Anila’s POV“Don’t think just because my brother marked you, it means I’m not going to try and get into your pants,” Zach said with a smirk as he pinned me to the ground.Fury boiled through me from his words; how could he be so arrogant?“Mate!” My wolf insisted.I used all of my strength to kick him off me and to my surprise, he actually tumbled backwards.“You can try all you want, Zach,” I said through my teeth. “It won’t change anything.”I could see the irritation on his face, and I wondered if it was because Xaden had marked me, or because Zach couldn’t have his way with me. My mind instantly went to Harley and all the things we’d done together, and I felt a ping of guilt in my chest.“How’d he convince you to do it anyway?”I looked at him, confused.“What do you mean?” I asked.“How did you convince him to mark you?”His question took me aback and I knew I must have looked dumbfounded. Did Zach seriously think I somehow convinced Xaden to mark his claim on me?“I didn’t have
Anila’s PovI didn’t think; as soon as I hung up the phone with Penny, I was running straight for the dorms. My dragon had somehow gotten out of her cage, and she was my responsibility. I needed to protect her. She was probably terrified of the commotion going on and in hiding. It didn’t seem as if others had found her yet because most were evacuating the dormitory.I could hear the fear in everyone’s voices, and I wondered what exactly was going to happen to this dragon once she was found. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her; she didn’t do anything.At least I didn’t think she did.I was on autopilot, so, I’m not exactly sure how I managed to get through the crowd of students and faculty and got into the school. I think everybody was just so wound up that they didn’t really think about security. But I got inside and weaved through the many students struggling to get out of the door.“Anila!” I heard my name coming from the distance and recognized it right away as
Anila’s POVEscaping the school was exhilarating and by the time we reached the forest, I had tumbled over laughing. I’m not sure what I found so funny, but I couldn’t help myself. My adrenaline was rushing, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.Zach was also laughing as he looked over his shoulder to make sure we weren’t being followed. He put his hand on my lower back, and I felt my entire body relaxing against his as I looked up at him. My cheeks were flushed, and I couldn’t seem to get that stupid grin off my face.I hated that I was feeling this strongly toward Zach though and despite my wolf insisting that he was my mate, I found myself resisting the pull. But Zach’s warm and very unfamiliar smile seemed to have melted the barrier I wrapped my heart in, and I found myself returning the smile.“What now?” I asked, my voice coming out way breathier than I meant it to.“Now, you should put the dragon back where you found it,” he told me, his gaze softening. “I know it’s hard. But the
Zach’s POV“She’s gone?” I asked, pushing Anila aside to stare into the hole in the tree. “She was sleeping soundly when she left, how could she just be gone??”I knew I sounded pathetically panicked but I couldn’t help myself. Did we just let a dragon loose on our territory? How did I think that was going to work out? Why did I think it was a good idea? I was smarter than that.Or maybe I wasn’t.My carelessness was the reason my father didn’t want me to be the Alpha of our pack. One look at Anila’s face, and I could see the pure worry she had for that little creature. I didn’t understand why. Dragons were dangerous; they weren’t meant to be alive, and I didn’t get why they still were. We had enough resources to get rid of them; we just needed a few brave warriors to do the dead.Of course, nobody was brave enough to go against a dragon. Nobody except for the Dragon King, but for whatever reason, he’s protecting him and his dragon masters. Even after everything that the dragons had d
Anila’s POV“Oh, thank god,” Kendra said as she rushed toward me. I was still holding Harley’s hand, too shaken to let him go. “I was worried; where have you been?”I was just going for a run,” I lied. “Sorry for worrying you.”“Penny told me you went back into the building,” Kendra said, folding her arms over her chest. “I had a search team looking for you.”My cheeks flushed.“I’m so sorry; I really didn’t mean to worry anyone. I left something in my room, grabbed it, and then left right away. Zach was with me, so I was completely safe.”Her brows furrowed at the mention of Zach, but eventually, she nodded, and her body relaxed.“Well, I’m glad you are safe. They aren’t able to find any signs of a dragon. They think it was a false alarm. Only one student saw it and now they are being pulled away for questioning,” Kendra explained. “We should be cleared to resume our nightly activities soon.”I sighed in relief; I was glad they were going to stop hunting for my little dragon, but I w
Anila’s POVHarley was sweet and stayed by my side as we walked into Principal Rapport’s office. Despite how emotional I was and the fact that I couldn’t seem to stop crying, even as Harley drew circles with the palm of his hand on my lower back. But as soon as I stepped into Principal Rapport's office and saw all the incredible plants that surrounded the area, I felt my body relaxing.I knew they were freshly watered already because water dripped from the pretty green leaves, and everything looked so lifelike.Principal Rapport motioned for his seats in front of his desk while he took a seat as well. Harley kept his hand on me as we both sat and then he moved his hand from my back to my upper leg, continuing the small circles. It was like he knew his touch calmed me and I really appreciated that.I gave him an appreciative smile through my tears.Principal Rapport grabbed a box of tissues and pushed them toward me. Harley grabbed a couple and handed them to me.“Thanks,” I said, blow
Anila’s POVThis wasn’t the first time someone referred to me as the new Moon Queen. Xaden’s aunt Winnie had said the same thing when she looked at me. I didn’t feel like a queen though; sure, I had multiple mates that I’m still trying to sort through, and I had multiple spirit animals. But did that really make me a queen?“Sorry, I don’t mean to frighten you,” Principal Rapport said, quickly recovering himself. “It’s just that I suspected that you were different, but this confirms it. You are more powerful than I could ever imagine.”“I don’t feel powerful,” I told him, staring down at my hands with a timid frown. “I just feel like me…”He shook his head.“I assure you; you are special Anila. I can feel it, and others can too,” he said as he glanced over at Harley who remained silent, but he also didn’t protest. I looked at him with a questioning gaze and he gave me a slight head nod.“I don’t understand,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Why are you telling me all of this?”Principal
Anila’s POVMy heart was hammering in my chest when I heard Sarah and another man talking about Damien with such disrespect. My blood was practically boiling. Harley looked worried as he ran circles around my back, trying to calm me, but it wasn’t working like it normally would.Before I could stop myself, I pulled away from Harley and made myself known to Sarah.“You have some nerve,” I spat at her, making her jump apart from the man who looked breathless and dazed as he took in his surroundings. “Cheating on Damien right under his nose? Have you no shame?”She raised her brows and then she looked at Harley and back at me. Her eyes turned to slits as she folded her arms across her chest.“You are one to talk. Are you forgetting you have multiple mates?” She said through her teeth. “How does Xaden feel about you fucking his best friend and his brother? You are disgusting if you think for a second that you are better than me?”“Xaden knows exactly where my heart is at,” I told her, and
Jaxon’s POVI stared in amazement as Anila nurtured the baby dragon as if it were second nature. I knew Emily was impressed too; the only ones who were able to communicate and bond with dragons were dragon masters, but Anila wasn’t a dragon master. At least not yet, but the way she cared for Ember as if she was her own child, did something to my insides that I didn’t particularly like.I never wanted to have real feelings for Anila. I recognized her as my mate when I first saw her in the forest and despite the fact that she has other mates in the mix, I knew exactly what she was to me. I saw her as an opportunity
Anila’s POV“Dragons?” I asked, my eyes wide as I stared up at Jaxon.He cocked his head at me.“This is Dragon Valley,” he reminded me. “Of course, there are dragons here.”“Well, yeah. I guess I kind of assumed you allowed them to go free,” I confessed, biting my lower lip in embarrassment. But it was strange that they’d keep dragons locked away in stables like horses.
Anila’s POV “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly,” I said, gawking at Jaxon, my jaw nearly hitting the ground. “Did you just say you want me to be your queen?”“That’s right,” he said, entwining his fingers together. “My people expect me to rule over them with a queen by my side. I assured them infinite protection since the last Dragon King screwed them over and the only way I can ensure that protection is if I give my people an heir.”“An heir
Anila’s POV“He’s here,” I whispered, staring at the shadows. They followed my gaze to the shadowy region; Zach furrowing his brows together.“In the shadows?” Zach asked, looking at me like I had just lost my mind.I nodded.“Yes,” I answered. “He’s hiding himself.”“He’s being a fucking coward is what he&rsq
Anila’s POV“What do you mean you know the dragon king?” Harley asked all their eyes on me completely now.My cheeks flushed.“He’s kind of my fifth mate…” I admitted, biting my lower lip and anticipating some lash-back. But they all just stared at me with their mouths hanging open.“Your 5(th) mate is the dragon king?” Damien asked, finally finding his mate. “Are you sure about that?”I nodded.“Yes,” I told him. “I’m sure about it just as sure as I am that the four of you are my mates.”Damien shuffled awkwardly in his shoes and glanced at the ground. Zach and Harley exchanged a look before looking at Xaden who appeared frozen in place as he stared at me.“And you’ve spoken to him?” Xaden asked, his voice coming out softly.I nodded again.“Yes,” I answered. Then I looked at Zach, meeting his eyes. “That baby dragon that I found. Jaxon came to retrieve her. That’s why she went missing.”He nodded in understanding.“What baby dragon?” Xaden asked, looking between Zach and me.“It’s a
Anila’s POVWhen I got back to the clinic, both Harley and Zach were watching me warily. I’m not sure what to say to them or how to explain to them what I was going to have to do. My stomach was in a complete knot but I was doing this for Xaden. They had to understand that.“Are you okay?” Harley asked, watching me carefully.“Yeah,” I lied, trying to force a smile as I sat back at Xaden’s bedside. “I just needed some air. I’m good now.”I was a coward for not coming out and telling them that I had to leave by sundown tonight with Jaxon. That was his request; that I go back home with him, and only then will he tell me what he wants me to do before he saves Xaden’s life.“You look like you’re about to puke,” Zach points out, his brows furrowed together.“And we can tell that something is wrong with your emotions, Anila,” Harley said, eyeing my face. “Just tell us what’s going on.”“Do you think maybe we can just talk later? I’m kind of tired and I think I just want to close m eyes for
Anila’s POV“It’s you…” I whispered, taking a step back, my heart hammering in my chest.“Like I said, I’m not here to hurt you.” Jaxon emerged from the tree line, and he was walking towards me. I held my breath as I watched him approach me, his hands raised to show that he wasn’t carrying anything. He was completely shirtless, and my mouth dropped at the sight of his body. He had tattoos across his chest and along his shoulders that looked as if they went down his back as well. I knew right away that the tattoos were of dragons, or maybe one really big dragon with little dragons inside of it.Regardless, I found myself drawn to them.He also had a long scar that went across his chest and down his torso, but that didn’t make him any less hot. In fact, it made him look more manly. I swallowed the lump in my throat as Jaxon Develson, the dragon King, stood only inches from me.He had the scent of limes and passionfruit, and it caused my senses to be on high alert. There was no doubt in
Anila’s POVAs soon as I felt Zach’s fangs dig into my soft flesh, it was like a wake-up call. But before I could react, I heard the deep throaty growl of a bear, and I knew Harley had just witnessed this. Zach quickly released me, blood dripping from his lips just as Harley attacked him.A scream escaped my lips as I watched the two fall to the ground. Harley was in his bear form, but Zach shifted back into his wolf form almost immediately and the two began to fight.My fingers shakily went to my neck, and I felt the spot that Zach marked.He actually marked. After he said he wouldn’t do that.I knew that I needed to get out of there. I didn’t stick around to see if the fighting continued; I trusted them to know when to stop. I was furious, and I was hurt, and I was scared. I was scared for Xaden, and I was scared for myself.Zach marked me… without my permission.Anger filled me at the very thought, but it was hard to maintain because my wolf was happy about this.I found my clothes
Zach’s POVThere had been a line that was immediately crossed, and I could see was fucking red. I wanted to rip Harley’s throat out for crossing that line, but I was completely glued to my spot, staring at them like they had both just struck me at the same time.I’m not an idiot, I knew Anila didn’t trust me and I also knew that she blamed me for what happened with Xaden. I knew she would even if it wasn’t my fault. I was the easiest one to blame. My vendetta against Xaden wasn’t a secret and his vendetta against me wasn’t one either. Xaden and I talked a lot during this battle though and we came together with a mutual respect.He made me promise that if anything were to happen to him, I would take care of Anila. He told me to mark her and keep her protected. I didn’t think Harley would swoop in and take her for himself though, especially without speaking to me about it first. He was so hurt and upset that Xaden went ahead and marked Anila without talking to us about it and then he we