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  “What are you doing up?” Jessie asked as she positioned her on her hip.

  “Mama’s not very comfortable. Something about the baby moving.”

  Karen’s mother was one of the pregnant women in their pack. And she was due very soon.

  “It won’t be long, care bear. Soon you’ll be a big sister.” The little girl laughed at the excitement of being an older sister. She was the youngest of her family with four older sisters. When she found out her mother was pregnant, she wore a smile for a month straight. “Go get some sleep. You need to be rested for the responsibilities you’re going to have.”

  Jessie put her back down on her feet.

  “Will you come by later?” Karen asked.

  “Sure. Your mom still craving sweets?”

  “Yeah.” Karen let out a giggle. “She likes doughnuts with lots of powder.”

  “That’s funny.” Jessie tapped her jaw with her finger. “Because I know a little wolf that likes doughnuts…with lots of powder.”

  Karen giggled as she ran off back to her home. Jessie shook her head, smiling to herself. That little girl is going to be a handful when she gets older.

  Jessie walked to the barn that sat barely on its hinges. It was a good size barn though. It even had a loft, and looked to have held horses at one time. Six stalls lined the left side of the barn, each large enough for a Clydesdale. The red paint was faded and chipped away in most places, but the foundation was solid enough; cement covered in straw and wood chips. Two huge farm doors were shut at the front and chained off to keep them securely closed. Jessie walked to the side and slipped in through the smaller door. The smell of pine was fresh as she walked farther into the barn.

  Jessie looked around for Dani and Brandon. She spotted them in the back. Fourteen year old fraternal twins that couldn’t have been anymore different from each other. Dani was the oldest with dark hair nearly the color of night and as long as her back. Her eyes were just as dark. She was also the bolder of the two. She had no fear. Jessie admired that. She looked down to Dani who was already asleep, curled up on her bed of hay.

  Her brother, Brandon, was much different. He was softer and gentler. He had a sensitive side and loved to draw. Fighting wasn’t something that was a part of his nature, although he was very good in his training.

  Jessie saw him curled in a ball, still shaking from the Change. He was bigger than before. Most wolves went through a rapid growth spurt. It always seemed to be worse for the males. Jessie assumed because of all the growing. It was like puberty on steroids. Brandon might be only fourteen, but he looked like he was pushing twenty. He had grown four inches during the shift, making him over six feet tall. His dirty blond hair was matted to the sweat on his forehead. His muscles had also grown, stretching over his body.

  Jessie knelt down and touched Brandon’s shoulder. He jumped before he focused on her.

  “It’s just me,” Jessie said. She saw his face instantly relax and he turned his body to face her. He sat up against the wall, his shoulders still hunched and his body still weak. She sat down beside him and let him lay his head in her lap while she stroked his hair back.

  “Please, say next time won’t be this bad?” Brandon asked. Jessie could hear the fear in his voice.

  “It won’t. The first time is always the worst. You will be able to control it now. It will feel like changing clothes. Quick and painless.”

  “Good. I’m not as strong as her. I couldn’t do that again.” Jessie looked over to Dani. Dani was strong. She had been the one that had found Jessie’s pack. Their parents had been killed, leaving them orphans at only nine years old. Dani had taken over and kept Brandon alive. They were being hunted when they found Jessie. From what Jessie understood, their uncle had wanted to take over leadership of the pack. He killed everyone in the blood line that opposed him, including the twin’s parents. They had barely escaped and had been on the run until they found Jessie. Rickon allowed them to stay and become part of their pack. Jessie was glad. She had grown to love them both.

  “You’re stronger than you think,” Jessie whispered to Brandon. She continued to stroke his hair until she heard him drift off to sleep. He would feel better after he slept.

  Jessie let her thoughts drift to Daniel. She wondered if it had been this painful for him when he had first gone through the Change. She couldn’t imagine him in pain like this. She didn’t want to imagine that. Daniel was strong. Even without being a Gregorian, he was still strong.

  Being a Gregorian might have made it worse though. Gregorian was a reference to their lineage. Daniel and his family are descendants of the first werewolf ever spawned. All Cambions, whether witch, wolf or vampire had a lineage. That lineage determined how powerful they are. Those who were among the first spawned were the strongest of their race. And Daniel’s pack was beyond powerful.

  As a side effect of that power, the Cambions had determined a long time ago that breeding between the races was forbidden. In most cases, it wasn’t a problem. The couple was often barren, but every once in a while, fate would step in. And when that happened, the laws would follow. Jessie knew these laws were made out of fear. To have a child with the power of more than one Cambion race could make the child an unstoppable force. It was rare when a Cambion bred outside of their race. The few times it happened, the child was killed and the parents along with it. It was a brutal fate that sent shivers up Jessie’s spine. Because of this law, her father and brothers have fought to keep her secret safe. But if anyone were to find out, they would all be killed.

  Jessie rested her head back against the barn’s wall. She was tired from the night, but she didn’t want to leave Brandon. She watched the sun rise higher in the sky through the cracks of the barn. It was near noon when Brandon finally fell into a deep sleep. She carefully stood and walked out of the barn. Dani could sleep through a hurricane before the Change, no less after, but Brandon had always been a light sleeper. With his senses heightened, a pin drop could wake him now. She opened then closed the door slowly behind her.

  With the sun above her, Jessie made her way back to the shack. The small house looked bigger during the day. The light streamed in through the windows showing the pale yellow color of the walls. Robb was sound asleep on the brown couch, his long legs falling over the edge, and Justin was a heap of brown hair on the pale blue rug that covered the wooden floors. Jessie walked past the living room to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet and let the tub fill up while she brushed her teeth. She peeled out of her clothes and stepped in. The water was hot, but relaxing. She lay back in the tub, letting the water rise around her. That was better. She grabbed her soap and loofa and scrubbed her body. The bubbles started rising around her as she pushed them from one side of the tub to the other. She leaned back and let her head rest on the tub’s edge.

  Her eyes closed automatically as she breathed in her lily scented soap. She had always liked lilies. She didn’t really know why. They weren’t the most fragrant of flowers, and out of all the flowers, they weren’t the prettiest, but something about them was calming. Peaceful, like a distant memory. A good memory…

  Jessie woke with a start. She jumped in the tub, spilling water over the edge. Her body was shivering. The water had turned cold. She didn’t think she had been sleeping long, but when she looked at her pruning fingers and toes, she realized she had been there for at least an hour.

  She pulled the plug to let the cold water drain and stood, turning on the shower. The hot water rolled down her body, rewarming her. She washed her hair and then her body again. She liked baths, but she always had to shower after one. As calming as a bath was, sitting in a tub of her own filth was not her idea of clean.

  The mirror was foggy by the time she finished and the steam rolled from the bathroom as she walked to her room. She looked at her phone. It was nearly five. Great. Explains why the water was so friggin’ cold. She threw on a clean pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt before she slipped on a pair of her Toms. She walked back into
the living room where her brothers were still asleep.

  Figures.

  They didn’t wake until the sun went down or for food. They were very food motivated. As was Jessie. With her stomach rumbling, she walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Some bottles of water, a brick of cheddar cheese and something that might have resembled an orange at one point lay in the back. She shut the door. She really needed to go shopping, but she was too tired to push a cart around a grocery store, and then lug everything home, and then cook the food.

  She grabbed the truck keys from the table and took some cash out of the glass jar that sat on the counter.

  The air was still cold outside as the sun began to set. Jessie wasn’t a fan of the cold, but her werewolf blood kept her warm for the most part. She jumped in the old ford pickup and started it up. She took off towards town, the truck bouncing as she drove over the marsh covered ground. When she hit the dirt road, the truck evened out.

  It was a quiet ride until she reached the French Quarter. The sound of saxophones playing jazz music drifted through her open windows. She found she rather liked New Orleans. So many different people all coming together for the same things; music, booze, and food.

  She drove until she reached Cici’s Tavern. There were a lot of great restaurants around, but Cici’s was the only one that didn’t ask questions when she ordered a bunch of rare steaks.

  She parked the truck on the curb and walked across the street to the bar. It was still too early for it to be officially open, but it never closed its doors to the supernatural.

  She walked into the bar where Aria and Ashley were setting up. Aria was beautiful with her long dark hair and blue eyes. And Ashley’s blond hair and green eyes were mesmerizing.

  “Hey, Jess,” Ashley said from behind the bar. “How’s the new wolves?”

  “Good. Still sleeping. I’m just on a food run.”

  “Sure. What’s your order?”

  “Sixteen steak dinners. Rare.”

  “No problem.”

  “Oh, and do you have any sweets? Maybe powder doughnuts? I’ve got a mother ready to deliver and craving sugar. ”

  “Yeah, I can get you something together.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ashley disappeared into the kitchen and the sound of pots and pans echoed out.

  Jessie walked over to the stage. She looked up to the drums that sat in the back. Daniel’s drums.

  “I thought I smelled beauty.”

  Jessie smiled as Daniel wrapped his hands around her. She breathed in his scent. She could find him anywhere. She turned in his arms. His sweat pants sat low on his hips, his shirt snug across his well-defined chest. Oh baby, if only they were alone. His body put thoughts in her head that would make a sailor blush.

  He bent down to her neck and breathed her in. Chills went down her body all the way to her toes.

  “Wearing shorts like those should be a crime,” he whispered in her ear.

  His hand brushed her bare outer thigh. She sucked in her breath as his lips touched the delicate skin of her neck.

  “Hey, Jessie.”

  Jessie took a step back as Drew came down the stairs. Daniel let out a growl as his brother walked up to them. Drew was just barely shorter than Daniel and had lean muscles lacing his frame. Drew leaned his arm over Daniel’s shoulder, with his left foot crossed over his right. His brown hair fell around his brown eyes. He was rather good looking. Jessie could see why all the girls drooled over him, but he had nothing on Daniel.

  “You coming to the party tomorrow?” he asked. Jessie looked at him confused. “Ash is throwing a party for the new wolves tomorrow night.”

  “Oh, yeah sure. I’ll be here.”

  “Great!”

  “Daniel!” Daniel went still as Ashley called out from the kitchen. A second later she stormed from the kitchen towards the stairs. When she caught sight of him by the stage, she nearly ran across the bar. “Do you think this is funny?”

  Daniel turned to his sister, a smile crossing his lips. Jessie turned as well and looked down at Ashley’s apron. Daniel had cut out two holes in the chest and a long stripe across the stomach. Ashley’s face was red as she lifted the apron to show him.

  “It’s a smiley face. Be happy,” Daniel said.

  “This was my favorite apron! You’re going to replace it, do you hear me?”

  Ashley stormed back to the kitchen.

  “You keep playing your pranks on her,” Jessie said. “And she’s going to skin you alive.”

  “Nah. She wouldn’t know what to do without me.”

  “Here you go,” Aria said, placing four bags of food on the bar.

  “Hungry?” Daniel asked. Jessie rolled her eyes.

  “It’s for my pack.” She turned back to Aria. “How much is it all?”

  “No charge,” Aria said.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Your father has helped us out a lot. We owe your pack everything.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jessie went to grab the bags, but before she could, Daniel picked them up.

  “Lead the way,” he said, balancing them in his hands. The muscles lacing his arms bulged and Jessie wished he would drop the bags and pick her up. She had no doubt he could. She gulped as she headed towards the door and out into the evening sky. Daniel followed her to the truck and put the bags on the passenger side. He walked back around to the driver’s side as Jessie got in and shut the door behind her.

  He leaned into the open window.

  “Any chance I can see you tonight?”

  Jessie desperately wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t with the new wolves. Her father and her brothers would be out patrolling tonight, making it impossible to sneak out.

  “Not tonight. Pack duties.”

  She looked at his pink lips as they leaned closer to her. Or maybe she was leaning closer to him. She didn’t care. She reached out and pulled him to her. His lips brushed hers and she sank into his kiss.

  Daniel leaned in farther. The taste of her was sweeter than sugar. Her lips were soft against his as they nipped at him, hungry and needing. Oh, to feel those lips tracing his body. He hardened instantly as his erection pushed into the metal door. When Jessie pulled back, he was breathless.

  “You can’t leave me after that,” he said, catching his breath.

  She smiled as she started the truck and put it into drive.

  “Goodnight, Daniel.”

  He watched her pull off towards the bayou.

  “Why is it every time I see you, you have a flipping boner?”

  Daniel turned to Torrick who stood on the sidewalk.

  “Jealous?”

  “Please. They don’t call me the big brother just because I’m older.”

  “Right.”

  “Ashley wants you on the door tonight.”

  “Yeah. Sure thing.”

  Torrick disappeared back into the bar. Daniel looked down at his pants. He really needed to get a hold on that. Or maybe he needed Jessie to get a hold on it. His cock twitched at the thought of her small hands on him. It’s never going to go down if he kept thinking like that! He adjusted himself before he walked back into the bar to finish setting up for tonight.

  ***

  Jessie parked the truck in front of her small house. She grabbed the food and hauled it inside. Her brothers still slept in the living room as she walked past them to the kitchen. As soon as the food hit the table, Robb and Justin were by her side. If only she could bet money on it. She could make a fortune off their stomachs.

  “I smell steaks,” Justin said, grabbing one of the take-out boxes from the bag. He was just shorter than Robb, and although they looked a lot alike, his jaw was slightly smaller and his brown hair was cut short.

  “I smell Daniel,” Robb said, wrinkling his nose.

  “Well the food came from Cici’s so,” Jessie said. “But if you don’t want it…”

  “I’ll take the food.” Robb grabbed the bag and pulled out
another box.

  “Eat quick,” Rickon said, coming from the hallway. Jessie turned to her father as he kissed her on the cheek.

  “Hey, pumpkin.” He grabbed his jacket as he headed to the back door. “Hurry up and eat, boys. We need to do some sweeps of the area. Demons are still a threat.”

  Robb and Justin nodded as they tore into their steaks.

  “I’m going to go see Maria,” Jessie said, grabbing the bag with four steaks and the desserts. “Karen said she’s been craving sweets.”

  Jessie walked back outside. It was completely dark now. Not that it mattered. She could see better in the dark than during the day. She easily made her way through the bayou to the next shack a quarter of a mile away. She walked up to the small house and knocked on the door. The door flew open and Karen ran out.

  “Jessie!” Karen screamed before wrapping her tiny arms around Jessie’s thighs.

  “Hey, care bear. Your mom inside?”

  “Yeah, she’s on the couch.”

  Jessie followed Karen inside where her mother sat on the sofa. Karen looked nothing like her red-headed mother. She took after her father. He had died almost nine months ago when demons had attacked them. That was before they moved to New Orleans. Maria had just found out she was pregnant again. It was a very dark time for the whole pack, but Maria was fighter and she pushed through for her daughters and unborn child the way only a mother could.

  Jessie looked over at Maria. She was attractive with her dark auburn hair and light grey eyes. Her feet were propped up on the wooden coffee table and two of her other daughters, eight and ten years old sat on the sofa next to her. They looked just like their mom. Auburn hair, grey eyes. Even the pointed nose and chin were the same.

  “I brought some food,” Jessie said.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” Maria said, trying to get up.

  “Don’t,” Jessie said. “I’ll bring it to you.”

  Maria sank back into the couch. Her daughters got up and helped with the bags.

  Jessie grabbed a plate and put the steak, potatoes, and green beans on it. She also grabbed the bag of powdered doughnuts. Karen’s eyes lit up as she eyed the bag. Jessie looked to see if Maria was watching. The coast was clear and she tossed Karen a doughnut. Karen caught it and it was gone in two point three seconds. Jessie walked back into the living room as Karen licked her fingertips, disposing of any evidence.