Mated to the Storm Dragon (Elemental Mates 1)

Gregory nodded, taking hold of her hand to press it. “Now you see why we need to keep the secret to keep ourselves safe. Because it’s not just me and the council. We’re just trying to live our life, all of us.”

“A life with houses and flowers and children.” Naomi couldn’t stop smil

ing, even though now doors began to open and the square began to fill. “It should feel weird. I never even knew shifters existed! But do you know what the weirdest thing is? That nothing about this town feels strange. It feels...” Naomi paused, trying to find the right word. At last she gave up and slowly shook her head.

“It feels so normal,” she said softly. “Just like the sort of town where I always hoped I’d be able to buy a small house one day. With enough space for a small garden, and neighbors who don’t ignore you when they see you.”

Gregory pulled her a little closer. Once again her heart sped up at the way his hard, muscled chest felt pressed against her.

“You’ll never feel lonely here,” he said, his voice hoarse. “If you want a home, Naomi... I promise you that you will never be an outsider here. It is a good town, with good people. Not everyone is a shifter either. Some people just never develop the talent—but no one is an outcast here. Mountain View is for everyone who wants to live in peace with their neighbors, be they a cat, a dog or a human. That is why my great-great-grandfather built his home into the mountain, long ago.”

Naomi thought of her old life. She had a job—but a job she hated. A job where no one appreciated her, and where they were continually cutting her hours or giving her the worst shifts.

No, she wouldn’t be sad at all to leave that part of her life behind. She wasn’t naive either—she’d studied art, but had always been aware that most people couldn’t make a living of it, at least not right away.

Back then, she’d picked up a couple of extra credits, hoping that she’d be able to earn a living teaching while working on her art career simultaneously.

That hadn’t worked out either. But perhaps, if Mountain View had a school...

“Gregory!”

Naomi was pulled from her thoughts when a woman with gray hair and a smile that lit up her entire face came forward.

She had to be in her seventies, but she pulled Gregory’s powerful body effortlessly into her own arms.

“You’re home! You stay away too much; don’t you know that we miss you, boy?” she chided him through her laughter.

Next to her, a woman came up who appeared to be only a few years older than Naomi. Her hair was a mousy brown, but there was a bold, black streak running through it. She smiled at them both in greeting, but didn’t speak.

“Naomi, that’s my aunt Jess, and that’s Ginny,” Gregory said. “They both look after the house when I’m not here.”

Ginny inclined her head, still smiling, and the older woman fondly patted Gregory’s arm.

“The boy needs someone to look after him. All alone in that big house! I’ve told him, I’ve told him for years, it’s not good to let a place like that stand empty. Houses got souls of their own, you know? And that house was craving the laughter of children. For years I’ve told him that it’s high time he brings home a mate. Has he shown you the children’s bedrooms? When he was small—”

“Enough!” Gregory said, raising his hands in surrender as he laughed. “Please! Don’t give away all my embarrassing secrets at once.”

With a grin, Naomi found herself shaking the hand of aunt Jess.

“Embarrassing secrets?” Naomi said innocently. “Oh, I’m sure he has none. But if you would like to come over for a cup of coffee while he’s busy...”

“Already conspiring against me,” Gregory muttered, although his lips were twitching with obvious pleasure. “Just what I feared would happen.”

Jess patted his arm again while giving Naomi a little wink. “Ginny and I might come visit tomorrow. Just to make sure you’ve got everything you need, of course.”

“Of course,” Naomi echoed and returned the wink.

Proudly, the woman now patted Naomi’s arm. “I knew he’d find himself a sensible woman. Don’t let him intimidate you. He likes to play all high and mighty dragon, but why, one day when he was just a boy and the fountain—”

“Oh God,” Gregory groaned and covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Not the fountain story, please! She’s only just arrived! Save my biggest shame for a better occasion, will you?”

Ginny, who’d remained silent, now gave his shoulder a little nudge and then nodded towards the square.

When Naomi curiously followed her gaze, she found herself eye to eye with an intimidating man. He was tall and strong, and older than Gregory. But the most unsettling thing about him were his eyes.

Where Gregory’s eyes shone silver with the power of his dragon, the stranger’s eyes were golden.

A wolf’s eyes, Naomi realized with a sudden shiver.