The Dragon Mate

Acceptance

Frost’s POV

I wake up to the familiar friendly smile of my father. He was sitting at my worktable examining something that took a moment to recognize. It was a pendant of some kind that I had never seen before.

“It’s a gift from Fern. This stone is smooth and looks as though he managed to capture the starry sky within it. I have never seen it before. He gave it to me this morning upon hearing of alpha’s approval of our mating.”

I take a moment to stretch before going to his side to study the truly magnificent pendant. I had never seen anything like it either and it was beautiful.

“I’m glad Alpha Levi gave his blessing.”

Father met my eyes, a look in them I new all to well. He was going to have a serious conversation with me and I was expected to listen and listen well.

“Alpha is not just my alpha but yours as well. This isn’t like before, this is a good pack with a proper alpha. His second in command has been cautious with our arrival. I was labeled a rogue and no one has ever had extended contact with a dragon. We are new and therefore must be treated with caution. Alpha should have been treating this with more cation, when he failed to his most trusted packmate did. We are fortunate that he has someone that he trusts that is watching out for the pack.”

I listen to him and realize the female wolf was the second in command. I frown slightly thinking about my encounters with her. Father as always is wise and had considered this logically and carefully.

“Thank you father.” I say hugging him for him once again guiding me when I had become lost and confused.

“Come, get ready. We have breakfast waiting at the house. Alpha has arrived with Sebastian and Samantha.”

I look at him confused at the name but he is already turning away. I wash up and get dressed before heading to father’s home. True to his word the others were waiting there, an array of food spread before them on the table. A seat between my parents awaited me which I took. Sitting down food was quickly passed around as though this was an everyday activity with us. I wondered if this was just a natural thing with the pack, working easily together though it hadn’t been done before.

“How are you feeling Mana?”

I look up at Sebastian to find several pairs of eyes on me.

“Better, thank you. How has everything been going? Are the crops still doing well? I can begin working today like I promised alpha.”

Levi nodded.

“If you are well enough for it and they’ve been doing well though the animals we keep haven’t been all that well. We can’t figure out why.”

“I will look into it while my daughter works on your crops if you wish.” Fern offered.

Levi gave a nod of agreement. Halfway into our meal Samantha turned her attention to me.

“Alpha has stated I’ve been to hard on you. I don’t believe I have but I will avoid any further hostility unless proven that you are a hindrance to our pack.”

Levi glared at her clearly not pleased with her choice of words.

“I understand, it’s good to know the pack has you both watching over them.”

Levi looked surprised and Samantha merely gave a firm nod of acknowledgement.

“You know I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a more stressful and serious meal.” Sebastian commented drawing our attention. “What, I’m the only one?”

Knight chuckled.

“I’ve actually experienced worse. My parents hadn’t reacted well when they learned of who my soulmate was, nothing will ever be worse than that day.”

“Really? I don’t think I can imagine anything worse than this.”

Knight shrugged.

“You’ve obviously never had to tell your parents you would not have offspring of your own flesh and blood.”

I laugh at the face Sebastian makes when he thinks about that.

“True although I did have a very awkward family get together where they questioned when I intended to settle down. That was a decade ago.”

“How old are you Sir Sebastian?” Fern asked.

“Forty, so obviously the next family reunion the topic will no doubt come up again and I’ll continue to disappoint my parents with a lack of promised grandchildren.” He said with a half-heartedly laugh.

“Not a conversation I like any better.” Levi said with a slight frown on his face.

“Well you are alpha, it’s an important topic.” Samantha commented, her voice dead serious in the lightening mood of our conversation.

“Is having grandchildren really this important? Why haven’t you ever mentioned it to me father?” I asked a bit confused.

“Because you are only in your early twenties daughter of mine, it needn’t be brought up until you are older.” Father answered me causing a flash of something cross both Levi’s and Sebastian’s faces.

“Yes…you are quite young.” Levi muttered stuffing food into his mouth as though to stop him from having to speak again.

“More than twenties years between you but she’s young and fertile, you should mate her quickly to have an heir before someone steals her away.” Samantha said causing Levi to choke on his food and Knight to slam his hand on the table before towering over the female wolf.

“Do not talk about my daughter as if she is merely only good for her ability to have children.” He snarled at the she-wolf who didn’t react to his anger.

Levi took a moment to recover before he tried to calm Knight.

“Believe me, this is her way of showing support for my desire to court Frost.”

I stare wide eyed at the alpha before my gaze drifts to Sebastian. I hadn’t expected this…this topic of conversation. I remained silently turning my attention to my plate instead of trying to find out what exactly was going on.

“I suppose this would be the best opportunity to ask this,” Levi says drawing my attention as he and Sebastian stand.

“Lady Mana, would you do us the honor of allowing us to court you?” Sebastian asks for them both as he stares at me.

My mouth falls open before I look to my parents who were both smiling, showing support. I glance at Samantha who is focusing on her food, not showing any hostility towards me for the alpha asking to seek me as his mate. When I turn back to the two men I finally find the words to speak.

“Yes, I would like that.”

Both looked relieved by my answer and offer a charming smile.

“Thank you Frost, I swear we will not make you regret this.” Levi swears taking my hand to pull me into his arms.

“Now that you’ve settled your previous misunderstanding, we need to get to work.” Samantha stated as she stood.

Levi leveled her with a displeased look but she was right. I had to tend to the promised arrangements for the crops, Fern needed to check the animals, and Levi still had his duties as alpha. Heading to pack territory we went our separate ways. Samantha was with me, learning what I was doing. As I worked Samantha had a number of questions regarding what I was doing and magic in general.

“It’s a shame wolves aren’t naturally gifted with magic.” Samantha commented hours into my work.

“There are a rare few that are. One of the pups I saw when I was healing those that were still ill is gifted with a talent for it.”

Samantha looked at me with surprise in her normally calm eyes.

“Have you told alpha?”

I shake my head.

“I had planned to but things kept coming up and I forgot. I’ll do that once I’m finished here. If he’d like for her to learn I can suggest a few options for a teacher.”

“Not you?” She asked a bit curious.

“I cannot say I’d make for a very good teacher. I’m still young and not nearly as experienced as a magic teacher should be. My own teacher is nearly a thousand old and even he is still learning.”

Samantha huffed looking annoyed.

“Fae live to long.”

I laugh at her comment.

“I believe humans would say the same about wolves.”

To that she just shrugged but something did flicker across her face.

“If you do mate both our alpha and that human, you will get maybe forty more years with him. Even alpha you’ll get maybe a little more than a hundred years with him at your side. I’ve heard dragons live much longer lives, some even believe them truly immortal. Can you handle that?”

I offer her a smile, thankful for her concern.

“I possess magic, as such I can bond my mate or mates to my own life. If we bond and they accept, I would grant them the same lifespan as myself. Veather intends to do that with father, he will not let his mate die so long before himself.”

Her eyes widened slightly at this news before she turns away. I refocus on my work and wait knowing she has more to say.

“What happened to your soulmate? Surely the Blessed Three granted you a perfect match.”

I lower my gaze unable to meet hers.

“He rejected me when we met. I wasn’t what he wanted in a mate.”

She stared at me intently long enough that I became uncomfortable.

“My destined match and I did not plan to bond. She and I both were to loyal to our own packs and as the second in command to our alphas we couldn’t bring ourselves to leave our alpha’s side.”

Samantha looks sad as she talked about her own soulmate. Before I could second guess my action I reached out to gently squeeze her shoulder.

“Maybe one day it will work out.”

She just shook her head.

“It will not. Our packs have never gotten along and all attempts at even a truce with them to avoid any fights between our two sides have ended horribly. Their alpha is headstrong and looks down on all others. He thinks our pack weak as our alpha has yet to have an heir of his own at his age. Even though her alpha is young he is strong and has killed other alphas when their packs wouldn’t bend to his will.”

He sounded coldhearted and the kind of man I would never want to meet. As though knowing my thoughts Samantha gave an agreeing nod. Hours ticked by with extended periods of silence before questions and answers flowed between us. When finished we returned to the pack house where others were gathered eating and talking. Levi was working on some paperwork while he absentmindedly stuffed food into his mouth. I couldn’t see my parents or Sebastian but I didn’t get long to look as I was dragged over to the table and forced to sit down.

“How did everything go today?” Levi asked without looking up from his paperwork.

“Good, there’s still some I have to do but it’s not much.”

He nodded still not looking up.

“Good, Fern checked out everything and said he had it handled. Sebastian went into town to manage the pack’s stall at the market. It’s nearly time to buy new clothes for the pack so if you need anything you should let Samantha know.”

Confused I look at him and ask, “Time to buy clothes?”

“Twice a year we go shopping for the pack. If pack funds allow everyone can get what they need.” Samantha answered as she placed a plate of food before me and sat across from me with her own.

“Oh, I didn’t know. I’m fine though. Should I add my own money to the pack funds?”

“Usually the pack all pool our funds but you only recently became pack and it wouldn’t be right.” Levi answered stuffing more food into his mouth.

“While true, our funds are pretty low considering how much we paid for medicine and that witch.” Samantha stated earning a quick glare from Levi.

“If it’s for the pack I’m happy to help.” I grab my coin pouch from where I keep it tied to my side and reach into it to pull out several handfuls of coins. Both wolves stare wide eyed though I was certain it was only because the small pouch didn’t look like it could hold so much.

“It’s infused with magic; it holds a lot more than its size would suggest.” I tell them thinking it would cause them to relax.

“That…isn’t what has us so surprised.” Levi mumbled still staring at the pile of coins.

“That is quite a lot, I thought you didn’t charge much for your services as a mage.” Samantha stated tearing her gaze away from the money.

“I don’t but I also gather my own ingredients so I rarely spend what I make. I’ve also been working since I was twelve considering I had a useful talent. Is this not enough? I’d hate to not do my part for the pack.”

“Not enough? This is amazing Frost; these are gold and huge. Did you really receive these as payment?” Levi asked me as he picked up one of the huge gold coins.

“No, I just like to have as a few coins as possible so I traded in the smaller coins and silver ones.”

Both wolves looked at each other before shaking their heads in disbelief.

“You are something else Frost. This helps a lot thank you.”

I offer him a smile pleased at his words. Turning to my food I dig in, only now realizing how hungry I was.