Southern Shifters: Bear Sentry (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Enforcers Book 2) by Ruby Shae Page B

hybrids, made up about ninety-nine percent of the population, and the rest of the town was inhabited by humans, unaware of the magic surrounding them.
    The zone had been the result of a treaty created by the Councils, or Elders, of the wolf and cougar clans, because they believed full blooded shifters shouldn’t mix with other species. If they did, they were labeled misfits or rejects, and the result was banishment from clan lands. Finding a full blooded shifter living in the neutral zone was rare, but it did happen.
    Several years after the treaty, many different combinations of hybrids from all corners of the world occupied the area. Though they didn’t follow the same hierarchy, or strict, outdated rules of the clans, they relied on their leaders to maintain order, guide them when needed, and handle all pack politics. Especially when dealing with the surrounding clans.
    Shifters liked planting roots and being around family and friends, even if conventional social norms didn’t apply. Though she didn’t quite fit in with the other hybrids, the reasons for staying outweighed any thoughts of venturing to the outside world.
    Violet had been raised in Deals Gap. She still lived in her childhood home, and her animal could roam free with virtually no threats. She might be a freak, but she knew she was exactly where she belonged.
    You don’t belong alone just because you’re different.
    She stifled her inner voice and plastered a smile on her face as she walked behind the counter. Her replacements had arrived thirty minutes before and they were both busy making drink orders.
    Violet walked through the employee door, threw the rag into the hamper and took off her apron. After dumping her apron in her locker and fishing out her bag, she peeked her head into Monica’s office.
    “We still on for tonight?” Violet asked.
    “Yeah,” Monica said, smiling up at her. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing, why?”
    “You know you can’t lie to me, Vi,” Monica chastised. “What made you so sad?”
    “You’re crazy,” she said, waving her hand in front of her friend. “Nothing is wrong, I’m just saying goodbye.”
    “Right. We need to find you a man.”
    “Whatever,” Violet rolled her eyes. “I’ll see you at ten.”
    “See you,” Monica called after her. “Wear something sexy…and low cut.”
    Her cheeks heated as she walked back into the main part of the little shop. It wouldn’t matter if she undid a few buttons or wore a super short skirt, she’d still spend the evening watching the table and dancing with her friends.
    They went to the Dark Moon nearly every weekend, and aside from a few random tourists, the crowd was always the same. She’d known most of the men in town her whole life, and they were either already mated, or not interested.
    Sometimes a tourist, or one of her brother’s friends, would take pity on her and ask her to dance, but she really hated those moments. She felt guilty for her brother’s influence on the local men, and when the tourists found out she wasn’t putting out, they quickly ditched her for another female.
    Add another freaky quality to the list.
    All shifters liked to fight and fuck. The two qualities were programmed into their DNA, along with all of their other animalistic traits, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to have several sexual partners until they found their mate. Walking in on two shifters going at it in the bathroom, or the parking lot, was completely normal and expected when visiting the bar.
    Of course, she wasn’t normal.
    She was a thirty-year-old, chubby, hybrid shifter who’d never had sex. Most people knew she was inexperienced, but no one, not even Monica, knew she was a virgin.
    She hadn’t meant to keep the information secret at first, but as the years went on it had been easier to listen to their stories and play the role of the quiet friend , rather than reveal the truth. Instead of having them realize she really was a freak, they all just