Chapter 89

Anila’s POV

I don’t remember what happened after my conversation with Principal Rapport. I just remember him screaming my name, fear evident in his voice. I had shifted and was running out of the dormitory and toward the forest. I had no idea where I was going, but I needed to get out of there.

I ran until I knew for certain that I wasn’t being followed. My wolf and my bear were both at ends, worry filled all of us as we tried to wrap our minds around what was just explained. Xaden was scratched by a dragon’s tail, which meant he was in a cursed-induced coma.

I knew I needed to do something; anything to fix this. But I wasn’t sure what.

I started to slow my pace when I recognized the clearing. My wolf brought me to Xaden’s cabin; this was where she felt the safest and she knew I needed the sanctuary to breathe for the time being. I wished I hadn’t shredded my clothes in the process of shifting, but everything happened so fast that I wasn’t really thinking.

However, when I stopped running and I finally got a grasp of my surroundings, I was shocked to find that my backpack was attached to my wolf’s back. I thought maybe my wolf grabbed it during the mayhem of the shift, or maybe it remained on me even during the shift. I couldn’t be sure of the events, but I was glad that I had it because that meant I had my phone as well.

Once I was calm, my wolf allowed me to shift back into my skin. I curled up against the cabin, tears streaming down my face and my legs pressed to my chest. I was widely aware of my nakedness.

I grabbed my back and rummaged through, relieved to find my phone. Part of me was hoping of me was hoping that Xaden would have called me and told me that this was all just one big misunderstanding. I mean, wouldn’t my mark or my wolf tell me that something was seriously wrong with my mate? Or was it because we weren’t fully bonded that I wasn’t able to feel it?

My heart ached at the very thought.

But there was no call or text from Xaden. However, Harley did text me and I felt a little lighter about it.

Harley: I’m going to Bloodmoon. It’s about an hour away. Xaden is in trouble, and I need to see if I can help. Bringing an army with me. Try not to worry too much. I’ll update you once I know more information.

He sent that a little while ago; probably while Principal Rapport was speaking to me.

I pressed the reply button and started to type out my own message.

Me: Principal Rapport said something about a dragon’s tail scratch. Is it true that Xaden could die? Please tell me what’s going on as soon as you can.”

I was sick with fear, but I didn’t want to tell him that and make him worry about me when I needed him to focus on Xaden. I buried my face in my lap and let out a soft sob. I knew it was stupid of me to have shifted and run off when there was a dragon attack. Principal Rapport probably has a search team already looking for me.

I finally managed to stand to my feet and walk into the cabin, using the key that had been hidden under the mat. I wasn’t going to return to school naked, regardless of whether it was normal for shifters or not. I went into Xaden’s bedroom and rummaged through his drawer until I uncovered a T-shirt.

It was huge on me and went down to my knees. As long as it covered my body, it was good enough.

I tied my hair up into a ponytail, put my backpack over my shoulders, and then headed out of the cabin. I wasn’t going to risk shifting right now; I knew the school was probably furious with me. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I needed to trust that Harley was going to get me all the information that he could.

Until then, I just had to keep myself safe. I wrapped my arms around my body, hating how vulnerable I felt. I hated not being able to help my mates.

I was supposed to be the Moon Queen, wasn’t I? So, why wasn’t I doing something to help them?

As I walked through the forest, I paused when I felt the familiar pull of my mate bond. The hairs on my neck and arms started to stand my wolf and bear were both on edge. I knew one of my mates was nearby, but I couldn’t wrap my head around which one.

Then, the thought slammed into me.

Damien.

He was the only one of them that was in the area. I wondered if Principal Rapport sent Damien to come to fetch me because he knew I trusted him. I swelled at the thought of seeing a familiar face and being wrapped up in the arms of at least one of my mates.

If I couldn’t have Harley or Xaden, then Damien was the next best thing for right now. I started toward the direction that my wolf and bear were tugging me. They were as eager to see our mate as I was.

I tried to stop the tears from flowing out of my eyes, not wanting him to see me as someone weak. I shook the thought out of my mind; I don’t think Damien ever saw me as weak honestly. I think he could always see my strong potential, even when others, like Sarah, couldn’t.

I continued walking until I reached the large oak tree that I left the baby dragon in. It was long gone by now; it could be the one that was terrorizing the territories and the one that scratched Xaden, causing him to fall into a coma.

I swallowed the lump in my throat; the feeling of the mate bond was strong in this area. I looked around, confused because I didn’t see any signs of Damien anywhere.

“Damien?” I shouted into the dark void of the forest.

There were no sounds, nothing that made me think a search party was in the area.

“Hello?” I said again, my voice cracking slightly as I spun around.

I started to get a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.

What if it wasn’t Damien? What if it was a witch or something making me think one of my mates was around? What if someone was trying to lure me into a trap and kill me? I spun around again, dizzy from the motion.

“Sarah?” I asked into the dark forest.

When I was met with nothing but silence, I started to calm slightly. Maybe it was just my imagination. Or maybe it was my mate's bond with Xaden, and something was out of wack because he was injured.

I leaned against the tree, trying to keep myself on my feet. I needed to get back to the campus before I ended up in even more trouble than I already was. But just as I was about to take a step, a twig snapped nearby, causing my entire body to freeze.

I spun around to face the direction of the sound, my eyes wild as I looked around at the potential threat.

“Come out and show yourself,” I ordered, proud that my voice came out stronger than I felt.

I heard the ruffling of some leaves and then a figure appeared through the darkness. I squinted to get a better look at the stranger, but they didn’t leave me wondering for long because soon, he was coming out of hiding the moonlight shined its bright rays on his very handsome and panty-wetting features.

My mouth nearly fell to the ground when I took a look at this drop-dead gorgeous man. I knew now was not the time to eyeball him; but he was tall with a scruffy, five-o’clock shadow and deep blue eyes that I could get lost in for hours. He was shirtless, but he wore jeans that hugged his waist perfectly. He had an incredible 8 pack abs that had fresh cuts and scratches on them.

His dark hair was disheveled like he just ran his fingers through it.

I was quite obviously checking this stranger out and once I realized it, my entire face blazed with embarrassment.

But that wasn’t the crazy thing; the craziest part of this was my wolf and bear screaming, “Mate!” in my head.

Not again… I thought to myself.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” the stranger said, putting his hands in his front pockets and leaning back on his heel. He had a strong British accent that I knew made ladies swoon over him; me included.

“You are hurt,” I told him, taking notice of the fresh wounds on his body.

“Flesh wounds,” he replied casually.

“There’s a cabin not far from here,” I found myself saying, pointing over my shoulder. “Let me take you there and get you cleaned up.”

He shook his head.

“I can’t stay,” he said quickly. “I knew you were nearby, and I was waiting for you, Anila.”

My mouth dropped open.

“How did you know my name?”

“I heard someone call you that the other day…” he admitted.

The memory flashed through me when I brought the baby dragon back in the tree with Zach and I felt like someone was watching me for a brief moment. My face heated immediately as I wrapped my arms around my body, suddenly feeling exposed.

“You’ve been watching me,” it wasn’t a question, and he didn’t look taken aback by my question.

“Not on purpose,” he told me. “I was looking for something and I didn’t know you had it until you returned it. But I wanted to thank you for bringing it back and for taking care of it.”

My brows crinkled together.

“What exactly did I have of yours?” I asked, trying to recall my memory.

He stepped forward, the scent of fresh limes and lavender filling my nose and calming my every sense.

“My baby dragon,” he told me.

My heart leaped into my throat. This man was a dragon master and that was his dragon??

“She’s safe?” I whispered.

He nodded his head once.

“She is home, thanks to you.”

I sighed in relief, and then I nodded. I wasn’t sure what else to say but then I asked, “Who are you?”

“Jaxon,” he answered, holding out his hand for me to shake. “Jaxon Develson.”

I took his hand as I thought about how familiar that name sounded. As soon as I made contact with him, a jolt of electricity coursed through me, and goosebumps attacked my flesh. I knew my face was as red as a cherry. I allowed my hand to linger in his for a moment longer; then the familiarity of his name clouded my mind, and I remembered a previous conversation I had toward the beginning of this school year.

I gasped and dropped his hand as if he had just burned me. I stepped back, my body trembling.

“Jaxon Develson?” I repeated.

He nodded, it seemed his eyes had grown darker and the world around me became hazy.

“Y…you’re the… the… Dragon King.”