Page 30 of Blackmailed

Jefferson frowned. “I’m sorry I even asked.”

Danielle squeezed his shoulder. “It’s no one’s fault. I am going to monitor her heat this month and see if we can get a better understand of what’s going on with her. If we can find the answers, we can fix it. As for the little girl, she’s Emmeline. Hayden and Nico adopted her.”

“What are you three conspiring about over here?” Kalkin appeared beside them.

“I asked a stupid question,” Jefferson said.

"Hayden." Kalkin scrubbed his face. "She's been through the wringer and it's not getting any easier. She's started testifying Monday and it didn't go well. The fucking lawyer Holly bought is trying to accuse Nico and Hayden of having an appropriate relationship before she turned eighteen."

“Jesus,” Jefferson grumbled. “Poor kid.”

“Doesn’t help when the whole family drops bombshell after bombshell on her.” Kalkin shrugged. “And, it’s not like telling some members of this pack and pride, ‘no,’ or to ‘think things through,’ works either.”

“Has she ever thought about getting away?” Jochi asked.

"Oh sure, we took her and Nico with us on a mini-vacation a couple of weeks ago," Kalkin said. "She's a valuable part of the team and as such, she should be taking care of her mental health. The shit from the last year is wearing on all of us. So, while we were away, she and Nico came to a valuable understanding and, as you can see, their family has expanded by one."

Jefferson couldn’t imagine what they’d all been through and he didn’t know who’d bared the brunt of it more. Hayden, due to it being her aunt and uncle who’d kidnapped and tortured her. Or Mackenzie, because he’d been Holly’s mate or faux mate as he’d learned later on. “Well, I for one hope you can figure out what’s happening to her.”

“Us too.” Kalkin glanced out the sliding glass door as they entered the living room. “Can you give us a hand outside?”

“Sure.” Jefferson pressed a kiss to Jochi’s temple. “Don’t get into any mischief while I’m outside.”

“Never, bèndàn.”

Jefferson shook his head. “You’re not a very good liar.” He winked at Jochi.

“Have you given much thought about tonight,” Kalkin asked Jefferson as they stepped outside.

“Tonight?” Jefferson quirked a brow.

“Well, it is the first night of the full moon. Your wolf might want to stretch his legs.”

Jefferson frowned. Of course, he thought about it, but hadn’t considered it, since he’d been more consumed with the fact, he still had work to do before Emersyn took over for him in the Senate. “I hadn’t... What I mean is, I have, but I didn’t ‘think,’ about it. I don't have the urge to erm, shift. Is that the right term?" Damn, he felt incompetent. For all the years he spent protecting shifters, becoming one, had him feeling less than equipped for whatever might happen next.

Kalkin laughed. “You sound like someone who got their hand stuck in the cookie jar. It’ll either happen, or it won’t.”

“Well the knot works,” Jefferson grumbled. “Charisma walking in at the most inconvenient of times.”

Kalkin turned his head slowly. Any other time Jefferson would have found the gesture comical. “It did?”

“You’re not going to lecture me about locking my front door, especially with the shit going on right now?”

The Alpha waved him off. “Did it fix the ‘issue,’ you were having?”

He nodded. “Yes. I feel a thousand times better and not so out of control for once.”

“It’ll get better,” Kalkin replied. “Your body has to adjust to it. Tonight, see where the wolf takes you and let him control it. If nothing happens, it’s okay too.”

“When did you become the calm voice?” Jefferson teased.

Kalkin flipped him off. “Who said I was calm?”

He snorted.

“Look, you’re new to this. I can’t be a dick when you don’t know what to expect. Later, when you’re comfortable in your new skin, I’ll dick you around. Until then, don’t take advantage of my good nature,” Kalkin growled.

Jefferson put his hands up in acquiescence. “Understood. So, what are we doing out here?”

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