The Veterinarian and the Werewolf

Chapter 20

Word Count: 2607

Warning: Oral female receiving

A/N sorry life got busy, but here is a new chapter Thank you to the vigilant beta/editor and who kept reminding me but also realised how busy life outside of lockdown got.

Chapter 20 – Jessie

Jessie sat at the kitchen table enjoying the fresh vegetables and tender steak that the boys had cooked. She wasn't quite sure how the transformation had happened, but she was sure it had. She was no longer alone, she was surrounded by people who in some form or fashion called her family. First, there was Joe, the only one in this town after Bet had died who had truly cared for her well-being. Not only had he worked alongside her, treated her with the respect she deserved as an authority in her field, but he had somehow gotten through her defences, so much so that he was no longer just a friend but the younger brother she wished she had had. Dillon came along for the ride, but instead of being the difficult partner he just fitted in with Joe, supporting him in his endeavours. But this whole experience had shown her that he also saw her as family.

Tom and Henry had come into her life at the same time. It was odd to her, how they seemed joined at the hip as if the young man was Henry's family but we could not work out how. She had given up trying to understand that dynamic, for some reason it didn't bother her, in fact, it felt natural to her that both of them doted on Tom. A natural need to protect him had driven all her decisions recently. And then there was Henry, the wolf, no man, well both. She had never been comfortable around men, but he had somehow managed to find his way into her heart. She could say it was the mate pull that Joe kept talking about, but truly she believed it was because she met him as an animal first. Her defences were down, and she let him walk straight into her heart.

So here she was surrounded by boys, as they laughed and shared banter. The more Henry healed, the more he opened up to the boys. She could tell he was opening his heart to them as his new family. The only one that was missing from this table was his nephew. She knew it pained him that he had been unable to care for him, but hopefully, the place he had been left at was a good family home.

"Jessie, that sounds like fun. Are you ok if we close the office for an official break?" Joe's voice cut through her thoughts. She turned to look at him smiling but oblivious to the conversation that had preceded it. His bright eyes held hers waiting to have her answer, "Sorry Joe, I kind of zoned out, what were you talking about?"

Joe huffed before taking a dramatic deep breath, "Henry wants to go find his nephew. The house is about a two-day drive from here and he suggested we all come."

She turned her gaze to Henry who was watching her pensively, he really was very cute when he was worried. Everything in her wanted to go and sit in his lap and caress his brow to elevate the furrow of wrinkles that were there. But this was not her dream place, and he was real which made her stomach twitch and turn with nervousness of her own. Her mind betrayed her as images of all the things she had done with him in her dreams flooded her mind. She felt her cheeks flame as a new look filled his eyes, could he tell what she was thinking?

Trying to get some control over her mind, she shifted back to the subject at hand, "Uh ok, so you want us all to travel to find your nephew? Isn't that something you should do on your own Henry? Won't your nephew be overwhelmed by seeing you in human form and then introduced to a whole heap of others?" She calmed as she watch him think, allowing her heart rate to settle.

He smiled at her then, a genuine smile that filled her with warmth. "Maybe I can meet him with you first then after we can introduce him to our family?" She chuckled at the ricochet effect of gasps around the table. Each boy's reaction was a delight to see, Joe and Dillion seemed tickled pink to be considered part of their family. The surprise for her was the stoic Dillon whose face lit up with an unhidden joy, eyes sparkling and a smile that could brighten any room.