Page 34 of Samuel
I glanced over at him, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed. You’re quite the smooth talker,” I told my human.
Blake chuckled, shaking his head as he looked out the window.
“It’s a skill set that’s come in handy as a hunter. We brush up against local authorities more often than you’d think. The Guild taught us to handle it,” he admitted.
A shadow passed over his face as he mentioned the Guild, but he shook it off, giving me a sideways smile.
“Not everyone’s lucky enough to have a dragon shifter by their side,” he said.
“Lucky?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow.
His smile softened. “Maybe. I’m still figuring it out.”
He turned back to the road, the words hanging between us, unspoken but understood.
At that moment, my phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I glanced at the screen, and my lead alpha’s name flashed across it.
I took a deep breath, realizing I hadn’t updated him about the situation since we’d arrived in Grey Arrow.
For a moment, I debated letting it ring and calling Zane back once we were safe in the cabin.
But there was no point in hiding this conversation from Blake. Mates didn’t keep secrets from each other, after all.
Although it might take time for him to fully accept what I was to him, starting with a foundation of trust wouldn’t hurt.
I accepted the call, keeping one hand on the wheel as I drove back.
“Samuel here.”
“Samuel,” Zane greeted me, his tone clipped and to the point. “What’s the status? Is the rogue dragon dead?”
I grimaced, already anticipating his reaction. “Not yet. Something unexpected came up.”
Zane’s voice shifted, a note of concern creeping in. “Are you injured? Do you need backup?”
I shook my head, aware that Blake was listening, even if he wasn’t looking directly at me.
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, clearing my throat. “But I’ve found my mate.”
The line went quiet for a moment. When Zane spoke again, his tone was unreadable. “Your mate?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, bracing myself for a lecture on staying focused on my task. But Zane surprised me.
“If you’ve found your mate, then he should take priority,” he said simply.
I opened my mouth, prepared to launch into explanations for why I’d deviated from my original mission, but his words made me pause.
I wasn’t sure what response I’d expected, but it certainly wasn’t this level of understanding.
Until now, I’d always thought of myself as a loner, drifting from place to place, never settling down.
Zane had once extended an invitation to join his pack permanently, to settle down in his territory in Sky Stead, but I’d turned him down.
Roots had never appealed to me. I always craved the freedom of movement, the ability to roam at will.
