His Breath of Fire

Chapter Nineteen

    The rest of the week flew by in a blur with a mixture of classes, studying, and spending more time with Easton.  Sarah and the twins pestered me about Easton and I’s date, and us being together has become the talk of the school.  The members of the pack understood that we were mates and didn’t question our newfound relationship, however there’s been gossip between the humans about why all of a sudden Easton is dating another girl after being with Mara for a year.  Not that I care what the humans are saying about me, I’m happy with my mate.  The pack members dip their head in respect as I walk by, and I smile at them when I can so they know I am no different from the girl they once thought they knew.

    Saturday morning rolls around and the entire pack is standing outside on the training grounds, stretching and warming up for the training session.  My mother and I walked up onto the field, and my mother’s arms were wrapped tightly around her small baby bump.  I spotted Sarah and the group standing over in a group, and I felt a pang of guilt that I haven’t told them my secret yet.  Making my way over to them, they stop stretching in order to greet me properly.

    “Hey guys,” I say, trying to curb the nerves I feel since I’m about to reveal my true forms.  “I just wanted to apologize.”

    “Apologize for what?” Drake asked, standing up from the ground.

    “For not telling you sooner,” I say, looking down to avoid eye contact.

    “Bren, you’re not making any sense,” Sarah steps up to me, trying to catch my eyes.

    “Just know that I have my reasons for withholding the truth, and it was to keep me and my mother safe.  I wanted to tell you, but there’s a price to know my secret and I wanted to keep you safe as well,” I continue, knowing this group is still wildly confused by my words, but Easton showed up with his father and I moved to stand with my mate.

    “Good morning, everyone,” Robert exclaimed, gaining everyone’s attention.  “We have a couple of announcements to make before we start our training session today.  First, I know there have been rumors floating around, but we wanted to confirm that the Alpha Junior Easton has found his mate in Bren.  Both will begin their training as Alpha and Luna so they are prepared to take over the pack at the age of twenty-one.”

    There were murmurs of congratulations as the pack members accepted me as their future Luna, which made me smile at their warmth.  However, there was one dark aura that I felt coming from the pack, and I glanced around to see who was angry at the fact Easton and I were announced as mates, though I had a feeling I knew who it was.  And my hunch was right when I saw Mara’s icy blue gaze glaring at me from where she stood.  Her aura was a plethora of blacks, browns, and dark reds meaning anger, insecurity, and immaturity.  I knew she was going to be a problem, I just hope she doesn’t add more problems than we already have.

    “Secondly, I’d like to announce that Paul and Kaida are expecting their first child together,” Robert continued, taking a moment to allow the pack to congratulate the mated pair on their coming child.

    “Lastly, there is a war coming,” Robert paused as gasps and murmurs swelled through the crowd and he raised his hand to silence the crowd so he can continue.  “I want us to train together as a pack so we can hone in on our weaknesses and build our strengths before the war reaches us.  Bren and Kaida here,” Robert motioned between my mother and I, “are going to help us train as they have experience with other species that would prove beneficial for us.”

    Everyone’s brows furrowed in confusion as they looked at us, all seeming to think the same thing. How can they be beneficial to our training?

    Robert motioned for me to step forward, and after receiving an encouraging squeeze from Easton, I confidently came to Robert’s side.  I sent an apologetic look one last time towards my friends and then cast the spell that protected my clothes, leaving my eyes open so the pack could see my now opal eyes.

    Gasps echoed throughout the crowd, and even saw some take a step back in shock, but I concentrated on what was to come next.  Deciding to keep my size small, I shifted into my dragon form.  The fluorescent colors shone from my silver scales, casting rays of rainbows to shoot off of me.  Next I transformed into my wolf, shaking out my silver fur as I let out a powerful howl, and lastly changed into my most powerful form—the combination of the two.  Once I was done, I shifted back into my human skin and Easton stepped up next to me, grabbing my hand and rubbing his thumb on the back of it in a soothing manner.

    “So you see,” Robert spoke up again, coming to my other side and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, “that Bren and Kaida are shifters like ourselves, only one of a rare and mythical breed—dragons.  The war that is coming is from another Alpha, Bren’s father and Kaida’s first mate, Luke Thaxton.

    “He is the Alpha of the third largest pack here in the United States, and comes from Lycan heritage, making Bren very powerful due to her two parents.  Kaida and Bren will help us train to better know how to fight against other species, seeing as we don’t know who Luke’s allies are.  Are there any questions?”

    The pack was quiet as they absorbed this very startling information, and so far no one had anything to say about what they’d just learned.  “If you have any questions moving forward, please come to us and—”

    “Why should we protect this half breed?!” a voice rang out and my body tensed at the venom in its tone.  It didn’t take a genius to know that this person was Mara.  “Hand her over to her father and save our pack!”

    “Mara,” Easton growled, his voice low and his power bubbling up through his body language.  “Watch what you’re saying about my mate and your future Luna.”

    “I do not accept this mixed breed as my future Luna!” she seethed, spittle flying and rage darkening her blue eyes.  Gasps are heard from everywhere, and sadness fills my bones.  I would have hoped she would have forgotten about Easton and hoped to find her true mate, but it seems that she would let her anger cloud her judgment.

    “You have a choice to accept me or not,” I answer, not needing to raise my voice due to everyone’s super-hearing.  “You all do,” my eyes moved among the crowd, trying to make sure everyone understood the sincerity of my words, “I will not take your choice away when it comes this war, and what that means for yourselves, your mates, and your families.

    “Easton, Alpha Robert, and I agreed beforehand that if anyone decides they don’t want to fight in this war, they are free to choose so,” I pause as murmurs spread throughout the crowd.

    “If you choose to opt out of the war, you may do so without consequence, however, we want to express that we hope that our entire pack would defend our own.” Robert continues.

    “And if you choose to not accept Bren and Kaida, and treat them like you would any other pack member, you are free to leave for another pack,” Easton finishes.

    “We stand with Bren!” Sarah shouts, stepping forward with a wide smile on her face.  My heart melts at her acceptance, and soon others are stepping forward with the same acceptance, and finally I know that my mother and I are safe.