Page 2 of Bound to the Dragon
But that’s not Granger’s only motivation. He doesn’t want a constant reminder of what he and my father did all those years ago in his face all the time. Having me around the territory has to be doing something to his mind.
And maybe it’s for the best, getting the hell out of Silver Glade and away from the memory of their betrayal. Their shame has been mine for far too long now. But is it really that easy to escape?
The cypress trees pass on either side of the road, casting elongated shadows over the highway. There aren’t many cars out at this time of the afternoon. We don’t even have an entourage following us by air or land.
I’m not that important. But at the same time, I’m important enough to be mated to the Alpha of Shadow Pine. I wish they would make up their minds about who I am in this game.
Everything about this sucks.
They have made it abundantly clear that I’m nothing more than the forgotten daughter of a dead Beta, a disgraced one at that. It’s a little amazing that Alpha Blaze, my future mate, even wants anything to do with me. It can’t just be that I’m of child-bearing age and of a good lineage. I’m just a pawn in this whole stupid game of chess that I will never understand, anyway. I gave up trying a long time ago. Pack politics is so beyond me.
All of my clothes are packed in the back of the SUV in trunks, and Granger—or at least one of his enforcers—made arrangements to deliver the rest of my stuff by moving van laterin the week. Every mile we drive along the Texas highway makes me antsy. It isn’t far, only just over an hour, but it feels like we’ve been on the road forever already. All the same, I’m not ready to get out of the car because I know what’s waiting for me once I do.
I’ve only met Blaze once, at a full moon party, and he did nothing to inspire any confidence in me then. His stoic, boring nature left me feeling vaguely uncomfortable and looking for an escape.
And now I’m going to be mated to him for life.
I hate everything about this.
Trying to look on the bright side, I remind myself that he is an Alpha, and women would kill to be a Luna. This isn’t an opportunity that appears every day. If not for the infertility in Blaze’s line, he wouldn’t even be looking outside of his pack for another mate. I should be grateful for this chance. Why can’t I count my blessings? Why does it feel like a curse?
Jessup steers the vehicle down a shady side road and past a lovely crystalline lake. I find myself staring at the blue water wistfully. I wonder how far it is from the house. Maybe it can be a small escape for me if it’s not too far.
Then again, I am a crow. Flying to the lake is always an option.
And maybe I can fly away permanently,I muse.
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind.
I have to stop planning my escape and give this a real chance. I made a promise, and my pack deserves better from me than running away like a coward. If I flee now, it could spark a war between our territories. I couldn’t live with myself if people died because of my selfishness.
I draw in a sharp breath when a huge house appears before us, the beauty of it taking me aback for a moment.
Whitewashed with black trim, it boasts a cupola featuring a rooster weathervane that swirls in the wind. I count three storiesand three wings as we pull closer. It’s a beautiful house. I could be happy here if I try.
No one greets us as Jessup stops the car.
“Where is everyone?” Jessup echoes my inner thoughts.
But I’m partially relieved that Blaze’s enforcers aren’t lined up at the door waiting to greet us. I’m under enough stress without them.
The moment the thought crosses my mind, the door swings open, and enforcers stream out in a line. I probably manifested them.
I don’t even need to open the door to feel the apprehension rolling off them in waves. It hadn’t occurred to me that they wouldn’t be happy to see me, either.
My shoulders stiffen, and I swallow the thickness forming in my throat. I have to remind myself that I’m a guest here, that soon I’ll be their Luna, the Alpha’s mate, and regardless of how they feel about me or Silver Glade, this has been prearranged. Or am I just imagining all of this because of all the guilt I’m carrying in the depths of my gut?
Why can’t I get this knot out of my stomach, then? I honestly don’t know how they feel about us. I don’t even know if they’re aware of the truth of what really happened all those years ago. All I can say for sure is that the secret hangs over me like a lead block and hasn’t loosened since the day I learned the truth.
“Come on.” Jessup opens the driver’s side door.
I have little choice but to follow him onto the driveway.
I’m appalled to find my knees shaking.
Get it together, Madison.
I’ve endured way worse than this. It’s only a business arrangement. If it’s not the Alpha of Shadow Pine, it will be someone else. At least this way, I’m mating with someone in power, and with that, I will have some of my own power
