Page 14 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JABARI

I wake with a splitting headache, a thousand needles stabbing at my skull from the inside out. My eyelids feel like they’re lined with sandpaper as I force them open, moaning as I sit up from the cold floor. Somehow I’ve shifted back to my human form, completely naked.

“Fuck,” I groan, pressing my palm against my temple where the pain pulses like a heartbeat.

That’s when the memories flood back—Jackie getting shot in the arm, the dark stain spreading across her makeshift bandage.

The rage that consumed me as I slammed that worthless human through the decks of the ship, creating a hole that sent water rushing in.

Losing control as my bear took over, shifting to protect Jackie from the other humans who dared to condemn me for defending what’s mine.

I stand up too quickly, making my vision swim, but I stagger over to the cell bars anyway.

I don’t bother touching them—I can feel the magic humming from them, no doubt Leah’s handiwork to keep me contained until my bear calms down completely.

Through the bars, I spot Jackie sitting at a desk, eating something from a plate.

The sight of her safe and whole eases something within me.

Another sharp pain lances through my head, making me moan louder than I intended. Jackie’s head snaps up, her eyes finding mine.

“Jabari!” She jumps to her feet, her plate forgotten as she rushes toward the cell, though she stops a few feet away from the bars.

Damon appears at her side in a flash of vampire speed, his perfectly pressed suit contrasting with my naked, disheveled state. He frowns at me, his eyes cold.

“Good, you’re awake,” he says, his tone clinical. “Put some clothes on.”

Jackie’s eyes drop to my naked body, her expression shifting from concern to surprise. I catch the scent of her arousal—sweet honey tinged with something spicier. Interesting. Despite my pounding head, a smile forms on my lips.

I walk over to the bed where someone has left clothing for me, each step sending fresh waves of pain through my skull. “How is Jackie’s arm?” I ask, keeping my voice low to minimize my own suffering.

“She is fine,” Damon replies curtly. “I gave her some of my blood.”

My teeth grind together at the thought of vampire blood flowing through her veins, but what more could I do? I was unconscious, useless to her. My bear, normally so protective, is still dead asleep inside me, too exhausted to even stir at my agitation.

“I am happy she is well,” I manage to say, though the words taste like ash in my mouth.

Damon continues to frown as I slip on the pants and pull the shirt over my head, the fabric feeling rough against my sensitized skin.

“When can he come out?” Jackie asks, and despite the pain, her voice soothes me.

“Just a little while longer,” Damon replies. “We’re waiting for someone. His name is Tristian, his cousin from Axel Clan. He’s going to escort you both to Wintermoon.”

I sit heavily on the bed in the jail cell, moaning as I clutch my head. The pain will go away—I know this. This is the second time this has happened. I should be used to it by now, but the agony feels fresh every time.

And Tristian? Of all people, that’s who they’re sending?

Why not Silas? But I already know the answer—he won’t step foot on the tourist island.

He’s struggling with the whole concept of having part of our land as a tourist attraction.

And honestly, I agree with him, but now isn’t the time to make that stand.

I finally look up at Jackie, who’s watching me with worried eyes. She looks beautiful as always, even in the simple clothes Leah must have found for her. Her curves fill out the shirt perfectly, but I can tell from the way she keeps pulling at it that she’s uncomfortable.

She catches me looking and glances down at her outfit, grabbing the hem of her shirt. “This isn’t my style,” she says, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.

“Don’t worry about it, baby,” I tell her, the endearment slipping out naturally. “I’ll replace everything. All of your clothes, your makeup.”

Jackie narrows her eyes at me, placing her hands on her hips in a way that makes my bear stir slightly in its sleep. “Well, that’s a lot of money,” she challenges. “So you’re saying you’re rich or something?”

I chuckle, immediately wincing at the fresh stab of pain. “Rich enough to spoil my woman properly,” I say, trying to keep my tone playful despite feeling like my head might split open.

“He is wealthy, Jackie,” Damon interjects. “His clan accumulated a lot of wealth over the centuries. Even though they were living in caves, they weren’t destitute. And you are a daughter of Wintermoon—this isn’t something you’ll need to worry about ever again.”

Jackie shakes her head. “Just forget it for now.”

A black cloud of smoke forms in the center of the room, and Leah appears, holding several shopping bags. She spots me and smiles warmly. “Oh good, you’re awake.”

“Hi, Leah,” I manage, attempting a smile that probably looks more like a grimace.

“I’ll get you some water as soon as I make sure your fated mate has what she needs,” she says sweetly, holding up the bags.

“More toiletries, and more clothes. We’ve got makeup on Wintermoon in the market.

And if you have a certain style of clothing you prefer but you don’t see, we can get it for you.

We have stuff shipped in online all the time. ”

Jackie reaches for the bags, but Leah pulls them back with a wink. “Oh no, I’ve got it. Be right back.”

She glances down at a puddle of water on the floor. “Kade must have been here,” she sighs before teleporting out of the station.

Leah’s gone for just seconds before she pops back in. With a wiggle of her fingers, blue and gold magic spews from her fingertips, flowing through the station and around to the back utility closet. The sound of running water follows.

Leah looks to her with a smile and says, “you’ll get used to all the magic.”

Jackie sighs exasperatedly. “I keep hearing that.”

My head turns sharply when I catch a familiar scent, sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull. Tristian. He’s close.

The door swings open, and my cousin enters like he owns the place. I look away, rolling my eyes hard enough to hurt.

Leah beams at him. “Tristian! Always good to see you.”

He removes his baseball cap and bows his head to her.

Leah skips over, a blush coloring her cheeks as she stands on her toes to reach up and place her hands on his arms. She kisses his cheek affectionately.

“My sweet, sweet bear. I’ll be visiting the academy tomorrow for the magic lessons in the witchery wing. ”

Tristian stands upright, flashing a smile that shows off his perfect teeth, his blue eyes bright with pride.

Of course he looks immaculate—nice boots, clean pants, crisp flannel shirt, freshly shaved jaw.

Even when coming to pick me up in the middle of chaos, my cousin manages to look like he just stepped out of a fucking catalogue.

I groan, not bothering to hide my jealousy.

Tristian’s eyes immediately find me in the jail cell, and he approaches with a look of frustration that I’ve seen too many times before.

“How many times do I have to come pick you up?” he demands. “I told you if you got yourself into trouble this time, I couldn’t help you and Silas won’t either. What could these humans have possibly done this time worthy of sinking the ship?”

I look up at him, my brow furrowed. “I know you aren’t judging me. You burned down a radical bar.”

“In my woman’s honor,” Tristian counters without missing a beat.

I smile despite myself and look over at Jackie, only to find her watching Tristian with flushed cheeks, her hands clasped behind her back. Oh hell no. Why is she blushing at Tristian? A growl rises in my throat, unbidden. The women always blush at my cousin, and I fucking hate it.

Tristian follows my gaze, noticing Jackie for the first time. Her blush deepens on her brown cheeks, and it just pisses me off even more. My head throbs in time with my irritation.

“So all the bear shifters are big and handsome, huh?” Jackie says, and I swear I can feel my blood pressure spike.

Leah grins and puts her hand on Tristian’s chest in a familiar gesture.

“This is Tristian. He works patrol part-time at the border, helping humans with safe passage to Wintermoon. Ebony, his fated mate and mother to his two cubs, is the Headmistress of Wintermoon Academy. He also works there and helps the orphaned bear shifters.”

Jackie stares in awe, and I want to punch something. Yes, my cousin has quite the reputation for himself, while Jackie’s stuck with the shifter mate who can’t control his temper. The contrast couldn’t be more stark—the perfect family man versus the rage monster.

“He shot my woman,” I say through gritted teeth, needing to justify my actions. “I threw him through the decks. I didn’t think my strength would send him all the way through.”

Tristian looks at Leah with a frown, and I can tell from the way he tenses that his bear is ready for war too. “Yes, I’d like to go after the bloodline myself,” he admits. “If there’s one monster, that means there’s more.”

A black cloud of smoke signals another arrival, and Kade appears in the center of the room.

She’s drenched even worse than before—her uniform plastered to her body, her hair hanging in wet ropes around her face.

Lake water drips from her clothes, pooling on the floor, and she smells like algae and smoke.

Her eyes find me immediately, narrowing with rage. “Oh look, the ship sinker is awake. How nice.”

Leah walks over to Kade and gently wipes some of the water from her face. Immediately, Kade’s anger seems to melt away, her expression softening as she gazes at her mate with naked adoration.

“Most of the humans on the ship can’t swim,” Kade says, her voice taking on a dreamy quality as she looks into Leah’s eyes. “I’ve been swimming and saving them, helping to make sure the women and children—and the worthless men—get onto the rescue boat.”

“That’s so honorable of you, honey,” Leah tells her, love shining in her eyes. “Stop getting so upset. We’ll get you another ship in six months, tops. Damon’s already looking into making a purchase for two this time.”

Kade tears her eyes away from Leah long enough to glare at Tristian. “This was your idea with a mutter,” she accuses.

Tristian merely shrugs. “And look what good came of it. His beautiful mate is here.”

Everyone turns to look at Jackie, who’s blushing again. Something possessive and primal stirs within me.

Kade sighs dramatically, water still dripping from her clothes. “I’d like to dry off now.”

“Okay,” Leah says softly, then turns to Tristian. “Make sure Jabari and Jackie get to Wintermoon, then help Damon with the rest of tonight’s shift and the rescues on the tourist island. The paying patrons will feel put out as we accommodate them, but we’ll work this out. Get them to the hotel.”

Tristian nods while Damon walks over to the cell and unlocks it, swinging the door open.

I don’t waste a second—I’m out and rushing straight to Jackie, cupping her face in my hands.

My head is still pounding mercilessly, but I need to check her arm for myself, to see where the bullet tore through her flesh.

“I’m alright,” she assures me, her eyes soft with concern—for me, not herself. “I feel almost a hundred percent.”

I press my forehead against hers, only to moan in pain as the contact sends fresh agony through my skull. The teleportation has done a number on me.

“You’ll need to take care of your bear for a few days,” Leah says. “Teleportation isn’t good for shifters, as you can see. But he’ll recover quickly. And the supplies I brought for you are already in your new home.”

Jackie grabs onto my shirt, and I move closer to her, breathing in her scent to ground myself. “I’m ready to take you home so I can take care of you,” I tell her, though I’m probably the one who looks like he needs taking care of right now.

Kade grabs a handful of her soaked hair and wrings it out onto the floor, creating yet another puddle. “Jabari needs a lot of water,” she instructs Jackie. “Make sure he drinks at least a couple of gallons. Even better if he can get more.”

She nods, taking the advice seriously, which warms something inside me.

Tristian puts his baseball cap back on his head. “Let’s get moving,” he says, all business now.

I grab Jackie’s hand and start pulling her out of the station as Tristian holds the door open for us. Jackie looks at him as she walks out, and he smiles at her. I roll my eyes, not caring if anyone notices.

The night air hits us as we step outside, cool and fresh despite being summer.

She stops for a moment, her face tilting up to take in the sky.

I watch her as she stares at the stars, her expression one of wonder.

On Wintermoon, the stars seem closer somehow, brighter and more numerous without the light pollution of the city.

Tristian steps out of the station and starts leading the way through the tourist island. She walks beside me, her eyes flicking everywhere, taking in the structures and shops that line the main road.

My gaze catches on a small retail space that’s being built near the harbor—prime real estate with large display windows facing the main path where tourists would pass.

I make a mental note to ask Kade and Damon about it later.

It looks like a perfect spot for my mate to set up shop, to pursue her dreams while still being close to me.

I want to give Jackie the world. But more than that, I want the privilege of standing beside her while she enjoys it.