Page 70 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

I sighed, tilting my head back like I was trying to soak up some of the sunrays, though in reality, I was just trying to avoid my clanmates’ eyes. “If that was the case, we would be dominating packs left, right, and center. Four-member Alpha clans are rare. If we were allowed to challenge together, we would be unstoppable.”

Grey smirked, wiping some of the sweat off his forehead with the hem of his T-shirt. “If that was the case, we could squash assholes like Byron like the pathetic little bugs they are.”

Orsen chuckled. “If only.”

When I glanced down at Orsen, he met my eyes with a nod, offering a little smirk. None of us wanted anything to happen to the guy or the horde. We’d finally started acting like proper Alphas again, and it would be devastating to lose everything now.

We couldn’t let it happen. Hence, the training.

“In all seriousness, though. If it goes wrong—and I’m not saying it will—I plan to fight like hell to protect our home. I want you guys to grab Rowan and run. Keep her safe. Most of the horde will be okay while we regroup, but we all know that Byron has a vendetta against Rowan.”

Somehow, word had gotten back to Byron that it was Rowan who had insisted on keeping Allison in North Oak. Given how much he wanted his daughter back, which still didn’t make tons of sense since he was the one to kick her out in the first place, a lot of his anger was directed towards our mate.

It was a fucking joke. The idiot couldn’t see that he was the problem. He, Jenkins, and Cyrus had no doubt fed off each other like a narcissistic pity party.

“You think we should leave?” Grey asked gently.

Orsen nodded, expression straight as an arrow. “If it comes to that. Get Rowan somewhere safe⁠—”

“Luca has already assured me that Rowan, and whoever goes with her, are welcome in Three Ridges. It’s nearby and easy to get to.”

We all nodded gratefully at Samuel. A backup plan was always a smart move, even if you were feeling confident about your success.

“Good. That’s good,” Orsen said. “Take Rowan and keep her safe. I need you guys to promise me. I can’t fight to the best of my ability if I’m worried about her.”

He was glossing over the fact that if we, indeed, had to do that, he would be dead. I had a feeling he knew that. Orsen was saying, if the fight turned against him, to get gone fast. He’d do his best to hold off Byron, but…

“She won’t go easily.” I grimaced, shaking my head.

“We’ll make her,” Bastian countered solidly. “We won’t take no for an answer; we all know she’s going to insist on being there.” He turned to Orsen. “I swear to you. I won’t let our mate be hurt again.”

Orsen stood up and walked over to Bastian, putting his hands on the guy’s shoulders.

“I know you won’t. I trust you.”

A silent nod was exchanged, and that was as good as gold when it came to an agreement between the two of them.

Orsen headed into the middle of the clearing. “Okay, this time we’re practicing in scales.” As he spoke, his skin rippled, iridescent scales appearing on his neck as his body morphed and changed smoothly into his dragon form, clothes shucked off and left in a pile.

“Nix, you fight him this time,” Samuel instructed. He wasn’t going to shift; he was going to watch us spar and tell Orsen how he could do better. And it was smart to take any help he could get, including observations from a skilled fighter.

I slid into dragon form with ease, my vision going from bright color to everything having a slight golden haze.

This clearing is far too small for two dragons.

As the thought entered my brain, Orsen launched forward and proceeded to hurl me into the trees, knocking several of them over with a loud crack and deep thud. I stood up, digging my claws into the ground as I growled at Orsen. Another tree slowly tipped as the gash in its trunk finally gave way.

Hopefully, there would be some forest left by the time we finished.

Orsen

The entire horde had gathered in the large clearing a few yards into the forest at the edge of our territory. The moon hung high overhead, and the crisp air whispered over my skin, waking more of me up as I stood facing the entry to our lands with my clanmates.

“You ready for this?” Greylen spoke, his stare pinned on the distance in front of us where Byron would appear at any moment.

“Yeah.” I shrugged, keeping my tone light. “It’s just a fight to the death. No big deal.”

Rowan elbowed me in the ribs from her position on my other side. “Orsen. Do not. I’m already a wreck. Your humor is not appreciated.”