Chapter 60

The crowds were beginning to gather and the reserved seats were beginning to fill up, as well. The head of the Council, as well as the other nine Council members, had arrived. They were sitting on the front row, which had in fact, been reserved for family members. When they had refused to move, Charlotte had come out in her robe with Jaxson following close behind her.

"You really are a pain in the ass, you know that?" When the Council head had the nerve to look offended and surprised, she let fly. " You are the most entitled, self-absorbed, arrogant piece of s**t that I have ever had the misfortune to meet in my life. How you have kept your position is beyond me. Unless no one has ever had the stones to stand up to you." The head Alpha of the Council started to stand up. When several growls sounded, Charlotte smiled. "Please do. It will make interesting fodder for gossip, how you were incredibly rude as a visitor at an Alpha ceremony and to a pregnant Luna, no less. The pushback will be worth it. Especially in the human business world where your reputation is everything. After all, there are several cameras trained on us." She made a sweeping gesture with her hand and the Alpha looked. Indeed, there were several cameras pointed at them, recording. "Oh, and by the way, if you can't play nice, you will be arrested for disturbing the peace. Now, be a good little Wolfie and go sit in the seat reserved for you."

"But, I am the head of the Council and this is the front row. Where I deserve to be." Was his imperious reply.

"No, these are my family's seats. Now, last chance Alpha. Move or go to jail." Charlotte had won and she knew when he sniffed at her to realize that she was indeed, pregnant. If she was telling the truth about that, what else was she telling the truth about?

"Behave yourself, Ludwig. I can destroy you with a word. You just haven't witnessed my power yet. So be a good boy. I will not come out to call you to heel anymore. I will send our security team and you and your entourage will be placed in wolfsbane laced cuffs, so don't push me. I will not tolerate it." Without waiting for the wolf to respond, she turned her back on him and walked away.

"And that is why we don't piss off Charlotte." Rio has said with a smile. He was beginning to believe that was going to be one of his favorite sayings.

Back in the Alpha house, Charlotte entered muttering under her breath about arrogant and entitled a**holes. Going up to her room, she finished getting ready, Her anger was slow to dissipate, until she caught sight of her husband in his loincloth that had been died to match her dress. The loincloth hung low on his hips and showed off the vee line at his hips, the hair on his chest tapering down to end at the loincloth. Knowing what she knew didn't help her any. She knew that Jaxson could smell her desire and she also knew that every other shifter that would be present would smell her too.

But, instead of anger, Jaxson laughed and gathered her in his arms and kissed her breathless.

"Ahh, sweet wife, what I wouldn't give to be able to take care of that. But we must go downstairs and join Rio and Amber. Mom and Dad will be escorting us to the park." Letting her forehead go forward, she rested on his chest, close to the bottom of his sternum.

Taking her by the hand, he led her out of their suite and down the hall. At the top of the stairs, the couple met up with Rio and Amber. Rio looked just as impressive as his brother. Looking over at Amber, Charlotte whispered, "You doing okay?"

Nodding her head, Amber replied, "Yes, just ready for this to be over. I know that it will take about a month to settle down, but, I am so ready."

"Boys, you and your mates ready?"

"My sons, let me take a moment to tell you how proud your dad and I are of you. Both of you. By the way, we caught the mole and Liam will be captured in short order, as well. Once all of this is over today, Nathan will be taking him to Gitmo, where he will 'disappear' for the rest of his natural life." Miney briefly closed her eyes and said, "May it be ever so brief." Then smiling the smile that her sons knew so well, she turned to her husband and motioned for him to lead the way.

They walked across the center of town with two large males dressed in nothing but loincloths and two women dressed in almost formal gowns. The dresses were floor length and the women were barefoot. The way had been cleaned and swept meticulously so that their delicate feet would not be injured. As they entered the park and the seating area, the attendees turned to watch the Alpha and Beta couples walk down the aisle toward the stage. Those in the shifter world understood what was going on. However, many humans did not.

When the stage was occupied by the two couples and their parents, Anders stepped up to the microphone.

"Good afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to attend Jaxson and Rio's Alpha and Beta ceremony. Many of you are wondering what I am talking about. You are about to be introduced to a world that many of you have never known existed. But first, allow me to introduce my oldest son, Rio. He will be the new Beta of this clan and along with our Gamma Bill, will be in charge of our clan and this town's security. He and his mate are here to commit their vows to this town." Turning away from the crowd, Anders turned to Rio and said, "Rio Bjorn, you are charged with the safekeeping of this woman, your mate and this town. Will you guard it rigorously, defend it, if need be and care for it and its citizens?"

"I do, Sir." Rio's voice was deep and his pride showed out from it.

Anders turned to Amber, "Do you, Amber Bjorn, wife and mate of Rio Bjorn, so swear as well. Also, that the Luna, your sister, will always be in your charge and that her safety will always be at the forefront of your mind?"

"I do, Sir." Amber replied in a strong voice.

"Then by the power of the Goddess, I declare you the Beta couple of Denner's Ridge, Tennessee." Anders said, and Amber and Rio felt the clan link snap into place and they could both feel how proud the town was of them.

Rio stared at his brother. It was his Charlotte's turn. Charlotte was a Luna. A pregnant one at that. She would be linked to the clan as its mother, caregiver and nurturer. As the Alpha's mate, it was her destined position.

Calling the couple forward while Rio and Amber drifted back, Ander began to speak to the assembled guests. "The things that you are about to witness, no human outside of this town has ever seen. It is our honor and privilege to introduce you to the Alpha and Luna of our clan, Jaxson and Charlotte Bjorn. They have already married, like Rio and Amber. But Jaxson has yet to mark his little mate, reserving the right for his Alpha and her Luna ceremony. Today, he will mark her eternally as his. All will know that she belongs to a bear.

With that, Jaxson leaned down and whispered in Charlotte's ear. "This is going to be a bit uncomfortable. But, it will be over soon." She nodded as she smiled up at him. Kissing her diverted her attention. Then when she was caught up in the kiss, his started kissing down her neck to where the place he had shown her yesterday. When he got there, and placed a kiss she moaned, then he began to gently suck on the spot. When her smell changed and deepened, he allowed his canines to lengthen and then sank them into her neck. He knew that he had done a good job when he felt her shudder and cry out.

Charlotte felt the clan link snap into place and she felt how pleased the clan and indeed the town, were with her as a Luna.

Jaxson and Rio stepped up and said, "Some of you are wondering about the words that our dad used. We are a living secret. We are shifters and we can shift into animals." The crowd had some titters and guffaws. "We are willing to show you. We are willing to show you this secret side of ourselves. A secret that will horrify you, scare you, terrify you, some it will thrill, some will be pleased and some will be surprised. Please have cameras ready and whatever you do, do not get up and run. There is security surrounding this area so that you cannot leave. Once everything is said and done, then you will be allowed to leave. Understand, our animals are real animals. But they are safe and are controlled by our mates as you will see. Now, for those of you that Rio and I asked to join us, please come forward."

Several others came forward. The last of which was Randi, who was wearing a loin cloth shift. It tied on her shoulders and at her hips so that it was kept modest. Henry had come forward with her to help her disrobe when she shifted. As they gathered in front of the stage, Jaxson again started to speak, "Members of the Press, please come forward so that you do not miss this. I want no questions as to the authenticity of this. Rio and I will shift last."

Jaxson indicated to the people and asked the fox to shift first. Where a small framed, leanly muscled man with red hair had stood, a fox was standing, then a second. Then a lion, a large male with a thick head of hair and beard the color of an orange sunset, a tiger, two wolves, and Randi. Randi was the one who drew the most gasps. Her panther was black and sleek with large paws and a long tail.

Cameras were flashing and reporters almost rushed the stage. Security held them in check. Until. A small human child that was attending with some wealthy family had managed to escape her nanny and mother. She ran down the aisle, laughing and calling out kitty.

No one knew how the shifter cats would react. But, they surprised and pleased Rio and Jaxson. As the child was running up to them, Randi had moved to intercept her, when the massive lion got in between them. The child ran right to him and put her arms around his neck and snuggled into his neck, while he purred.

Charlotte looked over at Jaxson and raised an eyebrow, "Mate?" At his nod, she smiled and began to speak.

"As you can see, we are no different than anyone else. We are protective and caring. We love, cry and endure. At a time in my life, I would have given anything to know that I was like this. However, the Council, the ruling body of shifters, decided to keep my existence a secret. I never knew that I was a shifter's daughter. Not until three days ago." Directing her gaze at the Alpha who was the head of the Council, she continued, "However, I will not be manipulated into taking over as Alpha of all Alphas. My mate and I are not going anywhere, nor will we be taking my uncle's title away from him. We will stay here and rule our own clue. Now, ladies and gentlemen, my mate and his brother are going to shift. They are massive. They are grizzly bears and weigh easily between 700-900 pounds. Please sit very still and do not approach them. They will see it as an act of aggression against myself and my sister."

Charlotte and Amber stepped aside while Jaxson and Rio began their shift. Once they were fully transformed, both grunted and growled, wanting attention from their mates. Next, the two bears squatted down and the two women easily climbed onto the backs of both bears and rode them down off of the stage and around the crowd and then back up on the stage. Both shifted back and stepped into their loincloths.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a full banquet prepared and all of you are welcome to eat your fill. We will be available later for questions from the media. But only after we have eaten. Oh, and can someone please get this child? But, please be careful. That lion is her future mate and he just might attack anyone who he feels is a threat to her or that might harm her." Charlotte deliberately made contact with the Council Alpha and nodded at him.