2. Jesse

TWO

JESSE

As I sat in the dimly lit cabin, surrounded by my Pack members, I did my best to maintain focus on the matter at hand–security on the mountainside. We had been tasked with safeguarding the Patron’s estate, a responsibility we took seriously, especially considering the ongoing tensions between the clans in Wolf Mountain.

The growing tension between the clans weighed heavily on my mind, a constant source of concern that seemed to be escalating with each passing day. There was the Crescent Moon, my own clan, the formidable Blackpaw Clan, and the enigmatic World Walkers, each vying for control and territory. It was a powder keg waiting to explode, and I couldn’t bear the thought of it all descending into chaos.

Our one saving grace in this tumultuous landscape was the Patron, a reclusive figure who had offered us the use of his land. I had my suspicions about him, as did many others. It was almost impossible to believe that he was merely a human landowner with no connection to the supernatural world. My gut told me otherwise. I couldn’t fathom why he would be so willing to assist us unless he had some deeper tie to our kind. Perhaps he was a wolf shifter himself, or maybe a wolf blood, someone with shifter ancestry, like those humans who carried the blood of our kind from a shifter parent or grandparent. Whatever his true nature, he had extended his hand to us in a time of need, and I was determined not to let him down.

The responsibility weighed on my shoulders as the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Clan. I had to find a way to ease the tensions, bridge the divides between our people, and maintain the fragile peace. We needed to deal with these issues immediately.

But despite the importance of the meeting, my attention kept drifting away, and it wasn’t because of the pressing issues we needed to address. It was the adorable whirlwind of chaos named Belle, my three-year-old daughter, who was currently the center of attention in the room. Just as she always was. An attention seeker and receiver.

Belle had always been a spirited child, full of energy and curiosity. Her tiny frame darted around the cabin like a lightning bolt, her laughter ringing through the air as she played her mischievous games. It was tough to keep her out of trouble, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Big Ed, my loyal Beta, had shifted into his wolf form and was playfully chasing Belle around the room. He’d always had a soft spot for her, and it showed in the way he interacted with her. They were both having a grand time, and their antics brought smiles to the faces of my pack members.

Lissa and Daniel, the Blake siblings, were trying their best to keep the meeting on track, but even they couldn’t resist Belle’s infectious enthusiasm. They exchanged amused glances as Belle managed to elude Big Ed’s pursuit.

“Alright everyone, let’s get back to the agenda,” Lissa said, attempting to regain control of the situation. I respected that, and I was grateful for someone taking control because it was hard for me to do when Belle was around. She really was my world, and I tried my hardest with her as a single father.

But Belle had other plans. She spotted a stack of papers on the table, her curiosity piqued. In the blink of an eye, she had grabbed a handful of documents and scattered them like confetti, her giggles filling the room as if she had just pulled off a great prank.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics, even though I knew this needed to stop. My pack members shared knowing glances, fully aware that Belle’s presence had a way of derailing our meetings. They all believed that she would “show her wolf” as soon as she hit puberty, but I had a more relaxed perspective on it. Whether she became a shifter or not, she would always be my daughter, and I would love her no matter what.

As Big Ed transformed back into his human form, picking up the scattered papers with a grin, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Belle might make it challenging to conduct our pack business, but her presence was a constant reminder of the joys and responsibilities of parenthood. She also reminded us of what we were fighting for. To protect those who couldn’t look after themselves.

“Okay everyone,” I said, attempting to regain some semblance of order, “let’s refocus and continue our discussion on security. We have a duty to protect this mountainside, and we can’t afford to be distracted.”

The atmosphere in the cabin shifted from the lighthearted chaos of Belle’s antics to a more somber tone as we delved into the pressing matter at hand–the unsettling news of disappearances on the mountain. It was a topic that had weighed heavily on my mind, and it demanded our immediate attention.

Over the past month, reports had been trickling in about people going missing in the vicinity of Wolf Mountain. The numbers were relatively small, but any disappearance in our close-knit community was cause for concern. The Patron had made it clear that he wanted a thorough investigation into these incidents, and as his trusted protectors, it was our duty to carry out his wishes.

I leaned forward in my chair, my brows furrowed in thought, as I addressed my pack members. “I know we’ve been dealing with our own challenges and territorial disputes, but this issue cannot be ignored. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of this mountainside, both for the shifters and the humans who live here. We can’t have people going missing. It isn’t right. This isn’t normal. We need to work it out.”

Big Ed, Lissa, and Daniel nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring my determination. We were a team, and we would do whatever it took to keep our home safe.

“We’ll start by gathering as much information as possible,” I continued, my mind racing with the possibilities. “Interview the locals, review the evidence, and keep a close eye on the area. We need to find out if these disappearances are connected and, if so, who or what is behind them.”

Thankfully everyone was in agreement. No one wanted to have unsolved murders in our hometown. Of course, we were all worried that it was going to be one of the other clans involved, igniting the tensions already simmering beneath the surface and threatening everything. This would only make it erupt, but if it saved lives then that was all we could do.

“We’ll get on it, Boss,” Lissa insisted as the meeting came to an end. “This won’t keep happening.”

I hoped that she was right. I didn’t want there to be issues on the land I considered ‘ours’. As the Crescent Moon Clan, we were deeply rooted in the local land and had a history entwined with the Eastern Shoshone, who were the original claimants of this territory. We were the oldest, most traditional clan in the area, but we were also the smallest in terms of numbers, with just three Packs to our name. Our belief in an ancestral claim to this land ran deep, and the determination to protect it was a fundamental part of our identity.

Within our community, we were fortunate to have a significant number of Wolf blood members. These individuals, with their mixed heritage, played a vital role in supporting the packs. They shared a unique perspective, straddling the line between human and wolf shifter, and their contributions were invaluable.

Our clan was distinct in its governance structure. We operated under a triumvirate, led by the alphas of each of the three packs. This arrangement allowed us to maintain a balance of power while making collective decisions that impacted our territory and our people. Unity was our strength, especially in a world where rivalries and tensions simmered beneath the surface.

Our perspective on the World Walkers was a mixed one. While many of our members were sympathetic to their plight, viewing them as refugees seeking a new home, there were others among us who regarded them as potential colonizers, encroaching on our ancestral land. Decades of rivalry and competition had sowed the seeds of mistrust between our clan and the World Walkers, so I really hoped that this had nothing to do with them. That would end up being very problematic. The situation with the Blackpaw tribe was another thorny issue. Old grievances and misunderstandings had festered over the years, resulting in bad blood between our two groups. I held a lot of worries that we were going to have a lot of problems up and coming, which wouldn’t help the Patron at all. We really didn’t want to upset him.

As soon as I left the meeting and settled into my cabin, my thoughts were consumed by the disappearances. I wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. I needed to tackle this now. I was in the midst of reviewing some security reports when my phone suddenly rang, jolting me from my thoughts.

“Hello?,” I answered, confused.

“Hi, Jesse. It’s Marie Oldfield. I saw your ad for a nanny on the community bulletin board. I was wondering if we could talk about it.”

A sense of relief washed over me as Marie expressed her interest in the nanny position for Belle. It was a tremendous weight off my shoulders, knowing that I wouldn’t have to seek out a stranger to care for my daughter. Belle had always been spirited and full of energy, and I knew she would adore having Marie around. It just took me a moment to figure out the best way to answer.

“Wow, Marie, thank you,” I replied, a genuine smile forming on my lips. “I’m actually quite glad you called. I could definitely use the help, and I think Belle would enjoy having you here.”

“Amazing, thank you. Do you want to text me when you need me?”

“Will do. Thanks, Marie.”

I hung up the phone, my thoughts fixating on Marie. Over the last couple of years, I had developed a crush on her, and it had grown stronger with time. Her radiant blonde hair and those captivating gray eyes held a beauty that was impossible to ignore. She was undeniably alluring, but I knew deep down she was off-limits.

Marie was more than just a pretty face. She was the daughter of my best friend, and there were unwritten rules about such things. I had watched her grow from a child into a remarkable young woman, and the lines of friendship and attraction had blurred over the years. But I had always kept those feelings in check, knowing that pursuing anything beyond a platonic relationship would be crossing a line.

As I leaned against the wall, lost in my thoughts, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more between us, something deeper than friendship. But I also knew that such feelings could complicate everything, and the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize the bonds of trust and camaraderie that had defined our pack. So, I resolved to keep my emotions in check, even if it meant suppressing the longing I felt for Marie.

She was going to be my nanny, anyway. She would be looking after Belle, so we definitely couldn’t cross that line now. Perhaps that was for the best.

But obviously, she didn’t leave my mind completely because as soon as my head hit the pillow, dreams of Marie flooded my mind, allowing me to explore aspects of her body I wouldn’t be able to normally. She was here, and I couldn’t get enough of her.

All of a sudden, Marie was there with desire flashing in her deep grey eyes. She stepped closer to me, our bodies almost touching.

Heat was radiating off my skin, and it made Marie melt into me. I reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, my touch sent shivers down her spine.

“Are you ready for this?” I whispered, my voice low and rough.

Marie nodded, unable to speak. She had never looked more beautiful to me than she did at this moment. I pulled her close, my lips finding hers in a slow, passionate kiss. It felt like fireworks exploding inside my chest, and I knew there was no turning back now.

Our hearts beat as one, our breaths intermingling in the air between us. Marie arched her back, pressing herself against me as if she needed my touch to survive.

Marie her hands over my chest, feeling the warmth of my skin beneath her fingertips as I inhaled her deliciously fruity scent which really set me alight, sending flames of desire racing all over my skin. She moaned softly as I tasted the sweetness of her tongue, the saltiness of her lips. My own mouth opened wider, welcoming her in.

My hands eagerly roamed over her body, tracing patterns along her sides, cupping her breasts through her clothes. She gasped as we both embraced this, despite knowing how wrong it was. Mike was there, in the back of my mind, but I kept him there. I didn’t want him to ruin this magical moment.

My hands moved lower, slipping underneath her skirt to cup her bare bottom. “Do you want this?” I whispered, my voice hoarse with need.

Marie swallowed hard, nodding her head. I could almost feel the desire and need burning in her body. She pressed herself against me, my rock-hard cock pressing against her belly. She arched her back, letting out a soft moan as I pushed her skirt up over her hips. Marie gasped as my hands found their way underneath her panties, stroking her bare skin until she squirmed with pleasure.

“Do you like that?” he whispered, his voice dark and husky.

“Yes,” she murmured, her voice trembling with excitement. My fingers slid lower, teasing her entrance until she cried out in surprise.

My thumb brushed against her clit, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. She rolled her hips against me as the pressure built inside her.

I watched her intently, my eyes fixed on her face as the pleasure crashed into her and she rode out the orgasm. I felt a surge of pride inside me. I had brought her to new heights of pleasure, shown her things she had never even imagined before. I couldn’t wait to see what else I could teach her…