Page 5 of The Alpha's Mates

He strode down the hall, making as much noise as possible so his parents knew he was there, not because he wished to interrupt them, but if he didn’t move from his spot, they wouldn’t continue their disagreement, and he’d be left with unanswered questions. As he made his way to the staircase, he paused on the third stair from the top and listened. His parents began again, this time in calmer, though not less frantic, tones.

Once in the kitchen, he grabbed a snack and a bottle of water. He wasn’t particularly hungry. Again, he had to keep up pretenses. It was then he noticed how absolutely empty the mansion was and dark. No, they didn’t advertise where they lived, however, they also didn’t stay in the shadows. Standing there, Varujan knew he was missing something important. What though? He couldn’t put his finger on.

On his way back up the stairs, he listened for his parents. Their argument had become a conversation. Their tones were calmer. Yet their hurried, slashing tones brooked no compromises on whatever they were discussing. Again, the closer he got to their door, they stopped talking. A frown tugged at his mouth while he passed their room.

The rest of the night, he spent listening to his parents while finishing homework. Varujan was close to graduating as it was, and he knew his parents would send him to some prestigious college. He’d had his sights on the University of Oxford and had the bloodlines and money to get him in there as it stood. He planned on becoming an archeologist, something he supposed was part of his dragon DNA. Always searching. Always looking for more. He knew coveting riches or artifacts was bad, but his dragon didn’t care. It was engrained in his psyche to take and horde and be greedy.

Varujan scrubbed his eyes and stretched as he finished his homework. It was already after eleven. His parents’ murmured voices were silenced. Whatever they’d been talking about, they were finished. He stood then and stripped out of his clothes. Padding to his bathroom, he yawned. Maybe he was overreacting. Being paranoid. He switched on the shower, then went through the routine of preparing for his bath. When he stepped under the cascade of warm water, he groaned. All the tense muscles of his shoulders unlocked, and his body relaxed. He closed his eyes and sighed.

“Varujan, imi pare rau,” his mother’s soft voice startled him. His eyes snapped open as she struck. The needle entered his neck and whatever drugs were inside of the syringe infiltrated his system.

He was falling... Falling... Falling...

Varujan snapped awake, bolting upright. Instantly, he knew he wasn’t in his bed or even in his home. Light from outside poured into the small cabin. His head pounded and his stomach ached. He groaned. A man he hadn’t seen before turned away from his desk. He smiled before standing. In his hand was a letter. Varujan could see his mother’s handwriting on the outside along with his name. Confusion spread through him. Where was he? How had he gotten there? Who was this man?

“I know you have questions,” the man said, holding out the envelope. “First, read this letter from your mother.”

The man spoke English. Thankfully, his mother insisted Varujan learn the language, along with several others. He was a dragon after all, and again, like everything else, languages could be coveted too. In other words, Varujan was a linguist. He knew sixteen languages. Proficient in writing twelve of those and could speak each of them fluently.

“Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “Where am I?”

The man frowned. “Colorado, United States.”

Dumbstruck, Varujan sat there. Colorado? How had he gotten there without waking? Who brought him there? Why was he there? Where were his parents? His heart pounded, which only caused the headache to rip his skull in half. “I—Where?” He deflated.

“There is much to discuss,” the man with the slight Romanian accent stated. “First, read your mother’s letter.”

He nodded. “I understand.” He broke the wax seal on the back of the envelope and opened it. The letter, written on thick parchment, wasn’t long. The words, “It has begun,” had been the only thing written. What that meant, he didn’t understand. He glanced at the man. “What’s begun?”

The man handed him a long brown packet. “It’s all in here.”

He took the information from the man. Inside were new applications for a birth certificate, license, school records, bank accounts and name. His name was no longer Varujan, but Jackson—so American. Thankfully, the last name had been left open. He wouldn’t give up his name or clan. He was a proud dragon. Glancing at the man who waited, Varujan—Jackson licked his bottom lip, still confused by what had transpired, but also understanding the situation now. Someone had come after his parents. He had no doubt about it. Jackson’s parents were protecting him. It was the only reasonable answer he had for why they’d sent him so far from home. Looking at the desk, he spied the typewriter. Obviously, this man was supposed to help him. Whether he could trust the man was another thing altogether. For now, even those sent to him by his parents were the enemy. Until he was certain he’d keep an eye on the man.

“Have you figured out what you’d like your last name to be?” the man asked.

Varujan nodded. “I shall be forever known as Jackson Dalco, of Clan Dalco. I am dragon, and I will not hide.”

The man nodded. “As you wish, Master Jackson. You shall forever be known as Jackson Dalco, of Clan Dalco.” The man bowed, then returned to the desk with the stack of papers to finish filling them out. “My name is Elgor, of Clan Dalco. I shall be your footman until you enter college, and then my job will expire. I am to return to the mountains.”

Varujan nodded. “I understand, Elgor. Thank you.”

“Yes, Master Jackson.” He nodded. “Please, practice calling yourself Jackson in the meantime and explore your new home. I hope everything is to your requirements.”

He buried his true name deep within his mind, locking the memory of who he was within a box never to be opened again. Jackson. He was Jackson. He must consider himself such from now on. “I believe I will. Can you explain where in this Colorado we are?”

“We’re near Colorado Springs. You have been enrolled at a local high school, and your college has already been arranged. In less than two years, you will be a student at Turnskin University. A place known for their shifter community and the ability to hide in plain sight, which was part of your parents’ requirements.”

Turnskin University...Interesting.“Understood. I will follow their wishes.”

“Thank you, Master, and, if I may say, welcome to America,” Elgor said with a smile. “I believe you will like this place. There is much to explore.”

Jackson nodded. “Perhaps. We shall see. Until then, I will explore my new surroundings.” He stood then. “When am I due at this high school?”

“Tomorrow morning, master. I will have everything prepared for the morning,” his footman said. “It is Sunday, young sir.”

“Very good. I believe I will go flying for a while.”

“Yes, sir,” Elgor said. “Please be mindful of the humans, young sir.”

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