Page 38 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

Egon’s eyes widened. I nodded.

“We were held for months. It was Aleric that ended up rescuing us. He said he had a dream about me, and his dragon brought him to us.” I smiled, thinking about the fierce protector that my mate had already proven himself to be. Much like his alpha father, it would seem. “He fed us, protected us, and helped lead us back to where our village last was. When we found it, there was nothing left. They had all been murdered and left.”

Egon made a pained noise. I tried to focus but realized that my eyes were filled with unfallen tears. I swiped at them, but it seemed to be no use.

Egon reached out with a small cloth and wiped my eyes for me. “I am so very sorry for the loss of not only your family but your entire village. Know that you are very much loved here, and I cannot replace your own omega father, but I hope we can at least be friends.”

“I would like that. I hope that I can come to you with questions?” I asked, hoping Egon would be open to answering everything that was racing through my mind regarding the baby I was carrying.

“Oh, Konrad. I will answer any questions you may have. I will always be here for you, just as I am Aleric. We only just met yesterday, and so briefly, but already we consider you ours. You are very much a part of our family.”

I reached for Egon’s hands and gave them a squeeze. I was going to be all right. I might have lost my family and had to leave my friends behind, but fate had provided me with another one. They would never replace those that I had lost, but they would help fill the emptiness.

I ate my meal while Egon and I sat and talked. When the water had started to cool, I washed, and Egon offered me a change of clothing. We were about the same size, and although I didn’t mind wearing Aleric’s clothing, they were large on me and did not fit nearly as well as the ones from Egon. We were in the kitchen area, still talking while making bread, when Aleric and Ferdinand came into the cottage with a large piece of meat. It was great to see my own mate again, and when he crossed the room to give me a soft kiss, I felt myself warm from the inside out. My alpha was back.

Chapter 13

Aleric

December 1768

“Konrad seems to have settled in well,” Father said as we pulled another log through the forest. We would need it for firewood, and we would need to chop it before stacking it just outside the back door of the cottage.

I looked at Father. “Yes. I know he misses his family and his friends. But he wanted to come here with me. I offered to stay with him there. The coven in Munich offered for us to join them. He would have been with one of his friends. He insisted on coming here. I had reservations after everything he’d been through.”

The trip across the ocean had been incredibly difficult on Konrad. He’d never let on, but my dragon knew. By the time the coastline came into view, which meant we’d made it across the ocean, Konrad’s dragon had been mere hours away from giving out. We’d spent several days resting just barely inland. The weather had been harsh and bitterly cold, but my poor dragon mate hadn’t complained even once.

“Your da. I had not realized how much he would miss being near others. It has been quite a few years since we’ve been here, and we’ve settled into a mundane routine. With your return with Konrad, I have noticed a side of your da that I’d not seen in too long.”

I had noticed as well. Da and Konrad were always together. They were often talking and laughing while spending time together. Konrad was eager to learn everything he could from Da. He’d asked many questions about the crops we grew in the warm months. He had asked about where we collected the honey, the berries, and other things we used on a regular basis. He’d been eager to help with any and everything, but it was Da’s insistence that Konrad limit himself because he didn’t wish for anything to happen to the baby. I was thankful for that.

I had asked Konrad what items he would want from the store when the furs and skins were taken in to be traded, and he’d said he didn’t need anything. It was frustrating because I knew there were things he desired and items we would need for the baby. My mate simply wouldn’t share them with me. I’d tried to search his thoughts to learn of what he desired, but he seemed to have them locked down well. Da had been helpful though, and I had a small list.

“Your da and I have not probed.”

I looked back at Father while we continued trudging through the forest. We were each holding on to a rope that was tied around the log. It made it easier to pull it back to the cabin where we could chop it.

“Konrad and the baby.”

“Yes. What of them? Is there an issue? We could set out for the city once the baby is born if you and Da do not wish for us to remain here.” I couldn’t see it as being an issue, but perhaps they’d gotten a bit used to not having me around while I had been gone. It had been a couple of months until my return. It was possible that was it.

“Nothing of that nature. I was curious about the timing. Do you know when his heat was? He couldn’t fly if he were with child. He was pregnant when you arrived.”

Ahh, that was it. I grinned. “Yes, I know when his heat was. I was there to help him with it, Father. Much as you do with Da.”

I chuckled when Father rolled his eyes at me. It wasn’t often that he became uncomfortable, but every so often, something would come up, and Father wouldn’t necessarily know how to respond, so he would simply remove himself from the situation.

“The baby should be born in a few months. Possibly four or so? You had said that Da was pregnant for six with me. Konrad stated that most omegas in his village carried for that length of time as well, except in instances when they were having two. His brothers arrived sooner.”

“You were here when you claimed him, then?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes. We knew Konrad wouldn’t be able to make the flight across the ocean on my back in his human form. It wasn’t exactly easy to deny what we both wanted, but we waited until we were here, yes.”

“Here.” Father pointed to the mountain.

I nodded. “Yes. I have a spot that I go to. We were there. It wasn’t exactly the most comfortable, but Konrad doesn’t complain about anything.” Much to my own frustration. I wished my mate would ask for anything, but he simply said that he was grateful to have the chance to be here with me. We had talked about his long days spent chained to the wall and how he’d had dark thoughts. I didn’t fault him for them—I couldn’t.

“It was when I scented you.”