Page 65 of Claimed By the Sinful Dragon
Rook barked a laugh, but Dean didn’t drop his eyes, and a stillness settled between the two. A very tense stillness. Crap. This wasn’t going to work if they got into a fight.
“You didn’t feel like sharing that with us over the last week?” I asked lightly, arching a brow.
“When I was chained up in your new boyfriend’s basement? Surprisingly enough, no.”
I snorted. Yeah, I didn’t think I’d have been bragging about status in that position, either.
“Hermate,” Rook snarled, and Dean inclined his head.
“Right. Mate. That’s gonna take some getting used to.” He shook his head and turned his attention back to me. “It’s not like I wanted the title in the first place.” His gaze wandered to the gathering pack, and his expression softened. “But someone had to step up after…my father. They needed me.”
Rook narrowed his eyes. “You were not Landon’s first heir.”
“No,” Dean agreed, his voice growing solemn in a way I’d never seen from him before. “Jace split the pack, took a bunch of the strongest, fastest wolves, and headed out to stake a claim somewhere new. Said he didn’t want to be part of the rebuild, not in this territory. And Travis, well, after Landon’s betrayal, he didn’t want anything else to do with pack. He’s on his own—for now, anyway. I hope he’ll be back when he finds whatever he’s looking for out there.” He cast another look over the pack, a little over half the size of the one I remembered and gave a resigned shrug. “We’re what’s left.”
“You’re young for an alpha,” Rook said, eyeing him critically. “Especially for one who was never groomed to lead.”
“You want someone leading this pack who was raised to be like Landon?” Dean countered, and I saw a hint of a smile curve the edge of Rook’s mouth. My mate had a grudging respect for Dean, though I was absolutely certain he’d never admit it.
“Fair point.”
“Iamyoung,” Dean agreed. “But I’m what we’ve got, and I refuse to let my father’s actions bury us. I won’t let us be what we were under his rule again. And I’m sorry, Kaylee, for what we did to you before. WhatIdid to you before. The way we treated you—the way I treated you—was unforgivable. So I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’m asking for a chance to grow into a man who’s worthy of it.”
“It sounds like you’re well on your way,” I allowed. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s changed over the last few weeks.”
“Oh, I think you’ve got us all beat in the changing department,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. He flicked a glance at Rook’s scowling face, then quickly back to me. “I’m going to try to be the alpha this pack deserves.”
“You’ve got a long way to go,” Rook rumbled, and Dean ducked his head in acknowledgement.
“I know. I was weak. And stupid. But I will do whatever it takes to keep this pack safe.”
Rook looked out over the rest of the pack, who were watching on in silence. “And this is the alpha you have chosen? He speaks for you?”
One by one, the pack started to nod.
“He is our alpha,” someone called from the back. “We will follow him.”
Murmurs of agreement sprung up all around, and Rook dipped his chin curtly. “So be it. Then your first job, as alpha, is to renegotiate our deal.”
“Renegotiate?”
“That’s right,” I said. “No moreTributes.”
“O…kay?”
He frowned, like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I decided to put him out of his misery.
“But we do still need a servant. As in, paid. And willing. And girl or guy.” Rook rumbled at my back but I ignored him. He hadn’t been thrilled about that particular concession, but I had my ways of persuading him. I swept my eyes over the gathered pack. “It will pay better than anything you’ll find round here, and you get the option to quit and come back here whenever you want. Serve for a month, a year, ten. It’s your choice.”
“What if none of us want to work for you?” Madison sneered. Rook tensed, but I just shrugged.
“That’s no skin off my nose. There are other packs out there who would be more than willing to earn the exorbitant amounts we’re paying. Well,you’repaying, since it’ll be your taxes compensating our servant.”
“Taxes?”
“Well, Rook is a dragon, after all. I couldn’t persuade him to part with his hoard. But after everything this pack has put me and my predecessors through, an annual tax is the least you can do.”
I cocked my head at Dean, and he opened his mouth, then snapped it shut again. Smart choice.
