Alpha dragons jackal the.., p.1
Alpha Dragon's Jackal (The Dragonfate Games Book 3), page 1
Alpha Dragon’s Jackal
The Dragonfate Games Book 3
Hawke Oakley
Copyright © 2023 by Hawke Oakley
Cover Illustration by Fox Atreides
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Contents
1. Muzo
2. Cobalt
3. Muzo
4. Cobalt
5. Muzo
6. Cobalt
7. Muzo
8. Cobalt
9. Muzo
10. Cobalt
11. Muzo
12. Cobalt
13. Muzo
14. Cobalt
15. Muzo
16. Cobalt
17. Muzo
18. Cobalt
19. Muzo
20. Cobalt
21. Muzo
22. Cobalt
23. Muzo
24. Cobalt
25. Muzo
26. Cobalt
27. Epilogue: Muzo
Also by Hawke Oakley
One
Muzo
The last thing you want to see when you get home from vacation is an eviction notice.
The second season of the Dragonfate Games was over. My blood still buzzed with excitement. I had a blast as usual, but it was nice to be home.
Or so I thought.
After hauling my luggage all the way up the stairs—the apartment elevator was broken again—I paused at the door to my unit. I blinked, clutching my key in hand as I stared at the paper taped up in front of me.
“To Muzo Zavala,” I read out loud. “We are terminating your tenancy from Unit 409. Our reason for evicting you is...” I squinted at the next words. “Unlawful dog ownership? Huh?”
What the hell did that mean? I didn’t even own a dog.
Frowning in confusion, I looked around the hallway. I wondered if management meant to put the notice on somebody else’s door, but the paper had my unit number printed on it, and it was addressed to me. What was going on?
I was exhausted from the flight home, so I figured I’d deal with it the next day. I plugged the key into the hole... and found that it no longer fit.
“What the heck?” I mumbled.
I twisted and wriggled the key, turning it like I’d done a thousand times, but my attempts were only met with unyielding friction. A sinking feeling washed over me. Management must’ve changed the lock before I arrived.
“Oh,” I said.
I stood there with my now-useless key in one hand and my luggage in the other, not knowing what to do. I expected to come home from the airport and go straight to bed, but now I couldn’t do that.
I checked the time on my phone. The management office was still open. Speaking to them was my best option, since there was obviously some kind of mistake. Taking the notice with me, I descended the stairs to the main floor and poked my head into the office’s frosted glass door.
“Hello?” I called.
The superintendent, George, glowered at me from behind the counter. He was a middle-aged man with a scary expression. I recognized him since I came here every month to pay rent, but he didn’t seem to know me. He had so many tenants that it was probably hard to remember them all. I didn’t hold it against him.
I smiled and waved. George’s brow furrowed deeper.
“What?” he barked.
I took that as an invitation to enter the room. “Um, hi! I just got home from vacation and I found this notice on my door,” I said, pulling out the paper. “I was wondering if it was, er, misplaced?”
George’s scowl was a permanent fixture on his face. “Why would it be?”
“Oh, because I don’t have a dog,” I said cheerfully. That should’ve cleared up the confusion.
But George’s expression didn’t budge. “It states very clearly in the contract that pets are not allowed in the building,” he ground out. “That includes dogs.”
Maybe he didn’t hear me properly. He was older, so he could have an auditory processing issue.
“Um, actually, I don’t have one. A dog, I mean. Or any pets. I don’t even have a house plant,” I added with a chuckle.
George exhaled a long, disapproving breath through his nostrils. He broke away from my gaze and shuffled through papers. “That’s not what I’ve been told.”
“What?”
“I’ve had several complaints about a dog in your unit,” George grumbled. “Don’t bother denying it. A lot of people came forward about it.”
There was something odd about the way he said ‘people.’
“People? Who?” I asked, wondering if it was one of my neighbors.
George narrowed his eyes. “When I say people, I mean humans.”
He shoved a piece of paper across the counter towards me. I recognized it as the tenancy contract I signed when I first moved in. There was a specific line highlighted—the section about species. It asked if I was human or shifter, and if the latter, to specify what animal. I’d written everything down, because why not? I was proud of who I was, and I thought it was great to have many kinds of people living together.
I blinked down at the paper, then back at George. He met my questioning expression with a flat-out glare.
That was weird. Nobody had ever been so blatantly shifter-phobic to my face before.
“Huh,” I said, scratching my head. “It’s kinda strange that they heard a dog in my apartment while I was on vacation, though. Since I wasn’t home and all.”
George’s grouchy expression made it clear he didn’t care. “Since you can afford a vacation, you can afford to live somewhere else.”
“Er, well, actually, someone else paid for the—”
He interrupted me. “And you can afford to find another place to stay tonight. Your belongings are already outside.” He jabbed a finger at the counter. “Your key.”
There was no room for argument. I deflated as I placed the key in front of him. He snatched it, then proceeded to ignore me. That was worse than glaring.
“Well, see you,” I said as I turned to leave. He didn’t respond as the door shut behind me. “Or not.”
The deep blue evening sky greeted me as I walked out into the apartment parking lot. George was right about my belongings—they were shoved haphazardly into cardboard boxes on the curb. Man, it was a good thing I didn’t own too much stuff. I was able to cram most of it in my bag or luggage. I left big items like my old couch behind, hoping somebody else could benefit from it.
Once that was done, I had no clue what to do. I sat down on the curb and tilted my head back. A few bright dots sparkled overhead, but the city sky paled in comparison to the sea of stars that lit up the sky on Chromatimaeus Island.
I couldn’t help but smile thinking about it. The beauty of that place was unforgettable. I felt so lucky to visit there not once but twice—and to even be invited for a third time. If I closed my eyes, I could still smell the salty ocean breeze, and feel the warm grains of sand between my paw pads...
I shook off a shiver. The memory was so intense, I almost felt a shift coming on, but transforming into my jackal form in front of my shifter-phobic apartment building probably wasn’t a great idea.
Well, ex-apartment building now. Did that make me officially homeless?
I stood up and brushed myself off. There was no point in dwelling on it. I checked my phone, which still had juice.
“Better figure out a place to charge this,” I said out loud. Maybe at my workplace? I could store my stuff in my locker, too.
Just as I got up, my phone buzzed. I smiled when I saw Poppy’s name on the screen.
“Yo, Pops!” I greeted.
“Hi, Muzo,” Poppy said gently. Back when we first met, he stammered when greeting me, but he’d gained a lot more confidence since then.
“What’s up?” I asked.
I heard a rustling sound on the other end, followed by the pop of a food container lid. “Um, I baked a bunch of cookies tonight. Double chocolate.”
I gasped. He knew they were my favorite. That was one of the perks of being a shifter. Chocolate made my canine side sick, but my human form could eat as much as my heart desired.
“I haven’t left the house all day,” Poppy mentioned. “So I thought I could bring them over to you. If you want?”
Of course I wanted. It was sweet that he always asked anyway. I sucked in a breath, eagerly about to tell him to come on over, but then I remembered the fact that I didn’t actually live here. Or anywhere.
“Uh,” I said.
My brain farted. It was rare that I was at a loss for words. What could I say to him? Not the truth. He lived in a state of constant anxiety—telling him I was homeless mi
“I... I’m actually out right now,” I finished.
“Oh,” Poppy murmured. He went quiet for a while, like he didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t blame him—I’d never, ever refused one of Poppy’s cookie runs before. “Um...”
“Hey, why don’t you hang onto those cookies, Poppy?” I suggested. “Swing by the BurgerMart tomorrow at eight. I’ll be starving after my shift.”
That seemed like a good compromise. This way I’d see my friend and get my cookies, he wouldn’t know I’d lost my apartment, and he wouldn’t have to worry about me.
“All right,” Poppy said, sounding lighter. “Um, I’m looking forward to it!”
I smiled. “Me, too, Pops. See ya later.”
I hung up and pocketed the phone, then took a deep breath. No matter what happened next, I had to stay positive.
Raising my face to the cool night sky, I imagined the possibilities. I wondered when I’d get the call to return for the Dragonfate Games’ third season. Would I meet new friends there? Which dragon would be the next bachelor, and who would be his fated mate?
I shuffled on the balls of my feet. Thinking about love was so exciting, even though I had no experience with it. I’d never even been on a date before. But it still brought me joy to watch my friends Taylor and Matteo fall in love and have adorable babies.
Maybe if I stayed positive, I’d find my true love one day, too.
Two
Cobalt
The ocean waves. The darkening sky. The evening breeze. The shadowy clouds, lit by the pale light of the moon.
All of it coalesced in my soul into an ultimate calm.
My eyes were shut as I stood on the edge of the beach. The cold water lapped at the tips of my boots. Their rhythm was a dance—the waves beckoned me, then pushed me away in an endless cycle.
A soft sigh left my lips. I never tired of the ocean’s tranquility. Often, I felt as one with the water, as if my feet would sink into the sand and swallow me whole.
Water was an important part of my hoard. Water was life.
My dragon soul was soothed. He lay just beneath the surface of my skin, a lurking behemoth waiting to breach and sink into the ocean’s abyss. We were all one—me, my dragon, and the water.
We were whole. It didn’t matter that I was mateless. Childless.
How many times will I tell myself that before I believe it?
The waters of my heart churned with turbulence. My brothers and their children depended on me. The island depended on me, too. They were all my responsibility. Was that not enough?
My dragon’s deep, Orphic voice responded, “No.”
I sighed. It wasn’t often that we were at odds. Since the Dragonfate Games began, my dragon’s wants only grew stronger. But the hunger wasn’t new. I was the eldest. Longing for my fated mate began when my youngest brothers were barely older than fledglings.
Yet my desires took a backseat to everyone else. There was no other option. I had to protect my family. How could I do that if my loyalties were split between my brothers and my potential mate?
Ignoring my dragon’s wordless scolding, I stepped into the salty water. It engulfed my boots. The leather was thin enough that I felt the cold against my skin. That brought me back down to earth.
The tension in my shoulders loosened. Everything was all right. I’d take each day as it came. If fate had chosen a mate for me, all I could do was trust her.
I stood in the tide, allowing the dancing water to calm me.
Then, out of nowhere, a sharp pain struck my heart—an arrowhead ablaze.
My eyes snapped open. I sucked in a ragged breath.
What was that? It felt like a knife was lodged in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. My heart literally ached.
The sudden pain shattered my tranquility. It provoked my dragon; he reared his head, snarling like a caged bear.
I stared out past the horizon, frozen except for the low growl rumbling in my throat. The sound of it shocked me. I was composed. I was calm. I did not growl unless necessary.
Was this necessary?
What was going on? I didn’t understand. Never in my thirty-five years had I experienced such agony. I shook my head, hoping to clear the feeling, but it didn’t fade. The arrowhead lodged deeper, rooting itself between my ribs.
“...You listening?”
The voice startled me. Was I so perturbed that I didn’t notice somebody sneaking up on me? I turned around slowly, still dazed.
I blew out a breath. It was only my brothers. Crimson and Thystle stood holding Ruby and Heather, respectively. The sight of the young dragonets was a soothing balm on my jittery nerves.
“Hello,” I greeted.
Thystle tilted his head towards Crimson. “See? I told you he wasn’t listening.”
“I can see that,” Crimson remarked. He looked like he’d lost a bet. “Are you all right, Cobalt?”
The beautiful dragonets distracted me from the painful sensation in my chest. They squawked cheerfully in greeting. They were so small, so precious. I arched a finger at them playfully and was delighted when they reached for it with tiny claws.
“Cobalt?” Thystle prompted.
“Ah. I’m fine,” I said. “What brings you here?”
My amethyst-haired brother sighed. “I mentioned it, but I guess you didn’t hear me. We’re heading out to see Jade for the meeting.”
“Meeting?” I echoed.
Thystle arched a brow. “You know, to decide the next bachelor for the Dragonfate Games?”
Crimson smirked, crossing his arms. “The Games that—if I may be so bold to address—you insisted on hosting? Really, Cobalt, if you didn’t want to bother with it, you could’ve sided with me during that argument all those months ago...”
The group meeting. The Games. All of it had slipped my mind. Truth be told, I wasn’t in the mood to attend. What use would I be during an important discussion when my heart clenched with peculiar, unknown pain?
Thystle’s expression softened. Could he sense my unease? If so, I felt guilty for letting it show. It wasn’t my younger brother’s duty to worry about me.
“If you don’t feel like going, you can just tell us,” Thystle said. “Besides, we need a babysitter.”
“Taylor and Matteo are having a spa night,” Crimson explained before I could ask about their mates.
“What about Viol?” I asked. The surliest of my younger brothers was nasty with us, but nothing but gentle with children. Ever since Ruby hatched, he often volunteered to babysit. Actually, ‘volunteered’ wasn’t the right term. He demanded the opportunity to babysit.
Crimson and Thystle exchanged an uneasy glance.
“We don’t know where he is,” Thystle admitted.
Crimson waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not like he attends these meetings, anyway. I suppose it’ll be a surprise when his turn comes.”
Thystle snorted. “You really want to make him the face of the Games? He’s gonna get our show cancelled.”
“So be it. We can always save him for last,” Crimson suggested with a grin.
The mention of Viol made guilt simmer in my belly. What happened to him was my fault. My responsibility. That was why I had to be strict with the others. I wouldn’t allow them to be hurt under my watch.
Bored of our adult conversation, the two young dragons swatted their little paws at me, demanding my attention.
I smiled and opened up my broad arms. “I would love to watch them.”
“Great!” Crimson unloaded Ruby onto me, then shifted into his sinuous red dragon form.
