The Gathering

            Austin despised having to dress up. A suit was just not him. He wanted to wear his jeans, but Ms. Johnson wouldn’t hear it. He had no choice at the Gathering of Leaders. Ms. Johnson had a tailor over to fit a suit perfectly to him; he loved that it was all black. As the time approached, they had gotten the clan almost completely back into order. Jake would be left in charge while he was away and knew he wouldn’t let him down. The Gathering of Leaders was alfas and families only, so he would be going alone.

Ms. Johnson looked over Austin like a proud mother. He was dressed in black from head to toe. He looked like the image of a Mr. tall, dark, and handsome. He trimmed his facial hair and styled his hair that made it looked wind-swept. He was going to look amazing at the gathering.

The day of the gathering, Austin had to get up early to make his was to the capitol. It was almost a full day’s drive to make it from Dragons’ Cove to the palace. By the time he got toward the capitol, the sun was just going down. When he finally pulled up to the palace, there was already so many there that now he really regretted being here. He climbed out and passed his keys to the valet. He started up the steps and that’s when he pulse quickened. The scent of honeysuckle and citrus hung in the air and it was intoxicating to him. His dragon kept saying the same word over and over; mate. If it was his mate, he made sure he’d find her.

Nicole looked absolutely stunning in her soft lilac dress. It fell all the way down to her ankles and her heels were so tall, the bottom of the dress never touched the floor. She wore a thin shawl to cover her shoulders since the dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. It came in just below her chest and fell elegantly down her curvy frame. With her hair curled, the right amount of makeup, and a necklace that accented her neck, the Moon Goddess herself would be jealous of her. She looked like an absolute picture of perfection. When she walked down to meet her father, his mouth fell open along with his Beta and Gamma. They couldn’t help but smile at her.

“What are the looks for?”

“You, my little doll. You look just like your mother.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You look stunning.”

“Thank you.”

They walked outside and she had to be surrounded by guards. The guys who constantly harassed her to be with them couldn’t take their eyes off of her. They were all so speechless as she walked past them and climbed into the car. Since they lived closer than most to the capitol, they could leave later. Her father and King Raymond had become fast friends and were now inseparable when they were together. Her father was the one person the king could trust. They showed as the sky started turning colors, which meant they were early. As they pulled up, they say guests that were already there. James explained that some lived too far away and stayed the night before. Once inside, the were ushered into the ballroom and James brought Nicole before the King and Queen.

“King Raymond, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“And you, my old friend. Who is this with you?”

“Allow me to present my daughter, Nicole Bradshaw.”

“Nicole, it’s a joy to finally meet you. We are still so terribly sorry about everything that has happened to you.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“My dear, do you still have no contact with your wolf?”

“None, your grace. I am hoping that finding my mate will help, but I’ve met every wolf there is.”

“You are also part witch.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“So, your mate need not be a wolf.”

“Not a wolf?”

“Maybe you’ll meet him tonight.”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you, your grace.”

“Please. Call me Natalie.”

Nicole smiled as she was told to address the king and queen causally by the own names. She felt more relaxed and once again hopeful. She never imagined that because of her mother, she was looking for a mate in the wrong places. Raymond and James got to talking when a guard nodded his head. Raymond got serious with James, but he didn’t wish for Nicole to hear any of it with her new found hope.

“My darling, why don’t you mingle with the crowd. Dance with a few gentlemen here. It’s a party after all. Go have fun.”

“Okay. Thank you, father.”

He smiled as he watched her walk away and was asked to dance. James turned back to Raymond.

“I am sorry for that. I don’t want her stressed about any of this. She’s been through so much already.”

“I understand. You’re a father first. So, how is the search going?”

“Every time I think I get close to the Jade Coven, they move. With vampires on their side, its difficult. Plus, with their success in capturing dragons, it’s been hard. If we knew everything going on in the dragon clan, it would probably be easier.”

“I agree, which is why I’ve invited them. They had a new alfa.”

“Fredrick Crawford? He turned his own pregnant mate over to the witches. Why would he help us?”

“Because Fredrick is no longer the alfa. His son from his arranged marriage is. Because his father gave his mother’s mate to the witches, poor Lily killed herself. Austin found her. He hates him. He accepted my invitation and has arrived.”

“And you didn’t warn anyone? He’s a dragon. How long has been since a dragon came to this event?”

“Many years. Before my time.”

“Where’s Nicole?”

As James looked around for his daughter, he saw her talking to a group of ladies that were all different shifters after being led off the dance floor again. He smiled and then began to worry as her whole demeanor changed. She found her mate.

Nicole was having the most fun she had had in a while. She was talking with some ladies when she caught a scent. More than that, she felt her wolf perk up. She felt her wolf. She began to look around for where the scent was coming from. The scent of summer rain and cedarwood continued to get closer and her wolf was now excited while cheering mate. One of the ladies noticed and snapped her out of her trance.

“Why are still standing here?”

“Pardon?”

“You caught the scent of your mate. How are you still standing here?”

“Because until tonight, I had lost hope that I had one.”

“It’s okay. Let him find you, then.”

“How will he?”

“You caught his scent. That means he has yours.”

Nicole nodded her head and looked around as the whole room went silent. She looked over at the entrance to the ballroom to see a man dressed in all black, looking fierce and roguish, yet devilishly handsome. As she looked up his frame, she noticed how toned he was and caught herself imagining what he looked like under the suit he wore. As she shook those thoughts from her mind, she continued upward. She saw the most beautiful green eyes staring right back at her. She didn’t know this man, but he could silence a room with just his presence. He commanded respect as there was an air of authority around him more than the other alfas in the room, even more than King Raymond. There was one thing she did know, this man was her mate and she couldn’t look away from him.

The scent of honeysuckle and citrus got thicker as he approached the ballroom. It was the last place he wanted to be, but his mate was in there. As he came to the entrance, all eyes were on him and the room went silent. This would normally irritate him, but he was looking for someone else. His eyes finally landed a woman with a small, but curvy frame. She wore a light purple dress and she looked beyond elegant standing in the room. She stood out and was without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. As he stood there and watched her eyes travel up his body, he felt himself get excited. When those big brown eyes found his, he was entranced. He could see in her eyes the realization of who he was and didn’t even notice himself walking towards her until he towered above her.

As he walked closer to he, Nicole never broke eye contact. Once he stood directly in front of her, he was at least a good foot taller than her. His scent filled her nose and it was all she could smell. The warmth radiating from him warmed her to her core and when he reached out to touch her, it sent chills down her skin. When he spoke, it was intimidating to others around them, but to her, it sounded soothing and made her feel safe.

“I’m Austin Crawford, Alfa of Dragons. I know you are my mate and if all I get is your name, I could die a happy man.”

This made her smile and she even giggled a little before taking his hand and introducing herself.

“I’m Nicole Bradshaw. Daughter of the Immortal Alfa James Bradshaw.”

“A wolf?”

“Yes.”

“Then, how?”

“I’m part witch. My mother was a witch.”

“Was?”

“She was taken by her coven when I was younger. I haven’t seen her since.”

“I lost my mother too.”

“Everyone is looking at us.”

“Not us. Me.”

“This is the first time in too many years a dragon has shown up to one of these things.”

“Don’t like parties?”

“Not really my scene, but it definitely agrees with you. You are by far the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re not bad yourself, handsome. I’ve never seen anyone so well built and defined as you and that’s saying a lot.”

They continued to talk like they were the only ones in the room. They were oblivious to everyone still watching them. James had had enough.

Natalie was watching them and smiled. Raymond noticed and questioned her.

“Did you know Austin was her mate?”

“No, but I knew she would meet her mate tonight.”

“Then, what is amusing?”

“James wants the dragons help to stop the witches in order to get Lydia back. He just didn’t know if they would side with the wolves. Now, his daughter is the mate of the dragon alfa.”

“That is amusing. I’m afraid, however, that my friend will not allow his porcelain doll to be with such a man.”

“Unfortunate. They will find a way to be together. Just look at them. They have forgotten where they are.”

They watched as James stormed right over to the pair. Once he was next to them, Nicole noticed and down cast her face. She apologized to her father and ran out of the ballroom as the tears streamed down her face. Austin grew furious but couldn’t say anything before James cut him off.

“Because you are another alfa, I will this with as much respect as I can. Never come near my daughter again.”

“You can’t do that. She’s my mate.”

“I don’t care. I would never let a beast like you take my daughter from me. Who knows what you do to her?”

“I am not my father. I would never lay a hand on her.”

“I’m not taking that chance.”

After that, James walked out and met Nicole in the parking lot. She was leaning against the hood of the car and straightened when she saw him.

“I am so sorry, father. I don’t know what happened in there.”

“Its alright, my dear. I’ve fixed everything. Now let’s go home.”

Nicole nodded her head and climbed in to the car. The ride home was silent and then Nicole went straight to her room.

Austin thanked King Raymond for inviting him and that he would be in touch. Once he got outside, he ended up flying home. Jake grew worried as he saw him land and storm inside. He followed after him and waited for him to cloth himself before finding out what happened.

“I found her, Jake.”

“Who?”

“My mate.”

“Another alfa?”

“Alfa’s daughter.”

“Who?”

“The Immortal Alfa.”

“Wolves?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“It was perfect. She was perfect. Then her father stepped in and she ran out. He forbids me to be with her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Get her back.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, but I leave in the morning.”

“Austin?”

“I know, Jake, but now that I have found her, I can’t live without her.”

Austin left to prepare for his trip. He had never been to wolf lands, let alone the wolf capitol. He did know that he wasn’t leaving there unless she rejected him. He hoped she didn’t do that. When morning came, he drove one of his trucks and sent two guys to retrieve his care from the palace.

Nicole was miserable. She didn’t know why she felt so ashamed. Being with Austin in that moment was the happiest she had ever felt, and her wolf was now as miserable, and she was. She had gotten her wolf back just for her father to rip it away again. She decided she needed to confront him. She walked down to his office and even though she heard other in there, she stormed in anyway.

“Why would you do it? I finally get my wolf back because I met my mate and now you want to forbid me from ever seeing him again?’

“Gentlemen, please excuse us. Sit down, Nicole.”

She sat down and watched the others leave. Once they were alone, she expected her father to yell, but he was calm.

“Austin is a dragon. Their alfa. He’s too dangerous and would not treat you well.”

“But he is my mate.”

“Do you know that his father and mother weren’t mates. When his father found his mate, he got her pregnant and then handed her over to the witches. The same ones who took your mother.”

“What?”

“I don’t want that happening to you.”

“Austin is not his father.”

“And how would you know? You just met him. I expect him to be here tomorrow and when he does show up, you will reject him. Afterwards, will you find you someone to mate with.”

“And if doing that make my wolf turn away from me completely?”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t.”

She stormed out with tears in her eyes. She wasn’t willing to take that chance. She knew the guards schedule and decided that when shift change came at night, she would sneak out. If he was really coming in the morning, she meet him on the border.

By night fall, Austin was approaching the border. He could smell her already and it fueled him forward. He stopped the truck in its tracks when he heard a scream and he knew somehow it was hers and she needed him.

Nicole snuck out and got into the woods before anyone noticed. It was perfect. Before she neared the border, she thought herself in the clear and stopped to take a break. Before she knew it, she was being held down by three of the guys who harassed her. Tony, Dustin, and Matt had her pinned on the ground. Dustin came up and got in her face.

“Rumor is that you found your mate. Is it true he is a dragon?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Your father forbids you to be with him but here you are sneaking out to try and find some way to Dragons’ Cove. A place no one has ever been to.”

“Let go, Dustin.”

“No. You were supposed to reject him, and I was going to be your mate. It can still happen. If I claim you and mark you as mine, he can’t have you.”

She watched in horror as the other two held her tight to the ground and Dustin removed his clothes. She let out a scream so loud, that she knew someone at the pack house had to heard it. She didn’t realize she still had a voice, so it shocked her. Nothing shocked her more than who came to her rescue.

Austin saw Nicole being held on the ground by two wolves while a third undressed with intent on raping her. She had tears streaming uncontrollably down her face while her eyes were shut tight. This angered him that someone would dare touch, scare, or hurt his mate. His dragon, Drake, took over and he slashed through the one not holding her first. He was easy because he didn’t expect it. One of the ones holding her stood to fight him, but he too was no match. The third tried to bed for mercy, but he was picked up by his throat. If James hadn’t showed up, he would have died with his friends.

Nicole saw as Austin stormed in with black eyes and killed Dustin all too quickly. When Matt let her go, she knew he was dead. All the smell of blood and the screaming was too much as she ended up passing out before she saw what happened to Tony and before she saw her father and the others show up.

James was afraid he wouldn’t make it in time. He didn’t know what was happening, but he feared the worst. What he saw when he got there left him in shock. Austin, or more like his dragon, had torn through two wolves. James knew Dustin and Matt to be two of the guys that refused to leave his daughter be. After seeing Dustin’s half-dressed form and the bruises on Nicole’s wrist and ankles, he guessed what Austin walked into. He looked at Austin as he held Tony by the throat. He dared his own life by walking up to him.

“Austin, put him down. We need him alive. I want to know what happened.”

“They tried to rape her.”

James stepped back after hearing a voice so rough and so full of rage, that it scared even him. Thankfully, Austin dropped Tony. James went over to make sure he still had a pulse. He looked over and saw Austin gently pick up Nicole’s small frame. He instructed him to take her to the pack hospital Once there, Austin refused to leave her side while she was still unconscious. James knew when she woke up, she would go with him and he wouldn’t leave without her. James and Raymond and Natalie came to see her, but even when the king and queen came, he refused to move. This was his mate, he couldn’t risk leaving her. Natalie urged James to let them be together or else this would keep happening. He couldn’t keep them apart. James agreed and talked it over with Raymond.

Nicole woke up in a hospital bed a week later. Her wrists and ankles were wrapped up. She was hooked to a machine and she felt sore everywhere. What surprised her was the weight on her arm and when she looked down and saw Austin’s arm on hers while fast asleep next to her made her smile. He rescued her and brought her here and now he refused to leave her. She moved her arm slightly to get his attention. She saw his eyes were puffy and dark circles were forming under those beautiful gems. She touched his face and grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. It sent shockwaves through her and she smiled again.

“How do you feel, my love?”

“I’m okay. Sore in more places than I knew, but I’m okay.”

“Good. I’ll go let the doctor know you are awake.”

She watched him walk to the door and return with the doctor. She looked her over and told her with the return of her wolf, she had healed a lot faster than normal. She told her she would call her father and let him know. Austin sat back down, and she met his eyes.

“What happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Of course. I mean what you did.”

“Oh, I…”

Before he could answer, he was cut off by James, Natalie, and Raymond. James came to her other side and asked if she was alright.

“I’m fine, father really.”

“What happened?”

“After our talk, I decided I couldn’t take the chance of my wolf disappearing on me like you said, so I decided to sneak out. I waited for shift change and left. I was almost to the border when I took a break and that’s when Dustin, Tony, and Matt jumped me.”

“Why?”

“They had heard that I found my mate and that he was a dragon. They had also heard that you didn’t want us to be together. I guess Dustin had his hopes up until he saw me sneak out. He grew furious and said I would still be his. He tried to claim and then mark me. I screamed and hoped someone at the pack house would hear me. Before I knew what happened, I saw Austin. After that, I woke up here.”

“Austin killed Dustin and Matt. Tony is in bad shape. The doctor doesn’t know if hell wake up.”

They talked more about everything for a little while. As it got later, Nicole asked to be alone for a bit with Austin. James nodded his head and they all left. Once the door was shut, Austin looked concerned about what she wanted.

“Your eyes turned black.”

“It was dragon, Drake. He lost it seeing what they did to you.”

“Your dragon’s name is Drake?”

“Yes.”

“My wolf’s name is Aurora.”

“That’s pretty. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Austin, what you did to them.”

“I know it was violent, I am so sorry I acted out.”

“No, don’t be. No one has ever done something like that for me. If only I knew you a couple years ago.”

“What happened?”

“My dad was in the challenge for the Immortal Alfa. A son of an alfa grew furious that my father bested his and attacked us. Aaron beat me so bad that my wolf went into hiding.”

“I was curious that the doctor said now that your wolf was back.”

“I felt her stir again the night we met.”

“I’m glad I could give that to you. I couldn’t imagine not having Drake.”

“I left to find you because I couldn’t stand the thought of losing Aurora again.”

“Your father has given his blessing. Natalie, Raymond, James, and I came to an understanding. You are my mate and you almost died trying to get to me. That will never happen again. As long as you are mine, no harm will ever come to you. Plus, your father wants the alliance in the hopes that since it’s the witches who took your mother that keep abducting my dragons, it might make things easier to both get what we want.”

“I have always wanted to see my mother again, but I don’t even know if she still lives.”

“I will gladly help you find that out, my love.”

They talked more and by the next morning, the doctor cleared her release. They walked to the pack house and he helped her pack. He drove the truck up and loaded it up. She had two omegas following her in a car behind his truck. They would be with her always. She said good-bye for now to Abby and Liz. Austin assured them that once she was settled in and felt at home, he would wolves to mingle at Dragons’ Cove. They all laughed at this, knowing why he said it the way he did. Besides the witches who managed to get in, Nicole would be the first person ever to be invited into Dragons’ Cove. He led her to the truck and lifted up into the passenger seat. She said good-bye and was secretly grateful to get away. She felt trapped inside that house because her father wouldn’t get rid of her stalkers. As she thought that, she looked around and saw none of them. She guessed they heard what Austin had done and thought it best not to chance death. Austin got in and started the truck and he smiled as he saw that the roar of the engine thrilled his mate. He drove her away from the wolves and led her into the life they would start together.