Running in Fear Escaped (10 page)

Jaycee laughed, crying as she took the puppy from her arms. “Thank you, Samantha. He is lovely, and I will make sure he gets lots of attention. Anytime you want to see him, you can ask your mommy to bring you over, okay? Thank you again.” Jaycee lowered her head and kissed the girl on the forehead.

Samantha stared up at her, beaming, then ran back to her mom. Jaycee smiled at her mother, mouthing thank you. The woman smiled and nodded her head. Then she noticed another woman come up and say, “No one has eaten. We wanted to wait for you. Will you please stay and eat with us?”

Jaycee turned her head up, staring into Dane's smiling face. “I would love to stay and eat with all of you. Thank you for waiting for me.” Jaycee turned, smiling at the women, “but I would rather eat down here with you than sit up there, if it's okay with my mates.” She heard Dane laugh as everyone set up an extra table for them. She looked for Samantha and her mother, but they were gone from her view.

“Dane where is Samantha and her mother? I wanted them to eat with us so I could thank them,” Jaycee asked handing her puppy to Shelly.

“I'll put him in the main house. He's already trained, so you won't have to worry about that.” Shelly laughed as the dog licked her face.

“Thanks, Shelly,” Jaycee said looking up when Samantha and her family came to their table and sat down.

“Ms. Black, are you going to have another human wedding with your mates like you did with your first husband?” Samantha asked, sitting near Jaycee.

Jaycee choked on her food. Her eyes watered, and, finally, when she could breathe again, she looked across the table. Samantha's mom was scolding her daughter. Tears started to form in the girl's eyes.

“It's okay, Myra. She was just curious, and, with all the rumors I know have to be going around, she must have been confused. Actually…” Jaycee leaned over the table, looking around like she was going to tell her a secret.

“No one knows this, so you're the first person I'm telling. I was actually never married, and my last name is still Manz. That nasty man tricked me, telling me that we were married, but we weren't. I found out two weeks ago, and you're the one I decided to tell, since no one asked me.” Jaycee leaned back, taking another bite of her food. She heard gasps coming from everyone else at the table, but she didn't care.

“What are you talking about, Jaycee?” Shelly gaped at her.

“About two weeks ago, my lawyer contacted me and told me that all the documents James had shown me were forged. We were never married,” Jaycee said, shrugging her shoulders.

“My God, why didn't you tell us?” Dane yelled, putting his fork down, staring down at her.

“Did you ask? Have you asked how I lived since those attacks? Have you asked how I coped? No!” Jaycee glared back at him. “There are a lot of things that have happened to me that you don't know about.” Jaycee took a sip of her Diet Pepsi and started to eat, ignoring her mates once again.

Jaycee looked down at the table to find her stepmother. “Kate, did Nana ever mention anything about a dress?” Jaycee asked, and her father looked up, smiling.

“Yep, sure did. I have it for when you're ready.” Kate smiled.

“Good. Hold on to it. I don't know if I'll need it or not.”

“Oh, you'll need it, or I'll take a shoot gun to all your mates!” Guy growled, staring at her mates. Jaycee busted out laughing.

“Dad, you can't force them to marry me in a human wedding. You know that.” She peeked over at Dane, Mark and Pierre. All three of them were frowning.

“My mother made me promise if I ever found your mate, I would make sure you had your dream wedding. You'll have that, angel. I wasn't there for you when you needed me, but I can make sure you have this. She told me everything you'd talked about before she died.”

“Thanks, dad. But after all that's happened, it's not that important anymore,” Jaycee mumbled around a bite of food.

“So, tell me, Samantha. Do you and your family live around here?” Jaycee asked, trying to change the subject.

“Yep, we live here all the time. Daddy works for Dane, so we have a house up on the left mountain. Will you be living up here all the time, too?” Samantha asked, stuffing a piece of chicken into her mouth. Jaycee laughed at the small girl's voracious appetite. She'd always wanted children so badly, but she'd never thought it would be possible.

“I don't know, but I think I would like to live up here. I can find some work to do at home on the computer. I was even thinking of starting a horse farm. I love horses. I used to ride all the time when I was small. Have you ever ridden a horse?” Jaycee watched as her eyes got huge.

“Really, horses? I've never been on a horse. Could I help if you do?” Samantha jumped up and down in her seat. Jaycee laughed.

“I don't see why not. But I'll have to find the perfect place for a barn and a pasture for them to run in. Maybe next week your mommy will let you show me around, so I can see where everything is?” Jaycee smiled at Myra. “I know you're close to your due date, and this way it would give you some time to relax for a while. I really do need to look around and get my bearings.” Jaycee asked, smiling at Myra and her very pregnant stomach.

“Are you sure? She can be a handful,” Myra warned, staring at her daughter.

“I would love it. Plus it would give me a chance to get out and meet other people. I think Samantha is the perfect person to help me break the ice.” Jaycee laughed at the bubbling bright-eyed girl. Myra looked over at her husband, who smiled and nodded.

“Okay, then. Samantha, I will come and pick you up around ten in the morning next Saturday. That is, if the storm breaks before then,” Jaycee said, looking up at Samantha, knowing she had made some new friends.

“You'll have to wait for the following weekend, I'm afraid.” Dane said, stuffing food into his mouth.

“Why? What do we have planned next weekend?” Jaycee asked, pushing her plate away and taking a drink from the fresh coffee that had been placed in front of her.

“Did you forget our bonding ceremony is next weekend?” Mark asked.

“Oh, crap, I did forget. Sorry, Samantha, but it will have to be the following weekend. I'll be there for you then, I promise.” Jaycee smiled at her as she drank her coffee.

“Excuse me, Dane, but we have a problem. The wind has blown part of the roof off the hot house,” a stranger said, coming up to their table.

“Crap, I knew I should have reinforced that roof. Get a few others; it looks like we have some work to do. Sorry, baby, but I have to run. I don't want all those plants to die.” Dane leaned down and kissed her. “I can't believe you forgot about our Ceremony. That's going to earn you a punishment tonight, baby,” he whispered into her ear and turned to walk away.

Jaycee squirmed in her seat, her face turning red, knowing everyone had heard him.

“Hey, mom, does daddy punish you, too?” Samantha asked, and Jaycee's face burned even hotter.

“Of course your mommy gets punished too, sweetie. Just not when you're awake,” Jaycee heard Sam's father say, getting up to go. She looked up and saw Myra's face as red as hers. They both burst out laughing.

“I'm going to go help, too. Maybe with more men we can get this done faster,” Pierre said, sliding his chair back and kissing her on the lips before he left. “I can't wait till tonight. I have some new toys that I have been dying to try out.” Pierre waggled his eyebrows. Jaycee laughed, swatting him on the ass as he left.

“I'm going to go get us some dessert, baby. I'll be right back.” Mark got up, walking towards the kitchen, and two females walked over to their table, staring down at her. Jaycee stared back. “Can I help you with something?” She heard Myra growl low. Jaycee waited.

“Do you really believe you can keep three grown Alphas happy? I mean, come on; you weren't even a wolf to begin with,” one of the girls snarled. Jaycee's father growled, but she shook her head at him. She could handle this one herself.

Slowly standing up, Jaycee got into the girl's face. “First, it's none of your business what I do with my mates. And they
are
my mates, make no mistake about that. Second, who do you think you are to confront me, your Alpha Bitch?” Jaycee growled, and whole room quieted down as everyone watched her.

“Mark is mine. I just got here and heard all this shit about you being his so-called mate. My friend here is Pierre's bitch. You come here, take all three men, and act like some prima donna,” the other bitch snapped, and spit flew everywhere.

Inside her, the beast growled, wanting to come out and play, but she vowed not to ruin this dress. “I have had the worst two days of my life, and now you want to start some shit. Well, let's settle this now, shall we? And when it's settled, I will give you one warning. You come near me again with this attitude, and I will rip your face off and ask questions later.” Jaycee turned to where Mark had taken off to. “Mark, get your ass out here now. And grab Pierre while you're at it!” Jaycee yelled out. Everyone sat, waiting expectantly.

All three of her mates came in through the kitchen doors, two of them covered in snow. They didn't look happy, either.
Good. I'm tired of this shit!
She waited till they were next to her before turning her back on the women. “I want to ask you a question. Mark, Pierre do you want these bitches? Do you love them? Do you three want any other woman I'm not aware of?” Jaycee growled. Her body felt like it was going to explode; her nerves were completely shot.

Mark walked up to the blond bitch, circling her. “I told you from the start that you weren't my mate. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but you know better than to disrespect the Alpha Bitch this way,” Mark snapped.

Pierre walked to the other female and yelled, “I personally told you it was over, yet you came in here and started this shit!” Pierre grabbed hold of her hair and dragged her to the doors that led outside the pack house.

Mark did the same. They both shoved the girls outside, yelling, “Go to your cabins and think about what you have done. You know what happened to your friend. Do you want to be banished, too?” Mark growled and slammed the door shut.

Dane stared down at her. His hand gently pulled her body towards his, “There will be no more of this,” he said, speaking clearly to everyone, “and I won't say it again. She is our mate now. There is no question about it!” he snarled as he looked out around the room. Then she felt a little tugging on her skirt.

Jaycee turned and looked down at Samantha. Bending down, Jaycee smiled. “What can I do for you?”

“Are those mean girls gone? I don't like them.”

“They were just hurt. That's why they were upset, sweetie. I am sure they'll be fine when they calm down. Now, I feel like some ice cream. Whenever I get upset, I eat lots of ice cream. Do you think we can talk Dane into getting us some? I like strawberry. What's your favorite?” Jaycee asked.

“Well, my favorite is chocolate. Do you think they have both?” Samantha asked, looking up at Dane pleadingly.

“I think I can mange that. But we'd better ask your mommy first, don't you think?” Dane said, smiling at the little girl. She turned around and ran to her mom as Mark and Pierre came up to her.

“I am sorry, baby. We didn't know they would do this. It shouldn't have happened.” Mark pulled her into his arms, kissing her. Pierre rubbed her back. “Ditto, baby.”

“It's done. There's no need to apologize. I just hope they get over it. I don't want to cause any more trouble,” Jaycee said, noticing as Sam came running over with a smile on her face.

“Jaycee, mommy said I can have some ice cream! But just a little, because she says I won't sleep if I eat too much.” Sam's little face was all lit up, her dark bangs falling in her eyes.

“Well, then, I guess I better go get some ice cream for two beautiful ladies,” Dane laughed, walking towards the kitchen.

* * * *

Jaycee moaned as she curled up on the sofa, talking to Shelly. Her mates were still outside trying to fix the roof on the hot house. “I can't believe I ate all that ice cream. I can't move.” Jaycee laughed and stared at Shelly. She, too, rubbed her stomach.

“You just had to pull out the strawberry, didn't you? You know it's my favorite, too,” Shelly laughed.

“Hey, I can't suffer alone! So tell me how's it going with your mate? You know you never did tell me his name.” Jaycee frowned at her as Shelly burst out laughing.

“You're too much. His name is Grant Summer, and he's great. He wants me to spend the next couple of days with him. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet, so I told him I would think about it tonight and give him my answer tomorrow.”

“Do you believe he's your mate?”

“I know I feel different when I'm with him. I mean, I've been with men, but it's different with him. It's like I want to curl up into him and not let go. Does that make sense?” Shelly questioned, sipping her wine.

“Yeah, I'm the same way with my mates. Hell, I should still be furious with them. But all I want to do is touch them all the time. When I first saw Dane for the first time, I just wanted to run with him. It hurt so much, not being able to run. Hold on. Let me get that.” Jaycee got up to answer the house phone.

“Hello?”

“You stupid slut. I'll get you. You're mine, and if you think those so-called mates of yours are going to stop me, then think again. Soon!” her step-father yelled into the receiver. Jaycee dropped the phone, backing up and looking around her.
He has to be around here to know I have more than one mate! Who told him?

Baby, what's wrong? We're coming!
Dane reassured her.

He's here! He knows about you guys. How does he know, Dane?
Jaycee asked as Shelly pulled her into her arms.

“What's wrong? You're shaking and white as a ghost. Who was that on the phone, Jaycee?”

“Curt. He's here, Shelly. He knows I have more than one mate. Someone else is telling him things. He said my mates can't protect me,” Jaycee said as Shelly moved her to the sofa, handing her a glass of wine.

Jaycee swallowed it down in one gulp. Her mates burst into the room, surrounding her. Her father and some of his guards followed them in, making sure every door was secure.