Dragons of Cinderhollow Bundle

by Hawke Oakley

  I nodded.

  “Um… Okay, I guess,” Henry said with a shrug. He continued walking and I followed. “I guess I’m not worried about it then. For a minute I thought you guys were like, together.”

  What does he mean he’s not worried? Just a moment ago he seemed to be on the verge of accusing me of cheating.

  “We’re not dating, if that’s what you’re suggesting,” I said.

  His caution faded back into an amused smile. “Okay. I believe you. It’s just kinda weird knowing that he asked for your help… I mean, what’s up with that?”

  “How so?”

  “I mean, isn’t he like… way older than me? And you’re almost my age. You’d think someone that old would know how to take care of a kid on his own,” Henry continued.

  “He’s not old,” I protested. “He’s just been through a lot.”

  Henry ignored my comment. “Seriously, though, doesn’t it bother you that he wanted your help?”

  The strange comment struck me. “No. Why would it?”

  “Like, you can’t be around all the time, right? Maybe one time is fine, but expecting to keep her at your place is too much,” Henry said.

  By now I was thoroughly baffled. “I don’t see how that’s strange.”

  Henry stopped walking again, and this time the amused smile disappeared. “What? Ryu, how do you not see how it’s weird? From what you’re telling me, it seems like this Scar guy just moved into your house with this random kid he found. No offense, but I think he’s taking advantage of your kindness.”

  Completely dumbfounded now, my jaw dropped. “I’m sorry?”

  “You’re a really nice guy,” Henry said, “maybe too nice. I mean, I know you’re good at standing up for omegas, like you did at the bar, so maybe that’s what this is about.” He sighed. “If you need my help getting Scar out of your place, I can help.”

  Slowly, I replied, “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I invited Scar to stay with me.”

  “Right,” Henry said as if I wasn’t quite getting it. “But only because you felt pressured to, yeah?”

  “No,” I said. “That is not what happened.” I paused, then asked, “Henry, do you have a problem with Scar?”

  Henry’s face turned wary and confused. “Um, he’s an omega staying at your house with some kid? So yes?”

  Then the realization hit me—in Henry’s eyes, we were dating, and Scar and Angel were a threat. Suddenly it made sense why he was acting so tense and sensitive.

  “Let me explain. Please listen,” I said, gesturing for him to sit down with me on a bench. He hesitantly sat, but his body language and expression were guarded. “The baby staying with us—Angel—she was abandoned on the Drunken Dragon’s door. We don’t know who her parents are. She’s young, not even old enough to speak. There was no way she would survive if we didn’t take her in.”

  Henry’s eyes flashed with sympathy, but he said nothing.

  “When Scar found me and asked for my help, and I laid eyes on Angel for the first time, I knew I had to protect her. Maybe it was my alpha instincts kicking in, just as Scar’s omega instincts activated for him. I’m sure the same thing would happen to you, if you found an abandoned child,” I continued.

  Henry’s mouth tightened. He didn’t quite look convinced. “But why does it have to be you? Can’t he go out and find some other alpha? I mean… Ryu, we’re dating. Don’t you see how this is weird?”

  I frowned. Even with the explanation, Henry still didn’t understand. Or maybe he did, but just didn’t see it my way. “Not really, no.”

  The patience faded from Henry’s face. His fists balled up against his thighs in frustration as he stood. “Okay, well—why can’t Scar just raise the kid by himself, then? Lots of omegas do that, you know? I mean, he’s old enough to be a single parent, he should know something by now, it’s not like he’s some young clueless omega!”

  Resentfulness bubbled in my chest. I didn’t like the unsympathetic way Henry was speaking about Scar. Filled with prickly, conflicting emotions, I stood as well, itching to storm away from this conversation.

  “I don’t want to let him do that,” I said in a low voice.

  Henry stared. “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t want Scar to raise Angel by himself,” I continued. “And it’s not just that—I want to raise her. She was an unexpected surprise in my life, yes, but that doesn’t mean I can cast her aside. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I would die to protect her. Why can’t you understand that?”

  “Because she’s not your baby!” Henry yelled.

  People on the street fell silent. Everyone stared at us. Shame flushed my cheeks—not because they were staring, but because Henry’s immaturity had caused such a scene. I shut my eyes and shook my head, waiting for the crowd’s attention to fade.

  Henry’s face was also flushed from embarrassment and anger. He bristled and was trying not to tremble. “You know what? I’m done with this. Why don’t you go make out with that ugly Scar since you love him so much? We’re through.”

  I was so shocked by his awful words that I didn’t register him rushing away until he disappeared into the crowd. When his meaning finally sunk in, a new wave of understanding crashed over me.

  Like I was opening my eyes for the first time, I realized that I did care about Scar—more than I ever did about Henry. I never hesitated when Scar asked for help raising Angel because there was something between us I couldn’t quite put my finger on before. Other memories fell into place; when Mav attacked Scar and a fire ignited inside me, burning with the desire to protect Scar at all costs—and when I’d helped him with his injury.

  When Scar asked me that night if I felt something between us, I’d lied without knowing why. Now I recognized that I was afraid of his rejection. But I was only dreading his rejection because I cared for him—I didn’t feel the same way about Henry at all.

  The puzzle pieces sank into place and I felt stupid for not seeing them all along. I knew I had to get home to Scar and Angel as soon as possible.

  Back to my family, a small voice in my head reminded me.

  11

  Scar

  The darkness of Ryu’s apartment enveloped me. With Gabriel and Raja gone, and Angel asleep, I was able to stew in my bitter thoughts alone. Every so often I checked the time, only to find it later and later, with no sign of Ryu’s return.

  I scowled. Who does that bastard think he is, running off like that and lying to my face?

  At the time, I hadn’t realized where Ryu went or why he was in such a hurry. My sleep deprivation from the night before and laser focus on Angel distracted me from the memory, but once it hit me, I felt nothing but anger and betrayal.

  I remembered Ryu’s date tonight, with that omega Henry.

  My eyes narrowed against the darkness as I sprawled listlessly across the floor table. My annoyance at Ryu spilled into anger directed at myself. How could I have been so stupid? He’d already told me before I found Angel that he had a date at the pier. At the time he’d seemed so excited about it that it made me want to roll my eyes out of my skull. Of course he’d run out on Angel and I to go see his young, hot omega date. Why wouldn’t he?

  You’re the idiot who thought he was different, I berated myself.

  I groaned and planted my face on the table. What if they came home together? Was I supposed to babysit Angel in another room while they fucked?

  An even colder pang of dread crawled up my spine. What if they mated for real, and Ryu had a biological child of his own with Henry? What were Angel and I supposed to do then? We wouldn’t be able to stay here forever.

  The impulsive part of me wanted to pick up Angel and all her supplies and get out of here before Ryu even got home. The only reason I didn’t was because I knew I wouldn’t be able to carry everything on my own because of my damn disability. I scowled and grew angrier with myself for ruining everything.

  Maybe if I wasn’t like this, then Ryu would prefer me
over Henry…

  Just as I began to spiral into my dark thoughts, the front door creaked open. Instantly I was on guard, ready to argue with Ryu.

  “So you finally decided to show up,” I growled.

  Ryu blinked in confusion. “Scar, why are you sitting alone in the dark? Did the others go home already?”

  I ignored his question. “Why did you lie to me?”

  He paused again, then held out a hand. “Wait, hang on—I know what’s going on. Let me explain.”

  But I was too frustrated and scared to stop. I needed to know if I was wasting my time here. “Where’s Henry? He didn’t come back to stay the night in your bed?”

  “What?” Ryu asked. “No, he—”

  “Are you coming back just to tell me I need to get out? You might as well, since you and Henry are just gonna get sick of me living here. You could at least have the decency not to lie to me about it!” I spat.

  “Henry and I are not together!” Ryu cried.

  I opened my mouth to retort, but stopped as soon as his words registered. “Huh?”

  Angel fussed slightly in her sleep. Ryu put a finger to his mouth, gesturing for us to remain quiet. He slowly sat down at the table and I did the same.

  “I was trying to explain that Henry and I broke up tonight,” Ryu said, lowering his voice.

  “Oh.” My cheeks flushed with shame because I’d yelled at him for no reason, once again. “Um… I’m sorry. What happened?”

  Ryu sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “We didn’t see things eye-to-eye. I was talking to him about you and Angel and he just freaked out. He began accusing you of things you didn’t do.”

  My skin prickled. Cautiously, I asked, “Like what?”

  “He thought you moved in her with Angel without asking. He seemed convinced that you were taking advantage of me.”

  “What?” I snapped, a little too loud. Angel mumbled again but didn’t rouse, thankfully. I sighed and lowered my voice again. “What the hell is he on, talking about me like that? He doesn’t even know me. And hell—I saved him from those alphas! Ungrateful piece of...”

  “I know,” Ryu said gently. “Honestly, he seemed jealous. In a way, he apparently believed you were stealing me from him.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. Now that was funny. “Yeah, right.”

  But Ryu wasn’t laughing. His expression was serious.

  I frowned. “What?”

  “Why is that funny?” Ryu asked slowly.

  I shrugged, not wanting to get into this topic again. “Because it’s ridiculous. Henry’s young and hot. Fertile, probably. Doesn’t have two fake limbs. Isn’t mutilated.”

  “Scar—” Ryu began.

  “Don’t even other denying it. You know it’s true. He has everything, and I have nothing,” I said. “It’s just stupid to think that an alpha would prefer him to me.”

  Ryu’s dark eyes were sharp and hard, like glinting blades of obsidian. It sent a sudden shiver down my spine. In an instant, he shot up from his seat and stormed over to me.

  My whole body tensed for a fight. He was going to hit me. I knew it. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t thinking right now—only reacting. I’d been through enough physical violence to know what came next.

  I couldn’t fight back. I was no match for an alpha.

  I braced myself.

  Ryu’s hands grabbed my face. A jolt of panic shocked me. Was he going to break my neck?

  I shut my eyes.

  Ryu’s lips crashed into mine.

  The breath left my lungs. I froze. The world seemed to slow, then stop.

  Ryu was kissing me.

  The moment lasted an eternity, and a single moment at the same time. He pulled away, his eyes bright and lively and frustrated. I forgot how to move. And breathe.

  “Scar?” he asked cautiously.

  I shook myself out of my daze. “Um. What the fuck?”

  Ryu looked nervous. “Are you okay? Was that okay?”

  “Are you... asking me if it’s okay that you kissed me?”

  “Yes?”

  “Uh. Yes?”

  We stared at each other like two dumbstruck idiots. Neither of us knew what to say. A moment that was both somehow awkward and comfortable passed before I finally mustered the ability to speak.

  “So… What was that all about?” I asked.

  Ryu glanced away, his cheeks flushed pink. “I couldn’t stand to hear you talk about yourself like that anymore. It was driving me nuts.”

  “I thought you were going to hit me, not kiss me,” I mumbled.

  “What?” he cried. “I would never do that!”

  I shrugged, feeling embarrassed as well. “Well, I didn’t know that. It seems like most people would rather hit me than kiss me, so I just assumed...”

  “I’m not most people, okay?” Ryu stated.

  “Okay.”

  Another silence. It was during this time that I noticed the overwhelming heat in my face and the pit of my stomach, as well as the tightness of my throat. My mouth felt dry and my head light, almost dizzy.

  “So, why exactly did you do that?” I asked quietly.

  Ryu sighed in exasperation. “I thought it would be obvious.”

  “To be honest, I have no idea what’s going on.”

  Ryu cracked a slight smile. “Well, there was another reason I broke up with Henry. He kept berating you and acting like you were an obstacle in his life, and it infuriated me. I realized the reason I became so upset was because I like you.”

  The dizziness must have been getting to my head. I didn’t think I quite heard him correctly.

  “Right,” I said. “I like you, too, friend.”

  Ryu frowned. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  “You can’t possibly mean anything else.”

  Ryu groaned loudly. “Will you stop being so obtuse? I just kissed you, for gods’ sake!”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, and I still don’t know what you were thinking. Did you fall at the pier and hit your head or something?”

  “Scar, I think I’m in love with you,” Ryu declared.

  I nearly choked. Whatever I was expecting him to say next, that definitely wasn’t it. It almost felt like I’d been slapped, but in a good way.

  “You’re what?” I stuttered.

  Ryu’s eyes flashed decisively. “Do you feel the same way? I know you asked me before, that night before we found Angel. You said you felt something between us.”

  I nodded seriously. “Yeah. I remember.”

  He shook his head, but the gesture seemed directed at himself. “I lied when I said no. I did feel it. But I was afraid. It seems stupid in hindsight. I thought you would reject me.”

  I grinned. “You’re right. That is stupid.”

  His smile blossomed fully now. I felt like I was standing on the edge of the unknown. This was a place I’d never been, an experience I’d never had. Excitement buzzed in my veins.

  “So… Now what?” I asked cautiously.

  “I suppose we’re dating now. If that’s what you want, I mean,” Ryu said.

  “Yes,” I said quickly. My voice seemed desperate to me, but right now, I didn’t care. All my faults and fears were momentarily squashed beneath the overwhelming joy of this moment. I didn’t want it to end.

  Ryu came closer to me on the mat, and intertwined his fingers with mine. My heart rate sped up, pounding against my ribs. The air between us seemed to vibrate, like we were two magnets pulling towards each other.

  I hovered, cautious and unable to make the first move. Thankfully, Ryu closed the gap between us. He pressed his lips to mine, and my skin sparked pleasantly with electricity. Warmth spread through my body, seeping into every part of me. My head buzzed with thrill and satisfaction.

  Ryu parted his lips, and I followed. His tongue grazed mine, warm and gentle. The air tightened in my lungs. My blood felt hot. We kissed slowly at first, then delved into a more passionate one. When we broke away, my head spun and my skin
burned to the touch.

  “I think I’m gonna pass out,” I mumbled.

  Ryu chuckled. “Please don’t. If you’re tired, you should sleep on the futon.”

  “Don’t you mean the air mattress?”

  He shook his head, eyes glinting. “No.”

  The meaning of his words sunk in. He wanted me to sleep in the same bed as him. My heart backflipped.

  “What about Angel?” I asked.

  “There’s enough room. She can sleep in between us,” he said. “That way she’s got a parent on either side.”

  My chest squeezed happily. “Right.”

  As we got ready for bed, my heart wouldn’t stop racing. It was beating a mile a minute ever since Ryu kissed me for the first time. And it wasn’t just the first time he kissed me—it was the first time I’d ever been kissed romantically in my life. I barely knew what to do, but I was too happy and excited to care. Before tonight, I’d given up all hopes of ever finding a love in my life, but now Ryu gifted it to me.

  I laid on the opposite side of Ryu on the futon. Angel, tired out from her long day with Gabriel and Raja, fussed a bit at first when we moved her but quickly fell fast asleep. Her blonde hair spilled around her like a pool of melted gold. I stroked her hair gently, not wanting to wake her.

  “I hope Raja and Lorenzo find out who did this to you,” I mumbled. “We’re going to make them pay.”

  Ryu nodded. “That’s another reason I ended it with Henry. He didn’t seem to care that much about any part of Angel’s story.”

  A flash of anger ignited in my chest. “How is that even possible? He’s awful!”

  Ryu frowned, remembering Henry’s words. “He was stuck on the fact that we aren’t her biological parents. He seemed to think of her more like a burden than a blessing.”

  I scowled, wishing Henry was here so I could punch his lights out. “Idiot. He doesn’t deserve her, anyway.”

  “Agreed.” Ryu smiled at me. “I’m glad I’m raising Angel together with you, Scar. You’re truly her omega father.”

  We’re both Angel’s parents now. And we’re going to do everything to raise her right.