Chapter 67
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Jax
Surprise!
Our next stop is the main guard house, where I talk with Kennedy and introduce him to Morning and Alizée.
He gets their information and gives Morning a sticker for his car so he won’t have to stop for the gate.
As more outsiders arrive to help guard the refugees, they’ll also receive stickers and be entered into our system.
Chaz is at the community center with several volunteers, and they’re working on an action plan. Morning and Alizée spend a few minutes talking with him, and I sense she’s satisfied with him and his team just from her body language.
I walk them through the building and even turn out the lights so she can see how we’ve light-proofed it. I also point out how we’ve set up PVC frames to cover with tarps and place cots inside of, as an added layer of safety while they’re sleeping.
“What about the entryways?” she asks.
“For the front we’ll set up a large curtained area, so we can load in supplies more easily.” I point it out, the tape on the floor. “And a second layer of curtains here. We’ll conduct daylight tests before they arrive. Those should be up by tomorrow night.”
“And the other entrances?” she asks.
I walk her around and show her on my phone the plywood “booths” already being built off-site to transport there and create safe, curtained foyers. “But no one should be using those exits unless it’s an emergency,” I add. “Entry will be controlled through the front door.”
She nods. “I feel really good about this,” she says to Morning. Then she unshoulders her backpack, which I figured was her purse, and she begins removing items.
“She’ll place some preliminary wards,” Morning explains. “Won’t take her long. A crew will arrive before the first load of refugees to lay down more wards not only here, but around the entire perimeter of the compound. Let’s talk outside.”
I follow, and we step away from the others to talk. “I want you to know,” Morning whispers, “that everyone is being told how extraordinary your pack is for undertaking this.”
“We’re not doing this for fame or credit. I prefer we stay under everyone’s radar.”
“I meant your rep among the other organizers. It’s no exaggeration to say you’ve earned the respect of dozens of people who’ve never met you. If your pack ever needs help, all you need to do is ask, and you’ll have more than you can handle.”
It’s hot out here, even in the shade, and sweat trickles down the back of my neck. “Helping is the right thing to do,” I say. “This isn’t a few hundred years ago, when we avoided each other. Survival means working together.”
“Absolutely correct.” He looks around. “Your father picked good land. Once it’s safe for the refugees to leave, we may ask him to help them find a new location for their nest. The Chicago nest might, too.”
“They won’t return to their old nests?”
The normally placid man looks grim. “Security, for starters. In Memphis, the children especially were too traumatized by what happened. Many of them lost at least one parent, and several of them lost both.”
“Oh, speaking of children, that reminds me.” I discuss schooling with him and tell him about the volunteer teachers and people wanting to bring them supplies for the children.
“Those are excellent ideas,” he says. “It would help the children to get them back into a routine.” He pulls out his phone and makes a few notes. “As for clothing, hold off for now. I know some of them are bringing items with them. But the games, and arts and crafts, absolutely.”
Alizée rejoins us about twenty minutes later. “That’s a good start,” she says. “I’ll do another, stronger round when I drive back down day after tomorrow.”
“Do you need a place to stay while you’re here?” I ask. “You’re welcome to one of the guest cottages.”
“Thank you. It’d help to have a base of operations for myself. Give me a quiet place to recharge. And my RV can be used for the sentries.”
“Let’s return to my office and set that up now. Have you eaten lunch yet?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m famished,” she says. “I heard rumors from Mike about an amazing pizza place nearby?”
“Absolutely. And it’s my treat. I’ll call Shawn and have him pick it up and join us.” I take their orders, text him the info, and we return to the office.
While my morning started rocky, at least it appears I’ve redeemed myself. Not that I give a shit what people outside our pack think of me, it’s gratifying to know I’m doing something right.
Maybe I won’t be as much of a fuckup as a father as I worry I will.
Shawn brings the pizzas and salads into the office, and we set up at the table in our conference room. When Alizée reaches for a slice, she accidentally bumps Shawn’s hand.
She lets out a gasp and grabs his wrist, freezing, her gaze turning distant.
“Um, Jaaaax?” he asks.
Morning sits up straight, holding up a hand. “It’s okay.”
I bite back the growl wanting to roll from me at her touching my mate without permission, but I let my logic brain remind my Alpha wolf she is a friend, not a foe.
She brightly grins and releases his hand but pulls him in for a strong hug. “Congratulations!” she says, then rounds the table and hugs me even as I sit there.
Shawn understandably looks confused. “Um, sorry?”
She lightly swats my shoulder, which widens Morning’s eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me you are expecting too?”
I force myself not to react. “We’re not advertising it yet, with everything else going on. It just happened yesterday, same mate hunt.”
“And my doctor appointment isn’t until tomorrow,” Shawn adds. “To confirm it.”
She waves his statement away. “Phhphp. You’re pregnant.
Everything’s fine.” She jabs a finger at me.
“That’s why I picked up a weird vibe from you when we met this morning.
I was so focused on Mal and Todd I wasn’t paying close enough attention to you and that.
” She grabs her pizza and retakes her seat, leaving me and Shawn staring at each other.
“You…you can tell I’m pregnant?” he asks.
She nods, her mouth full of pizza, and circles the index finger of her free hand in front of her face. “I’m a witch,” she mumbles. “Duh.”
“This has been an eventful morning,” I tell him.
“Oookaaay.” He takes the seat I’d saved for him next to me. “Still having the bloodwork done tomorrow, no offense.”
“Better go baby shopping,” she says.
Poor Shawn, he doesn’t know how to deal with the feisty witch either. “Um, thanks?”
She swallows and takes a swig of water. “I should’ve mentioned I’m a midwife, too. Want to know what you’re having?”
“Uh, I’m having a baby?”
“I meant genders, Wile E. Coyote.”
Shawn immediately looks to me for a judgment call. “We haven’t even thought that far ahead,” I admit. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around becoming a father.”
“Fair enough. Let me know if you want me to tell you. Have fun buying two of everything.”
I snort. “One for a boy and one for a girl? Isn’t that overkill?”
She arches an eyebrow at me. “No, because you’re having twins.”
“WHAT?” Shawn screeches.