logan said as they trudged back home.

“It is not your fault. Blame Derek’s granddaughter,” Kevin grinned. “But I have the feeling that he will be making her regret what she did for a very, very, long time.”