Page 68 of The Dragons' Healing Mate

“Rowan convinced Luca to go get food at the diner on the road to town. That way, he can see the local area, and it givesyou more time,” Griffin explained before I could, which had me glaring at him.

“Eat your damn apple, Griff. Unless you want to get up and actually help my mother prepare?” I shot him a look, and he retreated into himself slightly, hiding a smirk by rolling his lips between his teeth.

Griffin mimed zipping up his mouth. I had accepted Rowan’s suggestion of going to the diner with Luca, but I wasn’t particularly happy about it. After hearing about how much our mate had been propositioned, I couldn’t help but imagine that Luca would do the same. Yes, he was offering to help us, but he was a single Alpha and had eyes.

Ma looked upward, thankfully, her hands clasped together in a mock prayer. “I swear, that girl is a gift from above. I wouldn’t survive also having to put on a fancier spread tonight.”

“Don’t I know it?” I muttered, thinking back to how effortlessly she’d smoothed out the dinner situation before it became a huge problem. I was trying to be quiet, but clearly not quiet enough because Ma’s eyes darted to me, and her brows shot up as she jabbed a finger in my direction. “Well, maybe you need to remind Bastian of that?”

“Ha, and maybe someone needs to tellCyrusthat fact,” I grumbled back, emphasizing the issue. Bastian was influenced by his father’s dumbass ideas. How Cyrus had run this horde for decades, I had no idea. He was so set in his ways, it was embarrassing.

Ma snorted. “Nothing is going to change that old curmudgeon’s mind, other than a lobotomy, at this point. Bastian is a big boy, though, and can have opinions for himself. It’s time he starts acting like it.”

I shrugged. “You’re not wrong.”

If only it were that easy. Bastian was the apple who didn’t fall far from the tree. He was as stubborn as his dad, and even withhis own dragon situation out on the lawn, he hadn’t seen how disconnected he was from his wants and needs. I mean, maybe he did, but it wasn’t enough to get him to wise up and work on his less-than-stellar relationship with Rowan.

Still… maybe with having extra enforcers around, the asshat would be able to relax a little. He could actually work on having the necessary conversation with Rowan.

“Maybe the visitors will help with that, actually.”

Ma cocked her head at me. “What do you mean?”

I shook my head. “Nothing, nothing. Sorry. Just let me know what you need for tomorrow. I’ll make sure it gets done.”

Smirking, my mother walked up to me, patting me on the cheek. “Get a pen, dear. It’s a hell of a list.”

Rowan

“There’s something so damn good about diner food,” Luca said, sitting back and smiling.

In the time it had taken me to eat my burger, he’d demolished three and a side of chili fries.Dragons and their stupid appetites.

I smiled, too, nodding. “I’ve eaten at alotof diners in my time, and this is hands down one of the best. Actually, we need to try their milkshakes next.”

Luca groaned playfully, patting his stomach. “I do love a shake.”

“Imagine if your mate ends up being a health nut?” I chuckled, feigning shock.

The horror on Luca’s face made me descend into giggles. It was so much fun to tease him. Luca had a sweet tooth, a terrible one. The idea of him being paired with someone who didn’t like a sugary treat was actually kind of depressing.

“I would have to teach her the glorious ways of junk food. Well, that is, if I’m lucky enough tofindmy mate.”

My chest pinched, and I flicked my stare to my food. Not everyone found their mate. Some dragons simply had lasting relationships with others they were in love with. Finding a fatedmate was rare, and while everyone hoped for it, it wasn’t the reality for most dragons.

And for that, I felt like Luca probably hated me. I’d found four—and I wasn’t exactly as thrilled about it as I probably should be.

“You’ll find her,” I assured him, my voice quiet.

“I never thought I would be jealousof the North Oak Alphas.” He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “They’ve been a disaster for so long, but now… things are seriously looking up for them.”

“Hey, don’t be like that. You’ll find your mate.” I smiled, squeezing his hand. “I’m sure of it.”

“But would she make a good Alpha?” he questioned, his expression uncommonly serious. “My partner has to help me rule our horde, and not many people are built for that. North Oak gotyou. In my opinion, they hit the jackpot because I know few people—let alone a human—who would be better than you at that job.”

“Inyouropinion.” I grinned, shaking my head. “And whoever she is, she’ll be perfect for you. That’s the whole point, remember? Fated mates are perfect for one another.”

Past me—Emmeline—had been perfect for the North Oak Alphas. The question still rattling around my head was, was I perfect for them now? Had my life experiences made me too headstrong?