5, Ray's reasons

Mikael looked at Rayvin as she looked down on the beer bottle she was twisting in her hands. He knew she was nervous about what she was about to tell him. Whatever it was, it had her thinking that she could not be his mate. He had understood that much. 

Mikael didn’t want to belittle her problems, whatever they were. But he knew they would fix them together. He had no plans of letting go of her again. 

“Ray, I don’t care what you are about to say. Well, that didn’t sound right,” he sighed and rubbed his neck.

“I do care because it seems important to you. What I’m trying to say is that it won’t change how I feel about you. You are my mate, and before you were my mate, you were my best friend. Nothing will change that,” he told her and placed his hand on her knee.

She looked up at him with a serious face. She nodded, but he had a feeling that she didn’t believe him.

“So, why can’t you be my mate?” he asked her. She looked surprised, and he had to chuckle.

“I can read you like a book Ray, always has. Something has stopped you from reaching out to me all these years. The same thing has you convinced that you can’t be my mate. What is it?” he asked. She sighed.

“You are right. But it’s not just one thing. Not for the last part, in any case. But yes, there is something that has made me keep my distance from you and the pack,” she nodded. 

“And that is?” he probed. 

“When I left nine years ago, I told you my mother had given me someone to contact,” Rayvin told him and he nodded. 

“It was alpha Brutus. I called him and he made sure I got back to his pack safe. He knew my father, he knew what my father was,” she said and paused.

“You know you can tell me now. I’m your mate,” he smiled.

“Yeah, you are. I guess that is as good a place as any to begin. My father was a dragon, a golden dragon to be more specific,” she told him and then she watched him.

Mikael’s mind temporarily shut down. Her father had been a what? He tried to come to grips with what she had told him. 

“But dragons aren’t real,” he said weakly.

“They are. Dragons are just not that common. They never have been, and they are slowly dying out,” she told him.

“So you turn into a giant lizard?” Mikael asked. Rayvin laughed and Mikael enjoyed seeing her lose her worried face for the moment. 

“No, alpha boy, I don’t turn into a giant lizard. Dragons aren’t shifters, not in that sense. Not even pure dragons turn into the fairytale version of a dragon,” she told him.

“Um, okay,” he nodded. Mikael felt like he was way in over his head already.

“I have a dragon, just as I have a wolf. But my dragon doesn’t take physical form. She gives me abilities that I can use. Dragons come with different abilities, depending on what type of dragon they are,” she explained.

“You are a gold dragon, so you have a dragon that just hangs around?” he asked, trying to understand.

“Yeah, that’s basically it. She’s just like the wolf, just a lot more sarcastic in her persona, and she never needs to take over.” Rayvin nodded.

“Okay. I can’t say that I saw that one coming,” he honestly said. 

“I know. Throughout history, dragons have been hunted. Mainly because of old folktales claiming we are guardians of treasures. Then there are our scales that are made from a material that is light and withstands most things, even magic in some cases. They were in high demand during the magical wars,” Rayvin told him.

“Scales? I thought you didn’t turn into a giant lizard?” he smiled.

“I don’t,” she smiled back. “But I have scales that appear if I need them. It’s like armour,” she said.

“That makes sense, I think,” Mikael said. 

“You are taking this better than I thought,” she admitted. 

“Well, sweetie, you have always been a dragon. I just haven’t known about it. So it doesn’t change anything,” he shrugged. 

“Hybrid dragon, and yes, it does,” she said, becoming serious again. 

Mikael desperately wanted to pull her into his lap, hold her close and reassure her that nothing would make him think of her differently. But that wasn’t what she needed. She needed to talk things out with him. 

“How?” he asked and took her hand in his. 

“Alpha Brutus knew my father, and he knew some of my father’s family. His two brothers. Alpha Brutus asked me if I wanted to get in touch with them. I was more than willing to do so. To get a chance to meet other dragons, I had never done that,” she sighed.

“Alpha Brutus warned me they were not what you would call gentle or kind. But I thought I could handle it,” Rayvin said.

“Did they hurt you?” Mikael asked in a low voice.

“No. They were polite, I think is the right word. My uncles were actually excited to meet me. They had lost contact with my father years before I was born and had only learnt of his death years after the fact.”

“I was at first happy that they seemed so pleased to meet me. Then I learnt why they were so pleased,” Rayvin said, looking uncomfortable. 

“And why was that?” Mikael asked, even if he didn’t know if he wanted to know.

“Because I’m a woman. Apparently, there aren’t many female dragons left. My father’s oldest brother has a son five years older than me. They wanted me to take him as my mate,” she admitted and looked down at her lap.

Mikael growled loud at the thought of someone trying to take Rayvin away from him.

“Ray, you are mine. I will let no one take you from me,” he told her and he did what he had wanted to do all along. 

He put the beer down on the table and pulled her onto his lap. His nose found the crook of her neck and he held her close. He could feel her relaxing into him. 

“It’s not that simple, Max. I told you that dragons have been hunted. To avoid being killed, they have developed certain strategies. The first is secrecy. No one can kill you if they don’t know you’re a dragon,” she sighed.

“That’s why you weren’t allowed to tell anyone,” he said, still holding her close.

“Yes. The second one is power. My uncles are powerful men. They have the means to economically do substantial damage to a pack, or to anyone. Alpha Brutus kept me safe. They couldn’t go after Mistvalley as the pack isn’t relying on traditional investments for survival,” she told him.

Mikael started to understand. Rayvin had been trying to protect him and his pack from her uncles by staying away. At that moment, he felt such an intense feeling of love towards her it was almost painful. 

“You protected us,” he mumbled against her skin. 

“I have done the best I can,” she nodded.

“You don’t have to put all of that on your shoulders, Ray. Let me share that burden,” Mikael said. She shook her head.

“If I stay here, if I give up my other life, they will come after you. I can’t be the reason this pack gets hurt,” she told him. He could hear the pain in her voice.

He made her sit up in his lap so he could look into her eyes. There were unshed tears glistening in them. 

“Don’t cry, sweetie. We won’t let them hurt our pack. Things are changing, the packs are coming together, and we are no longer alone,” he comforted her and pulled her into him again.

“I don’t know if I can risk it,” she said. “And I don’t think I would make a good luna anyhow,” she added.

“What are you talking about?” he asked. That idea seemed ridiculous to him.

“I’m not that shy little girl anymore, Max. I’m a trained warrior. I’m not warm and caring. There is no part of me that would like to go around and cuddle pups and sip tea with the knitting group. I’m blunt, sarcastic, and my mouth can give a sailor a run for his money,” she told him. Mikael had to chuckle. 

“Is that what you think a luna does?” he asked.

“Well, yes,” she nodded. 

“No, sweetie. A luna protects the pack and makes sure they have what they need. She is the counterpart to the alpha and his partner. You have spent nine years protecting this pack on your own. No one asked you to. You certainly had no obligation to do so after the way my father treated you. But you instinctively kept them, and me, safe. That is why the goddess destined you to be my luna,” Mikael told her. 

She was quiet for a long while. 

“Does that mean you want me to stay?” she asked.

“Ray, there is no way I’m letting you go anywhere. You are staying with me and the pack. The rest we will figure out,” he said.

“Okay. If we are doing this, I have some demands,” she said.

“Demands?” he asked, surprised.

“Well, rules or requests, or whatever you want to call them,” she shrugged, sitting up so she could look at him.

“Fine, let’s hear them,” he said. 

“I appreciate you wanting this, wanting me. But we are both shell-shocked at the moment. Today has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I can’t think it has been any different for you. You can’t decide about us yet. I’m asking you to think it over for a couple of days,” she told him.

Mikael looked at her. He knew his feelings wouldn’t change in a couple of days. They had been the same for years. 

“I’ll agree, if you stay here, in the guest room, and you let me spend time with you. And you let me explain the situation to the pack. I can leave out the dragon part, but they need to know what is going on,” he said.

She looked at him; she didn’t look too pleased with telling the pack. 

“Okay, but if you are going to tell them, tell them everything, including what I am,” she nodded in the end.

“Are you sure?” he asked, and she nodded again.

“Okay. What’s the next thing?” he wanted to know.

“I will finish my mission. I know how alphas are about their mates, but this is not negotiable. If I’m leaving my pack and forsaking my role as beta, I will do this for my alpha as a last thank you. It seemed important to him, he is quite a fan of luna Bella,” she said.

Mikael didn’t like it. She was right in thinking he would hate the fact that she put herself in danger. But on the other hand, it was for Bella and it was a human she was going after. 

“Okay, I can agree with that. If you will accept help from my gamma, Diana, and our warriors, if you need it,” he agreed.

“Really?” she asked. She seemed surprised that he didn’t fight her on it.

“I understand where you’re coming from, and your alpha isn’t the only one that likes Bella,” he smiled.

“Really?” she said again, raising an eyebrow.

“Eh, not like that. I don’t like her the way I like you. I mean, you know what I mean,” he hurriedly said. He didn’t want her to think he had feelings for Bella. Sure, he flirted with her, but that was just a little fun banter. Rayvin laughed.

“It’s okay, Max, relax. I can’t believe Gray is mated to an omega. Of all people, I would have thought the goddess would give him someone with little more assertiveness,” she chuckled.

“You haven’t met Bella, have you?” he laughed.

“No, never had the pleasure,” she told him.

“She is no meek and humble omega. That woman has a will of steel and can be right out scary when she gets pissed,” he chuckled. 

“Really?” she said.

“Really. We should visit them someday. You could get to meet Bella and talk about your mission and see that not all lunas as soft and submissive,” he nodded, liking the idea the more he thought about it. 

“I think I would like that. And it would be nice to see Gray again,” she said. 

“I will call him and arrange it,” he said. 

They stayed like that for a while, Rayvin in his lap, tucked under his chin. Mikael loved sitting in silence and enjoying the fact that he had finally found Rayvin again and had convinced her to give them a chance. 

‘Ben, arrange an obligatory pack meeting after dinner today. Only ones excluded are the people on duty,’ he mind linked his beta. 

‘Sure thing, alpha. Am I to understand that this means we are getting a luna?’ his friend asked.

‘It’s a little complicated. But we will get there,’ Mikael answered as he gently stroked Rayvin up and down her spine. 

‘Okay then. Happy to hear that,’ Ben said.

‘Did you talk to your sister?’ Mikael asked.

‘I did. She knows not to cause any trouble. I told her it was serious this time. That she would end up without a pack if she continued,’ Ben told him.

‘Thank you, Ben. I know it’s not easy for you,’ Mikael said. 

‘It is what it is. She has brought it on herself.’ Ben tried to sound normal. But Mikael knew his friend hated how his sister acted and it broke his heart to deal with the consequences of it. 

He leaned back on the couch and felt Rayvin adjust to find a comfortable position against him. 

“Let’s eat dinner here and then we can talk to the pack,” he said.

“Okay,” she agreed.