The Dragon's Charm

by Emilia Hartley

  I am the luckiest man alive.

  He began to unzip his own pants but was surprised by the creak of the door behind.

  “I was wondering who was here. Hey Alex,” her grandma said.

  I am the unluckiest man alive.

  Dammit, again, why now? She was a nice enough old lady but three interruptions in one day?

  “Evening Miss Bannon,” Alex said with a sigh while zipping his pants back up.

  “You must be freezing without a shirt,” she said.

  “No, I’m fine. It’s a style,” he said, taking a seat on Cynthia’s bed. She was still naked beneath the covers and his opportunity for some quiet time with her was waning.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Grandma?” Cynthia asked.

  “Bridge night was cancelled. I guess one of the girls got scared when she saw a bear in the woods. Oh well, we’ll get back together again next week,” Miss Bannon replied.

  Cynthia face palmed. Alex merely thought about it.

  “Since you’re both here, do you want to see something I found early today?” she asked.

  “No, grandma, we don’t want to hear your boring story,” Cynthia said.

  “I found this old photo with both of your mothers in it,” she said.

  Alex was surprised that he was interested to see it. There weren’t many photos of his mother in the house. His dad was never one for taking pictures at family events and apparently his mother was always camera shy. Besides, this would give Cynthia a chance to get her clothes back on.

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing it,” Alex said, giving a quick wink to Cynthia who quickly caught on.

  Cynthia’s grandmother held out the crinkled photo. Alex took it gingerly from her wrinkled hand and held it to the light of the lantern.

  Without hesitation, Cynthia quickly put her clothes back on before falling back on the bed in sexual frustration.

  It was a large group photo. A stacked wooden cottage loomed in the background with twelve young faces smiling in front. They couldn’t have been much older than Alex was right now. He scanned the faces to see which one might be his mother and did his best to guess.

  “Is this her?” Alex asked.

  The old woman leaned in close.

  “Nope, that’s Cynthia’s mother,” she replied and pointed to another woman in the photo, “that’s your mother.”

  “Wait, they’re not sisters are they?” Alex asked. He felt a lump grow in his throat. If their mothers were sisters then he’d be dating … his cousin?

  “Nope, not even close,” she reassured him.

  Thank god. Alex swallowed hard.

  “I remember your mother well. She was the daughter of the old alpha before your father. Actually, there’s your father right there,” she said.

  Her finger rested on a dopey looking kid standing behind his mother. His arm was locked around another kid in the photo.

  “And, that was his best friend before the packs split,” she added, “they were inseparable, until they got old enough to fight over your mother. The rest is history.”

  Alex returned the photo.

  “I think Cynthia’s father is in the photo as well but I can’t remember which one he is,” she added. Her eyes darted through the photograph. She stood with sudden realization, pointing at the largest of the group. “This one is him, Bruce.”

  He was the tallest by more than a head and a thick beard was already growing on his chin. He was a barrel chested monster in biker boots and a thick leather jacket. A scar ran vertically from his forehead to his cheek over his right eye. Beside him sat a brand new black motorcycle.

  If badass had a look, his would be it.

  “Wow, Cyn. Did he ever take you on that motorcycle?”

  “Nope,” she replied, “I never even met the guy. He’s a deadbeat.”

  “Last I heard he was still on the mountain with his gang but they never come through this way,” Miss Bannon added.

  “Thanks, grandma, for ruining my night,” Cynthia said.

  “No problem, dear,” she replied without listening.

  Wow, no wonder Cynthia is always so frustrated. Alex handed back the photo and joined Cynthia on the bed. She stared at the ceiling, clearly annoyed. Alex couldn't help but find her sexy.

  “I’m going to sleep,” Miss Bannon said, snatching him from his thoughts. She eased herself into the only other bed. “Please turn out the light when you go to sleep.”

  Cynthia and Alex locked eyes. Looks like tonight was a bust. There was nowhere else in the den to be alone. Running off might lead to another bear attack, and Alex had to be up early to travel. He could have pounded his head through a wall with the amount of tension that built up inside of him.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Alex whispered, “I’ll be back in a couple days.”

  “I don’t want you in a couple days, I want you right now,” she whispered back.

  Ugh. She wasn’t making this easy. He pulled himself under the comforter, and pressed his body against hers. Her soft skin was still flush and warm to the touch. She kissed him on the lips and ran her finger along his toned abs.

  “It’s too bad you can’t come with me on the trip,” he whispered. Only when his head was on the pillow did he realize how tired he was. What a day. He fell asleep to Cynthia’s warm body and her tender smile.

  CHAPTER 5

  Alex woke, alone in the bed. He felt around for Cynthia but was met with cold bedsheets. He stood from the bed quietly searching around the tiny one room house but still no Cynthia, just Miss Bannon sleeping an arm’s reach away.

  Dammit.

  He raised a hand to his head and left the warmth of the bed only to get a shock of cold in his feet from the floor. He shot to his feet and smacked his head into the low hanging beam of the ceiling.

  Fuck, no Cynthia and a bruise. Great day so far.

  Alex tried to hold in every swear word he wanted to blurt out as he rubbed at his head. Not wanting to wake Miss Bannon he tip-toed out the door making as little sound as possible.

  The sun was rising from behind the farmhouse and cast a long shadow on the rest of the grounds. He looked around, checking the water pump and the nearby houses for any sign of Cynthia but came up empty. The only other person he saw was Connor already standing on the farmhouse porch, leaning against the railing and sipping a cup of coffee. This day kept getting better and better.

  “Late night?” Connor quipped.

  Alex leaned against the railing opposite him, rubbing at his sore forehead.

  “She’s a great catch,” Connor said, taking a sip from the coffee cup in his hand.

  “Are you looking for a second, now? I thought my sister was more than enough,” Alex shot back defensively.

  Connor patted Alex on the back so hard that he nearly fell over.

  “It’s obvious that you care about her a lot,” Connor started.

  “Cynthia is something else,” Alex tried to reply, but was cut short by Connor, continuing to talk without regard.

  “You must be looking to start a family,” he said.

  “I don’t think we’re-”

  “It’s the best thing I’ve ever experienced,” Connor interjected, “knowing that you’re going to be responsible for pups that are going to look up to you, it’s a big responsibility.”

  Alex relaxed his shoulders and stopped trying to get a word in but was met with silence as Connor sipped at his coffee.

  “Well, as I was saying-” Alex began.

  “Just make sure she doesn’t get in the way of your work,” Connor interrupted again, “what you’re doing is incredibly important and your mind needs to be focused.”

  Great, yeah, focus.

  Connor again, patted Alex on the shoulder before disappearing inside. The force of the pat was much rougher than expected and Alex had to fight to stay on his feet.

  Alex rolled his eyes and muttered his frustration under his breath.

  How are things? Oh, they’re great, how about you? O
h yeah? That’s great.

  The scent of fresh eggs and bacon spilled from the kitchen and Alex’s stomach growled loudly. He could have eaten an entire cow if one was present. When he started pushing the door open he was greeted with his father stomping out the door with his walking stick in hand.

  “Oh great! Looks like you’re ready to go. I already threw your bag in the truck. What the hell are you packing these days? That bag weighed a ton.”

  What?

  “Hop in the truck, we’re already behind!” he said.

  Alex stared into the kitchen through the window. His sister Tess had a plate piled high with pancakes covered in syrup. His mouth watered while his father pushed him toward the truck.

  “But,” Alex started.

  “But, nothing. If we don’t make it to the pass before the snow starts then we might not make it at all,” his father replied.

  Dammit.

  Alex accepted his fate and turned toward the yellow truck. His father shoved his walking stick into the bed and huffed himself into the driver’s seat.

  Alex sighed. He looked over the grounds one last time for any sign of Cynthia but was met with quiet houses and the morning breeze. After a time he pulled himself into the passenger seat and his dad fired up the engine. The dull roar could be heard echoing around the den, anyone still trying to sleep must have been snapped awake.

  “Let’s go,” Alex said, defeated.

  His father shifted the truck into gear and started his way down the dirt road that connected the den to the outside world.

  CHAPTER 6

  Hours passed, the dull pumping of the engine was the only thing heard for miles, aside from his father’s frustrating attempt at singing. He could carry a tune about as well as a fish could fly. Even worse, when he wasn’t driving he would snore louder than the engine. If there was a level in hell, Alex had found it. But, aside from his father’s incessant annoyances Alex was lost in thought. He worried that he’d said something to Cynthia that pissed her off. For whatever reason, his mind kept drifting back to the bear from last night.

  Shit, I hope she’s okay.

  Just stop thinking about it. She’s fine. She’s a big girl who can take care of herself. Still, part of him yearned to return home to make sure she was okay.

  “I’m sure she’s fine,” his father said, snapping himself from his snoring.

  How did he know what I was thinking about?

  “We’ve all left loved ones before, and Cynthia is no dummy. She can take care of herself,” he continued.

  “Is that how you felt about mom?” Alex asked, although he regretted bringing up his mother when his father never seemed interested in talking about her.

  He pondered his answer for just long enough that Alex started to become uncomfortable.

  “I loved your mother,” he said, “and I would have done anything to keep her safe.”

  Alex exhaled, not realizing he’d been holding his breath.

  “You never talk about her,” Alex said, “Hell the first real photo I saw of mom was only last night and Miss Bannon was the one that showed it to me, not you.”

  “I’m always thinking about her.” he replied, “I know I could share more about her but it’s hard.”

  That’s not an answer.

  “What was she like?” Alex asked.

  His father glanced at him and laughed. “Why are you bringing this up now? Did that old photo really have you wondering?”

  “Why? Because we have another 4 hour drive ahead of us and I don’t know anything about my own mother,” Alex said.

  His father sighed and stared straight at the road ahead. As the truck snaked through the mountains the old dog talked as though he were alone.

  “She was the prettiest thing I’d ever set my eyes on,” he started, “Jacob and I were crazy about her from the second we both laid eyes on her. The three of us grew up together in the pack; we knew each other better than we knew ourselves.” He laughed. It was an honest laugh and one Alex rarely got to see. It was full of memories and it showed him another side of his father. “Jacob was my best friend, and Connor’s father. He held a torch for that woman like you wouldn’t believe. But she never had eyes for him. When she and I got hitched, the pack alpha knew I was the one to take over. After I was given the title Jacob got pissed off and ran to start his own pack. Had a lot of followers, too; but they’re all back in the fold with us now, just like before. All those years of fighting seem so pointless, but if I were in his position, I might have done the same thing myself. Your mother was special to us both, I’m not sure I could have sat by and watched my best friend take both her and the title of Alpha.”

  What the hell?

  “So you and mom made the pack split. All that fighting between the two packs was because of you two?”

  “In a round-about way, yes,” he laughed again, with sorrow in his eyes. “Did I ever tell you the story about one of our old pack members that got on your mother’s bad side? He fled for the hills when she heard him bad mouth the food she made. She chased him out with cleaver! I tell you, I never saw somebody run so fast.”

  Alex laughed as a tear welled up in his eye. He’d never felt his father being so tender before.

  “I can see that same fire in your girl Cynthia,” he said, “she’s got a passion in her that she can’t hide. And, whenever I see you two together I’m glad that you two found each other.”

  Just choke it back. He can’t see you cry. You’re a big man and there’s no reason to start crying about some overly emotional moment.

  “You know,” he continued, “you’re starting to look the part of an alpha yourself. I’ve watched you grow stronger since the bear attacks a few months ago.”

  “If I’m going to be the one to protect Cynthia, I need to be strong. All the fights up till now have shown that to me,” Alex replied.

  “Good,” his father said, reaching over to pat Alex on the shoulder with his massive hand, “I think you’ll make a great leader someday.”

  “You really think I would want to lead?” Alex asked even though he didn’t really care to know the answer at all. Sure, he wanted to lead before Connor came along but he couldn’t imagine doing a better job.

  “What made you stick around? You could’ve just left that night you snuck into Connor’s truck.”

  “Cynthia,” Alex replied, “I couldn’t think of travelling without her. I was about to say my goodbye’s to Tess that night, but when I saw her and Connor lying in each other’s arms I just lost interest in leaving.”

  “The sign of a good man,” his father added, “bring it here!” His father tried to lean over into a hug but Alex threw a hand up to fight against it. Marcus was stronger than he looked. An odd feeling rushed over Alex with his father’s arms wrapped around him. He’d never felt pride from his father before.

  “Let’s get this over with so we can get you home to that woman of yours,” his father said. He started to sing in a deep voice.

  CHAPTER 7

  So freaking cold.

  The heater in the truck didn’t want to work as they climbed higher and higher through the mountain pass. Snow piled along the sides of the road and the slick terrain made progress slow but steady.

  Day light was already starting to wane over the top of the mountain. As the dark started to settle in, they arrived at their destination, an old, half snow-covered mile marker sign.

  “Hurray.” Alex said in a monotone voice hopping from the driver’s seat. “Where the hell is the den?”

  Before his father could answer, a wolf peeked out from behind a snow covered tree. It growled at the two of them defensively only to be joined by another, and another. Half a dozen wolf shifters advanced on them, Alex’s father was the first to speak.

  “We’re here to meet with your alpha,” Alex’s father said, confidently.

  The wolves continued to growl and barked at the bed of the truck. Alex reached in, pulling his bag from the truck bed. It was much heavier than normal.<
br />
  What the hell is in here?

  He tossed the bag into the snow, and fresh powder puffed into the night breeze.

  “Ow!”

  No way.

  If this was what he thought it was then he wasn’t sure whether to be excited or angry. His fingers worked the zipper and as the bag opened, Cynthia poured out. The wolves stood at bay and barked at the new stranger.

  “Cynthia!” Alex said, choosing excitement. “Why did you stow away in my bag? Aren’t you freezing?” She wasn’t wearing much more than a pair of leggings and a tight blouse that hugged her body. Her nipples poked through her shirt from the cold and Alex threw his arms around her to warm her up.

  “I wanted to surprise you,” she said, “surprise!” Her teeth chattered in the wind. Alex tore off his winter coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  “I swear we didn’t mean to hide her. Hell, I’m just as surprised as you are.” Alex said, turning back to the wolves. As happy as he was to see her, hiding in the back of the truck was dangerous, and it didn’t necessarily help their situation. He’ll talk to her about this later, for now he was just happy she was safe.

  From around a snow bank, a figured clad in a large jacket and thick snow boots crunched his way through the snow toward them.

  “Ah, you must be from the Night Runner pack,” he started, “don’t mind them, they always gets antsy when new people show up. Follow me back to the cottage.”

  Alex let out a sigh. He and Cynthia followed along closely with his father trudging along, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

  How far is this place? They walked for fifteen minutes through high snow and biting cold, through a sparse thicket and across rocky tundra. When the guide stopped, Alex was frozen to the bone and couldn’t fully grasp what he saw at first.

  “That is the Cliff Walker den,” the guide said.

  Thank god.

  It was the same cottage from Miss Bannon’s picture. The structure was massive in person. The stacked log walls reached almost thirty feet tall at the zenith. The large double doors that greeted them were engraved with images of wolves on the hunt, and appeared to be decades old. The entire cottage appeared to be just as old, for that matter. The cottage itself overlooked a rolling plain dotted with sparse trees. A few small cabins surrounded the space but were clearly empty.