Chapter 216 Chapter 216
Jesse read the message again and then checked the time. He’d have to go down to the van for this video call. The signal was the strongest down there. He turned and looked at Leah as she carried a box out of the house that had been Papa Low and Nana Pearl’s. She was really struggling with her emotions doing this. An hour wasn’t much notice. He should have remembered to check his phone where he knew he had a signal. Rubbing his jaw, he watched her for a moment longer and then text Devin back. I don’t want to miss it. I have to run down the damn mountain to my laptop though, so stall it for 15 minutes.
Tucking his phone into his pocket, he jogged toward the center house she’d gone in. There was one thing he knew to help when emotions were riding you, a run. Hopefully, she could let Minn out without issue. He didn’t have time to chase her down through the bush. Thera came over and ran beside him. He glanced down at her. There was no way there were going to get out of this yard without her too. Having to explain chasing a shifter and her pet leopard around the bush if he was late, was something he didn’t relish doing.
“Leah.” He poked his head in the door.
“Yes?” She came out of the bedroom.
Jesse stepped inside. “I have to go down to the van,” he didn’t know how to explain it exactly, “there’s a video meeting with the King and several Alpha’s from Canada that I really can’t miss.”
“A video meeting?” She raised both eyebrows and put her hands on her hips.
“Yeah,” he motioned to the door, “on my laptop, the signal is stronger down there.”
“Oh, I see.” Her expression told him she really didn’t.
“I was thinking you could come with me. Thera and Minn could use the run.”
She bit her lip and continued to look at him, but he could tell by the expression on her face that she wasn’t really seeing him at this moment.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing your van, or this laptop. Is it like the tv?”
Jesse smirked, “sort of, but—” He blew out a breath, “we could bring it back up and watch a movie, I have some downloaded for when I’m at my place.” He cleared his throat, “I don’t have the power there yet, so I just watch movies when I take a break.”
Her expression was almost amused, she didn’t understand that either.
“Okay. Um, I can use that run pack you brought up to put my clothes in?” She blushed, “I want to see this with my eyes and not Minn’s.”
“Yeah, go grab it and I’ll show you how to put it on.” He glanced behind him, “will Thera stay with us down there?”
Leah nodded, “Mmhmm, she won’t wander too far.” She went into the bedroom.
He pulled on his jeans and got his phone out of his pack. Bringing up Devin’s number he typed quickly, at the bottom now, give me a few to boot up the laptop and connect. Leah is also with me. Message if it’s a bad idea for her to witness this meeting. Going over he unlocked the van and then went around the back and opened the back doors. He’d sat here for many calls and video calls in the last few years.
Opening the hard case he used for his laptop, he pulled it out and started it. He traveled with two spare batteries for it, the same as his phone. The amount of time he spent on the road, he never knew when he’d need it.
“Is that a laptop?”
He glanced behind him to see Leah standing there. Nodding, he motioned for her to come closer. “It connects with the signal…”
“The signal like your phone?”
He shrugged, “pretty much.”
“So, what is a video call?” She clasped her hands in front of her as she leaned over and looked at the keyboard.
“It’s like a phone call, but we can see everyone.”
She gave him a surprised look. “See them on the screen?”
“Yeah. They’ll be lined up on the screen, when they talk the screen will just be of them…”
A look of shock and delight filled her face. “This is exciting.”
Jesse laughed, “the meeting may be upsetting at some parts, but it’s all about the shifter community.”
Leah sobered and nodded, “is it okay if I just stand off to the side?” She hugged her waist, “I’d like to see others like us.”
“Sure. I’ve already told Devin—the Prince of the Alliance that you’re with me.” He glanced over to where Thera was laying down.
“The prince?” She blew out a short breath, “will the King be there too?”
Jesse nodded, “As far as I know, he will be.”
“Oh, my goodness.”
Leah stood back watching over Jesse’s shoulder as he set up his laptop. She was completely fascinated with it. He was talking quietly with a man on there. It was like a small television, only Jesse could communicate with them. She stepped a little closer so she could see him clearly.
The man looked right at her and smiled. “Hello, Leah?”
Eyes wide, she looked at Jesse when he glanced over his shoulder.
“He can see you.” He said softly. He turned back to the screen. “Devin, this is Leah.”
“Hello.” She said, feeling her cheeks heat. She hadn’t realized he’d be able to see her. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
The man shrugged, “You’re not interrupting. Jesse and I are in a private room right now, we’ll join the others when everyone is there.”
“A room?” She looked around them.
Jesse leaned against the door of the van. “It’s what they call them, they’re not real rooms.”
“Oh, I see.”
A beautiful blonde woman looked over Devin’s shoulder. “Hello, Leah, I’m Rayne, Devin’s mate.” She smiled at her.
Leah moved a little closer to Jesse. “Hello.” She offered a smile.
“I’m so happy Jesse found you. I can’t wait to meet you in person.” Rayne smiled at her.
“The others will be ready in a minute, Jesse,” Devin told them.
“Okay, I’ll go back to the lobby and wait.” Jesse reached over and did something with the keys on the machine. He turned and looked at her. “Are you okay with this?”
Leah sucked in a breath and nodded. “It’s not scary with them not really here.”
He grinned, “Good. If you hear anything that upsets you or that you’re not comfortable with, just walk away, okay?”
She studied his pale eyes and could see how concerned he was for her. “Yes. Thank you.” She motioned to the machine, “for letting me see this.”
He smiled at her again, “I’m happy to show you anything you’re interested in.”
She glanced away, feeling Evanna closer now. “Evanna’s close.” She whispered.
“Are you okay?” He straightened and placed his hand lightly on her arm.
Leah looked down at his hand, it didn’t bother her at all. That was surprising. “I’m fine, she’s just interested too I think.”
“Oh, okay.” He cleared his throat. “How’s Minn doing?”
She didn’t understand why it pleased her as much as it did that he was asking about Minn, or that he understood about Evanna. She checked inside briefly. “She seems content.” Putting her hand on her throat, she shook her head slowly, “it’s so unusual, but I will take it.”
Jesse searched her face, “maybe she’ll enjoy leaving the mountain.”
Leah bit her lip and thought about that. “I don’t know about that, but Evanna told me that you would take it slow.”
Nodding, Jesse glanced briefly at the screen before looking back to her, “as slow as you need. If I have to stop every hour, we will.”
“Thank you.” Her heartbeat increased, but not in a panicked way, it was—she wasn’t sure, but thought maybe it was excitement. The screen changed, and she started to back up. “I’ll stay out of the way.”
“No need. You’re just as important to this meeting as I am.” He touched the small of her back encouraging her to stay beside him. Leaning over, he adjusted the angle of the screen.
“If you’re sure.” She hugged her waist, feeling nervous. She didn’t know why, but she leaned closer to him, there was something that calmed her when she was near him.
Jesse glanced down at her and smiled. “No need to be nervous. You already spoke to the Prince and Princess.”
Her eyes felt like they bulged out of her head. “I didn’t know.”
Jesse chuckled, “there’s no bowing with video meetings.”
“Okay.” She nodded and swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. Her nerves were forgotten as the screen changed into several boxes. She leaned closer, she was in one of the boxes with Jesse. She smiled and then watched him smile and look at her. It was the strangest, but a most interesting thing.