The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58: She Got His Dick. I Got His Army.

Elara led Serena to her quarters, Hale right behind. She immediately got a cloth wet with freezing cold water and dabbed Serena’s neck.

Hale handed Serena a glass of water, which Serena downed.

"Thank you both," Serena whispered.

Hale’s jaw was tight. Body tense. He didn’t respond.

Gav entered a moment later, expression darkening. Serena’s neck still had a rash, the one he’d seen earlier. Her eyes were red. Of course it would rattle her. Her composure made it easy to forget she had weaknesses. That she wasn’t made of iron.

After being humiliated, she’d been forced to sit next to him. In front of one thousand people. The fact she didn’t cry, that she held her composure through all of it, spoke volumes.

And Dexmon had the audacity to keep glancing at her. Like he was confused. Like he didn’t understand why she wouldn’t look at him.

It made Gav want to break something. Preferably Dexmon’s face.

Serena looked up, catching him mid-stare. He grinned immediately, wiping the murder from his expression.

"See? The worst one done. And Queen Bellatrix surprisingly hated you slightly less than normal."

Serena shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Elara burst out laughing. "When she dipped to you after King Tiberon... the look that flashed across your face was..."

Gav started cracking up. "I don’t know what was more surprising. Agnes entering with a crown on or Bellatrix kneeling."

Serena whacked him before Hale or Elara could.

"What?" he said playfully, hands in the air.

They made their way down to the dragons. Last meeting with Dexmon and then they’d separate.

Thank the gods.

She followed behind Gav and Hale. Elara at her side, looking entirely too excited to be at her first meeting as part of the Draken Forces. Even though she was nowhere near qualified.

Considering Serena had ridden Velkaris a grand total of three times, she also was nowhere near qualified.

All dragons were on the field. All riders present, assembling into formation. King Tiberon stood at the front, arms crossed. Expression unreadable per usual.

Dex was off to the side in front, speaking with Agnes. She was hugging him. Her laughs grew louder as Serena approached. She even glanced up at Serena with a smile.

Serena looked past and pretended not to notice.

None of this made sense. Dex was playful with her when they were alone. Overly affectionate, even. But in professional settings, he’d didn’t touch her. Not like that. He’d treated her as an equal. The same way he treated Hale, Gav, and the high-ranking officers. Respect without spectacle.

This? This was spectacle.

Nothing was adding up.

Dexmon kissed Agnes on the lips. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Gods, what is that," Gav said, making a face.

Serena continued to look past it. Pretending not to see. Composed.

Her chest ached anyway. A dull, persistent throb where she used to feel Dexmon’s emotions through their matebond. Now there was just silence.

Velkaris moved out of formation and ran to Serena, tail knocking over three training dummies in his excitement.

He nuzzled her immediately, affectionately. Serena laughed, unable to help herself at how adorable he was.

"Hello Velkaris, I missed you too," she said, petting him. "I’ll see you after."

Velkaris shot Dex a dirty look and then moved back into formation at the front across the vast field fitting fifty dragons.

Of the two males bonded to her, the dragon was clearly the more emotionally intelligent one.

Serena continued walking next to Gav. As they crossed the field, every dragon bowed to Serena.

Right. Forgot about that small detail.

She dipped respectfully to Dexmon as protocol mandated, not meeting his eyes, and moved towards her spot.

Again, to her horror, every member of the Draken Forces got on one knee. This time in unison. It dawned on her then that every member of the Draken Forces was also a member of the Brotherhood. Obviously they would be.

There were different military divisions in Drakenfell and the Draken Forces was the most prestigious, most desirable one. It made sense.

But gods, why did they all have to kneel in unison?

Normally, it’d be fine. It might even be fun. But today. Of all days. She wanted out of the spotlight.

King Tiberon was the last to kneel. Dexmon stood behind Serena, unmoving.

"You honor me. I thank you," Serena said, her voice calm and gracious, carrying farther than she felt.

King Tiberon rose. Warriors, officers, and even the dragons rose with him.

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