Dragon's Mate

by Alicia Banks

  “Dad,” she whispered groggily. Her annoyance faded when she saw him smiling down at her. She jumped on her feet and gave him a tight hug. She hasn’t seen him for one whole season. And she missed him so much.

  Allison had grown up in a glamorous lifestyle. Allison Farkas was the only daughter of Marco Farkas, the fifty-seven-year-old successful businessman. He raised her alone when her mother died after giving birth. She had chosen to study for college far from home, but Allison hadn’t known how very hard it would be to live so far away from her only family – her father.

  When she was a kid, her father would always remind her to be a good girl and to follow the rules in their household – to not ever wander into the woods at the back of the mansion. Her family owned a large chain of estate properties, and the Wakerlin – the grounds around their old mansion – was the biggest. Allison always wondered what it would be like to see and explore the forest. But being the obedient child, she never dared to get near the place – not even once.

  Growing up in a rich household had not been very nice. It’s not that she was ungrateful for her lavish life. But she felt lonely along the way. Because technically, she had grown up all by herself, with all the servants attending her. She had barely seen her father at home. But he was the only family she had. And she loved him.

  “I missed you,” she murmured before moving away from her father, sniffing his familiar scent.

  “Want to take a walk?” he asked, pushing the strands of her brunette hair behind her left ear.

  With gleaming eyes, she nodded in response. She had a long flight back home from Australia, but she wouldn’t mind the jetlag. It was very seldom that she had the opportunity to spend quality time with her busy father. After all, she would have the entire summer break to get herself some rest.

  “I’ll just get dressed. Wait a minute,” she said and skipped on her heels, closing the door shut again. Quickly, she slipped in her morning exercise attire – jogging pants, sweater, and running shoes.

  It didn’t take five minutes, and she was already taking the pathways to the garden with her arm encircling her father’s. The moon was full and the stars were bright. And she felt happy and light.

  “How’s school?” Marco asked. He had sent her to Australian University for her studies as her Aunt Mia lived there. But Allison never liked her, as she seemed more like a spy than her aunt.

  “Great! My classmates were cool and my roommates were also nice. But…” She bit her bottom lip when she remembered failing a subject.

  “But?” She heard him chuckle a little.

  “But my professors weren’t really that nice,” she muttered shyly. She knew her dad understood what she meant.

  “Of course, Princess.” He paused and heaved a deep sigh. “Not all people are nice.”

  She crumpled her face. “I just wish they’d change a little.”

  “Change is something we cannot control, Princess. People would change not because we wanted them to,” her dad answered meaningfully, making her grimace.

  “Are you okay, Dad?” she asked, stopping in her tracks and facing her old man. He was staring up at the dark sky. And with the reflection of the moon in his eyes, she thought he was just acting like the wise man that he was.

  He gave her a nod and a gentle kiss on the forehead before motioning her to continue walking. Just like that, they shared a comfortable silence for about an hour.

  “Your aunt told me about the accident. You should be careful on the road, Princess,” her father said with concern in his eyes.

  “Yes, Dad. I don’t know how this happened. I didn’t even get a chance to understand anything at the time. It was just so sudden, and I felt like someone pushed me to the middle of road. Thanks to that stranger,” Allison said as the horrific scene from that day again came in front of her eyes.

  It was Allison’s last day at school. She was just a few meters away from the school gate, waiting for her classmate, and best friend, Joanna. While Allison waited for her friend near the school gate, she felt someone push her to the road. Her head hit the door as she fell. And the next moment, she was in the arms of a man, who rescued her from the road before a speeding car almost killed her. Her head was pounding and her vision had been so blurry that she could not see his face. All she could see was a man in black hat, big black glasses, and a long beard. The man put her on a bench nearby, and before she could understand anything, her savior had left the place.

  “Yeah, I can’t thank him in words. God bless that person.” Her father said, hugging her.

  When the first sun rays cracked the dark sky, her father kissed her hair softly. “Happy birthday, Princess,” he said, smiling down at her.

  Feeling a rush of excitement, she felt her eyes growing blurry. “I thought you had forgotten again.” Her voice cracked.

  “How could I forget? You’re my Princess. I love you, sweetheart. I’m sorry for being a bad father.” He wiped the tears away from her face.

  “No, you’re a great father, Dad. I love you, too.”

  Though feeling curious about the sudden sweetness, Allison couldn’t stop herself from getting emotional. It was like everything she had wanted for so long was already coming true. She might not be able to turn back the time, but she could create new memories with her father. It was not too late.

  “So, be ready in the evening for your birthday party.”

  “Party?” She felt so happy to hear that.

  “Yes, my Princess. Buy a pretty dress for yourself, your birthday gift from your dad.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I love you so much.” She hugged her dad, and they headed back to the mansion.

  ∞∞∞

  Pacing back and forth in her father’s large office, Allison again took a quick glance at her wristwatch. All the visitors for her birthday party had taken their leave. It was already past midnight, and her father was not yet back.

  According to Franklin, her father’s assistant, he went out with one of the government officials who attended her party because he wanted to show the visitor a quick tour of the Wakerlin. But she thought something was odd.

  Marco Farkas never showed the estate to anyone. And nobody – not even the servants – was allowed to take a tour around it. Everyone in the mansion was only permitted up to the fenced lawns and backyard.

  “Signorina,” Franklin mumbled. He looked tired just by watching her bothered expression. “I am sure the Signore Marco will be back. Maybe he had an urgent meeting.”

  Allison shook her head before slamming her body against the empty couch. “Without telling you? You’re his personal assistant!” she yelled in exasperation.

  “Uhh Signorina, we know that Signore can be a little impulsive,” the poor assistant tried to reason with his voice low and stunned.

  “Mi dispiace Franklin,” she apologized in her mother tongue, “maybe I’m just overreacting. You can rest.”

  “Thank you. Buona notte, Signorina.”

  Allison walked back to her room and stripped her gown away from her body. Her father was a very unpredictable man. And she didn’t know why she was overreacting.

  But one thing was for sure. Something was odd. And her father’s gestures that morning were weird. He was very strict, disciplined, and authoritative, and he had never expressed his emotions like that he did that morning. After cleaning herself, she jumped into her bed, hoping that her father was fine.

  ∞∞∞

  Three nights and two days had passed, and there was no trace of Marco Farkas. Franklin was able to get in contact with the government official her father had gone out with the night of her birthday party. But they did not get any new information.

  Allison knew it would be practical to call the cops or hire a private investigator to find her missing father. But she couldn’t get herself to sit and wait for news. And Allison was sure Marco Farkas wouldn’t like the publicity.

  “We need to look for him,” she urged Franklin, who didn’t like her suggestion.

 
“I’m sorry, Signorina, but we can’t go.”

  “If you’re not coming with me, then I am going alone.” She could feel her nostrils flaring with anger. How could he stay calm at a time like this?

  Franklin was declining her idea of looking for her father in the woods of Wakerlin. It was the place where Marco had been last seen, and there was a strong possibility that if he wasn’t in there, they could at least find a lead of his whereabouts.

  Allison was restless.

  Calling some of the patrolling cops, she led the group to the woods. She didn’t have any idea where she was going, but at least she had company.

  At the very least, there were five of them.

  “Are you sure your father is here?” one of the cops in his mid-thirties inquired. He was eyeing her from head to toe with a crazy smile on his lips.

  “I am looking for him. This is the last place he was seen before he went missing,” she answered in annoyance. She didn’t like the way the man was staring at her.

  To her surprise, they reached the edge of the thick woods and saw an old-looking hanging bridge connecting to the other side. She looked for signage, but there wasn’t any.

  She presumed that it was part of Wakerlin, Allison made her way up to the middle of the bridge. It was strong, like it was well-maintained.

  “It’s safe. The materials are strong,” she called out. But when she turned around, she saw nothing but woods. No one was there.

  She was alone, on her own – thanks to her curiosity.

  Stupid cops, she muttered angrily.

  Taking quick and large steps, Allison reached the end of the hanging bridge without a problem. And then it started pouring rain, making her wonder why. It was summer, after all.

  She looked up and watched the dark clouds cover the blue sky in no time. With a loud crack of thunder and flash of lighting, it signaled her to run. She never liked thunderstorms.

  The ground was muddy and the soles of her running shoes were covered with mud. She followed the path without knowing where it was going to lead her. She wanted to look around, but she was soaking wet and starting to shiver.

  Allison stopped in her tracks when she heard a loud gunshot. It sounded so near, making her shiver in fear. Was it the cops? Did they find her father? Why did they have to shoot?

  Frightened, she ran across the thick woods. She didn’t know where to find her father. And she didn’t know where her feet were taking her. But one thing was for sure: the forest was not safe. She needed to find a place to stay before it got too dark.

  When the wind started to blow, she heard a loud and heavy bustling sound of water – a river. Hoping to find something, she led herself to the body of water. Gratefully, she saw a tiny hut by the edge of a cave beside the stream.

  A light flickered inside the hut, giving her a tiny spark of hope. Allison hastily approached it and knocked on the old plywood door. She looked around and saw no one. It wasn’t much. But it was better than dying under the rain before finding her missing father.

  “Hello?” She called out, hoping to find someone – help.

  The wind blew strongly once more, and she shivered in the cold. Her knuckles were turning blue, and it was getting harder to breathe. Desperately, Allison tried to open the door, and to her surprise, it wasn’t locked.

  Taking a step inside, she uttered a silent apology to the owner of the place. She would pay her respects later – if she survived that dreadful storm.

  Shamelessly, Allison searched the place for a towel and went straight to the bathroom. She took a quick shower and covered herself, thinking of drying her wet body by the tiny fireplace. The place wasn’t actually small. It was enough for three grown people to live in comfortably. She found it small because she was used to everything large and extravagant. The fireplace was lit, and there was firewood arranged on the floor. It seemed the owner knew it was going to rain.

  Hugging herself, she sat on the rocking chair in front of the fireplace and waited for her clothes to dry. She let her mind wander about the odd happenings recently: her father was missing, a storm brewed in the middle of summer, and a gunshot had been fired. She closed her eyes and hoped for the best – that she would be safe, and so would her father.

  Allison’s solitude was disrupted by a loud bang on the door. She opened her eyes instantly, trying to compose a reasonable statement to the owner for barging in.

  But to her surprise, she saw a wolf as white as snow with green eyes looking back at her. She saw blood dripping from its left hind leg. And it stood almost as tall as a horse and had the largest paws she had ever seen, making her tremble in fear. From the looks of it, she was sure it could eat a whole human.

  The beast approached her at full speed, making her utter a silent prayer. Now, she knew why her father never allowed her to wander in the woods. She could die there without anyone knowing about it.

  Dad, I’m sorry…

  Chapter 2

  Allison opened her eyes when she felt something hairy rubbing against her leg. She thought the creature was going to eat her. But it looked tame. And somehow, she could sense that it was begging for help.

  She sighed in relief and took another quick look at the injured beast. It didn’t look like an ordinary cut since it was bleeding heavily. It whimpered helplessly, making her heart melt. She hesitated for a moment when the wolf looked at her, rubbing its head on her knees.

  But after giving it a thought, she presumed that the creature must be a pet of the house owner. So, she decided to mend its wounds. She searched the hut and was relieved to find a first aid kit in one of the kitchen cupboards.

  Seeing her carry the small box, the wolf laid flat on the floor – exposing its left side.

  Clever doggy, she thought. Its injuries were from gunshots, making her wince every time it cried in pain.

  “Hush, it’s going to be okay,” she said, petting its head with her hand. “Seems like the stupid cop shot you, huh,” she went on. Her fear subsided. And somehow, she felt at ease with the creature around.

  When she finished mending the animal, Allison went to the kitchen and made warm milk, making a mental note that she would pay for everything she had used in her stay.

  She felt relieved as the warm liquid passed her throat. “Thank God,” she whispered. The wolf whined in response and looked at her, getting up to approach the kitchen table. It moved its nose, sniffing the milk.

  “Oh, oh, I’m sorry. Of course, you’d like some too.” She giggled, finding herself stupid. She took the empty aluminum bowl from the kitchen counter and filled it with the warm liquid. The beast helped itself, rolling its long tongue out.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I’d have been terrified if I was alone in this forest, you know. It’s my first time here,” she said, earning herself a loud grumble from the wolf.

  “Do you think your master would get mad if he learns that I’m using and drinking his stuff?” She presumed that only a man would have such courage to tame a big wolf. “Please don’t eat me.” She shivered at the thought. “I mended your wounds. We’re friends now, right?”

  The wolf raised its head, eyeing the jar containing the milk. With that, she filled the bowl with the rest of it. “Since you’re a good doggy and you need nutrients to get better, it’s all yours.” She scanned the bandaged leg of the beast. Allison was surprised when she saw the injury had stopped bleeding – strands of the dressing had started falling on the floor.

  With curiosity and fear motivating her, she removed the dressing slowly. Her heart was beating loud and fast. She gasped in a mixture of surprise and anxiety at the sight of the injured leg, it had fully healed, as if there had not been bullets buried in it a few hours ago. She had been studying anatomy all these years, and Allison knew that neither human nor animal could regenerate cells that quick. It was impossible and ridiculous.

  Questions started popping into her mind. And the beast watched her as if it could understand what she was feeling, her fear, anxiety, and confusion
.

  While making a long and loud howl and a cry in pain – the wolf jumped on the empty couch. She felt like her eyes were playing tricks on her when its hind legs slowly lengthened, so long that they reached the floor – taking the shape of human thighs and calves. The front legs grew as well – forming into muscled biceps. With mouth wide open, she pressed her eyes hard, hoping that the vision would go away when she opened her eyes again.

  But it went on…

  The snowy white fur had vanished, replaced by tanned human skin. And when she looked at its head, there were no traces of animal characteristics left. The “creature” looked exactly like a normal human being. And she found him gorgeous. He had green eyes, a long nose, and square jaws. His lips were pink and supple. He had broad shoulders and a lean chest, matched with perfect six-pack abs. And Allison had to admit that she found him hot. And he was naked!

  Alarmed, Allison turned around and marched her way to the kitchen, taking the frying pan, waving it about as a weapon, or a shield.

  “What are you?” she asked.

  Damn it, she cursed silently when her eyes wandered lower from his torso. Stop looking at it, woman! Allison mentally kicked herself as stupid ideas swarmed her mind. She was shocked at the paranormal transfiguration she had witnessed. But the cavewoman inside her couldn’t help but think that the wolf had a very good human body.

  “Is that how you treat the good doggy’s owner?” The creature spoke, standing on his feet, facing her with a mocking grin on his lips.

  “I did not know that the good doggy is a spawn of Satan,” she spat. She was surprised that her voice didn’t crack. But she was fairly certain that if he took a step closer, her knees would definitely give out.