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Chapter 14
Ren
After the festivitieshad carried on far into the night, I’d been escorted to rooms reserved for the dragon shifter. It was a relief to roll out of the elegant oak sleigh bed the next morning and amble into a private dining area where I didn’t have to face even one more stranger. The wide, white-walled room was tucked away between the estate’s dragon shifter quarters and those assigned to the alphas, and no one else got to useit.
When I slipped inside, Nate was already digging into a breakfast of poached eggs, bacon, toast, and fresh-cut fruit at the polished teak table. The mingling sweet and savory smells set my mouth watering. Aaron was standing by the broad window that overlooked the ocean, a cup of coffee nestled in his hands. He turned from the view of the crashing waves and smiled ingreeting.
“Did you sleep all right,Serenity?”
“Looks like I’ve missed half the morning already, so I’d say yeah.” I ambled over to the buffet where the spread of platters was laid out. Man, where to start? My stomach gurgled eagerly. “It’s a nice place you’ve gothere.”
Aaron laughed. “I can’t really take much credit for that. The estate has been passed from alpha to alpha for as long as anyone can remember. It’s a nice perk to go with the responsibilities,though.”
Nate patted the table beside him as I headed over with a heaping plate. “This side gives the best view of theocean.”
“Or are you just saying that to keep me close?” Iteased.
To my relief, the bear shifter grinned. Things had felt a little awkward between us since I’d told him off for being over-protective, but I didn’t want him to think I was holding some kind of grudge. And I sure hoped he wasn’t either. The vibe I got from him as I sat down in the next chair was a little hesitant butwarm.
“I can’t say that isn’t an extra benefit,” he said. I let my leg rest next to his under the table, and his gringrew.
I wanted him to remember what I’d told him about how to treat me, but I stillwantedhim, too. He ran his hand over my thigh to squeeze my knee in a gesture that would have seemed playful if it hadn’t also sent a bolt of desire to my core. Oh, I wanted him all right, and I had no doubt he felt the sameway.
But Aaron’s comment about the alpha line of succession stirred up thoughts of last night. Of the deeper awkwardness I’d felt with my other alphas. First there’d been that weird conversation I’d overheard between Marco and his kin. And then the interlude with West that had somehow gone completely wrong. I still didn’t know exactly what he’d been so upset about. But that comment he’d made had stuck with me, especially after the stuff withMarco.
I’ll damn well keep being alpha whether I accept your terms ornot.
Aaron had talked before about having to fight to keep his position as alpha. More than once, other avian shifters who’d wanted a shot at the leadership had challenged him. I’d been too occupied with my mother’s mystery to think much about how my reappearance would change the dynamics of ruling for all theguys.
I dipped the corner of my toast into the perfectly runny egg yolk and took a bite, but now my mind was churning. I couldn’t turn it off. Why should I?Iwas supposed to be ruling the shifters too. I should understand the ins and outs of every aspect as well as Icould.
Aaron came over to sit down across from me. I glanced at him. “Is it going to be easier for you to be... respected as the alpha now that I’m here? And we’re officially mated? I mean, like, fewer people challenging you orwhatever?”
He nodded, considering me with his bright blue eyes. “A lot of the turmoil in the shifter community has come down to not having a dragon shifter around to provide the usual balance. With people seeing that you’re here and taking on that role, they’ll be less restless.” His tone turned wry. “And there are many who’ll feel your accepting me is an additional mark in myfavor.”
“And that’ll go for all of the kin-groups, Iguess.”
Nate raised his head, his expression concerned. “You don’t need to worry about that, Ren. You’re here. You’re with us as much as you’re comfortable being. No one should be rushing you. We can handle any challenges that can come ourway.”
Except Marco kind of had been rushing me, hadn’t he? Even though he’d tried to tell me he wasn’t. I speared a piece of bacon but didn’t lift it from myplate.
“I know,” I said. I didn’t want to outright accuse the jaguar shifter of something to the other guys. How could I put it? “I heard Marco talking with some feline kin yesterday. It sounded like there are a lot of them who are restless. I was just wondering if he’s had more trouble than the rest ofyou?”
Nate made a humming sound. “Cat temperaments don’t do well with being ruled over in general. They’re alwayssquabbling.”
“On top of that, I’d imagine Marco being the youngest of us didn’t help,” Aaron said. “He was only ten years old when the previous feline alpha died. And you’ve probably noticed his personality can be a little...provocative.”
“He likes to run off his mouth,” Nate muttered. “Everything’s a bigjoke.”
Aaron chuckled. “I think he cares more than he likes to show. But yes, that’s what Imeant.”
Marco cared a lot about staying alpha, anyway. I chewed and swallowed, but the bacon had lost its taste. My stomach had gonetight.
“But Marco’s handled himself all this time,” Nate said, giving my knee another quick squeeze. “You don’t need to worry about himeither.”
Before I could decide whether I wanted to say anything else about that, there was a knock on the door. “News from the fae, sir,” a voice calledin.
Aaron straightened up. “Come in,” he said. “Whatever it is, everyone here can hearit.”
