Chapter 11 #3
Mark nodded. “The occasional wolf, human, mage, and whoever else the Mother of All wants us to add to our merry band of jaguars,” he agreed.
“I know it’s not the same for wolves, but jaguars seldom mate each other.
Throughout our history, we’ve usually chosen mates from other groups.
You won’t find any problems here, except maybe that our Clan mates will be curious about your animal.
We get a lot of other kinds of cats when our people mate other shifters, but you’ll be the first wolf in my lifetime. ”
“She can handle it,” Hank assured his Alpha before Tracy could say anything. She liked that Hank had confidence in her, but she was intrigued by Mark’s choice of words.
“Do you have records of other wolves being involved with jaguars?” she asked.
To her surprise, Mark nodded again. “In fact, we do. Not written records, but Abuela remembers a mated pair from her generation. The male was the wolf in that instance, and the female one of us. He gave up his Pack for her when his people wouldn’t accept his mating and came to live with Abuela’s familial Clan.
His name was Rodrigo, and he died in the drug wars, protecting his family, as so many of our people have died.
His grandson is one of the teachers in our school. ”
“So, all the children were jaguars?” Tracy asked after a pause to respect Rodrigo’s sacrifice.
“Most,” Mark said, smiling. “But Abuela talked about a set of twins that wound up being the South American Lords.”
“Wolves! Their mother was a jaguar?” Everybody knew that both the North and South American Lords were wolves at this moment in time, which was odd because the honor rotated among the shifter Tribes, Clans and Packs, depending on which species was blessed with a set of identical male twins that survived to adulthood.
Mark nodded. “I like to think growing up jaguar made them better at what they do for all shifters in their part of the world, but of course, that was a little before my time. We’re on good terms, though. They support the idea of the remaining jaguars banding together to strengthen our species.”
Tracy was impressed, but then again, who else would Lords talk to but a billionaire shifter with power in both the human and shifter worlds.
She had to remind herself this man wasn’t just any Alpha.
He was the Jaguar Alpha, which meant big things in this day and age.
He’d built an empire in the human world and used it to protect and rebuild his Clan.
The man was reputed to be lethal in both business and in combat, regardless of his laid back presence.
Cats were like that, sometimes. They looked all soft and fuzzy on the outside. They might even look a bit lazy to an active wolf. But when the moment to strike arrived…watch out.
“We’re holding a little party later to welcome Emma and yourself to the island,” Shelly told her. “If you want to freshen up or maybe put Emma down for a nap, I had a suite prepared for your use.”
“That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.”
A few more minutes of conversation and Tracy took a sleepy Emma indoors to the promised resting place.
To say the rooms were palatial would be an understatement.
Shelly had escorted them and made sure they had everything they needed while Hank sorted out their luggage.
He brought Emma and Tracy’s bags to the room after Shelly left.
“Don’t unpack too much,” he cautioned her with a grin.
“I’m hoping to convince you both to stay with me, remember.
We’ll probably have time to see my place after the party.
We’re holding it early in deference to the children.
Emma’s going to meet the other kids we have here.
The hope is that she’ll start friendships that will last a lifetime among her own peer group. ”
“That’s a really great idea,” Tracy mused. So far, she was impressed by the way the jaguars planned everything for the best effect. No wonder Mark Pepard had been able to build such an empire. If he gave this much attention to everything he did, there’d be no stopping him.
“Mark will be welcoming you both into the Clan officially,” he told her, his expression going taut.
“So soon?” she asked, surprised. She’d thought the Alpha would take more time to get to know her first before taking such a step.
“There’s no question you belong, Tracy. If only for Emma’s sake. We do not separate children from their parents. Ever. And, more than that, I’ve already told Mark that you’re my mate. Even if you never accept that, it’s something I will hold in my soul for all time.”
Tracy shook her head. Things were getting a little too serious. She knew she had to think about all of this soon, but she was on the point of overload between the long flight and the island. Meeting Pepard and his mate, Shelly. Too much was racing through her mind.
“Give me a little time, Hank,” she told him in a quiet voice.
He immediately backed off toward the open doorway. “I’ll leave you two to rest. Be ready in about two and a half hours, okay? I’ll come pick you up.”
With that, he left, and Tracy felt a little sad. She hadn’t meant to reject him, but she knew he’d been hurt when he left. Damn. She just didn’t know what to think anymore. Life was getting a little too complicated, but she’d have to figure it out. Somehow.