Page 1 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

Chapter 1 - Draco

“What? Are you insane?!”

The accusation rolls off my tongue, doused in disbelief and mortification. Around me, the gathering of other dragon-shifters witness the puff of gray smoke escaping my lips.

It barely comes as a surprise for our species. To become so vexed that the remnants of fire whiff out from our human lips. Still, my outburst sends disruption and unease around the hall in the form of shocked gasps.

Especially my father, who clears his throat and throws daggers at me with his firm glare.

“Draco Vulkan…” he addresses me with the distinct supremacy only an Alpha Dragon possesses. Even if the torch had been passed to me two years ago, it’s a dominant power my father still wields.

“This has already been decided,” Father says sternly, glancing at the other members of the Dragon Council. Each of them nods before turning their attention back to me.

The commanding force of four Dragon Council members is no match for the Alpha of the Aurora Dragons. My fate has been decided, and I can only sit by idly and listen to this absurdity.

“It’s a known fact that the population of dragons suffers tremendously,” Nova, the representative from the Fire Force clan of dragons in the Australian corner of the Earth, adds. As a Council member, he’s an ex-alpha like my father.

“And in recent times, we haven’t had dragonspirit children bless our lands,” he continues. “Our Alphas cannot choose mates for themselves. As the Council, it leaves us no choice.”

A trickle of irritation courses down my spine. It settles in the pit of my belly, then fires up like bile in my throat.

The thought of having a mate picked by the Council is daunting. Only because I have one option.

“No offense…” I sneer as I look around the room. Thankfully, the gathering only consists of my immediate family. Not other members of the Aurora Dragons—the clan of dragons I’ve been leading for two years. Still, the confused faces of my siblings spur me on.

They all know I can’t be forced into a corner like this.

“ I can’t accept your choice for a mate. Skarlett cannot—”

“It’s not Skarlett who we’ve picked for you,” Father interjects. “We have decided to rely on an ancient tradition.”

“An ancient tradition?” I frown. Relieved that I don’t have to mate with the only female in my age bracket, I’m calmer now.

“Yes,” Zark, the Blaze Legion Council member, nods. “In ancient times, our forefathers mated with human females who bore dragonspirit children for them.”

My ears begin thumping with a deafening ringing sound. As soon as Zark has given this explanation, I’m hauled into even greater incredulity.

Shaking my head, I rise to my feet. All I see is red, angrily shrugging away the hand that attempts to soothe me.

“Draco…” comes Mother’s lilting voice. But it’s a distant echo in my eardrums, and I cannot see past the rage.

“You’re all crazy!” I roar, a pointed finger of condemnation accusing the Dragon Council members. “Humans?” I spit distastefully as if the word is bitter on my tongue. “Have you lost your minds?”

Hushed chatter behind me only fuels the anger inside. Unable to bear this mockery of a meeting any longer, I kick my chair over with the back of my heel. Storming out through the large double doors of the hall, I clench my fists and invoke the dragonspirit inside me.

With wings as broad as the very doors that kept me closed inside, I lift my paws off the ground. I flap my wings and get as far away from the Council as possible.

Human mates?

The notion is ridiculous; the idea is purged when I breathe out a cloud of fire. Still, the thought lingers as Father’s words cross my mind.

“You have to produce children, Draco. It’s the only way to protect our legacy. So that the Aurora Dragons can remain guardians of Earth.”

The weight of responsibility hangs heavy on my shoulders. Even as I fly up to the peak of the dome that surrounds the island, it’s almost as if my dragon paws are shackled with leaded weights. From up here, the island appears peaceful with its vivid colors and rich vegetation.

Things I could never truly appreciate. Unlike my siblings, I haven’t had the pleasure of the small things. As Dedrik Vulkan’s eldest child, I’ve had to shoulder the burden of duties to the clan from an early age.

It’s something that will never change.

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