Chapter 48

Randi's tone was accusatory. Anders understood. Her secret was for her safety and the safety of her species. Taking a sniff, he really didn't smell anything from her but human.

"Now hold on a minute, young lady. It's Bill's job to keep this clan safe. Plus the added task of guarding the Alpha couple." He looked down at her and watched as her eyes changed to an elliptical pupil and her luminous green eyes became a glowing gold.

Miney gasped and said, "Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. My dear, you are beyond lovely."

Randi looked somewhat startled by the couple's reaction. When Miney reached for her, she didn't know what to do. So, she let the older woman fold her into her embrace.

"You would adopt all of us if you could wouldn't you, Miney" Randi looked around the older woman who had embraced her in welcome and saw a diminutive brunette with deep blue, sapphire colored eyes.

"Charlotte, come and meet Randi. She's a panther shifter and it appears, Henry's mate." Randi watched the small brunette's eyes go wide as she realized what the older woman had said.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Charlotte clapped her hands together a couple of times, then asked, "Does Jaxson know yet?"

Henry stepped out from behind the woman, where he had been standing with his hands on her shoulders. "Not yet. I just found out last night. I didn't want to bring another shifter into this town without letting him know."

"Without letting me know what, Henry?"

Randi looked up the stairs where a massive man was descending dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. The cat instantly was sure if she wanted to submit to his power or fight him for it.

Realizing that the young woman in front of him must have been who was being discussed. Standing in front of her, he looked her up and down, as if sizing her up, before speaking.

"And you are?"

"Randi. Amarandi Baros, and I'm a panther shifter." She knew instinctively that the male would try to catch her scent. She watched as he took a deep sniff and frowned when she knew that he didn't smell anything but human essence.

"Why can't I smell your cat?" Jaxson asked, somewhat harshly, being suspicious.

Randi smiled and answered him, "Scent suppressors."

She watched the Alpha's eyes get wide in surprise. Something told her that he didn't surprise easily and counted herself fortunate.

"Darling, let the girl alone. She came to us freely and acknowledged who and what she was. Don't go Alpha on her and then scare her off." The big man grimaced as the petite woman admonished him. "Remember Jax, not everyone knows your protective, gentle side. Be careful, love. Don't scare her."

The big man looked somewhat put out by the small woman's words. "Charlotte, I have to..."

"Jaxson, as you mate, luna, and soon to be wife, trust me on this. This woman is safe. She is Henry's mate."

Jaxson shifted his eyes over to the doctor. "Your mate?"

"Evidently so. I was telling your mom and dad that I only found out last night at dinner."

Before anyone could answer, another voice came from behind them. "Who's the girl with the doc?"

There was another large man who looked similar to the man that had questioned her and the first man she had spoken with. He was accompanied by a slender woman with red hair and freckles. Not only that, she was wearing a shoulder holster with what Randi assumed was a 9mm and on the other side, there was a place for two spare clips of ammo.

"This is Randi. She's Henry's mate." Jaxson said in the way of introductions.

"Wait! Henry isn't a shifter." The other man said.

"No, he's not. But I am. Can we please stop discussing me like I'm a bug under a microscope." Randi was getting irritated.

'Absolutely, my dear. Let's go into the sitting room and we can all sit down and get to know each other." Miney had stepped in and said. "Jaxson, Rio, step back and don't crowd her. Cats tend to fight when they feel cornered."

Randi looked at the older woman and made eye contact, she thanked her with a nod of her head.

"Come along, my dear. We will all sit down and talk." Waving at Jaime, Miney nodded. "I have someone bringing us some refreshments. We can sit and have a nice talk and then afterwards, we can eat lunch."

"Momma Miney, when do the ladies doing the wedding dress fittings get here?" The small brunette asked the older woman. Randi was lead to a comfortable room with several couches and chairs. Coffee and accent tables were scattered around the room. Many with lamps and photos on them. The room itself was a relaxing cream with accents of blues and grays.

"Now, let me introduce my family to you and then you can tell us about yourself. What do you think?"

"Very well. We can do that." Randi said.

Anders stood up and started the introductions. Walking over to Jaime, he took the tray that she was carrying and sat it down on the closest table. "The gentleman who just sat the tray of drinks down is my husband and mate, Anders. We are the retired Alpha couple. To Anders' left is our two sons and their mates, soon to be the wives. The biggest one of the two is Rio, he is our oldest. The lovely ginger sitting next to him is his mate, Amber. Seated across from us is our youngest son, Jaxson, who is the future Alpha, and the small brunette next to him is his mate, Charlotte.

"My name is Amarandi Baros. I am a panther shifter, and Henry is my mate" She replied, stiffly.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" the small woman, Charlotte, said excitedly.

That's when Randi realized something. "Hold on. Something you just said. Your youngest is the Alpha heir? The youngest is the Beta, I'm guessing?"

"That's right. Rio left before Jaxson was fully grown. When he disappeared, leaving Jaxson to become the Alpha. When Jaxson was eighteen, he asked to join the military. We told him he could. Up until two years ago, we were the Alpha couple. Jaxson was given an honorable discharge from the military and came home. We thought he was going to take over. What we didn't know was that he had been through a lot. Especially his last mission. But he was home, so we thought he would take over running the clan and we retired. Needless to say, life got in the way." Gesturing over to the sheriff, Miney said, "Bill is our Gamma and has guarded and run the clan in our absence. Until Jaxson was ready to take over. Thankfully, he found his Luna along the way."

"Well, I would like to ask you some questions, myself, young lady." Randi turned her attention to the older Alpha.

"Ask away, sir. But you must understand, I will not, under any circumstance, reveal any secrets that would harm or damage any of the Panthers that I know." She said, emphatically.

"Understandable. I cannot say that I blame you." Anders took a moment to gather his thoughts before he asked, "How many panthers are in your pride?"

"There are six, including myself, sir. They are me, my parents, my grandmother, my aunt, and uncle."

"May I ask about how you're all related?" Anders asked her.

"My mom is my grandmother's daughter. My aunt is my mom's sister. Oddly enough, my uncle is my dad's brother. They have three sons, but they moved away several years ago." She smiled remembering her cousins and the affection they had for each other.

"Randi, are you protected in your pride. The women, all of them, are they protected?" Anders asked, forever the protector.

"Of course. My father and Uncle both let us females go nowhere without them, and we must all be wearing scent suppressors." She closed her eyes, remembering a time she thought that she didn't need the suppressant and went out without.

"What it is, Randi?" Henry asked her. He had been quiet because he wanted to listen to what she had to say. But, he had felt her shudder and knew that she had recalled an unpleasant experience.

"Once, a friend and I went out to the local nightclub. I was being rebellious and had decided that I didn't need the suppressant and went to the club without it. That was the last time I have ever gone without it. It was not a night that I want to repeat." Thinking of it again, she once again shuddered.

"We can talk about it later tonight if you would like?"

"Yes, please." It almost sounded like she was pleading with him.

"Charlotte, it appears that you and Amber aren't the only ones who have been through some stuff. Maybe you three ladies along with Agnes, should sit down together and talk. Maybe, it would make you all feel better."

The large Alpha put his arm around his very small, very human mate.

Looking at Amber and nodding to each other, they looked at Randi and said, "You need to meet Agnes. Jaxson is right. We all have trauma in common. We can create bonds from that. However, the three of us are human. You will be the only shifter among us mates."

"I'm confused. Who's Agnes?" Randi replied.

"Oh, sorry. She's my granddad's girlfriend and hopefully, my new grandmother." Charlotte said smiling.

"You sound excited about that prospect. That's not something that I don't normally hear among humans."

"My granddad is a very dynamic man and having someone with the poise that Agnes displays is crucial. The world that they will live in, well, let's just say it's very prone to frenemies and backstabbers. But Agnes, she just has this look that says, 'I'm not taking any crap off of you.' She'll need it in my world. Well, what was my world." Grabbing Jaxson's hand and smiling at her mate, she said, "This is my world now."

Randi frowned. "Just who is your grandfather, for his world to be so very vicious?"

"Graeham Dylan Frazier is my granddad." Randi had the expected response. "Yeah, him. That's the world I grew up in."

Then came the inevitable response.

"But, Frazier doesn't have any female grandchildren. The one he did have died in a car accident on the way home from the hospital." Charlotte smiled a bit wistfully.

"He lied to the media and kept me hidden for years to keep me safe. I was raised with my cousins. We were all taught how to avoid kidnapping, assault, and self-defense."

Randi whistled, so did Henry. Charlotte realized that this was the first time Henry had heard the story.

"Ma'am, sir? Lunch is served. Since it was so nice, I thought you would like to sit out on the patio and have taken the liberty of setting the table out there. The

girls are ready to bring you the food when you get seated." Jaime announced from the doorway of the room.

"Very good idea, Jamie. Thank you. That is a wonderful idea." Miney turned to look at everyone, and said, "What does everyone think? Lunch out on the patio?"

Charlotte stood and turned and smiled at Jaxson, "I think it a fabulous idea, don't you, love?"

Placing a massive and heavily muscled arm across her shoulders, and then leaned down to kiss her cheek. Then he straightened up and said, "Sounds like a plan to me."

"Me too. I'm ready to eat. How about you Amber?" Rio mimicked the actions of his brother. Amber looked up at him and smiled, "I am. I didn't eat breakfast this morning. Someone kept me busy." She said in a mock fierce tone.

"I didn't hear you complaining. As a matter of fact, I believe that you were making...."

"Rio! That will be enough of that. I wondered how long it would take for your sense of humor to assert itself." Anders said.

Randi looked at the three couples and wasn't sure if she should laugh or be offended. She decided that it was funny and giggled.

When they walked out onto the patio, there was another couple already there, waiting on them. Randi, looking at the couple could only be Frazier and Agnes. After introductions, they all sat down and the servants began putting food on the table.

"Lunch was a cold cucumber salad, then a small salad, followed by smoked and shredded pork served with BBQ sauce on the side, with sides of potato salad and table pickles and a fruit compote. Dessert was a choice between peach cobbler and banana pudding.