The Dragon Mate

Misunderstandings

Levi’s POV

I had been wondering since the night of the feast what had changed. Touch had seemed to come so naturally between Frost and him yet suddenly she pulled away. I am an alpha; such things are not meant to trouble me. To my pack for now she is an outsider, I shouldn’t trouble myself with anyone outside the pack. Now though, now I was in talks with the fae queen for joining our territory. Things were looking promising yet Frost had been strangely absent. When she was present, she didn’t meet my gaze. Had I somehow offended her? She was raised with wolf values, surely that couldn’t be it.

More than once Samantha had to pull me back to focus on the matter at hand. The queen was very much open to the idea of uniting our territories though there were things to work out on terms of this alliance. Wolf packs and fae nature was different so some guidelines were going to be needed. The fae were free spirits with only a few laws upheld at the queen’s command. Wolves answered to the alpha and the alpha’s word was final. The fae were magical in nature and non-violent, wolves were warriors and hunters, it was a part of them as much as their shifted forms.

“Thank you again Queen, I know this alliance will be beneficial to all of us.” I offer a bow to the queen, the fae having no name known outside her own. All that was left was to have a contract written and signed to make this official. As someone trusted by the fae queen and familiar with pack dynamics and rules, Knight was to help with the contract to ensure everything was fair and well for both parties.

I sat down with the wolf who was more or less silent as he worked out a contract, showing pages of it to me for any suggestions or changes. I only had a few things to change and as my mind had been wandering a bit Samantha went ahead to double check everything. A first draft was ready for the queen by the end of the day.

“How is Frost doing?” I ask Knight as he stood gathering his things to leave.

“Why is it any concern of yours?” He asks coldly much to my surprise.

“I was just worried, she seemed odd before she left our territory. I worried she was unwell.”

Knight scoffed.

“She is well, my daughter is strong and has not once gotten sick.”

I nodded not sure what else to say. I wanted to see her again though I didn’t understand why.

“Don’t go sniffing around where you don’t belong. I won’t let any harm come to her regardless if you become my alpha. I am a father first before I am pack or warrior. I’m sure you know what I mean.” The hidden threat in his words wasn’t so hidden.

“I understand, I promise you I have no ill intent towards your daughter.”

“Good.”

He left and I let out a sigh.

“He should not speak to you like that. He is rogue, he has forgotten what it is to be pack.”

“Relax Samantha, all is well.”

My second in command didn’t look as though she believed me. She has always been overprotective and the rogue possibly becoming pack and the unknown of a dragon she was even more so. I can’t blame her when it came to a rogue, her family had been murdered by one who had lost control completely, trapped within his wolf form in a blood rage. It happened more often than any of them would like to admit, rogues losing all control with no choice but to be put down.

Returning to the room the fae had granted them during their stay I spotted Frost not far from us. She was walking beside an elf male, laughing at something he was telling her.  A rage filled me at the sight, a rage that seemingly came out of nowhere. There was no need to be angry, the male was not hurting her. It was good that Frost was smiling.

“Alpha, you really need to get laid.”

I turn my attention to Samantha shocked by her words.

“Where did this come from?”

She gave him a deadpanned look.

“Alpha, you look like your about to murder that elf. Find a female and get it out of your system. If this continues, you’ll be useless to us as an alpha. Pack or not, alliance or not, she isn’t of our world. She is also of age to find her soulmate, don’t waste your time.

Was that why I was having these strange feelings? I had never imagined mating again after my mate had passed away. It had been so long that I didn’t even recognize the feelings. Samantha was right though; Frost was still young and one day she and her soulmate would bond. Maybe spending the night with a female would get these foolish thoughts out of my head.

Even though I had a plan to flush out the thoughts I was having towards Frost, it did not make things easier. In the following days the thoughts filling my head were entirely of Frost. It seemed now I was seeing her everywhere, always with that elf. At one point seeing her smiling as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Thankfully the contract is being signed today. I fear if this takes any longer, you’ll be completely useless.”

I growl at Samantha who doesn’t react. At the signing Knight was present to witness. The queen easily signed as did I. Our territories united, allies loyal to each other and would protect each other no matter what. Regardless of my troubled mind there was no way for me not to notice how Knight seemed to completely relax with the alliance official.

“Where will you need me alpha?” He asked, a hint of respect within his tone.

The change even surprised Samantha.

“We will have a meeting in the pack hall two days from now. I will have my best patrolling the fae boarder while you’re away.”

“Very well alpha, shall I let Frost know or will this be strictly wolves?”

I straighten at that; I have no intention of leaving her out of pack activities.

“She is pack, I would like her to come as well.”

“Understood, we will be there at sunrise.”

Samantha and I leave the fae’s forest still a bit taken aback by the change in Knight.

“Do you think he was like that in his old pack?”

I try to imagine that but it’s impossible knowing as they’d exiled him.

“I’m not sure. Either way I can already tell he will be good for the pack.”

Both of us shifted and made our way home, the unclaimed land between the fae forest and pack land now belonged to our united forces as per the laws of the land. I would have to work out how to spread our forces, a task from what I’d heard would be made easier with the wards Frost used around the fae’s forest.

Arriving home and shifting back I find myself seeking out a bedmate for the night. I needed Frost out of my thoughts, I needed these foolish feelings gone. She was obviously quite taken. No doubt her soulmate and I had no business having feelings for someone who was with their destined match.

~

Frost’s POV

I had been avoiding Levi, an action that made something uncomfortable twist in my gut. I was in luck though as father’s lover was visiting. With father busy with the alliance Fern had more or less been available to spend time with me most of the time. It was nice as I rarely had the chance to bond with father’s lover. Elves were similar enough to the fae that Fern had been planning to move in with them. The forests of the fae was comfortable for Fern and he had no doubt he’d feel right at home in no time. I was happy to hear; father had been wanting to properly bond with Fern for some time. I still find it interesting how even with their differences in cultures they managed to have such a loving relationship. Elves lived a very long time so the length of their courtship was long but father is a wolf and they are known to be rather passionate and need little time to know who is the one for them. Even outside soulmates this was the case. Elves while they had soulmates, still did long courtships, some even ending without a bond.

I am happy though that with Fern’s magic he and father would be able to have not just a normal bond as mates but a magical one to. Fern’s long life would become father’s so long as their bond remained intact.

“I love seeing my dear step-daughter, how you’ve grown since we last saw each other.”

I laugh as Fern kisses my cheek in an affectionate manner that always caused a flutter of happiness. Fern was still considered young in terms of an elf’s lifespan. He was quite handsome though I had heard that among his kind he was barely average. He was tall and while slender had more defined muscle than normal for elves. His long dark brown hair was kept in a single braid that hung down to his mid back. His eyes were a forest green and quite stunning though he had once told me that among the elves it was a shade to dark so it was considered unattractive.

“I know it’s been a few years since we last saw each other. I have been so busy with my magic training and then business that I always missed you when you came to see father.”

“You don’t need to worry Mana; you have a gift and I’m glad to see you use it.”

Fern was the only person who actually called me by my first name. He’s the only elf I really spend a lot of time with and they are particular regarding given names. I’ve heard they can’t even address the fae queen properly as they didn’t know her name.

“How has your family taken your plans to move?”

Fern shook his head slightly.

“My family has never been fond of anyone that mates outside our own kind. Though as I’m mating a man so there is no chance of a half breed child they have not expressed any ill-will towards our union. They’ve even expressed interest in visiting to meet my new family. I always tell them about you and Knight. They are eager to meet you but I’d hold off on that, my mother can be…a bit much I suppose. She can get rather odd when encountering anything of a rarity. Elves do not go to any heights where they might even catch a glimpse of a dragon, I cannot imagine she’d leave you alone when she meets you.”

I smile as the mention of my dragon heritage being a point of interest isn’t new to me. It was why I generally didn’t make that fact known anymore. When I was ten years old a group of mages that were strictly practicing death magic and blood curses had tried to capture me to use me for materials. I was in the early stages of my magical training and because of that I lost control. I wasn’t captured but my attempted kidnappers didn’t live either. My magic tutor had insisted on a restraining collar after that, it was too big a risk to go without one until I learned control.

“I’ll be careful if I ever meet her.” I reassure Fern.

Fern pulls me to his side and kisses the top of my head.

“Not if my winter maiden, when. My family will be your family when I mate your father. I have waited since I reached maturity to have a mate. I’m a romantic which is a strange trait for my people, it was my downfall all these years until I meet Knight.”

I look at him seeing the distant look in his emerald gaze.

“I haven’t heard what happened to your destined match.”

He smiled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Ah, I knew there was something I’d forgotten. Well I met her when I was barely an adult. A beautiful elf noble of a promising family known to produce strong mages. I will have to show you what she looks like sometime, you’ll think the gods sculpted her to make all mortal men bow before her and woman grow green with envy. She was as elegant as they came, as regal as a queen. We shared many interests and could talk for days on end. But we lacked the connection the mattered most to us. As you may have noticed I’m am rather affectionate and generous with physical contact. I need like I need air; she was the exact opposite and even the briefest touch on accident had her disappearing on me for several days. I was touched starved. Worse yet was that she didn’t want romance, I couldn’t give her gifts or take her anywhere. A century of courtship and we decided we just couldn’t bond.”

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out. It sounds like you cared for her very much.”

“I still care for her but I suppose our love is platonic. We are both aware if either of us need each other we can be relied on. We still spend countless hours discussing any number of things but even if she were to offer me all I had missed during our courtship my heart belongs to your father.”

I smile at him happy to hear that.

“Father loves you very much. I know he still misses his soulmate but I’ve seen how happy he is with you. Oh, has he mentioned the alliance being signed between the fae and nearby wolf pack?”

Fern thought a moment, a small furrow between his brows.

“I believe he did but it was only briefly. I think he’s worried it won’t work out; he doesn’t want to get his hopes up. He once described to me what it’s like to be pack, it sounds wonderful but as an elf I simply can’t fully understand. I will imagine when this is made certain he will seem like an entirely different person, brighter and happier than ever.”

That thought makes me smile brighter, I still remember the days before his exile. I have longed to see that side of my father again.

“You should come with us when we go see them. I think you’ll like Levi, he’s the alpha.”

Fern seems to notice something in my expression because suddenly he’s spinning me to face me, hands tight on my shoulders.

“Does my dear winter child have her first love? Your soulmate? What is this alpha like? I need to know about the man who can bring you to blush such a beautiful shade of red.”

I feel my face heat up and I look away.

“It’s not like that, he’s mated. I was…rejected by my soulmate.”

Hands cup my cheeks and I look up into Fern’s gaze.

“He was clearly an i***t then. And this secret love you have, you mustn’t fall for mated men daughter. It only ends in heartbreak.” Fern teasingly lectures me causing me to relax and we continue on our way again.

During the entire contract process I spend time with Fern showing him some of my new spells and turning to him every time I catch sight of Levi with his mate. I feel a pain in my chest at the sight of them. I try to avoid looking in their direction when we cross paths.

“Two days from now we will meet at the pack hall.” Father tells me the moment he returns home.

“Oh, can Fern come?”

Father gently knocked me on the head.

“Daughter of mine, we are to be mated soon so he is as much your father as I am.”

I can’t help but smile as father turns away to kiss his soon to be mate.

“Won’t it be confusing if I call you both father.”

“There are many words for a male parent my dear winter child. For example, in the elvan language the word father is actually Veather.”

“So, I can call you that?”

Fern pulls me close kissing my forehead.

“Of course daughter, as Knight said I’m your father now to.”

“As we aren’t yet mated, I will have to announce it to the alpha. At the meeting will be the best time. It’s pack law that all bonds must be told to the alpha before they’re formed.”

Fern took hold of father’s hand.

“Perfect, then we will bond once he knows. Now off to bed daughter, your father and I need some time together.”

I wave goodbye to them as I head to my sanctuary to give them some much needed space. I’m not sure how the meeting will go at the pack hall but maybe things would become easier if I tried dating. My soulmate had rejected me and I had been hoping to be with them and only them. Seemed foolish now but at the time I suppose I was as much a romantic as Fern. Sitting in my sanctuary I decided to send a message to a match maker. There were plenty of people that had been rejected by their soulmate or lost them, matchmakers helped those to find potential mates. I send a short summery of myself and my desired qualities in a match along with the matchmaker’s fee via magic. Now I only had to wait. Luckily the match makers were mages who solely focused their magic on this so their responses were pretty quick. The service cost a bit but as I usually gathered my own ingredients and rarely spent my money I had quite a bit saved up. Even with the little clients paid me I had quite the savings.

It took only an hour to receive a reply. I look over the list of matches from best match to least. There was a mage in elf territory, three centuries old once mated, and interested in connecting with another mage. I look at the picture included, something I hadn’t done with my application. Dark and regal, a noble it seemed. Outside magic he favored the sword, had preferences of traveling new places, and had no desire for a long courtship.

I look at the next match. A succubus? An interesting race to match with. With no experience in any kind of intimacy it seemed like a poor match. Though looking at her profile I suppose I can see why we did. A succubus fed on energy from things like lust but also happiness, sorrow, and hatred. It’s just that lust is the most delicious thing to feed on which was where the tales came from. This succubus was a very tactile type. So long as whoever she matched with was the same, she could feed by touches like kisses, holding hands, simple non-intimacy contact. For someone like me who is more familiar with the ways of the fae and wolves that would work and would make me happy. She was also adventurous; she’d try anything at least once. She was also rejected by her soulmate. We could do any number of activities together.

The next profile was for human of all things, how strange. I never imagined matching with one. He was older, he looked a bit like Levi. Built frame, streaks of silver in dark hair, he looked good for his age. He was a former member of the royal guard and was now a traveler. Seeking a home his profile stated. Seemed he he’d been rejected by his soulmate as well. A warrior at heart, a love of magic though his own ability for it was limited, and preference of a partner that had a love of magic.

I know I shouldn’t but I selected him. I sent in the response along with the required fee for having him contacted to tell him of my interest to meet. It was as simple as placing the free on the chosen profile and it would be sent via magic to the matchmakers.

I sigh thinking maybe I’d made a mistake. Picking someone that was so similar to the object of my affection. It seems as though tragedy was all I was finding on this path to love. I was surprised by how fast the response came. He agreed to meet, he was staying in the inn near the market I favored. He wanted to meet in the morning in front of the market. I was happy he didn’t ask for a picture, I was a bit nervous that my appearance would make him change his mind.

Jumping into bed I felt a small spark of excitement, I might be able to find love after all. I hope it’s one as beautiful as the one father had with his soulmate and the one he has with Fern.