Page 18 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!

“We have Alpha Benedict and one of the Elder Council at the border. What do you want us to do? I told the patrol to keep them at the border until you confirm what you want.” Thorn is holding his mid-section as he gasps for air, which tells me he’s run in his human form.

“Did they say what they wanted?” I ask, but know what it is. They want me back to placate the pack who have found out I’m the one who was a fated mate, and not a chosen one, as Joliee and Travis said.

“I didn’t wait to find out, Alpha Adira. I came here to inform you quickly.” Thorn is a powerful man and a phenomenal leopardwhen shifted. Thorn’s leopard,Kaabya, is near the surface. I can smell his cat scent, which shows me how agitated he is.

“Okay. Contact the border and tell one of them to lead the two, and only those two to the town hall. I’ll see them there, but you will stay with me as Leo and Stella are working.”

Thorn mind links one of the leopard shifters on border patrol, and we both make our way to the town hall. Taking a seat at the table we keep in the hall, just in case of emergency meetings, we wait. Thorn keeps giving me lingering looks, as though he’s nervous of what’s about to happen. Me, I don’t care about Alpha Benedict or the Elder Council. They have proven to me they are corrupt, and not worth my allegiance.

Twenty-five minutes it takes for them to arrive. I remain calm, not standing to greet them, which quickly informs them of how I view them at this time. Thorn sees my non-reaction, so takes the lead, which I’m grateful for.

“Please, take a seat.” Thorn indicates the opposite side of the table to myself, but positions himself at the end of the long table. It is easy to see he is at-the-ready if they make a wrong move.

“What can the Alpha of the Hunters Bow Pack do for either of you?” I ask, keeping my voice calm but firm.

“The pack needs you to come and verify that Joliee and Travis should be together. We have internal pack arguments about the mate bond, and it’s causing more issues than is necessary. You know there is nothing that can be done now, Adira…”

Alpha Benedict is stopped from speaking when I hold my hand up. “I am Alpha Adira to you, and what does your internal mess have to do with me?”

The Elder, who I recognize as Levi Forest, mainly because of his massive nose, something you can hardly overlook, speaks. “Alpha Adira, I understand how you must feel about being rejected by your mate…”

“I wasn’t rejected, per se, by my mate. After catching them in the act of bonding at a ceremony, Alpha Benedict here was presiding over, and the Elder Council granted, I rejected the so-called fated mate, Travis. Let’s keep things as they should be, shall we, Elder Forest?” I remain calm, which I can see irks both of them.

“Beside the semantics, you are required to return and smooth the pack…” Elder Forest tries to continue.

“No, I do not need to return to smooth over the mess you have all made. You can deal with the mess the Moon Goddess is punishing you for. I have my own pack to look after, and that’s exactly what I intend to do, with the Moon Goddess' blessing because here we wouldneverreject our fated mate,” I end with a slight snarl along with a sarcastic tone.

Alpha Benedict throws out his Alpha power, intending to make me bow down, but Blue snarls and before I can stop her, she is standing on the table with her nose in the Alpha’s face. All teeth showing and drool dangling from either side of her jaw. I am no longer in control. Blue is!

Thorn immediately snaps into his Leopard, and Kaabya, who is known for a quick temper, jumps onto the table to stand at my side. Wolf and leopard are both at the ready.

Elder Forest quickly sizes up the situation, and it’s easy to see he wants out of here, quickly. “Stop, there is no need for this to escalate. We will leave and give you time to think on the situation.”

Blue growls deep and threateningly, letting everyone know she is not interested in anything the Elder has to say. As the Elder and Alpha Benedict head for the door, I see them both look at each other, and I know they are going to shift and fight in a moment.

Thorn, however, shifts back to his human self, and I keep my eyes away from him as he is naked, and I honestly don’t want to see anything I shouldn’t. “If you want to shift, please do so, make our day,” Thorn throws that out easily, and shifts back to his leopard form and stands ready by my side.

Alpha Benedict shifts first, with Elder Forest seconds behind him. The fight is on! Rudin, Alpha Benedict's wolf, jumps toward me, and Blue is ready. She snarls and we clash on back legs, smashing into each other hard. I’m happy that Blue has had a few lessons with Leo, or this might have been a nasty fight for us.

I move back into Blue’s mind, allowing her to do what is needed. She is biting, snapping, and digging her claws into Rudin as much as she can. We have taken a few bites and scratches ourselves, but we are holding our own.

From where I am in Blue’s mind, I can hear Kaabya fighting with the Elder. Now leopards are agile, strong and very territorial, so knowing he is defending his Alpha, he isn’t going to hold back. He is quick, and in training I have seen him outmaneuver many of the patrol fighters, and some of them are vicious.

Hearing a loud yelp right before it goes quiet, I know Kaabya has taken down the Elder’s wolf. But when he jumps on the top of Rudin pushing Blue back, I’m more than surprised.

Blue stands, puffing, but still alert.‘Kaabya, protecting me. We need to promote him to Delta!’

I’m shocked that Blue is thinking, and sending that thought to me at this moment in time. But watching Kaabya movingaround Rudin, clawing and biting, is like poetry in motion. He is moving fluidly, so light on his feet that I’m going to have to train alongside him to pick up some tips.

Rudin takes an opportunity to back away from Kaabya, easing his way towards the exit door. I know that he’s not going to fight more, but he’s leaving the Elder to struggle to his feet as he’s shifted back to human form. I keep my eyes away from him as I don’t want a naked Elder in my memory.

Kaabya shifts, and Thorn stands with his back to me. Yeah, you guessed I didn’t close my eyes quickly enough, and I got an eyeful of a nice firm butt. Thorn’s back is muscular and toned, and as he moves his muscles ripple. I rub my face, trying to stop the thoughts that are sure to pop into my head if I keep looking at a naked Thorn.

“Get out of my packlands and stay out. I will not ever return to your pack Benedict, so don’t come here again.” I make sure by missing his title I am disrespecting him. “Thorn, when you have shown these two off the packlands, I want to see you.”

“Yes, Alpha Adira,” Thorn responds.

The door flies open and Leo, along with Stella, rushes into the hall. They eye up the situation and everyone can see they would quickly jump into a fight if another one was started. “Leo, would you and Stella walk with Thorn to the border, to see these two off the packlands. Tell the patrol they are not to be allowed into the pack again.”

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