Shana’s aunt was astonished: no one has had that much power since the very first vampire that had ever been created, Dracula's namesake.
I woke up in a strange room with the same woman from downstairs who had smacked my father across the face. “Who are you?” I asked her, staring in confusion.
“My name is Violet, and I am your cousin. My mother is the coven leader.”
Looking around the unfamiliar pale blue room I asked Violet “Where am I?”
“You’re still here at the castle. My mother just had you moved in here, until you woke up.”
“Shana, do you remember what happened to you?”
“All I remember is my beast Serena was trying to come out. She wanted to rip that lady’s head off her shoulders for showing so much disrespect towards us. I guess Serena was just hurt after coming all this way to see him. Remember, someone had locked her deep inside my mind for years. She was so excited to see him, yet he couldn’t seem to want anything to with us.”
“Wait a minute, don’t tell me they did it again.”
“Did what again Shana?”
“Nick and Jay have this habit if Serena comes out on her own. And I can’t reign her in. They jab me in the neck with a needle; I think they get a kick out of it. Who keeps a syringe around, anyway? Where are they at right now?”
“Everyone is sitting in the outer room waiting for you to wake up and talking to my mom.”
We both went out to the room where everybody else was sitting. I watched Shana walk up behind both her brother and her mate. And knocked both their heads together after slapping them in the back of the head. Well dang, the echo of the slap even had me wincing. You could tell it hurt a little. Both men grabbed the back of their heads, rubbing while sending Shana death glares. All she did was smile at them.
“What did you two expect to happen after you jabbed me again with that damn needle? Do it again and watch me stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.”
Jay glanced over at Nick, “how the hell did you put up with her by yourself?”
Nick laughed so hard he fell off the side of his chair. “Jay, you should know by now that Shana is in a class of her own creation. You got to be pretty special yourself to be mated to her. I guess you had to ride on the short bus growing up too.”
“Nick, if you don’t shut the heck up, I’m going to put my foot so far up your ass you won’t be able to stand.”
Watching the way these two get along, you’d swear the bond they had was something they were born with. The closeness and love they share with each other, even when they pass insults, is extraordinary. Not every family is like that. I guess what they say is true: sometimes water is thicker than blood. Strangers can be more family to you than the ones you were born into.
Chapter 19-Not Whom He Seems
“Shana, dear, my name is Margaret. I am your aunt, also the leader of the coven that lives here. I understand before I came into the parlor that someone had rudely disrespected you. It had been one of our newly turned members, and that’s not how we run here. I know it upset you when they stuck you with the needle and knocked you out. He had no choice with the idiot claiming to be your father choosing to be a chicken-shit and not helping when you were trying to fight your own beast to keep her in control. It was the only choice we had for you, Shana. If you had let Serena out, there would have been hell to pay.”
The man here, claiming to be your dad is not. Your father is the king of all vampires, the father of us all, but unlike you, we are not born from him. Over the years, the vampires he had bitten produced us. Every few centuries, some people are born with pureblood.”
“Why is this man pretending to be my father?”
“Shana, he was your dad’s trusted friend at one time. But over the years, that trust and friendship diminished and turned into greed. Whoever is by your side when you come into power will have untold power as well. And the loyalty that comes with the position.”
“But Margret, I don’t want the position because of power. I want to win the loyalty and support of everybody. By showing that we can bring about the safe return of these kids that went missing. That I won’t sit by on the throne while they risk their lives for someone stuck behind the castle walls. What kind of leader would I be if I didn’t join in the same battles my people fight? I can understand if I had gotten pregnant and been confined behind closed doors.”
I already know if Jay ever thought I was, he would lock me to the bed to keep me inside with 10 guards babysitting me.
“So, Margret, how does that explain him saying, he heard Serena calling out for him?”
“He was full of shit Shana, the only ones you can have a connection with, and that can hear your call is your family. But if you mind- link them, you can talk to anyone in their head.”
I tried concentrating and opened a link into every mind in the room, telling them how Nick was gay, that Jay wore a tutu with combat boots on just to see who had heard.
The look on Jay’s face was priceless, “Shana, you keep messing with me, then I’ll use those handcuffs inside of the night table beside our bed.” He sent back through his own thoughts. Everyone laughed as they joined in on the conversation.
“Jay, stay the hell out my head. How can you hear me and talk back, but Nick can’t?”
“Well, he is human and me once your damn ass bit me that night. Once we marked each other, it made us mates. But once we completed the mating bond. It’s a wrap we’re stuck with each other now, sweetheart.”
“Damn Jay, who said I’d want to be stuck to you forever, anyway? What if I wanted Magic Mike?”
“Girl shut up, no Magic Mike, will ever step foot near you. The only magic stick you will ever see is mine.” He made my face turn so damn red that even Nick’s traitorous ass was laughing at me.
I smiled up at Jay and whispered in his ear, “well, a girl can only dream, can’t she? I mean, a girl goes wild when he comes out dancing and throws himself on the ground grinding to the song Pony. She ends up wanting to ride that pony.” Seeing how Jay was struggling to control himself because of what I was saying to him. Nick just had to open his mouth to me and got involved.
“Shana, seriously shut up while you’re ahead girl, we aren’t at your grandparent’s house. You’re going to cause me to tie your mouth shut.”
“Bite me, Jackass,” I yelled at Nick, flipping him off.
Watching my niece interact with the man she grew up calling her brother saddened my heart, when I saw the wistful look on my daughter’s face. I could tell she wanted that kind of connection with her. But it also made me glad that she had been with someone that had been loving and kind to her.
“Violet, you will have the same bond with her the more you are around her, remember she has finally come back now. No longer do you have to sit and wonder what it would have been like for her to be raised here.”
I know the more I focus on the betrayals and events of the past. I can never fully move on with Jay and have the life I want with him. The more I focus on them, the worse my anger and hatred become towards people who mean Ill will towards myself and the people I care about. Making it hard to control the beast that I carry deep inside of me. If I cannot focus on myself, then there is no way Jay, and I will make anything work between us.
I do not want to live with a dark cloud hanging over my head. And always thinking at any minute, my mate will stab me in the neck with a needle. Even though I know Jay will never leave me, he has proven that time and time again. Since I first woke up in the hospital room with him by my side.
This is the time of year when Nick and I would traditionally sit in our living room, feet tucked up under blankets, drinking hot cocoa, and binge-watching old Christmas movies. I know we need to have some variety in our movie choice. But he loves his old-school Christmas movies. I wonder if we will celebrate this year since we are in a whole nother world. We might do it anyway, no reason we should have to change our family traditions just because new people surround us.
Chapter 20 – Jay’s Family
Jay wants to take me back to his pack so I can meet his family. Maybe I can talk to him about doing a Christmas holiday with his crew.
“Jay, what will your family even think about you bringing a vampire and 2 humans with you when you come home?”
“Shana, you have nothing to worry about it, I already told my pack I found you, and they are eagerly waiting to meet you.”
Even though he tells me it still does nothing to assure me, they will accept me. Most mothers still believe that no woman is ever good enough for her son. I just do not want to make the wrong impression, and she ends up hating me. We can blame my insecurities on the trauma from my youth. I will not put my trust that easily into people I do not know.
Driving down the twisting roads of the mountain, you can see the fresh blanket of snow covering the ground, as far as the eye can see. Making the place look majestic has always amazed me how a blanket of snow can make the surrounding area look peaceful. As if there was not a care in the world. Nothing can bother you. Jay turns the car onto the side road that came out of nowhere, tucked in among the trees. If a person was not searching for it, you would not have known it was there. For miles, all you can see are Pine trees and snow. God, how I love that fragrance. It reminds me of Jay a bit.
Stopping at a gate where five guards were standing, Jay rolls his window down, getting the attention of one man on guard duty. “Hey, Camden, open the gate, let us pass. The gate swings open with a loud grinding sound as it slides on wheels to let us in.”
Out of the surrounding woods, little wolves came running up to the car growling, trying to get their alpha’s attention. I made Jay stop the car, so we could all get out and stretch our legs for a bit.
“Jay, who or what are all these little wolves running up to us? The black with the white tip on his ear is my younger brother, and the smaller black with red highlights is my little sister. Guess they’re tired of waiting for us and came to meet up with us instead.”
I knelt down on my knees, so I could be eye level with the kids, “Hi, my name is Shana. Are you on the welcome committee? Coming to lead us to the house with the rest of the people waiting on us.”
The two wolves jumped on their hind legs licking me on the face, before they took off running to the house. Instead of getting back in the car, all four of us walked into the house. Heading the same way that Jay’s younger siblings took.
“Well, at least your little brother and sister liked me, well, that’s two down.”
“Shana, you’re worrying over nothing. You will be fine. I won’t let anything happen. I promised you that much, I’ll always protect and love you no matter what you do or say to people.”
Right as we made it to the front porch, the door flew open, and five people appeared onto the porch. The two younger children, having run home, had told everyone of our arrival.
“Jay!” the younger ones screamed as they jumped on him at the same time.
“Dang, Layla and Bug, you two are heavy. I missed you guys too. Now get the hell off me.”
He told them as the rest of the Martinez family came down the front steps and wrapped him in a big group hug. A girl who looked like she could not be over 2 years older than I came up to me and introduced herself.
“I’m Casey, this idiot's sister. If I had waited on him to introduce us, it would have never happened. He doesn’t like for his girlfriends to talk to me. Are you one of his many girlfriends?” She asked me.
“I better be the only girlfriend he has, or he won’t be able to produce kids by the time I’m done with him. I am more than a girlfriend. Those matching tattoos on our necks prove it.”
“Oh, my goddess, I am so sorry Jay isn’t used to bringing a friend to meet his family and just assumed.”
Next to come up to me was the lady I had been dreading to meet all this time, Jay’s mother. She walked right up to me with an enormous smile on her face.”
“Welcome Shana, I’m Linda, Jay’s mother, and this man beside me is Jay’s father.” She told me as she wrapped me in a hug. I stepped back a little, not expecting the hug from her.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I am sorry for keeping Jay away from his Alpha duties for so long. I hope to make it up by throwing a huge family dinner for you guys.”
“Oh, Shana, that isn’t necessary, Hun. We all understand what happened to you. Jay kept us informed all the time. You being in a coma wasn’t your fault.”
Growing up, I never had the closeness of family as Jay has with his own. Yes, I had Nick to grow up with and show me what it meant to have a sibling, to care for me. But having parents shower me with love did not happen. They made sure I had everything, but they were always going out of town so much that we hardly saw them. Nick and I raised ourselves with the help of a few relatives of our friends.
Jay’s family were so caring and accepting of me it made me wonder why mine had not been, even though they were the ones to adopt me. If they did not want me, they should not have adopted me. No one told them to do so. Yes, I am happy that they gave me a life outside of the system. This gave me a chance to meet Jay and see where our life would take us now that we are together.
When we all moved into the house to join everybody who had gathered for a dinner that Jay’s mother Linda had planned, the spread included all the food that Jay loves to eat. BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken, pasta salad, sweet potato pie, mashed potatoes, and BBQ ribs. Whoever said this man beside me does not enjoy his food is lying through their teeth.
Sitting here watching him while he plays with his little brother and sister made me smile. I could not help it; the picture made me think of how he will be with our own children when we actually have kids of our own.
“Jay, when do you plan on giving us our first grandchild?” Asked Linda, making my face turn red as a beet.
“Mom, don’t you think you should ask Shana if she even wants a child with me? She might not want to be tied down with me for the rest of her life.”
Jay told her as he made everyone laugh at the joke. Walking over to Jay while he was on his knees playing with the kids. I grabbed his hair and pulled it until his face was level with mine and kissed the corner of his lip.
Whispered in his ear, “Babe, you’re stuck with me now that my mark is on your neck, I’m not going anywhere. If you even try to leave, there is an attic upstairs. I can always tie you to the bed, attach a hose to your junk, and that will be the only way you will ever be able to relieve yourself.”
When Shana leaned down close to me and grabbed my hair, my inner Beast growled and purred at the same time. Hating to have his hair pulled. But love the feel of his mate’s lips on his skin all the same.
“Did mate just say she would tie us to the bed, and we only be able to relieve ourselves by a hose? Kinky, if you ask me. Just imagine all the activities she can perform on us while having us tied up.”
“Kieran, are you serious? Who enjoys being tied up and handcuffed by a woman? Usually, it’s the other way.”
“Jay shut up. She is our mate and can do whatever she wants with us. Imagine her pouring strawberry syrup or whipped cream on our body and her using that soft tongue to lick it up.”
“Dude, hush, I don’t need those thoughts going on in my head while we are in front of the family.”
“Jay why did you just purr like a kitten?” asked Jay’s younger brother.
Being the brassy minx that I am, I looked at Jay, then around at his family. And I called River, his younger brother, over to me. And looked him in the eyes while telling him “Jay sounded like a kitten because he is part kitten. And from now on, if you go to call your brother. Say here kitty, kitty.” His little brother must have actually believed me because he walked over to Jay and asked him if he could shift and show us his kitten.
Jay glared at me, and I busted out laughing. It looked so funny watching River calling the big dog a kitty. Johnny looked at Jay and told him “I like her son you did good.”
> I guess many people fear Jay, nobody, has ever thought to look at Jay and tell anyone that he was a giant cat instead of a dog. Jay would flip out on anyone else for picking on him like that. Now every time you see his little brother and sister. All you could hear them say was, “here, little kitty.”
“Shana, you are in the wrong here, you know, that right? How are you going to tell my brother I have a cat inside my head that purrs when it’s happy?”
Chapter 21 New Tradition
She came walking up to me and kissed me on my cheek, informing me I will always be her little kitten while grinning at me. I swear my love for her is strong, but there are times the little minx drives me nuts. My beast would happily get on all fours and purr to his heart’s content to please his lovely mate. Love truly makes a person do and say crazy things for the one they cherish.
My family loves her. Not everyone can gain my parents’ approval because the girls I have been with were money hungry. Or they treated my younger siblings like trash. The only time they really acted nicely was when I was in the same room with them.
I hope no one comes to the house while Shana is here. All it will take is for one of my ex-girlfriends to show up for her to lose control. She has the qualities that my pack needs in their future ruler. She always put them before herself. She is good with the kids, and Shana really does not want power like most of the women I grew up around.
She wants to be accepted for what she can do for the people, not for the rank or the power she holds. She feels a person is more than the power that they process. I know she wants to make a holiday dinner for all the pack members and my family to say thanks for accepting her.
I asked Jay’s mom if they celebrate Christmas. That way, we could find if any Christmas decorations were lying around. As a way for me to start something, I can involve his younger siblings when the holidays come around. She told me they had none, but Linda liked the idea of getting a family event started for the younger members of the pack.
My Rock Forever Page 8