BirthRight (9 page)

“Okay, Nay. Thanks for coming out here with
me and staying. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” The two
women embraced. Jasmine placed a kiss on her sister’s cheek.

Aunt Renee cupped her sister’s cheek. “Don’t
think I’ve forgotten that conversation we started before the
call.”

“I know you haven’t. Neither have I. I think
you may be right. After things settle here, I’d like for us to make
some plans.”

“Thank you, Jesus. I was so scared you’d
fight me on this.” Renee pulled back. “Look at them.” She pointed
to Tyrone and him. “You have successfully raised two grown men.
It’s time for you to think about yourself. That’s what they want
for you.” She looked at him and then Tyrone. “Right boys? You want
your mom to be happy.”

“Yes, most definitely,” he said.

“Of course, she deserves it,” Tyrone said as
he reclaimed his bed.

His aunt clapped her hands as though she’d
accomplished a tremendous feat. “Great, it’s settled. Once you
leave this therapy thing, we’re going to set some things in motion.
Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a handsome man, have a little fun, get
laid.”

“Aunty,” Tyrese said, placing his hands over
his ears.

“Oh lord,” groaned Tyrone.

“Maybe,” Jasmine said, smiling. “Take care,
Renee, call me when you get home. Tell Mandy thanks for covering
for you, I owe her one.”

“That’s how family rolls. We look out for
one another.” She placed a kiss on Tyrese’ and then on Tyrone’s
cheek. “Be good boys, don’t have my sister go off on you in this
fancy place. You know she will.”

“We know,” Tyrese said. “I remember too many
shopping trips when she’d go into auto correct mode.”

“God, that was embarrassing,” Tyrone
muttered.

Jasmine laughed. “Sometimes correction needs
to take place right where you are so you never forget how to act in
that place.”

Tyrese leaned forward and kissed his mom’s
cheek. “You used to tell us that all the time.”

She shook her head. “I only told you that
when I had to correct your behavior in public. Think about it, how
long did it take for you to remember not to open food in grocery
stores or add things to my cart, or take something without paying
for it?” She eyed him and his brother with a twinkle in her
eyes.

“I’m sure it didn’t take long. Sorry I’ve
got to go, but I do.” Renee grabbed Jasmine’s arm and walked her to
the door.

If they weren’t wolves, neither him nor his
brother would’ve heard his aunt’s whisper. “Seriously, sis, that
tall one with the green eyes might be a good place to start. As far
as men go, he wasn’t half bad.”

“Uh, no. I’d like someone not like Davian,
thank you. And he has hardass written all over him. The next man I
take on will see me as a person first.”

Tyrese looked at Tyrone and spoke through
their link. “This is not good. We have to convince mom to go to
therapy. We have to stay until the Patron is convinced we’re not a
threat.”

Tyrone’s eyes widened. “What?”

Tyrese glanced at door. His mom was
listening to his aunt talk about Mandy. He took a seat next to the
bed. “Yeah, I had a forced meeting with the Patron and the Alpha
who runs this territory. He has some concerns over her breeding
wolves and not being mated.”

“You agreed?” It was weird hearing Tyrone’s
outrage through their link.

“It was that or we all die, including
Aunty.”

Tyrone’s eyes widened and then closed tight.
“I did this. I brought her to their attention.”

“No. Well, maybe. But they had no idea
half-breeds existed. Plus we’re not rabid, or crazy. I get the idea
they plan to run all types of tests on us.”

“On mom?” Tyrone sounded horrified.

“I don’t think so. Not at first anyway. I do
think they plan to look into her background, if they haven’t
already.”

“You believe him? You believe he’d kill
us.”

Tyrese thought of the power that’d pulsed in
the room with seemingly little effort on the Patron’s part. “He
called my wolf. One minute I was standing in the hall, the next I
was on all fours prancing up the stairs like some punk answering
his call. My damn wolf sat there wagging his tail like a bitch
waiting for a treat.” That still rankled. His gaze swung to his
twin. “Do I think he’d take us out? In a fucking heartbeat. In his
mind, we’re freaks. Something that shouldn’t exist. Personally, I
think the real reason he’s allowing us to live is because he
believes there are others. By understanding us, it gives him an
advantage. He can prepare to deal with any others.”

“Damn,” Tyrone glanced at the door. His mom
and aunt were hugging again. “What’s the deal with the
military?”

“I’m out, pending my psych eval. You?”

“I think I’m being discharged as well. Can’t
help but wonder how much clout Silas has, huh?”

Tyrese frowned, the name sounded familiar
but he couldn’t place it. “Silas?”

Tyrone nodded. “Silas Knight, the Patron,
leader of the Alpha werewolves.”

Jasmine walked over to the bed, and pulled
up a chair next to Tyrese. “Okay guys, what’s our next move?”

Tyrese looked at her. “I think we’re going
to the physical therapy facility with the hard head over here who
got hurt.” He watched her carefully, hoping she’d just fall in line
with their plans. He should’ve known better.

She frowned and sat back. “I’m not
comfortable staying at there. Can we get a place nearby?”

“I’ll ask, but I thought you planned to stay
with me until I recovered,” Tyrone said, looking confused.

She shrugged. “I’ll just be in a nearby
hotel like I am now. I can visit you. But I can also see and do
other things.”

Tyrese grew uneasy at her bid to push them
out of the nest so she could begin her own journey. Although she
deserved it, her timing sucked. “Mom, why can’t we all stay
together? This may be the last time you live with your sons, if you
want to look at it like that. But I want you with me if I have to
stay in a place with him.” He pointed at Tyrone, who appeared
offended.

“I don’t want to stay in a place with just
you either,” Tyrone snapped.

“Can we all stay at the hotel?”

Tyrese hated to kill the hopeful tone in her
voice. But he wanted her alive, to have a chance at happiness
later. He was banking on that being a real possibility after the
Patron realizes they aren’t a threat.

“I can’t. Sorry, Mom,” Tyrone said with just
the right amount of sadness.

“Oh well,” his mom said with obvious false
cheer. “I suppose I can put down my apprehension over this
decision, just this once. But I’ve gotta tell you, I don’t feel
good about this move. Not at all.” She eyed Tyrone. “Would you like
to get a second opinion? You don’t have to do this if you don’t
want to.”

It was a good thing she had no idea they
were smack dab in the middle of a shifter hospital; and from what
Tyrese had smelled, she and his aunt were the only human. The man
who controlled all these people made a mockery of his mom’s claim.
They had to do this and they didn’t want to.

Chapter 8

The three bedroom condo was on the second
floor, situated near the wooded area of a large complex. It suited
their needs. Each bedroom had its own bath, and the large kitchen
was stocked with all types of meats and veggies. Once they arrived,
after unpacking, Jasmine had slept for twenty hours straight.

Tyrese had been dismissed from the military
due to the strange bond with his brother and it looked as though
Tyrone would receive a similar dismissal. She should’ve been happy,
but their combined sadness permeated their temporary living
quarters and stopped her from saying anything glib.

The first five days flew by. Both boys left
in the morning to do whatever they did in therapy while she stayed
at the house, alone and depressed over her life. All of that came
to a screeching halt on the sixth day.

She decided to go for a walk. Taking her
phone, MP3 player and headphones, she walked down the path that
started near their condo building. Within minutes, the fresh air
and the beauty of the flowers and nature eased her frustration
about her stunted life.

When her legs began to ache, she sat on the
grass near the path to rest. The sky was clear and the warmth of
the sun caressed her cheek. She was tempted to lie down and take a
rest. But the thought of bugs crawling over her nixed that idea.
After a few minutes, there was a sound somewhere behind her. She
stilled, ready to run if necessary. Palming her cell phone, she
listened more intently. The noise sounded more like a moan this
time.

She leaned forward and strained her neck to
hear better.

“Owww,” the sound came again, clearer this
time. It sounded like a child, a wounded child.

Heart pounding, she jumped up and quickly
searched through the bushes. “Hello!” She called to let the child
know she was on her way to him or her.

The moan came again, louder.

Jasmine took off running, doing her best to
keep the leaves and branches from hitting her face. A few moments
later she came upon the most incredible sight. A young boy lay on
the ground with some type of animal skin blanket covering the lower
part of his body. His pupils were dilated and his body shook as
though he was freezing, although sweat dripped from his body. The
sight triggered an old memory, but as soon as she thought about it,
it fled.

“Ooooo,” the child moaned again.

Without thinking, Jasmine sat, took his
head, placed it in her lap and stroked him. “It’s going to be okay,
sweetie. Just calm down and tell me who I should call to come get
you.”

The child shook so hard, his lower body
contorted and then spasmed. She continued whispering soothing words
and stroking his head.

“Should I call 911?” She asked, more to
herself than him. When he continued shaking, she dialed Tyrese.

“Mom?” He sounded out of breath.

“Rese?”

“Yeah.”

“Listen, I went for a walk and found this
young boy lying in the forest. I’m not sure what happened to him,
but he’s covered in some kind of fur and shaking real bad. Who
should I contact?”

“Where are you?”

“I just told you, in the woods off the
trail. Forget it, I’ll call emergency, he’s shaking real bad. I
hope he wasn’t bit by something and having a reaction.” She looked
around for bugs or worse, snakes. Her hand squeezed the phone as
she realized the possibility of being bitten.

“You need to walk out of there just in case
whatever bit him comes back.”

Fear choked her, but she couldn’t do what
her son suggested. “I’m not going to leave him alone, something is
seriously wrong with him. He could get worse.”

“I hear that stubborn note in your voice.
I’ll call the administrator and we’ll come take care of it. You
sure you’re okay?”

“I’ve had years of experience calming boys
who’ve had accidents, although this one is weird. His legs…anyway,
get him some help fast.” She clicked off and continued stroking the
wet strands on top of the boy’s head. His breathing had slowed and
he grew calmer each second.

“Help is on the way, you’ll be fine,” she
told him.

His head moved in her lap and he looked up
at her with dark brown eyes. “Thank you. What’s your name?”

She smiled. “Tell me yours first.”

“Callum.”

“Okay Callum, I’m Jasmine. How are you
feeling?”

He closed his eyes and then opened them.
“Bad, but not like before. I don’t think I’m dying anymore. Thanks
for that.”

Surprised, she stared at him for a second
and then smiled. Something inside clicked and she shook her head as
a feeling of well-being flowed through her. She missed caring for
her sons like this. There was no question, when you helped others,
it came back to you in some way. But this was different, his
gratitude touched a chord in her that she hadn’t felt in years. It
was an indefinable something that banished the darkness of her
depression and filled her with light. In that moment she wanted to
sing, to dance with joy, and not for any particular reason other
than it was a bright day.

“Who are your parents? Should I call
them?”

He lifted his head and then returned it to
her lap. “He knows and is on his way.”

True enough, a few moments later the quiet
was interrupted with the arrival of Tyrone, Tyrese, Silas and
Jayden.

“Mom, remain still,” Tyrese said, standing
nearby.

“What?” She looked at him with a tilt of her
head.

“Just stay still while his father takes
him.”

“Callum?”

He looked up at her with warm eyes. “That
rude young man who didn’t ask how you’re doing is my son, Tyrese.
The one standing next to him is my other son, Tyrone. They’re
twins. Please forgive their manners. You’re the one in pain, not
me.”