Page 19 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JACKIE

I t’s the sound of something moving around downstairs that finally wakes me. I sit up with a yawn, stretching my arms overhead as memories of last night flood back like a tidal wave. Jabari.

The way he loved me, took care of me, made me feel special—like the only woman in the world. The way he stroked his dick in and out of me, stretched me out... I couldn’t leave this shifter if I wanted to. He didn’t just fuck me; he made love to me. I felt loved .

A loud thump from downstairs makes me pull the sheet up to cover myself instinctively. Voices drift up from below—unfamiliar, deep, male voices mixed with furniture being shifted around.

I slide out of bed and look for the bags, only to find the clothes neatly stacked on the dresser along with toiletries. Whoever organized them took the time to carefully arrange everything, a small gesture that touches me unexpectedly.

I pick through the clothes, frowning. None of this stuff is my style, and not a single dress in sight.

Just leggings and t-shirts that look like they came from a big-box store clearance rack.

With a resigned sigh, I grab a nice shirt and pair of leggings, along with some underwear, the toothbrush, and mouthwash before heading for the bathroom.

The mirror doesn’t sugarcoat things—I look like absolute hell. My hair is pretty much sweated out and curly, sticking up in places it has no business being. But what really catches my attention is the mark on my neck. A perfect imprint of teeth marks where he bit me last night.

I brush my fingers over the mark, the skin slightly raised but not painful. Why did he do that? It wasn’t an accident—I remember the look in his eyes right before.

I stare at my reflection a moment longer before turning on the water to brush my teeth. The mint taste of the toothpaste helps clear my head, bringing me fully into this new day, this new life.

Under the shower spray, I let the hot water wash away the remnants of last night’s passion while my mind tries to make sense of everything.

Just days ago, I was a boutique owner in Detroit facing eviction.

Now I’m the claimed mate of a bear shifter, waking up in a cabin in Wintermoon territory. Life comes at you fast.

I finish my shower quickly, dry off, and get dressed.

The leggings hug my curves nicely—at least Leah got the size right—but the shirt is boxy and unflattering.

I do the best I can with the limited hair products, slicking my hair into a gelled-down ponytail.

It’s not my usual style, but it’ll have to do until I can get my own things.

Taking a deep breath, I slip on my flip-flops and leave the bedroom.

As I start down the stairs, nervousness stirs within me.

The living room is full of activity—large men moving furniture, carrying boxes, assembling what looks like a new entertainment center.

I freeze halfway down, taking it all in.

That’s when I spot him. Jabari stands at the bottom of the stairs, grinning up at me.

He’s as messy as always, but looks cleaned up in yet another oversized shirt and loose pants.

I notice immediately that he’s not wincing anymore—the pain that had creased his forehead last night is gone.

His eyes light up when they meet mine, and despite everything, my heart skips a beat.

I continue down the stairs, and he immediately pulls me into his arms, enveloping me in his warmth and scent.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmurs against my hair.

I reach up and stroke his beard gently, enjoying the rough texture against my fingertips. “You’re not wincing. Your headache is gone?”

“Yes, baby,” he says, his voice a deep rumble that I feel against my palm. He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my cheek, his lips lingering for a moment. “I feel much better.”

I pull back slightly, looking around at the commotion. “What’s all this?”

“It’s the clan,” Jabari says, pride evident in his voice. “They know who you are to me, and they are providing more furniture to make sure our home is comfortable for you.”

Our home. The words evoke equal parts excitement and fear.

The living room has transformed since last night. A new sofa set has replaced the lonely couch, and shifters are mounting a large television over the fireplace while others assemble a coffee table and end tables. It’s like an IKEA showroom appeared overnight.

My stomach growls loudly, reminding me I haven’t eaten since last night. “I’m hungry,” I tell him, sniffing the air. “And I smell fresh pancakes somewhere nearby.”

“Our Luna brought you breakfast,” He says, his voice soft with respect.

I reach up unconsciously, fingers brushing against the claim mark on my neck. “You bit me,” I say, meeting his eyes directly. “Why?”

Jabari seems confused for a moment, scratching his head as if the answer should be obvious but he doesn’t quite know how to explain it. His brow furrows, then his expression settles into something more neutral.

Before he can answer, a woman’s voice calls from the kitchen. “It’s part of the mating process.”

I turn to see a striking Black woman leaning against the kitchen doorframe.

“Shifters claim their mates through bites,” she continues.

“It leaves a visible scar that tells the world you belong to him. And soon, you’ll feel the urge to do the same to him.

It’s part of the mate bond, tethering you together forever. ”

She smiles warmly, walking toward us with poise. Jabari steps back and bows his head to her.

“I’m Jewel, the Luna of Frost Clan,” she says, extending her hand to me.

“Oh...” I stutter, nervously beginning to bow, not sure how I’m supposed to respond to someone who’s clearly important in the hierarchy.

Jewel chuckles and pulls me into a hug instead. “Silly woman, welcome to the family, sister.”

Her embrace feels genuine, easing some of my anxiety. When she releases me, she looks at Jabari with approval. “She is beautiful, your woman.”

Jewel steps back and rubs her belly, which I now notice has a small but definite curve. “I’m having the first cub of the clan, and the other mates are getting pregnant too. Soon, we’ll have a clan full of cubs.”

She points at the mark on my neck, a knowing smile on her face. “Won’t be surprised if you’re wobbling around here in a few months the same as the rest of us. These bear shifters have been desperate for a family.”

Her words land hard. Jabari told me how long he’s been waiting for me—a thousand years.

I still can’t grasp that amount of time.

Surely he didn’t wait all that time, right?

He must have tried to build a future with someone else.

.. That’s too long for anyone to be alone.

And the way he nearly put me through the mattress last night? This definitely isn’t his first rodeo.

I smooth my hands nervously over my shirt, suddenly wishing I knew more about shifter lore and Wintermoon before being thrown into all this.

Even with all the radical stuff emerging in Detroit, and the testing for the fated scent, I just never assumed I’d be fated to anyone.

I know plenty of women who got tested and were negative.

Looking at Jewel, I take in her appearance. She’s pretty, looks around my age—mid-thirties—with a medium build. Her deep brown skin has a healthy glow, and her braids are pulled into an elegant updo. She exudes a quiet authority that doesn’t need to announce itself.

“Congratulations,” I tell her sincerely.

Just then, a large shifter—slightly bigger than Jabari—wraps his arms around Jewel’s waist and pulls her against him, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. His hands move protectively to her belly. This must be Silas, the alpha Kade mentioned.

His bright blue eyes remind me of Tristian’s, though his skin is a rich brown like Jabari’s.

The family resemblance between the brothers is unmistakable—similar strong jawlines, high cheekbones, and broad shoulders.

Where Jabari is messy and casual, Silas is meticulously put together—clean haircut, neatly trimmed beard, clothes that actually fit him properly.

If this is the standard, Jabari could definitely use some pointers, but that’s a project for another day. He has me now.

Jabari grabs me suddenly, pulling me against him with unmistakable pride. His chest puffs out slightly, and I can feel the excitement vibrating through him as he presents me to his brother.

“Alpha, brother, this is my mate, Jackie,” he announces, his voice deep with emotion.

Silas smiles and bows his head to me. I do the same awkwardly, which makes both Silas and Jewel chuckle in unison.

“She’ll get used to it,” they say together, like this is a common observation.

I sigh nervously. “Yeah, I keep hearing that.”

“I will explain everything to you,” Jabari promises, his hand warm against my back. “Help you understand shifter lore.”

The earnestness in his voice makes me smile. “I’d love that.”

Jewel reaches for my hand. “Come on, let me make sure you eat.” She pulls me into the kitchen, toward a small table by the window. Jabari follows closely, pulling out a chair for me.

“Thank you,” I say, blushing at his attentiveness as I sit down.

Jewel walks over to the counter and returns with a plate filled with golden pancakes and crispy bacon. She sets it in front of me, then pours syrup over the pancakes and adds a glass of milk before grabbing a tall glass of water for herself and sitting across from me.

I dig in eagerly, suddenly aware of how hungry I am after last night’s activities. Jabari steps back to stand beside Silas, and I notice both men watching us intently—like hawks observing their territory.

I look back at Jewel with a giggle. “Are they always like this?”

“Yes, they are actually,” she says with fond exasperation. “They hover over their women when they can. When Silas isn’t working, he’s all over me.”

I glance back at Jabari, who’s just grinning at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen. A warmth spreads within me at his obvious adoration.

Looking back at Jewel, I shrug. “I can deal with it.”

As I eat, Jewel explains more about how the clan works. She’s easy to talk to, asking about my background and sharing bits of her own journey to Wintermoon.

“I think it’s awesome that you’re a seamstress,” she says. “We could all use a little glow up here and there. Most of us aren’t too interested in fashion and makeup, but it’s good to have.”

“What’s expected of me here?” I ask, the question that’s been weighing on my mind since arriving.

Her face softens. “Me and Silas aren’t that kind of leaders.

You’ll have a separate life with Jabari, and if you want to work outside of the clan, that’s fine with us.

We only ask that you gather twice a month for a few hours to help build our community.

We work with each other, building a village so you always have someone to fall back on if you need help. ”

“I like that,” I say, feeling a genuine surge of hope. “Community. Back in the world, I didn’t have a village. I was mostly on my own.”

She smiles warmly. “Most of us did, but once we found our mates and settled here in the clan, life became a lot easier.” She takes a sip from her glass of water.

“We aren’t perfect. I might get on your nerves tomorrow,” she pauses and chuckles to herself, “but even so, you’ll always have me in your corner. You are my family now.”

The sincerity in her words touches something deep inside me. Family. A concept I’ve been missing for too long.

“Well, I’ve got the fridge stocked,” Jewel says, standing up. “I’ve got to head to the market for a pantry refill.”

I stop mid-chew, quickly washing down my food with milk. “Would it be okay if I joined you? There’s some things I need.”

Jewel smiles, then glances at Jabari. “Sure, but be warned—Jabari’s tagging along. You’re freshly mated. He’s going to be all over you until his bear settles down. That’s par for the course after they’ve waited for us for so long.”

Meeting Jabari’s gaze, those gorgeous green eyes that make my heart flutter, I shrug. “Out of all the stuff I’ve been through to get to Wintermoon, I think the hovering is the least of my worries.”

Jewel laughs at that. “Good then, it would be nice to have a shopping buddy, and I’m excited to hear about your adventure to Wintermoon. We don’t get out much.”

I pause at that. Not get out much. It’s something that worries me in the back of my mind about being in Wintermoon—losing myself, becoming someone other than the version of myself I’ve worked so hard to build.

But when I look into his beautiful, adorable green eyes again, I know leaving him isn’t an option.