“Wyatt, this is a lot for me. Can we put this on the back burner for right now? I need to wrap my head around this and honestly things take a little longer for me to work out right now. How about we take it slowly and we work on Wyatt and Jinger and bring the bear in a bit later?”
A relieved smile stole over his face, “I think we can handle that, thank you, baby,” Wyatt said bringing her hands to his lips.
Chapter 19
Jinger moved into Wyatt’s the following day. And moved in meaning she was carried into the house by Wyatt, with her mother following behind with a suitcase she’d taken the liberty of packing for her.
Wyatt placed her into his bed and made sure she was comfy. Gave her the TV remote, adjusted the thermostat, and brought her water and her pain meds before rushing off to meet up with his brothers. Apparently their investigation into the accident wasn’t going well.
Jinger took the opportunity to take a long nap. She knew Wyatt’s mom was out in the kitchen and felt glad knowing she wasn’t alone. Although, thinking of Mrs. Rochon as a bear was making her brain go on the fritz.
But she was a charming woman, she woke Jinger up with a bowl of soup and what looked to be homemade bread.
“Oh don’t thank me,” she said when she brought it in, “Sophie has the fridge stocked for the next month.”
The food was wonderful and Connie Rochon was a restful person to be around.
“Will you tell me about your family,” Jinger asked after she was done with her meal.
Connie had taken up a seat next to the bed and was knitting some unknown object. “What would you like to know dear?”
“Everything.”
“Well, that’s a pretty tall order. Is there anything specific you’d like me to start with,” she asked still casually working her yarn.
“Connie, Wyatt told me some things that I can’t quite get a handle on. And I’m a little worried that if I ask him anything else, he’ll think I’m having doubts about him.”
Connie set her needles in her lap and looked to Jinger, “He told you?”
“Yes, he even gave me a peek at what he could become, but it kind of scared me,” she admitted.
“I’ll tell you whatever you want, but first I need you to understand something. Who we are, as shifters. We aren’t human, at least not all the way. The rules, no not rules really, the forces that control our lives are different. We believe in the fates, we believe that the universe has a plan for us. And part of that plan is that every shifter has one true mate. The perfect match for not only them but their animal. When a shifter finds his or her mate, there will never be another for them. They will love and cherish that person until the day they die. They will never cheat or harm their mate. And their mate will never want for loyalty and affection. I need to know if this is something you understand,” she asked, her mom voice in full effect.
Jinger didn’t understand, Wyatt had managed to leave that part out about soul mates. But she pretended to just to keep Connie talking.
And she talked and talked. Jinger learned all there was to know about shifters. That they were of two minds, with both in control and man and beast were fiercely loyal to their families. That usually mates were both shifters and there was a bonding ceremony where they would bite each other, not only to mark the other as an outward sign to others, but to also taste the blood of their mates. Sealing them together, giving their essence to the other.
That part freaked Jinger out a bit, but she realized that this was something that Sophie had clearly already gone through and survived so it couldn’t be that bad.
Jinger sat quietly, only speaking to clarify a point. When Connie was finished, she picked up her knitting and quietly continued where she had left off.
“Well,” Jinger started, “I think I’ve got some thinking to do.”
“Sweet girl, can I offer you some advice?” Connie stood and walked towards the door. At Jinger’s nod she said, “Don’t think, just feel.” Then she walked out the door closing it behind her.
Chapter 20
Wyatt leaned over Cage’s desk and got closer to the speaker phone, his brothers standing around the desk, their attention on the phone.
“Dax, are you telling me that you know who’s endangered not only my mate but my brother’s mate?” Wyatt yelled down at the phone, his bear’s voice growling out over his.
Dax Hayes was the Alpha of his family’s cougar clan from Northern California. Cougars and bears usually didn’t get along, but the Rochon family and Dax’s family went back generations. Sharing the forests ensured they usually played nice. But Wyatt was in no mood to play nice.