Page 50 of Fated Surrender

“Thank you, Moe. Those were a wee bit heavier than I thought.” Rebecca made Mojo lean down so she could kiss him on the cheek, which of course set his face ablaze.

“Anytime, darlin’.” He grinned and went back to his table.

“Becca, what did we tell you about carrying heavy books?” Connor demanded, walking around the counter to stand in front of Rebecca. Throughout her pregnancy he was her self-appointed health warden. This time she had the decency to look contrite.

“I know, but it was only three books and I wanted to show them to Madison,” she said, arching her back.

“Rebecca is your back okay?” Madison asked, reaching out to rub Rebecca’s lower back. Rebecca sighed in relief.

“It’s been twinge-y lately. Anyway, I think I found a project for you. I can’t pay you for your help though,” Rebecca said honestly.

“Lay it on me, sister,” Madison said amusedly, as she kept rubbing the small woman’s back.

“After Sebastian and Felix’s hearing, I started reading all the council law books I could get my hands on. Some of the laws still in practice are archaic. Everything needs to be reviewed and revamped to match modern society,” Rebecca explained, stepping away from Madison and smiling her thanks. She sat down across from her at the table.

“Rebecca, some of those laws are in effect because we are shifters. They won’t be the same laws that you’re used to as a human.”

Rebecca shook her head at Madison.

“Read the pages I have marked in the first book.” Rebecca pushed the heavy tome over to Madison.

Madison lifted the heavy book and flipped to the first section. Connor watched as her eyes narrowed and her mouth became pinched. There was his hellcat! Thank god for Rebecca!

“You have got to be kidding me. I mean, no one actually goes by these laws do they?” she asked, her face flushed in anger.

Sadly, Rebecca nodded.

“I know of that example because a girl’s mother from a wolf pack in Pennsylvania sent me a letter begging me to change the law.” Rebecca had both fists clenched on the table top.

Concerned, Connor took a seat between the two women. He lay a hand on Rebecca’s shoulder.

“What law?” he asked.

“That an Alpha is allowed to have sex with any female in his animal group and it’s not rape if she becomes pregnant,since she is producing young for the group. The woman who contacted me was the mother of a ten-year-old girl who caught the attention of their Alpha. Neither she nor the baby survived.” Rebecca took a shuddering breath.

“She was going to go to the council, but the Alpha said that he was acting within the boundaries of shifter law. There are worse laws in there,” Rebecca said, meeting Madison’s eyes.

Madison’s eyes flashed. Connor could tell she had found something in Arkadia that she could fight for.

“Give me a few days to read these. I’m not as quick a reader as I hear you are, nor do I have an eidetic memory. But, I’m no slouch. What in the hell has the council been doing?” Madison demanded to no one in particular.

“You don’t even want to know how long it took Lachlan to get Liam’s Law passed.” Ma sighed.

“Well, all that is about to change. Those old bastards won’t know what hit them,” Madison said heatedly.

“Poor Lachlan.” Rebecca grinned.

“Poor nothing. They hold the most prestigious titles in our world, it’s about time they earned their keep,” Madison huffed.

“Go get ’em, hell cat,” Connor cheered.

“Hellcat? I thought I was your wildcat.” Madison smiled warmly at her mate.

“You have been upgraded,” Connor said in a robotic tone.

Rebecca’s head came around and she stared at Connor.

“When did you start watching?” she asked, bouncing around in her chair.

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