Page 8 of Seneca

The alphas took a seat at the tables and Jupiter sat next to his dad, Caesar.

Sunny explained what brought her to New Jersey, from losing her parents at a young age to joining the prowl, to the recent change in leadership and being exiled that morning by the new alpha.She relaxed as she talked, seeming to find comfort in his arms, which he was thankful for.“I came here hoping to find shifters who would give me sanctuary until I can get back on my feet and figure out what to do.”She tilted her head and looked up at Seneca, her eyes a beautiful bright blue.

The alphas were quiet, but Marcus finally spoke up.“I’m thankful you got here safely.I want to say that while it’s not our people’s policy to interfere in other shifter groups’ way of life, we would definitely want to ensure you’re safe.We’re going to speak privately, and then we’ll come back to let you know our decision.”

The alphas got up and left, returning down to the private living areas to talk.

He couldn’t believe how much his mate had endured.He was thankful she’d been taken in by Sera, but damn that new alpha was an asshole.He doubted she’d ever really felt like she belonged in the jaguar prowl as a half-shifter, or ever really felt safe.

“If you hadn’t come here, I wouldn’t have met you,” he said with a low voice.“I’m so sorry for everything you went through, but I swear you’re safe here in the park with me.”

“You’re so warm,” she said, rubbing her cheek on his chest.“Your heartbeat is my favorite sound.”

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

“How’s your tigress feeling?”

“Better.Less insane.”

“That’s good.”He eased his hold on her, and she took a small step away but kept her hands twisted in his shirt like he was a lifeline and she was adrift at sea.

“Damn,” she said, “you’re sexy.”Her cheeks turned pink and she whispered, “I can’t believe I said that out loud.”

“You’re damn sexy too,” he said.

She grinned.“This is the first time I feel like smiling since I left the prowl.I’ve never been so stressed in my life.”

He squeezed her shoulders gently.“It’s okay.It’s going to be okay, I promise.”

“Will the alphas let me stay?”

His bear let out a challenging snarl.“You’re definitely staying, Sunny.You’re my soulmate.But they’re probably discussing where to house you while they get to know you.As you can imagine, the truth of the park is a very closely held secret and there are places you won’t be able to go alone until they get to know you.”

“I understand.It’s a relief to be here and to meet you.I felt so lost, but now I feel more hopeful.”

He could tell that she was relaxing more as they talked, and he was glad she was feeling better.If she hadn’t shifted by now, it was unlikely that she would, but something about meeting him had triggered a response from her tigress.He was just glad he’d been there to help her.

“Your tigress woke up a bit because of me,” he said.

“Yeah.She’s settled back down again.I was really overwhelmed there for a bit.”She smiled.“Thank you for helping me when I didn’t know what I needed.”

“Anytime.”

The alphas returned and Alistair said, “First, welcome to the park, and congratulations on finding each other.While we don’t really need to extend sanctuary to you, Sunny, because you have a soulmate here and that means you’re welcome to stay no matter what extenuating circumstances there are, wedowant to ensure that you know you’re safe here and welcomed.”

“Since you’re not allowed to talk to your former prowl or adopted family,” Joss said, “we can’t ask how Sera knew about us, but you’re the first to come here from Tennessee, so I think it’s safe to say she’s kept it a close secret as well.”

“She never mentioned it until this morning.”

Marcus said, “You can stay in an apartment at the back of the park, it’s very secure.You have a car?”

“It’s in the lot,” she said.

“I’ll pull it around to the employee lot.Do you have a bag?I can bring it to you,” Atticus said.

She fished keys out of her pocket and tossed them to the alpha gorilla.“Yes, I do.Thank you.”

The alphas shook her hand and left.His dad called him aside, and while he didn’t want to leave Sunny’s side, he gave her a smile and walked over to his dad.