We flew to the pack house on Lexus’ back. During the ride I told Sadia about my intuition and abilities to see things happening on the physical plane in the present time. She was excited and named all the things she’d want me to do for her with my abilities when she becomes queen. They consisted of spying on people, light revenge, and a few harmless things. Oddly, they had nothing to do will running the kingdom but maybe she was just excited and getting ahead of herself.
When we got there, I had an odd feeling. Something didn’t seem right. The house was huge and in the forest. “This is where you live?” I’m not sure how I’d react from seeing a werewolf for the first time in real life. I had seen some on tv and when I was younger dreamed of them a lot.
“For now, but thankfully when I marry Lexus I’ll move into the castle.” She said as if she was counting the days. I don’t blame her… I would too.
Lexus looked annoyed and I could only assume it was because we were talking to each other. “Aqua you can’t say anything about us coming here.” So, this was something he did in secret.
“I won’t.” I looked around when we walked in. There were a lot of people on the first floor hanging out. They must have all been pack members. Werewolves had a different aura than dragon shifters for sure.
Lexus turned to us. “I shouldn’t be too long,” He told Sadia before he left with a group of guys.
I noticed most of them were in their human forms while a few were in wolf form. I didn’t stare at any of the wolves for too long, but I wanted to. They looked beautiful which I didn’t expect. I expected them to look like wolves from the human world, but they were bigger. Plus, their fur and features were so much different. “I can show you around and introduce you to some people while we’re here,” Sadia suggested and started walking. “I’m glad you’re here cause if I’m alone everyone will just treat me like shit,” Ironically enough as she said that we passed someone who was being treated like shit. One of the boys were being pushed around. “Ignore it, he’s the omega.” Omegas were the lowest ranked and as far as I could see, they were treated like it. “They tried to make me the omega when I was younger, but dragon shifters are stronger, so I was able to dodge that bullet. Even though I’m not anywhere near being the weakest some still treat me like it.”
“Because you’re not a werewolf?” I asked. She didn’t answer but I knew the answer. “What’s Lexus doing anyways?”
“Our engagement is public now and some of the wolves are treating me like property. It’s stupid but they won’t give us any trouble if Lexus gives them money and does other favors. I just worried it’s going to get out of hand.” Lexus was going through obstacles to be with Sadia so maybe he did really love her.
I followed her into a room. “I can’t imagine someone going through all that for me…”
Sadia smiled. “Yeah, I’m lucky.” She led me to two people our age. “These are the only two people in the house I get along with.” She gestured to them then to me. “This is my future adviser and new friend Aqua.”
I shook hands with them both. “I wish I could stay and talk but have to go since I’m scheduled to patrol.” The girl said. “I hope everything goes well for Lexus.” She said to Sadia before leaving.
“I’m Calvin.” The boy introduced himself. “She was a friend.” He added. “She wasn’t my girlfriend or anything.”
Sadia laughed when she realized Calvin was making sure I knew he was single. “Calvin is the pack’s future Beta. He’ll be second in command to the next Alpha when he takes over. Kind of like you’ll be second to me and Lexus in the future.”
There was a sudden commotion in the pack house. We heard yelling a people running down the hall. “Shit.” Sadia swore. “Lexus.” She turned to me. “Stay here with Calvin while I go see what’s going on.”
I’d rather not stay but it was probably the better option. “Okay.” I watched her rush off into the crowd while I stayed in the room. I felt awkward being with someone I just met in a place I had never been. “So. what’s it like being a werewolf?” I asked impulsively.
Calvin laughed. “I’m conforming a little more each day,” he joked. “Not much room for individuality when you’re in a pack, especially a strict large one who depend on tradition.”
That’s how I felt living in human society. I’m not sure how different it was going to be here. “Are you constantly told you lack common sense because everyone is on the exact same page except you?”
“You’re speaking my language.” He chuckled. He’d make a good friend.
“Thanks for making something out of my stupid question.” I couldn’t help but wonder what was going outside of the room because it sounded like a fight.
“Well, what’s it like being a dragon shifter?” He reversed my question.
“Uh, I wouldn’t really know, I only just found out I was one. I was raised in the human world.” It sounded stranger the more times I had to say it. “I can’t fly or even shift.” I overshared out of nervousness.
He looked surprised. “Wow, that sounds insane.” He looked towards the door. “You’ll have to tell me more about that sometime.”
I looked at the door as Sadia walked in with Lexus. “You’re an idiot.” She scolded him.
“Whatever, I’m not going to let them say that kind of stuff about you.” He had a few bruises on his face. “He was lucky there isn’t enough room here for a dragon to shift.”
“And what if there were? The Prince killing the future alpha of the local werewolf pack wouldn’t be news easily shrugged off.” Sadia sighed. “Aqua, we’re leaving.”
“We’re not.” Lexus said. “I’m going spar with some of the guys. Ruben isn’t going to be there.” He must have been the guy he got into a fight with. “He went for a run after what I did to him.”
“Great more fighting. Fine.” Sadia gave in. “We can stay for a little longer. You’re lucky they didn’t kick you out after that.” They must have really liked Lexus to let him stay after that. He probably had been coming here for a while, maybe they saw him as a part of their pack in a way.
Lexus looked at me. “Do you want Sadia to take you home? We’re probably going to smoke.”
I shook my head. “I’ll stay.” I didn’t smoke because of my medication but I wasn’t against it or anything. I looked at Calvin. “Are you coming?”
Calvin looked at Lexus then me. “Probably not but I wouldn’t mind your number.”
“She’s not interested in making friends,” Lexus said protectively. “Let’s go.”
Sadia rolled her eyes. “I’ll send it to you Calvin, come on Aqua.” I waved to Calvin then followed them out the room. “I think Calvin has a crush on Aqua.” She looked at me. “Don’t mind Lexus, he doesn’t trust anyone.”
“A crush huh?” He glanced back at me. “Don’t listen to me if you don’t want to but I’d be careful.” Was that coming from a genuine place or from a place of jealously?” Did I have to watch out for Calvin?
We walked into the sparing room. A few people were already there and waiting for Lexus. I sat down against the wall next to Sadia. “Those guys are really good friends of Lexus’.” She pointed towards them. “They’re why we still hangout here.”
“Do you love Lexus?” I asked without thinking.
Sadia smiled in reaction to my question. “I do… I have for a long time, even before we got together. But… sometimes it’s hard to keep up with him if that makes sense.” It made a lot of sense. I just didn’t understand how Lexus could cheat on her the first time if he felt the same love as she did. He was ready to do it again too. “I think you and Calvin would be good together. I know you’re still recovering from you ex, so no pressure.” It was hard to think of anyone romantically when Lexus was around. He kept looking at me while he smoked with his friends.
I thought about how earlier Sadia called me her new friend. I wasn’t being much of a friend if I wanted her fiancé. Maybe Calvin could be the distraction I needed to be able to stay away from Lexus. I watched Lexus when they started sparing. He was good at hand to hand even though they might have been a little high already. I noticed Cade had walked in and joined them too which made sense because he was such good friends with Lexus. “I’m sorry if I’m not able to be the best adviser to you and Lexus. I wasn’t raised to be one the way Cade was. I’m afraid Cade is going to resent me for taking his position.”
“I think we took it harder than Cade when we had to admit to ourselves that he wasn’t the holder. He took it well because he never thought he was the holder. He learned a lot about holders since he had to, and it was clear to him he hadn’t given any signs. I wouldn’t worry about resentment. He was happy to find out he had a sister. He was happy to have one but upset at Konn for keeping it a secret. I guess a brother wasn’t enough.”
“Brother?”
Sadia looked at me with her mouth slightly open in shock. “You don’t know you have two brothers?” It didn’t occur to Konn or Cade to tell me I had more family. “He’s nine and never had more than one sign of being the holder.”
I had a new older and younger brother. Maybe he didn’t want to meet me. “I’m going to try to talk to Konn soon.” I brought my knees to my chest and laid my head on them. “There’s so much I’m clueless about.” I pouted.
Sadia chuckled. “Good luck with that.”
When the sparing was done Sadia decided to fly us back to the castle. She didn’t want to fly on Lexus while he was high. I sat as far as I could from Lexus, but he came closer. “It smells good over here.” He said but I knew he was talking about my scent. Since we were mates, we could strongly smell each other. It was bold of him to try to talk to me while riding on his fiancée. “Do you want me to teach you how to fly?” He asked. “So, you don’t have to be so useless,” he teased.
I sighed. “No.” I wanted to be able to fly but I couldn’t even shift yet so it’s not like he could teach me.
Lexus shrugged and dove off Sadia’s back. I gasped at first, but he shifted into his dragon form. He was flying irregularly so I could see why Sadia didn’t want to fly on his back. He was flying in patterns instead of straight.
I stared at Lexus until we got back to the castle. When we got there, I went to my room and they went to Lexus’. I took a bath to relax after such a long day. I thought about my adoptive family and how it had been a week since I last saw them. I think I might have already preferred it here.