The Dragon Mate

My name is Mana Frost Van Helsing, a long name I know but it is both my father’s name and the promised names granted by those who aided him in saving my life and allowing me to be born healthy. I am not like my father, he is a powerful alpha wolf, and I am a broken dragon turned mage pretending to be a wolf. I was born a dragon, hatched from an egg by my adoptive father after he found my egg far from any nest. Everyone had told my father, Knight Van Helsing, that he should return the egg where he found it. Dragons do not abandon their own unless they are cursed. Disaster could only await those involved with such a creature. My father had not listened. He searched long and hard for someone to ensure I had the chance at life. Dragons you see don’t hatch easily. They need their parent to care for them, offering the magical energy that naturally flowed through their bodies. It was this magic that fed the young while they were developing. Knight as a werewolf had no magic and as such could not feed her and would be unable to ensure she hatched. He’d sought out many mages to help and only once he came upon an elder that had been alive longer than anyone could recall did he receive help. She had lived so long and was tired with only two wishes before she’d depart from the living. To have her name live on, to see her magic survive to the next generation. All of the magical energy the elder had fed into the abandoned egg allowing me to be born. As such, with my birth and the death of the elder that gave hers for mine, I was born bearing the elder’s name and magic. As for the rest of my name, I was born in the dead of winter, during a blizzard the likes of which hadn’t been seen in centuries if not longer. My father said when I hatched his first thought was that I looked like a child of the winter, with ice blue eyes as hair as white as fresh fallen snow. Dragons are creatures of the sky, close to the sun and lived high within the mountains, far from any other race. The few seen in their human form had naturally dark skin, forever kissed by the sun they flew so close to. I was born with pale skin, far to light to ever look like a dragon while in human form. My father is among the last of his bloodline, a bloodline that famous for human vampire hunters. As the vampires grew and adapted to their hunters’ existence so had the hunters. After generations of Van Helsings they had mixed with wolves, birthing the legends of an eternal hatred between the wolves and vampires. When I was born my father granted me his family name, accepting me wholly as his daughter though we were not of blood or even the same species. I had not heard the story of my past until the day my father took me away from the only home I had ever known. My father though an alpha was not The alpha. He’d grown up as close as brothers to the pack alpha, he’d become one of the strongest if not the strongest wolf of the pack but had never pushed to become pack alpha. He was a warrior, not a leader he claimed. I was still a child the day our peaceful life among the pack shattered completely. I had still believed myself a wolf though I had been told I was not. I believed my father but as a child I thought if I believed strongly enough I could be like him. Many didn’t like me because I wasn’t a wolf. The pack alpha’s eldest son among them and though I knew he hated me I had followed when he beaconed me with sweet words. He promised to teach me to climb and had carried me to the tallest tree in pack territory. At the top was scary, it was so high and I was so small. I cried saying I wanted down and that was when the alpha’s son’s hatred revealed itself again. I had felt his claws dig into my shoulders drawing blood. “Filthy lizard, you don’t belong here. Think you’re a wolf? Pathetic, go fly back to your own kind.” She hadn’t had time to react to his words before she was pushed from the tree. Her eyes locked onto his that stared with such disdain it stole my breathe away. By the time I had screamed it was to late. My father came rushing but I was already to close to the ground and landed with a sickened crack. I broke several bones that day but survived, proof I could never be a wolf. My screams of agony only outdone by the screams of the alpha’s son’s last cry. A wolf protects their pups no matter what, if ever one tries to kill a pup the parent can act in any manner they deem fit to ensure it never happens again. This rule didn’t apply to her and her father. She wasn’t pack and her father had killed the alpha’s eldest son. They were exiled and the only reason they were not killed was because no one, not even the pack alpha could stand against her father in battle. My injuries were severe and with exile my father was labeled a rogue wolf. The label of rogue made certain no other wolf would trust him, others would be weary of him, and in some cases would be hunted down. Gaining help was unlikely but a fae had taken us in. They had needed aid to defend their lands from the orcs that were pushing to conquer their kind. In exchange for my father’s services they healed me. That was many years ago though, I was a child then and I have since realized the truth of what I am. A wolf I’ll never be but the values of the pack are as much a part of me as the dragon’s blood flowing through my veins. My status as a mage as familiar to me as my kinship with the fae. Though the mark upon mine and my father’s name there may be, the fae had been kind to us since then. Dragon I may be, but I was as bound to the earth as any wolf, that day stealing away any chance that I would touch the sky. Twenty years of age and having reached maturity I was finally of age to meet my soulmate. Every creature on Gaea had a match gifted to them by the Blessed Three, the Fates, and only upon reaching maturity would they be able to meet them. I was eager to meet mine, hoping beyond hope that even being a dragon bound to the ground that I would meet my match. I sigh trying to shake thoughts of the past and destined love from my mind. I had errands to finish so I could return home. I promised father I would make dinner so he could eat once he returned from patrolling the boarders. Fae territory was still being threatened though not always by the orcs. Fae were not known to be violent or aggressive, it was for these reasons some believed they could take over their lands with ease. I gathered the remaining ingredients I needed and handed over enough coins to over the items. The elf accepted them and gave a small bow as I left. I quickly placed the hood of my dark cloak on to hide my snow white hair. It was an extreme rarity and made me stand out. The elves at the market were familiar with me and as I was favored by the fae and a powerful mage showed only respect and would never turn on me. Others however did not like me and many would attempt to start a fight. It didn’t help that I smelled heavily of an alpha wolf, it brought wolves of other packs to challenge me. I was planning to leave the market as I had all I needed but a scent caught my attention. It was unlike anything I’d smelled before, more attractive than the moon lilies that grew in fae land. Moon lilies are my favorite so that was saying something that this scent was even better. I follow the scent, eager to find what it was. Maybe I could purchase whatever the scent was coming from. I hope it’s a new flower I haven’t encountered before, I could have a vase of them in our home. When I finally found the source it hit me hard enough to knock me down. I looked up with wide eyes at the wolf standing before me, breathing deeply making me realize he to had been rushing to find the source of a desirable scent. Mate This was my destined love, the gift granted to me by the Blessed Three. I smile up at the wolf, he’s tall even for a wolf, dark brown hair and eyes of amber, his form large with his muscle and his clothing fit those muscles nicely. They were finer clothing, he must be well off. “You’re no wolf.” He growled at me causing my smile to grow smaller as dread filled me. “N-no I’m not. I’m-” “No!” He snapped silencing the rest of my words. “I reject the Blessed Three’s choice, I will not taint my pure bloodline.” I couldn’t react as he stormed away. A wolf had been destined for me, an ideal mate in my mind, and now like my father’s pack he rejected me. Storming away ready to forget me as I was not a wolf. I had always known there were people out there that were purists, people who refused to mix their bloodline with other races. I just never imagined my destined love would be among them. Silently I gather my things and make my way home. I do not let my tears fall, it would slow my return and help nothing. I was barely aware of my actions in the following hours, working on familiarity even as my mind continuously replayed the events of earlier. Only the smell of blood pulled me from the memory. I look to see father enter the room and sit down at the table; he was wounded. I quickly move to his side to use my magic to heal his wounds. “What troubles you daughter?” He asked leaning close to nuzzle my head affectionately. “I…father will you tell me the story of your mate again? When you met.” Her father pulled back suspicious of her refusal to answer but he was never one to refuse telling the story of his lover. Though together only a short time before tragedy struck their love was pure and what the Blessed Three had intended. “I meet my match when I was about your age, a little older I believe. I was hunting and a smell unlike anything I’d encountered before drew me away from my target. I had never been distracted on a hunt before that day. I raced to find the source, eager to know what could produce such a scent. Everyone knows the stories of how to tell when they were going to find their destined match but no one ever remembers that at the time. I was the same way. I found the source, a beautiful grey and white wolf, smaller than me by quite a bit but not surprising considering I’m an alpha. He was beautiful, eyes like liquid gold, fur that was softer than anything it’d felt. He was perfect, my lovely Devin. Strong willed and kind, he would have loved you. He always wanted kids and we had considered adopting.” I listen with my hands in my lap, my father’s wounds healed. “We have three years together, three wonderful years. Devin always put others before him, even strangers. He was helping an injured wolf, he wasn’t part of our pack, he didn’t even know if he was a rogue. It didn’t matter, he was hurt and needed help. It was something that I loved him for. That day though, the one he helped brought deaths’ angel to take him from me. The wolf’s attackers hadn’t gone far and wanted to see the job through to the end.” I lean over resting my head on my father’s. “I am sorry father.” He reached up cupping my cheeks and wiping away the tears I had been unable to hold back. “You did not ask me to tell you this story again without reason daughter. What happened while you were out?” I curl my hand into a fist over my chest trying to hide my pain. “He rejected me father. I met him, the Blessed Three’s gift for me, he rejected me. I matched with a purist.” Arms wrapped around me and I cried into my father’s chest. Cried for the cruelty of my destined rejecting me. Cried for the pain of having lost the one who should have loved me unconditionally. When my tears ran dry father sat me down at the table and brought over the dinner I had prepared in my haze. I was a talented cook but even so I couldn’t taste anything of the food. I felt numb to my core and didn’t know how to handle this feeling. I go right to bed once I finish dinner, not because I’m tired but I can’t bring myself to do anything. Sleep doesn’t come though and all I can think of is my destined match. I didn’t even know his name. I didn’t want to feel this horrible empty feeling at the loss of something I had always been looking forward to. After hearing father’s stories of his soulmate I had such high hopes of a bright and loving future. Hours pass without a single moment of sleep and I decide to get up and go for a walk. Maybe it would ease my troubled mind. It seems father knows me well as he was waiting for me. “It will be alright daughter; it may seem hopeless for some time but there are always brighter days ahead. The loss of a soulmate in any fashion is terrible but remember, there are countless roads we can walk. Mine brought me to you and I cannot imagine a brighter path. You will find yours.” I smile at his words and hug him. Father always had wise words to give. Even during my darkest days, he managed to fill them with light. “Thank you, father. I will go out for a while to clear my mind. Maybe collect some ingredients I was meant to get earlier. I will return before morning.” He placed his hand on my head and offered a small smile. “I know you will be well; you are strong pup of mine.” He turned to go to bed and I grab the basket I used for gathering ingredients in the wild. Somethings needed weren’t typically used so the market didn’t bother selling them. I had in my years learning experimented a bit coming up with new spells, wards, and potions. As such what was overall useless to others was extremely valuable to me. Of course, there was also the knowledge I had inherited by Mana. It seems in transferring her magic to me she had also passed on her knowledge. A quick teleportation spell brought me to my desired destination. Teleportation wasn’t a spell often used due to the amount of energy needed for it. It also put a strain on the caster on the amount of weight sent through. The icy winds of the mountain felt like a gentle breeze to me, the winter’s harsh weather never being a problem. I begin trekking through the deep snow looking for what I needed. Rare though they were, I had a talent for finding what I needed including the star crystals. Small gemstones that glittered like the starry sky that were found only in the tallest mountains and only during blizzard weather like this.  I should have retrieved them earlier as there was a limited time to find them. Though these were sold because of how beautiful they were, not many did because of how dangerous it was to find them. They were also expensive and I didn’t want to pay that kind of coin for something I could find myself. Spotting a star crystal, I rushed to grab it. It is only the first in my search and I had high hopes of finding more. As I searched, I looked out for the other things I needed. Near another star crystal was the frost weeds I needed. Only found in the coldest places and seemingly utterly useless was how it received its name. It wasn’t in fact useless and if anyone else learned of its true value I may actually have trouble finding it. I pack away the ingredients and start moving further down the mountain. I hadn’t gotten far before I spotted a form that was out of place on the mountain. Half covered in snow and smelling of blood I rushed over to find a wolf that appeared to have been put through hell. Scratches and bites from a brutal fight had left the male wolf unable to escape the icy weather. “Please be alive.” I whisper as I kneel down next to him. Barely a pulse and with the damage done by his injuries in any other case he’d be losing an eye and some fingers and maybe a limb. The cold had not been kind to him. I glance at my basket; I should have enough. I hadn’t expected to need to use them so soon but I couldn’t overlook someone in need. I picked up the wolf that didn’t say a word, unconscious and not likely to wake soon. I use the teleportation spell again to arrive at my healer’s sanctuary. A place I use to store my important ingredients and make my potions. It was warded to allow only myself and those with my permission inside. I place him on the bed that I had for when I worked long hours and too tired to return home. I had some prepared potions but it wouldn’t be enough to fully heal him. For now, a spell to put him in stasis so no further damage could be done. Once done I rush to begin brewing the needed potions as well as double check my spells. I can’t mess up on this, his life was on the line. It took hours to make the necessary preparations, a task I normally did with a smile and usually singing to myself. Now though, my mind was whispering doubts and my nerves were frayed. I couldn’t remember ever having anyone in such a dire situation under my care. I glance at the wolf as though he would suddenly no longer be in stasis. Taking a calming breath, I gather everything that had been prepared. Removing him from stasis I move quickly to get everything done. First the deep gashes on his face, the medicine was extremely painful but well worth it when the other option was to lose an eye. Next a spell to restore his body so the cold’s effects were as though they never happened. With those things done I carefully lift his upper body up so I could give him the potion. He needed to wake though to drink it. “Please wake wolf, I need you to wake only a moment.” His eyes slowly flickered open and I smile at him. He had the most beautiful silver eyes. “I need you to drink this so you can finish healing. I promise you may sleep then. I’ll keep watch to ensure all is well.” He didn’t seem to be fully aware but as I placed the bottle to his lips, he swallowed down the liquid. He promptly passed out once it was finished which was fine. I sat at his bedside in the following hours, keeping my promise to watch over him.