by Hawke Oakley
“Not rude at all.” Dante grinned, flashing a full mouth of pearly white - and sharp - teeth at me. “I am indeed a dragon.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “And you’re speaking… how?”
“Dragonspeech.”
The raven explained, “It’s an ancient vocalization style that registers in any listener’s mind as their own language, or any language they understand.”
I turned to her - or at least, I assumed the bird was a her. “Okay… And you are speaking to me. As a bird?”
“Side effect of dragonspeech,” Ruby said. “As a servant of Dante’s family, the dragonspeech extends to me as well.”
“Okay,” I said finally, as if any of this made any grain of sense.
“Excellent!” Dante said. “Now that everything’s settled, let’s return to Cinderhollow.”
“Am I supposed to know what that is?” I asked, panicking.
“Dante,” Ruby chided, speaking gently as if I was a frightened rabbit, “perhaps we should find somewhere to rest first. The wolf looks tired.”
“Gabriel,” I corrected.
“Yes, Ruby. His name is Gabriel Brooks, remember?” Dante growled. He held me closer to his chest, and for some reason my face went beet red. It wasn’t like I was about to argue with a dragon, though. “Is that alright with you, Gabriel?”
“I… I guess so,” I said meekly. Resting probably meant being on the ground again, which I desperately wanted right now.
“It's settled,” Ruby said. “We’ll rest tonight at the Glimmering Lake.”
The place Ruby called Glimmering Lake was - well - a glimmering lake.
The waters were crystal clear, even in the darkness of night. Tiny reflections of stars broke the surface. I’d never seen such pristine water before.
Dante approached the ground slowly, fanning out his wings to catch the air and brake before he landed gently on his hind legs. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Could you please put me down?” I asked.
“Of course, Gabriel,” Dante replied.
He lowered his claws and I slid off. When I touched the ground, I collapsed. The adrenaline and stress coursing through my veins all night had exhausted me. I groaned through a faceful of dirt.
“Gabriel!” Dante cried.
Warm, big hands touched my shoulders and I let myself be pulled up. When I opened my eyes again, I was staring into deep purple eyes that shone like amethysts.
Very human eyes.
“Whoa,” I said warily. “Um. Who are you?”
The man laughed. It was a whimsical yet hearty sound. “It’s Dante. Don’t you recognize me?”
I couldn’t help but staring. “Not without the wings and fire, no.”
Holy hell. Not only was Dante not a dragon anymore, but he was just about the sexiest man I’d ever seen in my whole life. Rough, wind-swept black hair framed a pale face with sharp features. Majestic purple eyes bore down into mine, like he was staring into my soul. Despite his currently human form, his canine teeth were sharper than usual, a nod to his dragon ancestry.
Dante raised an arched black brow and grinned wider. “Like what you see?”
I blushed hard. I didn’t realize I’d been staring. I quickly glanced away.
“I - maybe,” I muttered.
Dante laughed. “Playful thing, aren’t you?”
Someone else approached us - a tall woman with cascading black hair, but with less lustre than Dante’s hair. Judging from her stern expression and dark eyes, that must have been Ruby’s human form.
“You two will have plenty of time to get acquainted later,” she said. “We should rest now. There’s a big journey ahead of us.”
“Um… I’m sorry, what?” I asked.
Dante purred in my ear. “She said, we have plenty of time to - “
“No, not that. You said there’s a big journey? What do you mean?” I said.
“Oh, I guess we forgot to mention that part,” Dante said. He leaned back. “We’re taking you back to -”
“Dante,” Ruby said, eyeing him. “It’s his choice, remember?”
Dante pouted, then said, “I know, I know.”
“What’s my choice?” I asked, getting increasingly confused. “Can someone please explain what’s going on?”
Ruby kneeled down on the ground so we were all at eye-level. She spoke gently. “Gabriel, we are from Cinderhollow tribe. Have you ever heard of it?”
“No,” I admitted.
She nodded. “That’s okay. We’re a tribe that lives far off in the ancient, sacred mountains. We frequently scour the lands in search of omegas who would like to come and live among us. If you’d like, we can take you back to our tribe.”
I blinked. “If I’d like to?” I asked.
“Yes,” Ruby said. She smiled. “We’re not forcing you to do anything.”
I looked to Dante, as if seeking his confirmation. He nodded and winked at me.
My gaze fell to the ground in front of me. It was rich soil, covered in grass and dotted with tiny flowers. The first soil I’d seen outside of Stoneheart pack’s walls.
Well, the second, but this time I wasn’t trying not to be murdered by humans.
“This is a lot to think about,” I admitted in a small voice. “Is it okay if I think about it for the night?”
“Of course,” Ruby said.
“Anything you wish,” said Dante.
“Thanks.”
Ruby stood and brushed the dirt off her knees. “I’ll be in my raven form sleeping in the trees. Call me if you need anything.” She nodded at Dante, then me, before turning back into a black bird and disappearing into the canopy.
“So, is she like… your girlfriend?” I asked after Ruby had retreated.
Dante burst out laughing so hard that I thought he would choke. “Gods, no. That would be like dating my aunt.” He shuddered.
“Oh.” I blushed in embarrassment. “Wait, she said she was a servant or something, right?”
He waved a hand. “Technically a servant yes, but that word has a demeaning connotation. Think of her more like a family friend.”
He stood and offered me a hand, which I took to stand up. He gestured to the grassy path that looped around the lake. “Shall we walk and talk, if you’re not too tired?”
“Sure.” I felt stretched thin from the stress of the day, but my restless legs still itched for action. I wondered if Dante knew that somehow.
“So… A real dragon, huh?” I asked. “Are you sure nobody slipped me some kind of drugs?”
He smirked. “I’m quite sure. I can pull out my wings again, if you’d like.”
“No thanks. I’ve had enough excitement for one day, I think.”
His smile turned wry. “You count almost being killed by humans excitement? You’re an interesting one, Gabriel.”
“Did you miss the part where a big dragon came and saved me from them?” I asked. “I’d count that as exciting, personally, even though it was fucking terrifying at the same time.”
He laughed again. I found myself enjoying the sound of it more than I’d ever enjoyed the sound of someone's laugh before.
“No, I remember that part pretty well. It was quite a handsome dragon, if I remember correctly.” He flashed his teeth at me.
Suddenly aware of how warm my cheeks felt, I stared at the grass instead of at him.
“I guess I should thank you for saving my life and everything,” I said.
He stopped walking and watched me patiently with a smile on his face. Was it just me or did he get better looking every time I glanced at him?
“There’s no need to thank me. I did what anyone would have done,” Dante said.
I turned to him seriously. “No, you didn’t. Not everybody would have jumped in like that and helped me. Hell, nobody I know would have.”
The humor faded from his face. “What?”
“My pack left me to die. They basically sent me to my death.” My frown deepened. “N
obody even came outside the walls.”
Dante stopped and put his hands on my shoulders. His hands were big and firm, and the contact instantly made me look into his fierce purple eyes. There was ferocity in his expression, like he would fight those raiders all over again.
“Your pack was no pack if they left you to fend for yourself,” he growled. “A pack is family. Families don’t let each other die.”
I found myself unable to keep eye contact with him, like the fire in his eyes was too hot.
“It was just the Stoneheart way,” I muttered, thinking about all the times in my life I’d heard those words. Had I finally begun to believe it?
“Bullshit!” Dante snapped. “They’re not a true pack, just a bunch of wolf shifters living together. They should be ashamed of themselves. I can’t believe they just let you walk out of there knowing the raiders would be waiting. It pisses me off.”
Dante was furious. His eyes blazed with fire, and his sharp features were twisted in a snarl. I couldn’t help but stare again. Even angry, he was so handsome. Although yelling alphas usually made me uncomfortable, I felt the complete opposite with Dante. I wanted to be closer to him. I had to stop myself from taking another step in his direction.
“Sorry,” he growled, running a hand back through his thick black hair. “I hope I didn’t scare you. I just can’t believe they treated you like that.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I mean, it’s not okay, but I appreciate your concern for me.” I shrugged. “I guess I know there’s worse packs out there, so I should just be lucky with what I had.”
Dante frowned. “Don’t let me hear you say that again. Just because other people are in bad situations doesn’t make your experience any less valid. Got it?”
I shuddered at his commanding tone. I almost wanted to to disagree with him to see what would happen, but I decided not to test his patience.
“Got it.”
He huffed out a puff of smoke from his nose. “Good.”
An excited shiver ran down my spine.
“Come here,” Dante beckoned me as he walked. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Curiously, I followed him. He led me through cool, dewey grass that brushed against my ankles. The air here was crisp and clean. I filled my lungs with it. It felt purifying after a life caged within walls.
Dante checked over his shoulder to see if I was coming, then smiled. “We’re almost there,” he promised.
“You seem to know this place pretty well,” I commented.
“Sure do.”
He beckoned me closer into the suddenly thick trees, whose trunks were covered in snaking ivy. He pulled back a curtain of ivy to reveal a small waterfall. I gasped.
Beautiful clean water cascaded down an outcrop of rocks to become soft, foamy white as it hit the surface of the river. Surrounding the water was tall green grass that waved gently in the cool breeze, and a patch of white flowers blossomed beside the water.
“This place is beautiful,” I murmured.
Dante smiled. “Just like you.”
I blushed deeply. “Why are you showing me this?”
He looked confused now. “Because I want to. Is there any other reason I need?”
I guessed not. I didn’t press the issue and just focused on the natural beauty of the scene in front of me.
“So, the Glimmering Lake isn’t really a lake at all,” Dante began, sidling up next to me. “It’s just called that because of the large pool you saw earlier. It’s actually a river that flows down from this waterfall. And the water that feeds these falls come from ice in our tribe’s sacred mountain. Not to brag, but technically, everything here belongs to us.”
“Your tribe?” I asked curiously. “You said it was called Cinderhollow, right?”
He beamed proudly. “Yes.
“It must be pretty if it’s in the mountains.” I gazed at the flowing water, taking in its calming energy. “I don’t know if anything can top this, though.”
Dante purred in my ear. “Oh, trust me. It’s much prettier. Although nothing is as pretty as you.”
I gazed at him wide-eyed, then looked around. “Are you talking to me?” I asked in a voice that was higher pitched than I intended.
Dante grinned. “Of course. Is anyone else here, Gabriel?”
There wasn’t a sound around us. Only rushing water and chirping crickets.
“I guess not,” I admitted.
A noise between a purr and a growl rose in his throat as he stepped closer to me. We stood only inches apart, and I could feel his body heat radiating off his bare chest. I swallowed hard and felt my whole face burn. Why was I so attracted to this stranger I only just met?
It’s because he’s hotter than the fire he breathes, I told myself. And it was true. He was just about the hottest guy I’d ever seen in my damn life.
Overcome by embarrassment, I blurted out, “Do all dragons stand this close to people they’re talking to?”
Dante grinned. “No. Just me.”
Suddenly his face became serious. He took my hands in his, and my breath caught in my throat. He was holding my hands. My blush crept further, making my ears flush. I’d never even held hands with anyone besides my parents. I must have looked like a stupid, embarrassing virgin. He probably wasn’t even interested in me like that - maybe holding hands was just a dragon-y form of respect or something.
Dante growled, “Stay.”
“Huh?”
He squeezed my hands, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
“Stay with me,” he repeated, his burning amethyst gaze never leaving mine. “I know it’s your decision whether or not you wish to come with us to Cinderhollow, but I couldn’t bear it if we left you behind.”
Oh, right. That.
“Um.” I was delightfully aware of how dry my throat suddenly was. “I mean… It’s not like I have a pack to return to or anything.”
I let out a humorless laugh, but Dante wasn’t smiling. He looked just about as serious as he did when he was fighting off the human raiders.
“Gabriel,” he murmured. “Please stay with me.”
His eyes flashed with desperation and need. I blinked, making sure I was seeing things correctly.
This sexy dragon shifter was asking me to stay with him?
“Dante,” I began, and for a moment he seemed fearful, as if I would turn him down. “I no longer have a home, or people. I’m a wolf without a pack. Even if you and Ruby didn’t offer me a place to stay, I’d probably be on my hands and knees begging for you to take me with you.”
That made Dante smile again. “On your hands and knees, hm?”
If I wasn’t already blushing, I certainly was now.
“But Gabriel,” Dante said, “what you said wasn’t entirely true.”
“Huh?”
“You called yourself a wolf without a pack,” he said, a slow knowing grin spreading across his lips. “A wolf needs another wolf to be considered a pack, yes?”
I wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at. I nodded in confusion.
“Well, then…” Dante stepped back, and then something miraculous happened.
Before my eyes, the giant fire-breathing dragon shifter, the sexy black-haired man with deep purple eyes, transformed into a wolf.
He was huge - much larger than a normal wolf, and definitely bigger than my own wolf form - and covered in thick black fur that soaked up starlight.
I was speechless.
“Do you like it?” Dante asked. He was still grinning, but instead of dragon or human teeth, he flashed me white wolf fangs.
I threw my hands in the air. “Okay, you’re gonna have to explain before I just assume I’m crazy at this point.”
He brushed the tip of his snout against my open palm before changing back into his human form. As beautiful as his wolf form was, having that stunningly attractive man in front of me again was a treat for the eyes.
“Cinderhollow tribe,” Dante began, his eyes glittering, “i
s not like a normal pack or clan.”
“You don’t say.”
He chuckled. “We are hybrid shifters. We are of ancient blood, from the dawn of the first shifters, who could manipulate their appearance at will. Very few possess this ability now. It was lost to time, or simply because others just didn’t try hard enough to keep it. In Cinderhollow, we hone our strength in every form. It’s a precious gift.”
“So… Let me get this straight,” I said. “You’re a dragon. And a wolf.”
He lifted his chin proudly. “That’s right.”
“And this isn't some kind of special dragon illusion magic or anything?”
He looked mildly offended at that. “Of course not. Illusion magic looks completely different.”
I choked. “There’s magic, too!?”
Dante smiled and trailed a finger down my chest. “Gabriel, my dear, there’s a lot about us you’re about to find out.”
I shuddered from the sensation of his skin on mine. The trail of his finger felt warm, almost like a pleasurable burn. When he withdrew his hand, my heart ached, longing for it to return.
“So?” Dante said, gazing gently at me. “Have you made your choice?”
I swallowed, then nodded. “I have.”
His smile widened in anticipation. “And it is?”
I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply. I’d already made up my mind. Stoneheart was no pack to return to, even if I could somehow go back to it. But it was behind me now. I needed to move forward and focus on the future instead of dwelling on my past.
And something told me that Dante had a lot to do with my future.
I opened my eyes and looked straight into his deep, burning amethyst gaze.
“I’m coming back with you to Cinderhollow.”
5
Dante
The flight back felt both excitingly short and achingly long. I wanted to be back in my room already, throwing Gabriel on my bed and engaging in all sorts of fun… activities.
After a few hours of travel, Gabriel was getting increasingly nervous about hanging in midair. Despite being my fated mate and having flown in my arms before, I could understand that an earthbound creature like a wolf shifter wouldn’t be used to the whipping winds and altitude of flight. That bummed me out a bit, but when we got to Cinderhollow, we’d have all the time in the world for him to get used to it.
