Chapter 8

Creed laid me down on his bed and sat down beside me. I took a minute to look around. It’s a single room, and it’s bare.

“No roommate,” I asked him.

He chuckled, “no I like my privacy.”

“It feels so empty in here.”

“I like simple, and if you remember correctly, some little fire cracker blew up my truck.” He smiled down at me, and I blushed.

“I already said I’m sorry for that.”

He chuckled again, “I know, but I still like seeing how flushed your cheeks get when we talk about it.”

Creed took both of our shoes off and crawled up behind me. He started slowly rubbing my arm, and it ignited the sparks between us. “Why were you dancing with that warlock tonight?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “You confuse me.” I continued looking straight ahead at the bare white wall. It was easier to talk to him without looking into his eyes.

“I wanted to know how it felt to have someone attracted to me.”

I felt Creed’s body go stiff, “Do you think I’m not attracted to you?”

I took a deep breath and tried snuggling in closer to his body. “When you stopped me last night, I thought you didn’t like me.”

“No Bella, that’s not it. You're gorgeous. I’m more than attracted to you. Who wouldn’t want this slender perfect body tucked in tightly to them.”

He pulled me even closer and wrapped his arm around me. “Please believe me, you’re so perfect that you stole my breath away when I first saw you. You are so sweet, I wanted to claim you the minute you said hello. Then, after I saw you fight, and I realized how strong you were, I knew you were better than anything I could have ever imagined. I didn't want to take my eyes off you.”

He turned me over, so I was now facing him, and brushed my hair out of my face. “The problem is, I’m not perfect, and I don’t come from a good place. You have an amazing fire in your soul. I can tell that you’re destined to do great things, and you’re capable. I can’t drag you down with me. My life is my nightmare, not yours’s, but I also can’t bear to let you go. I’m selfish, I know.”

“Why do you think you’re so bad? You have been nothing but good to me.”

Creed laid on his back, and I curled up to him, so my head was now on his chest. He continued to rub my arm as we got comfortable. I feel so safe in his arms. I can’t believe that he’s not a good person.

“What I’m about to tell you needs to stay between us. It’s important, and it could jeopardize my entire den.”

I nodded, “Den? I promise everything that is said in this room will stay between us.”

He let out a deep breath. “Yes den, I’m a dragon.”

“OK, that doesn’t sound so bad.”

He let out a chuckle, “not just any dragon. My father is the dragon king, and a very harsh one.”

“So, you’re the dragon prince. That explains the amount of power that radiates off you.”

“Yes, but I’m not the next in line. My older brother is. My father rules the dragons with an iron fist. His way of keeping his subjects loyal to him is by threatening them and causing fear throughout all the dragon dens. He also has distorted thoughts about what’s right or wrong.”

“Well, you can’t pick your family.”

He chuckled again, “I know, but I also can’t go against him. He’s so far away from reality that our numbers are dwindling fast, and the kingdom is being run into the ground. If he continues to rule, dragons will be extinct in a few years.”

He paused for a moment and cleared his throat. “The king hates all other supernaturals and wants to exterminate them. He envisions a world where dragons are the only supernatural beings, and humans will be used as our slaves. Our entire kingdom is forbidden to mate with anyone that is not a dragon.”

“And I’m a wolf.”

“Yes, but you need to understand that I don’t share his views. That’s not the life I want for myself or for you. The problem is the king is connected to all of us. Once a dragon accepts its fated mate or chooses a mate, it’s for life. No matter what happens. If our mate is alive, our dragon will refuse to mate with another. When we complete the bond, our mate is also added to our den. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I think so. You can’t cheat on your mate. I like that idea.”

Creed laughed, “Yah, that’s a good thing, but we also don’t have the option for casual sex. Once my dragon accepts a mate and the bond is completed, that’s it. He will never accept another unless our mate parishes.

“So, let me get this straight. You’re a virgin.”

Creed stopped rubbing my arm for a moment, and I could sense his embarrassment. “Um yah, dragons have more self-control than wolves, and we need to be one hundred percent sure that the mate we choose is right for us. I think we have gotten off-topic. Right now, I need you to understand the danger that our mating will bring you. If we were to mate, my father would feel the new member being added to our den. He would know who the addition came from.”

“And I’m not a dragon.”

“Exactly, it’s too dangerous right now. My brother and I are working on a plan to overthrow him, and get our kingdom in order, but we need time. What’s happening to my kingdom isn’t just about mating or not. Hunters are constantly after us. We need to continuously move our dens to stay hidden. That’s who those guys were at the diner. I don’t know how they recognized me, but they did.”

“Is that why we rarely even hear about dragons? You’re the first one I have ever met. I honestly thought they were extinct.”

“Most people do. I have a feeling that my father is behind the constant threat of the hunters, but I can’t prove it. It just seems odd that they always show up when a dragon tries to leave their den. They are either killed by the hunters or forced back to their den for safety.”

Creed let out a deep breath and kissed the top of my head. “I’m telling you this because I do want you, but I need to get my kingdom safe before I can allow you to be a part of it. I’m trusting you to keep this information between us.”

He kissed my head again, “My father is unforgiving to anyone that crosses him, including his sons. He has a large group of dragons that support him, but the rest of the dragons want our whole family to pay for my father’s crimes and cruelness. The news about who I am can’t get out until I’m ready for it to, it could jeopardize our whole plan.”

“I get it, but I’m from Green Ridge. My family has a way of dealing with unfit Alpha’s, or kings in this case. We could help you.”

“No Bella, I don’t want you or your family involved in my war. It’s too dangerous, and this is my war to fight.”

“You’re saying that we can’t be together until you defeat your father, but you won’t accept help. How long do you expect me to wait? Creed, I’m a wolf, we have a need to claim our mate as soon as we meet them. My wolf has been going crazy and feeling rejected since last night. I’m not sure if she can wait. We want you now.”

“I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how long our plan will take, but I’m hoping it won’t take long.”

Creed smirked as he moved his hand down my side, “maybe we can do something to ease your pressure while we wait out the storm.”

“Omg, wait.” I jumped out of his bed.

“That’s what happened tonight.”

“What do you mean,” Creed sat up, so he could face me.

“I’ll tell you everything, but right now the important thing is, I know why I lost control. My wolf has the magic that’s inside of me. She’s hurting because she can’t connect with her mate. I was in full control of myself, until I saw you tonight.”

I stared into his eyes desperately hoping that he understood what I was saying.

“If we can’t mate, we need to stay away from each other. You need to protect your dragons, and I need to protect my wolf.”