“It is.” She put on her seat belt.

Richard drove them to the gates and whistled. “Wow. Look at that.”

Zandy was shocked at what she saw. “Is it always this bad around lunch? I never leave this way.” They slowly drove past at least a hundred protesters after they exited through the gate. They were glared at as some of them shouted.

“I guess they aren’t happy Justice North took a mate.”

Zandy jerked her head to stare at him. “He did? If the locals had such a problem with them why did they buy land here for Reservation?”

“How did you miss that news conference last night? It was on every channel. He married the daughter of some popular senator and all of them announced it together. Daddy was thrilled, she’s kind of hot, and Justice swears they are really happy. They sure looked it.” Richard paused. “These aren’t the town residents. Everyone who lives around here loves the New Species. All these ass**les drive here to cause problems. The local motels won’t rent rooms to them so maybe that’s why they are so bitchy. They have to drive over an hour to stand out here being idiots and then at the end of the day drive another hour back.”

Zandy laughed. “The local motels won’t rent to them?”

Richard shook his head. “Nope. They put out big signs. Haven’t you seen them? They state ‘no anti-New Species persons’ allowed right there with the ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’ signs. It’s kind of funny.”

“That is. I’ve never visited any of the motels. I bought my house online and did all the paperwork by fax. I just moved here after the house closed. I’m glad Justice North is happy. I like him. I’m glad he found someone but I thought he’d take a New Species mate.”

“You and everyone else.” Richard accelerated once they reached the highway that would lead them into town. “The fact that she’s human is going to stir up every ass**le out there who has a problem with the NSO. We’re going to get slammed with hate mail but just remember to respond nicely.” He turned his head and winked. “Insult them back with polite sentences.”

“Dear sir, your thoughts are much appreciated by our entire mail department because we laugh daily over your views and hope you have the kind of day you’ve wished on us too.”

Richard chuckled. “Too bad we can’t just tell them to f**k off.”

* * * * *

Tiger snarled as he hung up the phone and glared at the males around him. “Lock it down and triple security. I want the males from the Wild Zone patrolling the long stretches of walls where we’re spread thin. Have them break into two groups, twelve-hour shifts and they can tear apart any trespassers if they somehow make it over the walls.”

Flame cocked his head. “Seriously?”

“No. It would be nice though, wouldn’t it? Tell them to terrify but hold anyone they find until we can send someone to collect the morons.”

The other male grinned. “I know I could think of a few humans on the other side of the gate I wouldn’t mind beating on.”

Harley nodded next to Flame. “The loudmouth with the blow horn would be at the top of my list to get an attitude adjustment.”

Tiger’s sense of humor returned as he grinned. “The male in the red beer shirt?”

“That’s the one,” Harley confirmed. “Just two minutes with him and I’d send him home with that horn in a bad place that would make walking difficult for him.”

Moon shifted his stance. “I’d go after the male in the fatigues. He isn’t really military but someone should put him through my version of boot camp.” He lifted his foot to show off his military-issue boot.

Tiger’s bad mood dissipated. “Try to keep your sense of humor. I know it is difficult but we’ll get through today.”

“What about tomorrow?” Harley smirked. “I don’t think this is going to blow over fast. I think those losers out there just realized we can give their women a lot better than they can.” He softly growled. “I could show them with that brunette beauty in the blue suit.”

Moon growled too. “Hot. She could do an in-depth report on me anytime.”

A deep chuckle escaped Tiger. “Don’t flirt with the reporters.”

The phone rang again and Tiger dismissed the males. He reached for it and was glad it was Justice who called. “How is Jessie holding up?”

Justice hesitated. “She’s angry. We expected a backlash but it’s been worse than we feared. Brass said you’ve had a lot of protester issues since late last night.”

“It wasn’t actually bad until a few hours ago. I wish you’d given me warning before you announced this. I wasn’t even aware of what had happened until this morning when I came on shift.”

“I tried to call you but you didn’t pick up. I was told you wanted time off and didn’t want to be disturbed.” Justice paused. “Are you well? Brass said you’d called to say you were spending the night in the Wild Zone.”

Tiger hated to lie. “I just needed to commune with nature.” An image flashed of Zandy under him while he’d f**ked her. His dick stirred at the memory of her parted lips and sexy green eyes staring into his. He’d gotten in touch with his animal side all right. A lot. Guilt struck next. “That’s a lie,” he admitted. “I refuse to speak of it but I was with a female.”