Page 16 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

“Because it's for your own good,” I lie this time. The first time I said those words, I’d breathed a trance into her face. So that she wouldn’t remember her flight to Aurora Island. Now, it’s a lie that she’s here for her own good. If anything, it’s a mistake. “Now, eat.”

Lily looks down at the bag, then suddenly flings it to one side. The second bag of breakfast mimics the first by falling off the side of the bed.

Revolted by her behavior, it takes every ounce of strength not to scold her for the retribution.

“Your loss,” I scoff as I get to my feet. “You need to eat.”

She folds her arms and turns her face away, displaying the kind of disgust I feel inside.

“I’m not doing anything until you tell me why I’m here.”

I open my mouth to retaliate, the truth caught on the tip of my tongue. After all, it would shock her when she finds out why she’s here. And what I really am. It doesn’t help that her belly rumbles again, signaling her hunger.

Fists curling in anger, I feel my heartbeat quicken with rage. “If you think starving yourself is gonna make this easier, you’re wrong.”

Lily lifts her face, eyes meeting mine. A flicker of fear flashes across the chestnut brown depths of her eyes, almost softening my heart. I refuse to allow her to weaken me, so I storm out of the bedroom.

The rest of my day is spent avidly avoiding any thoughts about the human. Throwing myself into Alpha duties, I distract myself with work. Instead of focusing on the task of the new mating process, I focus on training strategies.

When my eyes glow with the innate knowledge of a pending message, I stop what I’m doing.

“Brother… Where are you?” comes Kairo’s voice in my mind. It’s a form of communication only the clan shares. A link of the mind, that allows us to communicate without being physically present.

My sister must be downstairs.

‘In the study,’ I reply mentally as I gather the paperwork for filing.

“Dinner’s ready,” Kairo reminds me.

Glancing at the ancient grandfather clock on the left, it confirms that it’s dinnertime. Sighing, I tell my sister I’ll be down in a few minutes.

I pass by the human’s bedroom, holding my breath like I’m revolted by her mere presence. Grunting, I enter the lift that takes me down to the ground floor. Where the rest of my family gathers around the dinner table.

A quick headcount indicates that not everyone is here.

“Where’s Kairo?” I ask as I take my seat. Stryder and Stryker are caught in friendly banter as they take their seats.

It’s Felix who answers my question. “She went up to give your mate dinner.”

“She’s not my mate,” I grouch irritably.

Felix chuckles. “So you haven’t had sex yet?”

“Felix!” Mother intervenes as she enters the dining room carrying a tray of sweet potatoes. “Don’t be so brash!”

“Mother!” he whines as he sits at the table, reaching for the juice pitcher. “It’s a valid question. Draco has to pave the way for the rest of us, remember?”

The reminder is uncalled for. Unwelcomed. It doesn’t help that my sister has now taken to wait on the human.

After all, it’s not her responsibility.

My appetite disappears when I catch Felix staring at me expectantly. Not feeling the need to entertain him—or anyone for that matter—I shove myself off my chair and storm out of the dining room. Passing Father on my way out, I don’t offer him an explanation for my leave.

I just need to get out for fresh air.

“Kairo…”I call my sister mentally.

“Yes, Brother?” she replies, much to my relief.

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