Chapter 20
Jessica
Dinner went without a hitch. Michael ate almost a whole bag of barbeque chips with his burger. Madison’s appetite seems better. She usually only eats half a burger, but today she ate all of it, and some chips. While the women cleaned up the dinner dishes, the guys had a beer in the living room. The twins were begging to play outside, but Jessica told them they didn’t need to run around right after they ate.
“Mommy, Michael wants outside!” Madison whined as she came into the kitchen holding her tummy.
“What’s wrong Baby? Does your tummy hurt?” Jessica asked her. Madison nodded, and came closer.
“Michael do it.” She said looking up.
“Michael wants to change to his wolf?” Jessica asked remembering what Makenna had said.
When Madison nodded, Jessica quickly went to her bag for the cookies Makenna made. This will be the perfect time to test them out. Jessica can’t keep Michael from shifting, so hopefully this will help her. Madison ate the cookie the moment Jessica gave it to her. Michael didn’t even come running for a cookie this time. As soon as she was finished with her cookie, Madison ran back into the living room.
Ten minutes later, all the dishes were finished. Bri handed them another beer, and they went to join the others. Coming around the corner Jessica heard the familiar sound of Michael shifting. There sitting in the middle of the living room is Michael as his wolf. Jessica notices that he looks bigger than he did yesterday. His clothes are a shredded mess on the floor around him.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Jessica didn’t want to fuss, since he couldn’t help it. “You’re running out of clothes doing that.”
Michael whined, and licked her hand as she gathered the last bits of clothes. She rubbed his head before getting up, and throwing the ruined clothes away. Alexander walked over to her before she came back into the living room.
“I’ll replace his clothes for you.” Alexander offered.
“It’s okay. He has more, but if he doesn’t start taking his clothes off first we are going to need to go back to town.”
They walked back in the living room together. Michael was jumping on everyone, wanting their attention. Madison informed them that Michael wants to go outside. Jessica isn’t too sure that’s a good idea with him being a wolf. He may run off like he did yesterday.
“Don’t worry we have this.” Alexander told her before heading down the hall.
“Excuse us,” Jayden says as he and Caleb get up to follow Alexander.
Just as Jessica sat down on the couch next to Madison, she heard a series of pops. She jumped in surprise. Abby laughed when she caught Jessica trying to settle back in. She knows they shifted it’s the same sound as Michael’s. She couldn’t help being a little nervous. She will be surrounded by wolves in a moment, literally. When Jessica saw movement from the corner of her eye, she whipped her head around to see what it was, even though she had a feeling she knew.
The large wolves came in from the hall. Jessica knows the first one is Alexander. Michael’s wolf looks just like his. The last two were Caleb and Jayden. They were gray wolves. Although she didn’t know which one is which. One had a black streak along his chest, and the other had a red tail, and a red leg.
“Pretty!” Madison squealed, hopping down from the couch.
She went straight to Alexander, and started petting his back. He licked Madison’s face making her giggle.
Michael seems excited to see other wolves, too. He ran up to the larger wolves, and began nipping at them. The gray one with the black streak walked to the back door. Bri got up, and opened the door for him, then gave him a hug before he walked out.
“Where are they going?” Jessica asked when she noticed Alexander and Michael were heading to the door also.
“Outside mommy,” Madison explained.
Alexander stopped at the door. He lightly nipped at Michael’s neck, and Michael sat down by the door. Alexander came over to Jessica. After licking her hand, he took it lightly in his mouth, gently pulling her hand. She can take the hint. He wants her to come too.
“Let’s take our drinks outside.” Abby suggested.
Jessica grabbed her beer off the coffee table before following them out. Caleb and Jayden were in the middle of the backyard running around chasing each other. To Jessica it looks like they are playing a game of tag. Alexander nudged Michael towards the steps, giving him permission to go. Michael didn’t need any further encouragement as he took off down the steps with Alexander following behind him.
Madison sat on Jessica’s lap, and watched the wolves play. Jessica is in awe with the sight before her. The wolves running and playing before her is something she had only imagined seeing on the discovery channel. Jessica heard a few sniffles coming from Madison.
“Is your stomach hurting again?” She asked Madison.
“No,” Madison shook her head. “I want to play.”
“She can go out there with them, it’s safe.” Bri assured her.
“Can I?” Madison asked sweetly.
“Of course, but don’t go near the water.” Jessica warned.
Madison gave her a kiss on the cheek then went down the steps to play with the guys. Jessica enjoyed watching them. Naturally Madison is the slowest, but the guys let her tag them. When they chased her, instead of bumping or biting like they did the other wolves, they would run circles around her stopping her in her tracks.
“They are fun to watch, aren’t they?” Abby pointed out when Madison tagged Michael by falling on top of him.
“Yeah, but I’m scared one of them is going to get hurt.” She admitted.
“They won’t hurt her.” Bri assured her. “We aren’t complete animals.” She laughed. “When we shift, we’re still us.”
“Well then, I hope they wear the twins out. I could use another good nights’ sleep.”
“Right,” Abby said slyly. “You just want them to sleep hard. We understand completely.”
“Abby!” Bri scolded
“What?” Abby said innocently, raising her hands in a questionable gesture.
“Hush,” Bri hissed.
“Oh, come on Bri. You know you can smell it too.”
“You don’t even know what all the scents are Abby.” Bri commented.
Jessica is clueless as to what they are talking about. She didn’t want to interrupt them to find out either. She figures once they stop their bantering, one of them will tell her. However, at the mention of smells she instantly tilted her head, trying to remember if she put on deodorant. Smells like roses. Maybe whatever they are smelling isn’t even her.
“Jayden has been teaching me. Trust me, in the last four days there has been a lot of arousal in this house. I know what it smells like.”
“But you don’t talk about it.”
“Please,” Abby snorted. “We’re all women here. You don’t mind, do you?” She asked Jessica.
“Uh… no, I guess not.” Jessica shrugged her shoulders.
“See,” Abby grabbed her beer, and sat back in her chair. Clearly, she is finished with the conversation.
“She doesn’t know what you are talking about.” Bri shook her head, and rolled her eyes.
After a second both Abby and Bri looked at Jessica with questioning looks. Jessica shook her head in response. She knows they are talking about smells and sex.
“Wolf shifters have excellent sense of smell. We can smell people’s arousal before they even know it.”
The thought had Jessica crossing her legs. Is that why he ran out last night? Did she put off a smell? She started sniffing the air around her but quickly stopped when Abby and Bri laughed.
“You’re not going to smell it. It’s too subtle.” Abby explained. “Women are easier to smell though. Our bodies put off a stronger scent so males know we’re ready.”
“My body is lying then. I’m not ready for anything. Especially if there’s a chance I would turn into a wolf. No offense.”
“If you say so,” Abby smiled.
She did, and she believes it, too. Although she will take a good shower when she gets back to her place, just to make sure she isn’t putting off anything that will chase Alexander away. You would think he would jump at the chance to have sex. She hasn’t seen anyone run from the thought of it.
Jessica began watching the fun in the yard. She noticed Madison was getting slower. Just as Jessica was about to call her up to the porch to rest; Madison sat down on the grass. Alexander went straight to her, and licked her face. She laughed, and hugged him. She was saying something but Jessica couldn’t hear what. Alexander laid beside Madison, and she used him as a pillow to lay down.
Michael still had plenty of energy as he chased Jayden. When he finally caught him, Jayden rolled on the ground as if a giant had hit him. Michael then began biting on Jayden when Caleb joined in, and started nipping at Michael. Alexander and Madison were watching the show too.
After some rest Madison would get up, and start playing again. Jessica didn’t mind. The more tired the twins were, the better they would sleep. One by one the wolves came up the porch. Bri once again opened the door for Caleb to go in. As Madison started walking up the steps Alexander turned back for Michael. He didn’t look like he was ready to go. Michael made a small growl, followed by a bark. Jessica laughed when Michael jumped up and bit Alexander’s ear. She probably shouldn’t have laughed but she couldn’t help herself. They were too cute together. Alexander picked Michael up by the scruff of his neck. He carried Michael the same way as yesterday. Jessica now knows this is a normal thing for wolves, and their young.
When he came up the steps, he put Michael in Jessica’s lap. He licked her hand before he went inside. It’s a sweet gesture from shifters. If she applies her animal training, she may have a better idea of what is going on with Michael when he shifts.
“You tired, sweetie?” Jessica asked Madison when she came over to pet Michael.
She nodded her head but didn’t take her eyes off Michael until the back door opened, and the men came back out. Alexander scooped Madison up in his arms. She squealed with excitement, before he sat in a chair and set her on his knee.
“Did you have fun?” Alexander asked Madison, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Mm hmm.”
“Good,” Alexander replied. “You about ready? I think the little ones have had enough for one day.”
“Yeah, they need baths tonight.” Jessica said.
Jessica went inside to grab her bag. She doesn’t have any more of Michael’s clothes with her so he is just going to have to stay the way he is. They thanked everyone for a wonderful evening before heading out to the car. Jessica is glad she agreed to come.
She held on to Michael as Alexander drove them back to the cabin. Madison sat in the back singing a made-up song about wolfies. Jessica glanced over just in time to see Alexander nodding his head to Madison’s tune. Although he stopped the moment he caught her looking. She smiled before turning back to her window, hoping to catch him in the moment again. You can’t fake the little things.
She took in his appearance like she has done most of the day. He didn’t button his flannel shirt all the way up. She wondered if his body still looks the way it did years ago, after all her body has changed in more ways than one. She imagined stripping it off him. Suddenly she smiled, if her memory is correct he wore that same shirt the night they hooked up. Briefly, she wondered if he did that on purpose or if it just happened to be the one he pulled out of the closet.
“What are you thinking about?” He asked, catching her watching him again.
“Nothing.” She turned back to the front.
“Doesn’t look like nothing.” He commented.
Jessica blushed, and looked out the window. There isn’t a lie she could think of quick enough so she didn’t say anything. When she glanced down at Michael, she saw Alexander smiling out of the corner of her eyes. If she asks would he tell her what he is thinking? She decides not to even ask. The silence has Jessica anxious to get back to the cabin. Anything that is said around the twins may be twisted around, and blurted out at the worst times.
“We will be there in a few minutes.” Alexander informed her.
“I didn’t realize we were that close already.” Jessica looked at the surroundings. She must have lost track.
“You seem to be in deep thought or ready to get back.”
“Just ready to relax.” She commented. “I still have to get these two cleaned up.”
“Why don’t I help you?” He offered. “I can at least watch one while you bathe the other.”
“That would be great.” She replied. “I never know what Michael will try to get into when he is like this.”
“He will calm down in a few months. Right now, it’s all excitement for him.” Alexander explained. “Once he gets used to it, he probably won’t shift as much. It won’t be a big deal for him anymore.”
“I hope so, because he is wearing me out.” Jessica admitted as they were pulling up to the cabin.
Once they brought the twins inside, Jessica put Michael down. She left them in the living room with Alexander while she drew a bath for Madison. Walking back into the living room, Jessica laughed when she saw Alexander laying on the floor with Madison bouncing on his chest, and Michael attacking his legs. Even after she took Madison to the bathroom, she could still hear the commotion.
It has been a long time since she has had any help with the twins. Sure, her friends help when they can but they have their own lives to live. Jessica’s mother helps when one of the children are sick and unable to go to daycare. Other than that, she does it all by herself.
Madison helped wash herself, so she finished in record time. Usually she likes to play in the tub until the water turns cold. Tonight, Madison rushed to get dressed, and fussed when Jessica wanted her to stay still so she could dry Madison’s hair. More than likely Alexander is the reason for her rush. Before Jessica was even done drying Madison’s hair, she ran out of the bathroom leaving Jessica alone with a wet towel. Jessica shrugged it off, and refilled the bathtub for Michael.
“Alright Michael. Your turn.” Jessica hollered when she came of the bathroom.
As she walked up the hallway to the living room she spotted Michael’s tail sticking out from under the couch. Alexander and Madison are sitting on the couch looking innocent.
“Come on Michael.” She bent down to get Michael when he shot out the front of the couch and down the hall.
“Wolves no bath, mommy.” Madison claimed.
“In my house, they do.” She stated with authority.
Madison sat back, and crossed her arms with a defying look. All Alexander did was smirk. Just because Michael is a wolf at the moment, doesn’t mean he don’t stink. He will get a bath one shape or the other, Jessica thought. She turned and went down the hall with a little huff.
“Michael, your water is going to get cold if you don’t hurry!” She called out pausing at the twins’ bedroom door.
Not seeing any movement, she bent down to check under the beds. The room is clear. She headed to her room. She knew he wouldn’t have risked running into the bathroom. The moment she entered the room, Michael bolted out from under the bed, and tried to run out the door. Luckily, she caught him as he tried to run between her legs.
“Gotcha!” She was barely able to grab a hold of him. Michael squirmed, trying to get out of her arms.
“You’re getting a bath one way or another.” Jessica told him as she went into the bathroom closing the door behind her.
The closer they got to the bathtub the more Michael would whine, and howl pitifully. Jessica gently set him down in the water. He tried to jump out, but she blocked his way. Before her eyes, Michael started shifting. The popping sounds occurred as his body changed. She hadn’t seen him shift up close before. It amazed her to say the least. Within seconds her little boy was back. He sat up, rubbing his hands over his eyes.
“Momma, I clean.” He exclaimed.
“You need to take a bath every day son. You know the rules.”
Michael pouted as she washed him up. He was having no part in it. He would grunt in response to her being done with an arm or leg. When he was clean, and dried off he put his clothes on. Fully dressed in his pajamas he stormed out of the bathroom. Jessica is glad his attitude changed the moment he entered the living room. Alexander seems to have that effect on the children. Michael is all smiles now.
They all watched a movie together. Both children were curled up in Alexander’s arms. He told Jessica to go ahead and take a bath, and he would watch the children. He didn’t have to offer twice. She took a long hot bath, and even shaved her legs. Which she hadn’t done in a week. Why bother if you don’t have to?