They sat up and rearranged themselves so they were tucked properly into bed. She took off her bra and tossed it onto the floor. She’d worry about where it landed in the morning.
“Thanks for today,” she said.
“You can have great sex anytime.”
“I meant your mom,” she said, giving him a playful slap on the chest.
“We can do that anytime you want too.” He kissed her deeply and slowly and then once quickly on the nose. “Goodnight, Kaylee.”
When Jules pulled up to the front gate of Brock’s house, Kaylee’s mouth fell open. Jules chuckled. “Are you really surprised?”
She shook her head. “Knowing he’s rich and knowing he’ll have a big house doesn’t mean I’m not impressed.”
“He’s updated the interior, and it really downplays just how rich he is. Don’t feel intimidated, okay? Brock and Gia are about the most down-to-earth rich people you’ll ever meet. I worked for Gia’s father for a while. Well, he was a client at the shop.” Jules shook his head.
“Strange that a man so wealthy would use a small-time shop like that. You’d think he’d have his own interior marketing department.”
“He did. He said he was farming out projects because his staff were overworked, and if he liked what I did he’d hire me. Of course, he was lying. He was involved with The Human Order, but he was a snooty piece of work. Just don’t mention him around Gia and Brock, okay?” He turned off the car. “Come on. Looks like we’re the last ones here.”
“It’s not my fault,” she grumbled as she took off her seat belt.
He leaned over and kissed her. “It’s your fault you look so damn good today.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Am I going to be the only normal human here?”
“No. Connie is Brock’s housekeeper and she’s human. And Gia is human. You’ll be fine. They’re going to love you. Just, ah, be warned. Connie is a bit overbearing. And she’s a romantic. And she loves babies and weddings.”
“So, she’s going to want to know when we’re getting married and having a family. Got it. When are you going to propose anyway?”
He growled through a grin and she laughed.
“If Connie’s going to be asking, I thought I should have an answer to give her!”
They were met at the door by a round-faced middle-aged woman. “You’re late,” she said with a finger wag. “Get in here before the get into the cake.”
“Yes ma’am,” Jules said. “Connie, this is Kaylee, my girlfriend. Kaylee, this is Connie—she’s in charge around here.”
She reached up and patted Jules on the cheek. “You’re a sweet boy. And smart.” She turned to Kaylee and pulled her into the house. “Come, I’ll show you were to drop that present and then I will introduce you around.”
Jules took off his shoes and followed the noise to the living room. It was strange, meeting there. Generally, they hung out in the kitchen at the big island. It was closer to the fridge and felt more casual. This felt prim and proper and polite. He was afraid to ask for a beer.
Remy came over and pushed a cold beer into his hand. “Relax. No one will flick your nose for sitting on the couches. We’re in here because Gia can’t manage the bar stools anymore.”
“You read my mind,” Jules said.
“How are things with your father?”
“Good—better than I thought. We might actually be able to maintain some sort of relationship when he returns home.”
“Any idea when that will be?”
“Soon, I would think,” Jules said. “He does have a wife and a job after all. I think he mentioned something about joining us for the full moon again. I’m surprised she’s okay with him staying this long. She never liked me.”
Remy nodded. “I’ll speak with him then. If you two are still mending your relationship he is welcome, but I would like to know.”
Kaylee was at the other side of the room being introduced to the guest of honor. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” Gia was saying. “It will be nice to have someone to talk to while they’re doing all their serious clan business stuff.”
“We won’t be included?”
“Oh, we are sometimes, especially Human Order stuff since that affects us and our security directly.”
“You were part of that whole hostage situation, I remember that now. God, that must have been terrifying.”
Gia nodded. “Terrifying is a good word. And devastating. But we survived.”
“Enough of that,” Connie said, bustling over. “Everyone is here now. We can have cake and open presents.”
Kaylee stepped back and stepped on a foot. She turned, already apologizing. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s all good.” The woman smiled at her.
If the petite pregnant lady was Gia and the overbearing middle-aged woman was Connie, then this last woman had to be Jane. She was shorter than Kaylee by several inches and solid in the shoulders. She wore no makeup and had her brown hair back in a simple pony tail. She was possibly the palest person in the room with the lightest hair.
She held out her hand. “Jane.”
“Kaylee. A few months ago, I thought you were sleeping with Jules.”
Jane laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean any offense, but he’s definitely not my type.”
“More for me,” Kaylee said with a smile. She relaxed a little. “And I know that now. That was before I knew about Jules being a werebear.”
“A bit of a shock, was it?”
“I’ll say. I saw the video before he told me.”
“Shit. Look, Jules is a good guy, and he’s come a long way. I think you’re part of the reason for that. He’s got faults but disloyalty isn’t one of them.”
“Thanks. He doesn’t talk about any of you ever, so I’m sort of at a loss here. I don’t know what kind of small talk to make.”
“Don’t ask about the bears,” Jane said with a chuckle.
“So ‘how long have you been a bear?’ is a bad question?”
“You’ll always get the same answer. We were all born this way and started shifting around puberty.”
“Where are you from? You don’t sound like you’re from New Orleans.”
“I’m not. The French accent fools most people. I’m from Quebec, in Canada.”
“Wow. What was it like up there?”
“A hell of a lot colder than down here, that’s for damn sure. And wilder. I didn’t grow up in a huge city like this. The woods started a hundred meters from my back door. Made it dangerous to be a bear but a lot more fun too.”
“You miss the woods?”
“Oh, yes. But I don’t plan on going back. This is home now. This clan is my family.”
There was something in Jane’s voice, a twinge of emotion desperately hidden, that made Kaylee want to push for answers.
Brock appeared next to them. “Sorry Kaylee, I have to steal Jane. And Jules and Philippe. I have a safe room downstairs and they need to know how to operate the security around it.”
Kaylee nodded.
Gia, with Connie’s help, got up from her big comfy chair. “And I have had too much lemonade. Excuse me.”
“You had half a glass,” Remy said.
“When you have a seven-pound bear cub tap dancing on your bladder, you can criticize me for going to the bathroom too often. Until then …”
“I know, I know. Shut up. Got it.” He turned to Kaylee as the others dispersed. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m fine, thank you. I guess you’re Remy.”
“Yes. I didn’t mean in general. Are you okay? Being surrounded by werebears can be overwhelming at first.”
“Okay, a little,” Kaylee admitted with a little laugh. “But they’re all nice enough.”
“Yes, they are. I understand you’ve had a chance to spend some time with Jules’ father. I was hoping he wouldn’t negatively color your view of us.”
“Any negative behavior I’ve seen I’ve chalke
d up to him being an asshole father. I never would have blamed it on him being ‘other’. But I’m biased against fathers.”
“I think Jules mentioned something about that. Kaylee, can I ask your honest opinion?”
“Of course.”
“What do you think of Gabriele?”
“Definite asshole father. I was willing to give him a chance for Jules’ sake, but I don’t like what I see. He asks the wrong sort of questions, and he sneers a lot at the answers. He doesn’t like you and I have no idea why. He apologizes a lot, but only when someone calls him out on something. I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’ve only met him a few times.”
“No, that’s really why I wanted your insight. There’s a lot of history between Gabriele and I, and that is going to alter my ability to judge this situation fairly. Your first impression may be the most honest one. How much did Jules tell you about what happened with his dad?”
“Only the abandonment stuff. Is there more?”
“It’s old clan history now, no need to bring it up.” He patted her arm. “Is Jules explaining everything okay—about werebears? Did you have any questions?”
“I’m good. It was an adjustment at first, but we’re good now. Thanks.”
“Then why don’t you come downstairs. I understand you have never seen a werebear shift. It takes some getting used to and Jules will handle the experience better with the clan here to calm him down.”
“It’s really okay for me to see him shift?”
“Of course. If he ever shifts around you, like he did at the airport, you remaining calm and accepting will be one of the things that helps him maintain control. If you panic or reject him he may go berserk.”
“Like at the airport?”
“Oh no, he showed extreme control at the airport. Come on.”
Remy got ahead of her by a half dozen steps while she absorbed what he had said. She could see the luggage flying as Jules charged through the airport as though she had the video playing in front of her.
“Are you coming?”
She nodded and followed after him. It was something to think about.
The basement was sparsely furnished, just some workout equipment and storage shelves. At the far end was a door around which Brock, Jane, Philippe, and Jules were gathered.
“So, that lets you into the outer room,” Brock was saying. “Inside there is a cage with an automatically locking door. It cannot be opened from the inside. There is an intercom in one corner which is connected to several units throughout the house. Connie already knows how to operate all of this.”
“Why is this here?” Kaylee asked.
They all turned to look at her. “It’s safer than the warehouse, if someone loses control,” Brock said. “Generally, Remy and I deal with getting clan members here and locked down, but with the baby coming I don’t know how I’ll react to Gia’s distress. We’ve agreed to a home birth to minimize exposure to possible accidental victims.”
“But if you go berserk they have to know how to control you?”
Brock nodded.
“I thought this would be a good chance to introduce Kaylee to Jules’ bear,” Remy said, his hand on Kaylee’s arm.
“Is that really safe?” Jules said. “Is that a good idea? I mean my bear and I, we’re not always stable. I don’t know what he’ll view as a threat right now.”
“Your bear knows all of us. We’re all here to lend you our strength. We will not let anything happen.”
Kaylee offered him a shy smile. “It’s okay. I won’t run away screaming, I promise.”
Jules nodded. He keyed in the security code and the first door opened. He went in and opened the second door and stepped into the cage. When the door was closed, he stripped. He turned to find Kaylee the only one in the viewing room.
“They’re just outside,” she said. She sat down on the floor. “How long will this take?”
“I honestly don’t know. I only change when the anxiety gets bad or when the moon is full. I’ve never done this before.” He sat down too.
She crawled over to the cage and reached through. He stared at her hand for a moment and then reached for it. Their fingers intertwined. He took a deep breath and then another, letting each one out slowly.
“Okay,” he said, pulling his hand away.
Before Kaylee could say anything, the change started. She couldn’t look away. It started at his shoulders, a sprouting of coarse black hair that rippled down his back and chest. Then he seemed to swell, his already broad frame growing wider, his arms thickening. It moved over his face fast, one moment human, and then a ripple of fur and magic and he was a bear from the waist up. It went faster now, and he rolled as his legs thickened. The worst was the popping sound his joints made as they adjusted to the new positions. When he stood it was on all fours. He shook like a wet dog, nose to tail, and sneezed.
He looked at Kaylee with dark eyes. She stared right back. She grabbed the bars and pulled herself to her feet. “Jules,” she said. “I thought you were big before, this is just amazing. Can you hear me? Do you recognize me?”
He approached the bars. She didn’t move. He sniffed her hands. She didn’t move. He licked her like a puppy might. She giggled. “Gross.” She wiped her hand on her jeans. “Really, Jules? Well, I guess that’s one way to answer me.” She stretched her arm out slowly and rested her hand on the top of his head. He sighed. His whole body relaxed. “It’s so thick,” she said. “I’m coming in.”
He backed away, right to the back wall of the cage, and made sounds that were remarkably like speech, just missing the words.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she said. “I trust you. And the clan is right outside.”
She opened the cage and stepped in, closing the door again behind her. Then she sat on the floor and waited.
He paced along the back wall, though it was only two or three steps either way. He’d stop every few laps and huff at her. Still she waited. Finally, he stopped and stood watching her. She quirked her eyebrow at him. “Well?”
He huffed again and came closer, lying on the floor with his head on his paws so his nose touched her foot. She smiled. She slid up onto her knees and reached over, stroking the top of his head again. She scratched behind his ears and along his jaw until his eyes fluttered shut.
“You’re beautiful,” she said softly.
When the viewing room door opened a short time later, Jules was still lying on the floor, curled in a ball with Kaylee tucked in the curve of his massive body. She was stroking his giant paw and talking softly. They both looked up at the sound of the door clicking.
“I’m sorry,” Remy said. “It’s time. Jules needs to call the change and become human again. Already Jane and Philippe have left, and it’s time for me to leave as well.” He had both hands in the air, shoulder height. Still Jules glared at him. “Jules, for her safety, yes? It’s time to change.”
“Should I come out?” Kaylee said.
Jules lumbered to his feet.
Kenny (Shifter Football League Book 2) Page 53