by Tl Reeve
He declined.
As it stood, he already had a moving company gathering his belongings from the office he’d vacated and his apartment. All of his things would be delivered to his new home in Window Rock before the end of the week. After everything that transpired for the past several weeks, being a member of congress, though he’d done more to help those in need than not, left a bitter taste in his mouth. They—those on Capitol Hill, didn’t deserve another moment of his time.
“Good afternoon,” Jefferson said. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. I will be making a brief statement and I’ll be answering some questions afterward.”
He glanced up. There at the back of the room, holding his son, sat his mate. Jochi wore one of his tailored suits Jefferson loved about as much as Jochi’s dresses. His long silky hair had been pulled back at his nape in a chonmage. Beside him sat both of Jefferson's daughters, Charisma, and Penelope along with their mates. Seeing them there, settled the nerves tightening his stomach.
When he woke that morning, he had a whole speech prepared, but when he arrived at Vigilante, he threw it in the trash. Everything he had to say had to be spur of the moment and from the heart. He couldn't rely on written words to get him through his farewell speech. Hell, he never used a speechwriter when he'd been on the campaign trail either. It'd been one of the reasons he'd been reelected so many times over the years.
“Last year, our country had its eyes opened once more to the travesties of the Paranormal Bounty Hunters. It was only due to the diligent work of our FBI, Vigilante Security, and local/state police we were able to put a stop to their operation, once again, with minimal casualties. However, instead of being able to celebrate, I came under attack."
Earlier before they arrived, Keeley received a call from the IRS. The audit had been canceled and the IRS and the House Finance Committee Chairperson apologized to her and Danielle for any undue stress. It did relieve some of the guilt Jefferson had held onto, but not all of it. The orphanage did wonderful things for children who had abilities and those who were orphaned shifters. Losing their funding would have devastated Keeley and Danielle.
“For the past fifteen years, I have done everything in my power and within the constructs of the laws set forth by our government to make sure all shifters were protected. I have sacrificed my time with my family, to make sure those laws enacted were ironclad, and I am so proud of all the work congress has done to keep every law and every budgetary fund in place. However, today, I am stepping down.”
A soft gasp filled the room as the different camera shutters clicked away, taking pictures of him. The group of reporters gathered there, murmured amongst themselves as he took a breath. His heart hammered yet the knot in his stomach released a bit. He was doing the right thing. Jefferson glanced at Jochi who smiled and gave him a small nod.
“I didn’t do this on a whim. After the last two weeks, it has come to my attention, my hard work and dedication has come with a price. That price was my family and my privacy. As you all know a photo purported to be myself and a ‘lover,’ was circulated through the media. Even after my wife Susanne died, I never had to deal with such a heinous act of cowardice. But, because I wouldn’t keep two senators who were involved in the illegal activities of PBH, seated—” Jefferson took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t get riled up.”
The audience laughed.
“I have a beautiful family. I have a beautiful mate. I have what every American could ever want; happiness. I am not ashamed of who I mated. I am not ashamed of the causes I have stood up for, and I certainly will never allow anyone to blackmail me. Which brings me to my next point.”
Jefferson picked up the thick blue notebook on the podium beside his hand. "Inside this notebook is the evidence that will hopefully help convict and expel several congresspeople serving at this moment. Their reign of terror is over. They will no longer be able to grant monies to PBH. They will no longer be able to hunt shifters or experiment on children with special abilities like my grandson, Mikey. Inside this folder, are the accounts of several shifters and people with abilities. They tell of how they were forced to procreate. How they were probed and touched in ways that, frankly, make me sick. Ladies and gentlemen, chaos has no business in our government, and it is time we stop supporting this evil sickness.”
The soft murmurs erupted into shouted questions and anxious looks of those surrounding his family, but Jefferson pressed on. He was almost finished with his speech. “Today, I had a wonderful conversation with Mayor Pro-Tem Emersyn Lake. I have watched her for several years as she's clawed her way to the top of the city government while also helping the shifter community. She and her husband have two beautiful children and I know she will represent the Fifth Congressional District with distinction and respect. Thankfully, she accepted my offer. At this moment, she and her wonderful family are in Washington D.C. where she is being sworn in. She will be on the committee leading the expulsion and censure hearings for Senators Brawborn and Tory. She, along with the chairman of the Justice Committee, will be handling the investigation contained within the notebook I have shown you. When this is over, ladies and gentlemen, we will have a more perfect union. I guarantee it.”
The minute it was clear he’d finished his speech, several hands shot up. Jefferson took a moment to gather himself. Before he pointed to one of the more conservative newspapers in the area.
“Good afternoon, Aaron,” Jefferson said. “Long time no see.”
“Likewise, Senator,” Aaron replied. “Phoenix Tribune, you claim the photograph of you was fabricated and though it was retracted two hours after it went live, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask, was it you in the picture and did you threaten anyone to have it removed?”
Jefferson laughed. “No, it wasn’t me. Next question.” He pointed to a woman in the second row. “Yes?”
“Mindy George, Tucson Sun,” she said. “You say you have a mate. How long have you been mated and why are we only finally hearing about it today?”
“A little over a year,” he answered. “You didn’t find out about it because I didn’t want you to. But, due to the fact I was actively being blackmailed, I decided to tell my truth today.”
“Who is it,” Mindy pressed. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I do mind you asking. I’m a private citizen now. You’ll only get the information I want you to have.” He winked at the girl as he pointed to another reporter.
“Carlos Jax, New Mexico Daily, are you afraid by leaving now, everything you worked so hard for will be dismantled? I know you said your choice to take your spot will work diligently to keep shifters safe, but...”
Jefferson nodded. “If I didn’t think Emersyn was up to the task, I wouldn’t have asked her. I have the utmost faith in her abilities.”
He didn’t know how long he stood there fielding questions before stepping away. The speech had gone smoother than he anticipated. Of course, when he checked his phone, he had several voice messages and texts. His speech and the news conference were trending on Twitter along with the hashtag: #whosSenatorWintersmate.
He stepped outside into the late-fall afternoon and breathed deep. Frost was in the air. Not from his mate though. Though it’d been in the forties when they arrived, the temperatures had dropped to a chilly thirty-eight degrees. Winter was in the air and if the scent was any indication, snow too. He couldn’t wait to watch his mate and their son playing in the softy, powdery blanket of snow. Hell, who was he kidding, he couldn’t wait to spend time with his whole family frolicking in the white stuff.
“You look happy,” Jochi said, coming up beside him.
“I am happy. I’m finally free,” Jefferson replied. “I can spend the rest of my life here with you, our children and our grandchildren.”
Jochi hummed. “I like the sounds of that.”
Jefferson wrapped his arm around his mate’s waist and started for the enforcer. “Have I showed you how much I appreciate
you, today?”
Jochi chuckled. “Not yet. Our boy was insistent he be fed promptly this morning.”
"Then you're due some appreciation," Jefferson growled.
“Silly old man.” His mate shook his head as they stopped next to their new SUV. “Are you happy, bèndàn?”
“Very much so,” Jefferson answered. “I have everything I need right here in Window Rock. Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
Six months later...
“They’re here! They’re here!” Mikey yelled running through the kitchen.
"Good job, little wolf," Royce said, scrubbing the boy's head. "But, remember, it's a surprise for Papa Jochi."
“Oh! Right. Sorry.” The boy looked up at Jefferson and whisper-shouted, “They’re here! They’re here!”
Jefferson rolled his eyes and chuckled, glad he sent Jochi out on a small mission to find cactus fruit. “Thank you, Mikey.”
“Yep.” He skipped out of the kitchen, heading for the backyard where Abby had been playing.
“Well, who should open the door?” Charisma joined Royce and Jefferson.
“I will,” Jefferson said.
All of his hard work finally paid off. It’d taken two months to find Jochi’s parents and his brother in Guilin, China, but what had taken them longer to arrive had been the trek out of the mountains. They did all of their traveling in the dead of night to not cause a confrontation with the bastard of an Alpha who called the fertile land home.
When Jochi asked for help to bring them to Window Rock, it seemed like a great opportunity to stretch Vigilante’s legs and send a couple of people to find Mr. and Mrs. Zhao. The conditions they lived in due to their son being different, disturbed Jefferson on a visceral level. Any Alpha who would kick a child out of their pride or pack or like in Jochi’s case, a leap, due to their sexuality, didn’t deserve to be an Alpha. But, requiring the family to ‘pay the leap back,’ for what Jochi used and consumed pissed Jefferson off more.
His conversation with his mate solidified, in his mind, Keeley and Vigilante was the best bet to bring them home. However, who’d they’d get to do the job had been the biggest question. Then Keeley introduced him to two people, a shy roadrunner shifter named Maxine, and a mountain hare shifter named Jonathan Lui. Johnathan had been born in China and came to the states when he was a young boy, and Maxine had been a young orphan shifter, brought up in the orphanage. Both were excellent trackers and could find Jochi’s parents.
So, he waited.
Maxine and Jonathan Lui updated Jefferson every day of where they were and now, he breathed a little easier. Mr. and Mrs. Zhao were there.
Jefferson went to the door and opened it. There, standing near one of the out of commission Enforcers, Kalkin sold to Keeley, stood Jochi’s mother, Lan, and father, Jian, stood with Jochi’s younger brother, Hui, while Jonathan and Maxine gathered their bags from the back of the vehicle. The three of them were huddled together speaking to one another in hushed tones, even with Jefferson’s enhanced hearing, he couldn’t make out what they’d said. Hui was the spitting image of his brother, only, where Jochi’s features were soft almost feminine, Hui’s were cut, strong and like Jochi, Hui’s hair was long, kept in a single braid. Even their parents were striking people.
Hui pointed to something on the roof and Jefferson wondered if Rocky joined them. The boy had been making trips to Washington and he’d been due back any day. Jefferson had invited everyone he could think of to welcome the newest members of the pack/pride—including Janice and her husband.
Jefferson held up his hand and waved. “Nǐ hǎo!”
Lan greeted him first with a brilliant smile as she hurried to him. “We learn small English. H-hello.” She shook Jefferson’s hand and bowed. “This my son, Hui and my pè iǒu—” She tsked. “My mate, Jian.”
“It’s good to meet all of you,” Jefferson said, ushering everyone inside. “Jochi should be here in a minute.”
Hui slipped a phone out of his pocket, something he was sure Maxine and Jonathan bought for him when the coast was clear. He slid his finger across the screen then started typing. When he turned the phone around so Jefferson could see it, he laughed.
Are you my brother’s consort?
“No.” Jefferson shook his head. “I am his pè iǒu, uh, mate.”
Lan gasped, grabbing Jian’s hand. “A mate. So proud.”
He relaxed. It’d been a long time since he’d met Susanne’s parents and the old feelings of nervousness and angst had kept him up almost the whole night. Thankfully, Jochi had been there to ease him.
Hui turned the phone to him again, with another message. What do you get out of being with my brother?
Jefferson cleared his throat. “Glad you asked. Charisma, can you bring Déshì over here?”
“Sure, Daddy.” Charisma returned moments later carrying his six-month-old son in her arms. "Perfect timing, he just woke up." She grinned at Jochi's family as she handed the wiggly bundle of leopard to Jefferson. "Hi! Welcome home. We're so glad you're here with us."
Both Lan and Jian bowed and grinned then clung to each other as they peered at their grandson. They spoke in rapid Mandarin and Jefferson didn’t have a clue what they were saying. Hui glanced at the boy with open curiosity and caution. Jefferson couldn’t imagine what they’d all been through since the day Jochi had been forced to leave them.
“This is Déshì Abraham Zhao-Winters, our son and your grandson,” Jefferson said. “We adopted him a few months ago. He was abandoned.”
Tears welled in Lan’s eyes as she stared at the baby. “Hold? Me?”
“Yes, of course.” Jefferson gently placed his son into her arms.
The minute she had the little boy the way she wanted him; she began to speak to him. Déshì stared at her in wide-eyed fascination. Probably because she looks like his father and speaks the same language as her. Warmth and love filled Jefferson’s chest as he watched Déshì’s grandparents interact with him.
“He’s here! He’s here!” Mikey said. “Papa’s home!”
“Ah, right on time.” Jefferson didn’t want anyone to surprise Jochi. No, the scene would already be an emotional one. “Act natural everyone.”
A round of laughter filled the house as Jochi put the key in the lock and turned it, opening the front door once more. “You sent me on a wild goose chase, bèndàn.” He lifted his gaze to meet Jefferson’s then stilled. Jochi’s gaze landed on his family and the wealth of emotion Jefferson saw there had been worth all the secrecy.
“Mǔqīn? Fùqīn? Hui?” Jochi dropped the bag in his hand, spilling the meager contents across the floor. “Jefferson, what did you do? How did you? Ó, wǒ de shàngdì?” And, like that, Jefferson’s mate became the child who’d had to say goodbye to his parents so many years ago. Jochi ran to them gathering all three in a tight hug. Their cries and laughter were music to Jefferson’s ears.
Charisma joined him, throwing her arm around his waist. “You did good, Daddy.”
Jefferson wiped the corner of his eye. “I only wish I would have known sooner. I could have made this happen years ago.”
His daughter shook her head. “No, Daddy. It was meant for now. You’re with your mate and you have a growing family to protect and watch over.”
He nodded. She’d been right. “How’d you get to be so smart?”
She shrugged. “Easy. I have you as my father.”
Jochi turned to him then. “You did all this without me finding out? How?”
Jefferson shrugged as he grinned. “I have my ways.”
“A thank you would be nice,” Keeley called out as she waddled over to them. She was due to give birth any day now to another set of twins, this time, they were both boys.
“Thank you.” Jefferson laughed.
“Yes,” Jochi murmured. “Thank you.”
Kalkin joined them moments later. “Since everyone’s here, how about we eat?”
Lan murmured something to Jochi, and he nodded. “M
other would like to know if you are the Alpha of these lands.”
Kalkin puffed up his chest. “Yes, I am.”
“Lord, now you’re feeding his ego,” Keeley said rolling her eyes.
“Watch it mate,” Kalkin growled.
Lan laughed. “Good meet you.”
“Likewise,” Kalkin said. “Our lands are your lands.”
Lan and Jian bowed. “Xièxiè.” Then Lan smacked Hui on the back of the head. “Sorry. He slow.”
Hui gave a rough sigh and rolled his eyes, not as well as Keeley could, but he’d give her a run for her money, then bowed. “Thank you, Alpha.”
“Hey kid,” Kalkin said, some of the gruffness in his tone abated. “I heard what happen to your family. I’m sorry. It sucks. But, I’m not the same as your old Alpha.”
Hui frowned. “I see. Watch. I protect family.”
Jefferson furrowed his brows. He couldn’t imagine what the boy had been through since Jochi was forced out. The little his mate told him, hadn’t been pretty and from the sounds of it, it must have gotten worse too.
“I hope you do,” Kalkin said and winked. “I wouldn’t be a good Alpha if people didn’t keep me in check. Now, let’s eat. I’d like to hear about your journey here and what I can do to help you and your family.”
****
Jochi joined Jefferson in their room once he helped his family settle in. Jefferson had taken care of Déshì as well, giving him more time to spend with his family. He couldn't believe they were there. Of course, he dreamed the day would come when he could hug his mother again, however, he never got his hopes up.
After he told Jefferson about his desire to bring them to the states, he’d slowly opened up about the torturous life they led back in China. There were several things he’d been ashamed of. Things he’d been frightened of when he’d been alone trying to get to America, but his yearning for something more had never dimmed.
Now, all of it had paid off. His family was home.
“You are glowing,” Jefferson said, glancing up from the book he’d been reading.