His Breath of Fire

Chapter Fifteen

    “You mind telling me the truth, or do I have to list off the rumors I’ve been hearing?” Sarah snapped, hands on her hips as she looked at me like a mother scolding her child.

    “Depends, what did you hear?” I ask, putting some binders into my locker before turning to her.

    “That Easton asked you out!” she whisper-yelled, leaning in closer like it wasn’t already being talked about. “I thought he was dating Mara!”

    “He was,” I answered simply, walking towards the cafeteria. “But now he’s not.”

    “But why dump her now?” she asked, running to catch up to me. “And why you? I mean no offense, you’re awesome and all but he wouldn’t do that unless you two were—” I raised my eyebrows at her, daring her to say the word out loud. “No way.”

    “Yes, way,” I shrugged, getting into the cafeteria line.

    “But how did—“ she started, but then shook her head. “When did you find out?”

    “The other day,” I answered, grabbing some food and putting it onto my tray. I couldn’t be honest and tell her I had a feeling the day Annabelle showed me his photo, but I could be honest about when it was confirmed. “I pushed a door he had pulled, I fell, and fireworks.”

    “How can you be so nonchalant about this?” Sarah questioned, mirroring my movements and grabbing food for herself. “I mean just two weeks ago you were saying to ‘keep him away from you,’ and now you’re together?”

    “Yeah,” I say, paying for my food. “I mean what else can I do? It’s fate.”

    “I can’t believe you kept this from me,” she grumbled, plopping down in her seat.

    “I’m sorry, it’s just been a crazy couple of days,” I apologize.

    “So what’s this I hear about Easton asking you out?!” Annabelle asked, and Anastasia and Drake sat down opposite of each other. I roll my eyes before launching into the story once more. 

    The rest of the school day passed by rather quickly, and I found myself getting nervous for the meeting and for my date. I mean, the first time we’ll actually be alone together, in an intimate setting? Who wouldn’t be nervous?

    I walked outside of the school building, waving goodbye to Sarah and the others before heading towards my car. As I approached, I saw a figure leaning against it, and as I came closer, I recognized them as Easton. “Hey,” I greeted, walking up to my car. “Why are you leaning on  my car like a creep?”

    “I was waiting for you,” Easton laughed, pushing off my car to come closer. “Plus it smelled like you.”

    “What do I smell like?” I whispered.

    Easton closed the distance between us, circling his arms around my waist and tugging me closer. Pushing my braid off my shoulder, he ran his nose from the shell of my ear to the tip of my shoulder, inhaling as he went. Pulling back, his eyes turned black as he fought for control over his wolf, and he leaned in, “Peppermint and pine.”

    My breathing hitched at the sight of him, towering over me, his breath fanning against my cheeks, his aura tinged with reds and dark pinks. Oh boy, we need to control ourselves before we do something we regret. “Easton,” I whispered, pushing his chest slightly so he’d get the hint.

    A low rumble emitted from his chest, the vibrations flowing through my arms. He closed his eyes, arms tightening that much more around my body. I could feel him fighting for control, his wolf most likely wanting to claim me right here and now. But this isn’t how I want to be claimed, so unfortunately, I need to take matters into my own hands. I felt my powers jump at my command, and I gently removed Easton’s hands away from me. His eyes snapped open, widening slightly at the opal color, and everything came crashing down on him.

    “Did I hurt you?” Easton questioned, eyes roaming my body, checking for injuries.

    “No,” I said, shaking my head and sending him a smile. “I just figured you needed a little help getting control.”

    “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I don’t know what came over me, my wolf was chanting ‘mate’ and he wasn’t pointing out who you were to me.”

    I smile, knowing exactly why his wolf was reacting the way he was, and it confused me slightly. I mean, we haven’t even had i*********e yet, he shouldn’t already be addicted. Was it because of my hybrid nature that allures him so much? It’s hard to have definitive answers because I’m the first known dragon-werewolf hybrid, so there’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to me. “There’s a lot you still don’t know about a dragon-werewolf hybrid. But that’s for another time.”

    Easton gave me a quizzical look, but didn’t press the issue further. “I was gonna say let’s ride together to the packhouse, but the distance might do my wolf and I good. I’ll see you there?”

    “Yes,” I smiled, and got into my car. Easton made sure I was firmly in my car and engine running before turning on his heel and sprinting off to his car. 

    The drive to the packhouse was short, and right as I turned off my car, Easton pulled up behind me. Smiling, he grabbed my hand to lead me to where the meeting will be held.  We talked in low voices, choosing to be quiet to give the illusion of privacy as we walked.  All of a sudden, a hand wrapped itself around my bicep and yanked me away from my mate.

    “Who the hell are you, and what do you think you’re doing with my mate?!” a voice yelled, and I turned to face Mara.

    My blood boiled, and I smacked her hand off of me.  “Who the hell are you to think you have the right to touch me?”

    “Your future Luna, that’s who!” she seethed.

    “That’s where you’re wrong,” I murmured, voice low and threatening.  Taking a step closer, my face only a few inches from hers.  “You’re not his mate.”

    Mara’s eyes widened, and her gaze snapped to Easton.  “You’re her mate?”

    “Yes,” Easton answered, gently grabbing my hand to pull me to his side.  “I’m sorry, Mara.”

    “You’re sorry?” she repeats, giving him an incredulous look.  “Sorry?  We’ve been arranged to be mated for eight years now, and you’re going to throw it away for some human?!”

    “Do not talk to her like that,” Easton growled, pushing me to stand behind him.  I had to hold a giggle in.  What is he protecting me from?  Her words?  “She isn’t just some human, she’s my mate, Mara, regardless of how you may feel right now.  And we both know that the arranged mating would only take place if we didn’t find our mates.  So unfortunately, the arranged mating is over.  My father has been made aware.  I apologize for not letting you and your father know sooner.”

    “You can’t just throw away everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve done!” She continued, grasping for straws.  To an extent, I pity her.  However, because she’s trying to get between my mate and I, that pity doesn’t extend too far.  She turns to look at me, eyes blazing.  “You better watch yourself, b***h.  I was promised him.  You probably faked the whole thing so that you could--”

    “I’m going to stop you right there,” I said, my own eyes blazing in anger.  Luckily, my eyes didn’t change color, but my anger was still ever present.  “This ‘pact’ that you speak of was probably just a ruse so you and your father could gain more power.  You know, as well as I do, that mates are destined for each other, and the only way to ‘fake’ a bond is to have a witch cast a spell.  So, no, I didn’t fake anything.  Our bond is authentic and real, which is more than I can say for your Barbie appearance.”

    Her eyes widened at my words, and she looked like she was about to say something else but I cut her off.  “If you have any self-respect, I would suggest walking away, waiting patiently for the next few months for your eighteenth birthday.  Then you will find your mate and you’ll forget all about Easton and what you thought you had.”

    Mara looked like she was going to say something else, but when she looked to Easton for help, he shrugged and tugged me that much closer to him.  She gave me one last death glare before stomping her foot like a toddler throwing a tantrum and storming off.

    I turned to look at Easton, giving him an incredulous look since I can’t believe that I just witnessed that teenage tantrum.

    “That was hot,” he murmured, voice low and husky.