Page 69 of The Dragons' Healing Mate

Luca hummed. “Eh, I know, but there’s only so long I can wait before I have to think about what’s best for my horde.”

Alphasneededmates. They needed to continue their bloodline to help protect the people under their care. It made sense. The fact that Luca was clearly getting worried he would miss his opportunity tugged at my heartstrings, though.

“You’re not an old timer yet; it could still happen.”

The table was silent as we both picked at our fries. I licked the salt off my lips, wondering what to say. Luca was one of my closest friends, and it still seemed like he was a bit… off.

Luca gave me a look, and I cocked my head to the side. “Are you okay?”

He chuckled lightly. “That’smyquestion. You’ve been through so much the last few weeks. How are you coping with it all?”

Shrugging, I popped a fry into my mouth. “I told you, I’m fine. I meant it. I’m not going to pretend that everything is sunshine and rainbows, but I’m settling in, in my own way.”

“But do you want to leave?” he asked pointedly, staring right at me. “Just say the word, and I’ll take you back to my horde. Having you there for my sister’s birth would be ideal. You know we will protect you.”

I looked at the Alpha for a moment. He was genuinely concerned for my well-being, and I appreciated it so much.

“Thank you, Luca. I mean that,” I said, placing a hand on his forearm. “But no. I don’t want to leave. There’s no way I can leave them now.”

“Because of how badly they need a healer?” he scoffed, clearly still unimpressed to a degree. “Say the word, and I will find someone who could at least do a better job than their last healer to take over.”

“Not exactly,” I said with a sigh, rolling my lips between my teeth.

Luca cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t have to explain that one. But…”

My chest pinched, but I pictured that stupid bunch of Alphas and what’d been going on, and what I was feeling became so undeniable as the thought of them made me smile.

“Would you believe me if I said I was… falling in love with them?” I admitted in a quiet voice.

It felt wrong to say it out loud, but so right at the same time. Fast, unpredictable, sudden, it was all those things. But it was also undeniable, comfortable, and…nice.

I expected my friend to be comforting or surprised. Instead, he simply laughed.

I made a face at him. “That’s not exactly the reaction I expected.”

Luca settled, shaking his head as he patted my arm. “Because I think it’s pretty obviousyou’re falling in love with them. Or at leastsomeof them.”

“Yeah, Bastian can go jump off a cliff, for all I care. Then again, Ihaveseen a softer side of him. It’s just not directedat me, which I’m sure has some kind of explanation, but he hasn’t been one for sharing, of course.”

“He’s an idiot,” Luca declared. “I’m sure, in time, he’ll realize just howbigan idiot. I’m serious, though—my offer to leave at any time stands.”

“I’m pretty sure if I left, I would have two or three dragons hot on my tail. I wouldn’t want to bring that to your doorstep, anyway.”

“It would liven the place up a bit, though.” He shrugged, the corners of his mouth turning down.

I shook my head. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to disrupt the people of North Oak any more than they already have been. I care about the dragons here.”

A slow smirk spread across his face. “Any dragons in particular?”

Giving him a fake scowl, I said, “You’ve known them longer than me. What doyouthink?”

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: theyaregood people. They’re just a little broken right now. And I get why. They need… Well, shit, they need some healing. And look at that, you’re a healer.”

An unladylike snort escaped me as I rolled my eyes and swallowed down a fry. “Well, if anyone knows anything about being broken, it’s me.”

Luca eyed me, that serious face firmly back again. “You’renotbroken. You’re still worth a million of them. And you need to remember that. Anyone else in your position would be running for the hills, but you’re staying and helping. Even when one of the Alphas is being a complete asshole.”

“Only apartialasshole now,” I tried to defend Bastian. “But yeah… I don’t think I can leave anytime soon. Though if Poppy doesn’t want to stay here, I would happily travel to you when her time is near.”