Page 3 of Snatching Jackie
“It’s a once in a lifetime blessing,” Tristian shrugs.
“Don’t say that. I hope I have ten with my mate,” I say with complete seriousness.
Tristian raises an eyebrow, and then we both fall into laughter, realizing the ridiculousness of that statement. Ten cubs? Fate would have blessed me ten times over. And what woman would want to raise ten stubborn, strong-willed, petty bear shifters? We’re lovable and affectionate, but sometimes our quirks can get overwhelming.
“Your parents were a great honor to the bear shifter communities,” he says, his voice growing solemn. “And so was Frost Clan. Your father and mine were brothers.”
The memories of the Great War return, bringing a wave of shared sadness between us.
“I miss them,” I admit quietly. “All that were lost.”
We finally reach the docks, and I stop when I see a massive cruise ship passing by. It’s four levels high, with a clean white hull and the name “Wintermoon Cruise” painted in blue on the side. The decks are packed with tourists, and I can hear musicand laughter from across the water. I’ve been here since winter and haven’t seen this ship before.
I point at it, curiosity momentarily overriding my discomfort.
“Ah, that’s Wintermoon Cruise,” he explains. “Don’t worry, it won’t dock here. It’s for the humans who can’t afford a ticket to the Tourist Island, as it’s quite expensive.”
That explains why the humans who visit the island are always so annoying and entitled. They’re all wealthy.
Tristian rubs his beard, lost in thought, then looks at me with a smirk. “You’re still a good cook, aren’t you? Even though you’re out of touch with humanity, you’ve been studying human cuisine.”
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “It’s a hobby. I want to make sure I know how to cook for my fated mate when I find her.”
Tristian smiles as I pull a small jar of honey from my back pocket, thankful it didn’t shatter during teleportation. I bring it to my nose, the sweet smell making my bear calm down and my headache begin to subside.
“I have an idea,” he says, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Kade might not be on board with it, but I’ll convince her.”
I barely hear him, my attention fixed on the ship and the obnoxious humans on board snapping photos and waving at us as if we’re celebrities. I bare my canines, preparing to growl, but immediately calm when Tristian places a hand on my shoulder.
“Easy, cousin,” he warns. “This won’t work if you can’t control your temper. I think I know how to keep you off Wintermoon for just a few more months before your hibernation period.”
“That’s not until winter,” I remind him.
Tristian looks pointedly at the cruise ship, and I start to piece his plan together. Wintermoon Cruise. Watching the cool waters for the rest of the summer.
That doesn’t sound too bad at all.
Well, that’s if I can handle the humans on board and keep my bear from sinking the ship.
2
JACKIE
Downtown Detroit—Penobscot Building
I’ve got a proud grin plastered across my face as I watch Monet twirl in her new dress. It fits her perfectly, hugging every curve like it was made for her body—which it was, thanks to my skilled hands. I can see the confidence growing in her eyes with each spin.
“See? The right clothes, the right style, and you shine,” I say, stepping onto the platform to fix the hem of her dress. The mirror reflects both of us—two beautiful plus-sized women owning our space.
“Jackie, I can’t thank you enough,” Monet says, her voice catching. “I came in here feeling so defeated.”
“I’m always going to show out for my plus size girlies,” I reply, examining the fabric, pinching it between my fingers. “Just a few more alterations and it will be perfect. When you come in for your makeup, this dress will be one hundred percent ready for you.”
Monet starts to cry as she stares at herself in the mirror. I sigh, shaking my head with a knowing smile. I step down fromthe platform, walk over to my vanity, and pull out a box of tissues from the drawer before quickly returning.
“They always cry when they see their transformation,” I say, handing her the tissues. “You’ll cry even more after you get a full face of makeup.”
I’m not judging her—I cried too when I saw my first transformation. After that day, I made it my priority to not only make sure the world knew I was beautiful as a bigger woman but also to help other bigger women understand just how beautiful they are too.
