Muzo delicately placed the tip of my cock past the rim of the bucket. “There we go,” he said, rubbing his hand along my sensitive head. “Let’s see how much cum a dragon makes.”

  That was it.

  His soft palm and filthy words pushed me over the brink. My roar blasted through the room, bouncing off the glass. The pleasure seizing my body was unbearable. A thick torrent of cum shot out of me. The force nearly knocked the bucket out Muzo’s hand. He held it tight as he diligently stroked my twitching cock to completion.

  Stars blurred my vision. My knees shook. I forced myself to breathe, otherwise I’d pass out.

  Once the deluge of pleasure finally fizzled out, I felt my body returning to normal. My dragon was satisfied. My draconic features receded until I looked like a regular human again.

  Muzo ran up and caught me before my legs gave out. “Whoa there, big guy,” he said with a laugh. “You okay?”

  I took a deep breath to clear my head. “Yes. I think so.”

  “Good, ‘cause you’re too big for me to hold upright forever.”

  I steadied myself, then smiled at my mate. “Thank you. I didn’t realize I’d get so woozy after... that.”

  Muzo grinned like an imp. “Speaking of that, you seriously filled the whole bucket. I mean, wow. It was like a whole can of white paint.”

  My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Now that I wasn’t horny, my actions seemed terribly lewd.

  “I’m going to burn that thing,” I mumbled.

  Muzo cackled with laughter until he was doubled over. I’m glad he thought it was funny. Now I had one less usable bucket for my aquarium.

  But for sex like that, I’d sacrifice it all over again.

  Twenty-One

  Muzo

  Excitement charged the air as the contestants waited for the start of the third challenge. Apparently, competing for one million bucks was more inspiring than competing for an alpha dragon.

  After Gaius led us into the forest, he announced they’d compete in a scavenger hunt for a particular prize. I looked around curiously at the gathered omegas. They seemed tense and eager in a different way than in previous challenges.

  I felt bad that nobody else would get their shot at love this time. I remembered being in their shoes during the first two Dragonfate Games. But entering a game show wasn’t a guarantee that an alpha was destined to fall in love with you. That was up to fate. I just got lucky this time—and I’d fallen in love with the alpha of my dreams.

  “Well, you’re looking particularly wistful today,” Alaric remarked. He stood next to me in human form. I noticed his outfit was unusually rough around the edges. His white sleeves were rolled up, and his jeans looked like they’d been worn more than twice in their entire lifespan. Was he actually planning to participate this time?

  “Yeah,” I said.

  He arched a brow. “I suppose you can afford to stand around and daydream, since you’ve won the Games already. You’ve got everything you could ever want.”

  I couldn’t deny that. “Yup.”

  Alaric sighed. “There’s no accounting for tact...”

  “Sorry,” I said, not wanting to make him feel bad. It didn’t escape me that this was his third time on the Games and he hadn’t found his mate yet. He’d always been competitive and ambitious. It must’ve sucked for him to ‘lose’ three times in a row.

  “It’s not your fault, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Alaric said. “Cobalt isn’t my type, anyway. Too much of a big, quiet lug.”

  “Yeah, he is,” I said fondly.

  “Why are you here, anyway?” Alaric asked, folding his arms. “This is a consolation challenge. Shouldn’t you be at home with your man?”

  A few nearby contestants turned to look at me. They must’ve been eavesdropping, wondering the same thing as Alaric.

  “Oh, I’m not competing,” I explained. “I’m just here to cheer you guys on. Jade said that was allowed. Something about narratives and good TV.”

  The contestants rolled their eyes and tuned out of the conversation. Guess I wasn’t making any new friends on this season.

  Alaric snorted, but there was a hint of humor in it. “I dare say the only person you’re popular with is Cobalt.”

  “Hey, what about you and Poppy?” I asked, pouting.

  “You’re all right. For a dog,” Alaric conceded with a smirk.

  I grinned back. “Jackal.”

  “Yes, yes. Speaking of mildly irritating canines, where is Poppy?” Alaric asked.

  I didn’t see another head of white hair among the contestants. Usually he stayed close to me during the challenges. But since I’d already won Cobalt’s heart, he didn’t need to do that anymore.

  “Emergency bathroom break?” I suggested.

  Just as I piped up, a nearby group of rough voices spoke over me. They stood in a closed circle.

  “Stay where you are. Yeah, right where we can see you,” one contestant spat.

  I couldn’t see who they were talking to over the rest of the crowd. I exchanged a confused glance with Alaric. “What’s that about?” I asked.

  He narrowed his odd-colored eyes. “Sounds like trouble,” he mumbled. He paused, sniffing the air. “Smell that?”

  I followed his lead, then froze. Distinct fear scent muddied the air, mingled with another familiar scent that turned my blood to ice.

  I rushed past the crowd and into the circle, using my small stature to squeeze past them.

  “Hey!” somebody protested.

  I sucked in a breath when I saw Poppy. He was hunched over, cowering in fear.

  “Poppy!” I cried, rushing towards him. “What happened?”

  He didn’t look injured, but his brown eyes were glassy with fright. He relaxed slightly when I put my arms around him.

  “N-nothing,” Poppy murmured. “It’s okay.”

  “You’re shaking like a leaf, Pops.”

  He averted his gaze. “I always do that...”

  I frowned, glancing at the circle of omegas surrounding him. “Are these guys bothering you?” I asked my friend.

  “No,” Poppy lied.

  I didn’t get mad often, but bullies pissed me off—especially ones who picked on people as soft as Poppy. My pack animal instincts flared in my chest. My teeth shifted into fangs that I bared at the bullies.

  “I don’t know what you said to Poppy, but you’d better back off,” I warned.

  They glared at me, but hesitated. They all knew I was Cobalt’s mate. Even if they didn’t want me present, they couldn’t do shit about it.

  “Exactly what we thought would happen,” one of the bullies muttered before the group dispersed.

  Alaric sauntered up to us. “What happened?” he asked.

  The uncomfortable atmosphere went back to normal, and the hairs on the back of my neck fell back down. “I dunno. What’d they say to you, Poppy?”

  He stared at the ground. “They said... I’d better stay away from you during the challenge.”

  “What? Why?”

  Poppy bit his lip. “They know we’re friends. They said I’d use that as an unfair advantage to win. Like you’d give me tips on where the treasure is.”

  Alaric tilted his head at me. “Do you know?”

  I scoffed. “No way! I didn’t even know what the challenge was about ‘til I got here.”

  “I said that, but nobody believed me,” Poppy murmured.

  I hugged him harder. “It’s okay, Pops. Just ignore them.”

  “I agree,” Alaric said. “Money makes people do stupid things. A large amount of money—like one million dollars—makes people do even stupider things.”

  Poppy smiled weakly. “Yeah. I’ll try. Thanks, you two.”

  “What’s going on here?”

  My heart leapt at Cobalt’s voice. I instantly felt safer and calmer knowing he was here.

  “Everything’s okay now, I think,” I said. “Some guys were bugging Poppy.”

  Cobalt frowned. Without another word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad and pen.

  “Write down their names,” Cobalt said quietly. “They won’t be winning any prize money.”

  Alaric grinned. “Oh, my. He’s scarier than I thought.”

  “Hey, back off, kitty cat. I already marked my territory,” I teased.

  But Poppy shook his head. “Please, it’s okay. I-I don’t want to hurt anyone’s chances of winning money.”

  Cobalt slowly leaned down to Poppy’s eye level and put a friendly hand on his shoulder. Poppy always seemed a bit nervous around alphas, but he didn’t flinch away from Cobalt’s gentle touch. Maybe it was because he was my mate, but Poppy seemed to understand Cobalt’s intentions were good.

  “It’s my money, so I choose who does or doesn’t receive it,” Cobalt said. “And nobody who hurts or harasses you deserves the prize.”

  Poppy looked comforted by his words. “Okay...”

  My heart swelled with affection for my mate. I loved that he was kind to my friends.

  “Gaius looks ready to start,” Cobalt remarked. “I’ll be waiting. Coming, Muzo?”

  “Yup.” I hugged Poppy one last time. “Go get ‘em, Pops. You too, Alaric.”

  Alaric shrugged at Poppy. “Sorry, wolf, but I intend to win. You’re on your own for this one.”

  Poppy nodded in determination. “I-I’m gonna try to win, too.”

  I resumed my spot next to Cobalt as Gaius relayed the rules.

  “All right, omegas!” Gaius began. “Your final task—for a prize of one million dollars—is to hunt down rare red moss. It could be anywhere on the island, but here’s a hint from yours truly—think smarter, not harder.” He winked. “You have two hours. If it’s found, the winner will get the full cash prize. If nobody finds the moss by the time limit, the money will be divided among you.”

  Everyone murmured in excitement.

  “Your time... starts now!” Gaius shouted.

  “Rare red moss?” I asked, glancing up at Cobalt.

  “It’s for the snails,” he explained. “My research tells me they use it for breeding.”

  “What, like a sex toy?”

  The corner of his mouth curved in amusement. “No, as a substrate for eggs. But I see you’ve got some creative ideas.” He lowered his voice, leaning a bit closer. “Though after what happened last night, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  Gaius poked his head into the conversation. “Ooh, what happened last night?”

  A blush dusted Cobalt’s cheeks. “None of your business,” he mumbled.

  “Excuse you,” Gaius said with a scoff. “I’m the host, darling. Everything that happens during the show is my business.”

  Cobalt leveled a glare at him.

  Gaius sighed, shaking his head. “No dice? Then I have no choice but to use my wild imagination...”

  I chuckled, wondering what kind of wacky things Gaius would cook up in his mind, and how close they’d be to the truth.

  Suddenly, I heard a small yelp. My lingering animal instincts stirred in my blood. I knew it was Poppy without even going to the source of the noise.

  I immediately ran over to him. He sat at the mouth of a cavern in wolf form gingerly holding up one paw, as if he hurt himself.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Poppy sighed, sounding exasperated with himself. “It’s nothing. I just stepped on a sharp rock.”

  I wondered if he was still shaken up by the bullies and hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings. If the challenge just started and he already hurt his paw, would he be safe wandering around alone? What if the bullies came back?

  “I’m coming with you, Pops,” I announced.

  His eyes widened. “W-what? You can’t. People will think you’re helping me.”

  “Let ‘em think whatever they want. I don’t have any secret knowledge, so how could I help? I’m only gonna keep you company, that’s all.”

  Poppy’s fur flattened in relief. “Oh, Muzo... Thank you.”

  Cobalt ran over with a concerned frown. Behind him trailed a camera-wielding kobold.

  “What’s going on?” Cobalt asked.

  “I’m going with Poppy on the scavenger hunt.” I looked directly at the camera. “Not helping. Just accompanying.” I took off my shirt and handed it to Cobalt. “Here, hold my clothes.”

  After stripping, I shifted to jackal form and pressed my fur against Poppy’s side. I felt his heartbeat slow down.

  “All right,” Cobalt said, eyeing me in concern. “Be careful. Both of you.”

  I snorted. “It’s just a scavenger hunt. We’ll be fine. See ya in two hours!”

  Cobalt nodded at the cameraman to follow us. I figured it was less for TV and more for our safety. My alpha was such a worrywart sometimes.

  “Lead the way, Pops,” I said.

  He glanced around nervously. “All right. Um... When I think of moss, I think of caves. How about in here?” he asked, pointing his nose towards the cavern.

  Cobalt mentioned the Chromatimaeus river snails used the moss for breeding, so it must be somewhere wet. Didn’t most caves contain some water? Poppy’s idea was a good one, but since I wasn’t supposed to help, I didn’t share my thoughts.

  I shrugged. “Hey, don’t ask me. I’m just along for the ride. Wherever you go, I go.”

  “Okay.”

  The two of us padded into the yawning mouth of the cavern. It was dark and damp inside. The rich smell of earth surrounded us, along with the scent and sound of water coming from deeper within. That lifted my hopes. Could Poppy find the rare moss after all?

  Poppy raised his head to sniff the air, then set off towards the water. Along the way, he asked, “So, how’s it going with Cobalt?”

  I grinned. “Awesome. He’s the best.”

  “Is he nice? He seems nice,” Poppy said wistfully.

  “’Course he’s nice! I wouldn’t be fated to some douchebag.”

  “That’s good.” He sighed in relief. “Oh Muzo, I’m so happy for you. I was really worried what would happen if you had to leave the island and go back to nothing...”

  I headbutted his shoulder. “Hey, I wouldn’t have nothing. I’d have you.”

  He smiled, gently thumping his tail against me. “I know. But with my earnings, I couldn’t feed you and put a roof over your head forever. That’s why I’m glad Cobalt is your mate. He’ll always take care of you.”

  Warmth filled my chest. Cobalt had said the same thing to me. I’d never felt as safe and secure as I did with him—not just in terms of money, but everything. He was my home.

  But I felt a twinge of guilt, too. Taylor found his mate in Crimson, and now I’d found my mate in Cobalt. It wasn’t fair that our sweet Poppy was still alone.

  I licked my friend’s cheek. “You’ll find your mate, Pops, I promise. And he’s gonna be the nicest, gracious-est, most pleasant and respectable guy you ever did meet!”

  “W-what are you talking about?” Poppy huffed. “Enough about me. I want to know more about you two.” He dropped into a whisper. “Did you... you know...”

  “Did we what? Oh. Have sex? Yeah, a bunch of times.”

  If Poppy was in human form, a blush would’ve lit up his whole face. Instead his fur fluffed out around his neck. “Y-you did? Wait, Muzo. Are you pregnant?”

  I blanked. Was I pregnant? I didn’t know. We talked about breeding and never used protection, so it wasn’t impossible.

  “Uh,” I said. “Maybe?”

  Poppy’s tail wagged vigorously. “Muzo! I can’t believe you’re going to be a parent. Oh, that’s so wonderful.”

  It hadn’t struck me until now that—yeah, I was going to be a parent.

  And Poppy was right. It was wonderful.

  I couldn’t help wagging my tail, too. “Yeah. It’s early, but I’m pretty excited about it. I can’t wait for my kid to meet Uncle Tay and Uncle Pops.”

  Poppy beamed, looking absolutely elated. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a sneering voice.

  “I fucking knew it. Look, the jackal’s leading him right to the prize!”

  We spun around to see a trio of contestants behind us. There were two wolves, one brown and one gray, and a coyote. Since I was a jackal and Poppy was a relatively small wolf, all three of them outmatched us in size.

  I felt a zap of recognition. Their forms were different, but there was no mistaking their voices and foreboding attitudes. These were the same bullies harassing Poppy earlier.

  My hackles rose into furry spikes. “What do you want?” I demanded.

  “We want the prize,” the brown wolf growled. “Tell us where the moss is.”

  I scoffed. “Geez, you guys are stubborn. I don’t know jack shit.”

  The gray wolf bared his fangs. “Don’t play dumb. Or maybe you just are dumb.”

  The insult made me snort with laughter. I’d heard way worse from Alaric. These bullies would have to try harder to upset me.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Let’s not start a dog fight over some moss, okay?”

  “It’s not about the damned moss,” the coyote snarled. “It’s about a million dollars. Split three ways, we’ll be set.”

  The two wolves exchanged a subtle glance. Geez, did they plan on shutting out the coyote shifter? These guys really sucked.

  I shrugged. “I dunno what to tell you. Seriously, you’re better off looking elsewhere instead of following us.”

  “I’m sorry. Muzo really doesn’t know where it is,” Poppy murmured. “So, please, leave us alone.”

  “Hey, don’t apologize to these dudes,” I said.

  Poppy’s voice came out as a soft whimper. “I’m sorry...”

  “Enough whining already,” the brown wolf barked. His voice echoed off the narrow cave walls. “If you really want us to leave, then tell us where the moss is. Now.”

  I wasn’t worried about an actual fight. The bullies wouldn’t dare harm either of us on tape. The camera guy was still present, hiding along the shadowy cave wall while filming. At least, I think he was. It was difficult to tell with all the bodies in the way.

  But that didn’t stop Poppy from trembling. He shivered violently, flattening his belly to the ground in terror.

 

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