Jessi & The Hyenas

Jessi & The Hyenas The Wolf’s Mate Generations Book Four By R. E. Butler Table of Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Excerpt from Purred Promises Books by R. E. Butler About the Author Copyright Chapter One Jessamyn Gerrick sat on her bed with her laptop and watched a movie while aimlessly eating a bag of kettle corn. To her right, open and on the floor, was a suitcase, half packed and abandoned. She needed to pack but didn’t want to. In two days, she was supposed to leave for the trip she’d come to dread. Why’d I even agree to go? She tilted the screen so she could see it a little better and took another handful of popcorn. There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Come in.” London, her roommate and friend, opened the door. “I’m heading over for full- moon duty. Wanna join in the fun?” Jessi wrinkled her nose. Full-moon duty was assigned to a handful of pack members every month. The day of the full moon, the assigned males and females would clean up the clearing in the center of the pack’s hunting territory. It generally involved chopping wood for the big bonfire, sweeping debris from the area, and making things look nice. She’d been helping out since she was a tween. It had been exciting when she was twelve; now it was a chore. But if she helped out, she wouldn’t have to think about how she needed to finish packing and get ready for the trip. Jessi closed her laptop and set it on the bed. “Sure.” “Hey, don’t fall all over yourself in your excitement,” London said. “It’s better than sitting around here and doing nothing productive.” “True.” London left so Jessi could change from her comfy sweats to fleece-lined leggings and a thick hoodie. She dug out her hiking boots, a pair of gloves, and a stocking cap. January in Kentucky could be decent with mild temperatures, or it could be a frozen hellscape. Lately, it had been the latter. She found London in the family room of their three-bedroom house tying her boots. London opted to drive, and after they both filled up travel mugs with coffee, they were on the way. “So you wanna tell me why you’re not packed yet?” Jessi grunted. She’d known London her whole life. The wolf shifter had a mom who was a fairy, so London was not only able to turn into a wolf like her father but could cast some spells with her inherited fairy powers. Jessi’s parents were different as well—her father, Michael, was a wolf, second ranked in the pack, and her mom, Shyne, was human. Jessi’s brother Micah could shift into a wolf, which had given Jessi hope that she’d be able to as well. But then she’d turned sixteen and no wolf. Not when she was seventeen, either. Here she was at twenty-two without her wolf. Well, she could feel her wolf, and her fangs and claws would come out if she was highly emotional, but otherwise she was just human. Which was hard as hell in the pack. Most of the females her age didn’t like Jessi simply because she was a non-shifter. The males didn’t mind her for a tumble in the sheets, but they didn’t think she was worth having as a mate. She was the only one in the pack in their generation who couldn’t shift. Her self-esteem took a beating every full moon when she could feel her wolf wanting to be free, but nothing ever happened. At this point, it was unlikely she’d ever shift and for the most part, Jessi was okay with that. But then there were things like this trip she was feeling pushed to go on. A gathering. A multi-pack get-together in Ohio, where unmated males and females would gather for a week to try and find their truemate. Or someone to mate with or have a pup with. She’d been going to gatherings since she was eighteen, and things would start out fine until word got around that she couldn’t shift. No male wanted to risk having a non-shifter for a mate because there was a good chance that any kids she had might not shift either. “I’m dragging my feet about the gathering.” “Ah. It’s too bad it’s January. It won’t be as much fun being so cold.” “Well, they had some issues with the space they rented, so it kept getting postponed. I should’ve just said no when my dad suggested I go.” London turned onto Main Street. “You don’t have to go.” “I said I would. I already paid the registration fee.” “Well, you have two choices. You either suck it up and go, or you decide to stay in town.” “What would you do?” “In your situation? I don’t know, honestly. I’m all for girl power, you know? I think you should embrace whatever you are—or aren’t—and love yourself. But I know how tough it is to be different.” “Do fairy guys think you’re not worth being with in a forever way because you’re not a full fairy?” “It’s never come up. I dated that fae soldier last year and he didn’t care. Maybe you’re not meant to be with a wolf, or maybe you’ll find a wolf at the gathering who doesn’t care that you’re not able to shift. You’re a great person and you’re gorgeous. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” “Thanks,” Jessi said. “You’re sweet.” London parked in front of the alphas’ home. The pack alphas were Jessi’s Uncle Jason and Aunt Cades. Cades couldn’t shift either because she was only half wolf. But their two sons and daughter all could. It