Page 23 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JACKIE

Frost Clan—Four Months Later

I smile as I step down from the porch, watching Jabari’s bear step into the clearing from the woods. He’s dragging more wood for Silas to take to the factory for processing. My heart swells at the sight of him—his massive form powerful yet somehow graceful as he moves through the trees.

The past four months have been a journey of adjusting to life in Frost Clan. The cabin feels like home now, but I still can’t shake this gnawing emptiness inside me. Something’s missing.

He’s been working hard with the clan lately.

They have a lumber yard within clan territory, but sometimes they travel to get particular types of trees.

Lately, that’s what they’ve been doing—gone sometimes all day, only returning at night.

Some special project he won’t tell me about.

Is it because he sank the ship? I don’t know for sure, but I have my suspicions.

His bear notices me and bounds over, brushing his nose against my belly like he always does. He wants a cub so badly, but we haven’t gotten pregnant yet. I wonder if it’s because I haven’t claimed him yet. The urge still hasn’t come, and it bothers me more than I want to acknowledge.

I run my fingers through his warm fur. “My sweet bear,” I murmur, shivering slightly from the cool air. Winter is approaching fast, bringing chilly winds that penetrate even the warmest clothing.

Jabari’s bear starts pushing at me, urging me toward the house.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go inside. Would you calm down already?” I laugh as he circles around me and nudges my ass with his snout.

“Don’t you start,” I warn, putting my hands on my hips. “Don’t make me pop you.”

Immediately, his bear sits down in submission, and I giggle at his silliness. Even Jabari’s bear likes it when I get bossy.

“It was just a shiver from the wind,” I explain.

“Look at my hideous clothes.” I gesture to the oversized jacket and thick leggings I’m wearing.

“You know I don’t wear stuff like this, but I did it for you because you were so bothered about me waiting outside for you without warm clothes. I’m fine, Jabari.”

His bear just stares at me, unblinking, until I sigh and approach him again. I run my fingers over his head, down his snout, and across his mouth. Jabari’s bear doesn’t like kisses, but this gesture? He’s all over it.

He stands again, brushing against my belly once more.

“Okay, Jabari, we can keep trying, and I promise a cub will come soon,” I say softly. “I want a baby with you too.”

His response is to circle around me again, pushing at my butt with his snout.

“Alright, alright, you are so pushy sometimes,” I giggle, heading for the porch. I climb the steps as Jabari shifts behind me, his bear form fading away to reveal his human one.

Fully naked, he runs up the stairs after me, entering the cabin and shutting the door behind us.

I take off my jacket, hanging it on the coat rack, then kick off my shoes.

Almost immediately, He’s all over me—picking me up, kissing me, carrying me up the stairs to our bedroom, and setting me down on my feet once inside.

“How was your work day?” I ask, gazing up at him.

“It’s better now that I’m with you,” he replies, his voice deep and warm.

I roll my eyes at his cheesy response, but secretly, I love it.

He grabs a towel and heads into the bathroom to shower. I sit down on the bed and wait for him. He’s been gone all day, and I’ve missed him.

These past four months in the Clan have been.

.. different. I spend most days at home, sometimes helping Jewel with the pantry upkeep, and occasionally visiting the spa.

But I quickly realized just how much bear shifters like to hover.

Jabari stood outside the spa building for hours waiting for me to come out, and Silas did the same since Jewel was with me.

I’ve built a good bond with Jewel, and with Ebony too whenever we connect. Most of the women in Wintermoon socialize at the spa, and I’ve met many shifter mates, and even Queen Anora once. She’s always busy, but she made time for a little small talk, which I thought was sweet.

Wintermoon is beautiful, but something is missing. I’m trying to find my place in the clan. I get along with everyone and I’ve been moving around, even visiting the academy sometimes to have lunch with Ebony while Jabari hangs with Tristian and his son Caleb.

But it just feels like something’s missing.

And I know exactly what it is: my business.

I miss seeing the glow in a woman’s eyes when they see their transformation.

That moment when a woman smiles in a dress or gown after the world has told her she can’t wear something like that.

I proved them wrong every time. I’ve helped so many women and teens, but it doesn’t feel like enough. I should be doing more.

Jabari doesn’t spend long in the bathroom.

He returns with his body still damp from the shower and tosses his towel into the hamper.

He smirks at me as he walks over to the dresser, pulling out a pair of flannel pajama pants and a shirt that actually fits him.

He’s so different from the Jabari I met months ago—he’s developed more confidence, takes better care of himself, keeping his hair cut and his beard trimmed. He cleans up nicely.

He comes to sit beside me on the bed, wrapping his arm around me. “Something is troubling you,” he says. It’s not a question.

I look up at him, feeling a bit nervous.

We’ve talked about this before, me getting a job, and he just keeps telling me that he has something planned for me and needs more time.

But I’m growing restless. I’ve been plenty busy, but it’s starting to seem like busywork, like Jabari is purposely trying to keep me occupied.

I place my hand against his chest. “There’s an empty chair at the spa for a hair stylist.”

I search his eyes for a reaction as I continue, “I’ve got my cosmetology license and it’s current.”

He takes my hand, bringing it to his lips and gently kissing the back of it.

“Rachel from the spa found her fated mate,” I tell him. “A dragon shifter from Ash Clan. Those dragons are kind of cool.”

He winces slightly at the mention of dragons, but I can tell he’s trying to stay focused on what I’m saying.

“You’re gone all day,” I point out, “not coming home until evening.”

“I’m working on a personal project,” he explains vaguely.

“Is it your punishment because of the ship?” I ask directly.

“No, not really.”

“What does that mean?” I press, feeling my frustration rise as I try to pull my hand away. But Jabari keeps hold of my wrist.

He scratches his head with his free hand, and that’s when I realize—he knows something and he’s not telling me. Now I’m really getting pissed off.

“You are frustrated with me,” he says. “What did I do?”

“Something is going on and you’re not telling me,” I accuse.

“It’s because I can’t,” he admits. “But I want to tell you.”

I sigh heavily. “Well, I’m feeling useless here. I want to work.”

“Okay,” he says simply.

I stare at him like he’s grown two heads. That was too easy. Way too easy. I narrow my eyes suspiciously.

“I shouldn’t have asked you to wait the last time you told me you wanted to work,” he continues. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

He reaches out and gently strokes my cheek. “I made a deal with you in the beginning. I asked if I could find a way for you to keep your dreams, would you give me a chance. And you said yes.”

His words make me sigh. He’s right, and he’s been trying in his own way.

“I’m working on it,” he tells me. “Just a few more months is all I need.”

“I wish you would tell me what’s going on,” I say. “If you’re in trouble, maybe I can help.”

He smiles tenderly. “I love that you always want to look out for me. But let me do this one thing for you. I promise you, just a few more months.”

“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll leave it alone for a few more months, but I want a job, Jabari.”

He nods in agreement. “Okay.”

Then he winces slightly. “Does it have to be the spa? I’m not allowed in there.”

I laugh at his discomfort. “I’ll make sure I’m off before you get home. You’ll be so busy doing whatever you’re doing outside of the clan that you won’t tell me about,” I say with narrowed eyes, “that you won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“I will still find a way to hover,” he promises, a grin spreading across his face.

“Oh, I know you will,” I laugh. “You and your brother are the masters of hovering. And Tristian too.”

He picks me up and lies back, placing me on his lap so that I’m straddling him. The move is so fluid, so effortless, it still catches me off guard.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how you can just pick me up like a rag doll,” I tell him, shaking my head in wonder. “But then again, I’ve watched you rip a tree right out by the roots, so I need to stop tripping.”

He places his hands on my hips, his thumbs making small circles against my skin. “Something is still bothering you.”

I reach out and brush my fingers over his neck, tracing the strong column of muscle there. “Your bear is a lot more vocal about wanting a cub than you are.”

“I want cubs,” he says firmly. “I want lots of cubs. But I understand the way of the bear shifter. We cannot make a lot of babies. And I don’t want to put that level of pressure on your body.”

“I want a cub with you,” I tell him honestly.

He smiles, his green eyes lighting up. “Hopefully two.”

I blush at the thought, but there’s another worry nagging at me. “I haven’t claimed you.”

“We’ve talked about this,” he reminds me gently. “You will feel the urge. Just give it time.”

“Time?” I say, my voice rising slightly. “It’s been four months. And I’ve been out of work for four months.”

I sigh, my shoulders sagging with the weight of my thoughts. “I get it. Most women, especially the way the world works outside of Wintermoon, would be overly grateful for the position I’m in.”

He grips my hips and sits up so his face is inches from mine. “There’s nothing wrong with longing for what you had before, Jackie.” His eyes bore into mine. “If I could give you back what you left behind for me, all of it, I would. And I’m trying. I just need a little more?—“

“Time,” I finish for him, resigned.

He presses his forehead to mine, and I close my eyes at the contact.

“I was lost before I found you,” he murmurs. “Your scent, your sweet honey scent gave me hope, gave my bear hope.” His hands slide up to cup my face. “I’m sorry that I’ve been overbearing. If you could understand how much it means to have you. You are everything to me.”

“I do know that,” I whisper.

“Then let me hold you,” he says. “I want to feel your warmth.”

He lies back on the bed and I shift, draping myself across his chest with my head tucked under his chin. His arms wrap around me, holding me close, and I feel like the luckiest woman in the world, having a shifter who loves me no matter what.

But as I listen to the steady beat of his heart, that nagging emptiness still persists.

Four months into clan life, and I still feel like I’m searching for something.

The women of the clan have welcomed me with open arms, but I can’t relate to their contentment with being homemakers.

They seem completely fulfilled by their roles as mates and future mothers.

Even Jewel, despite understanding my need for more, doesn’t fully grasp my drive. She’s happy with her pregnancy, with taking care of the clan, with supporting Silas. She’s found her purpose.

I’m still looking for mine in Wintermoon.

I wonder what Jabari’s been working on. He won’t tell me, and the secrecy bothers me, but I trust him. I have to. He’s given me no reason not to.

So I’ll wait. A few more months, he said.

But this time, I’m holding him to it.