Page 1 of Claimed By His Omega Dragon's Fire
1
Aiden
Sweat drips down the side of my face and my lungs burn in a way I’ve come to love. My feet carry me forward as a podcast plays in my earbuds. It’s still early morning so there’s barely anyone awake and moving around our little town.
My brain is blissfully silent. My morning runs are some of the only times I get where I’m not stressed about everything that’s going on or worrying about everyone in my pack. This is the time where I’m allowed to just be Aiden without all the baggage that comes with being the pack’s alpha.
Ever since I was a little boy, I knew I would become pack alpha. My father was pack alpha before me and his alpha grandmother before him. This territory has been passed down from generation to generation for as far back as I’ve known.
I love what I do. Truly.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t a lonely job. Everything is put on my shoulders and I gladly take it, but I’m still only one man. Sometimes, it gets to be a lot. The paperwork and the rituals and the responsibilities and the needing to judge a person in a split second. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, yet there’s a tiny voice at the back of my head whispering for me to find a partner to help with it all.
I don’t need a partner to help with the workload of being pack alpha. Instead, I long for someone to take care ofmeafter I’m finished taking care of everyone else. Is that too much to ask for? Come on, universe, get your shit together and lead me to my mate already!
Rounding the corner, I pick up the pace a bit. I want to get my heart racing just a little bit more. I want to push myself just a little bit harder. I want to push myself to my physical limits because if I’m doing that, surely I won’t have enough brainspace to overthink, right?
Even the podcast blaring in my ears isn’t enough to distract me from the ache inside my chest. If it was just the ache that came with running, I’d be able to deal with it, but it’s an emotional ache. It’s an ache that’s come from running this pack alone since my father passed away. I’m so incredibly lonely and I’m only just now beginning to admit it to myself.
Not only is my run supposed to help put my mind at ease, but it’s also a great way to keep an eye on my territory. I can pick up on any new scents and see if anything is amiss.
I see my house come into view and I slow my run to a light jog. Then I begin to walk, lifting my arms over my head and stretching from side to side as I walk. I want my muscles to have a moment to cool down before I’m home. My heart rate slows, my breathing becomes regular, and my muscles relax. There’s always a calmness that washes over me after a good run and today is no different despite the war of emotions rattling around inside my chest.
Once inside, I toss my phone and headphones onto the table and head straight for the bathroom. I take a quick shower to wash all the sweat away before getting dressed and ready.
Jeans and a brown pullover will have to do for today. I grab a pair of loafers, my keys, and my phone before heading back outside. I’m supposed to meet with Harry and Alex this morning. They’re essentially my assistants who help me with all of my paperwork and administrative duties. I would be lost without those two.
This afternoon I have a meeting with Michelle about expanding her bakery and then tonight I’m supposed to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, my neighbors who’re old enough to be my parents and more or less treat me as their son when I’m not in the middle of pack alpha duties. Everything is perfectly catalogued inside my brain.
Instead, all of that is tossed out the window when I step outside and see a crowd of people waiting for me. How the hell did I not hear them before now? Jesus, my head really is all messed up this morning if I somehow missedthis.
I freeze, my eyes widening in surprise. I look around, finding my entire pack out there.
“Umm?”
“Surprise!” Avery, our pack medic, calls out, stepping through the crowd and walking over to me.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s the anniversary of you becoming pack alpha and we wanted to celebrate and share with you just how much we appreciate you,” Avery explains with a grin.
I open my mouth to reply but nothing comes out. My eyes dart from face to face, finding my pack surrounding me with grins plastered across their faces. All the worries and longing and loneliness evaporate from my chest in that moment. I’m surrounded by my pack, the people I’ve been tasked with overseeing and taking care of, who in turn, take care of each other and me.
“Oh,” I finally say, not really knowing what elsetosay. I’m overwhelmed with such a kind and thoughtful gesture.
“Come on,” Avery says, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with him. I see Avery’s mate, Frost, in the crowd of people, smiling as well, their pup in his arms.
They’re a perfect reason why I love what I do. Avery met Frost during a Christmas vacation and Frost didn’t have a pack. When they mated, I got to meet Frost. Within a moment, I was more than happy to welcome Frost into our pack, knowing he would be a great addition. He slotted into place like he’s been here since birth.
Avery leads me through the crowd of people towards Mr. and Mrs. Hunt’s backyard. We go through the back gate and inside, I can see a table with a large cake on it.
“Normally, we wouldn’t serve you cake for breakfast but today felt like a special day,” Avery says with a chuckle.
“What about my work?”
“Harry and Alex only told you they needed help to make sure we could plan our surprise at just the right time. By the way, thank you for always running at the same time every day. It made today that much easier for us.”
I feel my cheeks heating and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m becoming a predictable old man without even realizing,” I say with a chuckle.
