Page 12 of The Manny's Fiery Dragon Bond

The man held out a hand to Ollie.

“Hi there, I’m Bryan. I’ve seen you here before. Are you new to the area?”

Ollie smiled back politely, and I had to fight back a growl. Who was this man to flirt with my omega?

My omega? Where did that come from? He wasn’t mine.

Apparently, I didn’t hold back my dragon well enough.

My grandson, who had been climbing into my lap, let out a small wail and looked at me with big, sad eyes. Tears welled around his long lashes. He must’ve sensed my dragon’s distress, for this wasn’t fear. It was empathy. He was such an amazing child.

Ollie immediately held out his hands, and the little one went to him after looking into my eyes, which were far more dragon than human. Was he able to communicate with my beast like this? It wasn’t the first time he had shown signs of a connection.

“Not new, no,” Ollie said, still smiling, though now more tightly. “I’m the manny for these three. This is their grandfather.”

The human looked at me, eyes widening.

He was probably wondering how I could possibly be agrandfather.

By human standards, he’d be right. I didn’t look the part. I gave him my best stern look that I used in the boardroom. I told myself it was to make me look older, smiling would make me look too young, but in reality, I didn’t want this human feeling like he was allowed to talk with my Ollie.

“Nice to meet you,” I lied. There was nothing nice about it.

“You too. It’s a great day to get the kids out, isn’t it?” His grin was too wide, his eyes too flashy with the way they sparkled in the sun. Was he so oblivious to my not-so-subtle warning? “My omega’s a doctor and unfortunately on call this weekend, but maybe we’ll see you all around again? It’s great to have other kids of this age in the area.”

“Absolutely.” Ollie shot me a pleading look. As an omega, even if he wasn’t a part of my clan, he must sense my dragon’s domineering personality rearing its ugly head.

I pasted on a grin. A mostly real one this time. The man was mated, which meant he probably wasn’t trying to hit on Ollie the way it first appeared, and if he was, Ollie would want no part of that. He wasn’t the type. “Agreed. The children need playmates.”

Bryan didn’t leave as I hoped, but my dragon settled a bit, which was good. He didn’t need to push his way out in a park full of humans all because he was jealous. That was no way for clan leader to behave.

The children all toddled around one another and took turns picking at the grass and tossing it at one another. Meanwhile, Ollie and Bryan compared notes on what it was like to deal with one-year-olds. Ollie even went so far as to take Bryan’s number and promised to share it with Kier and Tavian, so they could meet Bryan and his omega. It made sense. Knowing your neighbors was important. But I still didn’t like Bryan having any access to Ollie.

I spent the whole conversation brooding like a freaking teenager. My dragon sat just below the surface, my scales hidden underneath my long sleeves. I needed to get a grip.

Finally, it came time for us to leave. I was not sad to see Bryan go.

“He was nice,” Ollie said once we had started the trek back to the house.

“Yes, a perfectly adequate human.” It was as close as I could come to a compliment.

Ollie laughed and tucked his arm through mine while we worked in tandem to push the stroller. My dragon instantly settled. This was more like it, the two of us touching as we walked.

“Humans can be good friends too, you know.” I didn’t need to see his eyes to know they were rolling, and it was fair, I deserved it.

My issues with Bryan had nothing to do with his being human and everything to do with whatever these feelings were growing between Ollie and me.

“I know. I just…” I had no reason not to like the man. He had been very pleasant. Plus, he was mated. He had a child. I just didn’t like him being around my ma— Ollie. My Ollie.

Chapter 8

Ollie

“Thekidsareasleep.”Malric settled onto the couch next to me as if his limbs couldn’t hold him upright anymore. A dramatic sigh escaped his lips. Three was a lot of kids… full stop. But especially when they were clutchmates.

I laughed. “Forgot what it was like to have little ones?” I teased.

“Oh, no. I remember all too well. It just feels more exhausting now.”

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