--- Lane's POV---

The heat in my cheeks didn't dissipate at all. Each time I moved and felt the slightest of aches in my hips and back, it reminded me too much of what happened last night...

And this morning.

I blushed even harder when I barely caught the she-wolf's eyes before she too blushed, averting her gaze awkwardly. She didn't even dare lay her eyes on Jethro and I had no idea why or what had transpired between them.

All I knew was that I had woken up to my Master tonging down my ass, biting at my flesh before he had grabbed my hips, pulled my legs over the back of the bed and fucked me to unconsciousness.

Twice.

A faint throb pulsed through my cock at the reminder, along with a shiver coursing down my spine as I raised heavy eyes to Jethro.

The urge to suppress my purr failed when he reached out, brushing his knuckles gently against my cheek with a tender smile. Even if I was feeling ashamed, knowing the she wolf had heard my cries and moans, whimpered pleas for Jethro to make me cum... I didn't care.

With the way his eyes were glowing with pride and contentment, a clear joy in his actions and gaze, I knew I had made my Master happy with my actions.

A slight discomfort was well worth the price of his enjoyment. My eyes closed on a deeper purr as his fingers reached behind my neck, nails slightly scratching at my scruff before he chuckled lowly.

My eyes felt heavy as his nails kept gently scratching the nape of my neck, succeeding in making me feel relaxed and sleepy. My tiger let out a soft mewl of protest when Jethro removed his hands, blinking the haze away as he chuckled once more and gave me a peck on the lips.

"We need to get going, love. Otherwise we won't get to the council before that yapping pup gets there." Jethro explained softly before heading out towards the blushing she wolf, who was holding her pup in her hands and looking anywhere but us.

Her eyes quickly snapped to attention before bulging out of her head as Jethro transformed, his massive body dwarfing us instantly. His wings stretched with the soft sound of leather before he lowered himself with a deep rumble.

"There is no way for all three of you to be able to stay safely on my back, so I will hold both of you in my claws. Tell the she-wolf before she wets herself in fear."

Jethro blinked one massive eye my way as I chuffed, doing just as he told me to do. The she wolf was already shaking in both awe and fear, never mind the little pup squished against her bosom.

"Jethro is going to hold us as we fly, seeing as there's no secure way for all three of us to hold onto him." I said, smiling reassuringly at the woman when she squeaked in fear before I added, "This is the quickest way to get to the Council and make sure you and your son are safe from harm."

She closed her eyes, taking a few deep and calming breaths as she steeled her nerves. When she opened her eyes with a nod, Jethro pushed himself on his hindlegs and grabbed each of us before his massive wings pressed down with force.

The she wolf squealed and I felt my stomach stir uncomfortably for a few seconds as Jethro created enough lift for us to soar through the sky. The rush of the wind against my cheeks brought tears to my eyes so I simply averted my gaze and looked up at the scales of my mate's throat.

He rumbled reassuringly, a sense of freedom and contentment in the back of his mind as he flew with cheeky ease.

We didn't need to worry too much about the cold, both because Jethro kept himself to a low enough altitude, plus the fact that his massive body and the flames within produced enough heat to stave off the worst of the cold.

In fact, the cool wind felt rather refreshing, like a nice breeze on a hot summer's night. I closed my eyes and sighed, feeling warm and comfortable in my master's hold and the happiest I've been since... ever.

Leaving the pride was the best thing I've ever done.

"Indeed, my love. Though I absolutely loath your pride for how they treated you, I can't deny that their treatment resulted in you finally finding me, so I suppose I should be grateful for that."

I leaned into Jethro's hold, brushing my hands over his scales and awing over the smoothness against my palms. A slight pinch of fear settled in my stomach and Jethro's claws gently tightened their hold in quiet reassurance.

"I...I've never been to the Council before...only heard tales. They don't like my kind." I explained at the questioning thought Jethro sent my way. The silence that rang was only broken by the beating of his wings and the soft murmurs of the she wolf as she whispered reassuring words to her pup.

"It's not that they despise your kin, love. The Council simply demands to be treated with respect, as respect is earned, not freely handed out like candy." Jethro's voice rumbled through my head after a moment of silence.

That... was fair. After all, as far as I knew, all the prides were arrogant enough to be snappy with the Council, even when they were on their best behavior.

The Council had undoubtedly tried over and over again to smooth out any ruffled feathers and start on a clean slate. I guess they soon realized that trying to argue a valid point against arrogant airheads only resulted in the release of said air.

Jethro chuckled slightly as his wings flapped down with force, pressing us higher into the sky.

"You'd be surprised on how close you are to the truth, Kitten. While it is true that the Council has loosened the reigns on the feline shifters somewhat, they are way more in control than the cats think. For example, the Council has handpicked the feline representatives because they were the most... amicable of their species."

I blinked, certain I had misheard Jethro's explanation. One of my kind... amicable? Most feline shifters I knew were all proud and stubborn things that sneered down at anything in their vicinity.

A deep, rumbling chuckle echoed through Jethro's chest as smoke billowed from his nostrils and evaporated behind us in the wind.

"Oh, they still do but at least they know to hold their tongues and know to bow down to their superiors." Jethro commented with a dark amusement in his tone that made me think he had several encounters with those representatives himself.

Looking up, I bit my lip at the toothy grin on Jethro's muzzle, showing me that yes, he had in fact encountered the representatives before and made a lasting impression on them.

He snickered to himself, pushing his wings higher to get above the looming trees ahead. "Oh trust me, the furball still puffs up his tail at the mere mention of me."

I chuckled with him, ignoring the wary look of the she wolf and gently caressed the scales on Jethro's paw. They were intricate and soft to the touch, an interesting mix between a deep dark blue and black.

When the sunlight cast over them, I was in fact quite certain I caught a glint of green with my eye, but each time I blinked or twisted my head to observe it better, the color dissipated in a flash.

It surprised me that the scales were so soft though. At least, as long as I followed their natural growth pattern. Going against the scales caught my finger against them and even with the slight pressure I applied, I could tell that the edges could be sharp if there was more force behind em.

Jethro let out a snort, claws gently digging against my torso in warning while I bit my lip on a cheeky grin.

"Didn't know dragons were ticklish..." I thought to myself, gaining another squeeze from Jethro as he huffed, both with amusement and slight warning.

"Oh Kitten, don't press your luck. You'll find yourself tied up and spread out like the feast you are before you can squeak."

A blush instantly heated my face as I averted my gaze to the trees, hands instantly shoved underneath my armpits. Jethro's amusement was clear as day, only growing when I ignored him and the she-wolf while willing my blush to fade away.

It was only when we approached a large settlement with people scrambling out of the way of the flying dragon that I managed to distract myself.

My stomach cramped instantly with nerves as Jethro skillfully landed, placing the pair of us on the ground before shifting. I quickly handed him the pants and shirt he had given me to hold onto and grumbled lowly when some of the onlookers didn't even avert their eyes from my mate.

Strong fingers settled in my nape with reassurance, brushing against the few hairs that had risen in annoyance. "Easy kitten. They'll learn their place soon enough." He cooed in my ear, glancing at the few shifters as they rushed to avert their eyes.

A low purr rumbled in my chest as Jethro's touch soothed my nerves, at least partially. As long as he was here to guide and help me, I knew I would be fine.

"Babe, you're more than just fine." Jethro husked in my ear, chuckling and pulling me against his side when I gave a halfhearted growl to hide the flush on my cheek I refused to acknowledge.

"Now, let's go and see what we can do against Curtis' harassment and breach of my territory. I so hope that yapping pup is here already." Jethro smirked wickedly before he started guiding us towards the settlement, more so the largest building in the center.

All around, people were quick to shower Jethro with courteous nods and bows, shooting me wary glances or even confused glares to seemingly following Jethro all around.

It only succeeded to have me tilt my chin up in a proud display, knowing I deserved to stand besides Jethro. After all, he chose me.

And judging by the way Jethro pressed me even closer to him with a deep rumble of his own, it wouldn't be long before his dragon was forced to come out and stake its claim.

"Indeed, my love. Which is why you'd better shift and stay by my side." Jethro inhaled deeply, growling lowly and giving me a heavy lidded look that made me realize just how close the dragon was to the surface.

And if I knew anything from dragons, it was that they were rather possessive of their hoard, their treasure.

Jethro would protect me with his life. And he would have no qualms with claiming me in the middle of this settlement to prove the onlookers that he had found and taken a mate.