I smile at this—she’s already taking on some of the shifter traits during pregnancy. The increased body temperature is just the beginning. Her senses are sharpening, her strength is growing, and she craves only water like all the shifter mates do when carrying cubs.
The tourist island is quiet today, the winter season keeping most visitors away. A few brave souls wander the streets, bundled in heavy coats and scarves. Jackie has been settling into the routine of clan life—working at the spa, preparing for the baby, participating in clan activities—all while hiding her sadness. She wants her business back, and today, I’m going to give it to her.
I almost told her about my plans two months ago, but after she claimed me, she said she didn’t want to know whatever I was working on. She was willing to wait for the right time for meto tell her. And she never brought it up again, never questioned why I was working such long hours.
“I want to make my own gown for our vow renewal,” Jackie says suddenly, looking up at me. “That’s why I wanted the sewing machine.”
I smile down at her. “I’ll carry it home for you.”
“Are the fabrics here too?” she asks, suspicion creeping into her voice.
“Yes, they’re across the street,” I reply, excitement building as we near the sheriff station.
Her eyes narrow at me. “What is going on, Jabari?”
I can’t help the wide smile that breaks across my face, happy that she’s finally catching on. Jackie follows my gaze across the street, her hand tightening around mine as she spots it for the first time.
“Big Jackie’s”—her small business has just relocated to Wintermoon. The sign hangs proudly above the storefront, the windows large and bright. The building is new, constructed from the ground up according to the specifications I gave Levi and his brothers.
She looks back at me, then sucks in a breath as tears well in her eyes. Her gaze returns to the retail space across from the sheriff station.
“I knew it,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I knew you were going to keep your promise. I knew this is why you were gone all the time.”
I pull her into my arms and let her cry against my chest, her tears soaking through my shirt. I don’t mind—these are tears of joy, of relief, of dreams realized.
“I told you,” I murmur against her hair. “I just want the privilege of being in your company while you live in your greatness.”
She pulls back, wiping at her eyes. “If I weren’t pregnant, I’d let you put me through the mattress again.”
I give her a sheepish laugh, the memory of that night sending heat through my body. “Raincheck?”
She grabs my hand and pulls me with her across the street to her building. Her pace is quicker now, excitement giving her renewed energy as she takes in the sign bearing her name.
“There’s a small apartment upstairs,” I begin to explain, “big enough for us to live in sometimes. But?—“
Jackie reaches up on her tiptoes and places a finger to my lips, silencing me. “Hush. You really did this for me.” The way she says it makes me want to do a hundred more things just like this. “Let’s not worry about that right now. I love my home with the clan, but this will work if I have a project that requires overnight work.”
I open the door for her, a small bell chiming above us. Jackie steps inside, her breath catching as she takes in the space. It’s mostly empty, with just some racks, her computer register from her old location, and boxes of her belongings lined up against the walls—waiting for her to arrange them as she sees fit. The light streams through the large front windows, illuminating the wooden floors that still smell of fresh polish.
Suddenly, Kade and Leah teleport into the space. Jackie doesn’t even flinch, merely fanning away their mystical cloud of smoke as if it’s a minor inconvenience. Kade is holding the sewing machine, and Jackie’s eyes fill with fresh tears at the sight.
“Stop crying,” Leah says, throwing an arm around Jackie’s shoulders. “You know you deserve it. You’re like the best hair stylist and makeup artist in Wintermoon. The ladies at the spa are going to have a fit about you leaving for your retail space.”
Jackie runs a hand over her belly, the gesture becoming more frequent as her connection to our cub grows stronger. Kade setsthe sewing machine on the counter, then approaches Jackie and pulls her into a hug.
“We can’t lower the price for more humans to gain access to Wintermoon,” Kade explains, her tone gentler than usual. “We keep our rates high to limit the radical activity.”
“I understand that,” Jackie nods. “Maybe I can just run an online business and this will be my physical location.”
She looks at Kade, understanding dawning in her eyes. “I know it was you too.”
Kade looks to me and glares, but there’s no real heat in it. “We wanted you to have nothing but the best. How many times do I have to tell you that you’re a daughter of Wintermoon?”
The bell above the door chimes, and Silas and Damon enter, Silas holding a folder in his hands. My brother’s eyes meet mine briefly before turning to Jackie.
“And Kade’s been taken care of as well,” Silas announces. “We’ve just ordered not one, but two cruise lines for your tourist agency.”
Jackie looks to Kade with a bright smile, surprise evident in her expression.
