Island of Dragons (6 page)

Diesel was furious. The girl had obviously been up to something, or she wouldn’t have run away. “Max, Derek, show me where that campsite is,” Diesel demanded.

The clan’s perimeter patrol had searched for a while and never had come up with the girl. They hadn’t know quite where she had gone since her scent had disappeared. They were still searching when Diesel decided what he would do.

He would go after her himself. “Yes, alpha,” Derek and Max answered.

The three men walked out into the central village area and Derek and Max turned to Diesel to ask, “Are we going to shift or walk?” Derek questioned.

“Walk. I don’t want that woman catching us flying. During the day it would be too easy for her to see us,” Diesel said.

Max and Derek nodded. “Her camp’s over that way,” Max said, pointing off toward the far distant shoreline.

“Okay then, let’s go,” Diesel said, stomping off in the direction.

They had been going through the trees in the general direction of the shore for a while now and Diesel was growing more and more annoyed.

“She’s definitely human?” he questioned.

“Yes, alpha,” Max said.

“She’s a beautiful one at that.” Derek grinned.

Diesel growled and turned his head slightly to glare at the man. “I don’t want anyone getting too attached to her. She’s going right into the cells until we find out why she’s here,” Diesel snapped.

“She seemed nice,” Max said with a slight smile. He was remembering back to the field and when they had at least gotten her name from her.

“All you got was her name…” Diesel reminded the man. “She’s up to something. I know it,” he grumbled.

An hour’s walk and they finally emerged on the beach. “Her camp was that way. Just to the right by a quarter hour walk from the river mouth,” Derek told his alpha.

Diesel glanced over and nodded. When they arrived there, he would show the girl who’s boss. Diesel stomped off toward the river mouth and then further toward where the prospective campsite was supposed to be.

“Gone,” Derek and Max mouthed in a near whisper.

“Spread out and search for her. She could not have gone far. If she’s off the island… bring her back! We need to know what she knows!” Diesel growled angrily.

Diesel stomped angrily down the sandy beach. Max and Derek went in different directions.

Diesel had followed the shoreline, stomping as he went. His pace was nearly a jog and he was determined to find the girl. When he finally rounded the corner of the shoreline and came across a new campsite, he had to practically chain the beast within him.

Sucking in deeply, Diesel could tell the girl wasn’t here. The scent was stale, but she was definitely coming back. Why would she have taken the time to set up such an elaborate campsite if she wasn’t?

Knowing that the girl would probably run again if she saw him, Diesel grunted with annoyance, then walked off into the tree line. He would hide out here. He would watch her every move until he felt it necessary to capture her.

Miley had grown bored with wandering around the sandy area. She decided that she needed more pictures and so she had set out to find them. With her backpack on her back and her camera in hand, Miley walked toward the tall rocks.

There had been a lit area that she was sure lead to the other side, and sure enough, it did. When Miley had finished squeezing through the rocks, she was surprised to see a beautiful section of beach which seemed almost untouched. Quickly, she snapped off a few pictures.

It
did not seem quite right only having pictures of the animals and life here. It seemed as if something was missing. Miley sighed and looked out into the ocean. The colors of the water changed and beneath the water was a reef, full of color and life.

Miley dropped her backpack on the ground and decided she would take a swim. She loaded up her camera into its waterproof case, slid off her dress and shoes, then trotted off toward the water.

When she was deep enough, Miley dove under the water and began snapping away pictures. There were corals and fish life she had never got to see so close before, and it was simply beautiful.

Miley had been swimming for nearly two hours, diving into the water and taking pictures then coming back up for air. She was so lost in thought that the sound of someone clearing their throat scared her.

“Well, look who we have here,” Diesel announced.

Miley stayed silent but slowly turned around and looked at the man. “Get out of the water,” he told her.

“I rather like it here,” she said cooly.

“I want you out of the water,” he growled.

“Did not your parents ever teach you, you don’t always get what you want?” she retorted.

“Oh, but darling I do,” Diesel said devilishly. He quickly turned his head to the side and nodded toward Miley. “Derek, Max, bring her back to the village. See you soon, princess.”

Miley’s eyes widened, for some reason she hadn’t realized the other men were there. Her eyes had been transfixed on the big man before her. So, when Derek and Max stepped forward and were about to enter the water, she freaked.

Now, Miley watched as a woman opened the door smiling, but frowned as her eyes fell upon Miley herself. “Uh…” the woman muttered.

“Jess,” Derek dragged. “Diesel, please.”

“Uh…” Jessica replied.

“Jessica,” Derek said sharply, snapping the woman out of her thoughts. “Now.”

“Right, yes, just a moment,” she mumbled. “I’ll be right back,” she said shutting the door behind her.

On the other side of the house, Jessica knocked urgently on Diesel’s door. “What’s with breaking down the door?” He huffed as he stood. It was such hard frantic pounding that the person on the other side
did not even hear his ‘Come in.’

Diesel yanked the door open and stared into the stressed face of Jessica. “What is it?” he grumbled.

“Alpha… woman… door…” she said anxiously.

“Speak clearer,” he growled. “Now, what is it?” he asked again.

“Derek…” Jessica pointed.

“Grhhr,” Diesel growled as he pushed past Jessica toward the direction she pointed. As he made his way to the door, he was grumbling, “Can’t get good help anymore.”

Diesel could smell the delicious yet foreign scent of the woman on the other side of the door and out of curiosity, he yanked it open. “Derek?” he questioned as the door opened.

Miley gasped at the sight before her. She hadn’t expected such a big beastly handsome man to appear before her. The sun had shielded his looks from her earlier. He was handsome and massive, but that wasn’t what caught her eye it was those eye, those violet eyes.

“Hello.” Diesel snapped his eyes over to the woman with a crooked half smile. “It’s nice to see you out of the water…” he said “I thought you said you rather enjoyed it there.” Diesel teased.

Miley rolled her eyes. She had enjoyed the water and
did not want to go with the men but as soon as Diesel ordered them to get her out and she tried to swim away, Max and Derek lunged.

The two had swam like snakes, fast and stealthy. One had grabbed her around the waist and yanked her up above the water. She
did not stand a chance. As soon as they got close enough to shore to touch, the two men latched onto her wrists and hadn’t let go since.

She was still dripping wet from her swim with sand clinging to her bare legs and feet. Her dress dangled from Max’s arm and her bag over Derek’s shoulder.

Diesel’s eyes glazed over her body with lust, and he licked his lips slightly. “I rather like seeing you this way.” He purred.

“Miley, this is Diesel, the leader of this island,” Derek said.

“Come in…” Diesel muttered.

Miley shivered, the sun may have been up and it may have been warm in the ocean, but it was getting chilly with the wind whipping around, and her only wear was her bikini.

“You’re cold?” Diesel asked in the tone of a comment more than a question.

“No…” Miley chattered.

“Yeah, she is,” Derek admitted.

“I’m not cold,” Miley stuttered again. She was looking down at the floorboards of the beautiful wood flooring, mildly afraid to look up at the towering man before her. She noticed how she was making a mess on the floor with sand and water drips and realized how annoyed the woman from earlier would be.

She heard a sigh before someone’s hand clamped around her wrist. “Lying doesn’t get you anywhere,” the voice of Diesel said as he yanked her into his arms and sucked in her scent. “You’re cold.”

Miley was at a loss for words. She was quite small and insignificant within this big man’s arms. He was, at the least, a foot and a half taller than her small frame and was very strong to boot.

“Jessica! Blanket now!” he shouted as he began to tow Miley through the house.

The large home was warmer than outside and surprisingly beautifully decorated. It was tropically decorated with minimalism as the key factor in its design.

Jessica, the woman from before, appeared with a thick comforter in her hands. “Alpha, this is all I could find on such short notice,” she muttered as she raced toward them.

“Alpha?” Miley questioned.

“Max, please watch over Miss Miley here, while I talk with Derek,” Diesel said sternly. “We’ll be in my office.”

With that, Diesel quickly wrapped a blanket around Miley’s body and pushed her down into his couch before walking away and leaving her with Max quirking an eyebrow at her.

“What?” she squeaked.

“You like him?” he questioned.

“What? No!” She scoffed.

Max shrugged. “Okay,” he said, knowing it was a lie.

“Jessica, could you bring Miley here a cup of your famous cocoa?” Max asked.

“Of course, Max
,” she beamed walking away.

“She’s definitely human.” Diesel huffed as he shut the door to his office behind Derek.

“Yes. She is,” Derek commented. “And you like her.” He smirked.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Diesel snorted. “What is she doing here; did you get that out of her?”

“No,” Derek replied. “She was pretty scared. We managed her name and that’s about it. I told you that before, sir. But you’re avoiding the subject, you like her.”

“Well, then she’s going to have to be locked up.” Diesel growled as he stood up, once again ignoring the subject.

“Diesel, you can’t…” Derek began to protest, but Diesel cut him short.

“I can and I will!” He roared. “I expect you to calm down before you regret your decision. I am alpha here!” Diesel snarled.

Derek hung his head. “Sorry, alpha,” he murmured softly.

“Now… get my guards.” Diesel snapped as he walked toward the door. “Tell Cain and Nick I want them here immediately!”

Diesel pulled the door open and stormed out. Stomping down the hallway and glaring at Max, who was just slightly too close to Miley. “What are you doing here?” He snarled.

Miley whimpered but
did not look up at him.

“I said!” Diesel snarled out again. “What are you doing here?”

Miley sucked in a breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Your two boys forced me to walk back here,” Miley muttered quietly.

She could tell the man was furious, but she was too afraid to do anything let alone say much. She wasn’t stupid. She knew she was in danger.

Diesel roared. It was an inhuman sound, an ear piercing roar that Miley had never heard before and her hands automatically flew up to cover her ears. “Cain, Nick, get her out of here and don’t let her out of your sight!”

With that, Miley was yanked upward and dragged away by the two burly men that appeared out of nowhere. “Where are we going?” She cried softly.

“You are our prisoner now,” Nick shrugged, “you don’t have the right to ask questions.”

“She hasn’t caused any problems!” Max took it as his turn to stand up for the woman.

“She doesn’t answer questions. She’s being detained. You should have left her in the jungle.” Diesel growled.

“She would have died!” Max snapped.

“Max. You may be my little brother, but you are not the alpha. You are not my beta, you are not anything but a low member of this clan!” Diesel hissed. His hand flew out and gripped Max by the throat and hoisted him up against a wall.

“At least I have standards.” Max choked out from beneath Diesel’s iron grip. “At least, I wouldn’t put her in a cell. I would treat her like a guest until she proved me wrong.” Max croaked.

Diesel growled knowing Max was right and flung him across the room. “Cain!” he shouted.

Cain turned around leaving Nick holding Miley in the hallway. “Yes, alpha?” Cain asked.

“Bring her out back to the guest cabin. Stand guard and don’t let her out of your sight.” Diesel hissed.

Cain’s eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. “Are you…” he began.

“Don’t question me!” Diesel snapped abruptly cutting him off.

It had been a long time since Diesel had used his loving side of his heart. He was a firm leader, one who protected the clan fiercely, humans were only allowed here as sacrifices and they were never visitors. The ones here were mated off within the first week. He had no idea what this girl was doing to him, or why he thought she was so beautiful.