Page 2 of Pregnant Rejected Mate

Regarding violence, the dragon shifter elders aren’t as compassionate as the younger generation.

Nimbus lifts a hand in the air and chuckles lightly. “I know what you’re thinking, Alpha Draco, but I can assure you that Violet Turner is still alive. Safe. The private investigator’s findings haven’t reached her as yet.”

“Nimbus has reached out to Diego Alvarez,” Father continues. “I thought it was absurd at first,” he chuckles lightly.

“We all did,” another dragon shifter elder, Zark, adds. “Ever since our failed attempt to have Ms. Hendricks attend Draco’s wedding, we thought it best to remain covert. But now that we are taking humans as mates, we’re bound to face some obstacles every now and then.”

“Which is why we’ll pay them to keep our secrets,” Nimbus says, the corners of his mouth lifted smugly. “I’ve already spoken to Mr. Alvarez, and he’s agreed to remain mum about our existence in exchange for a handsome sum of money.”

Draco steeples his fingers in front of his face and props his chin on his interlinked hands while staring long and hard at the four elder members of the Dragon Council. Each of the four corners of the world represents the benevolent leadership that’s kept us protected from the mortal world for millennia.

Their decisions are always trusted, despite our personal feelings toward issues. Even my eldest brother, Draco, could not dispute their decision to go down the human mate route to salvage our existence.

It’s only the perk of one of his brows that shows his contempt. Mine is less visible and buried deep because I know that I can't challenge their decisions even as the Beta of the Aurora Dragons.

“How sure are we that this Mr. Alvarez won’t deceive us, Nimbus?” Draco challenges.

“The only thing we should worry about is Ms. Turner asking questions about her sister’s whereabouts,” Nimbus counters.

“I’ll handle that,” Draco iterates sternly. When it comes to matters of his mate, Lily, and her family, he’s the only one allowed to make decisions.

It’s one thing I admire about him, though it’d taken him a long time to come to terms with the human mating process.

“Then you must know, Alpha Draco…” Nimbus leans back, his tone slightly condescending. “... That the Council has taken some precautionary measures to ensure that Mr. Alvarez won’t be a bother again.” When the Flame Serpents’ Elder turns his fierce green eyes on me, a cold shiver rakes down my spine.

It’s almost as if I can sense what’s coming next even before he opens his mouth to speak again. I thought this was just a meeting to discuss what to do about the human who tracked the island.

I didn’t think the Council would have taken further action without our knowledge. Yet, here we are, hearing that the situation has already been handled according to their methods.

“Felix Vulkan…” Nimbus says with jest in his voice. “... You’re next in line for the human mating process. Your human female has been decided.”

Frowning, I glance at my brother and then at my father before turning back to Nimbus. “What does this have to do with the human who discovered our location?”

“Diego Alverez has a daughter,” Father explains. “Nimbus has spoken to the man, and along with the exchange of money for his silence, he’s sending his daughter to the island. She will be your mate and produce more Vulkan offspring.”

As soon as I’m made aware of this, my heart sinks. I haven’t even gotten around to seeking the answers from the Cube of Knowledge about the woman I love. Internally, I’m torn. But I can’t make the same mistake my brothers made in their previous attempts.

I will wear this badge with honor and fulfill my duties to my clan. Gulping, I mentally compose myself as I quip up a speculative brow. “Has she agreed to this? Does she know that I’m a dragon shifter?” I refuse to exercise force the way my brothers did by kidnapping their humans.

“Yes,” Nimbus concedes. “The human man has spoken to his daughter, who’s agreed to come to the island to be your mate.”

It sounds almost too good to be true. “What if she’s not a match?” It’s my last-ditch attempt to buy myself time. Not believing that a human would agree to this implausible act is my only hope. At least until I know if the woman who holds my heart is a possible mate for me.

“We’ve consulted the Cube, Felix,” Father informs me, his voice gentle as he waves a hand at the Cube at the center of the boardroom table. Lifeless, all it would take is a touch of a button to bring it to life to give me the answer I seek. “The human woman is a match to your DNA.”

That’s all the confirmation I need to know that luck isn’t on my side. If the woman is a match, I’ll need to go through with this and forget about the one I love. Perhaps it’s for the best, so I no longer have to be hung up on the one who got away.

Forcing a fleeting smile on my lips, I nod slowly. Everyone had been convinced I was the only Vulkan brother eagerly awaiting my turn to have a human mate. None of them knew that I’d been eager to find out if the love of my life could be a match.

That hope is lost now, and I don’t know how to feel. Relieved or disappointed?

This is all so sudden.

“How will she travel to the island?” I ask, hiding my disappointment.

Father reaches for the Cube, pulling it forward. “You will pick her up tomorrow.”

“T—tomorrow?” I can’t even hide my gloom at this point.

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