BK 4 - Chapter 8 - Bad News
Lisa woke up with the largest smile on her face. Jayce was sleeping, but his arms were still wrapped around her tightly. Ali purred loudly in delight. She was anxious to mark Jayce so she could meet his lion. With his eyes still closed, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Please tell me yesterday wasn't a dream, and you're still in bed with me," Jayce said, rubbing his hands over Lisa's back as though to make sure she was real. She giggled and kissed him on his mouth lightly.
"If it was a dream, then we're in it together," Lisa replied, laughing harder when Jayce only opened one eye to look at her. His heart swelled, seeing her glowing face with her wild blonde hair all over the place. She was beautiful.
"I love you," He said, pulling her closer and kissing her before she could respond.
"I love you too. So I guess this means you didn't change your mind during the night about being my mate," Lisa questioned, looking into his loving eyes. Jayce kissed her all over her face until she was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.
"I would never change my mind. Being with you is all I want. So what happens now?" Jayce asked, smiling at the woman who changed his life in one day.
"Well, I have to take my last final today. My plan was to leave for Sacramento with Alex and Breanne tomorrow. Will you be ready that soon or would you rather wait a little longer?" Lisa asked. She couldn't wait to introduce him to her family.
"I'm ready to follow you anywhere so we can leave tomorrow. Are they going to be okay with me being human?" He asked nervously.
"Some of my family were human before they met their mates. They will love you and be happy that I found my mate. However, they may question and threaten you to make sure your intentions are good but don't let them get to you. Some used to work in law enforcement, but no one will hurt you, or I'll hurt them." Lisa said seriously. Her family was protective of her. Sometimes she loved it, and sometimes it got on her nerves, but she loved them all the same.
"What time is your final?" Jayce asked, not wanting her to leave. She looked at her phone.
"I have to be there in an hour," Lisa said regretfully. She should have studied more, but she had been busy.
"I'll go with you and wait outside for you to finish," Jayce said. He would go in with her but didn't think that would be a good idea. Lisa beamed up at him making his heart flutter with excitement.
"That's sweet, but I don't want you to waste your time. I'm sure you have something better to do than stand around waiting for me." Lisa replied as she wrapped her arms around him. She needed to get up, shower and put clothes on, but she didn't want to.
"Waiting for the other half of my heart. I can't think of anywhere else I want to be." Jayce said before kissing her.
They got out of bed after a few more kisses and quickly showered. Lisa ran up to her apartment to get dressed and grab her backpack. When she walked in, Breanne looked at her in disbelief.
"You know it's almost time for the final." She said, following Lisa into her bedroom.
"I know. I slept late. I just need to change, and I'll be ready to go. Jayce is going to walk over with us. He's also going to Sacramento with us tomorrow." Lisa said as she pulled on white shorts and a black short-sleeved crop top. She saw Breanne's face fall in the mirror as she combed her hair.
"He really is going to take you from me, isn't he? You're the only friend I've ever had, and now I'm losing you," She said sadly, looking down at her feet, trying to hide her tears. Lisa walked over and hugged her.
"No one could ever take me from you. We're not friends; we're sisters. Whatever happens in either of our lives will not impact our relationship." Lisa said as she comforted her friend. Breanne felt relief flood her body.
"Alright, I'll tolerate him, but if he hurts you or tries to come between us, don't get mad when I kill him," Breanne said as they headed for the door. Lisa chuckled.
"I won't," When they reached the second floor Jayce was waiting for them. He smiled at Breanne while putting his arm around Lisa.
"Nice to see you again, Breanne." He said, smiling at her.
"Yeah, just remember what I told you yesterday. I hear you're going to Sacramento with us. So do you plan on freeloading all summer?" She asked, glaring at him as he opened the front door for them. Lisa looked at Breanne in shock. She had never heard her speak to anyone like that, but Jayce just chuckled.
"Not at all. I'll earn my keep. I have some money saved from working when I was back East." He answered her. Breanne huffed and walked ahead of them.
"Don't mind her. She's scared you're going to take me away from her. It's just been us and Alex for three years. Bringing a new person into our circle frightens her." Lisa explained. Jayce nodded his understanding and vowed to show Breanne he wouldn't do anything to fracture their friendship.
When they arrived at the hall where their final was, Breanne went in to get them seats while Lisa kissed Jayce goodbye. She would only be away briefly, but neither wanted to be separated.
"I have to go. I'll come out as soon as I'm done," Lisa said, kissing him one last time.
"I'll be waiting right here. Take your time, sweetheart. I know you'll do great," Jayce watched her walk into the building, feeling empty. He sat on a bench to wait. When someone sat next to him, he looked up and saw Alex.
"This seat isn't taken, right?" Alex asked, not really caring what Jayce said.
"No. I'm just waiting for Lisa while she takes her final," He answered, trying to sit a little taller. Alex was close to seven feet tall; Jayce felt small next to him, even at six-four.
"So she told you about us, right?" Alex asked, looking anywhere but at Jayce.
"About you both being shifters and your family? Yeah, she did, and I think it's great." He responded, relaxing slightly.
"Good. I wanted to talk to you to make sure you're not just accepting my sister so you can become a werelion and then reject her. She's been through enough, and I won't let some prick come in and break her heart." Alex looked Jayce in the eyes. He may be quiet for the most part, but when it came to his family, it woke the bear inside him. What he saw in Jayce's eyes made him relax, but he wanted to hear him say it.
"I won't break her heart. I love Lisa, and yes, becoming a werelion is a benefit, but even if she never changed me, I would still be with her. I promise you can trust me to never make her cry." Jayce answered from the heart. Alex studied him for a few minutes and then broke out into a big smile, slapping him on the back.
"Then welcome to the family. Are you going up north with us?" Alex asked. He knew Lisa would have been mad with him questioning Jayce, so he had waited until she went in to take her final before he approached him.
"Yes. She told me about the group homes, and they sound amazing. It would have changed my whole life if I could have had someone like your grandmother rescue me as a child. I want to help out any way I can." Jayce answered. Now that Alex had chilled, he felt like he could breathe again.
"Grandma Cat is something special. She can bring peace to everyone while at the same time stomping someone into the ground. The family and the kids she helps are everything to her. Don't let any of them intimidate you. Lisa and I aren't related to our family by blood, and I think that's why they're so protective of us. They have always treated us like we were born into the family, but with our history, they wanted to make sure we never felt like outsiders. You'll fit right in." Alex said softly. He was already starting to like his sister's mate. He wasn't loud and obnoxious. Jayce seemed quiet and calm, like Alex himself.
"I can't wait to meet them all. Lisa tried to tell me how everyone was related and what species they were, but I got lost." Jayce admitted making Alex chuckle.
"That's not hard to do when our family is constantly growing. I better take off before Lisa comes out. She'll get mad if she thinks I'm trying to scare you away." Alex held his hand out to Jayce with a smile before leaving.
Jayce's heart felt lighter after his talk with Alex. He would never say it to the large man, but he really seemed like a big teddy bear. He was lost in thought about Lisa and their future when someone sat beside him. He saw a young blonde woman in a tight cheerleader uniform.
"Hi, my name is Ashley. I saw you with Lisa. Are you two dating or something?" She asked in a whiney voice. Jayce instantly disliked her. When he got up to leave, she grabbed his arm.
"Mine and Lisa's relationship is none of your business," He said, pulling his arm from her grasp. He turned toward the door of the building to wait for Lisa when Ashley ran ahead and stood in front of him with her arms crossed.
"Why would you be with someone like her? She's weird and such a conceited bitch she thinks she's better than everyone," Ashley flipped her hair over her shoulder. Jayce tried to ignore her and walk away, but again, she stopped him.
"You obviously don't know anything about her, and if you call her a bitch again, you'll regret it." He said angrily. Did Lisa have to put up with people like this obnoxious woman her entire time there? Jayce desperately wanted to see her.
"Why are you defending her? She's nothing but a whore that sleeps with every man here, so none of us can have a chance with them. You're just another man added to her long list of names." Ashley said smugly. Jayce knew that was the furthest from the truth. Just as he turned to lay into her, someone beat him to it.
Lisa ran to them, throwing her bookbag on the ground and grabbing Ashley by her long blonde hair. The other woman turned white when she saw who had her.
"Let me go," Ashley squeaked.
"What did I tell you about spreading lies about me? Do you need to be taught another lesson? I am more than happy to teach it to you." Jayce stared in disbelief. Lisa was a few inches shorter and more petite than Ashley, but she handled her like she was the size of Alex. When Breanne walked up to him with a smirk, he looked at her in disbelief.
"Have people been treating Lisa like this a lot?" Jayce asked, looking from Breanne to Lisa.
"Unfortunately, the whole three years I've known her. Most leave her alone now, but she's not afraid to stand up to anyone. There are a lot of girls here who are jealous of Lisa's looks. Even though she hasn't shown any interest in anyone, that doesn't stop the rumors when men constantly hit on her." Breanne answered with a smile. She loved it when Lisa showed how badass she was.
"I'll let you go, but if I hear that mouth of yours running again, it will be the last time," Lisa let Ashley go just hard enough to make her land on her backside. She turned to Jayce with a sheepish smile.
"I didn't just make you want to head for the hills, did I?" Lisa asked with concern. She knew not all men liked a woman who wasn't afraid to fight. Jayce beamed down at her before leaning over to kiss her.
"Like hell am I heading for the hills. I think I love you even more," Lisa giggled and was getting ready to respond when her phone rang. It was her mom.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Lisa, we need you and Alex to come home right away," Lisa heard her mom crying on the phone, and her face fell.
"What's wrong?" She asked with fear.
"Your grandfather's not doing well. We don't know how much longer he has."
