#16 Bows and Arrows

Zale

I watched Adira flee from the room and worry consumed me.

“Wait a minute.” Mom grabbed my arm before I could take off after her.

“I need to check on her.” I resisted the urge to rip my arm from her hand.

“Let me.” Mom said and my eyes snapped to her.

“What? Why?” I didn’t understand.

“Trust your mother, son.” Dad put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a look.

“What’s going on?” It was killing me not to follow after Adira when she was clearly so upset.

“I just have a hunch that she might be missing her parents.” Mom said and realization dawned on me.

I felt the understanding wash over my face and I dropped my arm from Mom’s grip, nodding solemnly at her. Mom smiled and pats my cheek before following after Adira.

“I didn’t think about it.” I sighed.

“It’s been years since we’ve seen her, but it’s still a memory with her parents and we’re still a reminder of her parents.” Dad said, his hand still on my back.

“Can we speak in private?” I said, needing to get something off my chest.

“Now?” Dad asked and I nodded, “Your office?”

Without a word to the rest of the room, we left and went to my office in the back of the house. It wasn’t unusual for Dad and I to venture off alone from the rest of the family to handle business, so my siblings just went about their dinner like nothing had happened. Dad sat in the leather chair across from my desk and I walked over to the liquor cabinet, pouring us both a glass of bourbon.

“What’s on your mind, son?” Dad asked after I handed him his glass and sat on the opposite chair.

“It’s something Adira’s brother, Aidian, said.” I began.

“Ah, yes, the new Alpha. What did he say?” Dad asked, leaning forward in his chair.

“He said that you, Mom, and his parents knew we were mates since my ceremony.” I said and my father shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes, we saw how the two of you acted around each other at your Chieftain ceremony. Aidian told his parents about your interaction in the woods and we saw the way that you moved around her at your party. She was just a child so you saw yourself as her protector, but it was still obvious to anyone who looked.” Dad said,

“I don’t recall acting any sort of way during my party? I remember our meeting in the woods, but that’s it.” I said, struggling to think back.

“It wasn’t one thing and you probably didn’t even know you were doing it,” Dad said, “You just followed her everywhere she went, even if just with your eyes. If she was across the yard, you moved yourself so you were near her. If she was at her table, you weren’t far away. Your attention followed her.”

I thought about that for a long moment, trying to decide if he had seen something from nothing or if I had really acted that way.

“Why didn’t you say something?” I tried to keep my voice level, “You knew that I had left the pod to scour the realms for my mate. I left my people and my post as their leader in Tirian and Balin’s hand so I could find my Lady, but you knew she was here all along.”

“Son,” Dad sighed, “You had to find her in your own way. It wouldn’t have met as much, it wouldn’t have been the Goddess’s will, if I led you to her. Besides, Addie was on her own path with the Archers and it wouldn’t’ve been right for you to take her from the path. She had to follow it back home and you had to follow your own path to her.”

I digested his words and knew that they were true. Adira had to take her journey with the Archers and fulfill that mission before the two of us could be brought back together.

“I really want to be pissed at you.” I said and Dad laughed,

“You can’t be mad at my wisdom.” He joked.

“Yet, somehow, I manage.”

“You’ve managed your whole life at that, son.” Dad offered me his class and I clinked mine against his, leaning back in the chair and sighing.

“Do you think she’s okay?” I asked with my eyes closed.

“Addie?” Dad asked and I hummed in answer, “She’ll be okay, Zale.” He patted my leg and I opened my eyes to look at him.

“She’s so strong that I find myself forgetting how much she’s gone through in the last two weeks.” I said,

“She’s a different type of woman, she always has been, and you’ll have to adjust your perspectives accordingly. All you have to do is be there for her, Zale, and she’ll open up to you when she’s ready.” Dad spoke expertly.

“I know that you and Mom won’t ever replace her parents, but I hope that she can see you two as that sort of support system.” I said,

“We’ll be there for her in whatever way she needs.” Dad agreed.

I was thinking about finding Adira, unable to stay away from her much longer, especially while she was upset, when the door was flung open. I expected to see Balin, Tirian, or one of my sisters since no one else had permission to enter my office without knocking, instead I was shocked at who I saw.

“Zale, I heard that you were home.” Waverly completely ignored my father and protocol as she struts across the room and leans over the armrest of my chair.

Her long blonde hair smacked me in the face along with her fake floral scent. Her too-long fingernails scraped across my skin as she blinked her blue eyes at me, her face heavily painted with makeup. Waverly Frost was born inside the human realm to a father who was exiled from the dragon realm and a mother who thought she deserved more in life than her humble beginnings.

“What are you doing here, Waverly?” I didn’t even try to hide the irritation in my voice.

“It’s been so long since you’ve been home, I wanted to see how you were doing.” She said, dropping her arm over the back of my chair.

When her hand brushed against my shoulder, I abruptly stood from the chair and put space between us.

“Waverly, what do you think you’re doing?” My father asked, rising up behind me.

“Oh, Chieftain, I didn’t see you there,” She lied, “My apologies.” She bowed her head in mock respect.

“I am not your Chieftain, Zale is and he should be addressed as such.” Dad said in his no nonsense voice.

“But, we’ve been friends for so long.” Waverly gushed, hurtling towards me again.

“I thought I smelt something sour.” Tirian’s voice said from the doorway, startling us all.

“Captain.” Waverly grumbled.

“What do you think you’re doing in here? This is the Chieftain’s private office.” Tirian scolds her, walking past me to take her arm; he tried to guide Waverly out of the room, but she wouldn’t budge.

“Why is everyone making such a fuss? It’s never been a big deal for me to speak with Zale before.” Wavery’s face was one of innocence, but I wasn’t fooled.

The entire pod had heard the rumors by now and knew that I had come home from the Sparrow pack with my mate and their Lady of the House. Waverly, who was plugged into the pod gossip better than anyone, certainly heard the news as well.

“You’ve never been welcomed into my office without permission, Waverly, and I’ve respected our friendship enough to allow you to call me by my first name. Clearly, you’ve taken that for granted or I have misled you if you think this behavior is appropriate.” I said, keeping my tone even and my expression cold.

“Don’t act like an idiot, Waverly,” Tirian scoffed impolitely, “You’ve heard the rumors just like everyone else. The Chieftain has met his mate and our pod has her Lady. You have no place here, not that you ever have.”

Waverly’s eyes went wide like she was hearing the news for the first time,

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” She gasped, “I haven’t heard anything.”

Tirian looked like he was about ready to lose his shit on her, so I spoke up before he could,

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard. My mate and the Lady of the House is home, that’s all that matters.” I replied sternly.

“Of course I don’t mean any disrespect, Zale….” Waverly began and Tirian tugged her arm harshly,

“Then address your Chieftain appropriately!” He demanded.

I held up a hand to calm Tirian’s outburst,

“You aren’t welcome to enter my home, let alone my office, uninvited. Is that clear, Waverly?”

Waverly pouted pathetically,

“Yes, Chieftain.” She replied.

“Tirian, show Ms. Frost out.” I dismissed her without further argument.

Once they were out of the office, I could feel my father’s eyes on my back, but I avoided looking at him.

“That’s going to be a problem, son.” He said,

“Waverly is harmless.” I said, but even I wasn’t fully convinced.

I heard my father scoff and I turned around to catch his expression. It was one of amusement and distaste,

“She’s been fawning over you since the moment she turned into a lady, Zale, at her parents’ insistence, I’m sure,” it was no secret that everyone, my dad most of all, had a strong dislike for the House of Frost and their disgraces against the realm,

“These dragons born into the human realm are different, they aren’t being raised with our strong traditions and they’re being influenced by the floozy ways of the other species. She doesn’t show respect for the matebond, disrespecting her future mate each time she shows you her attention. She won’t shy away from you just because you’ve met your mate. She shows you disrespect, so what makes you believe that she’ll show your Lady any respect, either?

“I believe it because I trust that she knows the consequences should she disrespect Adira.” I replied dangerously.

“You give her too much credit,” Dad laughed humorlessly, “She won’t stop, mark my words.”

“And mark mine, father. If she comes near Adira or threatens our bond for a second, she will find herself exiled from this realm as well.” I ended the conversation swiftly and with a sharp tongue.