Chapter 61

Jaxon, Rio, Charlotte and Amber were brought plates overloaded with food. She sat, feeling impatient while her mate filled her plate. She was very hungry and was ready to eat. Getting impatient she felt a growl rumble up from her chest. Stopping and looking up at Jaxson, her mate looked just as astonished.

"Wow! Charlotte, your eyes!" He exclaimed.

"What about my eye?" she asked.

Just then a shadow fell over them. Alain stood in front of them, smiling. "Someone is hungry."

"Oui. I am," Charlotte responded. Just then another growl worked up from her chest.

"Charlotte! Your eyes!" Jaxson exclaimed.

Charlotte frowned. "What about my eyes?"

"Ils brillaient en argent!"

"What?" Jaxson asked.

"My uncle said that they flashed silver."

"They did. I am not surprised, though. I knew you were a shifter." Jaxson replied with a smile on his face.

Whatever she was going to say was swept away in the media storm that the reveal had created. Things were starting to sink in and the reporters

were watching the recorded footage to verify that they had not lost their minds and that they had really seen humans shift into animals. This caused a storm of questions to be hurled at the Alpha and Beta couple. To which Charlotte responded with a sharp and high pitched whistle that hurt the shifter's ears, but got everyone's attention.

Once all eyes were on her, she made a statement. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press. Please. Hold your questions. There is a banquet prepared and there is plenty to eat. Enjoy the table that we have laid out for our guests, yourselves included. Now, if you follow Anders and Miney, they will lead you to the banquet area and let you all eat your fill of good Southern cooking."

"But, where are you going?" Someone asked.

Charlotte, seeing the small female reporter who had fought her way to the front of the crowd, answered her and said, "Jaxson, Rio, Amber and I are going to get into something very comfortable like jeans for the men and yoga pants for us women. We will return shortly." Charlotte turned to leave her mate before turning back around to address the female reporter.

"What's your name?" Pointing at the female was was roughly the same size as her.

"Kaylie, ma'am. Kaylie Rutherford."

"Kaylie, you and you alone will sit at the Alpha's table today. Bring plenty of pen and paper. I' sure that you have all sorts of questions that you would like to ask us. Also, we will bring you a small tape recorder for your use as well."

The reporter looked surprised and humbled by the invitation and bowed, and then curtsied. "Thank you, Luna. It is a pleasure and an honor."

Many were left groaning their disappointment while Miney personally led the young woman to the buffet line of the banquet and then to the Alpha table. She had called Hunter over to keep an eye out while she and Anders fixed Jaxson and Charlotte's plates then went back to fix Rio and Amber's plates. The Alpha and Beta couple entered the outdoor dining area just as Miney sat the last of the plates on the table.

As they approached, Jaxson was watching Hunter. He was doing his best not to make eye contact with the young woman. He leaned down and whispered in Charlotte's ear that the man seemed smitten with young Ms. Rutherford.

She nodded and sat down across from the young woman and made introductions.

The food was wonderful, the conversation comfortable and Hunter was uncomfortable the entire time. Jaxson, seeing his friend like this, wanted to laugh. But, he didn't. Instead, he introduced the couple.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the rear of the food prep area. Jaxson and Rio were on their feet and had shoved Charlotte and Amber behind them in a very protective gesture. Hunter had stepped in front of the men, along with Bill. Both had weapons drawn and were prepared to fire without hesitation, if need be.

Eagle was struggling with a small-built man in an impeccable three piece suit. The man would have looked very mild mannered, except that he had a very distinct black eye developing around one eye and his nose was sitting at an odd angle. When they all saw this, Rio and Charlotte stepped up and away from everyone. Going to where Eagle was standing, putting handcuffs on the man, Charlotte looked at him and smiled.

"Hello, Liam. I really didn't think that you would be so arrogant to think that you would not be caught, here. In my own town. Among my people. Who protect me and love me."

"You're nothing," he responded in a flat tone of voice.

"No, I am everything. I have a family that loves and cares for me, I have people that protect me because they love me, I have a heritage that is rich in many ways, and I am a shifter, who happens to be married and mated to an Alpha. We also, just happen to reveal to the entire world who and what we are. And here in a few minutes, we are going to be sitting down with a lovely young female reporter and provide her with the story of a lifetime. Then, we are going to live out our lives and not give you another thought. Except to occasionally wonder if you have been murdered yet at Gitmo by some of the very people that you helped to put there."

Seeing, for the first time, the very real fear in the man's face, Charlotte laughed. "Enjoy your life, Liam. What's left of it."

Rio, not being able to resist, said, "And that is why we don't piss Charlotte off." Chuckling, he too turned and walked away, leaving Nathan to sedate him with an injection for transport. Charlotte and Rio waved at Nathan, while Misty talked to him. No doubt telling him about the baby and that he was welcome anytime and that he was expected to bring his beautiful wife when he did visit.

"Well, that was certainly very anti-climactic, wasn't it?" Charlotte said to no one in particular. Then sitting down in Jaxson's lap, she looked over at Kaylie and asked, Are you ready for the story of a lifetime?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." The woman replied with a smile.

"Once upon a time..."

THE END.