Protected by Three Mates

Chapter - 5

Fiona POV

“As a descendant of noble dragons, you are the product of a powerful bloodline. We can request a meeting with the council. Nobles, after all, cannot be refused,” Vero said with a triumphant smile.

“It’s brilliant! I never would have thought of that,” I replied, a surge of hope rising within me. But then, a question clouded my excitement. “Where do we find them, though? I’ve heard whispers, but no one knows where they are.” My elation faltered.

Vero’s expression softened. “Don’t worry. I’ll find out more for you.”

As I sipped my black coffee, I changed the subject, though my heart still pounded. “What happened when I was unconscious?”

Vero’s eyes twinkled knowingly. She knew what I truly wanted to ask. “Well, it was like a scene from a novel... Jasper was so concerned for you. When Eric opened the portal, he made sure you were safe while I and Eric drive our way back. Neither of us was allowed to even touch you. It was as if he was protecting his mate.”

Her words made my heart flutter, but I kept my expression neutral, pretending her story hadn’t affected me.

Yet, a question gnawed at me. How did Jasper know my name? Trying to sound casual, I asked, “How did Alpha know who I am? I’m not exactly famous among the shifters.”

Vero hesitated, her gaze shifting away. “Well, how should I put this... You’re the only heir of the Jones family. Everyone thinks you’re behind the theft and the murder. Rumors spread like wildfire, calling for your punishment. Theo stepped in and helped my parents free you from prison.”

The truth hit me like a punch, and I found myself speechless. Vero’s voice trembled with worry. “The danger is real now. It’s no longer just a rumor.”

Tears welled up as panic clawed at my chest. “If the council refuses protection, I’ll have to run or hide... I don’t want to put you or your family at risk.”

Vero’s grip on my shoulder tightened, her voice unwavering. “We can find another way, but don’t worry about us. We’re wolves, Grace. We can defend ourselves. You’re not alone. Theo and I have your back.”

Her reassurance gave me strength, and I let out a shaky breath. She rubbed my back soothingly. “Let’s head home and figure this out together. My mum is waiting for us for dinner.”

Wiping my tears, I nodded.

The drive back to the portal was tense and silent. Vero’s words swirled in my mind, making everything feel surreal. She parked the car with a flick of magic, and soon, we were at her house in the shifter realm, where I’d been staying since my release. I headed to my room, shutting the door behind me.

I placed the shopping bags and a document on the table. A hot bath sounded perfect. After dinner with the Whites, I returned to my room and took out the document—something I’d received from the prince. It detailed my family’s estate, their trade in divination stones, and a chilling truth: the estate was mine only if the one behind my parents’ murder was captured.

But the wealth didn’t matter. I needed to know who destroyed my family. I tossed the papers aside, pacing in frustration. Unlike my parents, I couldn’t shift into a dragon. My mother used to speak of the Phoebe witches, who could teach those struggling with their shifting abilities. But how could I find them?

I climbed into bed, the prince’s document still in my hand. According to shifter laws, I couldn’t claim my inheritance until my parents’ killer was behind bars—or dead. And consulting witches would drain my savings fast. I had to think carefully.

For now, I’d focus on meeting with the council. Maybe Theo could offer advice on reaching them; he was a noble among shifters, after all. Vero knew only fragments about the secretive council and their elusive members.

Suddenly, the room turned cold, a chill cutting through the air. I glanced at the window—hadn’t I closed it? As I approached, a shadow moved outside, dark and menacing. My pulse quickened. Was this another assassin?

I rushed to Vero’s room, panic tightening my chest. “Vero, wake up! There’s someone outside!” I shook her urgently, but she remained unresponsive, unconscious. My hands trembled as I checked her pulse—it was there, but faint. The same was true for her parents.

I raced back to my room, heart pounding. Could the intruder have already broken in? The whispers in the hallway suggested so. The house’s protective spell must have been breached.

The footsteps grew louder, drawing nearer to my room. My breath hitched in my chest, knowing I had to act fast. I glanced at the window—my only escape. Wrapping myself in my coat, I climbed out, gripping the makeshift rope of bedsheets.

I hit the ground with a jarring thud, my ears ringing with the intruder’s frustrated shout from my bedroom window. “Hey, you insolent—!”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. My legs moved on instinct, carrying me through the darkness. Behind me, I heard the heavy thuds of paws—two rogue wolves, no longer in human form, giving chase.

And I knew, in that moment, that my fight for survival had only just begun.