Who is Magpie?

Jessamine was only gone a few minutes before their anxiety was bad enough for them to get out of the car and rejoin everyone outside. They had lost more wolven, not as many as they feared from the shouts and howls they had heard, but still enough for them to feel like they had failed as leaders. They helped carry those that had been injured to their vehicles, allowing more people to go help burry the dead Fae.

No wolven would be buried here, and Ezekiel would allow all of the rogues to be buried with his people, and have their names carved on the obelisk. The wolven were definitely more adept at digging, even in human form, and had the requested long, deep trench dug before the Fae had gathered all their dead.

Jessamine reemerged with Keizer and moved right to the car while he went to give the final orders. Kay had met them in the hall again, telling them they had done enough and to get all of their people off the grounds before they started the sprinklers. A bus pull in shortly after, being larger it had parked much farther away, and collected everyone that wasn’t already in a medical wagon or one of the RAVs.

Ezekiel and Bronx slid into the back with Jessamine, and Azural and Keizer decided to ride with them and sat up front. Everyone but Keizer took a quick look over Jessamine, ribs bound, bandaged, wrapped and taped together like Doctor Swan was sure she would fall apart if she sneezed.

“I’m fine,” she assured, sighing deeply and leaning back into Bronx, moving her legs over Ezekiel’s lap. “Everyone here knew this week wasn’t going to be a vacation. I just wish I hadn’t broken my nose off Bluejay’s stupid face.”

She reached up and touched the healing cartilage and bone. Swan did what she could but it would likely always have a slight bump in the middle.

“You look perfect,” Ezekiel soothed, starting to rub her legs.

“Absolutely beautiful,” Bronx added, rubbing her arms and hips.

“Like a warrior,” Azural injected, carefully skirting the line between a compliment and flirting.

Keizer scoffed. “You look like a wolven. ‘Bout time really, it was embarrassing to know we were related when you looked like a human.”

Jessamine basked in the small compliment for only half a second before kicking his chair. “I know the feeling, imagine my surprise to find out I actually still have family only to come face to face with a horses ass.”

There were throaty chuckles around the car and then they were moving. Her mates returned to their gentle massages and Jessamine warmed into their touch, letting them work her tension free. Bronx didn’t enjoy noting that this time when he worked his hands into the tissue that there was tension, but did enjoy being able to help her release it.

—

Along the drive she fell asleep, woken up by the solid *clunk* of a large metal gate. Her eyes opened slowly despite her heart racing, still half asleep, and for a second thinking she was still in her cell. Sitting up suddenly, she started growling with her claws out, only calming when she saw those around her and remembered where she was.

Their vehicle was in the middle of the convoy, and, as the main gate was opened, security called ahead to the house to inform them that they had all returned. People flooded from the house and other buildings, gathering at the front of the main house with excitement and worry at the result of their mission.

As the cars slowly pulled up, Jessamine saw a blur of a man run by, as Kai leapt out of the medical van he had been treated in, to meet Chey at the front. Her smile grew to see the pair reunited, being plagued with visions of Kai dying in the cell with her could finally come to a rest. However, even with her joy in seeing mates reunited, anger brimmed beneath her skin.

The last time she was here, more than a dozen of the people, that she had believed accepted her, had sold her out.

“It’s okay, my love. None of them remain,” Ezekiel assured. “I interviewed every single person individually, and Azural did the same. Everyone left is loyal.”

She huffed. “If I have to fight anyone…”

“You won’t,” Keizer, of all people, interrupted. “I’m done watching you fight. I get a little sister and my mom has the nerve to threaten her life so I can run a pack.” He scoffed, “your mom even sent people to look for us after he died so I could take over and no one would challenge you. Fat lot that did when you’ve spent the last nearly eight years fighting. No, the next one to try will regret it.”

Jessamine couldn’t help feeling touched, her heart singing with the idea of having family of her own. Even as she melted into that bliss she could see Ezekiel and Bronx’s family gathering on the steps with the others.

“Talia had the baby!?” She shrieked. “No one tells me anything!”

The car pulled up front and everyone piled out, Jessamine in the middle with a bright smile despite her exhausted eyes with heavy dark bags. Cheers and barks erupted around her and, as Talia cradled Amelia into her breast to shield her from the noise, Jessamine covered her own ears.

Willow was the first to her, hobbling down the stairs with her cane never touching the ground as she ran over to her and wrapped her into her arms. “Jessamine dear, welcome home. We have all been so worried.” She held her at arms length to get a look at her. “Ten fingers and toes… I do hope all this wrapping isn’t the only thing holding you together,… and you’ve lost so much weight…” she brought her in tightly again and mumbled into her hair. “It is so good to have you home.”

Jessamine had felt fine when they arrived, excited and tired but in Willow’s hold small hiccups escaped her lips. She hugged the woman back with every inch that her arms could wrap around her chest. Biting her lip to keep from sobbing her leant her chin against the woman’s shoulder.

“It’s good to be back,” Jessamine whispered, not trusting her own voice to be steady.

Talia came forward and Tidas joined her, neither having the patience to wait any longer and sandwiched her between them. Little Amelia ended up in front of Jessamine and she scooped her up to nuzzle their noses together.

“Hello little one,” she whispered. “I bet you were born in the chaos weren’t you? Are you going to be a little hell raiser?”

“She was, this is Amelia,” Talia introduced. “It’s good to have you home safe.”

Tidas was rubbing her back firmly. “From the day I met you I worried extensively about your safety, but you have proven to be one of the toughest people I have ever met.”

Jessamine opened her mouth to respond to them when she heard a small voice yelling shrilly and turned just in time to catch Oakley flying at her at his top speed. She scooped him into her arms, but just the same his speed was so quick she ended up toppling backward on her tired legs and holding him away from her chest so he wouldn’t get any of the shock from the fall.

Others around her worried, coming closer to check on her and help her up but she didn’t hear anything except the quiet whimpers of a child whispering ‘mommy’.

“My wee lus na gealach,” she cooed in return, nuzzling her nose to his. “I’m here my baby, I’m here.”

She shifted him in her lap to cradle him gently against her, rocking him back and forth while she hummed a song that she didn’t remember the words for. He sobbed and sobbed, reaching up to grab a lock of her hair to twirl it between his fingers, and she waited until he calmed down to stand back with those still waiting.

“This is my son, Oakley,” Jessamine introduced, and the surprise was clear, even to Talia who had met him before when gathering all the children for check ups.

Most of them were waiting for more words but Willow pushed back to the front of the crowd. “Great grand babies!” She squealed, plucking the boy from Jessamine’s arms and snuggling him in close. “We are going to get up to all sorts of mischief together,” she whispered in his ear, but everyone clearly heard her. “You can call me Geegee, and this is Grandma Talia and Grandpa Tidas, and the littlest one is technically your Aunty Amelia.”

Oakley had looked momentarily horrified, but after spotting the assuring smile from his dad warmed into the woman’s hug. Jessamine enjoyed seeing his happiness, whose happiness was in turn enjoyed by her mates, who came up beside her to kiss their marks affectionately.

“And are these my other dads?” Oakley asked, looking back to Jessamine who froze instantly, not thinking at all about how she would explain not being with Azural.

Ezekiel and Bronx froze as well, not meaning to out anything but now couldn’t take it back. They dropped their hands from where they rest on her lower back and hip, looking uncomfortably away and, a surprise for all, apologetically to Azural.

“You knew about mommy’s mates?” Azural asked, moving forward to talk to Oakley.

He nodded with a confused angle to one eyebrow. “I saw mommy’s shiny marks when she cuddled in my bed. I told her I was excited to meet my other parents.”

The words came back to her like they happened forever ago. The words he whispered to her before they both fell asleep.

She turned to each of them and they knew what she wanted to do. “This is Ezekiel and Bronx, my mates,” she smiled.

Oakley looked excited by the information. “What should I call you?” He asked, looking to his dad when no one replied.

Azural grinned. “I have some ideas…”

“What would you like to call us?” Ezekiel interrupted, bringing Jessamine immeasurable happiness that he did it without hesitation.

Oakley thought for a long minute. “Umm… step-Alpha? Or Daddy Ezekiel..?”

“No I’m sure that’s mommy’s name for him,” Azural cut in and Jessamine choked so hard on her breath that Oakley looked concerned.

She shot him an unimpressed look while the others gathered or eavesdropping chuckled. “If you wanted a rematch you could just say so Az,” her grinned was forced and clearly broadcast her dwindling restraint.

Azural reached for Oakley. “Come on my boy, how about me and Uncle Keizer take you for a run. We should be out of the way while all the injured are tended to anyway, and mom needs to rest.”

Oakley held onto his dad and then released just his arms to give Jessamine a big hug. “Yea, you look sleepy mom. I’d come nap with you but big boys don’t take naps anymore.” He shrugged like it was out of his control and they walked off toward the side of the property where they could shift and let Oakley ride on their backs.