Shades Of Dragon (A BBW Dragon-Shifter Paranormal Romance) Read Free Page B

whispered. “I… I will do my best to make you proud, and to earn the kindness you have shown me.”  He surprised himself, his desire to please this strange elder who was willing to take him in, but the kindness he showered onto Tegan was something he had never felt from another before, and he couldn’t help but crave that attention.
          Grey smiled, and squeezed Tegan’s shoulder gently. “That’s all I ask, Tegan. That you do your best with the opportunity you’re given.”

Chapter Three
          They stopped at a vendor to pick up some roasted mutton when Tegan’s stomach growled so loudly that Grey laughed, and on the way to the house, they chatted with a bunch of different business owners and clan members who were doing their business in town. Everyone was very curious about him, and no one looked at Tegan suspiciously, even though he wasn’t a familiar face. Tegan began to wonder if perhaps the way his mother’s clan had treated him was not the normal way of shifters. Maybe he could actually be accepted here…maybe he could actually be happy.
          “And just who is this we have here?”
          Tegan whirled around, his heart in his throat as the scornful male voice scorched his ears. Grey turned around too, but much more slowly, and he placed a steadying hand on Tegan’s shoulders as he regarded the man glaring at them in the middle of the street. He was tall and brawny, with curling blonde hair and a full, thick beard, his eyes the same as Grey’s, but with none of their kindness – only the steel. Everyone around them seemed to shrink back from his presence, as though they were afraid of him, and Tegan noticed that his tunic, which was red and embroidered in gold thread, was much finer than most of the other clan folk wore.
          “How nice to see you again as well, nephew,” Grey said, a smile curving his lips that did not quite reach his eyes. “It’s been a few months. I hope you’ve been taking good care of everything while I’ve been gone.”
          The dragon shifter scoffed, tossing his mane of hair. “I’ve been Alpha long enough to know how to run this place without you,” he said scornfully, before his reproachful gaze turned toward Tegan. “Now, I say again, who is this whelp you’ve brought with you? I don’t recall him as belonging to any of our kin.”
          “He belongs to me,” Grey said calmly. “His name is Tegan Maxwell, and he is the newest member of our clan. Tegan, this is Drake, our esteemed Alpha. And my late brother’s son.”
          “Pleased to meet you, sir,” Tegan replied, lowering his head in respect.
          Drake let out a harsh laugh. “Ahh! At least someone shows some respect around here.” Tegan lifted his head to see Drake shift his glare back to Grey. “Unlike you, who presumes to announce new clan members without even putting it to a vote with the council.”
          “I do plan to discuss this matter with the council, Drake,” Grey said smoothly. “Tonight, in fact, if they have the time to get together. And I would, of course, appreciate a vote in favor from you. But of course, it is your prerogative to decline, if you wish.”
          Drake growled. “If only being clan Alpha actually meant that I had the sole decision of deciding who can join the clan, amongst other things,” he said dryly. His expression cooled off a little as he glanced at Tegan again “But if the whelp fills your need to boss someone around, and keeps you off my back, then I suppose this can’t be a bad thing for me. I will see you at the council meeting tonight.”
          He walked away, leaving them alone in the street. “Is the rest of the council like him?” Tegan asked, his whole body suddenly tense.
          “Not all,” Grey assured him. “One or two, perhaps, as there always seems to be someone with bad temperament in every clan. But the majority of us are decent folk, as you have