Page 27 of Dragon’s Midlife Secret Baby (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #1)

Chelsea held Beck’s hand as they went up the steps and into the clanhouse.

The first time she’d been there had felt much different.

Though they’d received a warm welcome when Ewan had brought them there, Beck hadn’t yet regained his memory, and everything had been a bit tense.

Now, as she stepped through the door, Kendrick immediately wrapped all three of them in an embrace.

“There they are! That means it’s time to begin!” he announced.

“Unca Kennick!” Corbin exclaimed as he leaped into Kendrick’s arms.

“Let them at least sit down and have a glass of wine or something,” Lilith teased as she came to greet them as well. She gave Chelsea a knowing look. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a little excited.”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be?” Kendrick countered. “I’ve waited a few hundred years to do this.”

“Then a few more minutes won’t kill you,” Lilith admonished. “At the very least, they should be able to get their coats off!”

Kendrick huffed at Lilith and then turned to Beck. “Soon enough, it’ll be your job to keep everyone in line.”

Beck put his hands up in defeat. “I’m not going to mess with Lilith. I’m too big of a fan of her trout amandine.”

Letting out a loud laugh, Kendrick clapped Beck on the back. “That’s a good point.”

“I’m definitely excited,” Lilith said. She elbowed Chelsea in the rib. “We can sit around and make fun of these oafs all day.”

Beck grinned. “I’m sure you will, but it’ll have to wait for the moment. I want to show Chelsea and Corbin the upstairs.”

She followed him up the winding stairs. “If you wanted an excuse to get away from your family, you’ll have to work a little harder. I’ve already seen the upstairs.”

“You have,” he acknowledged as he reached the top of the steps and swung aside a baby gate, “but you haven’t seen it quite like this. We’ll start in here.” He opened the door to the bedroom.

It hadn’t been anything particularly special when Chelsea had seen Beck’s room before, just a spare room that’d been painted a dull shade of gray.

Now, the walls were a pale sky blue, and accented throughout the room was a warm beige, the color of hazelnuts.

Even the furniture was different, with the more modern stuff swapped out for real wood.

Beck had gone so far as to arrange a few candles and things on the dresser, making everything look cozy and warm but minimal and serene.

“Oh, Beck,” she breathed. “This is amazing. When did you even have a chance to do all of this?”

“That’s not even all of it.” He brought her into the en suite bathroom and flicked on the light switch, showcasing paint that matched the bedroom, a his-and-hers sink, and a deep tub.

She splayed her fingers over her collarbone in astonishment. “You went to so much effort just to make this nice for me.”

He shook his finger. “Not just for me. Step right through that door.” Beck gestured to one at the other end of the bathroom that she hadn’t even had a chance to notice yet.

Chelsea slowly pushed it open. She ran her hand along the wall until she found a switch, then cried out.

This room had been a storage space, from what she could remember, but now it was decked out in pale green and deep wood.

The carpet was soft and plush under her feet.

Beck had invested in an adorable bed, a little bookshelf, and a toy chest.

“He’s got a door that goes out into the hall, as well, but while he’s young, I figured this would work the best for us,” Beck explained.

She hardly knew what to say as she took it all in. “I was wondering why you said you didn’t want to take the main suite on the ground floor. I thought you were just being nice to Kendrick, but this is amazing.”

He put his arm around her waist. “We haven’t had very much time to be a family, just us. Now that we’re going to be living together, I thought it’d be nice if we had our own little getaway. Do you like it?”

“I love it, and I love you.” She kissed him, feeling more content than she thought she would be about moving out of the covenstead.

“I like this bed!” Corbin had walked over to the low bed with half rails and was poking the fluffy blanket.

“It’s all yours,” Beck told him.

Corbin gasped, his eyes wide and his mouth open comically. “For me? My bed?”

“Yeah. Why don’t you try it out? Climb on up there.” Beck walked over as Corbin squirmed into the bed. “Is it comfy?”

“I get to sleep here?” he asked, wiggling happily.

“You sure do. Every night. And Mommy and I will be right in the next room. Does that sound good to you?”

“Uh huh!” Corbin flapped his arms and legs like he was making a snow angel.

Beck laughed. “You’re something else, kiddo.”

“Are you ready yet?” a deep voice bellowed from down the stairs.

Now Chelsea laughed. “Lilith wasn’t kidding. Kendrick really is excited. I guess the question is, are you?”

Beck took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I think I am. A little nervous, maybe. It’s a lot of responsibility. But it’ll be nice to have something that anchors me like this.”

“Then let’s go.” Chelsea picked up Corbin, and they made their way back down to the main floor.

Kendrick was waiting near a different door, one that Chelsea hadn’t been through. He handed each of them a dark ceremonial robe. “Right this way.” His voice had gone from lively and excited to solemn as he opened the door and guided them down a set of stairs to the basement.

The floor was hard-packed earth, and the walls were an extension of the brick that made up the rest of the house. The only light came from candles in sconces on the walls, and some were making long, slow drips down the brick.

The rest of the Alexander clan were already there, waiting for them.

They wore the same dark robes that Kendrick had given to them.

The hoods were up, hiding their faces in the shadow of the fabric, but it was easy for Chelsea to see who was who.

Putting on her own robe and then Corbin’s, she stood next to Beck as he took his place in the circle.

There was a moment of silence before Kendrick began.

“The Alexander clan goes back many, many centuries. In our modern times, we are one of the oldest clans in existence. It is our strength—not only in our bodies but also in our minds and souls—that keeps us alive and moving forward. It is also through careful leadership, a responsibility that has been passed down from one to the next as time goes on.”

“Though our numbers may be small, still we continue to carry on the traditions of our forefathers. We do so tonight.” Kendrick moved to the wall, taking a flaming torch from a holder and lifting it above his head. “Beck Alexander!”

“I am here.” Though he’d put up his hood like the others had, Beck now pulled it back and stepped forward.

The corner of Kendrick’s mouth twitched, but he managed to keep his smile away. “You are the only son of Bernard Kendrick. As I have no children of my own, you are by rights the next Alpha of the Alexander clan. Is anyone believing this man to be unfit for the job?”

A deep silence fell over the basement. At one point, Chelsea would’ve expected Griffin to speak up, but he was as silent as the others.

“Beck Alexander, do you promise to dutifully guide the clan into the future, to preserve its members not only in their number but also in their wellbeing, to lead them to the best of your ability, to make your ancestors proud?” Kendrick asked, his voice now echoing slightly off the walls.

Beck bowed his head. “I will do this.”

Now Kendrick stretched his arms out wide, still holding the torch. “As we are all brethren here, let us show our true forms.”

Each one of them shifted into their beasts.

Bones cracked, spines elongated, and skin changed.

Fingers elongated to claws, and the dull thud of newly formed feet hitting the floor could be heard over the hiss of the candles.

Someone’s tail whipped against the wall.

Wings were held at bay, but they nevertheless made a soft rustling as they expanded.

“Dragon, Mommy?” Corbin asked as he watched the rest of his family change.

They’d talked to him about this a bit beforehand, although she and Beck hadn’t known whether or not he’d be able to shift at will. With his age, however, it wouldn’t be a problem if he wasn’t capable. “Yes, dear.”

“Okay.” He scrunched up his face and his body grew tense. He balled his hands into fists and then let them go again. Nothing happened.

Just when she thought he was about to give up and they’d have to move on, the boy lurched forward.

He was on his hands and knees while still in his human form, but that didn’t last long.

Corbin’s sweet little face stretched forward into a muzzle.

He couldn’t quite control his wings as they sprouted from his back and dragged down onto the floor.

Sitting back on his haunches, he looked at his own hands with the same fascination that Chelsea felt at seeing him like this.

His green scales matched those of his father.

Chelsea, too, though she was technically an outsider, showed her true self. Fur erupted from her skin, and her ears stretched. She heard and saw the world differently now, an advantage of her animal instincts. It was even more beautiful to see the stunning sight of all these dragons around her.

You look gorgeous, Beck said inside her head, using the telepathic link that existed between them when they were both in their animal forms.

She eyed him. You’re not so bad yourself.

Griffin handed Beck an unlit torch, something they could still hold in their dexterous hands.

“Beck Alexander,” Kendrick boomed. His voice was deeper now that he was encased in mossy green scales, but it was still recognizable. “Keep the flame of your ancestors and use it wisely.”