Destiny wasa month old when Shawn and the other’s decided it was time for him and El to make their presence as Alpha panthers known to the Pantera.They had spent the past month going over who’s who in the Pantera with Herb and learning who was for the prophecy and who was against it.Herb said he couldn’t be sure that allegiances hadn’t changed since it had been almost a decade since he had been involved in the politics of the Pantera.It was better than nothing, so they decided to roll with it.
Ryan had hand-selected the members of the Pride that would be accompanying them, and they had all selected those who would stay and protect Destiny.The latter had been a pretty easy decision.Persia, Leilani, Adam, and Willow made up the crew that would protect her.Leilani was pure strength, Persia was cunning, Adam was practical, and Willow had her healer abilities.They also all always argued over who would get to babysit Destiny, so this time they all got to do it.
They pulled up to the gate of the Pantera, and Shawn felt the push back from the man who now claimed to be Alpha.
“I feel him,” El said, mirroring Shawn’s thoughts.
“I do too,” Shawn agreed.
“Then he must be powerful in his own right, and not just posing.We must be careful,” Ryan said.
Shawn and El had agreed they didn’t want to challenge the current Alpha; their main goal was to get the word out that there was a place for those who were for the merger of lions and panthers.There would more than likely be a fight, but Ryan was convinced that by surprising the current Alpha, they wouldn’t be prepared enough to take on twenty of the elite Pride members.They just needed their message to get out to one potential loyalist who would tell others, and soon their numbers would come.
The guard at the gate came over to the truck, and Shawn rolled the window down.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?”The guard asked sarcastically.
“We’re wanting to speak to the Alpha,” Shawn said.
“You need an appointment,” the guard said, dismissing them by turning to walk back to his post.
“We don’t need an appointment,” Shawn said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
“I said you did, now beat it, Lion,” the guard snarled.
“We’re not all lions,” Shawn growled back.
The guard turned, and his eyes grew wide.He stared at them for several minutes, and then the gate buzzed open.
“I can’t wait to see what’s left of ya,” the guard sneered as they drove back.
“I take it he won’t be joining our cause,” El scoffed.
Shawn drove in and Ryan instructed him where to go.Once they parked, Shawn and El got out first.Three giant men came out to greet them.Shawn held his hand up behind his back to stop Ryan and the others from getting out of the vehicle.
“Can we help—” The man stopped talking when his eyes met El.Apparently, he knew exactly who she was and why they were there.He took a step forward, and Shawn immediately blocked his path to El.He growled and showed his teeth, but Shawn didn’t even budge.
“What do you want,” he snarled.
“We’re here to see the Alpha,” Shawn repeated.
The guy looked Shawn up and down, and then eyed the two trucks full of lions ready to pounce.Shawn started to say something else to the prick, but someone cleared their throat from the darkness of the shadows.
“There’s no need for all the pomp and circumstance.We have two of our own coming home, this should be celebrated,” the guy said, stepping into the light.
Shawn felt that the guy was the Alpha.El obviously did too because he felt her tense behind him.Shawn’s panther was all but salivating thinking about challenging the Alpha.
“Come, we’ll speak privately, in my office,” he said.
“We can speak here, we don’t have much to say.”
The Alpha gestured for Shawn to go ahead.
“My mate is the prophecy, the one chosen by our Mother to unite the lions and the panthers.We’re here peacefully to say that we’re open to this union.”
“You’re open to the union,” the Alpha repeated.
“Yes.”
