The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ZADOK

“No! Please don’t take me there! I only just escaped!” The goblin cried as I dragged him towards the cave, carrying his bag at my back.

“I don’t care. I need to get my partner, and if catching a jewellery thief will get the desired result, then so be it.”

“The dragon doesn’t care about this. I got it out a few decades ago. He has long forgotten about it!” The goblin explained, but I didn’t care.

“Let’s find out then.”

I dragged the goblin to the front of the closed entrance, holding him down tightly. I stood till I realised I didn’t know what to do.

“I told you,” The goblin said, “I hold no value to him, neither do my possessions. Let me go already.”

I stayed silent, looking at the closed door, waiting for some miracle to enable me to trade the goblin – All to no avail.

My shoulders sank, and I contemplated if the goblin wasn’t valuable enough to recover my Ithra. Just when I thought it was over, a rumble rocked the cave, and slowly, the rocks that blocked the entrance rolled away – making a pathway inside the cave.

“Don’t be in haste to speak,” I said. Without a second thought, I dragged the goblin into the cave.

“Okay, you’re right. I accept,” The goblin said in a whispering voice. “You don’t have to do this. I can help you get something more valuable for the dragon,” It begged, “Just please, don’t take me to him.”

“Too late!” A loud voice which I knew too well said from the head of the cave. “What do we have here?” The dragon asked while I searched for where the voice came from.

“Show yourself!” I yelled, feigning confidence. “I have a deal for you.”

“That I can see,” The dragon said, and a mighty wind blew through the cave, throwing down rocks. “I see you did your homework on me. Very impressive, I must say.”

The dragon flew down and stood before me with its mighty wings bare. I fought the fear that came at the thought of its fire.

I pushed the goblin in front of him, holding him down. “This is a goblin. I caught him. I am offering him in place of my partner.”

The dragon looked at me and then at the goblin before him. “I didn’t think I would be seeing you anytime soon, theif.”

The goblin shook under me, and I felt pity on its behalf. However, it wasn’t enough to stop me from bidding it in exchange for Ithra.

“Give Ithra to me, and he’s all yours.” I negotiated with a taut voice.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The dragon let out a breath, and smoke oozed from his nostrils. “As exciting as that offer is, I prefer the girl.”

My heart broke at his verdict.

“I will catch this thief at a later time. Don’t you know the saying? Once a thief, always a thief.” The dragon flapped its wings and took up the air. “You can see yourselves out.”

“Wait!” I called, stopping him in his tracks.

“What is it this time, wolf?” He sounded aggravated.

I threw the bag of treasures on the floor, letting it pour out its precious content.

“Add this to the goblin,” I breathed. “Give Ithra back to me.”

The dragon returned to its former position and looked through the bag’s contents.

“Hmmm, they are quite precious.” He remarked, and I quickly packed them back into the bag. “Don’t be stingy.” He tsked, and a stone fell from the sky, blocking the way of the goblin that tried to run away. “See, I just prevented your prisoner from deserting you.”

My jaws clenched, and I dragged the goblin to his position. Holding him tighter this time around. “Give Ithra to me, and it’s all yours.” I gritted, tired of the conversation.

The dragon made a thinking noise, and after much contemplation, it finally spoke, “No deal!”

Frustration ebbed in my heart as he took off to the air again, leaving me to my devices.

“Wait!” I called and brought out my last card. If he refused this, then I was truly fucked.

I brought out another bag that held the golden globe in a glass. Within a second, the dragon returned, sniffing the air. “Gold.” He seethes, eyes focused on the bag in my hand. “Let me see it,” He demanded impatience in his tone.

It was my turn to be wooed, “Not until you give her to me.”

A breath of fire went out his nostrils, and his eyeballs dilated, “What did you say?”

“Exactly what you heard.” I growled, “You can only see it when you return her to me.”

“And what if I don’t like its content? What if you gave me a defective item? How can it be a fair transaction?” The dragon asked – Anger evident in its tone.

“No one said anything about being fair.” I said, “Life isn’t fair.”

“Well said.” The dragon huffed, “But if you refuse me to see what is inside the bag, I will have to reject your offer and keep the hybrid to myself.”

“She’s not a hybrid!” I found myself defending. “And you will not see what is inside this bag until you hand her to me.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I will scour the dark forest, collecting every precious beast or item and bringing them until the day I die,” I said with all conviction – Meaning every word.

A brief silence ensued between us as my words stood in the air.

“Well played, wolf.” The dragon said, seeming impressed. “I am interested in the item in your bag, and you know it. So let’s call a truce.” His eyes fixated on me. “Hand over the bag, and I will make it so you don’t need her to fulfil your mission anymore.”

My eyes went wide at his proposal. “What are you talking about?” I stuttered, unable to understand what he meant.

“I reckon you need the girl to be successful in your mission here.” His eyes narrowed at me, “What if I told you another way you could fulfil your destiny and get out of this place without getting to the heart of the forest? in exchange for one small little thing.” His tone was patronising, “The bag.”