Chapter 222 Chapter 222
Jesse checked on Thera once more before he started the call, she’d finally lay down and stopped sticking her face to every box in the van. Leah was sitting beside her running her hand over her back in a slow soothing manner. His sisters were going to love this.
His mother’s face came on the screen. “Hi, honey.” She always managed to get her quick motherly assessment of him done before he could see the others.
“Sorry I didn’t send a warning text,” he held the phone up a bit, so they’d be able to see Thera and Leah, “we had to convince Thera to get her in the van.”
“Oh my gosh, is that a real leopard?” Jaide’s excited face took over the screen.
He grinned, “yes she is.”
“She’s beautiful,” Joslin grabbed the phone, “I thought you were looking for shifters, not real animals,” she smirked.
Nodding, Jesse glanced back at Leah, “I am, I did.” He looked back at the phone, “Thera’s been keeping Leah company.”
“You have to bring her here.” Jaide looked like she was going to go into one of her hyper spells.
“Let your brother speak.” His father’s voice was heard, but he didn’t have the phone.
“If it weren’t for the pretty leopard, I’d be mad you didn’t notice.” Joslin made an exaggerated pout and then moved the phone back.
Jesse chuckled, she clearly needed his comment on the shorter hairstyle, “notice how great your hair looks?”
She squealed, and patted her hand over her hair, “I like it so much.” She glanced away from the phone, “Jaide’s isn’t as short, but her face isn’t as thin as mine...”
“Did you just say I have a fat face?” Jaide scowled and then looked back at the phone, “she’s clearly not getting the identical twins’ part of our physical bodies.” She rolled her eyes.
“You both look great. What have you been up to this week?” He held the phone back so Leah would be able to see them.
“Training.” They said in unison.
“For?”
“What do you mean? Have you forgotten what’s next month?” Joslin gave him a wide-eyed stare.
“Right, sorry, it’s been an exhausting few weeks. What’s the competition like this year?” He knew he wasn’t going to be able to be there for the yearly tracking event, but couldn’t bear to tell them right now.
“They are going to lose so bad; we have found the pelt in record time three times now.” Jaide grinned.
“That’s right, they’re going to be running in circles as we cross the finish line.” Joslin nodded.
“You do know it’s a solo event, right?”
Jaide rolled her eyes, “not this year it’s not, we’re going to carry that thing across the finish line together.”
“And,” Joslin grabbed the phone and held it close to her face, “we will beat your time, bro, and be the new best trackers in all the clans.” She pouted, “when we have co-clan gatherings again.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell them unless they could beat Calum, they wouldn’t be the best, and now with Kobie, according to Devin, the competition was getting scary. “You two are going to be a force to be reckoned with once you shift.”
“We are going to rock that like serious champs.” Jaide nodded.
“I know you will.”
“Okay, stop hogging the phone, girls, your brother has things to do.” His mother’s voice was close to the phone now.
“Okay, okay.” Jaide looked at the phone, “come home soon, I miss you.” She made a kiss on the phone.
“Yeah, when you’re done saving the shifter world, you better spend a month here before you go hide in your trailer.” Joslin nodded and motioned to blow him a kiss.
Jesse chuckled, “I’m hoping to get back soon.”
His mother and father’s faces appeared on the phone, “you look tired.” His mother frowned.
“I’m okay.” He smiled, “We’re heading to Ed’s when I hang up.” He held the phone up again so the boxes could be seen, glancing at Leah, he noticed she was looking a little intimidated, so he brought the phone back to show his face.
“Long trip back?” His father asked.
“Yeah, it might be slow with Thera,” he smirked, “she’s never had a car ride before.”
“Be careful.” His mother warned as she did every time they spoke.
“Deshon was telling me there would be some more rescues soon.” His father looked at the phone with an expression that said he knew more about it than he was going to express.
Jesse nodded, “yeah, things are on the brink of change.”
“That’s great news.” His mother glanced away from the phone, “I wish nothing more than things to return to the way they were.”
He knew she was talking about his sisters being able to go places and do normal things again but wasn’t sure if it would ever be that way again. “We’ll know more in the next few weeks.”
“You take it easy.” His father’s tone was quiet.
“I’m so happy you have someone to travel with for the trip back,” his mother smiled, “I worry when you’re out there driving for days on your own.”
“I know.”
“You call if you need us, Jesse.” She had that stern look now, the one that he wondered if it would ever change or if he’d see it for the rest of his life.
“You know I will.” He checked that Thera was still content. “We better get going before Thera changes her mind.”
“Okay, son. Safe travels.”
“Take care, honey.”
Jesse nodded his head slowly. “Love you guys and the brat pack.”
“We heard that,” Jaide called loud from near the phone.
“Love you too.” The twins echoed in unison.
“Bye.” He smiled and then disconnected the call.
Standing up, he turned to see Leah’s eyes were glistening. Panic hit him.
“They’re lovely, your sisters.” she wiped her hand across her eyes.
“They’re exhausting.” He grinned, “but yeah, they’re something else.”
“They look so much like you, and you like your father.” She inhaled abruptly. “They’re in a competition?”
He nodded slowly, “It’s something we do with the kids too young to shift, just to help them learn scenting and tracking.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” She glanced at Thera, “I’ve never really known family and togetherness,” she shrugged then looked back at him, “it seems nice.”
He closed the one door and leaned on it, “it is, most of the time.”
“I might like to meet your family sometime.” She sucked in a breath, “I just don’t know if I’ll be able to stay if I do.”
“We’ll take everything as slow as you need, Leah.” He looked at Thera, “shall we try this with the vehicle moving now.”
Leah grinned, “okay, I’m going to stay here with her for now.”
He started closing the door slowly, “hopefully that will keep her settled.” He looked at Thera, “it will be an adventure, Thera, with lots of new places to check out.” The animal just held his look, giving him no indication, she understood. Blowing out a quick breath he closed the door and walked quickly to get in the van.
Meeting his family was going to have to happen at some point. It’s not like his mate was never going to know his family. He just had to figure out how to tell her she was his mate and how to explain her to his family.
None of which, he had the first clue how to do.