The Alpha's Desire and the Dragon's Fire

*Sophia’s POV* “Wow, you’re really good.” I jumped. I wasn’t expecting to be disturbed. I looked for the source of the voice and saw a handsome face smiling down at me. “Er, thanks.” He moved closer to my canvas, cocking his head to this side and that to take in the image. His shoulder was nearly touching mine. I tensed at the feeling of someone being so near. I could smell his expensive cologne. I took the opportunity to look at him a little closer. He didn’t look much older than me, maybe in his early 20’s? He had light blonde hair, a complete contrast to my raven locks. His clean-shaven face displayed the sharpness of his features. I couldn’t work out his eye colour from this position. He turned his face towards me, and I blinked. I wasn’t used to people being this close. “Do you do portraits?” Blue. His eyes

*Sophia's POV*A few days later, I was working at the cafe. It was a Thursday, which meant that it was busy with a local photography group that came in to have a drink and discuss their work. For this reason, I usually looked forward to Thursday’s. The group would often show me the pictures they’d taken that week, talking me through how they’d captured a certain angle or light. I was in the middle of appreciating a particularly gorgeous sunset image, when I heard the tinkle of the bell that sounded whenever the cafe door was opened. I quickly gave the photograph back to the group and made my way to the counter. A man approached, although it was impossible to know what he looked like. His figure was imposing, but his features were concealed by sunglasses, a scarf and hood. I looked at him nervously, my image reflected back at me in

*Sophia's POV*A few days later, I was painting by the river again. Danny told me he was busy, so I couldn’t go and add to the portrait today. Part of me was still berating myself for allowing him to kiss me. For kissing him back. Each time we kissed, it seemed to get more intense. Everything was happening so fast and I wasn’t sure if it was really a good idea. What even was I to Danny? Was I just the girl who was painting his portrait who he happened to be kissing on the side? Did he want something more? I had only had a few experiences with boys. I wasn’t a virgin. Although my first and only time had been painful and brief. The boy in question had been in my class, and was just as inexperienced as I was. I essentially had no idea what I was doing. Danny, clearly did know what he was doing. If he did want to take things further, I worried that I wasn’t going to be any good. Then it would be more awkward

*Thales POV*I tapped my fingers impatiently against the top of my mahogany desk. I should be using the time to look over my accounts and schedule for the upcoming week, but I was still waiting for Louis to return with news. For a human, he was pretty decent at gathering information. Most of the people who worked for me were human, there were not many of my kind left.A firm knock on my office door alerted me to someone’s’ presence.“Come,” I called out, my tone commanding.The heavy door was pushed open, and the man I had been waiting for entered. Louis didn’t look like much. He was short and was starting to lose his hair. It made him look a lot older than his 40 years. However, despite his apparent willowy frame, he could definitely handle himself. Not that he could overpower me, but then, what human could?&ld

*Sophia’s POV*I had no idea what he was talking about. “What do you mean?”His lips quirked and his eyes sparkled. “It’s a wolf thing. It means you’re my soulmate. We’re meant to be together.” He moved towards my ear and whispered the next word. “Forever.”I gasped. Forever? I was only 18. “But…we hardly know each other.”He kissed my neck before pulling back to face me. As he dragged his thumb over my bottom lip, he smiled. “That doesn’t matter Sophia. You are mine. I love you, and you will be with me always.” There was a possessive edge to his voice.I blinked, trying to process what he was saying. I cared for Danny a great deal now, to the point I didn’t want to leave him. But love? I was far away from that. The way he had said it was as