a shift change…You’re Jacky Leon?” When I nodded, the wolf who spoke stepped closer to me, straightening up to seem more professional. “Alpha Lewis asked us to wait here and report when you arrived, so Alpha Everson knew you were okay. He should be here soon. He’s debriefing Alpha Lewis on what happened.”
“Thank you for the report. You can clear out now. I’ve got an edgy, pre-War werecat who probably wants to come inside without having to deal with you.” I tried to sound like I was joking, and I kind of was, but the wolves also knew that no matter how casually or teasingly I said it, the threat of a very old, cranky werecat wasn’t to be taken lightly.
“We’ll head out, then. Thank you for everything. I know you guys only brought back one of our boys, but it’s good hearing at least one came back.”
“It was my…” I almost said pleasure, but nothing about the last few days was a pleasure. “It was my honor to help,” I decided on, smiling at them kindly.
Once they were gone, Jabari went to find a parking place while I waited at the front door. He was carrying both bags as he approached and gave me the one without the heads. Together, we walked into the hotel and got up to my room while I explained where Heath was. I had booked it for a month, so I knew it was still mine.
Upon getting in, I threw Jabari’s gear bag on the table and went to the bathroom, jumping in without giving anything else any thought. I needed that shower, and I was going to have it.
I could hear him moving around in the room, and it died off while I was shampooing my hair. Finally, something surprised me.
“JABARI!” Hasan’s voice came through my laptop speakers, loud and crackling. And he was both relieved and angry. “You’re alive! Where’s Jacky? Why are you on her laptop? Answer me while I tell your siblings—”
“Here, Father!” Zuri said quickly. I heard the jumbled mess of the rest of my siblings all jumping on. Had they been waiting around for us to contact them? Most were excited to see Jabari on, but after Hasan asked about me, I only heard Zuri and Niko wonder where I was.
“Quiet! I can’t tell you anything while you’re all yelling,” Jabari snapped. It went silent. I began to rinse the shampoo from my hair, and once it was out, I leaned on the wall of the shower to listen better.
“So, continue,” Hasan ordered. “Where’s Jacqueline?”
I wanted to snicker as he went back to calling me Jacqueline. Jacky was apparently only for the rare slip.
“We’re back in Jacky’s hotel room, and she’s in the shower. I decided to get this call moving so she could talk to you when she gets out. Now, I’ll get the report done for both of us. I know the majority of what went on with them, so I’ll relay that.”
“So, them. The wolf was out there too and survived?” Niko asked quietly. I almost didn’t hear him.
“He was.” Jabari was getting annoyed at being interrupted. “It was four vampires thrown out of the local nest, pointed toward the mountains to cover up their killings. Has happened before and will happen again. These nest Masters and Mistresses always have a hard time killing their creations. They were riding death highs and juiced on supernatural blood. You know how it goes. Stronger and faster than usual.” Jabari snorted. “We’re going to need another night here to handle the politics with the nest. I’m going to take Jacky, so she can experience it—”
“Inside a vampire nest after you accuse the Master of a crime is not safe. I don’t want Jacky going,” Hasan snapped. He must have been insanely worried about me, which made me feel a little better.
“She handled herself well out in the park. All her injuries are minor, and she stomached some traditional executions. I even saw her go into a frenzy for one of them. Had to haul her away and force her to back off to get the information I needed. She’ll be fine in the nest, and I want the back up.”
“You want Jacky as back up?” Davor snorted. “What the hell happened out there?”
“I met our sister,” Jabari answered softly. “And I saw the loyalty she commanded from the werewolf, Heath Everson. He’s a werewolf, and I hate him, but he’s one of the best I’ve ever met.”
“You hate