Chapter 223 Chapter 223
Jesse was surprised Thera had lasted three hours in the van before demanding they stop and let her out. At first, he was worried she’d take off, but she didn’t. She rolled in the grass, and then lay down and sniff the air.
Something he hadn’t considered was how Leah was going to react to the ride. She’d been quiet, only speaking after he said something, and it wasn’t until they stopped that he noticed how pale she looked. Now he was sure the cat had only asked to stop because her friend wasn’t feeling well. Leah had gone and sat on the grass and rested her head on her knees for several minutes. He wanted to go over and do something to make her feel better but didn’t want her to feel bad for having motion sickness either.
He looked through the medkit and found nothing useful. The first town they passed through he was going to have to remedy that. He should have already thought of this and had it in the kit. If things went according to plan, he was going to be transporting a lot more shifters that weren’t used to travel. Opening the notes on his phone, he added them to the list of things to talk about with Shaelan and Devin. The kits and supplies the coordinators carried should be updated.
Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he started walking over to Leah, then stopped when he heard her talking.
“Did you hear that? I know you were close. His sisters adore him. The look on his face when he talks about them—I feel like he’s good in all ways, don’t you?”
He watched her stare off toward the field. Could she actually be listening to Evanna? The first thing he was doing when they got back was talking to whoever Shaelan was getting her information from. He had to know more, everything they could tell him about this. He wanted to understand. He needed to be there to help her and so far, he was completely winging this—his cat was good at picking up vibes and prompting him, but he wanted more than that.
Leah turned and saw him and smiled. “Thera is heading back now.”
Jesse stepped out of the shadows, “I didn’t want to startle you by walking up on you.”
“You probably think I’m crazy.”
He shook his head, “I don’t.” Giving her a shrug, he hoped he looked sincere. “I want to understand, to help when I can.”
She laughed softly, “I don’t think I’m the one to fill in the blanks for you. I don’t understand most of it and it’s my own head.” Glancing over to where Thera was running full speed toward them, she continued speaking, “if I listen really hard, concentrate inside my head, I can talk to Evanna,” she looked to him briefly, “if she’s close.”
“Can you talk to Minn too?”
Thera went running by them and toward the van. Leah sighed and followed her, “I don’t really know how to communicate with Minn, I mean I don’t need to speak out loud, but communicating with her internally is hard.”
“It can be, most have trouble with it in the beginning.”
She looked annoyed, “It’s not the beginning for me. It’s been over five years.”
“I know, but Minn came out about five years before most female cats do, so I think that may have something to do with it.”
“Is there a way to help me with that? Can someone help me so I can control and communicate with Minn?”
Jesse nodded, “I’m surprised your grandparents didn’t help you.”
“Oh, they tried. Minn was having none of it. Evanna stayed quiet for the first bit when we were back, I’m not sure why. It was before we used the journal to talk to one another, but in that time Minn was out almost all the time.”
“I know someone will be able to help you.” He watched Thera circle the van, he’d left all the doors closed. At least she wasn’t complaining about the ride. “My cat is in synch with yours, for the most part, maybe with a bit more time and trust I can help you get through to her.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do. I’ve done it with a few of the younger shifters in my clan before.” He shrugged, “we could go for a short run now if you want.”
She bit her lip, a look of focus on her face. “I think she’d like that.” She frowned, “or that’s Evanna telling me to go for it, I can’t be sure.”
He motioned to the tree line on the other side of the field, “the grass is long enough we won’t stand out if anyone is nearby, we’ll just have to stay on this side of the trees.” He’d purposely stopped where there was no sign of life in all directions but couldn’t be sure what was on the other side of the trees.
“Okay.” She gave him a hesitant grin. “Maybe if we do, she’ll be more content in the van.”
He frowned, “Minn’s been bugging you this whole time.”
Leah nodded, “we don’t do good with confined spaces, but maybe if she sees that we’re not stuck there she’ll settle down.”
Jesse sighed, “you should have said something.” He pulled his shirt over his head, “a run, something to eat, and then she should be appeased.” He stood there with his shirt balled in his hand when he noticed how she was looking at his bare chest. Clearing his throat, he pointed over his shoulder, “I’ll go shift by the van and give you some privacy.”
Her cheeks were flushed, but she nodded and watched him back up a few steps.
Spinning on his heel, he went over to the van and walked to the front of it. Now was not the time to notice things, he berated himself. His cat was quiet, telling him he agreed with that. Yes, she was his mate, but things were too complicated for him to act on it. He shook his head as he tossed his shirt on top of his boots, hell, he may not be able to claim her as his for a long time. He paused in taking his jeans off as that thought hit him. What was he going to do if he never could? Fuck. The only reason his cat was being so understanding was because of the situation, but he doubted that would last forever. Stepping out of the jeans, he dropped them on the ground and shifted.
As soon as paws were on the dirt, his cat took the lead and bound in the other direction. In the direction of their mate. His cat knew it was more important to bond with Minn than anything and seemed to have his own idea of how to do that. Jesse let him lead the way, but wasn’t going to give him total control because he had to monitor too much.
Thera and Minn were pacing when he reached them. Going over, he butt Thera playfully and then moved over closer to Leah’s animal. She watched him intently. Stopping a few feet from her, he stretched and lowered his head while he watched her. When Minn did the same it was like they had just bowed to each other.
She bounced back up and looked at the field and then back to him. Jesse didn’t wait for her to decide, he turned and took off running across it.
With a soft chuff, Thera followed and had no problems passing him. She was all for more animals to run with. In wild leopards they were pretty solitary creatures, Thera didn’t seem to have that preference, making him wonder if she’d been bred in captivity or taken in when she was too young to remember. He’d have to add a vet visit to the list, just to check her over. Minn caught up to them and ran in front of him cutting him off. It was the first playful thing he’d seen her do, in any state.
His cat wanted to breeze past them both, but reigned it in and tried to stay out of their space. Jesse was happy his cat and he were in total synch about making transitions easier, even for Thera. It was going to be a rough couple of months going forward and he needed the wild one on his side as well. Trust was the most important thing between animals, and he had until they reached Blair’s to establish that with her. Leah and Evanna’s untamed side were going to be a lot more work.
Minn turned and started for the tree line and Jesse’s heartbeat increased. He hadn’t stopped to think if Leah could control her to keep her on this side of it. Thera was right beside her. Cursing inside his head, he stopped trailing and took off after them.
When he almost reached them, both made abrupt turns and headed back the other way. As they flew by him, he laughed inside his head, they were screwing with him. Releasing his cat, he decided he’d let him settle the score with the two female felines.