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hybrids searching for Arkadia. Together, the five of them became Arkadia.
When the waves of power receded, Sebastian was in human form. He, Rebecca, Ashby, Nic and
Kate were huddled together on the floor beside the table where they had been sitting.
Rebecca sat up and yawned opening her mouth wide.
That was freaking awesome, she said, looking around the room. Everyone was smiling down
at the group, which in the shifter world should have represented the small, weak, beaten and abused.
But here in Arkadia they were the ones holding everyone together.
Come on, Becca, up you go, Aleks said, picking up his mate.
Kate, Caleb said as he and Bran each offered a hand to help her get up.
You keep doing things that threaten to stop this old heart, mon ange, Gabriel said as he and
Baptista helped Ashby and Nic off the floor. Nic blushed up at the large protector.
Come here, kitten, Liam said. When Sebastian looked up, Liam was holding out his clothes.
He quickly put them on and launched himself into Liam s arms.
It was the most amazing feeling. Not as sacred as a mating bond, but close. Liam sat down,
pulling Sebastian in his lap. Sebastian snuggled close and began to purr happily.
Well isn t this a picture of domesticity. Or it would be if the lion Alpha were holding a
woman, a snarky voice said from behind them. After the floating sense of warmth, acceptance and
love they had all just experienced, this man felt like a cold intrusion.
We don t discriminate against anyone here in Arkadia, Ma said from her chair next to Aleks
and Rebecca, arms crossed over her chest.
According to our records, you, Margaret Arkadion, are no longer Alpha Mother. I don t have
anything to say to the diner s owner. I was told that the lions fall under the Alpha Mother s
jurisdiction now. The man looked down his nose at her. Behind him Connor and Emmett stood
growling.
Boys, please, Ma said, shaking her head.
Hmm, it may be worse than I was led to imagine. The brutes here are barely civilized. The
man took a step forward and looked around the diner, distaste clearly written on his face. Elder, did
we really have to meet in such a plebian establishment? I mean, do they even clean here? he asked,
wiping a fingertip across a table, shuddering.
I assure you, Mr. Salsiby that this diner provides only the best, Lachlan said, walking
forward, kissing Ma on either cheek before taking a seat on the barstool at the counter. Kent stepped
quickly in the man s wake and made his way to his mates. He sat down and laid his arm across the
back of Liam s chair. Wiggling, Rebecca made Aleks put her down. She walked over to Mr. Salsiby.
I m Rebecca Arkadion, the Alpha Mother here. Welcome to Arkadia. Elder Lewenhart is
correct. Ma serves some of the best food I have ever had. Would you like to sit down and see a
menu? She asked brightly. The man eyed her as if she were a bug on the sidewalk. Sebastian felt the
hair on the back of his neck start to rise. He suppressed the hiss that was fighting to come out.
You are the human trying to lead a shifter community. How quaint. I have reports that you are
mentally unbalanced and prone to fits of violence, the man said, taking the nearest empty seat. He
opened his briefcase and pulled out a folder. Crossing his legs, he read from the profile as if he were
chastising a small child in the principal s office.
It also says that you have taken it upon yourself to invite our greatest enemy into Arkadia,
making it unsafe for the entire town. He looked up at her from over the rim of his glasses. Sebastian
held his breath as everyone waited to see what Rebecca would do.
It is true I am a human and it is true I am leading this shifter community. I have never been
diagnosed by anyone to be mentally unbalanced, in fact I have scored off the charts on every IQ test I
have ever been given. I am only prone to violence when those who I care about are being threatened,
as I am entitled to according to shifter law. As for inviting vampires into town, that is also true, I did
invite them to live in Arkadia. However, the statement you made alluding to the fact that they are our
greatest enemy is false. The vampires that live within Arkadian borders help to protect every citizen
in this town. Rebecca took a step forward so that even her small frame seemed to stand over him as
he stayed seated, turning the tables on the thin, acerbic-looking man. Gabriel scowled and gave the
sour man a frosty look.
Vampires have longed to live in peace alongside shifters. The actions of a few do not dictate
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