Page 3 of Snatching Jackie (Wintermoon Shorts #5)

JABARI

One Week Later

I stuff my clothes into my duffel bag, not bothering to fold them. My cabin at Frost Clan sits practically empty—just a bed and sparse furniture scattered about. The only thing I ever focused on since migrating to Wintermoon was stocking my kitchen. The rest never mattered.

A knock at the door makes me groan. The creak of hinges follows, and two sets of footsteps enter my cabin. I don’t need to look to know who it is—my brother Silas and his mate Jewel. Their scents are as familiar to me as my own.

I throw my bag over my shoulder and exit my bedroom, heading down the stairs into the main living area where Silas stands with his eyes narrowed at me. I can already see it in his expression—he’s going to try to stop me.

“Brother, I’m all for you getting out of the clan to work,” he begins, voice measured. “I know seeing all of us paired is making your bear restless, but the cruise ship?”

Silas’s attention shifts momentarily as Jewel brushes past him toward the kitchen, a trash bag in hand. As she passes me, she places her small hand against my chest.

“Brother,” she says with a warm smile.

“Sister,” I respond, bowing my head respectfully before she continues into the kitchen and opens my refrigerator, starting to clean it out.

“Last time, all the food rotted in the fridge,” Jewel calls over her shoulder, “and it took me two days to get it all cleaned out.”

“No, stop, baby. I—“ Silas starts.

Jewel holds up her hand without turning around, and Silas immediately falls silent. The power of an alpha’s mate—something I both envy and admire.

Silas turns his attention back to me, crossing his muscular arms. “You think dealing with those entitled humans on the tourist island was bad? Try the cruise ship.” His voice drops lower.

“I did it for a week once we came out of hibernation. When the ship docked for restocking, I immediately debarked and said never again. Those humans that board the ship are far worse than the humans on the tourist island.”

Annoyance flares within me. “Is this a lecture, Alpha?” I ask, my tone sharper than intended.

Silas narrows his eyes at me, hurt flickering across his features. “You are my only brother. I care about you and love you deeply. Is it wrong for me to have concern for you?”

I groan, running a hand over my face. “No. It’s not wrong, but it’s difficult for me to stay in a nearly fully mated clan. Everyone is happy...” I pause, the words sticking in my throat, “...except for me.”

Jewel stops what she’s doing and turns around, her expression softening. “Oh, Jabari.”

I look away, not wanting her pity. I don’t need sympathy—I need my mate.

“I’m not stopping you,” Silas says, his voice gentler now, “but I am warning you. You’ve lost your job on the tourist island because you can’t control your temper.

On the cruise ship...” He pauses, making sure I’m listening.

“Kade’s going to ban you from human interaction until you learn how to properly assimilate.

And when she does, I’m not going to argue in your defense. ”

His words piss me off, but I bow my head in obedience anyway. “Understood, brother.” I push past him toward the door, my bear rumbling with irritation inside me.

Silas follows me out and down the cabin steps, walking alongside me to the edge of clan territory. Frost Clan is small, just ten members—nine of them paired. The constant scent of mated couples has been driving my bear mad for months.

“Brother, it’s not forever,” Silas says, trying to keep up with my long steps. “If nine of us have found our fated mates, surely you are next.”

I keep moving ahead, not slowing down. “And how long is that going to take? The moment we stepped on Wintermoon, the clan paired up in a matter of months. Me, it’s like I’m the odd one of the bunch. Fate has been dropping mates left and right. Where is mine?”

“Have faith in Fate, brother.”

“I’m trying,” I snap, then soften my voice. “But Jewel is pregnant.”

Silas stiffens beside me, his face falling slightly.

“I could smell the change in her scent the moment I came back from the tourist island,” I continue. “I am happy for you, brother. Fate couldn’t have blessed a better alpha and brother. But it’s hard.”

“I know, Jabari.”

“No, you don’t.” My voice rises with emotion. “You don’t know how much I want a family. I want something to come home to. I’m tired of waiting.”

Silas groans and takes a step back, bowing his head slightly. “Safe travels, brother.”

The pain and longing twist inside me, but before I step off territory, I pull Silas into my arms, giving him a tight brotherly hug. This isn’t the way you address an alpha of the clan, but as the younger brother of the alpha, I have that privilege.

“I miss you,” he murmurs against my shoulder. “The clan isn’t the same without you.”

“When I have my woman, we will be one again,” I promise. “But it seems that Fate doesn’t want me to sit around and wait for my woman to be delivered to me. I have to go out and get her myself.”

Silas grins at that. “You have your honey?”

I pat the small jar in my pocket. “Always.”

With a final nod, I turn and step over the territory line, making my way toward the docks.

I walk through Wintermoon, the hot summer air becoming an annoyance with each step.

I’m used to the mountains—the cold, crisp air, the freshness of it.

Thankfully, Kade said summer season was always short here.

Still, I appreciate the breeze from the trees whenever the wind blows through.

When I reach the docks with twenty minutes to spare, I frown at the sight of Kade standing in front of one of the loading pallets full of food. I can’t ignore her—she’ll just make my life harder if I try.

“Mother Kade,” I say, bowing my head as I approach.

“Cut that shit out,” she responds immediately. “I know you don’t really mean it anyway.”

Actually, I do, but I’m not going to tell her that. I respect what she’s built here, even if I struggle with her methods sometimes.

She relaxes against the pallet as I scan the area, watching shifters pick up pallets that would be too heavy for humans, carrying them onto the ship with ease.

“Here to give me a lecture before I board?” I ask.

“I’m here to make sure you don’t get petty like all you bear shifters do and don’t sink my ship,” she says bluntly.

“This cruise brings in a lot of money for Wintermoon. The tourists who can’t get on land tend to book this cruise.

And we only shut down in winter to give the ship a break because it’s continuously in route for three seasons. ”

“Alright, I get it. I’ll do my best to keep control over my temper.”

Kade narrows her eyes at me, her blue gaze piercing.

“Look, I know it’s not easy. Trust me when I say I’ve had my days when I’m absolutely fed up with humanity.

But we have a good thing going here, and despite these irritations, we are truly blessed as a community.

” She pauses, her voice softening slightly.

“Humans hate us because they don’t understand us, and that takes away the one thing humans are known for—control. ”

She tilts her head, studying me. “Look, no offense, but I pray to Fate you don’t find your mate on this ship.”

I start laughing, the sound echoing across the dock.

“I’m serious,” she insists, not amused. “Because shit, I know you, Jabari. You will sink that ship.”

“Have a little more faith in me,” I counter.

“Tell that to the man you tossed from the tenth floor of the hotel,” she retorts. “How his life flashed before his eyes right before I caught him.”

“I’m not apologizing for that. He called me a disgusting shifter.”

Kade moves her hand from the pallet and starts fussing with my clothes. “Well, you could use an upgrade, Jabari. How are you supposed to woo your woman whenever you find her when you look like a caveman?”

“Style is the least of my worries right now.”

“It should be,” she says, frowning at my oversized shirt.

I roll my eyes and start making my way toward the ship, Kade falling into step beside me.

“I hear you make a mean chicken Alfredo,” she says casually.

“It’s a hobby,” I reply, the same thing I told Tristian. “I want to make sure I know how to cook for my woman.”

“That’s very shifter-like of you,” she teases, her fangs showing in her smile.

“You can tease shifters all you’d like, but going this long without a fated mate is unnatural for us. Maybe not for a vampire since you have your immortality, but never for a shifter. We shifters weren’t meant to live forever, and we as a species understand that.”

“Blah, blah, blah, you’re all still a bunch of lovesick animals,” Kade says, waving her hand dismissively.

I’m not offended by her comment. It’s just Kade being Kade.

“When I find my woman, she will understand my purpose, and I’m going to spend my life fulfilling that purpose—making sure my woman and my cubs have a good life.”

Kade rolls her eyes dramatically. “Oh my god, you sound like Kane. Not another one.”

I narrow my eyes at her. Kane from House of Zorah? I’m slightly offended. I’m nothing like that wolf shifter.

Having had enough of the casual chat, I stop right at the boarding ramp where they’re loading supplies. “I’m going to behave, Kade.”

“Still checking on your ass,” she retorts.

“Fine then,” I concede. “And make sure you taste some of my meals. I’m sure you’ll love them.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” she says with narrowed eyes.

I board the ship without looking back, though I hear Kade yell from the distance, “Don’t sink my fucking ship!”

I chuckle but keep walking. I’ll try not to sink it, but I’m not making any promises.