"You smell quite delectable this evening, Chiquita"
"Cut the shit, we have a lot to talk about"
The mother of all Texas shifters looked across the roundtable to the tattooed and pierced man who held a cigarette in his hand. It hadn't been a pleasant evening. Rothman had to step in on his associates since they were no good at getting the job done quickly enough.
"I would've just killed the girl, what gives Rothman?" Chiquita said annoyed stirring her coffee.
"Unfortunate series of events, an RV flipped over, an airplane damn near dropped from the sky. The inbreds...well aren't the most stable right now, including darling Darla."
Chiquita shrugged, "I get it, mercy killing was never your forte, but what now? what about the other family associates in the areas?"
"Ehh, well they are mostly secured. They'll most likely be moving around soon and staying quiet like they usually do when things get too hot. But don't worry, your pack isn't going to be touched." Rothman got up and put on his coat. Just as he was about to leave Chiquita stopped him.
"Wait, Rothman." Turning around, Rothman replied an annoyed 'what?' in response.
"Thank you again for the help all this time. You don't do so bad for a half-breed in our pack. Because of you and your "associates," our numbers in Texas have spiked up. My pack feels a lot safer compared to most other places in the States."
Rothman chuckled under his breath before turning back to the pack leader, "Enjoy it while it lasts, this "half-breed" is gonna make sure these humans will get the job done without ever having you lift a finger to protect your people. One more thing though..."
Chiquita looked up meeting Rothman's dark eyes as he opened the exit door, "Don't call me half-breed from this day out."
"Hewitts, Slaughters, and Sawyers. I thank you for your service. Honestly, Our nest in the deep wilderness could've never survived without your help. Especially with the fresh blood of those Gaitlan children you keep here, I know this help will continue for more generations to come."
Chiquita finished smiling at the wounded family as they all stared in disbelief, never had realized before the reason why Rothman had set up a part of the family like that. But it was all starting to make sense to them. Hoyt shook his head, "As head of this family, I'd rather us be dead than protect damn demons. Well go on then, we've seen just about enough of ya'll. Let's get this over with."
A sudden explosion of laughter came from the shifters all around. In near tears, Chiquita responded, "Oh no no no sweetheart. Don't you see? I ain't losing a good thing. Sure, you humans got every easy right to die but I'm not doing that. Nooo, I'm taking it a step further. Alrighty everyone in this room, at attention!" She commanded as all shifters gathered closer to pay attention to their pack leader.
"In regards to tonight's events, our pups are secured although injured not to worry. For we have now gained even more. Tonight, For the first time in many centuries, I, pack Leader of Texas, Chiquita Harlens in this great country of the U.S of A, declares in the highest degree, these three families of Hewitt, Slaughters, and Sawyers are under the seal protection of my pack authority, as well as the transient children of Gatlin. You are all hereby dissociated from all outside humanity, permanently, and are now under all shifter society and my authority in the great state of Texas. Also, under this formal decision, you are bestowed perpetual to serve as tribe protectors until the day the last of your generation dies off."
Qianna couldn't believe what was happening. One minute these monsters almost killed her and her friends, and the next they are now a part of her pack. She held onto Caz's hand as they obediently listened to their leaders' words.
"And to make sure you lot don't squirrel away from your new family, you are to be monitored by any shifters I appoint. you will be watched day in and day out. this is the beginning of your new life, and as an extra step further, there will be members of the pack living with you here now. Qianna, as well as the also new members hailing from Australia, are ordered to stay as residents indefinitely as I see fit."
After hearing the leaders' verdict Qianna sunk to her knees and started to sob. the Australian pack began to growl in protest but knew, as new immigrants to the pack, had no say in the matter and must go wherever the leader puts them. Caz knew he had to stay as close as possible to help his friend be okay while in the humans' stay.
As many pack members carried away many of their injured members, Caz assured Qianna that he was going to come back to visit her really soon.
"As soon as some of the Aussies heal up, I'll be the one to return them back here. I'll see you then and will let you know how Germs will be too. You be strong okay?"
Caz held his bloody friend close as she continued to cry. Qianna knew life as she knew it was about to change forever. Being apart, possibly forever, from the people who she considered her real family - she won't be able to return to.
"Please...return again soon."