Running In Fear: Coming Home Read online

  Chapter Eight

  Mark ran around the front of the truck, hopping in the driver's side. Jaycee slammed the passenger side door. “Drive Mark. To the mall. Screw everyone else!” Jaycee growled, looking out at the passing cars.

  “What happened back there, baby?” Mark grabbed her hand, holding it.

  “It seems my father and Remi are talking about me having my babies at the National Council Hospital. Then they decided I didn't need my day out shopping or to go to the cabin. But little did they know that I'm not giving up my day for some stick in mud people! And to think they could tell me where I would have my children, of all the nerve!” Jaycee was fuming, her powers whipped around the car.

  “Baby, you need to calm down. It's not good for the babies.” Mark pleaded with her.

  Jaycee turned to look at him. “Pull over, Mark.” Jaycee pointed at the gas station.

  Mark pulled over to the gas station, turning to look at her. “What is it, baby?”

  “I wanted this day for us, Mark, just like any normal couple would have shopping before we got back to the pack house and everyone started the same shit. I couldn't even have that. But I will have a say where my children will be born. I will not, and I mean it, have my children forced into thinking they are the next Gods or whatever the Council wants. These are my babies and they will grow up with swing sets, places to run. They'll take the bus to school and have lots of friends. I won't have the political bullshit I was raised in, and I won't abandon my children as I was. Is that understood?” Tears rolled down her face as she stared at Mark.

  Mark gathered her into his arms, hugging her, and then holding her. Jaycee's body shook with anger and fear. “Its okay, baby. I'm sure they didn't mean any harm by it, Jaycee. Of course our children will have a home. I promise you. Now stop the tears. Dane and Remi are going to meet us at the cabin after they get the Council all settled in.”

  Jaycee pulled back, slipping into her seat, and wiping the tears away when the hiccups started. “Shit! Now I have the hiccups!” Jaycee noticed a McDonalds next to the gas station as she looked out the window.

  “Mark, I'll be right back. I need a Flurry and double cheeseburger.” Jaycee hopped out of the truck, grabbing her purse and walking to the McDonalds. She could hear Mark cussing up a storm as her guards followed behind her. That's when she heard the tires squealing on the road. Remi and Dane pulled in front of her blocking, her way with the car.

  Remi jumped out of the car, growling, “Damn it, Jaycee, Don't you ever listen? You need to be more careful. What if someone came by and shot at you?” He grabbed her.

  Jaycee growled, nipping at his hand. “First off, the guards were with me. Second, if you notice, with your powers, there is a shell of protection around me. Third, I'm craving McDonalds! Fourth, I'm not talking to you, so get your fucking hands off me!” Jaycee yelled pulling away from him and stomping into McDonalds, everyone following behind her. Two of the guards in front of her held the door open for her to enter.

  Jaycee noticed the place was busy. She waited in line, looking at the menu, when she felt Dane and Remi slide up next to her.

  “Baby …” Remi started to talk, but Jaycee stepped up to the register, ignoring him.

  “I'd like an M&M Flurry, three double cheeseburgers, two fish sandwiches, and a large fries, and what ever they are having, also. Oh, wait.” She turned towards her guards. “Tony, Ralph. Do you two want anything?”

  “No thanks, Jaycee. We'll eat later, but maybe two coffees sound good.” Ralph said, staring at her.

  Jaycee smiled and turned to the cashier. “Add two large black coffees to that list also,” Jaycee said after her mates were done ordering. Jaycee walked towards a table and waited, knowing her mates would get the food. That's when she noticed Mary, her friend who she had met the first time she stayed with Marsha.

  Getting up, Jaycee made her way to the table where Mary and her kids ate their lunch. “Mary, is that you?” Jaycee asked, looking down at her as she looked up. A big smile formed on her lips as she jumped up, hugging Jaycee.

  “My God, look at you. You're gorgeous! And that hair. Love the color!” She laughed, stepping back. “Sit. Meet my kids. It's been a long time.” Mary sat back down and Jaycee joined her as Mary introduced her to her two young boys.

  “I can't believe you have twin boys. I was just told yesterday that I'm going to have at least twins, most likely triplets, and I can't wait.” Jaycee smiled, looking at the kids.

  “That's great! So who's the lucky man? Do I know him?” Mary smiled, raising her eyebrows and wiggling them

  “I'm … well, there are actually three men and they're not from around here. I just stopped here for a visit, then we're heading back to their home.” Jaycee fidgeted, looking at Mary's shocked face.

  “Well crap, Bo never mentioned any of this to me! Wait till I see his ass! You have three men? Are you nuts? I have a bitch of a time with one just trying to train him.” Mary laughed.

  Jaycee felt her mates standing behind her. “Mary, these are my pain in the butt mates.” Jaycee looked behind her. “Remi is on the left, Mark in the middle, and Dane on the right. Guys, I'd like you to meet a friend of mind, Mary, and her children,” Jaycee said, grabbing a bag out of Remi's hand and her Flurry.

  “Wow, you have your hands full! Listen here's my address and phone number.” Mary handed her a card. “Call me when you get settled and we can get together sometime when you come back this way. I'm on the internet also, so my email is on the card. Boy, wait till I tell Frank about this. I know his brother will be disappointed. He always had the hots for you, but thought he would never stand a chance against Jack. Now you've got these three.”

  Jaycee laughed, getting up, “Well, tell Frank's brother I'm sorry, but I have three mates, and believe me, that's enough, especially when all three of them are alphas!” Jaycee groaned, and Mary laughed her butt off as they walked out of the McDonalds

  “Hey, Jaycee!” Mary yelled out at her out the door.

  Jaycee turned, smiling, “Yeah?”

  “I forgot to tell you. They have this new shop at the mall just for babies and they have tons of stuff for twins, triplets, and all sorts of things. You might want to check it out before you leave town.” She waved and then went back inside to her kids.

  Jaycee laughed, heading towards Mark's truck, but Remi pulled her towards his.

  “What? I was riding with Mark?” She asked, looking up at Remi.

  “We need to talk.” He pulled her towards his new rental truck, opening the door for her. Getting in, she noticed her two guards getting in with their coffees.

  “Move over, Jaycee.” Dane said.

  She scooted over, stuffing some fries into her mouth and grumbling.

  Remi took off, at first not saying a word, but that changed. “Jaycee, your father is bringing the members that flew out all this way to the cabin to meet us there. They wanted to see where we would be spending our time in the summer.” Remi watched the road, his hands on the steering wheel tightening, his knuckles turning white.

  “Why? What concern is it to them where we spend our summer or where we live?” Jaycee growled, waiting, her eyes never moving from Remi.

  “Jaycee, you have to understand, the three of us are the most powerful shifters ever known. They think our children will also be powerful and they want them protected. The Council is also considering moving their headquarters into our town. They have already moved the New Year's Eve Party to the Grand Ballroom in town.” Dane explained trying to make her see reason.

  “I was talking to your father and the other members and we all agree it would be best if we headed home early and have our wedding sooner, along with our bonding ceremony.” Remi glanced down at her as he pulled onto the road leading to her old cabin site. He stopped the truck on the road, and faced her.

  “Open the door, Dane. I need some air. All of a sudden, I feel sick.” Jaycee rubbed her stomach, pretending to feel sick. Dane opened the door as the other
car pulled in back of them with the Council members. Jaycee glared at her father as he got out of the car, staring at her.

  Jaycee made her way towards a wooded area, pretending to bend down, and then shifted to her wolf, running as fast as she could. She sent her powers out, blocking anyone who tried to follow.

  Jaycee, get back here now! Remi yelled in her mind. She could hear his beast demanding.

  You all lied to me! You promised m courting. You promised we would have the day to ourselves. You promised I could plan our wedding. And Mark, you promised me our children would have a normal lif!! I don't want my children to have what I had. Never will my children have that, do you understand? Never!

  Jaycee ran like she had never run before. She knew where she would go just to get away. Jaycee blew her tracks away with the wind. She forced herself and ran for three hours, dodging her mates. Finally, the old cabin came into view and Jaycee pushed open the door using her powers. Shifting back. She started a fire, grabbing the blanket that had been stored there with the extra food. Jaycee rocked back and forth in the rocker for what seemed an hour when she heard someone at the door.

  “Jaycee, can I come in?” Marsha asked.

  So they'd brought out the heavy guns? It wouldn't work. She wasn't going anywhere with any of them. “It's not going to work, Momma. I don't care who they bring, I won't go back. I'm done with the lies and the political bullshit!” Jaycee growled, opening the door for her.

  Jaycee watched as Kate, Marsha, and Shelly walked in the door.

  “Baby, you can't stay out here. This place isn't safe for you and your children. You have to think of them.” Marsha begged, sitting down in front of her.

  “Don't you think I'm thinking of that? I don't want that life. Look at what it did to me? What if I have a girl? Do you want her to go through what I went through? Wondering when her father would come home to play with her since she never had any close friends. Or how about all the backstabbing and the violence that goes on at National? Remi and Dane are already so busy, how are the children and I going to compete with that?” Jaycee threw off the blanket and paced back and forth. She stopped when Shelly stepped in front of her.

  “What about them, Jaycee? They are their children too or are you forgetting that?” she snarled.

  “No, Shelly that's the biggest problem. Don't you see, my father is even doing it with Sam? Kate won't admit it, but it's the truth. When was the last time my father has done something with Sam and Kate?” Jaycee looked at Kate, who shrugged her shoulders.

  “Has he taken him fishing, camping, gone to any school functions with him?” Jaycee asked. Kate shook her head no. Tears rolled down her face. Jaycee sighed, walking over to Kate and hugging her. “I'm sorry Kate. That was mean. I didn't do it to hurt you. I wanted to make a point. The men out there think it's okay for them to just go do their duty, and leave us alone. But I grew up that way and I won't have it, Kate, not for my children. I had hoped that Dad would have changed, but I see that he hasn't.” Jaycee went to the rocker and sat down.

  “I won't and can't go through that again, Marsha. I love all of my mates. I would give my life up for them, but I won't hurt the children we bring into this world like my father and mother did me.” Jaycee whispered this, looking into the fire when her father stormed into the cabin, furious.

  “I have had enough of this crap! How dare you judge when you know nothing!” He got into Jaycee's face. “I thought you had better manners than this! These people have come all this way to see you and you run. Then you start throwing words around, hurting the one person who has been nice to you and supported you!” he growled, his beast burst out and he shook with anger, grabbing Jaycee by the arms and dragging her out to her mates. He pushed her towards them.

  Jaycee went flying into the snow, face forward. Her beast burst through. Her mates tried to help her up, but she growled and they inched back, except Remi. He stood there looking down at her and she saw the disappointment and hurt in his eyes.

  Jaycee shifted back into her human form, dressing herself again in jeans and a sweater. Turning around, she faced her father. “You know something, Dad? You're right. I was wrong to run and I apologize to you and the Council for my behavior. I guess when someone has been running, oh let's see, for the better part of fifteen years, it's hard to stop. Well, it stops now.” Jaycee looked back at her mates, frowning.

  “We'll leave tonight to go back home. Don't worry, I won't hold any of you accountable for any of this. It's just one day—the most important day for any woman. But, I will not have my children living around the Council. If you want to move to our town, I can't stop you.” Jaycee turned to look at Mr. Black. “But, I will raise all sorts of hell if you interfere with my children. They will have a normal life, school busses, and they will be born in my home, where I choose, not where you choose. My children will not be shipped to different homes also. If my mates aren't around to take them to places or do things with them, then I will find someone who wants to. My children will not be left without a father figure or a mother figure. Now, excuse me, I'm going shopping by myself with my guards.”

  Jaycee grabbed the car keys out of Mark's hands, going towards the truck, her bodyguards followed. “I will meet you back at the hotel at six. I was promised this, and I won't be denied it, since I have no clothes anyway.” Jaycee got into the truck and started the engine. Kate jumped in the front with her. Shelly stood there a moment, then jumped in also, followed by Marsha. The men just watched as they took off down the road.

  Chapter Nine

  Jaycee glanced over at Kate while she drove. The guards looked uncomfortable. “Listen I'm sorry to drag you all into this. I can drop you off if you want, Kate, and Shelly, you didn't have to come. I already know you're still pissed at me.”

  “No, I wanted to come, and you're right, this time. I have been making excuses to Sam for the past six years and I won't do it anymore. I was furious the way he threw you across the air. No one will ever do that to my child. I'm sorry, Jaycee.” Kate said, grabbing her hand and holding on to it.

  Jaycee squeezed Kate's hand, then shrugged. “As I said, Kate, I'm used to it. I just don't want Sam or my children to have to grow up like that. The Council does a lot of good for everyone, but the men forget about their own families in the process and I just won't let that happen to mine. If it means giving up on my wedding, I will. My kids come first, and I won't let the Council mess up my life again.”

  It took Jaycee two hours, but they finally made it to the biggest mall around. Jaycee pulled into the parking lot, found a spot, and parked. She sat there for a moment looking in the mirror, and staring at Shelly. “I'm sorry, Shelly. You're my best friend and I treated you like shit the last time.”

  “I'm sorry too. You're right about this, Jaycee. When I saw what your father did to you, I wanted to rip his head off. I don't want my nieces or nephews around that. I had a near-perfect home life, and I want you and the children to have that too. Now, let's go charge up your mates’ cards and mine.” Shelly laughed, getting out of the car.

  Jaycee got out of the car laughing too, and noticed Marsha smiling at them. “You have been quiet. Did I do something wrong again, Momma?” Jaycee hugged her, pulling her along with everyone as the guards trailed behind them.

  “No! Actually, I'm quite proud of you. I don't think any of the Council knows what's going on, but after the way your father acted, I'm sure they have a clue. I just hope it opened your mates’ eyes.” Marsha smiled, patting her hand as they walked into the mall.

  “There's nothing I can do about that, Momma. They have to choose what they want. I love them and I don't want to let them go, but I won't risk our children for them or anyone.” Jaycee smiled and walked into Bloomingdale's.

  For the next three hours, Jaycee shopped, picking out a present for every single member of both packs with Shelly helping her by remembering all the names. They had them shipped to Jaycee's home so she wouldn't have to travel with all the items.

&nbs
p; “Hey Jaycee, let's grab a hot pretzel and a drink. I'm starved after all that shopping,” Shelly said, walking up to the pretzel shop. Suddenly, Jaycee felt it. Her mates were at the mall. All of the ladies looked at each other knowing their mates were there.

  “Crap, can't they leave us alone for the day! I mean, really, we have two guards and we can fight,” Shelly growled, ordering pretzels and drinks for all of them.

  “No! Remember we're the helpless ones even though we raise the children and suffer their foul moods!” Kate barked, as the men rounded the corner, followed by the Council members and their wives.

  “Crap! I can't even shop in peace!” Jaycee moaned, as she and the rest of the ladies sat down at a table, waiting for the men to approach. Jaycee noticed that her dad had two black eyes along with a split lip, but she said nothing, looking down at her pretzel.

  “Jaycee, we would like to offer you an apology. We have overstepped our bounds, and our wives have pointed out to us that we have done the same thing your father did in the past. It seems we also need to take some lessons in parenthood, but we would still like to move National closer to your home. I can promise we won't interfere with your home life as much as possible. I have six boys at home. I have a lot to make up for, and I think I could do that in a nice little town like yours,” Mr. Black said, looking down at his wife and smiling.

  “You see, Jaycee, what my husband says is true. You just pointed it out to all of us. I, and the other woman, agree that it's time we started thinking in terms of family and traditions, not power. The men have agreed and we would like to start a women's group where we can put our ideas of family together. This way, everyone would benefit from it. Of course, we would love if you would help us,” Mrs. Black pleaded.