Page 48 of Jacob Michaels Is Not Jacob Michaels

“Is Darrell dead?”

“No.” Jason snapped, but his heart wasn’t in it. “He’ll be fine when he changes back. But he probably won’t have much fur until he changes at least a dozen more times.”

“Poor thing,” Oma stated simply.

“What are you gonna do about that, old—Mrs. Wagner?”

“What part of ‘don’t attack people and you won’t get burnt’ don’t you understand, you fuckin’ moron?” Oma snapped. “I ain’t doin’ shit about someone getting’ hurt by someone defending themselves. I’m only havin’ pity on Katie ‘cause she’s dead, and everyone deserves a proper funeral.”

“That’s not good enough!”

“You just said it was, ya’ dumb shit.” Oma was raising her hand again. The men before us all blanched. “Now y’all just hear your Pack Alpha go back on his word?”

Jason looked around nervously at his “men.”

“That’s not fair!” Jason squeaked. “You tricked me, Mrs. Wagner!”

“Like that’s really damn difficult.” Oma snorted. “I spoke plainly to you about the terms, and you forgot about Darrell until it was done. Besides, Darrell will be just fuckin’ fine from the way it sounds. Send him my best.”

“Your grandson can’t just go around acting like he’s so goddamn special, setting our people on fire, thinking he can just get away with it!”

“I was wrong.” Oma shook her head in disgust. “You got a dick in both your damn ears, Jason Morris. This matter is settled.”

“No the hell it is not.” He growled and stepped forward.

My vision flashed hot and red, then suddenly Jason was jumping backward, and his men were scattering. I hadn’t even suspected Oma would react in such a way, nor had I seen it happen, but Oma had blasted him back without a single thought about it. Once the red cleared from my vision, Jason was on his ass, and all of his pack members were scattered, hiding behind their trucks. I glanced over at Lucas, and he was looking at me with wide eyes, a grin slowly blooming on his face. I gave him a nervous smile, trying not to laugh at what Oma had just done to a group of men with more testosterone than neurons.

“My fuckin’ tea is in here getting’ cold, and you think I’m just goin’ to have all the patience in the damn world, Jason?” Oma snapped down at him, her hands on her hips again.

The soles of Jason’s boots were sending up plumes of smoke. Oma hadn’t taken a “paw,” but she had made her decision on the matter clear.

“If you had any damn sense you’d call this a wash and get the fuck off my property, Jason.” Oma continued. “If you want to keep negotiating, I’m going to ask how you’re going to make up for the fact that you came up on my property after I illicitly told you—”

“Explicitly,” I interjected.

“You shut the fuck up.” Oma jabbed a finger at me. “Unless you want the ole hot foot as well!”

I shrugged.

Jason was getting to his feet, his knees wobbly and his shoes still smoking as his pack members slowly came out from behind their trucks.

“I told you to stay off my property, and you didn’t listen.” Oma snarled down at Jason as he stood before her, shaky and smoking. “If I wanted to, I could demand my own damn compensation for your transgression. I could refuse to do a damn thing for Katie. Or I could take a paw or two. I’m bein’ pretty goddamn generous here, Jason Morris. You better consider that before you say one more damn word to me.”

Jason took a step backward towards his truck as his eyes stayed on Oma.

“Fine.” He spat.

“Don’t you take no sass with me, damnit!” Oma crossed her hands over her chest, making all of the men jump again. Lucas and I exchanged another grin. “Now get your asses back into those trucks and get those pieces of shit off my lawn. You’re making the property value in the neighborhood go down by the minute.”

Jason gave a sharp nod and started to turn.

“And if there’s one damn rut in my fuckin’ lawn, we won’t be done here, ya’ hear me?” Oma spat.

Jason and his pack members all rushed to their trucks like their asses were on fire, doors closing loudly as they all made their getaway. The speed with which they all pulled out, turned around, and made their way onto the driveway to get away from Oma’s property was at a much slower pace, though. They didn’t want to risk leaving any ruts. Oma watched as they all drove away down the long drive, her arms staying across her chest. When the last pair of taillights disappeared as the last truck turned onto the main road, she shook her head and turned around.

“Oma,” I said, “that was…messed up.”

“You’re telling me.” She huffed. “I’m gonna have to make a fresh cup of tea ‘cause of those assholes.”

Oma entered the house, wiping her feet on the rug as though she had ventured anywhere but the porch. Lucas and I glanced at each other, exchanging confused looks. I shrugged deeply as we followed her into the house. Oma was grabbing her mug off of the coffee table and was heading towards the kitchen as Lucas closed the door behind us. My grandmother looked wholly unbothered about everything that had just happened out on her front lawn. In fact, if I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I would never have believed that a group of men had come to threaten us. I certainly wouldn’t have believed that Oma took care of the whole thing on her own.

“Oma, can we—”

“You two just take your asses to bed.” Oma turned and rolled her eyes at us. “I ain’t got the energy or patience to deal with any more bullshit tonight.”

“I have a lot of questions, Oma.” I pleaded.

“Well, the answers will taste better with some biscuits and gravy.”

I guess that was her way of saying: “Save it for morning.”

With that, she turned around again and went into the kitchen, slapping the light on in the process. I turned to Lucas and held my hands out in a way that showed how put out I was and how desperate I was for answers. Lucas grabbed those empty hands and pulled me into him. I tucked my face into his neck as he kissed my forehead. Together, we turned towards the stairs, not letting go of each other. As a unit, we ascended the stairs, with nothing better to do but go to bed. There was always one way we could make each other feel better about everything.