“I agree.After the pride gathering, maybe we should all go out in the woods and see if El can find the scent again.Maybe one of us can catch it?”Ryan said.
“I suppose that depends on your punishment for her.Is she going to feel like going tracking after?”Trip asked.
He didn’t like the idea of Ryan punishing El, but he understood where El was coming from.
“El has requested to be punished according to Pride Law, but Pride Law would have me shun her or execute her, and neither of those will be happening.”
“So, what are you going to do?”Trip pushed when Ryan didn’t offer up any more information.
“I was just discussing with Shawn an alternative.We agreed to go look at El’s grandfather’s home as a place for Shawn to work on getting in touch with his Panther side.Shawn has thorough research on all the people living close by as well as blueprints, and we’ve been going over them.I’ll want updated ones before I make El steps foot there, but I think I’ll banish her here for a set amount of time.The pride won’t know that her banishment actually serves our purposes, but they’ll see Elpunished.”
“I don’t want to send her away again.We just got her back here.We need her here with us, so we can protect her.”Trip argued.
“I can protect her,” Shawn growled.
“I know, and you have so far, but she’sourmate too, and I don’t want her away from us,” Trip said.
“I don’t either, but I’m not sure what else to do,” Ryan said.
“You’re the Alpha, do whatyouwant to do for the first time in your life.”Trip said, frustrated that Ryan was constantly trying to please other people.
Ryan didn’t say anything, but he seemed to be considering what Trip had said.Marcus came in and interrupted them before they could continue the conversation.
“El’s ready, and the pride is gathered,” Marcus said solemnly from the doorway.Apparently, he wasn’t looking forward to punishing El either.
Ryan nodded and stood up.They all followed Ryan out of the room.El looked beautiful in an all-black floor-length cotton dress.Her creamy shoulders on display and the fabric draped on her curves just right.Trip wanted to cover her with a giant blanket so that nobody else could see her, but he didn’t think she’d take kindly to the suggestion.
“Are you ready?”Ryan asked her.
“I’m ready,” she said with a soft smile.
Ryan held out her hand, and she graciously took it.They all walked together, down to the pavilion where the Pride was gathered.As they approached the stage, Shawn began to fall back, but Ryan turned and motioned him to stay with them.Shawn looked hesitantly at the others, but they all just looked at him.None of them knew what Ryan’s plan was.Trip was a bit anxious, but he trusted his Triad brother to do the right thing for all of them.The pride was going to have to accept El eventually and Shawn, so if Ryan wanted to rip both bandaids off at once then Trip supported it.It would certainly make life easier for them if they didn’t have to hide El or Shawn in their own Pride.
They all stepped on the pavilion, and the crowd fell silent.Ryan kept El’s hand in his and moved to the front of it to speak.El didn’t look nervous at all, though.Her shoulders were back and squared off, her head held high as she stood beside Ryan.El was the rightful Luna.Trip didn’t want to believe in any legend and certainly wouldn’t accept that El would die giving birth to their child, but he knew without a doubt that she was a force hand-created by the Mother for something amazing.
Chapter 14
El
El lookedout over the crowd of people gathered before her.The numbers were so great, there was no way to even know the true number or see all of the faces.She had to wonder how they would all even hear Ryan as he spoke.
“Pride, thank you for gathering on such short notice,” Ryan began.
Murmuring erupted throughout the crowd as everyone tried to figure out what Ryan had gathered everyone for.El could feel both of her beasts inside her; they were edgy and ready to pounce.Her lioness felt worthy at being able to finally be beside her mate in front of the Pride, but she felt an allegiance to her Panther to not allow them to destroy El’s panther or Shawn.
“You all know that myself and my Triad brothers have taken a mate,” Ryan said taking El’s hand before continuing.“The Mother has blessed us with a smart, strong and beautiful mate, but she has also blessed us with her most precious of females.Our mate, the mate to your Alpha, and lioness of this Pride, is both lioness and Panther.”
Everyone began talking at once.There were questions, shock and outrage all being thrown at them.El steadied herself beside Ryan and refused to show any emotional reaction to any of it.
“Enough!”Ryan roared, bringing all of it to a halt.
“It is treason to speak ill of your Alpha or his mate.I will not hesitate to execute any who do,” he threatened, his tone and eyes were deadly.
El squeezed his hand.She didn’t want his Pride’s fear, she wanted their love.Ryan looked down at her, and she questioned him silently if she could speak.He looked worried for a brief second and then nodded his head.
“I know you all are nervous, to be honest, I am too.I didn’t know what I was until recently.I also know that lions and panthers don’t see eye to eye, but there is no getting around the fact that I am both.I’m not here to incite panic, though, I’m here because I love these men, and my place is with them, which means my place is here with you.I want to be an asset to the Pride, and I’m determined to be just that.You have questions, I understand that and honestly I have them too, but unfortunately, only the Mother can answer them.I’m not asking you to accept me because I’m the Triad’s mate, I’m simply asking to give me a chance to earn your trust and hopefully your friendship.”
Nobody said a word.Ryan looked down at her with great pride.The feeling spread warmth throughout her body, and her lioness wanted to shift and prance around under his gaze.
