Page 1 of Marked By His Alpha Dragon's Desire

Chapter 1

Raphael

“Do you know where you will go?” my brother asked.

“No, that’s the point of an adventure. I don’t have a set route.”

“So you’re just going to pick a direction and go?”

“Exactly.”

I had my cell phone squished between my ear and my shoulder while I stuffed the last of my belongings into my duffel bag. Folding was not a thing I attempted, even with my nicest clothes. I didn’t have much. I had sold most of the items in my apartment; the rest I left for whomever the new tenant would be. Everything I needed, I had packed into a few suitcases and a duffel bag, which would be tossed into the backseat of my truck as I headed off to wherever I landed.

“I just think that you should have a better plan. What are you going to do for work? How are you going to have money?” My brother’s concern, though appreciated, wasn’t necessary.

I let out a breath. “I have savings. I will get a job wherever I land. I’m just going to drive and see what feels right.”

Brock scoffed, and I could almost picture him standing there with his hand on his hip, glaring at me in a way only a brother could.

“Listen, you’re on your own adventure. You didn’t have a perfect plan either. What are you so worried about me for?” I asked.

“Never mind me. This isn’t about me. You’re my brother. Of course, I worry about you. What does Nolan think?” Brock referred to our third and final brother.

“He wished me luck. He trusted that I would be just fine, like I trusted that you would be just fine when you set out on your own,” I said. “I need to get out here. If my fated mate is out there, I want to find them—same as you.”

“I know, but I just can’t believe you don’t have a plan. I at least have my truck.” Brock ran a food truck.

“Well, I’m still a certified firefighter. Most stations are looking for people. If not, they always need EMTs, which I’m also qualified for. If that doesn’t work, there’s always construction or basically anything else.” The nice thing about being a dragon among humans was I was stronger than most and had better stamina. There wasn’t much work that I couldn’t do. “I’ll be fine, Brock, I promise. I appreciate that you care.” More than he might even realize. Family was all that I had, and leaving my brothers was not easy. Now that our dragons had emerged, we each felt the pull of the world to go out and explore. For me, that pull was to find my fated. The omega that was designed for me and for me alone. I couldn’t wait to find him and spoil him with beautiful shiny things until my dragon was happy.

“You’ll stay in touch?”

“Absolutely. Once I find my fated, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Perfect. I really do wish you luck, Brother. I want you to find all the happiness in the world.”

“And I you. And also Nolan.”

After a bit more chit-chat, we hung up, and I slipped my phone into my back pocket. I took one last look around my apartment to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I was leaving quite a few things—a bed, linens, my couch, my TV—all things that I could replace when I got wherever I was going. Mostly, I had myclothes, a few pictures of my brothers and me, and hopes and dreams. Plus, my hoard.

At twenty-five, my dragon had finally emerged. All my life, I’d known that I had the beast lurking in there. Now he was here, and with his emergence came a desire for my mate. I could just shift and fly to wherever I was going, but of course, I would drive. Humans couldn’t know about dragons.

I just wanted to find my fated. It was lonely without a mate to share my life with. Sure, I was young, but shifters tended to settle while they were young and start their families. That was what I wanted to do.

I threw my things in the back of my truck and backed out of my parking spot. When I told Brock that I really didn’t know where I was going, I was not exaggerating. I was simply letting my heart lead me. It may seem crazy, but I had a feeling it would work.

So when I came to a stop sign, I simply turned in the direction that felt right. Right now, that meant getting onto the highway and heading east.

Where that would take me, I did not know.

With each mile that I traveled, the anticipation of what was to come bubbled within me. I’d only ever known the town in which my brothers and I lived.

I couldn’t even fathom what was waiting out there for me. When I closed my eyes and let my dragon dream, it wasn’t of anotherdragon or even another shifter. No, in my heart of hearts, I felt that my mate was human. A man who had devoted his life in service to others, though how, I didn’t know.

I longed to learn more about him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the miles I had traveled caught up to me. I’d let my dragon lead me the entire day, but the beast within me didn’t need rest like my human side did.

I pulled into a parking lot of a twenty-four-hour diner. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed sleep. The seat leaned back just enough for me to be comfortable, despite my long legs. It wasn’t the best of circumstances, but the impatience of my dragon was only allowing me enough time to rest my eyes, and then we’d be back on the road.

---