His Breath of Fire

Chapter Thirteen

    “So, go ahead, ask us all of your questions,” my mother said, breaking the silence after another long moment.  I kept my gaze on the backyard, deciding to let my mother do most of the talking.

    “Bren, you’re a dragon-wolf hybrid?” Robert asked.

    “Yes,” I responded, keeping my gaze locked on a tree outside.

    “What does that entail?”

    Sighing, I break my gaze and look at Robert.  “I have all the benefits of both species, and so far, I haven’t noticed any of the cons.  My eyesight is more enhanced due to my dragonsight, and my hearing is even more sensitive due to the fact that dragons need to be able to hear from their incredible height.  Dragons, like my mother, aren’t able to change their size, but I am, and obviously, as you all saw I was able to combine my forms to create the ultimate weapon.  Silver doesn’t affect me like it does for normal wolves, and since I am part dragon, fire won’t kill me either.  I didn’t show you this, but I am able to control fire, water, and air, and am able to cast spells like the one you saw that protected my clothes after I shifted.  Other spells I’ve used recently is to remove my scent, create an invisible bubble, and that’s also why I shifted so freely in our backyard.  There are more advantages due to the fact that my dragon form is slightly more powerful, and since we’re extinct, there are other perks that come with it.”

    Silence was met after my explanation, and after another moment, I continued to look outside.  Honestly, I was avoiding looking at Easton.  If I looked at him, all the pain, hurt, and disappointment would come flooding back and I would break.  I need to stay strong for my mother, and so we can formulate a plan about what to do with my father.

    “And the man that was at the pack’s border?”

    “His name is Luke Thaxton,” my mother said, and the two Alphas tensed at the mention of him.  “He is the Alpha of the Imperial Raven pack.  His heritage is of Lycan descent, making him incredibly strong, but also just a werewolf.  According to Bren, it seems like he has lost his mind, making him even more dangerous since he’s unpredictable.”

    “What are we supposed to do with this information?” Robert asked, crossing an ankle over his knee.

    My mother hesitates, before clearing her throat.  “Well, if you would, I would be ever indebted to you and your pack for your protection.  When I found out I had a second-chance mate, I was ecstatic.  There was only so much running Bren and I could do before Luke caught up to us, and with the protection of a pack, our survival faces even better chances.”

    “Seeing as you are mated to my Beta, I will protect you,” Robert states, and I close my eyes knowing where this is going.  “However--”

    “We’ll protect Bren too,” Easton interrupts, causing everyone to glance at him, even me.  The moment our eyes meet, it feels like I’m trapped in his hazel gaze.  My heart inflated with hope.  Does that mean he wants me?

    “We will?”

    “She’s my mate,” Easton simply states, breaking our stare before looking at his father.

    “What?” Robert asks, stunned.  “Why haven’t you mentioned this sooner?”

    “We had some things we needed to discuss before I discussed it with you,” he says, sighing heavily.  I clenched my jaw before turning back to look out at the backyard again.

    “There’s one last thing,” my mother interjects, causing everyone to look at her once more.  I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.  I’ve told them everything that we’ve kept secret for years, what could I have missed?  “Before I left my clan in search of my mate, my goddess, Tiamat, gave me a piece of paper that proclaimed a prophecy for my future child.”

    “What?” I ask, sitting up straight in my chair.  “Tiamat gave you a prophecy about me?”

    “Who’s Tiamat?”  Easton asked.

    “Tiamat is the dragon’s creator, much like the Moon Goddess is werewolf’s creator,” I explained.  Turning back to my mother, I ask, “What does it say?”

    “It goes, ‘Where two combine, one will rise.  With her, the day of rest will come.  Her two protectors will forever save, the day the war will come to brave.   With the one and her mate, to bring the world to a peaceful state.”' My mother stated, and we all stared at her in confusion.  I’m sorry, what?

    “Are you saying that her father declaring war on our pack was destined to happen?” Easton asked.

    “Unfortunately, yes,” my mother grimaced.  “I had hoped that it would be wrong, but with everything that happened, I knew this was to come true.  From my guess, I think Tiamat and the Moon Goddess desire to have more hybrids, and the only way to allow more is to have the supernatural world prepared for such events.  The only way to do so is to prove that hybrids are not just created to use as weapons, but also creatures with feelings and souls like the rest of us.”

    The crowd mulled over her words.  “Wait, it said ‘two protectors,’” I pointed out, breaking the silence.  “Who is the second protector?  I’m assuming the first one would be my mate,” I avoided eye contact with Easton.

    “I think that it's Lucas,” my mother said, glancing at the young boy.

    “Me?” he asked, pointing to himself.

    “Have you felt protective of Bren lately?” my mother probed.  “More so than you have once you first met her?”

    “I mean, yeah, but I figured it’s because we’ve been getting closer lately,” he answered, looking at me.  I shrugged, not really having an answer for him.

    “You’ll have to mark him, Bren,” my mother said, earning a growl from Easton.  “Not mark as in a mate mark,” she soothed, and all three of us relaxed.  “You’ll have to bite his wrist.  If he is your second protector, a mark will form.”

    I nervously glanced at Easton to find his expression unreadable before looking back at Lucas.  “Are you okay with this?” I asked, not wanting to pressure him into doing anything.  Hesitantly, he nodded, and I unfolded myself from my chair and walked over to him.  He stood once I was close enough, and extended his wrist out for me.  Tentatively, I grabbed it, bringing it to my lips.  After whispering an apology, I felt my fangs extend, and I bit into his wrist.

    Lucas gasped, and a surge of power flowed from me into Lucas from the wound.  I pulled back, and before our eyes, the bite mark transformed from teeth marks to that of a wolf, howling at the moon.  Beneath the wolf is a dragon’s body, with its wings extended to encircle the wolf.  I smiled, knowing that it symbolizes my two forms, and how proud I am to be a hybrid.

    “Wow,” Lucas breathed, pulling his wrist closer to inspect the mark.  I walked back to the chair I was settled in, avoiding eye contact with Easton again.  Blaidd and Blaise were whimpering, longing to have their eyes set on their mate, however my human form couldn’t handle the emotionless expression he seemed to have plastered on his face.  A small part of me knows he’s been training to take over the pack, and that Alphas are trained to handle anything that comes at them, though obviously sometimes they c***k.  But, I’m his mate.  Mates are supposed to be consumed by each other, to be the obvious weak link between the two.  So why does it seem like he hates the sight of me?  A hybrid?

    “So, what is the plan regarding Luke?” Robert asks.