Chapter 29
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.
He waited until long after dark for Evanna to come to again. After the painkillers and broth, she’d gone to sleep and barely moved for the last four hours. Getting up, he went over to the small fridge and opened it. Studying the few items in it, he closed it again. He needed something but didn’t know what exactly that was. Glancing back at the small bedroom, he checked that she was still asleep and went outside to sit and wait.
He had just sat in the chair when Calum came around the corner of the trailer. “She still resting?”
Jesse nodded.
“If you need to go for a run, I’ll sit here.” Calum leaned against the trailer, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jesse debated on it for a second and then shook his head, “I’ll wait until she’s awake.” She’d asked him to find out about Leah’s sister for her and he didn’t want anyone else to tell her. Noah said Ashtyn had been six months pregnant when she’d gotten out of there. He knew from the journals that neither of them knew. He felt guilt for reading the oldest one but needed to know.
“Are you okay?” Calum wasn’t usually one for concerned questions.
Jesse hissed out a breath and sat back in the chair. “No.”
Calum sat down. “Shae is on the phone right now with the doctor.”
“I appreciate that.” Jesse glanced at the door again wondering if he should go check and see if she was warm enough. He hadn’t wanted to disturb her and dress her, so he piled the blankets on her instead.
“From my understanding, the path to controlling this is going to be a rough one.” Calum’s voice was low.
Jesse nodded, “I figured as much.” He’d been reading on his phone every chance he had since they left the mountain and hadn’t found anything that led to a quick fix in the whole process. Rubbing his hands over his face, he looked back at his friend. “Whatever she needs, whatever it takes.”
Calum nodded slowly, “you know she’ll get any help she needs.”
Jesse nodded again. He knew that, whether it was the Alliance or friends, he would make sure that she got anything needed.
“The girls saved you some food.” Calum glanced at the door, then back to him. “You can go grab it, I’m sure she’ll be hungry when she wakes up.”
Leaning forward in his chair, Jesse debated on it. He was hungry, had been for the last few hours, the jerky wasn’t doing a good job of staving off the growling in his gut. “I don’t, uh…”
“Jesse.”
He didn’t need to see her to know that Leah was standing looking out the door at him. He would know her voice anywhere now. He got up and opened the door. “Hey,” he gave her a soft smile, “how are you feeling?” She was dressed in one of the skirts she’d purchased and had a warm sweater to go with it. She looked tired though, he didn’t like that.
She blew out an exaggerated breath, “a little shaky,” she touched her head, “the ache isn’t too bad.”
He held out his hand. “There’s food in the house, eating will help. Shaelan probably has herbal tea,” he glanced to Cal who nodded, “that might take care of the shakes.”
Taking his hand lightly, she smiled. “Tea would be lovely.” She came out and stood close to him when she saw Calum. “Hello.” Her hold on his hand tightened, “I’m sorry for all the commotion we’re causing.”
Calum grinned, “A little commotion keeps things interesting.” He stood up slowly and motioned to the house, “I’ll go get Shae to the kitchen so she can rhyme off her very extensive herbal teas.”
Leah nodded her head slightly. “Thank you.” She watched him walk away. “Your friends are probably wishing we weren’t here.”
Jesse put his arm around her and held her against his side. “Not at all. They will help you with anything you need, just the same as we do for all our kind.”
She tensed, “Minn, there was a little girl…”
“Daisie and she’s fine. She talked Minn down.”
A surprised look was on her face, “I don’t think Minn would hurt a child.”
“Neither do I.” He nudged her to start toward the house, he didn’t like how she was shaking.
“What set her off? It’s rare that Minn breaks free when Evanna is out.” She leaned into him when they walked.
Jesse didn’t want to upset her he didn’t know how she’d react. “She met Noah.”
Leah stopped, “the man that helped us escape?”
Jesse nodded, “he mentioned your sister and it upset Minn, or that’s my take on it.”
“I wondered, normally it’s not me that’s out after that, Evanna usually comes back to keep an eye on Minn.” She looked up at him, worry in her eyes, “do you think she’s okay?”
“I think so, she was pretty beat though.”
“Yes, sudden ones like that take their toll on her.”
“On you too.” He tightened his arm around her, “you’re shaking pretty bad.”
“Something to eat and some tea will fix that.” She nodded her head slightly, “I’m sorry I was so scared and couldn’t stay when I met your friends.”
“It was fine, they understand that you do what you need to in order to be safe and survive.” Jesse glanced at the door and hoped Cal had cleared out the traffic in the kitchen so it didn’t happen again, he honestly wasn’t sure if she could physically handle another shift right now and if Evanna was that bad off, he wanted her to recoup before she made another appearance.
They had done well to keep the flow of people out of the kitchen while they were there. At no time was there more than one person in the room with them. Jesse made a note to thank Blair, or it may have been Kobie’s doing. Either way, it was easier to get Leah to eat and relax without a parade of others in the room.
She was finally sitting back in the chair; eating had helped her a lot. He needed to talk to Shaelan and ask if improper nutrition was a factor in the management of her condition.
“I really like that tea.” She smiled at him, “I’ll need to get some honey.”
It floored him that simple things like honey she’d never had before.
“We’ll work on a grocery trip once you’re settled more.” The idea of taking her into town bothered him. He wanted to shelter her, protect her, and prevent any moments of upset, no matter how small they were.
Jesse’s phone buzzed in his pocket, he pulled it out and looked. It was Gage, wondering if it was too soon to come over.
“Is something wrong?”
He looked up at her.
She smirked, “you get this little crease,” she touched her forehead, “right there when something is heavy on your mind.”
That surprised him, he had no idea that he had tells. What surprised him further was that she picked up on it in the short time they’d been together. “It’s just the clan across the road wondering if it’s a good time to come over.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the other room, “Blair’s clan he grew up with.”
With big eyes, she leaned on the table, “they live close? Other clans?”
“Many do.” He regretted that none had lived near hers.
“That’s nice, being close.” She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, “I can just go sit in the trailer, I want to write in the journal.”
Jesse smirked, “pretty sure they were coming to meet you.”
“Me?” the shock on her face was genuine. “Why?”
Jesse sat back, “it’s just the way things are with our kind, we stick together, support each other.”
Her eyes watered, “that’s wonderful.”
It hit him that she’d never had it. “I’m kind of beat, so I think I’ll tell him tomorrow.” He quickly typed a message telling him tomorrow might be better.
Leah nodded, “yes, perhaps tomorrow I’ll feel brave enough to meet more people.”
Daisie came skipping into the kitchen. She stopped, a guilty look on her face, “I forgot I wasn’t supposed to come out here.” She pointed to the fridge, “I wanted a drink.”
“Go ahead and get a drink,” Leah said with a friendly smile on her face.
Daisie stood there for a moment and looked at her. “Your Leah, Evanna’s other part.” She grinned. “I’m Daisie.”
“Hello, Daisie. Yes, I’m Leah.”
Jesse watched carefully, he didn’t need her upset forcing another switch today.
“You were pretty brave today, helping Minn calm down.”
“Minn is your cat?” Daisie looked excited, “I need to think of a name for my cat when she comes out.”
Leah gave Jesse a quick look, “you have lots of time before that happens.”
“Yeah, that’s what Mom says, which is boring. I want to go on runs and have all the fun too.” Daisie stood there fidgeting with the fridge door handle.
“You can’t rush her to come out, she needs to come out when it’s time for her to,” Leah assured Daisie.
“Yeah. I guess I don’t want to make her come out when she doesn’t want to.”
“Daisie.”
Jesse turned to see Cortney standing in the doorway.
“Sorry, I forgot,” Daisie said.
“It’s fine. She just needed a drink.” Leah said.
“Mom, this is Leah, the other part of Evanna,” Daisie said excitedly.
“Nice to meet you.” Cortney said quietly then turned to her daughter, “get your juice, then upstairs.”
“Okay.” Daisie opened the fridge and grabbed a juice box. Closing it she spun back around. “You’re very pretty.” She smiled. “Evanna is too.” She left the room in a rush.
“I’m sorry if she interrupted you.”
Jesse hadn’t noticed any increase in Leah’s breathing, so he shrugged, “she was fine.” He grinned, “energetic, but well behaved.”
Cortney laughed, “the only time she isn’t energetic is when she’s sleeping.”
“She’s lovely.” Leah nodded, “and very happy.”
“Thank you.” Cortney inclined her head, “I better go chase her down before she’s in someone else’s face.”
Leah stood up and picked up her cup. She went over to the sink and turned the water on, glancing over her shoulder, she grinned, “I love running water.”
Jesse got up and took his cup over. “The smallest things are the best.” He reached around her and took her cup. “I’ve got these,” he motioned to the pantry, “Kobie said it was okay if you took some teas or snacks to the trailer.”
“Oh.” She looked at it, “that’s very nice of her.”
On the way back to the trailer, Leah was quiet. “Everything, okay?” He watched one of the guards and Cale come back from checking the perimeter. Cale gave him a nod telling him everything was good.
“Yes, just a lot to take in.”
“If it gets to you, let me know, we can go somewhere else.”
She paused and looked up at him, “what about this training and the team?”
He shrugged, “what you need comes first, they’ll understand that.”
“I’m fine, really,” she started walking, “I have moments, but it’s all so new.” She glanced at him again, “where would we go?”
Jesse shrugged, “We could go to my property. The house isn’t built, but I have a trailer there.”
“You have your own property? You don’t live with your clan?”
“They’re fifteen minutes away, so close enough.” He smirked, “I have a big clan, and I like my space.”
“I didn’t think you were home much.”
He chuckled, “I’m not, that’s why the house isn’t finished.”
“Do you have a garden?” She hugged the few items she’d selected from the pantry to her chest.
“I could have if I knew anything about it.”
“I could show you.”
They reached the trailer. “You might change your mind when you see the land.”
“A little work and any ground can grow things.”
He grinned, “my sisters are going to love you. They have flower gardens planted all over the clan territory.”
“We didn’t have many flowers. I’d love to see them.” She gave him an excited look, “I’ve always wanted to plant sunflowers.”
Jesse turned to watch Kobie and Blair coming from the back, judging by their bare feet they’d just gone for a run. “You can plant sunflowers, as many as you like.” He answered, distracted by the idea of a run.
Leah touched his chest, he looked down at her “if you want to go for a run, I’ll be fine, Jesse. I’m going to write in our journal.”
Jesse put his hand over hers and held it there. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, “I’m too tired to shift and run, but you look like you need one, you’re a bit edgier than I’ve seen you before.”
He wanted to say with good reason, he didn’t know how to help his own mate. “Okay, I won’t be long.” Leaning down, he kissed her mouth softly, lingering for a second, and then stepped back. “Lock the door if you don’t feel safe.”
She smiled at him, a warm expression on her face. “Thank you, for understanding.”
Jesse lifted his hands out from his body, “I don’t but I am trying.” He backed a few feet before he changed his mind and then turned and jogged toward the back of the tree line.
Calum was leaning against the fence. “No one runs alone.”
Jesse stopped, “even you?”
“Even me. Not after they tried to poison Jake.”
Jesse raised his eyebrows, “how the...” he shook his head, “I don’t want to know,” he motioned to the trees, “try to keep up.”
Calum grinned, “whatever you say spot.”