His Breath of Fire

Chapter Sixteen

    I rolled my eyes at him, and continued to walk towards the conference room.

    “What?” Easton asks me, catching up to me.

    “Seriously, your ex just walked up to me and threatened me and the most you can say is, ‘That was hot?’” I ask, shaking my head.

    “I mean it was,” he murmured, and I had to contain a laugh.  “I knew you could take care of yourself, Bren, I didn’t feel like I needed to step in.  Did you want me to step in?”

    “Yes,” I answered, coming to a stop outside the conference room doors.  “I may be strong and independent, but there’s always going to be a part of me that wants you to feel like you need to take care of me.  My other forms may be stronger than yours, but you are my strength, Easton.  That’s what mates are to each other.  You pushed me behind you, when Mara was threatening me, but that’s the most you did.  And while the motion was a little silly, it made me feel safe and protected.”

    “I’m sorry, Bren,” he apologized, stepping closer to me to put his hands on my hips.  “I did want to.  Hell, my wolf was going crazy and wanting to banish Mara from the pack because of how she spoke to you.  But the moment you started to put her in her place, I didn’t think I needed to intervene.  I’m sorry, and we’ll try to find a better balance between your independence and need to be protected.  Okay?”

    I smiled softly, and nodded.  Easton searched my eyes before leaning his head down to meet mine.  However, right before our lips could touch for the first time, the door to the conference room opened revealing a pissed off Alpha.

    “You’re late,” he snapped, glaring at the two of us.

    “Sorry, Father,” Easton apologized, tugging me into the conference room.  “We ran into Mara on the way in.”

    “Finally told her the news?”

    “Yes,” he nodded, sitting down on a chair motioning me to sit in the chair next to him.  “Could have avoided it all together if there wasn’t a pact to begin with.”

    Robert’s eyes narrowed at his son, and even though I knew I could win in a fight against him, I was slightly terrified.  “We’ve been over this before, boy.  We made the pact for the—”

    “Survival of our pack, I know,” Easton finished, closing his eyes to hide his frustration.  I rubbed my thumbs in circles on his hand to try and help relax him.  It seemed to be working because he opened his eyes to look at me before returning his attention to his father.  “Still doesn’t make this transition any easier.”

    “So what will we do about Luke?” Robert asks, completely ignoring his son’s quip.  I flickered my gaze between the two, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the two were related. Easton—from the little I’ve gathered from him—is warm and inviting, while Robert is all about rules and tradition. It makes me wonder how Easton’s mother is, because he had to get his soft, loving side from somewhere. 

    “You all saw him yesterday, he’s mentally unstable,” Paul said. “There’s only so much we can prepare for, but he could completely change the game and we would never know.”

    “First thing, we need to keep Bren a secret for as long as possible,” my mother interjects. “He’ll be able to tell she’s his child.”

    “How? They look nothing alike,” Lucas asks.

    “The time frame,” she answers. “Bren looks to be about seventeen or eighteen—which she is—and that was around the time he and I were together.  Plus, she looks like me.”

    “He also can’t know about the baby,” I add.

    “You’re pregnant?!” Robert asked, glaring at Easton and I. I looked at Easton, and his cheeks were red from embarrassment. Gosh, he looks so cute when he blushes.

    “No,” I answered, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. “But my mother is. I may be that man’s child, and he’ll want me for that reason as well, but he won’t care that that child isn’t his. All he will see is a weapon to be groomed and trained.”

    “How do you know this?” Robert asked, looking at me suspiciously. I know I've rubbed him the wrong way, since I won’t submit to his wishes. I just hate when Alphas abuse their power over their pack, which is why I stand up to him.

    I motioned to my mother who answered, “After we had mated for the first time, I decided to tell him what I am—a dragon shifter. I thought he wouldn’t care, that he’ll love me because we’re mates. But the moment he realized that dragons had more powers than wolves, he started becoming obsessive about creating hybrids. He knew the power that could come from our combined species would be enough to gain serious power. Once I realized his plan, I rejected our bond and ran for my life. A week or so later, I realized I was pregnant with the very thing he sought after—a hybrid. There’s no guarantee that he knows about Bren, however he could think that I ran because I knew I was pregnant.”

    “Who’s to say that I won’t do the same thing?” Robert asked, squinting at my mother.

    Everyone froze at his words as we stared at him in disbelief. He wouldn’t try to do that, would he? Silence stretched on as we stared at Robert, and I realized they were all waiting on me to respond. I stood up, glaring at Robert, eyes flashing from opal to mint and I tried to control my other forms. “Because I am not something you can control. Do you forget I come from Lycan heritage? Your Alpha powers mean nothing to me, and with my combined powers, I outrank you. So don’t for one second think that you have the power to control me.”

    Robert stood up and glared back at me, his own Alpha powers springing to the surface. I narrowed my eyes at him, and my dragon powers jumped to the surface as well. Everyone else in the room shivered at the power circling around them, but Robert wasn’t backing down. I growled, and then placed my hands on the table, leaning forward so that I was that much closer to him. My pupils slit, due to my dragon heritage, and I called fire to my arms. Careful not to burn anything or any one, I snapped my fingers and a ball of energy—fire mixed with water—swirled about my palm.

    Robert’s eyes were glued to the ball of energy that was growing in my hand, unable to look away. Deciding to finally put an end to this, I allowed the water to grow, overtaking the fire and allowing the energy to become only water. The moment it was fully one matter, I threw the ball, causing the water to explode all over Robert’s face and soak his clothes.

    It’s like everyone sucked in a breath, waiting for the Alpha’s response, but I didn’t. “I could have easily let that ball of energy become entirely fire, and let it burn you alive without a second thought. Don’t think for a second that just because I’m your son’s mate that means you have a free pass to treat me however you like. I surpass you in ways you can’t even imagine. You don’t know about dragons or their abilities. You need me more than you think in this upcoming war. Treat me well with the respect I deserve, and I’ll help you minimize the death. Otherwise…”

    I let the threat hang in the room as everyone stares at me. Truthfully, I would never allow someone else to die just because of one stupid Alpha male. However, Robert needs to understand that he can’t just walk all over me just because I have a v****a. I’m a Lycan Alpha by birthright, and future Luna of this pack. I deserve respect, god damnit. 

    He slowly lowers himself into his seat, which I stop him with a hand. He looks at me, confused, and I extend my wings. My mother knows what’s about to happen, so she braces herself and grabs all the papers on the table to make sure they don’t fly around. With one strong flap of my wings, I send a gust of wind towards Robert, effectively drying him off from the water I just doused him with. He blinks, looking down at his dry appearance before plopping down into his seat again. I look down at Easton who has a small smirk on his face before retracting my wings and sitting down again as well.