“Were you raised as a panther?”someone called out from the crowd.
“No, I was raised human.I had no idea I could shift until recently, and up until the last large gathering, I had no idea I could shift into both a lioness and a panther,” El answered.
“What does it mean?”someone else asked.
“We don’t know.There is more to tell.El has asked that I share this with all of you, although to be honest, I was hesitant.Please wait for more questions until the end,” Ryan said.
He cleared his throat and motioned for Shawn to come up next to them.Shawn moved forward and stood on the other side of El.
“You’ve probably seen this man around lately, his name is Shawn, and he is my mate’s panther mate.We are all five bonded by the Mother,” Ryan said.
El turned and looked up at Shawn.His demeanor radiated that of a coiled snake.The man probably assumed he was about to be publicly persecuted.Everyone again began chattering amongst themselves and several yelled out questions.El took a deep breath.It had been her idea to give them the full truth, but their childlike behavior was beginning to get on her nerves.
“Quiet!”Ryan yelled again.
“Shawn is a part of this Pride now.He is my brother, as the Mother has deemed it.I know what we’re telling you is a lot.I’ve had weeks to digest this information, and I still have questions.What it comes down to is we were given this gift—not the panthers, nor the wolves, or any other shifter, but us.Our Luna is special, and the Mother has a reason for giving her to us to protect, and we will do so with pride as a Pride!”
For a brief second everyone was silent, and then one male shouted out, “my Luna!”
Then another and another, all of them taking a knee right after.This continued until the Pride was all kneeling and chanting, “my Luna.”
El felt the tears well in her eyes.Their gesture humbled her.She may not have wanted to be anyone’s Luna, but if they were willing to accept her and kneel before her, then she would give them her very best.
“I am so honored by your gesture.I may not always be right, or do the right things, but I promise I will do my best to be your Luna and bring you all Pride,” El shouted out over them.
“Please rise,” Ryan said.
Everyone stood up.
“Now, we have one more matter of business to discuss.After our last pride gathering, there was a fight.Everyone here is aware of pride law.I’m here today to name the two who fought and dole out their punishment.The lioness who initiated the fight was Leilani, my mother, and she attacked my mate, your Luna, El.It is clear to me that my mother’s intent was to kill my mate in light of the information I just told you.My mate defended herself, nothing more.My mother has disappeared, so I am unable to give her punishment, but should anyone come across her or even her scent, you will be rewarded.With you-all’s permission, I will be recusing my mate from any punishment as she was the one attacked, and as she was unaware of the pride law—another thing we hope to fix soon.”
Someone from the crowd yelled, “I agree!”A long line of others agreeing with Ryan also spoke up.
There were a few that mumbled and groaned quietly, but not so quiet that El didn’t hear their opinions against Ryan’s decision not to punish her.El didn’t take it to heart though.She was new and unknown, so it was only natural that not everyone was overjoyed with her presence and her special treatment.El was a bit relieved that there were so many in favor of Ryan’s decision because she hadn’t been looking forward to any kind of punishment.
Ryan concluded the gathering and people began to disperse.Several stood back and waited to speak with one of the Triad brothers, and some even approached El and welcomed her to the Pride.El noticed that nobody approached Shawn.The man didn’t look super approachable, but El didn’t like it that nobody had welcomed him.Even though Ryan hadn’t come out and said that Shawn was a panther, it was apparently implied.Apparently, being a panther meant that everyone was going to associate Shawn with the Pantera.El figured they’d have to take things one step at a time, though.Tonight, they had for the most part, accepted her.El would work on getting them to accept Shawn.
After an hour or so of the small talk with the stragglers, El finally had to excuse herself.She was mentally and physically exhausted.Her stomach was hurting her as well, which Willow said could be a potential side effect from her spell to protect El from getting pregnant.El took that as a good sign that the spell was effective.
Marcus and Shawn left the gathering with El, while Trip and Ryan stayed behind.
“Nobody spoke to Shawn after,” El said to Marcus.
“They assume I’m Pantera,” Shawn interjected.
“I know, but we need to find a way to show them that you’re not,” El replied.
“I don’t care what they think.As long as they’re good to you, then I have no problem with the Pride members,” Shawn said with a shrug.
“This is going to be our home, though, Shawn.I want you to be happy here.”
“El, I’m happy where you are happy.I don’t need other people’s approval for that.”
“I don’t either, but this is different.We’re linked to the Pride Alpha.”
“I’m linked through you.There’s nothing I’ll ever do or say that will make them accept me.I’m okay with that, and you’re going to have to be too.The Triad accepts me and that’s enough for me,” Shawn told her.
“Some will grow to accept you but most won’t; you’re right,” Marcus told Shawn.
