Chapter 236 Chapter 236
Jesse watched Blair, in cat form bound down the drive. He nodded and stripped his shirt over his head. “Keep the others in the house, Cale.” He shouted as he ran, “she can’t control her cat.” He didn’t stop to see if he listened. Pausing long enough to kick off his boots and get out of his jeans, he shifted fast. One second he was jogging, barefoot on the damp ground, the next he was four paws in the dirt moving fast.
He slowed long enough to bellow out as loud as his feline vocals allowed, warning Calum and Shaelan that something was happening. Hopefully, Minn would heed the warning as well. He heard a reply and knew it was Thera and she was on the chase for her friend now.
Racing through the trees, he lost her scent for a moment and had to stop and check in all directions. She wasn’t heading into the bush but had circled and was heading back to the house. Jerking his body to turn, he increased speed and tried to close the distance to the house.
When the fence at the back came into sight, his heart stuttered in his chest. In the small yard to the side, Daisie was sitting there playing and Minn was heading right for her. He called out a loud roar to warn the child and any adult that was in the area.
Jesse caught sight of a white tiger running through the trees to his left. It was Blair. Relaying to his animal that they had to reach the yard first, to protect their mate, his animal responded with more speed. There was no way a tiger could outrun his leopard body.
He leaped over the fence and then slid to a stop. In the middle of the yard, Daisie squatted down in front of Minn. He took cautious steps toward them.
“It’s okay to be scared. My mom says everyone is sometimes.” The child’s soothing tone seemed to be working on Minn. Jesse prayed that Minn understood she was just a child. Whatever had happened to Leah had happened when she was little.
“See, just keep breathing.” Daisie placed her hand on Minn’s head, “that’s what I heard Blair tell Nichelle when she shifted, so it must be good.” Daisie nodded.
Thera was coming up behind Daisie, Jesse hissed for her to stop. She did, but her tail flicked a few times showing she wasn’t happy with that command.
Jesse walked with slow careful footing toward Minn.
“See,” Daisie said quietly, “everyone has come to help you.” She nodded, “that’s what we do. We help our kind.” She stood up slowly and looked at Jesse. “She’s calmer now.” She stepped back, “I’ll go get your clothes.”
Jesse went over and placed himself between Minn and the retreating Daisie. He looked at the side of the house to see Blair in cat form waiting there. He called out in a tone that left no room for confusion, telling the other shifters nearby to back off.
Going closer, he held Minn’s look and rubbed his face against her neck. Her breathing was erratic, half-human, half-cat. He nudged her again, purring softly, telling her it was okay, she could shift back. He knew Evanna was going to be in a world of hurt once she did.
He stepped back when he heard the first pop, out of the corner of his eye he spotted Cal’s jag, standing far enough back to be unseen, but close enough to spring into action if needed.
“Jesse.”
He turned to see Kobie standing there, his clothes in one hand and a blanket in the other. He titled his head to show his thanks. She came a bit closer and then set them on the ground. She backed up until she was far enough away to turn and leave the little yard. Blair in cat form was right there to insert his body between them.
Jesse, uncaring of who was watching, shifted and then picked up his jeans and pulled them on.
It was taking a lot longer than it should for Evanna to shift back. Going over, he knelt beside her, his face close to her cat’s, “just breath, babe, let go and let it happen.” He stroked his hand along her throat, “Minn, let Evanna out.” He kept his tone soft, even though he was freaking out inside.
The fur under his hand receded, and he sat back to give her some space.
By the time he grabbed the blanket, Evanna lay on the ground shaking. Going over he covered her and scooped her up into his arms.
“I’m sorry.” She said in a quiet voice. “I just—”
“Shh.” Tucking her head against his shoulder, he began walking toward the trailer. Kobie and Noah were standing off to the side, he was glad Evanna had her eyes closed and couldn’t see him. Something Noah knew had done this, but the expression on the man’s face told him no one could berate him more than he was himself.
“Jesse,” Evanna whispered.
“I’m here.” He walked faster, wanting to get her inside.
“Find out,” she licked her lips, “Ashtyn. Don’t tell Leah.”
“I will, you just close your eyes and rest.”
“Minn caught me off guard.”
“It’s okay,” he kissed her forehead, “it happens to all of us sometimes.”
She opened her eyes a crack and looked at him, “not like that, but thanks for lying to make me feel better.”
He grinned, “it wasn’t a complete lie. Sometimes we lose the hold on our animals.”
“Yeah?” She closed her eyes, “good, then someone can help me.” She moaned when he shifted to open the door, “the pain sucks.”
“We’ll take care of that in a minute.” Turning sideways, he went down the narrow hall and lowered her to one of the beds. He grabbed the cover off the other bed and put it over her. “I’ll be right back with some painkillers and something to eat.” He straightened and looked down at her, she looked so fragile like this. Evanna wasn’t fragile. “Rest, I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.” She mumbled.
Going back out, he paused and exhaled to keep himself calm.
“What do you need?”
He looked to see Shaelan and Kobie standing at the end of the trailer. “Something for the mother of all headaches she’s going to have, some soup or something easy to get down, she’s going to be out of it for a bit.”
“Does it happen like that every time she shifts?” Shaelan had a pained look on her face.
He shook his head, “no if Minn is under control, it’s just like if one of us shifted,” he glanced over to see Calum, Blair, and Noah standing across the yard looking this way. “Something set Minn off and Evanna was caught off guard.”
Kobie looked back at them, “come in the house and get a coffee and something to eat.”
“I’ll get the things for Evanna.” Shaelan turned and hurried toward the house.
“Blair is asking Noah now,” Kobie told him softly and then turned and waited for him to come.
Jesse glanced at the trailer and then spotted Thera laying at the bottom of the step. She’d stop anyone from disturbing Evanna. Nodding, he rubbed the back of his neck and went with Kobie to the house.