Claimed By A Dragon Prince

Max had heard about Lily’s helping the village where his exiled aunt was. He always felt bad that she had been deposed or no fault of her own. She was the oldest and the next in line after him since it was her brother who had been in. She just didn’t want his current step father as she wanted her true mate not a chosen mate. His birth mother had died giving birth to him. His birth father was a killed in a raid which is why the course of succession as so messed up.

Over the years he had asked Lily for help on various projects the mines being the main one since her area of study had to do with plants and the environment. His stepmother always made it hard on him, but was glad when one of his "ideas" came through. He tried to be a good son towards her but she only looked at me with disdain. He always felt like he was failing her, but after he became an adult he let go of ever trying to please her.

This is why the Alpha ceremony had been cancelled. If he was to ascend, he would need a strong female by his side and Lily was his best option. He knew of a few mystics that could possibly remove the mark without killing her. He felt if she could give him just one more chance he would prove that he was a better man then the boy he was.

Finishing up some paperwork the some of the finished projects a knock came at his door. "Come in." Two of the Clan Alpha’ stepped through the doors one an old friend the other a good acquaintance he met through his friend here. "Alfred. Rafael. It is so good to see you. I have been expecting you. Please come. Sit." The two entered closing the door behind them before taking their seats in front of his desk.

Alfred looked optimistic while Rafael looked skeptical. "I am curious why you have called us here. Is something amiss?" Alfred knew asking first would get a better result from Max since they were old school friends. "I assume you have heard about Lily taking the Second Dragon Prince, Dimitri as a mate?" They both nodded having been there when she was introduced, but had no time to speak with Max at the event.

"I think she was cohered into mating him. He has a research department specializing in her area of expertise. I found that a little strange until I kept digging and found this." He handed them a copy of her admissions application, and they both noticed right away the high ranking official on the document. "Why would he approve her application? I know she had good grades my sister got her application for the Centaurus Academy. She was only going for one field, but my sister said she hadn’t studied it before."

Alfred had been curious about why the wolf clan’s ward was apply for higher education. She would be set for life if she simply did what she was told. Rafael knew of the wolf clan ward and met her on couple business meeting with the wolf king who was an idiot. If she hadn’t spoon fed him a speech he would have lost the business deal, but everyone knew who would really be handling the details.

She is a very capable female one he considered taking himself, but because she seemed to be too tame he let her go. "So what does this tell us? The Dragon Clans chief advisor seen an opportunity to use her? Highly unlikely. He’s not a creature of intrigue and schemes. He’s too straightforward for that nonsense. So what does he want with her?"

Max had been trying hard to find out what he wanted Lily for, bit it was almost impossible to get Intel on the man. He was so well guarded that anyone asking the wrong questions was taken into custody. One of his best spies had been taken and sent back to him bloody and broken. "If either one of you have a way to get close to him I am all ears." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

They both looked at each other before Rafael spoke. "My sister was also one of his top students yer before Lily I’m sure she could find out what he wants with Lily." His sister was a year younger then him and decided that instead of politics he would study magic. Her spells were renowned to help no matter what your asked for. Her professor was the headmaster Magnus, who also happen to be Chief advisor.

"Will she really do that for you? Last I checked she wasn’t on good terms with you. "Alfred looked at his friend who only gave him a sour look. "If its an order she’ll have no choice and if the dragon clan is moving to do something big I’d like to know what. And that’s what I will tell her." Max was glad he called these guys in getting Lily back would go more smoothly with their help. "Sounds like we have a plan of action then. Make sure she is discreet about asking him about Lily It could be a touchy subject."

He nodded taking his words seriously. "Alfred, try looking into the alpha’s succession 24 years ago. It makes little sense that my aunt wouldn’t be made recent until I came of age. Find out the circumstances and let us know at our next meeting." Alfred nodded, standing up heading for the door. Rafeal was curious what Max was going to do since the point still seemed to be elusive.

"What will you be doing to help with this investigation? What do you get out of finding all this out?" Max had hoped to avoid this question, but he wasn’t going to lie to them Partnerships were built on trust and he wanted to prove he was an honest man. "I am working on getting Lily back. I believe there is more going on than what’s being said. They have to have something on her or using someone against her because she never showed any interest in the Dragon Academy until she graduated. I just doesn’t sit well with me."

Rafeal knew the envy of wanting someone else’s mate, but he wasn’t are he would go this far to take her. Max must know her more then he led everyone to believe. "She’s that important to you? To risk so much?" Alfred found it strange Max would take such risk. "She was always meant to be mine. That’s why my father let her do all the paperwork for the clan? Lily was rained to be my Luna queen."

The two Alpha’s were shocked to hear this sine training queens was outlawed centuries ago. "Is that why she was kept out of sight unless of official work? Is she really a recluse?" "No , she’s not and you worked with her . Did she seem shy or unsure of her work?" They both thought about this and at no point did she show signs of uncertainty.

"See? There were reasons for keeping her in the dark. Protection, anonymity, and father and I wanted to make sure she was reliant on the Clan. But that back fired when the Dragon Clan tarts poking around. Now Its my turn to see what their hiding." They know it was a matter of time before Max would take matters into his own hands. Helping him find out the truth may change things for him about what it will cost to take her as his queen.

The magic it would take to break a mate bond was great most didn’t live long after the magic was preformed. "I hope you know what your getting into. This will not be easy if she even wants to give up her mate. You have to know with all certainty that she wants to do this. If there is any doubt, going to all this trouble will be meaningless. My friend, just be sure this is what you both want."

Alfred patted Max’s shoulder before exiting the room along with Rafael who nodded at him then headed out to have his mother see the two men out. Watching her after the month she spent in the dungeon proved to be an effective method that not even his "father" could stop him from doing. The Clan had all but named him Alpha since most business and state affairs were now dealt with by him personally. His father had messed up the last business deal so horribly that now all statesmen were coming to Max to have their affairs handled properly.

Max wasn’t going to let Lily just walk about helping his people and take his Clan without a fight. Take on the work load of his father and making sure provisions were sent to the towns she helped before the meeting today would be a good start. *Soon they will all see a new Alpha King is in charge. I will be the better man for you, Lily. I promise.*