Page 178 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

“What seems to be the problem?” I ask as I sip my pomegranate juice down and lean forward the best that I can.

“There’s no problem Alpha, we just wish to ask you a question.” They look to each other, and the husband comes forward and drops to his knees before me.

“If it’s at all possible, we would like to be put on the list for one of the pups being born. We’ve tried for years and have not been successful yet.” Tears stream down the female’s face, and I can see the male’s struggle keeping his tears at bay.

All the available babies have been spoken for except for the one that I was choosing to keep for myself. The nursemaid anxiously looks at me and then down to the baby in her arms. A single nod is given, and she brings the baby over to the female. “I named her Victoria because she was born from the victory that we had just recently had. I would like to gift her to you to take care of and raise as she’s your own,” I say gently.

As soon as the last word was out of my mouth, the female turns to the nurse and takes the baby out of her arms. Joy doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling of pure bliss and happiness that she’s experiencing. I lose track of how many times the two of them said thank you to me at this point. I just smile and wave, watching them head home. Yet another good deed done. Time to people watch for a while.

CHAPTER 139

Dominik

Every timeI think I have my mate figured out, she turns around and does something else to surprise me. I was completely positive that she would be keeping the pup that was born last night for herself. Instead, she gave it to a childless young couple, and it warms my heart to see her be so compassionate.

Nicodeamus comes walking out of the house, fiddling with the bracelet we had found in the birthing cave over a year ago.

“You know, I haven’t seen this bracelet in years. It used to be my mother’s.” He holds it out and offers it to Aurora, she in turn flips it around in her hand staring at it. I could almost swear one of the stones in the bracelet glows at her touch.

Nicodeamus smiles and walks closer to his daughter, examining her holding the bracelet. “Just as I suspected. It now belongs to you, Aurora.” He smiles, takes the bracelet out of Aurora’s hand, and places it on her left wrist.

“Once upon a time, this was your grandmother’s and your great-grandmother’s before her. The majority of the female dragons in our family have worn this bracelet.” He rubs his thumb over the stones and then pulls his hand away.

“What do you mean, Daddy?” Aurora asks as her eyes remain locked on the bracelet, studying the one glowing gemstone.

“The stone itself will only glow with a certain bloodline. Once upon a time, there was a bloodline of dragons called Titanium.” He gets a faraway look in his eyes as he stares off across the land. “The Titanium Dragons were the largest and the strongest.” He draws in a deep breath and then looks out towards Tiamat, who’s playing in the dirt with another little girl from the pack.

“She bears the markers of the Titanium Dragons. They retain scales on their body even in their human form.” He tilts his head to the side as he waits for Aurora to understand what he’s saying.

I scoot closer to Aurora and pull her onto my lap, careful not to harm her stomach. Gently, I rub my hands up and down her sides, waiting for the realization to hit. “So what you’re trying to say, Dad, is this: my daughter is a throwback to the Blood Queen directly.” Aurora’s eyes move to watch Tiamat even more closely now.

Nicodeamus just nods his head and then motions to Alaric. “Most Ice Dragons, myself included along the way, have some Titanium Dragon in them. My bloodline more than most.” He motions towards Ladon.

“Most times, the males will not show any of the characteristics of the Titanium Dragon. As an oddity, the majority of the Titanium Dragons were female.” He chuckles to himself and shakes his head slowly.

“I will not be surprised when the day comes when she can collectively kick all of our asses. Part of me, I can’t wait for that day to come.” He smiles wistfully, looking at his granddaughter then over to his daughter. “Why do you think you’re such a phenom in battle? You have the power of the Titanium Dragon, just not the form.”

Aurora wiggles in my lap and then moves her shirt down to reveal a few of the scales that remain between her breasts. Herhands run up and touch the scales that remain behind her ears, just at her hairline. Realization hits that what her father is saying is true. She snuggles close to me, and I hold her tightly. “Father, what does this mean for my wolf, bear, and eagle offspring?” she asks curiously as she rubs her stomach.

“Sadly Aurora, it doesn’t mean a thing. It won’t affect them one way or the other; it may not even be a benefit.” Nicodeamus says as he looks down at his hand and then back up into his daughter’s eyes.

I kiss Aurora’s temple and nuzzle her cheek gently. “All that matters, my love, is that the babies are born healthy. Their bloodline is what it is, and it’s ours. That’s all that matters.” I nuzzle her cheek again and hug her. Aurora nods, slowly agreeing with me, and then slowly, a smile creeps across her lips.

“You know, Dom, think you’ve been hanging around your brother and Klaus way too much.” She smiles and laughs softly as she pokes me in the chest. “Better watch out. You’re going to catch feelings and stuff.” She nips my chin.

“Next thing you know, my big bad enforcer is going to be singing kumbaya up in this mother.” She sips her drink and starts laughing hysterically to herself.

I roll my eyes at my mate’s antics and shake my head slowly. “Oh really now, beautiful? You don’t think I’m the big bad enforcer anymore?” I raise an eyebrow, looking at her as my wolf’s eyes blaze to the forefront, glowing golden. My canines descend as I stare at her, and I just smile. I run my tongue over the tip of one of my canines as I look her over slowly.

“I know someone who loves when I’m the big, bad wolf.” On cue, my beast rumbles to her his deep, guttural growl and makes her squirm in my lap. She loves me taking her as the man, but also as the beast just as much. I can’t help but keep my wicked grin upon my lips as I stare at her.

A soft blush crosses over her cheeks, and she looks down and away from me. Victory for me. “You know, Dom? You’re the one who got me into those things.” She tilts her head slightly, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. “I can’t help it that my beast loves when your wolf pays attention to us.” She turns and quickly nips my bottom lip before getting up and walking over to sit in a chair next to her mother-in-law. Poor Helle is five shades of beet red with her mouth hanging open in shock. I forgot mother did not know about those parts of our excursions.

“Dominik Angelis, what in the Goddess’s name have you been doing to this poor girl?” My mother asks exasperated. Aurora sits there attempting to look as innocent as possible in my mother’s presence.

“Nothing more than what she wants me to do, Mother, and nothing less. Besides, you want grand pups at some point, don’t you?” I smirk, knowing that I hit the nail on the head. She wants the pups, and she wants them yesterday.

“That is beside the point, young man. I raised you better than this; you chase your mate and take her as your wolf.” Aurora goes into a giggle fit as my mother stares at her flabbergasted.

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