Aaran was a Red Caste dragon, a warrior, and the most stoic and reserved of us three. I think it had to do with hanging around our father. Alister MacNair was a hard, serious man who loved his family but had a hard time showing it, unlike our da, Owen. Dragons were always male, inherently gay, and could get their male mates pregnant.
My da was soft-spoken, generous, and kind-hearted. He always showed us love and caring, but if you pissed him off, he could kick ass if he needed to. Addison took after him. He had many of Da’s traits, but that could also be because of his caste. Addison was a Purple Caste dragon, a healer. He was a pacifist by nature, but like my da, if you pissed him off, look out.
Then there was me. I was the oldest, but still young for a dragon, only a little past my first millennium. Dragons were immortal creatures. This didn’t mean we couldn’t be killed. It only meant that we didn’t die of natural causes.
I was the most laid-back, and if I said so myself, I had the best personality. I loved to laugh and have a good time, but I was still serious about my duties. Being a protector came naturally to me; growing up, I’d had a definite sense of right and wrong and had always stood up against the wrong.
Aaran tapped my leg, waiting for an answer.
“Nothing. I’m just tired and hungry,” I replied.
Aaran looked like he didn’t believe me. In truth, I’d been restless and hadn’t been getting sleep. My dragon always seemed on alert, like he was waiting for something.
“Tell me again, why are we here?” I asked to divert Aaran’s gaze.
“Cam and Jackson’s Alpha wanted to honor our presence in his territory. Many paranormals now know that dragons have stepped out of the shadows,” Krispin said.
Cameron and Jackson were close friends of Krispin and were wolf shifters. Jackson was, in fact, the head enforcer for the pack here in Belle Fort.
I nodded as we pulled onto a street littered with cars. This must be the place. Krispin maneuvered the SUV into the empty spot in front of the large cabin. I was glad they’d left one open for us. The people milling about stopped and stared as we got out of the car.
A large, handsome man stepped out the front door. He had dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and exuded power and authority.As he stepped forward, he wore a broad, welcoming smile that showed off his twin dimples. He extended his hand in welcome to Krispin.
“Welcome to the Belle Fort Wolf Pack. I am Alpha James Ellis. This is my mate, Lydia Ellis,” he said, indicating a gorgeous blonde.
“I am King Krispin Adair, King of Dragons. This is my mate, Ben Adair, and my son, Callum. It is a pleasure to meet you, Alpha,” Krispin said, shaking his hand.
“Please call me James, Your Majesty,” James replied.
Krispin smiled. “Then please call me Krispin or Kris. This is my brother Roarke and his mate, Devin, and our other brothers, Angus, Addison, and Aaran.”
I was shocked. Krispin had called me his brother. I knew he had adopted Roarke into his line to save his life but acknowledging us as his brothers was a great honor. I felt shock and surprise from Addison and Aaran as they straightened their spines and stood tall.
“It’s an honor to have you all here. Please come in,” James said with a wave of his hand.
The area was beautiful. There were plenty of trees I was sure would be nice for a wolf to run among. The house was a large cabin. It was rustic on the outside, but the inside was modern and well-decorated. As I walked through the house, my dragon became agitated. He was anxious. I didn’t understand why.
I pushed on, ignoring my beast. James led us to the back, where the aroma of grilling meat reached my nose. My stomach growled in appreciation. We hurried to get our food. Every kind of meat was available: burgers, steaks, sausages, pork chops. It was quite a spread. I turned to see Roarke piling a plate high with food.
“Ro, I’m sure you can come back for seconds,” I said, laughing.
“It’s for Devin and me. I need to make sure the boys eat,” he said with a smile.
I grinned and shook my head. Devin was pregnant with twins, and Roarke had been plying him with every kind of food imaginable. He finished taking his fill and ran off to find Devin.
I was getting my food when I heard a shout. I dropped my plate and rushed inside to see Roarke pick up Devin and run up the stairs. He called for Addison, who quickly followed.
“Maybe you were right. Maybe we should’ve gone home,” Aaran said with concern.
“He’ll be okay. Our nephews just want to make an appearance.”
James came down the steps looking pale.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
He nodded. “I just saw nothing like that before. The thought of a man giving birth blows my mind.”
Aaran chuckled. “Yeah, I hear it’s quite an experience.”
