Alpha's Fire (Shifter Ops 4)

“I hope it’s all right. I set it up family-style,” Adele says, pointing out the green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, and roast beef.

“It’s perfect.” I grin at Gabriel. “That means you’re family.”

“Family,” he echoes.

“Yep.” Charlie sinks into her chair and pats her stomach. “Hope you’re up for babysitting.”

“Hell, no,” Lance mutters. “I am not letting my pup go near a dragon.”

“I don’t eat pups,” Gabriel says mildly.

“Maybe you’ll be the ones babysitting,” I say lightly.

Adele gasps.

“Oh, do you have news?” Sadie asks. Beside her, Deke fills his plate with a leaning tower of beef.

“Not yet.” I flush. Gabriel and I had a long discussion about modern birth control. Turns out he knew from the start that I’d had an implant. At any point, he could’ve ordered it removed. I asked him to give me a year or two to get used to the idea, and then he has free rein to ‘breed’ me.

I can hardly wait.

The rest of the meal goes smoothly, mostly because the wolves are too busy stuffing their faces, leaving me and my friends to carry the conversation.

After dessert, Charlie says, “One day, when I can travel again, I’d love to come back to Romania. Do more sightseeing.”

“You’re welcome anytime,” I say.

“I hear there’s a real dragon who lives there,” she teases. “You know, when I was a child, I was obsessed with dragons. I’m so happy to know they really exist.”

“There are very few of us left in this world,” Gabriel says solemnly. “But hopefully we can add a few more.” He kisses the top of my head.

Charlie claps her hands. “Baby dragons would be the best.”

Gabriel angles his head towards her. “Do you want to see my dragon?”

Charlie gasps. “Really? You would do that? That'd be epic.”

“I have procured a suitable flight pad nearby.”

“The fuck?” Deke mutters.

As one, the wolves and Gabriel rise from the table. Sadie and Adele and I leap to our feet. The tension ratchets up in the room.

“What are you talking about, honey?” I trill, taking Gabriel’s arm.

“Follow me.” The tips of Gabriel’s canines flash with his enigmatic smile.

“Still playing games,” Rafe murmurs, but the pack follows Gabriel and me out of the house and to the edge of the lawn. When we head into the forest, I’m dancing with curiosity.

A faint trail through the leaves leads us to a large patch of cleared land. We traipse out of the woods and fan out in the vast bare lot.

“Seriously, dragon?” Lance says. “You bought this place?” He turns in a circle and kicks a big clump of dirt out of his way. “I thought they were going to build a big house here.”

“I figured this would be convenient for our purposes.” Gabriel has shed his suit jacket. He bends to remove his socks and shoes. “Seeing as we are ‘family’ now.”

Rafe looks profoundly unhappy.

Deke turns to his alpha. “We really gonna let him come and go as he pleases?” he grunts one of the longest sentences I’ve heard from him.

“Yes,” Rafe grits out. “We have a truce. Right, Dieter?”

“That is correct.” Gabriel unbuttons his dress shirt and tosses it on a nearby branch. The sunlight strokes lovingly down the breadth of his lean muscles.

“Besides,” Rafe says. “those in the know will assume we’re allies with a dragon. His presence makes us safer.”

“Because he’s a protective bastard.” Lance’s statement is barely audible, which might as well be a shout for those with shifter hearing.

“He’s my protective bastard,” I amend.

Adele claps her hands, and we all jump. “That’s settled then,” she says. “You can visit anytime, both of you. Just text ahead, so I can put a pot of coffee on.”

“We will,” I promise. “We won’t show up without advance notice unless it’s unavoidable. Right, Gabriel?”

“Of course, my treasure,” he answers smoothly.

My friends and my smiles balance out the wolves’ glares. To Rafe’s credit, he says nothing about installing anti-aircraft weaponry around his lodge.

“My bride?” Gabriel extends his hand. “Shall we fly home?”

“What about your car?” Adele asks.

“I can send someone to fetch it,” Gabriel says.

“Fuck that,” Lance says. “You leave your car, I’m going joyriding.”

Gabriel tilts his head. “The key fob is in my jacket pocket. You are welcome to enjoy a ride.”

Lance whoops. Deke mutters something about a “flex”.

I let Gabriel lead me further into the empty clearing. He kisses my hand and steps away, striding towards the woods opposite. Between one step and another, a dragon explodes from his form. Its red and gold scales shine like rubies and gold coins in the sunlight.

“Holy shit,” Sadie gasps. We all look at her. Sadie’s a kindergarten teacher, and she never swears.

“What?” she squeaks. “He’s huge.”

Deke pulls her against him. Lance is holding Charlie and Rafe looks ready to scoop Adele up and run for cover.

“It’s all right, guys,” I say. “He’s tame.” I stroll closer and reach up to stroke the dragon’s scaled jaw.