“You come to party. I show you.” Madison said sweetly.
“Next party, I’m there.” Alexander says making the twins happy as they both hugged him again.
Jessica is relieved this is going well. She hopes the twins understand what is going on. They are smart and very observant. They know about daddies, most of their friends from daycare have mommies and daddies. The twins have never asked about theirs. Since he was never there from the beginning, they didn’t know they were really missing one.
“Dad, come see!” Michael had got excited, and wanted to show Alexander something.
He pulled on Alexander’s finger until he got up and followed Michael to the bedroom. Jessica followed, curious as to what her son is doing.
“Train, my train,” Michael said holding up one of the trains he got from the thrift shop. “Come play!”
Alexander was about to sit down to play but Jessica stopped him.
“Michael, you can play with your trains later. It’s time for a cookout. Don’t you want hamburgers and hotdogs? I bet they have chips too.”
“Oh, there’s always chips.” Alexander stated.
Michael jumped up ready to go. Jessica finished packing the twins a bag. She even put the medicine cookies in the bag just in case they are needed. Once everything was ready, it’s time to go. The twins were so excited they jumped and danced the whole way to the car. All Jessica had to do was open the car door and the twins climbed into their seats. Jessica locked one in, while Alexander secured the other. He isn’t as fast as her, but at least he didn’t give up.
On the way to Abby, and Bri’s cabin the twins asked if they could listen to their cd. When Alexander immediately said sure, Jessica looked over at him and grinned. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He caught her look and scrunched his eyebrows in question.
“Prepare yourself.” She smiled pressing the cd button.
She turned the volume up and sat back. The moment the chipmunks began to sing so did the twins. They would sing together then one would sing as the other danced while catching their breath. Back and forth this happened the whole ride. It would get to a song they didn’t care for, cry out for it to be changed to the next one, and the singing continued.
“Will they do this the whole ride?” Alexander asks.
“Yep,” she smiled.
“Remind me to rethink that next time.” He insists.
“You’ll get used to it.”
They arrived in half the time it took to get to Sebastian and Makenna’s place. It too had a long drive. Instead of being on the edge of the mountain, this cabin was set beautifully on the edge of a small lake. Jessica doesn’t really like being this close to the water with the twins but it’s better than the cliffs. Getting out of the car, she took in the surroundings. She is sure Michael is going to ask to play outside. The yard here is massive compared to back home at the town house. The twins seem to be amazed also. Michael’s eyes lit up when he saw the lake.
“Swim?” He asked Alexander pointing at the lake. Jessica was thankful Alexander looked at her for an answer. She shook her head lightly.
“Not today, maybe another day.” Alexander answered.
Michael was about to start pouting when the front door of the cabin opened, and Abby came out to greet them. Michael quickly changed his attitude.
“Hey y’all!” Abby greeted.
“Hi Abby!” Jessica said. Madison waved and Michael climbed down out of Alexander arms so he could run up to Abby, and give her a hug.
“Come on in. The guys are getting the grill ready.” Abby informed them.
After walking inside with Abby, Alexander excused himself to help the guys. Jessica wondered briefly if he is going to stay out there the whole time. To her surprise, he was only out there for a minute before coming back in.
“How about I take the twins outside with me for a little bit? Caleb turned the temperature down on the hot tub. I promise to keep an eye on them.” Alexander asked.
Jessica is a little nervous. She always has an eye on them. Alexander is their father, so she should let him have some responsibility. Since she brought extra clothes for them, Jessica agreed as long as he is right there. At least in a hot tub they can stand up, and be above water.
“Just double check the temperature before they get in.” Jessica warned him.
“I will keep them safe.” He promised.
When the twins realized she agreed they started jumping, and shouting with excitement. After warning them not to fight or push each other under, she watched as they followed their dad outside. Before the door closed Caleb came in, grabbed the tray of hamburgers, and walked out giving Bri a kiss on his way.
“They are adorable.” Abby commented.
“Thanks.” Bri said smiling.
“I was talking about the twins.” Abby cut her eyes over at Bri.
“Oh, well you’re timing sucked then.” Bri laughed. Jessica can see these two have been friends a long time.
“So, when are you moving out here?” Abby asked. The question surprised Jessica.
“Abby!” Bri hissed. “That’s none of our business.”
“It’s okay.” Jessica assured her, it isn’t as bad as Sebastian asking her intentions. “I haven’t even given it a thought. All of this is just too new. Michael is what’s important.”
“You’ll be out here soon.” Abby insisted.
“Why is that?”
“You’ll see. It happens when you aren’t looking.” Abby replied.
“What does?” Jessica asked.
“Love,” Abby said smiling. “It kept us here, too.”
“I’m here for the twins, not for love.” Jessica told them. “I don’t know if you know this but we only spent one night together.”
“For shifters, that’s all it takes.” Abby laughed.
“What do you mean?” Jessica asked curiously.
“Shifters have what you call mates and fated mates. Fated mates are destined to be together. No matter how hard you fight it, in the end you’ll be together.” Bri explained.
Jessica took in what Bri had said, but it doesn’t make a difference because her and Alexander aren’t fated mates. She isn’t fighting anything. Alexander is a handsome man and the father of her children. He just doesn’t seem to have any interest in her anymore. It’s probably her weight, she thought. She was a toothpick back when they were together. Now she weighs a good 40 pounds more. Jessica didn’t mind. She thinks she looks better with the added weight. Maybe he’s only attracted to skinny girls. Jessica put those thoughts aside. It doesn’t matter what he thinks, she told herself.
“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Jessica commented. “How did you become a shifter?” She asked looking at Bri. The moment Bri grimaced Jessica wanted to take the question back.
“My story isn’t as happy as Abby’s.” Bri began. “There’s a few ways to become a shifter. Most natural way of course is being born with it. If a fated mate is human, then they will shift after the mating like Abby did, or you’re bitten by an enraged shifter like I was.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay. This is all new to us too. Our first time shifting was this past weekend.” Bri said.
“I don’t think I will ever get use to Michael shifting. It just doesn’t seem natural for a body to change like that.” Jessica said.
“Hurts like crazy too.” Abby commented, but Bri nudged her before she was able to say anything else.
“I can imagine. Michael screamed the first time, but it doesn’t seem to bother him anymore. Scared the hell out of me. Next thing I know Michael is nowhere to be found. I saw him as a little wolf, and couldn’t believe it was even him.”
“I would have sworn I was going crazy.” Abby laughed.
“Bri, since you were bitten, are you and Caleb fated mates?” Jessica asked.
“Caleb and I were together back in college. We were dating when he was bitten. He ran off so I wou
ldn’t find out.” She began to explain.
“He couldn’t resist, and called you?”
“No,” Bri laughed. “Abby and I came up here on vacation. I had no idea he worked here. We fought it at first, but we were just meant to be.”
“What about you?” Jessica asked Abby.
“Jayden and I had sex. It was over from there.” Abby laughed.
“I don’t get it.”
“We are fated mates, but we didn’t know it. We lusted after each other until we had a night alone. I found out the next day that if fated mates have sex and during that you get bitten by your mate, then the next full moon you’ll shift whether you want to or not.” Abby explained.
“Wow, I had no idea.”
“Shocked us too.” Abby declared.
“They should call this place Fated Resort.” Jessica laughed.
To think they both found the person they were meant to be with at the same place, and at the same time; it amazes her. Most people don’t find their soul mates. If there are soul mates, she thought. Jessica hasn’t given it much thought. Especially since the twins were born, she hasn’t had time to even think about dating.
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea.” Abby laughed. “Chloe would like to play match maker. She’d love the chance to hook more shifters together.”
“She didn’t seem to be too happy that I am here. Does she have a thing for Alexander?”
“Oh, no!” Bri said. “Chloe is like Alexander’s sister. They have known each other most of Chloe and Logan’s life. She probably smelled shifter on you, and thought you were with another pack.”
“Are there a lot of packs around here?”
“Not that we know of.” Abby answered. “That’s probably a question better left to Alexander. After all, we have only been here a few weeks. We still don’t know all about this world.”
Jessica decided to keep the rest of her questions to herself until she can talk more with Alexander. One thing is for sure, she won’t be sleeping with Alexander. She doubts they are mates but if all it takes is one roll in the sheets with one bite then she won’t risk it. Jayden came in, jolting her from her thoughts. He went straight down the hall, and came back with towels.
“Is everything okay?” Jessica asked. She got up to follow him out anyway.
“Yeah, we’re just getting the little ones out.”
“And they are okay with this?” Jessica asked not believing she hasn’t heard the twins complaining yet.
“Yeah, hamburgers are done.” Jayden opened the back door. “Michael is ready to eat.”
“Oh, I bet.” She wonders how many times Michael has asked if they are done yet.
When she came outside, the view before her is photo worthy. Madison is out on the edge of the hot tub, holding on to Alexander’s hands. Michael stood at the other side with Caleb. Alexander was telling them to ‘shake it off,’ while the twins were shaking and dancing. Not really accomplishing anything, but the twins were having fun. Jessica was able to get her phone out and snap a few pictures before they helped the twins down. As Jayden gave Alexander and Caleb the towels, Madison noticed she came out.
“Mommy!” Madison squealed.
“Hey sweetie,” Jessica walked over to Madison to see if Alexander needed her help. “Need some help? You know you didn’t have to put them in with all their clothes on.”
“I’m new at this. Give me a break.” He smiled. She loves the way he smiles. Michael smiles the same way.
“Okay,” she said taking the towel from Alexander. “I’ll take Madison, and you can take Michael. Just wring his clothes out, and lay them over the rail for now. I have more clothes in my bag inside.”
“Deal.” He took the towel from Caleb.
Caleb and Jayden went to the grill to pull the burgers off. Jessica positioned the towel so that Madison will have some privacy to strip her clothes off. Alexander followed her lead, and did the same for Michael. Once Madison had her clothes off Jessica wrapped the towel around her. After she wrung the clothes out, she laid them on the porch rail. When both the twins were wrapped in towels Jessica and Alexander took them inside to get dressed.
Chapter 20
Jessica
Dinner went without a hitch. Michael ate almost a whole bag of barbeque chips with his burger. Madison’s appetite seems better. She usually only eats half a burger, but today she ate all of it, and some chips. While the women cleaned up the dinner dishes, the guys had a beer in the living room. The twins were begging to play outside, but Jessica told them they didn’t need to run around right after they ate.
“Mommy, Michael wants outside!” Madison whined as she came into the kitchen holding her tummy.
“What’s wrong Baby? Does your tummy hurt?” Jessica asked her. Madison nodded, and came closer.
“Michael do it.” She said looking up.
“Michael wants to change to his wolf?” Jessica asked remembering what Makenna had said.
When Madison nodded, Jessica quickly went to her bag for the cookies Makenna made. This will be the perfect time to test them out. Jessica can’t keep Michael from shifting, so hopefully this will help her. Madison ate the cookie the moment Jessica gave it to her. Michael didn’t even come running for a cookie this time. As soon as she was finished with her cookie, Madison ran back into the living room.
Ten minutes later, all the dishes were finished. Bri handed them another beer, and they went to join the others. Coming around the corner Jessica heard the familiar sound of Michael shifting. There sitting in the middle of the living room is Michael as his wolf. Jessica notices that he looks bigger than he did yesterday. His clothes are a shredded mess on the floor around him.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Jessica didn’t want to fuss, since he couldn’t help it. “You’re running out of clothes doing that.”
Michael whined, and licked her hand as she gathered the last bits of clothes. She rubbed his head before getting up, and throwing the ruined clothes away. Alexander walked over to her before she came back into the living room.
“I’ll replace his clothes for you.” Alexander offered.
“It’s okay. He has more, but if he doesn’t start taking his clothes off first we are going to need to go back to town.”
They walked back in the living room together. Michael was jumping on everyone, wanting their attention. Madison informed them that Michael wants to go outside. Jessica isn’t too sure that’s a good idea with him being a wolf. He may run off like he did yesterday.
“Don’t worry we have this.” Alexander told her before heading down the hall.
“Excuse us,” Jayden says as he and Caleb get up to follow Alexander.
Just as Jessica sat down on the couch next to Madison, she heard a series of pops. She jumped in surprise. Abby laughed when she caught Jessica trying to settle back in. She knows they shifted it’s the same sound as Michael’s. She couldn’t help being a little nervous. She will be surrounded by wolves in a moment, literally. When Jessica saw movement from the corner of her eye, she whipped her head around to see what it was, even though she had a feeling she knew.
The large wolves came in from the hall. Jessica knows the first one is Alexander. Michael’s wolf looks just like his. The last two were Caleb and Jayden. They were gray wolves. Although she didn’t know which one is which. One had a black streak along his chest, and the other had a red tail, and a red leg.
“Pretty!” Madison squealed, hopping down from the couch.
She went straight to Alexander, and started petting his back. He licked Madison’s face making her giggle.
Michael seems excited to see other wolves, too. He ran up to the larger wolves, and began nipping at them. The gray one with the black streak walked to the back door. Bri got up, and opened the door for him, then gave him a hug before he walked out.
“Where are they going?” Jessica asked when she noticed Alexander and Michael were heading to the door also.
“Outside mommy,” Madison explained.
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Alexander stopped at the door. He lightly nipped at Michael’s neck, and Michael sat down by the door. Alexander came over to Jessica. After licking her hand, he took it lightly in his mouth, gently pulling her hand. She can take the hint. He wants her to come too.
“Let’s take our drinks outside.” Abby suggested.
Jessica grabbed her beer off the coffee table before following them out. Caleb and Jayden were in the middle of the backyard running around chasing each other. To Jessica it looks like they are playing a game of tag. Alexander nudged Michael towards the steps, giving him permission to go. Michael didn’t need any further encouragement as he took off down the steps with Alexander following behind him.
Madison sat on Jessica’s lap, and watched the wolves play. Jessica is in awe with the sight before her. The wolves running and playing before her is something she had only imagined seeing on the discovery channel. Jessica heard a few sniffles coming from Madison.
“Is your stomach hurting again?” She asked Madison.
“No,” Madison shook her head. “I want to play.”
“She can go out there with them, it’s safe.” Bri assured her.
“Can I?” Madison asked sweetly.
“Of course, but don’t go near the water.” Jessica warned.
Madison gave her a kiss on the cheek then went down the steps to play with the guys. Jessica enjoyed watching them. Naturally Madison is the slowest, but the guys let her tag them. When they chased her, instead of bumping or biting like they did the other wolves, they would run circles around her stopping her in her tracks.
“They are fun to watch, aren’t they?” Abby pointed out when Madison tagged Michael by falling on top of him.
“Yeah, but I’m scared one of them is going to get hurt.” She admitted.
“They won’t hurt her.” Bri assured her. “We aren’t complete animals.” She laughed. “When we shift, we’re still us.”
“Well then, I hope they wear the twins out. I could use another good nights’ sleep.”
“Right,” Abby said slyly. “You just want them to sleep hard. We understand completely.”
Missing Mate (O'Neil Pack Series) Page 11
