Jacks left the conference room, not liking the way he was feeling.  His team was a mess. Ryleigh was leaving for a couple of days, and he didn’t like it one bit.  It seemed like every time the woman left his line of sight, something happened.  He also was struggling with the fact that he couldn’t go with her with Kenna threatening to Shift at any time. For this reason, an Alpha had to be present at all times.  Declan was out on a mission and Kayden was knee deep in his own issues.  Calling in Kayden was a last resort anyways. So, left with no choice, he had to agree.

Ryleigh and Mia had noted anomalies with Ryleigh’s pregnancy that were concerning.  The pregnancy was healthy for all intent and purposes, but she had elevated hormone levels and the baby measured on the small side.  The other significant thing was that the baby was showing signs of being one hundred percent human.  Ryleigh had just reached her six-month mark with no indication of imminent delivery in sight.  All Shifter children were born between five and a half to six months’ gestation. 

Jacks didn’t care about any of that. All he wanted was for Ryleigh and his son to be happy and healthy.  He didn’t care either way and was almost relieved that his son wouldn’t go through some of the same things he had to go through in his life because of his differences. 

Walking down the hall, Jacks’ mood started to lighten with the enjoyable thought that soon he was going to be a father.  It was an amazing thing to him, never having thought he would mate, let alone have the chance to have a child of his own.  He had vowed at one time that he would never allow himself to procreate because of the potential downfalls.  Shifter males only bonded with other Shifters, and until the discovery of Franklin’s children, that hadn’t been in the cards for any of them.

Opening the door to his and Ryleigh's room, Jacks tried to enter as quietly as possible.  He knew that Rye needed her sleep and he wasn't going to take the risk of waking her up with unneeded noises.  Jacks took a couple of seconds to admire what was waiting for him, bringing a smile to his face.  Ryleigh was cuddled up in the bed hugging his pillow to her chest.   Her head was on the pillow, her red hair glowing off the stark white pillowcase, and the moonlight was shining on her, giving her an ethereal glow.  Jacks wasn’t a particularly religious man, but at that moment he knew he had seen Heaven.  Ryleigh was his angel, and he loved her more than life itself.

Stripping down as quickly and quietly as possible and walking to the other side of the bed, he slipped under the covers, cuddling up to his mates back.  Placing his hand on her swollen stomach, he thanked the fates and anything and everything above for this moment in time.  Ryleigh and this child meant everything to him.  Placing a small kiss to her temple, Jacks was content just to be present and in the moment with his mate.

"Babe?  You okay?"  Ryleigh asked in her sleep-laden voice."

“Yeah sorry, Babe, I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep. I just want to hold you for a while." 

Ryleigh could sense something was up with Jacks; their bond had deepened and his emotions flowed through her as if they were her own.  If a person were to look at him, they would never truly see what was going on in his mind.  Jacks looked every bit the intimidating Alpha, but his core was as soft as a marshmallow.  He still sometimes forgot that Ryleigh wasn’t like everyone else. He could say a couple of reassuring words or smile a little bit to deter further questions.  She knew that the coming day weighed heavily on him, and whatever happened in the meeting he just attended wasn’t helping.

"Jacks, you know everything is going to be okay, right?  Cash and I will fly in and meet with Mia.  We will run the tests and then just stay the night.  I’ll be back before you even get a chance to miss me." 

"Oh, I don’t know about that, honey. I’m already kind of missing you. But there has been a slight change of plans. Bas is going to come with you guys too.  He will stick around until you and Cash are back in the air, but then he is going to do a little side work." 

"Side work?” Ryleigh questioned.  “When do any of you guys do side work?  And if you did, what would it entail? I mean you’re all self-sufficient, but I can't see any of you off doing construction or bartending.  I mean, can you do side work in your line of work?"

Jacks laughed, “Okay, sorry. My bad for thinking you wouldn’t take my words literally, babe.  Let me rephrase a little. It’s not actual side work. Bas asked if he could take some time off to deal with some shit and I couldn’t deny him.  Things have been getting pretty intense around here lately, and if he figures his shit out by hanging out with his brothers for a little while, I’m all for it.  Shit, at least then there will be less bloodshed for a couple of days. I also asked him to check out that Shelby chick." 

"Did you ask him what’s been bugging him?” Ryleigh asked.  “I mean, we have all noticed the change in him, and Peyton seems to be baffled by his behavior.  It’s almost like he can’t stand to be in the same room with her, but still swears he is thrilled about her being here.  Then there is Wyatt. Shoot, those two have always been as thick as thieves, and now Bas seems to be chopping at the bit to take a bite out him.  It’s all weird if you ask me." 

"Babe, shit. Hell no. We're guy's; we don’t talk about emotions and shit.  We sit down with each other, have a beer, grunt a few times, and then all is good. Haven’t you learned anything by living here?" Jacks grunted. 

Ryleigh knew better than to believe the bullshit her man was sprouting. Jacks was a man’s man, but he also cared about each and every member of Alpha.  He said he didn’t do all the emotional stuff, but the truth was his teammates’ health and well-being weighed heavily on him.  Ryleigh wasn’t ever going to call him on it because it was just a fact of life, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t rib him a little bit.  Jacks was who and what he would always be, and Ryleigh was more than happy about that.

"Did he tell you why he needs the time away?  I mean I’m all for it but do you guys do that?  Take time away?" 

Sighing Jacks said, " Shit babe, all the new crap that is going on right now, mating, babies, betrayal, and everything else, is all new territory to all of us.  Most time if we take leave it’s as a group, but on occasion one of the guys needs to head out on their own. It's not unheard of. I mean, shit, it can’t be easy for Bas, Ethan, and Cash to watch all this going down.  All I can say is he asked for it, and I said yes.  I then gave him a job to do so he would stay out of trouble while he figured out his shit, plain and simple.  There isn't any more to it than that, babe."

"Oh yeah, sorry, big bad Alpha man," Ryleigh giggled. "No touchy feeling moments shared between the boys. I forgot. What In the world was I thinking?" Ryleigh said with an over exaggerated hand to her head. 

"Jacks, are you truly okay with me going tomorrow?" 

Ryleigh was questioning herself. She knew that the tests were necessary to not only her but any future children to come from Shifter pairings.  The information they had right now couldn't fill a thimble.  No one knew how pregnancy would affect women. Franklin, Pandora, and Davis created women that could not produce Shifter children; at least that is what they thought.  That lack of information scared her.  These tests to could help people she loved, like Emma and Dalton or even Wyatt and Peyton, if they decided to have more children.  They needed to arm themselves with enough knowledge to figure out what the future held. 

"I know, babe. You have explained it to me. Deep down I know this is important, but I just don’t like the idea of you being out of my sight even for a second,” Jacks admitted.  “You and this little guy mean more to me than figuring out all that genetics crap any day of the week.  Shifter human or little green alien, Rye, this babe is ours. I just can’t help but feel that nothing else matters."

"I know honey, but none of us know the extent to which Franklin or Pandora went while manipulating my genes.  I just . . . I need to be sure.  Right now, every indication shows that he is human, and I’m fine with that. But babe, I need to make sure that what they did to me isn’t going to cause him harm. Please, you have to understand that." 

Turning over so she could face him, Ryleigh placed her hand on Jacks' cheek.  "Babe, I’m with you all the way. As long as the baby is healthy and you are happy, you don't need to worry about me.  But we have to know if that is true.  Eli said…"

Jacks grabbed Ryleigh’s hand, and his eyes flashed iridescent green. " No Ryleigh, don’t let anything that fucker said taint this.  Mia has run every test, and the baby is fine.  If you need this amniocentesis to make yourself believe what I already know and Mia has proved, then I am willing to go with it.  But I can feel him, Rye.”  Taking her hand and placing on his chest, Jacks said, “Right here, babe.  Our little boy is perfect just the way he is.  Just like his momma.  I know it without a doubt. You are the one that needs to get on board and quit questioning everything."

Ryleigh wanted to believe everything Jacks was saying, but she still had doubts.  Going to Mia and having this test done would hopefully answer some of those questions, but right now, at this very moment, she needed something else. Leaning forward, she kissed Jacks.  Giving him a sweet, chaste kiss on the mouth, Ryleigh took it deeper, first nibbling at his plump bottom lip, waiting to open for her. 

Jacks soon took over the kiss, mimicking with this tongue what Ryleigh soon hoped another part of his body would be doing.  This man could melt her into a puddle in a matter of seconds.  Turning to his back, Jacks encouraged Ryleigh to straddle his waist, never once breaking the kiss.  Ryleigh was so wet that she could feel her arousal on the inside of her thighs, and she knew Jacks would feel it soon as well.  Positioned above him, Ryleigh felt his molten length pressing against her core. Unable to help herself, she shifted her pelvis to get more contact, and the sparks in her lower stomach started to ignite.  Groaning, Jacks took hold of her hips and sunk himself deep within her and Ryleigh was gone.

"Damn babe, hang on." Jacks started to piston in and out of her using his hands to lift and pull her to and from his body at an alarming rate.  Within seconds he joined her in her bliss.  Turning Ryleigh to her side, he continued to touch and kiss her lovingly it was a perfect moment until…

"Babe, uh listen, the next time you have one of your “girl talks”, how about you tell them I can last more than three minutes?  I mean, I’m Alpha and what you do to me could severely damage my rep.  You know Emma and Peyton tell the guys everything, and well shit, babe, I think I need to make this up to you."

Laughing, Ryleigh slapped Jacks on the shoulder. " Dude, seriously. I just had one of the best orgasms of my life, and you are worried about your reputation with the other guys?  Though this might be good because you know I have such killer moves I can take an Alpha down in under five minutes.  I think this might just give me some street cred with the ladies."

"Oh, now you want street cred? We will see about that, Ryleigh Thorp.  Let’s see if you can take on an Alpha.”

“Oh, not only can I take on an Alpha, babe, but I’m pretty sure I can bring him to his knees," Ryleigh laughed. 

When Jacks lunged at her, pinning her back against the bed and started to tickle Ryleigh, she lost herself in a fit of giggles.  Laughing so hard, she could hardly breathe. 

"So, Ryleigh, how were you going to bring an Alpha to his knees?" 

Still laughing, Ryleigh looked up into his brightly shining green eyes and said, “Easy, I love you, Jacks.” 

All Jacks thought was... Yep, that absolutely worked.