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readingandwritingandreading · 5 months ago

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Some Hearts ~ Part 5

My Blurb: I have returned! I am feeling much better and to make it up to you this one is the longest chapter I have ever written. I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing but my ideas. I do not give permission for my writing to be shared anywhere without my consent.

Summary: Reacher never needed anyone, he was a lone wolf and preferred it that way. But when he finds his mate beaten and bruised one night, she and the rest of the 110th show Reacher the benefits of being in a pack. Fated Mates, Shifter AU

Pairing: Jack Reacher x OFC Morgan Stone

Warnings: There are some darker things in this fic. Morgan is a rape and abuse survivor. Nothing is explicitly detailed but be advised. Your media consumption is your responsibility. This is a fated mates, wolf shifter AU and will contain claming, biting, mating and other wolf pack related things.

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Rock Hill Village, New York

The next few days followed the same pattern. Jack was already up and working on projects by the time I made my way down stairs. He joined me in the kitchen while I made breakfast and we talked while we ate. We cleaned up, drove into the village and usually ended the day at the pack house before returning home. It was…comfortable and safe.

The third day I convinced him that I was feeling good enough to walk into town instead of him driving. That’s how I found myself staring at the covered windows of the building that sat between the school and road to Jack’s cabin. Dixon had come out of her cabin to discuss training some of the younger members when she saw us walking by and I gravitated towards the building.

“It’s technically the pack library.” Lily O’Donnell’s voice sounded from my left and I jumped, hand immediately going to my chest. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, it’s ok. I was a little lost in my snooping.” I smiled and waved at Jack who had turned immediately at my sudden fear. “Why do you say technically?” I turned my attention back to Lilly who sent Jack a wave also.

“David & I inherited it when we started the school but between that and the kids we don’t have time to maintain or organize it and no one else in the pack has taken it on yet.” She shrugged. “Maybe someday.” Jack approached then, his hand finding the small of my back, sending the familiar wave of warmth through me.

“Reacher” she nodded to him. “Dixon recruiting you for training today?”

He nodded, “Bobby’s mate went into labor this morning.”

“I didn’t think she was going to make it much longer.” Lilly grinned. “I better get going. It was good to see you, Morgan.”

“You as well.” I waved before turning to Jack, a question that had been bothering me bubbling to the surface. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Always.” he answered without hesitation, surveying the village square as we walked.

“I don’t want to overstep. I just…” I bit my lip, memories of my curiosity getting me in trouble when I was younger flooding through me.

“Morgan,” he stopped, turning me to face him. “You can ask me anything and I will always answer you honestly.”

“Do you have a specific job? I noticed almost everyone else does.” I blurted out before I lost my nerve.

“This is the longest I've ever stayed on the pack lands since I left the military.” He pulled me to a bench by the statue of the Moon Goddess. "After we left the military, most of the 110th came here and started the pack but I couldn’t help but wander after a lifetime of being an army brat. I was thirty-six years old, a citizen of a country I had barely seen, and there were places to go, and there were things to do. There were cities, and there was countryside. There were mountains, and there were valleys. There were rivers. There were museums, and music, and motels, and clubs, and diners, and bars, and buses. There were battlefields and birthplaces, and legends, and roads. There was company if I wanted it, and there was solitude if I didn’t. Then three weeks ago I found myself getting off the bus on the highway five miles from here. Neagley runs a tight ship, everyone earns their place so I stepped in whenever they needed someone. Sometimes training, mostly security. I was on duty two weeks later when you set off one of the south sensors.”

I stared at him in shock as his words sunk in. The comments about his cabin, the lack of personal items and other little moments all came crashing together. “You’re not going to stay?” The words came out as a coldness wrapped its way around my heart and I became aware of how attached I had already become to the friendly little village.

“I told you I would be honest,” he heaved out a sigh, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know, I never planned on finding you. I couldn’t imagine I had a fated mate out there. It was a fairytale that some of my friends had but wasn’t in the cards for me. I’m still getting my head around the fact that you are here.” I forced the threatening tears down when he gently used my chin to force me to look at him. “I won’t make a decision without you. We’re a team now.”

I searched his face before nodding, bolstered by the sincerity in his words and gaze. “It’s nice to be a teammate and not just a pawn for once. Thank you Jack.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek, smiling inwardly at the hint of shock in his expression when I pulled away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A lingering warmth remained in the spot Morgan’s lips had touched him, even a couple hours after it happened and he sparred with the trainees. Dixon was a good trainer and all of her students excelled in learning how to use their wolves in a fight should the need arise. The focus today, however, was fighting without their wolf, something that Morgan seemed to be watching closely. Reacher had offered to take her somewhere she would be comfortable while he helped Dixon but after their talk she seemed to need the closeness, assuring him she wanted to watch.

He could see her on the other side of the training area, watching Dixon show another smaller female how to use her speed against a bigger opponent. He walked over to her as the class wound down, an idea forming in his head. She had no power in her old life. He had seen the way it soothed her that he considered her his equal. Roscoe had no leads on why she couldn't shift and without her wolf she was at huge disadvantage against other shifters.

“Do you want to learn?” Reacher asked, stretching his hand towards her. She hesitated for a minute before determination crossed over her face and she nodded, grabbing his hand and letting him lead her away from the other students. “You heard Dixon telling them about speed?”

She nodded, stiffening slightly as he positioned her body. “Make yourself a smaller target and you're harder to hit.”

“And there’s no shame in running if you can.” he added, circling around to face her. “I’m going to try and grab you, try and avoid me.” Morgan nodded, taking a deep breath and watching him carefully. He waited a few seconds before pouncing towards her, catching her easily when she darted to the right. “You gave yourself away. You turned right and then hesitated. Once you make a decision, act, don’t hesitate.”

They practiced for another couple hours before he noticed her wincing and rubbing at the cast on her arm. He was impressed with her determination. She was a quick learner and had mostly overcome the hesitation that gave her away managing to avoid him two times. “We better call it for today. Roscoe will have my hide if you hurt your arm more.”

Morgan chuckled before sinking to the grass. “Thank you for teaching me. My father never would have allowed me to learn with my…handicap. He just surrounded me with bodyguards or kept me locked away in the house.”

“Everyone should know how to defend themselves. I will protect you until my last breath, but you need to know how to at least get away if someone attacks you.” Reacher sat down on the grass beside her looking towards the river that she had fallen into.

She looked in that direction as well and smiled when she saw two wolves splashing out of the water, an black and tan one chasing a smaller brown one. The smaller one nipped playfully at the bigger one's snout before turning and running into the tree line at top speed. The bigger one howled and then followed. “Who was that?” Morgan laughed, following their path as they disappeared.

“Sanchez & Melina. Their bonding ceremony is next week.” Reacher replied.

“Can I see your wolf?” Reacher looked over to find Morgan staring at him apprehensively.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I held my breath as Jack studied my face and then nodded slightly. His shift was smooth and well practiced. One second I was sitting next to a large man and the next I was sitting next to a large wolf. I reached out and ran my hand through the blue gray fur of his chest. In human form Jack towered over me and his wolf did as well. In our sitting positions my head came to his shoulder. Standing I let my hand drift to the fur around his ears pulling back when he nuzzled my hand with his snout. “I’m sorry, I guess I should have asked before just petting you.”

Wolf Jack moved into a standing position and made a growling sound before nudging my hand again until it rested on top of his head. When I scratched his tail began to wag and I giggled. “I feel like I’ve seen this wolf before.” Wolf Jack cocked his head as I thought, moving to stroke his neck and back.

“Is Reacher wagging his tail?” An astonished shout came from several feet away and I squeaked in surprise when I found myself firmly behind Jack as he growled in the direction of the voice. Oscar Finlay appeared a moment later. “Down boy, I was just coming to let you know food’s almost ready at the pack house.”

Jack suddenly shifted, as fluidly as before, blocking my view of Finlay. Peeking my head around him I waved. “What’s happening at the pack house?”

“Our monthly pack meeting, everyone eats there and we go over anything we need to.” Finlay filled in. “And we are definitely going to need to go over Reacher’s tail wagging.” He chuckled when Jack shot him a glare.

I patted Jack’s arm before sliding it down to intertwine my hand with his. “Am I allowed to go? I’ve never gotten to be involved in pack activities.”

I asked the question to Finlay but Reacher squeezed my hand and responded. “If you want to go, you can.”

Finlay nodded, grinning at our intertwined hands. “I’ll see you there.”

Jack led us into the pack house half an hour later, winding us through the crowd and to a couple empty chairs at one of the trestle tables that had been setup in rows throughout the room. “Stay here, I'll grab some food.”

Charlie quickly joined me, dropping into an empty chair and greeting me with a hug. “Paul will be here in a minute, he’s dropping the girls off upstairs. They always have a movie set up for the kids up there while the adults handle business. I heard you did some training with Reacher today. You didn’t hurt your arm did you?”

“He’s trying to teach me to be able to escape. I only managed to out maneuver him twice in three hours of practice. He made us stop when my arm started aching.” I smiled.

“Twice is pretty good. Reacher is exceptionally trained, maybe more so than Alpha Neagley. Plus you’re his mate. He’s naturally more attuned to you.” she shrugged.

I nodded, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Paul joined us then, placing their plates on the table. “I couldn’t tell if Reacher was getting plates for both of you or just him, but I’m glad to be in front of him in line. I don’t know how he stays in that kind of shape but eats like that.”

“Genetics.” Jack’s voice sounded from behind me before four towering plates of food appeared in front of our seats. He placed an empty one in front of me before continuing. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want so take the first pick and I can eat whatever’s left.”

Neagley appeared at the front of the room where a podium was set up. The crowd quieted immediately, everyone found their seats and I watched in amazement at the respect the pack had for their leader. Reacher nudged me as it continued, pointedly looking at the pile of food in front of us. Rolling my eyes I grabbed some chicken and a few other items before picking up my fork and digging in.

Near the end of the meeting Neagley announced Sanchez and Melina’s ceremony and the room came alive with applause and whistles while Sanchez pumped his arm in the air and Melina blushed at his side.

Turning to Charlie I got her attention before asking, “If I order a dress for the ceremony would it get here in time? I just realized I don’t have anything and I hate to keep hogging your wardrobe.”

“We’re going into Utica in a couple days, why don’t you come with us?” Charlie offered. “I have to pick up our medicine shipment. Angela, Franz’s mate, is also coming. She has to pick up some supplies for the inn.”

“That would be great.” I turned to Jack who was putting the last piece of chicken from my plate in his mouth. “What do you think?”

“You do need some more clothes and a coat,” he shrugged.

“It’s settled then!” Charlie waved down Dixon who joined them. “Morgan is going to join us on our trip to Utica. She needs some more clothes.”

“I hope that’s ok.” I offered. “I’m living out of Charlie’s wardrobe at the moment.”

“Not a problem at all little wolf, it will be a girls trip.” Neagley planted herself on the table beside Dixon.

“Wait, girls trip. I’m going with Morgan.” Jack looked between the women.

“I don’t think so big guy, I need you to take over training for Dixon while we’re gone.” Neagley put her hand up when he went to argue.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reacher’s Cabin, Rock Hill Village, New York

Neagley gave him a look he knew from their time in the service. One that said she wasn’t discussing the topic anymore, he was not going on this trip. “She will be with Dixon and me the whole time. You know she’s safe with us. We have Charlie if her arm acts up.”

“Nothing can happen to her, Neagley.” It was more of a plea than an agreement but she still nodded. They turned as Morgan came down the steps to meet them at the SUV. “Stay with Dixon or Neagley,” he reached into his pocket and handed her his card. “Get whatever clothes or other stuff you need. And a coat, it’s going to get colder.”

Morgan put her hand up to stop him, “I have enough of my own to get a dress and a couple things I need. I’m not spending any more of your money.”

Before he could reply Neagley stepped in and swiped the card from his hand. “I have no problem spending more of your money. Thanks for lunch. Come on little wolf.”

Jack gently grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him. “Morgan, get what you need. He kissed her forehead before adding, “Stay with the group. Please, mon reve.”

Morgan nodded, giving him a quick hug before hurrying into the backseat beside Angela.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Utica, New York

“Are you sure this is ok for the ceremony?” I asked, twirling in the mirror.

Angela turned from where she was handing Dixon a different top to try on. “You look lovely! Have you ever been to a bonding ceremony?”

“Angela.” Charlie snapped and Neagley shook her head but I put my hand up.

“It’s ok. I have only been to my own and I didn’t get much of a say in it.” I shrugged. “I wasn’t allowed to attend many events.”

“I’m sorry Morgan, I didn’t think before I spoke.” Angela was ringing her hands together. “When you and Reacher have one you will be able to choose whatever you want.”

A hush fell over the group as they all looked at me and my heart plummeted. “Oh, um. I don’t know…we’ve never really talked about it…and I…I can’t shift. Excuse me, I should change.” Hurrying back into the dressing room I pulled the dress off and hung it over the door. “Get it together Morgan” I whispered to myself, fighting to keep the tears that had sprung to my eyes from falling. I hadn’t considered that a bonding ceremony would be expected. Did Jack want one? I was a defective wolf. Did I want to go through that again? Knowing how my one to KJ had gone. It had been a miserable few hours in a dress that was too tight and not in my style at all. And then that night…I shuddered, biting my lip hard and covering my mouth to mask the sob that tried to escape.

By the time I pulled myself together and left the changing room the other women had made their purchases and were waiting by the register. “Did one of you grab the dress off the door? I think i’ll just get that today.”

“Already taken care of, went ahead and got you a few more things also.” Dixon held up four large bags.

“Big guy wanted us to make sure you were taken care of since we wouldn’t let him be here. That was the only way we were leaving the village without him tailing us and I still double checked on the way here.” Neagley shrugged, flashing Jack’s credit card.

Charlie stopped me from replying with a hard look. “Morgan, Reacher has plenty of money. He hardly buys anything with his pension and Paul started making investments for him after an incident a few years back.”

“He also cares about you.” Angela smiled shyly. “My comment was foolish before. I wasn’t thinking. But you have to know how much he cares for you. Reacher never lets people in but I see, we all see the way he looks at you.”

I wiped a tear that slipped out giving the group a watery smile. “I’m really glad I stumbled into this village. You are all wonderful.” I pulled Jack’s card out of Neagley’s hand. “Who’s ready for lunch?”

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Margrave, Northern Georgia

‘Alpha, there’s something you both need to see.” The Kliner packs new head of security appeared in the doorway with an envelope and a tablet. Kliner waved him in, sitting in the big chair behind his desk, leaving KJ to stand beside him. He placed the envelope on the desk and opened it revealing several pictures of Morgan.

“Where was this and how long ago?” KJ grabbed a photo, studying it closely.

“Face recognition flagged it ten minutes ago in Utica, New York sir.” the guard answered, reading off the tablet.

KJ cursed, slamming the photo back onto the desk. “How the fuck did she get to Utica, load up the cars, we leave in one hour.”

“Wait.” Kliner said calmly but everyone in the room froze. “Who is she with?” He looked over the photos at the other women sitting at the restaurant.

“We’re running facial recognition on them now Alpha.” he glanced between Alpha and son.

“We don’t make a move until we know what we’re going into.” He put his hand up to stop KJ’s outburst. “Your stupid decisions regarding Morgan Stone are what got us into this situation.” He turned back to the guard. “Notify her father we have a lead and I want to know the minute we find out who is sheltering her.

*Italicized section is a direct copy from The Affair by Lee Child

#micole writes things now #some hearts #jack reacher x ofc #jack reacher #alan ritchson reacher #reacher x ofc #alan ritchson #not tom cruise reacher

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readingandwritingandreading · 7 months ago

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Some Hearts ~ Part 4

My Blurb: Happy Friday! I know this is moving slow but things are going to be picking up soon!

Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing but my ideas. I do not give permission for my writing to be shared anywhere without my consent.

Pairing: Jack Reacher x OFC Morgan Stone

Tagging: @pioched | @ashes-writing | @titty-teetee2 | @may85

Add yourself to my taglist HERE

Read First: Some Hearts Masterlist

Also Check Out: Main Masterlist

Reacher’s Cabin, Rock Hill Village

Moseley had been gone no more than ten minutes when Charlie made her way down the stairs. She made her way to the kitchen sniffing the air “Is that their chicken pot pie? Maybe I need to break my arm.” she laughed ignoring the anxious glances he cast towards the loft. “She’s fine. She’ll be down soon, she just needed a minute. It’s been a big day and the shower wore her out.”

“I can bring the food upstairs.” Reacher eyed the table where he had set up the food, drinks, utensils and plates. “I’ll carry her down here.” He headed towards the stairs but stopped when Charlie jumped into his path.

“Reacher, from what we know, she has spent the last couple weeks on the run from some men who didn’t care about her, who actively hurt her. She’s going to need a minute to realize you aren’t like them.” She gave him a pointed look before pulling on her jacket. “If you guys need anything, you know we’re all here to help.”

Reacher nodded, “Thank you Charlie. It is appreciated.” She smiled, closing the door behind her and heading to her car. He locked the door, watching her car disappear until the sound of creaking wood had him turning to see Morgan coming down the stairs. His breath caught as he took her in. Her hair was braided over one shoulder, leaving a small damp mark on the large shirt…his shirt…she was wearing. It hit right above her knees leaving a gap of skin visible that disappeared under a pair of long gray socks. Looking her over he watched a blush creep up her neck and onto her face. He approached the stairs slowly until he reached the bottom step putting them nearly eye to eye.

“I hope it’s ok, Charlie brought it in. Said it would be easier with my arm.” He was so preoccupied looking at her, it took him a minute to realize she meant the shirt.

Clearing his throat, he held out his hand to help her down the last couple stairs. “Whatever makes your recovery easier is fine with me. You should be comfortable.” She gave him a shy smile before tentatively placing her hand in his. He heard her sharp intake of breath at the same time a comforting burst of warmth erupted where their hands connected.

He loosened his grip, making sure she could pull away if she wanted but she merely stared at their hands. “Will that always happen?” She whispered, raising her eyes to meet his.

“I don’t know.” He answered, gently urging her towards the table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A dull whirring sound pulled me from my slumber. The sun shone brightly through the window causing me to glare at the interruption to my sleep. The gray wolf had appeared again, chasing away the shadows chasing me and allowing me a peaceful and uninterrupted rest. The whirring sound happened again, pulling me out of the bed towards the window. My view faced the front yard, not giving me a view of whatever was causing the sound. Struggling into a pair of sweats with my good arm I headed downstairs, peaking into Jack’s room on the way. It was empty and his bed was neatly made. I had a fuzzy recollection of hearing the shower turn on after he had walked me to my room after dinner.

I smiled at the thought. Dinner had been…lovely, almost like a date. He told me about how his mother was the most stubborn woman in the world, refusing to tell them about the cancer that eventually took her life. “She made me who I am.” He had said, looking out the window almost reverently as he thought of her.

Turning towards the kitchen and also finding it empty I frowned, thinking about the other things he had told me. How he formed the 110th, losing both his parents and then his brother. The only family he had left was this pack. And you, the little voice in my head whispered but I shook it away heading towards the back door when I heard the whirring again.

Stepping onto the back deck my mouth fell open at the site before me. Jack was measuring a plank of wood and making marks on it with a pencil before double checking the measurement. Even with the cooler weather there was still sweat soaking through the gray shirt he was wearing, causing it to cling to the muscles of his back. He turned slightly, giving me a tantalizing view of his arms straining against the sleeves of the shirt. Heat unfurled in my lower stomach and I felt my nipples harden. I must have made a sound because he looked up from where he was positioning the plank on the saw, grinning when he saw me.

“I hope I didn’t wake you, the house is pretty well insulated and your room faces the other direction.” He stood, dusting his hands off and approaching me, concern growing on his face when I didn’t answer. “Are you feeling ok?”

“Oh…what? Yes…” Get it together Morgan, I forced my eyes away from his muscles, hoping my face wasn’t as red as it felt. “I’m fine. What are you building?”

He studied me for a minute before answering my question, “I was working on a shed to store winter supplies on this side of the pack. But if you want, I can make some adjustments and make it into a livable space for myself while you get everything straightened out and stay in the house.”

My mouth dropped open again as I absorbed his words. He was going to build a shed to live in while I lived in the house…HIS house? When did the Moon Goddess start making men like this? And where had they been when I needed them? He was still watching me carefully so I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, if he was being honest, I could be also. “You don't have to do that...I'd feel...better with you in the house.” And then I fled back inside without a backwards glance.

I reached the kitchen island and took a breath, thankful that Jack hadn’t followed me. Tapping my fingers on the counter I decided to cook breakfast. There was no sign that Jack had cooked anything yet and doing something I loved would calm my nerves.Searching the cabinets I found the ingredients for pancakes along with bacon and eggs. He seemed like a simple breakfast guy so I started cooking.

Putting the eggs and bacon in the oven to keep warm, I was about to attempt flipping a pancake with my good arm when his voice thundered behind me. “What are you doing?” Startled, I dropped the pan, pancake went one way and the pan headed towards my feet. Before it even hit the floor I found myself sitting on the counter, Jack’s arms tight around me.

“I…I'm so sorry. I like to cook and I thought I could make you breakfast. I'm sorry, I should have asked first.” I curled inward, making myself as small a target as I could.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack cursed himself and the men who had hurt her when he realized she was shaking in his arms. Her head was down and her arms hugged her middle, cringing away from his arms banded around her. He sighed and backed up, giving her some room. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled. I don’t care if you cook.” She nodded her head jerkily but didn’t look at him so he continued. “I was surprised and concerned about you injuring yourself.” He tilted his head so he could catch her eye before adding, “You are welcome to do whatever you want here.”

She watched him warily, studying his face before nodding and relaxing. “My father never let me cook even though I like doing it. He said it was beneath the daughter of the pack alpha. That we had servants and maids for a reason.”

“Who taught you to cook?” He asked, picking the pan off the floor and putting it back on the stove.

“Ironically the head cook, she took pity on me. Dad kept me secluded when he realized I couldn’t shift so I was alone in the house alot.” Morgan smiled softly.

“What about your mom?” It was a risk asking but Jack wanted to know everything about her. He had been honest about himself last night hoping it would break down some of her barriers but he regretted asking when the smile fell from her face.

“There were complications with my birth. Mom didn’t make it but I did. She was dad’s fated mate, I always guessed that was why he never seemed to care for me.” she shrugged, trying to hide the pain in her eyes by hopping off the counter he had put her on and opening the oven. “I made bacon and eggs if you’re hungry.”

He let her change the subject but filed it away to look into later. “That sounds great. Make a list of whatever else you need to cook with and we can get it when we go to the store.” He grabbed some plates and took them to the table.

“The store? We’re going into the village?” She sounded slightly panicked at the prospect.

“We need to get you some shoes and the rest of the pack probably knows you are out of the hospital by now.” He pointed to her socked feet with the spoon he was using to put eggs on the plates.

She looked at her feet before adding bacon to their plates. “Ya, Charlie said she didn’t have any in my size. Why does it matter that I’m out of the hospital?”

Sitting down in the chair beside hers he smirked. “If the rest of the pack doesn’t meet you soon there’s going to be a lot more than Mosely showing up at the door.”

He felt the shift in her mood before he looked up at the nervous expression on her face. “Are they…” she swallowed, before continuing. “Are they mad I'm here?”

“No, they are nosy like family and they want to see the unfortunate soul who got fated to me.” He grinned at her, causing her to relax.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rock Hill Village, New York

Jack parked the truck in front of a two story building that I eyed warily. “What’s this place?”

“The Rock Hill Village packhouse and bar. The general store is next door. We will get you some shoes and go from there. Stay put.” He added before hopping out and rounding to my side of the truck. Opening my door his gaze fell to my socked feet and he frowned. “You can walk if you want, it’s not far. Or I could carry you.”

I bit my lip as I considered the two options before reminding myself that Jack had been nothing but kind to me so far. “Umm…if you don’t mind, the gravel looks…” He scooped me up before I could finish the sentence, closing the truck door with his foot and starting towards the store. “Thank you.” I whispered, immediately overcome with the warmth that radiated between our bodies.

Before he could respond the door of the store opened revealing an older woman beaming from ear to ear. “Reacher! It’s a pleasure to see you dear and with such a lovely companion.”

Jack leaned down and let her press a kiss to his cheek. “Mrs. Moseley, always a pleasure. This is Morgan. Morgan, this is Mrs. Moseley.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you, thank you for sending the food last night.” I replied, attempting to sit straighter in Jack’s arms. He strode inside the building and set me down gently, his hand remaining on my back.

“Oh it was nothing, I would have come myself but this old hip doesn’t like those storms.” She slapped her right hip before continuing. “Although I heard it brought us you.” She smiled. “I suppose we will forgive it this time. Now what can I help you two with?”

“Morgan needs some shoes and we need a few groceries.” Jack pulled the list I had made while we ate breakfast out of his pocket.

“We have some women’s boots over near the window. I assume you are going to show her around the village.” Mrs. Moseley stared at Jack with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes ma'am,” he nodded, making me bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“Good boy,” she reached and patted his cheek. “You two go get some boots then have your tour. I’ll get the list ready for you when you are finished. She shooed us away and Jack steered me towards a wall with a selection of boots.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morgan looked exhausted as they climbed the steps to the packhouse. She had met what felt like every member of the pack with a smile. Asking questions about who brings the mail to the post office, and how often visitors come to the inn. She had greeted Charlie’s mate Paul at the bank with an excited handshake and thanks for stealing her the night before. She had giggled at the banter between Reacher and Guy when they stopped by the gas station/repair shop that he managed.

Lily O’Donnel had greeted her with a hug at the school while she watched her mate David get pelted with dodgeballs. A growl from Reacher kept him from hugging her also. He just rolled his eyes and shook her hand instead.

“Are you doing ok? We can go home.” Reacher stepped in front of her as they reached the door, studying her face intently.

“I’m ok. I want to meet the rest. Everyone has been so nice.” she smiled up at him, reaching for his hand and gesturing to the door. She had quickly grown comfortable with touching him and didn’t flinch when he touched her back or arm to lead her around the village.

Everyone in the bar turned when they entered the room and Morgan pressed into his side again. Something she had done throughout the day when meeting some of the male members of the pack.. He’d be lying if it didn’t make his wolf proud that she sought safety with them.

“I know he’s got an ugly mug but we don’t have to all stare. Were you all raised by wolves?” Sanchez laughed as he approached, breaking the awkwardness in the room. Reacher shook his hand before introducing him to Morgan. After that came his mate Milena, Orozco, Dixon, Finlay, Franz and his mate Angela and several other members of the pack.

Morgan took it all in stride, unaware of the way Reacher watched her with a smile as Neagley showed her around the packhouse. “You look like an idiot.” his gaze was pulled from his mate to eye Orozco.

“You know, other people would say it’s nice to see me so happy. Or that I have a beautiful smile.” he retorted.

“Give him a break man, you haven’t met your mate yet. You don’t know what it’s like.” Sanchez pointed his beer bottle at Orozco, clapping Reacher on the back in solidarity. “Your whole life changes when they appear.”

“It really does.” Reacher took a drink of his beer, turning to watch Morgan laughing easily with some of the other women.

#micole writes things now #some hearts #jack reacher #jack reacher x ofc #reacher x ofc #alan ritchson #alan ritchson reacher #alpha reacher

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