Page 6 of Seneca
Sera hadn’t told her anything about the shifters in the park, only that there were some there.But wolvesandlions?It seemed like an odd combination.
“I’m Jupiter, head of security,” he said, his tone full of authority.
“I’m Sunny.”She hesitated, because while they were away from the exit, there were humans still leaving the park and she couldn’t say much.The secret of shifters was far too important to take any risks.
Jupiter inhaled, his nostrils flaring, and then he said, “Follow us to the security office.We can talk there.”
The males turned and Sunny followed them into the park.The security office was a small building with a lobby containing a few chairs and a counter, and several rooms that looked like they were for surveillance.There were windows that looked out into the park, and the place smelled of shifters.She picked up scents of wolves and lions and also bears.She was beginning to think that this place had a lot of secrets.
And how the heck had Sera even known about it in the first place?She hadn’t told Sunny who’d told her about the park.
When the door was shut, Jupiter cleared his throat.“This building is soundproof and there are no humans in here.You’re a shifter, but I can’t peg your beast.You look stressed and exhausted, but I have a few questions.”
Sunny nodded.“Of course.I’m Solstice Kittridge, but everyone calls me Sunny.I’m half-tigress, my mom was human.My parents were killed by my dad’s pride when I was seven and my mom’s friend, Sera, a jaguar, took me in and raised me as one of her own with her daughter, Fallon, my best friend.Their jaguar prowl didn’t mind me being unable to shift until the old alpha became ill and his second-in-command Dario took over last night.This morning, Dario kicked me out of the prowl.Sera told me about the park and that I could ask for refuge here.I honestly didn’t believe there was such a place with shifters.The prowl lived in seclusion with as little contact with humans as possible.”
Jupiter pressed his lips into a thin line and let out a low, soft growl that made the hair on Sunny’s neck stand up.He looked at the males with him and shook his head.“Damn it.Justus, get my dad.And the other alphas.I’ll bring her to the cafeteria.”He looked at her after one of the males left.“How did Sera know about us?Where is the prowl located?”
“Tennessee,” she answered.“And I don’t know how she knew.I had less than an hour to pack a bag and flee.She told me the name of the park and the state, and that was it.I’m not allowed to reach out to either of them or anyone from the prowl.Dario said he’d punish anyone who talked to me.”
Jupiter said, “This is really unusual, I just want you to know.I can’t recall the last time someone came here like this.We’re not in the business of interfering in other groups’ issues, but we’re also not interested in turning away shifters who need help.”He put his hands on his hips.“We’re going to walk over to the employee cafeteria so you can talk to our alphas and they can make some decisions.Whatever happens from this point forward, youaresafe here.I promise.”
Sunny smiled, but suddenly her tigress started to go wild in her head, pacing and pushing.Her skin flushed and her fingertips tingled, as her back and joints ached and her heart raced.
Jupiter walked outside and held the door for her.
Sunny was rooted in place.She couldn’t figure out why her half-a-tigress was acting up so much and why every inch of her hurt.
“Hey, you okay?”Jupiter called.
Sunny forced herself to move forward and followed him outside.
The moment her shoes hit the pavement, she felt like she was having a full-blown panic attack.Panting for breath, she looked around wildly, very sure that she was going to shift—but that was impossible!She was well past the time of shifting.What was happening?
As she tried to put one foot in front of the other and follow Jupiter toward a large building across from the security office, she caught the scent of something incredible: deep woods, grilled meat, andhome.
Her tigress screamed in her head and every nerve ending in her body felt like it was on fire.Her vision blurred and her mouth went salty.
And then there were arms around her, warm and strong, and her tigress quieted for a profound moment.
As she turned her blurry gaze to the person holding her, she was very certain in that moment that her life was never going to be the same.
Seneca was standing outside of the petting zoo, leaning against the split-rail fence and staring into the park but not really looking at anything.His bear was unsettled still and he couldn’t put his finger on what was bothering him.He’d been wandering for almost an hour and wasn’t any closer to figuring things out.He wondered if he might just need to shift, but he’d been out in the paddocks the previous weekend for the VIP tours, so it wasn’t like he hadn’t been in the fur recently.
What was going on?
He rubbed the space over his heart and straightened, turning away from the front of the park and toward the apartment complex at the back.But he didn’t take more than a couple steps before his bear growled and he decided to go the other way.Something was drawing him that way, but he didn’t know what.
It was super annoying that he couldn’t talk to his bear and get anything more than grumbles and growls.
If only he knew what was up with his furry subconscious.
He walked toward the front, but instead of the big gates, he hung a right and walked toward the security office.
He caught the scent of something in the air that made him stop short.
Sweet like honey and warm like sunshine, with a hint of…jungle?Of rain and trees and earth.
His bear sat up in his head, letting out a curious chuff.