The last twelvehours have been intense, to say the least. Aurora woke up with the fire of vengeance burning brightly in her heart. I don’t know how the others feel, but I felt her rage as if it was my own. The underlining urge to hunt and kill all those who stand against us is spurring my beast on. He wants to kill and please our mate.

I head into the house, shower quickly, and race to the kitchen. Jayce is already in there, chopping and preparing dinner with Klaus as his sous chef. I watch them work in silence side-by-side, making dinner for everyone.

Lithe fingers ghost over my broad shoulders, then come to rest on my hips. Teeth nip at the muscle over my shoulder blade. I moan softly, shifting my weight slightly as I feel Aurora’s fingertips move and trace each defined muscle across my back. Her hands rest on my shoulders as she moves to stand on her tippy toes. Her breath washes over the back of my neck, and I roll my head forward, granting her access. Aurora’s lips gently caress my skin. My wolf makes himself known, and he rumbles in my chest. I feel the smile move across Aurora’s lips. My baby has a bit of a kink; she loves letting my wolf hunt her and have his way with her.

My cock is rock hard in my pants as I think about the last time we took her as a wolf. No, tonight, the man will have his way with his mate. Aurora gradually makes her way to stand in front of me. My beloved mate’s scent calls to me; she’s aroused and desires my attention. Bit by bit, I lower my head and nip at her throat, and listen to her moans fill the air. I look up, and Klaus’s and Jayce’s movements have stilled; they’re watching us. I reach down and grab Aurora by the ass, slamming her back against the wall, and kiss her roughly.

I rub my hard cock against her crotch in slow teasing thrusts, knowing I’ll have her begging for it sooner than later. Aurora arches her body, bringing her breasts close to my face; my canines elongate, and I use them to rip the fabric of her shirt, freeing her breasts. Her gasps are music to my ears as her hands grip my hair roughly, and she pulls my face to her chest. Who am I to deny my mate what she wants?

Aurora removes one hand from my hair and uses one of her talons to cut the remaining fabric free from her body. She obliterates her little booty shorts as well as the pretty lace bra she had on. My mate wants me as much as I want her right now. Then again, Aurora is always riled up after getting into a fight. Sex seems to soothe her beast better than anything else we can do for her. Aurora tilts her head, looking down between us at the offending jeans currently blocking what she wants.

I lean forward and bite her bottom lip as I take my free hand to undo my pants and let them fall to the floor. Aurora squeals with delight as she wiggles her ass until I’m lined up with her wet depths. I release her lip only to move and bite onto my mating mark on her shoulder while I thrust up into her and drive her body down.

Her muscles are already quivering and pulsing around my cock as I bury myself balls deep in her. Aurora squirts almost instantly when her orgasm comes crashing down on her. I thrustagainst the strong rhythmic pulses of her muscles, trying like hell to outlast her orgasm. The sneaky little minx bites the mate mark she gave me, and I fucking blow my load long before I wanted to. We cling to each other as we come down from our high. I can’t help but smile at my beautiful mate. She’s still pressed against the wall with me buried deep within her welcoming depths.

A sudden slap to my ass has me instantly growling, my black fur rippling up and down my arms. I’m in protection mode since my mate is cradled between me and the wall. I look around for my next victim and see Dimitri laughing.

“Couldn’t wait until after dinner, huh?” Dimitri says, motioning to everyone, helping to set the table. Thankfully, it’s just our bond mates allowed in the Alpha House after dark. Otherwise, it could have been quite the spectacle.

My brother Jayce comes over and offers us both wet towels, and Klaus has robes for both of us. I don’t know if I should be embarrassed or strutting around like a peacock right now. Aurora rolls her eyes at me after she finishes cleaning herself up. Quickly, she bounces up and kisses my cheek before running to her seat to start eating.

I thought I would be used to Aurora’s antics by now, but I’m not. I love that woman to death, but the invasion we’re planning quite honestly has me terrified. I’m not scared for myself, per se; I’m scared of losing the only woman I’ve ever truly given myself fully to. Yeah, there have been many women over my lifespan—I’m a man, and I’ve got needs. But Aurora, even when I’m physically not touching her, I feel her deep within my soul. I’m never alone because of the bond she’s forged between all of us.

Aurora always seems to be evolving, changing, becoming the woman we all need and our enemies fear. I guess my pensiveness has caught Alaric’s attention. He stands before me, looking worried, and he motions with his head for us to leave theroom. We walk in silence until we make it to the hidden bunker and shut it tightly.

“What’s eating at you, Dom? Usually, you’re very jovial after being with Aurora.” Alaric tilts his head to the left then the right, studying me.

I exhale the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’m worried about Aurora. All these changes; new gifts, powers, and abilities. As she evolves, I fear she will lose herself in it all. I fear we’ll lose her in battle. I fear if she dies, we all will either follow her into the abyss or be left to mourn her loss.” I look down as a single tear rolls down my cheek and hits the floor.

“Ah, I see.” Alaric moves and sits in his favorite chair. “Being a dragon has its benefits and its drawbacks. We live an incredibly long time, but it’s also very lonely at times watching our friends of other species age faster than us and die.”

Alaric strokes his beard before starting again. “What I’m trying to say, Dom, is that we don’t know what’s going to happen with Aurora. She’s the second born of her kind, the first to make it to this stage of her evolution. The fact that the Fae King himself is watching over her brings me comfort.”

“But… what if she dies? What if we’re left behind?” I look away, trying to recompose myself. My heart feels as if it will break at any moment. “I don’t want to live without her.”

“Dom, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Alaric stands and moves to hug me tightly to his chest. “Do you know why Nicodeamus lived after his mate died? Which, I must add, is uncommon for dragons to do?”

“No.” My answer is shorter than I had intended, but what else is there left to be said.

“He had his hatchling to live for, Dominik. We have Tiamat and Ladon to live for. They are our children, or as you wolves would say, they are our pack. Don’t all members of the wolfpack tend to the young?” Alaric questions, making sure his understanding of pack law is correct.

“Pack takes care of the pack. Your hatchlings have the protection of the pack as well as the horde and swarm. They have mine and Jayce’s protection for as long as we both shall live.” I look into Alaric’s eyes, making sure he understands what I said.

“But you don’t consider them your children?” Alaric looks hurt as he speaks. It makes my stomach turn, and sadly, he’s partially correct. I push off his chest and start pacing.

“Your babies don’t freely accept the others in the bond completely. We’re not dragons. They seek out the dragons or dragon hybrids in our family; the rest of us barely exist.” I growl, thinking about how badly the babies’ rejection hurts me.

“It sucks, Alaric! It fucking sucks! First, I think they are mine or Jayce’s, and then now that they’re here, they reject every fucking attempt we make at being close to them.” Roughly, I drag my hands through my hair and huff out an exasperated sigh.

“I didn’t know, Dom. I’m sorry.” Alaric looks remorseful. “It’s because as their animals, the others can’t hear them. But now that they are older, they should be going to everyone equally. I’ll have a talk with them posthaste.” Alaric moves so quickly I’m almost shocked by it.

I run to catch up with him, and he’s back in the kitchen with everyone else rather quickly. Aurora stares at Alaric curiously, as does Nicodeamus. By the color of their eyes, I know they are communicating amongst themselves. Both children come running into the room dressed in their clothing for the day. Aurora’s been allowing them to spend more time as humans lately, which is quite a nice change.

“Children?” Alaric says.

“Yes, Father?” Tiamat and Ladon say in unison.

“Why do you not go to your other fathers within our bond?” Alaric asks them gently, trying to see where the disconnect is. The look of shock on Aurora’s face tells me she was unaware of the problem. Tears form and freeze on Aurora’s cheeks, her own pain over the situation evident.