BK 4 - Chapter 11 - Breakfast with the Family
Lisa sobbed as she looked at the letter in her hands. Roger's death hit her all over again. He really was one of the best men she had ever known. Jayce moved to sit behind her pulling her back to his front and wrapping his arms around her.
"I still can't believe he's gone. I have to do what he asked so I can achieve his dream. He was human, but he was always trying to make our world better." Lisa said as she carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. She then looked at the large file. She was too drained to start on it. After putting both the letter and file on the nightstand, she looked up at Jayce.
"I'm sorry, this is how you met everyone." She said, kissing his cheek.
"I'm just glad I got to be here with you. I can't imagine having you go through this alone. Whatever you need from me, just let me know." Jayce said, kissing her forehead. He may have preferred to make a better impression on her family than showing up at one of the worst times in their lives, but he would do anything for Lisa.
"Let's try and get some sleep." She said. Jayce pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her so she could put her head on his chest.
"Will you let me help you with his mission?" Jayce asked nervously. He understood if she wanted it to be something only she and Alex worked on.
"Of course, you can. I told him that I thought you would be able to help. I know it's not technically civil rights," Jayce stopped her before she could say more.
"Are you kidding? This is a perfect example of someone's civil liberties being taken away. A group of people who are being prevented from living a life like everyone else because they don't fit into a certain mold. I can't think of anything more appropriate. I know I'm new to this world, but I truly believe we can do this." Lisa looked up at Jayce with the first smile he'd seen on her since Roger passed away.
"Thank you. I'm so glad we met when we did, or I might not have found you until after summer. Are you still up for me marking you and everything? It would probably be better to do it while we're here before we go back to San Diego so you have time to adjust." Lisa bit her lip nervously. What if he changed his mind about being marked?
"I say the sooner, the better," Jayce answered before kissing her. He could tell she was still worried he would change his mind, but that wouldn't happen. He loved Lisa and couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with her. They both fell asleep a few minutes later.
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Lisa opened her eyes the next morning and looked around to get her bearings. As soon as she realized they were in the pool house, the grief washed over her. As tears filled her eyes, Jayce opened his and pulled her against him.
"Let it out, sweetheart." He said softly, holding her to his chest as she cried. When she could speak again, she looked up at Jayce with red puffy eyes.
"I'm sorry. I don't want you to think I cry about everything, but when I woke up this morning for just a brief moment, I forgot Grandpa Roger was gone." Lisa said with a scratchy voice.
"Don't apologize. No one expects you to get over this quickly. You'll always miss him. You're the furthest thing from a big crier. I saw how you handled that Ashley girl yesterday." Jayce smiled at her, and Lisa chuckled as she shrugged.
"People underestimate me because of my size. I thought college would be better than high school, but it's just filled with bitches who are older. I can't stand bullies and people who spread rumors." She said, laying her head back on Jayce's chest. She had seen so many bullied kids in the group homes, and it tore her up each time. Most of them were already going through a nightmare, only for it to continue while they were at school.
"You're the strongest woman I have ever met. I agree with you on the bullies. I was bullied in school, and it weighed on my mind to the point that I started to believe what they said. In addition to what my aunt, uncle, and cousins did to me, the kids at school made my life hell." Jayce looked out the window, trying to keep himself from returning to that dark place he'd escaped.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. Let's go to my mom and dad's house. We'll look at the file tonight, but I want to be around family right now." Lisa hoped being with her family would help Jayce heal his scarred heart.
They got up and dressed before Lisa realized she didn't have a car. She could have called someone to pick them up but decided to call an Uber instead. Melanie and Saxon didn't live that far, so they pulled into the driveway within a few minutes. Lisa smiled as they drove up to her childhood home. She still remembered the day they bought the house. She and Alex had been so excited to finally have a real home. It was the first time they had truly believed nothing would take them from their family.
"This is where you grew up?" Jayce asked, getting out of the car. The house was huge but seemed inviting.
"Yeah. We moved here right after we were adopted. It's the only home we've ever known." Before Lisa could say more, the front door opened, and a tall teenager with blonde hair walked out. Lisa ran and hugged him while he looked at Jayce suspiciously.
"Who's this?" He asked, keeping his arm around Lisa's shoulders.
"Tristen, this is my mate Jayce. I thought you met him last night," She may be five years older than her brother, but he towered over her. He was sixteen and already built like his Grandpa Trey.
"No, I didn't. Nice to meet you. If you hurt my sister, you're dead," Jayce held his hand out to the teenager with a smile.
"I promise I won't hurt her," He said, and Tristen nodded. They all turned when they heard the door open again. Jayce saw a girl run out, squealing when she saw Lisa. She had long jet-black hair and blue eyes.
"You're here. What's this I hear about a mate?" She stopped when she saw Jayce and crossed her arms. "Is this him?"
"Carlita, this is Jayce, my mate," Lisa answered after hugging her sister.
"I may only be twelve, but I have fangs that can tear you apart if I see her cry," Carlita said, putting her hands on her hips. Jayce stared at the little vampiress with wide eyes. Lisa wasn't kidding about her protective family, and these were just her siblings.
"Ignore them. I used to change their diapers." Carlita stuck her tongue out at Lisa, and Tristen's face turned red. Jayce did everything he could not to laugh at their embarrassment. Lisa took his hand and pulled him into the house, where he could smell breakfast. Melanie, Saxon, Alex, and Breanne were all in the kitchen and looked up when they came in.
"You two are just in time for breakfast," Melanie said, walking over to them. She hugged and kissed Lisa and then did the same to Jayce. He was so taken aback that he froze. Melanie looked at him in concern.
"I'm sorry." She said as she started to step back. Jayce shook his head and smiled.
"Don't apologize. I'm just not used to people treating me like family." He answered softly. Melanie could feel his pain, so she hugged him again. Jayce felt a warmth start in his chest and spread through his body. It was the same feeling Cat had given him the night before.
"You'll get used to it real fast being part of this family," Melanie said. Saxon hugged and kissed Lisa and patted Jayce on the shoulder.
Lisa led him to the table where there was French toast, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. Jayce looked at it all in shock. It was the most food he had ever seen for breakfast.
"Our family has big appetites," Saxon said, chuckling at Jayce's expression. He was being careful about what he said in front of Breanne. However, Melanie was beginning to think Lisa's friend was starting to figure something out with some of the questions she'd been asking.
"Yeah, that tends to happen when you have a family of shifters and vampires," Carlita said, looking at her phone as she sat down. When everyone gasped, she looked up and shrugged her shoulders. "What? It's time to let the cats and vampires out of the bag."
Everyone got quiet and looked at Breanne, whose fork had stopped halfway to her mouth. She slowly put it down as a smile spread across her face.
"I knew it," She said excitedly. Lisa looked at her in shock.
"What did you know?" She asked her.
"I knew there was something different about your family. I just couldn't figure out what it was. With the way your mom and Grandma Cat make people feel better, and how you all are stronger and faster than normal. So tell me more about this," Breanne said as she took a bite of her food. Everyone around the table burst out laughing. Lisa had been adamant about keeping their secret from Breanne because she thought it would freak her out.
They all told her about their family and what it meant to be a shifter or vampire. Breanne looked at Jayce with her eyes narrowed.
"Wait a minute, are you one of them too?" She asked.
"No. I only found out when I met Lisa two days ago. She told me about being mates and everything," He smiled at Lisa putting his arm around her, but she was focused on Breanne. Her friend's face fell as tears welled up in her eyes.
"So you told him after only a few hours, but I've been your best friend for three years, and you never told me?" She asked. Lisa stood up and went over, putting her arms around Breanne.
"The only reason I didn't tell you was because I was scared you wouldn't believe me and then I would lose my only friend." Breanne nodded and hugged Lisa back before pulling away with a grin.
"If he's human and mated to you, does that mean I could be the mate of a shifter or vampire too?" She asked excitedly. Lisa started laughing at the look on Breanne's face.
"You could be. My Grandma Cat and Grandma Janel were human too." Lisa answered as she took her seat next to Jayce. Breanne looked thoughtful before nodding.
"I hope so. That would make everything perfect if I could be like you." Breanne thought about mating with a shifter or vampire. Her life would never be the same again if she could find a man that treated her the way the men treated the women in Lisa's family. That's all she wanted. Someone that would love her unconditionally.
