Severing Dragon Mate Bonds - Chapter 1

Lavina – POV

I sat in the waiting room outside the dragon mate rejection cave, with Alice by my side for support. "Hey, it's not your fault," Alice, my cousin, whispered.

"But it is. I can't provide my mate with a child. Keenan wants to sever the mate bond to find other women who can fulfill that need," I responded, wiping away tears. Alice gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm a dragon healer who can't even bear a child. The priest said I was a great dragon healer and suggested I change to gain more power and happiness, as the Goddess of Dragons would wish. But here I am, unable to bear a child and saddened by the impending separation from my mate."

"Why did you agree to Keenan's deal? The verdict was supposed to be in your favor, and Keenan wouldn't have been able to sever the mate bond," Alice asked.

"How can I stay with a man who constantly belittles me, showing how worthless I am as a woman?" I replied, "I pretended to be strong, but I've learned it was wrong to stay with a man who won't respect me because of my medical issues. I'm better off without him."

"You have a point. I'm here for you, Lavina," Alice said. "Our family bloodline seems to struggle with first-mate bonds. Rejecting them is hard at first, and you will feel lost, but good things are coming your way." I nodded in understanding, knowing all too well the pain a dragon experiences when separating from its mate.

"Ms. Lavina Hill Brooks, please step inside," the guard directed. I rose and stepped into the mate rejection cave. Keenan met my gaze while his parents returned my look with a hateful glare. Alice glared at Keenan and his parents with equal hatred. I had to calm Alice down; I could feel the crackle of her magic, dangerously close to being unleashed.

"Alice, please calm down. I need to sever this mate bond peacefully," I whispered. Alice took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'm sorry, I lost my cool. Not having James here makes it harder for me to keep calm." I shook my head understandingly. James had to stay back to care for their six-year-old, Zendaya.

Ella walked in with Darcus. The Dragon Queen and King were required to bear witness, ensuring that the mate bond was severed legally with the aid of the witches. This rule was instituted to maintain harmony between dragons and witches, as there had been numerous false accusations of illicit assistance to separated dragon mates.

"Step into the hex circle," the witch instructed. I obeyed while Keenan positioned himself in the opposite circle. I didn't meet Keenan's gaze; all I had left for him was resentment, not a shred of love or respect. I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the intense pain Alice had warned me about. It felt like a fire burning my soul, drawing a moan from Keenan and me.

After enduring the agonizing ordeal, the purple thread of our mate bond disappeared, signifying that I was no longer tied to Keenan. Exhausted, Keenan collapsed to the ground. On the other hand, I felt lighter, unburdened by the mate bond. I was panting heavily until Alice helped me home. The dragon healers came to check on me and unsurprisingly found that my health was sound and my dragon unweakened by the severed mate bond. My status as a great dragon healer and the power inherent in my new name protected my dragon.

"Ryu, are you alright?" I asked my dragon, who was saddened by the severed bond.

"I am fine, not feeling weak," Ryu assured me. I sighed in relief. The pain of living with Keenan had taken a toll on me. As I sat up in bed, memories of our time together surfaced, revealing how quickly love could turn to hatred. The past five years with Keenan felt like a nightmare, particularly the last six months when I had decided to liberate myself and let Keenan go. I would not beg for his love.

I wiped my tears. Alice walked in carrying a mug of hot chocolate. "This will make you feel better," she said. I accepted the mug; hot cocoa was my favorite drink.

"I thought you had gone home to your family," I mumbled.

"I plan to stick around and take care of you. You may be physically okay, but emotionally, you look shattered," Alice said calmly. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Alice took my hand, gently circling her finger to soothe me.

********

One week Laterne Week Later

I had to return to the human world to sign some papers and complete pending work accumulated during my three-month absence, brought on by the drama surrounding me. Exhausted, I came back to my luxurious rented apartment. I felt empty and void. Alice had offered to accompany me, but I didn't want to trouble her. I asked her to stay back and spend some time with her family, as she'd been with me for a month, supporting me every step of the way.

Determined not to wallow in sadness at home, I decided to go clubbing. I walked to my wardrobe, selected a golden, bold dress that provided a striking view of my cleavage, and hugged my hourglass figure. After applying smoky eye makeup to my hazel eyes and curling my wavy brown hair, I drove to a fancy club, a popular spot for celebrities. I wanted to move on and enjoy my newfound freedom rather than cry at home over my pathetic mate.

I walked into the club and sat at the bar counter, ordering drinks for myself. I tried to enjoy the music and vibe, but my emptiness crept in like waves. The pain of the past felt raw and seemed amplified by the club's music. I drank more in an attempt to drown the pain.

"I didn't order this drink," I told the bartender.

"The man over there ordered a drink for you," the bartender informed me. I turned to see a man who looked strangely familiar and incredibly handsome. As he approached, his smoldering emerald eyes caught mine.

"You look lonely and drunk," the man said in a husky voice.

"I'm Lavina," I slurred, extending my hand.

"You changed your name, Levy," the man observed. I blinked at him in surprise.

"Archer," I gasped, recognizing him. "What a surprise."

"Indeed, it's a surprise to see you drunk and sad," Archer commented.

"Aren't you drunk as well?" I shot back.

"Touche," Archer sighed. "Why did you change your name, Levy?"

"That's not how you flirt with a girl you want to sleep with, Archer. You don't dig into their past. You say, 'You look beautiful. Should we do this at your place or mine?'" I managed to articulate my thoughts without slurring. Archer smirked at my remark, closing the distance between us. His hand was on the small of my back, pressing my body against his. He leaned in, taking a whiff of my scent, and swayed slightly.

"Are you ready to let me taste you then, Lavina?" Archer's husky voice sent shivers down my spine. His arm around my waist ignited a fire within me. I wanted him to escape the emptiness within.

"I am," I answered in a breathy tone. Archer's smirk heightened my desire, his gaze lingering on my mouth.

"Don't regret what you said, Lavina. I'm giving you one more chance to escape me as you did five years ago," Archer whispered. I looked into his eyes, remembering how Archer and I had casually slept together for one night. At that time, I'd told him I wasn't looking for anything serious, even though there was mutual attraction. However, that attraction faded when Keenan came into my life.

"I won't regret it this time," I asserted confidently. Pulling Archer into a kiss, I sensed Archer's surprise before he returned my kiss with an enthusiasm that matched mine. His tongue explored my mouth, eliciting a moan from me. I could feel Archer's hardness pressing against my pelvis, making it clear that his desire for me was as strong as mine for him.

Archer led me to the back of the club, opening a teleportation portal. We landed in his house, our lips locked in a desperate dance of mutual need. I tore off Archer's shirt to expose his strong chest and chiseled abs. As my hands teased the length of his bulge, Archer moaned, his need evident.

In a moment, we were standing naked. Archer was proficient in stripping me of my clothes. His hands roamed my body, touching and squeezing my breasts, eliciting more moans. I wanted him more than words could express.

"Archer, please, I want you," I gasped. I couldn't take it any longer. Archer shed his pants, revealing his impressive length. My eyes widened as he positioned himself between my legs. I gasped as he entered me, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through me. Our moans filled the room, building in intensity until we reached our climax together, a symphony of ecstasy.

*********

The morning sunlight stirred me awake, accompanied by a throbbing headache. For a few moments, the pain was unbearable until I summoned my healing power to reduce it. I took in my surroundings, realizing I was naked with an arm draped over my waist. Gasping, I recognized I was tangled in bed with Archer, the Alpha of the wolves. Regret washed over me as the events of last night played back in my mind.

Slowly, I removed his hand from my body and hastily collected my clothes. I escaped from the penthouse, a walk of shame I hadn't expected to be doing. The guilt of sleeping with Archer consumed me. I questioned why our paths had to cross and why I had chosen to sleep with him. Cursing myself, I hailed a cab back to the club to retrieve my car, abandoned in the parking lot.

Upon reaching home, I showered and dressed for the meeting. The doorbell rang, disrupting my preparations.

Opening the door, I found Archer staring at me. "We need to talk," he stated, his tone grave.