Page 25 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JACKIE

I swing the chair around so my client, Ebony, Tristian’s mate, can admire my handiwork in the mirror.

I’ve just finished giving her a fresh haircut with bouncy curls.

She’d been complaining about how much maintenance her previous style required while juggling her roles as Academy Headmistress, clan member, and mother.

Ebony runs her hands through the curls, her face lighting up as they spring back into place. “You really know how to transform a woman,” she says, meeting my eyes in the mirror.

I shrug as I start gathering my styling tools. “It’s my calling. At least, I think it is.”

Ebony turns in the chair to face me directly. “When I met you four months ago, you were so full of life even though this world was new to you. But there’s something different in your eyes now.”

I busy myself cleaning up my station, not wanting her to see how her observation hits close to home. “I just like keeping busy,” I deflect, wiping down the counter.

“Sit down,” Ebony says, gesturing to the empty stylist chair beside her. When I hesitate, her expression softens. “Please.”

With a sigh, I sink into the chair, the vinyl cushion squeaking beneath me.

“I don’t have to be a shifter to know something is troubling you,” Ebony says, her eyes studying my face with the same thoughtful focus she probably uses with her students.

My shoulders slump slightly. “Look at you. You’re the Headmistress of Wintermoon Academy. And when I look at you, you look fulfilled.”

“And you’re not?” she asks, leaning forward.

I shrug, feeling my face fall despite my attempts to keep my expression neutral. “I don’t know. I feel ungrateful sometimes for not enjoying this place. Wintermoon truly is a paradise.”

Ebony shakes her head, a wry smile crossing her face.

“Oh, it’s far from it. You have to see the land for what it is and not look at it like a fantasy.

These supernaturals have gone centuries without a mate.

They’re learning how to love again, build families.

And us humans—that history of their existence had been stripped from us.

So we essentially don’t know how to handle them the way our ancestors were taught. ”

Our conversation is interrupted as Jewel waddles in, a bag of chips clutched in her hand. Ebony starts to stand, offering her seat, but Jewel waves her off, munching contentedly.

“What are you two going on about?” Jewel asks between bites, but before we can answer, she notices Ebony’s hair. “You did it! Ah! And it looks so good on you!”

Ebony runs her fingers through her curls again, beaming as they bounce right back into place.

“Yes, I needed something where I could get up and go. You know life at the academy gets busy and overwhelming.” She tosses her head slightly.

“It will grow back. And I already know Tristian won’t mind it.

I could shave my hair bald and he wouldn’t give a damn. As long as he still gets to hover.”

Jewel and I burst out laughing at the truth of it. These bear shifters and their hovering—a constant in our lives now.

Jewel’s laughter subsides, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “I need to stand. This boy in my belly has been kicking me all day. When I started moving around he finally went to sleep.”

I notice a sadness flash across Ebony’s face, and Jewel seems to catch it too.

“You get like this whenever you’re around a pregnant bear shifter mate,” Jewel observes gently.

Ebony slumps in her seat, a pout forming on her lips. “Yes, because I want that honor. I didn’t at first. After I had Elena, I was over it. It really is hard being pregnant with bear shifter cubs. But the honor it brings families... The fact that Tristian’s mother had four.”

“Jabari said it’s dangerous to have a lot of bear cubs,” I say, thinking about our conversations on the topic.

“Yes,” Ebony nods solemnly. “Tristian’s mother almost died after giving birth to their youngest brother. She stopped having cubs after that.”

I lean forward, curious. “I wish I knew what happened to them, why they had to wait so long to find us.”

“There’s some lore at the academy,” Jewel begins.

“I’ll fill you in when you stop by next week for our lunch date,” she promises with a smile.

“Thank you,” I say, grateful for the offer.

Ebony stands and turns back to the mirror, admiring my work one last time. “Wow, you really do know how to make a woman shine.”

I smile proudly, straightening my shoulders a bit. “It’s a gift. I just really like uplifting others.”

Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and I know my attempt to hide my sadness isn’t working. Not with her.

“You know,” she says softly, “it’s going to happen soon. You’ll feel the urge to claim Jabari, and the rest will follow.”

I sigh, voicing the fear that’s been gnawing at me. “I wonder if Mother Fate is punishing me because I long for a career outside of the clan. Everyone else falls in line. Even Jewel likes being a homemaker.”

Jewel continues munching her chips, seeming unbothered by my comment. Ebony rolls her eyes good-naturedly and bends down to open the small fridge under the styling station, pulling out a gallon of water. She hands it to Jewel, who pops the top off and chugs it down without stopping for air.

I stare at her, my eyes widening at the display. “Damn.”

“When we get pregnant with shifter babies, we take on shifter traits,” Ebony explains. “Our senses heighten, and we can only drink water. It’s temporary though—it fades right after giving birth.”

I frown, processing that. “No coffee for nine months?”

Ebony clears her throat. “Sometimes pregnancies for a bear cub last a full year.”

“I almost hit that mark with Elena,” she adds.

“Oh hell no—a year? And no wine?” I shake my head in disbelief. “That sucks so bad.”

“Yeah, it has its downsides sometimes,” Ebony agrees. “But let’s stay on topic here.” She leans forward, her expression serious. “Just because you long for a career doesn’t make you any less of a woman than a homemaker.”

Her voice softens as she continues, “There are women who are career-driven, who find fulfillment in their professional achievements, in helping others through their skills. And there are women who find their calling in creating a loving home, in nurturing their families directly. Neither is better than the other—they’re just different paths to the same goal of living a meaningful life. ”

She reaches across and places her hand on mine. “You’re just as valuable to your clan with your skills and ambitions as the homemakers are with theirs. It’s all about finding balance with the things you want in life.”

“Thank you,” I say, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders.

“I think you know that,” Ebony says, eyeing me carefully. “So let’s get to what’s really troubling you.”

I take a deep breath. “I know what everyone is saying and I get it—‘You’ll feel the urge to claim him, stop rushing it.’ But here’s the thing: I want to claim my man. I want everything with Jabari.”

Jewel finishes her water with one last gulp and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Why don’t you just run from your bear? That will definitely get you going.”

I look at her in confusion, my brow furrowing. “I thought we aren’t supposed to run from our bear.”

Ebony bites her lip, exchanging a glance with Jewel.

“It’s just a warning you’ll get from Kade,” Ebony says carefully.

“I ran from Silas’s bear,” Jewel admits. “And Ebony ran from her bear.”

“So what happened—they hurt you or something?” I ask, concern lacing my voice.

Ebony suddenly clenches her legs together, a flush spreading across her cheeks. “Sort of.”

“If you run from Jabari’s bear,” Jewel explains, her voice dropping to an almost conspiratorial whisper, “he’ll activate full force, and you’ll find out just how much Jabari is holding back on you. In other words, he’ll fuck you right through the mattress.”

“And you won’t be able to walk for days,” Ebony adds, her eyes glazing over slightly at what I assume are memories.

“It doesn’t work while you’re pregnant though,” Jewel continues. “Our bears get real docile with sex while we’re pregnant. It’s because of the high-risk pregnancy.”

“You don’t want his bear to chase you all the time,” Ebony warns. “You’ll end up getting the bear more than your actual man.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Jewel counters with a smirk.

“Look, I enjoy getting fucked right through the mattress, okay? I like my brain scattered for a few days and not knowing my left from right.” Her expression softens.

“And I love the aftercare after getting folded like a pretzel. The way Silas took care of me after, it was like I was some precious ruby.”

“Yes... the memories,” Ebony murmurs, going quiet as if lost in thought.

After a moment, she shakes her head slightly.

“I’ve only ran from Tristian’s bear a few times.

Kind of stopped after Elena and the school—there’s not time for all of that right now.

I’ve got a bigger mission: to make sure these orphaned shifters make it out okay while raising my own.

Those children lost their villages, their people.

So we have to be the village they need if they’re going to survive. ”

I nod, impressed by her dedication. “I appreciate the sacrifice you’re making.”

My gaze shifts to Jewel, who’s rubbing her belly and trying to stifle a yawn. “Looks like it’s time to get you home. I don’t know why you insisted on staying my entire shift, like I couldn’t handle it.”

Jewel shrugs, smirking. “It was my opportunity to get out of the village. I’m not going to do it every day, of course, but I might slip out here and there.

Silas is driving me insane being a worried father.

He wants to make sure me and the baby are safe at all times.

Sometimes I have to pop him to get him to calm down. ”

Ebony and Jewel laugh at the image, their laughter contagious enough that I join in.

I start cleaning up my station, organizing my tools. “Well, I’ll be back in a couple of days for my next appointment. Won’t hurt to just leave this here instead of carrying it home all the time.”

I pause in front of the mirror, fluffing out my hair with my fingers before grabbing a brush and running it through my curls. “The best thing about this job is I get to do my own weekly maintenance,” I say, winking at Jewel and Ebony.

Ebony walks out with us, and as soon as we step outside the spa, we all burst into laughter. Waiting right there, just as expected, are Jabari, Silas, and Tristian—our personal security detail.

Ebony goes straight into Tristian’s arms, who stares at her like she’s descended from heaven itself. “Do you like my hair?” she asks, suddenly seeming nervous as she fluffs her short curls.

Tristian doesn’t speak at first, just takes her in with a gaze so intense it makes my cheeks warm. Finally, he tells her she couldn’t be more beautiful than she is now, and kisses her in a way that makes Jewel and me blush and look away.

Our embarrassment is short-lived when Silas scoops up Jewel mid-protest. “I’ve waited long enough—time to go home,” he declares.

“Put me down, you big bear!” Jewel fusses, but she catches my eye and winks as Silas carries her off.

I approach Jabari, who’s looking at me with that eager, puppy-like expression that never fails to melt my heart.

“How was your day?” he asks, his deep voice washing over me.

“Enlightening,” I reply, thinking of the conversation I’ve just had.

He pulls me into his arms and gives me a kiss that makes my toes curl inside my shoes. When we finally break apart, I’m breathless.

“I’m ready to go home so you can hover and pamper me,” I tell him, only half-joking. “My feet hurt.”

A grin spreads across his face, and before I know it, he’s scooped me up into his arms. He carries me to the truck, opening the back passenger door and placing me inside with a tenderness that contradicts his massive strength.

I scoot over to make room, my mind already replaying the private girl talk with Ebony and Jewel.

Maybe I need to run from my bear.

But the real question is: can I survive that kind of sex?

I’m about to find out.