Octavia wasn’t sure how she had earned such a fervent protectress, but she would happily take Tia’s help. She’d accept anyone’s help right now. This hadnotbeen a good month. Between the endless rainstorm, Flynn breaking into her cabin,and now being held prisoner, Octavia was ready to write off this entire year as horrible.
The Alpha sighed and tried to put his daughter down. “You know it’s my job. I have to protect the pack, and sometimes that means?—”
“No!” Tia screeched and slammed her arms against her father’s chest, railing against him. “You can’t! She’s alady,”—she emphasized the last word like it mattered—“and I like her.”
Hope sparked deep within Octavia.
“Pumpkin, this is a matter for grownups.”
And just like that, the Alpha squashed all her hopes.
Tia’s lip wobbled, and tears lined her eyes. “But Daddy, she seems really nice.”
Everyone’s eyes, including Flynn’s, swung to Octavia. Recognizing the importance of her response in the next few moments, Octavia forced a smile on her face. At least, she attempted to smile. It was difficult, considering the current situation.
“My name is Octavia Ashbloom.” She kept her head low and her voice quiet. “I swear to you, I’m harmless.”
Except when you shift and lose control of your fire,the dragon unhelpfully added.
Octavia shushed her. This was not the time for those types of comments.
“What’s in the bag?” the werewolf from the woods asked Octavia warily.
Out of habit, she pulled the bag towards her. “Nothing, really. Food, a water bottle, a change of clothes, and a few miscellaneous items.”
Including the very important one that she’d vowed to deliver unharmed.
Keeping the smile plastered on her face, Octavia willed herself to appear as unimposing as possible. It wasn’t exactlyeasy since dragon shifters naturally gave off predatory auras, but she did her best. “I swear on Kydona herself, we mean you no harm.”
At this point, Octavia would say just about anything to get out of this alive. She wasn’t the most religious of all dragons, but that might change if she survived this.
The werewolves’ glares were filled with the promise of power and simmering violence. Although Octavia wanted to look away, she didn’t dare.
“What do you think, Bren?” the Alpha asked the other wolf.
His eyes narrowed. “It’s up to you, sir. I don’t like the look of them.”
That didn’t sound good. Octavia tried to make herself smaller as the Alpha kept staring at her.
“Please, Daddy.” Tia wrapped her arms around the Alpha’s neck and squeezed. “Will you spare them? For me?”
Octavia’s heart hammered. Every breath felt too loud as she waited and waited.
A monumental sigh that sounded like it could shake mountains escaped the Alpha. His lips pursed, and then he groaned. “Fine,” he said, although it sounded like it wasn’t. “I’ll spare their lives, but they can’t stay here. Trespassing is not acceptable behavior, and we don’t condone it.”
Octavia had gleaned that much from the cages.
“Can they have dinner with us before they leave?” Tia added hopefully.
Another sigh. Octavia got the distinct impression that the Alpha had his hands full with his daughter.
“Pleaseeeeeee,” Tia begged. “Let them stay one night. It’s already late afternoon, and you should feed them. It’s the right thing to do.”
As if on cue, Octavia’s stomach grumbled. She hadn’t yet considered how long they’d been in the cages, but judging by the emptiness in her stomach, it had been quite some time.
“Fine. They can comeifthey’re guarded.” The werewolf glared at the pair of prisoners. “You wouldn’t be stupid enough to try anything, right?”
Octavia shook her head, and Flynn said, “No, sir.”