Chosen by the Beasts, Claimed by the Dragon Chapter 5: His crisis

—REN—

I’m sitting on the tallest cliff that overlooks Angel’s Valley—the valley where the beasts are gathered for their festival. I run a hand through my long hair and heave an overwheld sigh. I’m at a complete fucking loss.

I was only planning on dropping in on the festival to try so new food and assess how the other tribes are fairing. Who knew I’d get a fated mate dropped in my lap and our connection would trigger her heat?! I didn’t even know there were beastwon left in the world at all! What the hell has Daeleon been hiding all this ti? Is this so kind of sick joke?

I gave her a temporary rune that will abate her cycle for a ti, but it isn’t a permanent solution—and I have no idea how a half-breed’s body takes to these things. What if I leave, and the rune breaks? Then she’ll go into heat and I won’t be there...

Even from this far I can hear and vaguely sense what Zoryn is doing; partially due to our bond, but mostly because I’m straining my senses just to keep track of her. Is it giving a brutal headache? Yeah, a little. Will that stop ? No, absolutely not.

She’s being flocked by a bunch of pathetic beasts and I’m supposed to just... leave? Mind my business? Ugh!

"What the hell are you doing, Zarenien?"

I nearly jump out of my skin when a deep voice echoes behind . I turn around and suck in a breath—naturally, it’s Daeleon. He’s one of the only people powerful enough to sneak up on like that.

"Um... about that," I start, but I have no clue where to begin, so I end up trailing off.

"You marked my daughter and ran," Daeleon growls, taking a step toward . "Start explaining before I make you shift and tear off your wings, kid."

A chill runs down my spine, and just imagining the pain of having my wings torn off makes nauseous. "No! Please, listen, you have to believe —I don’t have bad intentions. Why do you think I left after? I’m having a crisis up here!"

"What does that have to do with ? Why did you mark her?" The huge man pulls to my feet and spins around to look directly into his eyes. I swallow nervously when those piercing, golden slivers stare into my eyes.

Realistically, I could fight him. I think, with how old he is and how I’m currently in my pri, I’d have like, a 50% chance of winning—but he is my elder, and he did teach a lot of things, so I’m not willing to risk it. Besides, Zoryn would probably hate forever if I did anything to her dad.

The thought of Zoryn hating makes my insides burn.

Yeah, fighting is out of the question.

"It isn’t a binding mark," I explain, tearing his hand off my arm and taking a step back to put so space between us. "It was the only thing I could think of to help her without..." I don’t finish the sentence because I think if I even said it out loud, he’d beat my ass, despite it not having happened. "Besides, I brought her back safely, and the mark should help her sll normal."

Daeleon’s nose wrinkles with disgust, but he doesn’t respond imdiately. He folds his arms and takes a deep breath to calm himself. "Indeed. It doesn’t solve the problem, though—her heat is only temporarily eased."

"Yeah, I know," I grumble. That’s what I’ve been fretting about this entire ti! I can’t help but ask, "So why are you pissed at ? I saved her and didn’t do anything I shouldn’t have."

"Mostly because you didn’t fucking say anything, insolent little brat," Daeleon hisses, his threatening aura nearly suffocating . "You ca, marked my child without so much as a ’hello’, then left her. What are you, a common human manwhore? Have you no manners?"

"I..." I sigh, and avert my eyes in sha. "We have a fated mate bond and it’s freaking out! That’s why I left."

Daeleon’s lips part for a mont, then close. His usually stoic face flashes with several different emotions in the span of a few seconds before he echoes, "...Fated?"

"Yeah. Fated."

"To you?"

I frown, "What the hell? You don’t have to sound so disgusted. If anything, you should be thanking your lucky stars that it’s and not so pathetic lesser beast! Or a human!"

My elder looks at with a complicated expression, "Your fated bond won’t an anything if you leave her to her own devices; I’m sure you can sense what has already begun. You’ve left your mate alone, Zarenien," he pauses, "...Unclaid, no less."

Rage instantly flares in my chest, but I swallow it. I know he’s right, I know I’m pathetic for running from fate—but... I never even imagined having a lover before. It didn’t seem like it was sothing ant for . I’m not interested in other males, like many beasts have adapted to be, and the few won around have never caught my fancy. Besides, there’s nothing better than having the freedom to roam and collect mories, knowledge, and treasures without anyone or anything holding you back.

"You’re pathetic and immature," Daeleon says to . His voice isn’t angry or disdainful... it’s just full of disappointnt. "You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. As you are, you don’t deserve her."

"That’s— that’s why I ran! Why are you lecturing right now? You’re not the one who has a fated mate who didn’t even know she was a woman until this morning—" I get cut off when my senses all start to go off. There are alarms in my head and a spark ripples down my entire body.

Zoryn’s aura flares bright, and then I can feel... anger. Oh, shit—is she getting into a fight right now?!

"What? What’s wrong, Zarenien?" Daeleon frowns at .

A growl rumbles out of before I can stop it. "I think... I think she’s fighting?"

There’s a protective, possessive part of that suddenly explodes into existence. The thought of soone hurting her... fuck, it’s pissing off! But... the thought of her hurting soone else... that’s kind of hot, actually.

"Why is she like this?" Daeleon grumbles, then heaves a defeated sigh. He gives a knowing look, "...You’re going to have to get used to that. Ryn gets into fights all the ti."

"What?" I scoff. "Why?"

"I don’t like it either, but... trying to stop her is impossible, trust ," he answers with a sad shake of his head. "Just don’t worry about it."

I take a few breaths to calm my nerves, but then an idea strikes . If she’s in a fight, it wouldn’t hurt to go watch, right? I doubt she needs help, so it’ll probably just be so fun entertainnt. But if, on the off-chance, she does need help, I will be there. Win-win!

I don’t bother explaining where I’m going to Daeleon. He’ll figure it out, anyway.

My body starts to shift, and the feeling of my body transitioning into dragon-form takes over. As soon as my wings finish sprouting from my back, I take off—ti to watch my new girl rock soone’s shit.