The Dragon's Mate

by Emilia Hartley

  He walked into the room hospitalizing Dan, shutting the door firmly behind him. He could hear Jo and Nick's murmurs as they talked but focused instead on the man in front of him. A quick sniff told him that Dan hadn't eaten so far, but Tom just rolled his eyes. It didn't make any difference to him whether the man ate or not. If he wanted to die of starvation, let him.

  “Afternoon,” he growled, his muscles tensing at the sheer hostility blazing from Dan’s eyes. There was silence, although Tom could hear the slight rumble in Dan’s chest.

  "You know we're helping you, right?" he continued, pulling out the next dose of painkillers. "Don't think that we don't want you out of here as much as you want to go. For whatever reason, Jo insisted we look after you so that's what we're doing. You can kill us later." A slight trace of humor in his voice, Tom handed Dan a glass of water and his painkillers, waiting until he'd taken them. Dan certainly looked better, although they'd had to set his leg. It wasn’t broken, thankfully, but Nick was suspicious there was a fracture. At one point they'd considered taking him to the hospital but Dan had been too weak to move. Then, of course, there would have been the questions over what had happened, and they couldn't trust that Dan would keep the truth to himself. Yes, Jo had run straight into him with a car, but that was while he was in bear form, which they couldn't exactly explain to the authorities. In the end, they'd kept him at the mechanics, although Dan wasn't exactly grateful.

  “Not hungry?” Tom asked, casually. “Thought I’d do a bit of blue steak later. Let me know if you want some.” He grinned as Dan’s eyes flared. The man still couldn’t shift, since he was so weak, but Tom knew his bear would be getting frustrated by now. A steak would keep him satisfied for a little while. “You’re going to have to tell me if you want some,” he continued, waiting for Dan’s response.

  Dan gritted his teeth, hating the situation he was in. His bear was roaring at the thought of raw steak, and even though he tried to hush it, it wouldn’t stop. It wanted out, wanted to run free but Dan was too weak to change. “Yes, I want some,” he bit out, his voice low.

  “Thought you might,” Tom replied, walking to the door. “I’ll bring you some later.” Slamming the door behind him, Tom made sure to lock it. Dan was getting a little stronger every day and it wouldn’t be too long until he could leave. Tom couldn’t wait to get rid of him.

  CHAPTER 2

  Savannah was finding it difficult to get used to being in her human skin again. It meant things like sleeping in a real bed and cooking for herself, which she hadn’t done for a long time. Lucas’ place was absolutely filthy, but Savannah wasn’t planning on complaining. Lucas wouldn’t have liked that. Instead, she’d spent the first couple of days cleaning. The old windows creaked when she opened them but the fresh air that had come into the house made a big difference.

  Her muscles complained and she had to remember to do things like comb her hair and brush her teeth, but there was a sense of relief in being back as herself. Sometimes, with Lucas, she’d wanted to change back so badly, but he’d always forbidden it. There were never any disagreements or any questions – people just did what Lucas said.

  The main problem now was that Savannah had no idea how to make friends with these bears. They lived a little out of town and mostly kept to themselves, according to a couple of people she’d talked to. They were honest and hardworking, so they had a good reputation, but that was all she could find out.

  Sighing, Savannah shrugged on her coat and decided to take a walk. Maybe she should just walk up to the mechanics and introduce herself, tell them that she was new in town and was just getting to know the place. It was the only idea she had, and Lucas would be watching her, she was sure of it. Sometimes, when she’d gone to the store to pick up groceries, she would catch the slightest whiff of his scent and feel his eyes on her back. She could never spot him but she knew he was there.

  Her breath came a little faster as she took the path towards the local grocery store, which, she knew, would lead her to the mechanics. She was going to have to do something or risk Lucas' rage. Walking up to the store, she paused for a moment, her eye catching something in the window.

  "Financial assistant wanted," she read aloud. "Apply to Jo at Brewer Mechanics." Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she realized that this, handwritten advert, was for the mechanics where Nick and Tom worked. Was this her chance? Or would someone else have already applied for – and gotten, the job.

  Savannah didn’t exactly have all the right credentials for a financial assistant, but she would apply anyway. She’d always been good with numbers and had at least a little experience in running a business. That was before she’d left the only home she’d known, looking for a pack to join.

  It didn’t take Savannah long to reach the mechanics, but she stopped for a moment just before she reached it, trying to calm her nerves. “They don’t know you’re from the pack,” she murmured to herself, having a quick look over the place. “Just calm down and act natural.”

  Walking up to the door with the ‘Open’ sign hanging on it, Savannah pasted a smile on her face, pulled it open and walked inside.

  “Hi!” said a cheerful looking woman. “Can I help you?”

  “I – I saw the advert?”

  “That was quick!” the woman replied, coming out from behind the counter. “I only put it up this morning.”

  A wave of relief flooded Savannah. “So no-one’s got it yet?”

  “No,” she laughed, shaking Savannah’s hand. “Things move pretty slowly in this town, I’m guessing you’re not from here?”

  “No,” Savannah replied, trying her best to come up with a believable story. “I’ve been wandering from place to place, really. Thought I might try and settle down somewhere and this seemed as good a place as any!”

  Jo smiled, her eyes searching Savannah’s face. “I just moved here too, so we have that in common,” she replied. “I’m Jo, by the way.”

  “Savannah.”

  “What’s your experience as a financial assistant, Savannah?”

  Savannah tried not to panic and told Jo as much of the truth as she could. She talked about growing up in a small town, and how she'd helped her dad run his small business for a few years before he'd sold it to a bigger company so that he could retire. A stab of pain sliced through Savannah's heart as she mentioned how her dad passing away only a year ago had been the reason she’d begun to move around a bit, looking for a place to start over. “I rent an old place in town,” she finished. “And when I saw your job advert, I thought I may as well apply to it.”

  "I'm glad you did," Jo smiled, warmly. Savannah's story broke her heart a little, as Jo realized the woman was all alone in the world. With no family and seemingly no friends, Jo couldn't help but be sympathetic. "I'll have to speak to the other two but I'd say this job is yours – although Nick will probably insist on a two-week trial or something!"

  “That’s fine with me,” Savannah replied, quickly. She’d take anything if it meant getting close to the brothers. “Is Nick in charge?”

  Jo blushed a little. "Kind of, yeah. But they both work together at this place. I just do the paperwork."

  "Oh." Listening to Jo explain about the shop and what her duties would be, Savannah was surprised to realize that she didn't feel disgusted by the idea of Nick and Jo together. She couldn't help but think about what Lucas had called Jo. He'd told Savannah that a human who mated with a shifter was nothing but a parasite. A parasite that needed to be taken out. Humans couldn't give shifters the cubs they needed for the next generation of shifters. They were a disease that needed to be wiped out. Lucas hated Jo because she was a human, and thought even worse of Nick for choosing to be with her. They weren't even to be friends with any humans. Besides, what would a shifter see in a human?

  Savannah swallowed and tried to smile as Jo began pulling out some recent paperwork. She would have to fight against any desire to become true friends with her. Sure, Savannah could pretend, but there c
ouldn’t be any real friendship between them. If Nick had chosen a human for his mate, then he was a fool. Just like Lucas had said.

  The door suddenly flew open and a tall, dark-haired man, stopped dead in his tracks. Savannah saw his nostrils flare and knew he immediately recognized her as a shifter. She tried not to cower back, even though she knew he was an alpha. The look in his eyes made her shiver inside, but she stood straight, trying not to appear afraid.

  “Who’s this?”

  Jo glanced up with a slight frown on her face over Tom's tense tone. "This is Savannah. She's applying for the job."

  “Is she?” Tom replied, picking up a cloth from the counter and wiping the sweat from his forehead.

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, I am. I saw the advert in town.” She tried not to look at his muscular arms and chest, which was quite difficult since he was only wearing a vest. Savannah licked her lips and looked back at Jo, trying to hide the surge of attraction she felt on seeing such a strong, alpha male. It was probably just a mix of nerves and anticipation, she thought to herself, hoping he wouldn’t ask her too many questions.

  Tom tried to stop the bear from growling, but his chest rattled just a little. Savannah, or whatever her name was, heard it instantly. He could tell from the way her fingers clenched into a fist that she’d heard him – and was nervous.

  “I was thinking about giving her the job,” Jo murmured, glancing at him. “She needs work and – ”

  “Can you go and get Nick, then?” Tom asked, attempting to be pleasant. “If we’re going to take on someone new, then he needs to okay it. I’ll stay and chat to Savannah.”

  Jo frowned, suspecting that he wanted the newcomer to himself for some reason, but Tom kept his mouth shut with a calm expression on his face, waiting until she shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

  “Fine,” she muttered, glaring at him. “But be nice.”

  He managed not to roll his eyes at her, aware that she wouldn’t know that Savannah was a shifter. He knew, of course. He’d been able to tell the moment he’d looked at her – and she’d looked back at him with those big honey brown eyes of hers. She looked so innocent, but Tom was already on his guard. Another shifter could potentially mean big trouble, something he’s had enough of for a while.

  Jo walked to the door, muttering something about being back soon, and let it close gently behind her before going in search of Nick.

  Tom leaned one elbow on the counter and looked sharply at Savannah who, to his surprise, looked right back. She was trying her best to show courage and trying her best to not appear afraid of him. Tom could appreciate that.

  “So,” he began, quietly. “What’s a shifter like you doing in a place like this?”

  CHAPTER 3

  Savannah tried to smile but her mouth barely moved. “I’m just looking for a job.”

  “And you just happened to come here, to where two other bear shifters are, right?” Tom replied, sarcastically.

  “I know it sounds ridiculous, but yes.”

  Tom pushed himself up to stand tall over her, a large frown creasing his forehead. “I think you’d better start from the beginning.”

  Savannah looked up into his grim face, took a breath and began to tell her lies. “I’ve been wandering around ever since my dad died. I’ve never been part of a pack before, but I could tell that there were other shifters here.”

  “Have you seen any?” he growled, immediately on his guard. If Lucas had got to her, then she couldn’t stay here.

  “No,” she replied, with a shake of her head. “I’ve got a place to stay in town, and my money’s getting low. I just need a job, that’s all. Finding other shifters was just a bonus.”

  Tom pushed himself away from the counter, taking a couple of steps closer. “And you expect me to believe you?”

  Savannah’s eyes darted up at him, before hitting the floor again. Her nerves were running wild and her stomach was churning uncontrollably. “Yes, I swear that’s the truth.”

  “Does the name Northern Wind ring a bell?”

  Realizing that Tom was still incredibly suspicious of her, Savannah tried her best to look as though she didn't have a clue what he was talking about. "Never heard of it."

  “Hmmm.” Tom narrowed his eyes a little, trying not to be influenced by her scent. She smelled of pine, earth and wind, everything that his bear appreciated. But his human mind was trying to focus on whether she could be trusted or not. “I have to discuss this with my brother.”

  “Please,” Savannah interrupted, managing to meet his gaze. “Don’t tell the human what I really am.”

  He smiled grimly. “I know the old rule about not letting humans know about shifters. Don’t worry.” He didn’t tell her that Jo already knew everything there was to know about shifters, nevertheless, he’d respect her privacy and wouldn’t tell Jo. There was a strange kind of urge to protect Savannah, which he couldn’t really place.

  “Thank you.”

  She sagged against the counter and Tom felt a sudden, unwanted rush of sympathy. If she had been traveling for a long time, looking for a pack of her own, then it was no wonder she was tired. There was something incredibly lonely about being a shifter on your own. They weren't built for that. "Take a seat and help yourself to a coffee," he said, before he could stop himself. He watched her blink in surprise, before turning away. "I'll be back soon."

  “Thank you.” Savannah watched as Tom walked outside to meet Jo and Nick, who were standing beside an old car. Walking over to make herself a coffee from the coffee machine, Savannah kept her eyes on the three of them. They’d walked far enough away for her to not be able to hear them – which was probably deliberate on their part. Not that she could blame them. If she’d just finished fighting with the Northern Wind pack, then she probably wouldn’t trust a new shifter who just turned up on their doorstep either.

  Filling her cup of coffee, Savannah pushed away the prick of guilt. She'd taken an instant dislike to Jo, recognizing that she wasn't a shifter, but Jo had been more than kind to her. In fact, she'd practically offered her the job straight away - it was only Tom who had shown more reserve. Savannah mentally shrugged, still against the idea of a pack to have a human in it.

  Wandering back to her seat, Savannah kept her eyes on the three figures outside. The other man must be Tom's brother, Nick, she realized, watching the way he slipped an arm around Jo's waist. Savannah could practically feel the protectiveness rolling off him. It was clear he was in love with Jo, and that he'd chosen her as his mate. It went against everything she knew, for a shifter to love a human, and it was one of the reasons Lucas had grown to hate Nick.

  What about Tom? Savannah had been quite intimidated when he’d walked in, she had to admit. He was tall and strong, and his bear was almost majestic. There was something about him being an alpha that had a warmth curling in her stomach, although it was tinged with a trace of fear. Watching him gesture furiously towards her, Savannah felt heat creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She didn’t know what he was saying, but it was clear he didn’t trust her. A shifter turning up on their doorstep probably had him on high alert.

  Sighing, Savannah tried not to worry about what would happen if she failed. Lucas wouldn’t be happy. She’d probably be thrown out of the pack for real, or if not that, severely punished. Shuddering, Savannah nursed her cup of coffee, shifting her gaze away from Tom.

  “I like her,” Jo declared. “I think she’d be a great addition.”

  Nick shrugged. “I don’t mind, Jo. It can be your call, as far as I’m concerned.” He grinned at her wickedly and Jo blushed, whilst Tom groaned in frustration.

  “We know nothing about her,” he growled. “You’re far too easy, Jo. She’s just given you some sob story and you’ve practically handed her the job on a plate!”

  “So?” Jo shrugged.

  Tom gritted his teeth. “I just think we should think about it a bit longer.”

  “It’s because she’s a shifter,” Nick explained, slipp
ing an arm around Jo’s waist.

  Jo’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me, Tom?”

  He glanced over at the window, his eyes catching sight of Savannah sitting down quietly. “She asked me not to. Shifters don’t tell humans about their abilities.” He tried to ignore the wave of embarrassment that threatened to bring heat to his cheeks, aware that it wasn’t exactly a big deal for Jo to find out.

  “Yeah, but it’s Jo,” Nick laughed. “It’s not like she’s going to be shocked or anything.”

  Jo tipped her head to one side, her eyes narrowing. “You like her.”

  Tom blew out a long, frustrated breath. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” he countered, his eyes not quite meeting her gaze. He didn’t want to admit to even himself that he was attracted to Savannah.

  Nick chuckled quietly. “What’s the big deal, Tom? We give her a job - that’s it, period. It’s not like she going to be looking to rip out your throat in broad daylight or anything.”

  Rolling his eyes, Tom growled. “I don’t trust her.”

  “You don’t trust anybody,” Jo pointed out, reminding him of how he’d tried to get rid of her.

  “I was doing that for your own good!”

  “I know that,” Jo replied, placatingly. “But Nick’s right. What’s the problem with us giving her a job?”

  Tom ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up all over the place. He couldn’t answer. There was something about Savannah that was making him wary, but Jo and Nick were right. They would all be working together at the mechanics, and she had her own place in town. There was nothing to worry about, really. He had no choice but to admit that. “Fine,” he growled. “Although it’s really Nick’s call.”

  Nick shrugged. “I’ve already said I’m fine with it.”

  “Then I’d better go tell her,” Tom retorted, wanting to get away from Jo and Nick as fast as he could. What Jo had said about him liking Savannah had struck a rather uncomfortable chord and he didn’t want to stick around to hear any more comments like it. Was he battling his own feelings in trying to push her away, or was it really that he was worried about her motives? His bear growled uneasily, and Tom gritted his teeth as he walked. He’d shift later and take a long run through the woods. That usually got his frustrations out.