Rancher Dragon, Terry Bolryder [acx book reading TXT] 📗

on the ranch’s land.

But as he looked to his right, he saw that he was actually at one of the corners of Sierra’s land, the opposite corner on the same side where his camp was set up.

He blinked, wondering at the serendipity of it. Then he huffed and curled his tail around him, feeling like he was wounded inside.

Why did he hurt so much?

What had the human done? No, what had he done? He needed to be one with his dragon more. He knew that. He needed to start staying present, even when drunk.

To get to know that side of himself.

Why always here? he wondered, hoping something inside him would answer.

And then, as if from his own heart: This is where our mate is.

How long had his dragon known?

I knew my fate had something to do with this place.

Now I want to stay and see her safe.

Beck chuckled to himself. He wanted to stay also. But then he frowned, thinking of her beautiful face.

And a mudslide.

The dragon cried out in rage, and Beck felt his entire reptile body tighten.

Of course even the creature would feel bad about that day.

But he wasn’t just sad exactly. Also angry. Wronged. Betrayed.

Why?

Harrison’s words came back to Beck’s mind. Harrison’s trust in Beck. His belief that he couldn’t hurt anyone.

If only that were true.

We couldn’t hurt our mate. We could never…

Beck wanted to believe what his heart was telling him. That would be convenient for sure.

But sure as the beautiful new Texas moon rose above him, casting light on his granite-like scales, his mate was safer without him.

You’re wrong. She would never be.

But TJ said—

At that, Beck’s inner dragon was quiet. Beck’s inner heart that throbbed beneath all his frantic thoughts.

Then it spoke in a feeling that was so much clearer than words. And Beck knew.

I could never hurt my mate.

It just wasn’t possible.

He raised his head, trying to cut through his foggy thoughts and the alcohol that was still slightly affecting him, though he was starting to sober up now.

The pain of losing Sierra was enough to do that.

We can never leave her, his dragon said.

I know, Beck answered.

But Beck couldn’t forget what TJ said. The good points that TJ had made.

Beck also couldn’t forget how many nights he’d spent here, his dragon presumably longing for and waiting for his mate.

Beck wished things could be different. That he hadn’t gone and made that mistake so many years ago.

That no one had been hurt, and that Beck didn’t have to worry about hurting the most important person in the world to him.

Whether TJ or Harrison was right about him, Beck didn’t know.

But more than anything, one question had him still sitting there, clinging to his beloved spot at the edges of her land.

If he was gone, who would protect Sierra?

Of course his friends would try, but they had the ranch to attend to, and Harrison had a mate of his own.

No one could protect her like he could. If only he didn’t have to protect her from himself.

Damn himself for being a mountain dragon. Curse the day he was born!

Beck’s pity party was cut off, though, as a terrified scream filled the air, coming from Sierra’s place.

Beck instantly felt himself sober as he transformed into his human form and began running for her house.

It appeared he’d be around to protect his mate at least once more after all.

He prayed harder than he ever had that he could make it in time.

21

Sierra fought back against TJ’s grip on her shoulders, trying to resist as he pushed her back and sat her down on the couch, looming over her and keeping her pinned.

Her heart was pounding with pure panic, but she had to stay calm. Had to figure out a way to get out of this.

If only to tell Beck what she knew and give him some peace in his heart.

After what he’d been through, he deserved that no matter what.

TJ pushed at the sleeve of her shirt, pulling it down her shoulder as he came forward, attempting to place a kiss there.

She hissed a curse and shoved his face away with all her effort. He stumbled back only for a second, then lunged forward, kneeling in front of the couch this time, tall enough to grab her hands and still pin them over her head.

“You stop that struggling, you little bitch, or you’ll just make this worse than it has to be,” he hissed, so mad he was practically spitting.

His face was red, and his eyes were like dark, soulless sapphires. Then his expression calmed slightly as he tried to regain his composure and moved both of her hands into one of his so he could use the other to tilt up her face.

He seemed to enjoy forcing her to look at him. “I’m looking forward to seeing his face… after I do this.”

“How could you?” she yelled. “Why would you do this to him?”

He stroked her cheek. “I don’t know. Ever since I met Beck, I wanted to hurt him. I hated him for being everything I wasn’t. Strong. Tough. Bigger than everyone. Able to take whatever he wanted.”

She sucked in a breath, pausing in her struggling to listen and catch her next wind.

“And then on top of it, that fake-nice personality, even toward worthless humans like he made friends with in that town. It wasn’t enough for Beck to be the biggest. The most powerful. The strongest. He had to be the nicest. The one everyone liked.”

“You were jealous!” She gasped. “That’s all this was all this time? You were trying to destroy him because you could never be half the man, or dragon, he is!” She kicked out at him, but he dodged back, keeping his hold on her arms.

He grinned. “I’m twice the dragon he is. I outsmart that big doof all the time. He thinks I like him. As if a sophisticated man like me could like a backwoods piece of trash like Beck. I do have fun messing with