by E. J. Powell
Maria’s belly looked ready to pop. She was a short woman, and small framed, so the engorged stomach that sat on her tiny lap was a stark difference.
“How are you feeling?” Jessie asked as she handed Maria the food. Maria’s face lit up like Karen’s when she saw the bag of doughnuts.
“Better now,” she said, crunching into a doughnut.
“Won’t be long now.” Jessie looked down to the swollen belly. “You think it’s a girl again?”
“Probably. I seem to be plagued with girls.”
Karen came pouncing into Jessie’s lap, licking her lips.
“I hope it’s a boy,” Karen said. “Then I can name him Chip.”
“Why Chip?” Jessie asked.
“Like Chips A Hoy. The best cookies ever.”
“Really? I always preferred Oreo’s.”
“Ooh, Oreo’s.” Maria sat up like a blood hound. “I need milk.”
“I got it,” Jessie said as Maria struggled to get off the couch.
“I swear, Jessie, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Jessie smiled as she walked to the kitchen and poured the milk. She walked back in the living room and handed it to Maria. Karen had snuggled up next to her mother as she ate her dinner. Maria had one arm around her and the other was shoveling food into her own mouth. The other two girls sat quietly on their mother’s other side as they ate.
It was a beautiful picture.
Jessie wondered if she had had a mother, if her mother would have been this warm and welcoming. If her mother would have snuggled on the couch with her. If she would have read her bedtime stories. If she would have wiped the steak sauce from her mouth as Maria did for Karen.
But wondering about something that will never be was a painful waste of time. Jessie cleared her throat before she said, “I need to go check on the twins. Are you going to be all right?”
“Of course,” Maria said. “I got my girls.”
Karen giggled beside her mother as she snuck another doughnut into her mouth. Jessie smiled as she looked at the powdered sugar coating Karen’s tiny lips. Karen was such a happy child. Even after the death of her father, she was still a happy child. Jessie gulped down the lump in her throat before she left the happy family.
Jessie took a deep breath of fresh air. She made her way to the barn where Brandon and Dani were still sleeping. She sat down next to Brandon and brushed the hair back from his face. He moved slightly as he nuzzled in next to her and then fell back to sleep.
She leaned her head against the wall. Her body fought against the sleep deprivation. Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a minute…
“Jessie.”
Jessie opened her eyes. She didn’t mean to fall asleep. She looked over to Brandon who had woken her.
“You should get some sleep,” he said.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly midnight.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Go to bed.”
“Where’s Dani?” Jessie looked around the barn, but she didn’t see his sister.
“She’s already up. She went out with Robb and Justin trying to reset her senses.”
“You should go, too.”
“I will. I’m not really ready to shift again just yet.”
Jessie nodded. She could understand that. The first time she had shifted, she never wanted to do it again. She stood up and dusted off her shorts.
“It really does get better,” Jessie said. She grabbed the wall as her head began to spin.
“Are you okay?” Brandon reached out for her and caught her arm.
“Yeah, I’m just tired.” Jessie shook her head, trying to shake off the dizziness.
“Let me help you to bed.”
“I’m fine.”
Brandon didn’t let go of her arm as he stood firm next to her. She always admired that about him. He had a talent for seeing people in trouble and offering aide. She let him help her out of the barn and to the house. He didn’t let go of her until they reached her room.
“You sure you’re okay?” Brandon asked as Jessie opened the bedroom door.
“Yeah, I’m good. Thank you, Brandon.”
He nodded before he left back down the hallway. She shut the door and lay down on her full size, four poster bed. It was white as all the furniture in the room was. She tried to focus her eyes as she looked around her room. Her desk lay to the right and her dresser to her left. The paint was chipped in most places. A full length mirror sat in the corner with a crack that ran down the center of it. It was the furniture that had been left when the home was abandoned. Jessie liked it though. She never really had anything of her own, and even though it wasn’t technically her furniture, it still felt nice to call it her own.
She rested her head against her pillow and closed her eyes as sleep washed over her.
CHAPTER 3
“Jessie. Jessie, wake up.”
Jessie slowly opened her eyes to her room. She grabbed her phone on the nightstand beside her and clicked it on. The LED light blinded her for a second and she had to blink to focus on the screen. It was only eleven… p.m.! She had slept all day! Her body was screaming to go back to sleep as she clicked her phone off and put it back on the nightstand.
Jessie rolled to her back and looked up at the fourteen year old girl, who had woken her. No, she wasn’t a girl anymore. Dani had grown up from the Change. She stood in front of the full length mirror. Her hips were round, her breasts full, and her thighs took on that of a woman.
Jessie watched as Dani twirled in front of the mirror in the moonlight, and then stopped to look to at her backside.
“I look so different,” Dani said.
Jessie sat up, propping her elbow on her knee, as Dani flattened her T-shirt over her waist before she ran her fingers through her long black hair.
“How are you feeling?” Jessie asked. “Any pain?”
“Nope. It really wasn’t that bad, although I did take a chunk out of Robb.”
“I’m sure he deserved it on some level.” Dani let out a laugh.
“I really didn’t mean to,” Dani continued. “He was just getting too close to Brandon.”
“How is he? Your brother?”
“He’s better. And taller. And broader.”
“We will need to get some new clothes for both of you.”
“Speaking of which, do you mind if I borrow a dress from you? None of mine fit anymore.” Dani asked.
“Sure, what’s the occasion?”
“Ashley is throwing me and Brandon a party at the bar tonight. We’re about to leave. You’re coming, right?”
Jessie had completely forgotten about the party. She was going to say no, but when she looked up at Dani’s face, she couldn’t say it. There was a pleading behind those nearly black eyes as Dani waited for her answer.
“Of course I’m coming.”
Dani smiled from ear to ear as she raided Jessie’s closet. Jessie tended to forget how young Dani is. Even before the Change, Dani was always so strong on the outside. It was easy to forget that she was still a young girl.
“You should wear the blue dress,” Jessie said. “The one in the back.”
Dani filtered through the clothes until she came across the blue one and pulled it out. She quickly stripped down and pulled the dress over her head. It fit like a glove. She went back to the mirror and twirled again, letting the knee length, circle skirt fan out around her.
“You look beautiful.”
Dani smiled to her.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” Dani said before she left her room.
Jessie yawned as she pulled the covers off of her. She let her feet dangle over the side of the bed before she stood. She took two steps before she grabbed her dresser for support. Her head was spinning. She was tired. Her body was exhausted from the full moon. She straightened herself back up and shook away the dizziness.
She grabbed her skinny jeans from the dresser and a silky green ta
nk top. She changed and glanced in the mirror. The top was tight and low cut. The spaghetti straps hung on her narrow shoulders. She brushed her hair and slipped into her black flats.
When she came out of her room, her father was standing in the kitchen. He was tall around six foot one. His hair was long like Robb’s now. He hadn’t shaved in a while and a thick beard was beginning to grow over his square jaw. Her father turned to her and smiled before he looked down at her top.
“That’s a cute night shirt, but you should probably change into a real shirt.”
“This is my shirt, daddy.”
“Like hell it is.”
Jessie walked up to her father and kissed his cheek.
“I look fine,” she said as she pulled back.
“I guess that mutt will be at the bar,” he said. Jessie shook her head. Rickon still didn’t like the fact that Daniel was seeing her. He had nothing against Ashley, or her pack, just Daniel putting his hands on his little girl. Jessie smiled at her father.
“I’ve got to go before Dani comes back in here and drags me out,” Jessie said.
“Keep an eye on her. She might still be young, but her body has changed too much. I don’t want Tasha giving her any tips.”
“I got her, don’t worry.”
She kissed his cheek again before she grabbed the truck keys and her jacket, and walked outside. The winter air was cool on her skin. She let out a shiver. She never really liked the cold. She put her leather jacket on and zipped it up. She saw Dani and Brandon standing by the truck. Brandon was over six feet now. His dirty blond hair was a mess and his pants were about two inches too short at the ankles.
“Let’s go already,” Dani said as she bounced on her feet. Brandon rolled his eyes. Jessie knew he didn’t like social gatherings much. He preferred to be alone and draw.
“All right, all right,” Jessie said. “In the truck.”
They piled into the single cab, old Ford pickup. Jessie started the engine and the truck jumped to life.
“Are we waiting for anyone else?” Jessie asked.
“No,” Dani said. “Tasha, Justin and Sky are already there, and Ty, Robb, and Nathan said they would come later.”
Jessie nodded as she pulled from the dirt drive and through the path they had made in the bayou.
It took about twenty minutes to get into town and another ten to get through the French Quarter. Cici’s Tavern was just outside the Quarter. Jessie parked along the street in front of the bar. It was quiet, since the bar wasn’t actually open tonight.
Dani was nearly running as she hurried to the front door and disappeared inside. Jessie looked over to Brandon. He stood in front of the truck, staring at the bar. His hands fidgeted at his sides.
“It’s okay, Brandon,” she said. He looked down at her. She held her hand out for him. He took it as they walked up to the bar and Brandon opened the front door for her to walk in.
She looked around at the crowd that had amassed. Ashley was standing by the bar with her brother Drew and her husband Darion. Darion was tall at about six foot six and his long brown hair was tied back. He wore his usual jeans and T-shirt on his well-built frame that was made for speed. He stood with his arm around Ashley, which was easy since she was a full foot shorter than him. He looked so relaxed in a room full of werewolves.
Jessie wished she could say the same about the werewolves towards the Dark Lords. Ashley’s pack treated the Dark Lords like family, but Jessie’s pack…not so much.
She saw Justin, Tasha, and Sky in the back of the bar by the pool table. They seemed relaxed enough, but Jessie could also see them glance to the other Dark Lords in the room, tensing from time to time. There was a time when the Dark Lords had hunted the Cambions. It was a dark time then. A time before either of them really understood each other. But that was in the past. The Dark Lords were their friends now, or at least, not their enemies.
Jessie scanned the room and she saw the other Dark Lords. Helena, a fierce warrior, had the power to heal anything, and was absolutely beautiful with her long brown hair, dark brown eyes, deeply tanned skin and a body with all the right curves. She stood by her mate, Colt. Colt was even taller than Darion. His cobalt blue eyes were breath taking, and his body was strapped with lean muscles. He wasn’t a Dark Lord, but actually used to be a vampire hunter. That’s how he met Helena. Now, he has immortality from his mate-bond with Helena.
Bender, the leader of the Dark Lords, stood next to his wife, Aria, near the bar. Bender, as tall as Colt, was built like a brick wall. A Dark Lord, who has the power of immense strength, and a stare that could kill. His silver eyes were haunting and his blond hair fell in curls around them. The only time he truly smiled was when he looked at Aria.
Boyd, with the power of smell, sat on the stage next to Gareth and Slay. His long legs stretched in front of him, his left boot hanging over his right, and his white T-shirt sat snug across his well-defined chest. His shaggy brown hair fell in his baby blue eyes. He was sporting his goofy grin as he laughed with Slay and Gareth. He was the more approachable Dark Lord, but Jessie knew he was lethal.
Gareth caught Jessie’s eye and waved her over.
“What’s up?” Gareth said. He was the youngest of Daniel’s brothers, and even though he was over five hundred years old, he still had a teenage quality to him. His brown hair was a mess and his cheeks held faint dimples in them.
“Hey,” Jessie said. Slay gave her a short smile. Jessie was actually surprised to see her here. Slay rarely left the mansion she lived in, and parties have never really been her thing. As a vampire, she tended not to mingle with the wolves. Her long black hair fell over her black tank top and her leather pants were so tight, they might as well have been painted on. Her light brown eyes would scan the room every few minutes.
“Have y’all seen Daniel?” Jessie asked.
“He went to go get the pizzas,” Gareth said. “He’ll be back soon.”
“How did the shift go?” Boyd asked. “I see the twins are well now.”
Jessie followed his eyes to Dani as she leaned over the pool table, her breasts nearly spilling from the dress. Jessie’s focus snapped back to Boyd.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said. “She’s still only fourteen.”
Boyd held his hands up in surrender. “I was just asking a question. I’m not into jail bate.”
“Sure you were.” Boyd flashed his goofy grin at her. “And the same goes for you, Gareth.”
“Me?” Gareth grinned. “I’m not the one to worry about.”
He nodded to his brother Drew who was now standing behind Dani, showing her how to hold the pool stick. Jessie let out a breath of aggravation. Maybe her father was right.
“Don’t worry about Drew,” Gareth said. “He likes to flirt, but he won’t do anything he shouldn’t.”
Jessie knew the Gregorian men were honorable. They would never force a woman to do anything the woman didn’t want to do, but if the woman was willing…that’s a whole other story.
“I think I’ll go stand over there, just to be sure.”
Jessie walked to the back where the pool table sat. Dani and Drew had taken a seat on the bench, waiting for their next turn at the pool table.
“You want to play next?” Dani asked as Jessie wedged herself on the bench in between Dani and Drew. Taking the hint, Drew slid over to give her room. Dani didn’t seem to notice.
“Sure.”
“Suck that, Justin.”
Jessie looked up to Tasha, who had won the game. Her jeans were skin tight, stretching down her long legs, and her white tank top was see-through, showing her black lace bra underneath. Her long blond hair was wrapped in a messy bun, stray hairs framing her oval face. Her brown eyes looked to Justin. Justin shook his head as he stood and reset the table.
“You want to break?” Justin held the pool stick out for Jessie. She took it and placed herself at the end of the table. She leaned over, lining the cue ball up. With one stroke, she broke the triangle
in front of her, sending two solids into the far corner pockets.
“Nice shot,” Dani said as she cheered her on.
“Y’all want a refill?” Justin asked. Sky and Tasha nodded, handing him their glasses. Brandon shook his head. Jessie watched Justin walk to the bar before she walked to the far left corner and shoot another solid into the corner right pocket. She repositioned to the middle of the table, lining up her next shot. She was about to make it when she caught a scent. Her body relaxed and she felt two strong hands wrap around her arms.
“Bending over like that should be a crime.” Her heart fluttered at the deep voice that whispered in her ear.
Daniel.
His hand drifted down to cover hers. “Stroke it like this.”
She sucked in her breath as he guided her hand up and down the pool stick. Jessie made the shot, but missed. She did it on purpose. If she wanted, she could win the game before anyone else had a chance to play. She spent a lot of her time at the bar shooting pool with Ashley. Cici’s was one of the few ‘family approved’ places she could hang out in New Orleans. She handed the stick to Tasha before turning back to Daniel.
His white T-shirt sat snug across his chest and arms, showing every definition his body had to offer. His jeans hung off his narrow hips stretching down his long legs. Her eyes drifted down his long torso before returning to his warm brown eyes that looked right at her.
“Dance with me?” he asked, holding his hand out.
She took it as he led her to the dance floor. She heard Tasha let out a mumbled, “Get it, girl” before the music drowned everything out. Daniel spun her before sliding her body to his. Heathens by Twenty One Pilots filled her ears as Daniel’s hands fell to her hips, swaying them in sync to his own. Her hands rested on his chest and she could feel every hard muscle under them.
