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It was a scene that Jacob was all too familiar with. It was something that replayed behind his eyes every time he closed them every night.

Jacob had just left his college classes for the day and was walking out towards his car. On his way over he noticed what looked like a man sleeping in his car as his head was reclined back until he saw a shapely body draped across the center console. Her head was bobbing making it obvious that the guy was getting a blowjob.

Because it was none of his business, Jacob was about to move farther away so he wouldn't be spotted and potentially embarrass the two.

That was until she took his dick out of her mouth and Jacob got a good look at the girl's face. It was a girl that he thought loved him. His polar bear girlfriend, now ex, Lisa Rowan.

"You gonna come for me, baby?" he heard her say. She said something else but it came out worse than a muffled murmur so he couldn't make out whatever she said. But it was all enough to make him sick.

Neither of them in the car had noticed him yet, so Jacob quickly got his phone out, took a picture with both of their faces clear as day, and quickly walked to his car.

Back at his apartment, Jacob gathered all of Lisa's belongings. There was a knock at his door as the police he called for showed up because he was familiar with Lisa's explosive temper. He threw all of her stuff outside while the cops stayed inside with him. He sent Lisa a text telling her to come back saying he had a surprise for her.

When she did show up, she saw her things with a note on the top that told her to never come back. That was when she started pounding on his door to get back in. He then sent her the picture of her with the other man earlier that day.

The sight of the pic sent her into a frenzy as she then attempted to break down the door, but the police with Jacob had had enough placing her under arrest.

When she was being carried away, she shouts something to him, but again it was severely muffled so he couldn't make anything out.

It was then that he heard the buzzer of his alarm clock bringing him out of the dream.

He rolled over with a groan as his hand reached for the button that silenced it. As annoying as his alarm clock was, he was always grateful for it getting him out of that memory that has been wearing on his sanity.

Jacob got up, went to do his morning routine in the bathroom, got dressed, and was about to leave when he spotted himself in the mirror. This time he looked more worn down than he usually saw as he started to see bags under his eyes with a darker color than his pale skin.

Suddenly, Jacob felt something in his chest making him clutch it. There was almost an empty feeling in there before his heart thumped sending his blood back into regular motion. Thankfully, the palpitation was only for a moment.

"Well, well, Lisa," he said out loud. His half-hearted chuckle almost turned into a cough. "Whatever you did to me, it looks like it's working. That memory of you is going to be the death of me. But you haven't got me yet. There's still so much to do."

He grabbed his belongings and put on his worn, enigmatic smile before he left his apartment for his parents' farmhouse. Stepping out of his building, he was greeted by a blast of summer heat. It was going to be a hot one today.

The drive had always been peaceful for him allowing him to reflect. It had been more than a decade since that day he caught her cheating on him, but his reoccurring dream had been making it hard to get over the event. The end result was justified, and he had the officers back him up, but for some reason there wasn't anything that could help him get over it.

Leaving the city limits, the farmhouse came into view a few short minutes out. It sat on a large enough property where a family with four teenagers could horse around on, especially the barn before his dad retired and turned it to an auto repair garage.

The farmhouse itself was a two-story home with a modest style to it complete nice size porch painted with a reddish-brown color with white trimming. The barn on the other hand was nothing too special on the outside as it was the size and shape of a typical barn and it was even painted red.

To Jacob though, it was home.

When he pulled into the driveway, he was immediately greeted by his mom, Susan, who was enjoying the weather on the porch.

"Hi, honey!" she called when he got out.

"Hey, Mom," he greeted back.

When she came down off the porch, she quickly noticed the bags under his eyes.

"Jacob, are you doing okay?" she asked touching his face. "Are you getting enough sleep?"

"No less than usual," he said giving her the same smile he gave everyone.

"It's that same dream, isn't it?" The pain in her eyes were evident.

"I'll be fine, Mom," he said trying to reassure her. "Don't worry about me. Or else you'll get more grey hair."

"I'm your mom. It's my job to worry about you jerks. Besides," she flips her short-cut hair back showing her grey temples among her locks, "your dad said I look great with a little grey."

Jacob smirked teasingly. "Then he's a damn liar!"

His mother quickly punched him in the shoulder. "Your dad's in the barn and I'll bring lunch in a couple hours." She quickly spun him around and shoved him towards the barn with her foot making him chuckle.

It was a short walk to the barn, but he did notice that there were only a couple cars waiting outside. He hoped that they were ones he and his dad were going to be working on. Otherwise, it was going to be a slow day. Either way, it was always good to spend some time with his folks.

"Hey, Dad," Jacob said when he came in.

"Hey, bud," his dad, Robert, said at his desk. It looked like he was going through paperwork.

"So, what's on the agenda today? Are we bringing in the cars out there?"

"Unfortunately, no. One needed a couple fuses replaced and the other just needed a new belt. And I was able to take care of all of that this morning. I already called the owners to come and get them."

Jacob sighed. "So, now you're catching up on paperwork?"

"Yup, catching up on paperwork?"

"Okay..."

Jacob strolled over to the couch and tv taking his guitar on the way. It was a Gibson Les Paul that he saved forever for and was only able to purchase one at a pawn shop. It needed a little work at the time but the shop owner still wanted an arm and a leg for it. When he finally got it working in proper order, as well as getting some lessons in, the thought of being a rockstar filled his teenage mind. He practiced hard for the rest of high school and going into college. Until the day he met her, then it was all thrown to the wayside just so he can make time for her.

Jacob sat down with it the neck resting in his right hand. Whenever he brought it out in front of customers they were always amazed because he was left-handed. Some of the older customers compared him to Jimi Hendrix. There were a few times when he would get request, especially by kids, to play them something while their car would be a quick fix. He enjoyed the attention he got when he played. Growing up, he had wanted to be in a band, but his brothers weren't quiet as into it like he was.

He plugged his guitar in and started to strum on the strings. He played something mellow at first, but then the sound that came from him became something melancholy, despite his love for hard rock and metal. He suddenly strummed an ugly note when another heart palpitation rocked his body. His dad picked up on it right away and came up from his desk over to him.

"Everything okay, son?" he asked.

Jacob stopped strumming. "You know, Mom asked me the same thing when I got here."

"It's Lisa, isn't it? She still playing on your mind?" his dad said as more of a statement.

"She will always be on my mind."

"I've also been noticing that you are distancing yourself from everyone. We all miss that confident smile you used to have. Please, talk to us." There was a pleading tone in his voice that almost made it crack.

"I wish I knew what it was, Dad. I really do. I just feel like I want to fade away. Even the therapist can't figure it out." His face then became stern, more determined. "But I'm not going anywhere just yet. Not until I feel like everyone is set."

"Set. Without you, you mean?"

"If that's the direction things are going. But whatever's going on with me," he suddenly struck his pick across the strings for a power cord and quickly slid his fingers along them for a metallic screech, "I won't be going quietly."

Just then Jacob's phone rings. He pulled it out his pocket to see that it was a number he didn't recognize, but it had a local number to it so he answered it.

"Hello?"

"UNCLE JACOB!!!" a young woman shouted making him regret putting the phone to his ear.

"Geez! Rose, is that you?"

"Yeah! Sorrysorrysorrysorry!" She was sounding way too excited about something which made him smirk a little.

"Calm down, kid. What's up?"

"UncleMattboughtusticketstotheconcerttonightandtheresoneforyousoyouhavetocomeyouhavetocomeyouhavetocome!"

"Whoa! Slow! Down! Take a breath. The only thing I got out of that was 'Uncle Matt' and 'concert.' What concert?"

He heard her taking a deep breath on the other end and then letting it out slowly. "Okay... Uncle Matt bought us, meaning me, my friends, and you, concert tickets for a show tonight a couple towns away. They are backstage VIPs so we get a chance to meet and chat with the band."

"A concert, huh? Sounds fun." He looked up at his dad knowing he had the time since there probably wouldn't be any more business for today. And even if there were, he would be told to go and have a good time. "Who's playing?"

"Slitherin' Joe!"

"Uhhh... Who?"

***

Later that day, Jacob is faced with a group of four scowling young women, a short mouse named Sera, a spotted tabby cat named Charlotte, and a tall kangaroo named Grace. Rose, a bat anthro and his future niece, was giving him the stare out of all of them. The young bat girl was basically giving him a death glare. His youngest brother, Mark, was doubled over trying to hold his laughter next to his fiancé, Jasmine.

"Ba... hehehe... Bad move, bro!" Mark jeered. "You should've told her 'great' then looked them up!"

"They are a metal girl band that you would like..." Rose said flatly. "But lucky for you, we'll be listening to a CD of one of their albums."

"CD? Those are still around? I thought everything was digital these days," Jacob jabbed getting some of his composure back.

Rose grumbled handing him the case. The cover didn't show the band members, but the inside print had a photo of them. He could barely make them out because it was shaded red and blurred. But there were two figures that caught his eye. The singer in the center and the white anthro on the right. There was also what looked like a dog on the drums and maybe a feline on the other side of the singer on bass.

The lead singer, supposedly the one called "Joe," was being very animated in the picture hyping the audience in front of her. She had a black outfit on that covered most of her except for her arms and midriff. She had a very long tail that came around to her front and the diamond shaped patterns were very vivid going up along it. He really wanted to see her now.

The white anthro, however, was a complete turn-off for him. He could make out that she was probably a polar bear, but it was the way she held herself that felt very familiar to him. He felt like this girl was uninterested in what they were doing.

"Sweet," he smiled handed the CD back to Rose. "Alright, everyone, load up!"

As the group moved towards his car, Rose went back towards her mom.

"Have fun tonight," Jasmine said before handing her the copper urn and large envelope.

"I will, Mom."

Mark then chimed in. "And if any guys manage to get past Jacob, kick them in the nuts. We don't want to hear that any of you were out of his sight for even a second."

"Yes, Daddy," she giggled giving them both a kiss on the cheek. "Love you, guys! See you when I get home."

"Hey, Mark," Jacob said to his baby brother. "Tell Matt I said thanks."

"Ha! Fuck that! Tell him yourself! Send him a text or something. Let him know you're still alive."

When everyone was finally settled into Jacob's car, he looked over at Rose in the passenger seat.

"What else you got there?" he asked before driving off with them.

"I have my dad's ashes and a couple of pictures of me and him when I was younger."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Okay... The pictures I can understand, you getting them autographed, but not your dad's urn."

"I was hoping to introduce him to the band. They support our military."

"Okay," he said in understanding. "It's a nice gesture, but I don't think security will let you in with it. Better leave him in the car when we get there."

"Okay..." she said downhearted.

Jacob eyed her then said, "But maybe if you explain it to them, the band will probably let you grab him after the concert. How does that sound?"

"Yeah, Rose!" the kangaroo, Grace, spoke up. "There's no doubt that they will. They'll be bulk aces with it!"

She looked up at him with a renewed light in her eyes. "Yeah!" She then opened up her CD and slid it into the radio. "Ready to have your mind blown?" she asked Jacob.

"Hell yeah!" he smirked while setting up his phone's GPS to the event center.

When the CD started playing, there was a rattling buzz coming from the speakers. Jacob's initial thought was that the CD itself was probably going going bad thinking of how much Rose listened to it. But just as he was about to eject it, the sound picked up to a rapid sound that sent a chill up his spine. The sound slowed down, and the picked up again.

He then understood that it was the sound of a rattlesnake's tail. He chuckled at himself more for not recognizing it.

The rattling slowed to a stop only to be replaced be by a woman's voice. "Hey, everyone!" she greeted with a voice that was clear, crisp, and angelic that made Jacob's ears perk up. "Thank you SO much for listening to our music! The support really means a lot to us. Now, enough gratitude talk! Who needs all that, right?! Enjoy!"

Jacob could practically hear her grin in that introduction. It was clear how much she enjoyed being a musician.

"Who was that?!" he asked when the first song started playing.

Rose grinned at him. "Josephine Gaillard."

"Joe?"

"You got it!"

The first song started with the lead guitar. Her strumming sounded almost robotic to him like she wasn't really expressing herself. Weird.

The drummer came in next, and he could definitely tell that she enjoyed herself as he could feel the beats deep in his bones. The bass came in soon after blending everything in harmony.

And then Joe started to sing. To Jacob, she sounded like a rock goddess. He couldn't pay attention to the lyrics because he was more focused on her voice. She had such a rich smoothness to it when she sang, and when she put in more power to her voice it was a controlled balance staying just on the edge of screaming.

"These ladies are awesome!" he said in awe, trying to keep out the fact that he might have fallen for the lead singer. "Why haven't I heard of them before?!"

The trip faded into a blur as they listened to the music. The disc Rose brought was the only one she had on her, but no body minded listening to it a couple more times. Jacob especially.

Jacob's GPS guided them through the city where the event center was located. When they found the building, they ended up having to go around the block to find the parking garage and drive up several levels to find a parking spot. Luckily, they arrived with plenty of time before the show starts.

"Okay..." Jacob said as he and the girls got out of the car. "Hope this place has decent food, 'cause we are NOT going to wonder around for something to eat."

"This is going to be SO EPIC!" he heard a girl's voice say. He looked around to see plenty of people walking from their cars, but then he saw a couple walking close by.

"Hell yeah, babe!" the guy said. "Though I still don't understand why they keep Lisa around. She doesn't give her personal touch when she plays. She only does this for the money. I swear that bitch needs to take a hike!"

Lisa's name got Jacob's attention as his ears perked up.

"I know! She's always been such an entitled polar bear."

That was quite the coincidence Jacob thought as a bead of sweat formed on his temple. A polar bear bitch named Lisa. There was no way it's the same Lisa, but he could almost feel another heart palpitation coming.

"Sad, but true," Char sighed as they watched the couple walk towards the elevator. "Lisa Nole is a great guitarist, but she doesn't seem to care that much about anything. The band is having trouble trying to replace her."

"Oh, thank God!" Jacob sighed heavily as he bent over.

"What's up?" Sera asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Jacob said as he stood composing himself. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was thinking that Lisa might have been someone I knew. Name and species were the same. The one I knew had the last name Rowan."

The group made their way inside into the main hall but were cut off when a small group ran across the front of them. They watched them run to join a huge crowd to the side. The people in the crowd were almost jumping over each other trying to get into some kind of line.

Instead of joining the chaos, Jacob and the girls moved around the crowd to see what all the fuss was about. It was then that they knew what was causing the uproar.

Slitherin' Joe were seated at a table meeting their fans and signing autographs. A couple of the ladies were even kissing a couple guys on the cheek only to watch in amusement as they stumbled away like they had a few too many drinks with dopey, love-struck smiles.

Jacob's eyes instantly locked on to the snake woman herself in the center seat. She was every bit the rock goddess that she was. From what he could see of her, she wore a black tank-top that was ripped at the bottom showing off her toned midriff with a fishnet shirt over it with the sleeves ending at her elbows. Her straight black hair was held out of her eyes by a red headband with designs on it that he couldn't make out from where he was. All the black she had made both them and her desert sand-colored scales stand out with her deep brown diamond patterns going down her arms.

However, what struck him most was Joe's head. Or more specifically, the structure. Instead of a wide, flat serpentine head, hers was rounded like a human's with a heart-shaped face and he could see a rounded ear on the side in her hair. He looked at Rose and could see some of the similarities meaning Joe had to have some kind of human ancestry. But where Rose had a nose that was button-like, Joe's had a pointed, human-like one. And instead of slitted eyes, her emerald irises were round. All of that meaning her human ancestry had to be more recent.

Jacob would dare say he was very attracted to this serpent of rock and metal. But his attraction felt different than the crush everyone else was felling.

He looked at his charges and can instantly see them wanting to jump the barrier to meet the band. Though, he was sure he wanted to do the same.

"Hold on, ladies," he said getting their attention. "Remember, we have backstage passes. I'm going to sound like a buzzkill, but we don't need to join this crowd. We'll be hanging out with the band after the show."

"He's... He's right, girls," Rose said struggling to compose herself. She took several deep breaths letting them out slowly making the others follow her example, though it didn't temper the crazed looks in any of their eyes. "Let's go find the snack bar and then find our seats."

Jacob smiled, glad he was able to get through to them. Before moving on, he took one last look at the band, and then froze where he stood.

"Fuck me running sideways..." Jacob said wide-eyed as he looked at the bandmember sitting at the farthest end.

Sitting there, with a board expression and no one coming up to see her, was a polar bear anthro. But not just any polar bear, THE polar bear. The same one that plagues his dreams every night. The one HE put in prison.

Lisa.

It all made sense to him. She never cared about anything because that was the type of person she was only ever caring about herself and her interests. And then, after she got out, she got her named changed so she could get somewhere without her record following her. She even changed her hair color to black with a streak of purple in her bangs and cut it short but long enough on top to give her long bangs.

And the most important thing to note was that no one was going over to see her, but it didn't look like she even cared. However, when one guy tried to approach her, she just glanced his way with an icy stare causing him to back off. When he moved on, she just went back to staring off into space again with a bored expression.

"Jacob?" Rose asked when she noticed he hadn't moved. "Uncle Jacob?"

"Well..." he said trying to keep his voice from shaking. "This trip is turning out to be a mistake. That right there is Lisa Rowan, my ex."

The girls gasped with Grace whispering "crikey."

"Tha-that can't be right," Sara interjected. "Lisa's profile says she's always been a lesbian. She's dating Chelsea Blade, the Golden Lab. Then there's her name..."

"How far does back does that profile go?" Jacob asked, but not in a condescending way. "Does it tell you that she spent some in prison for harassment and attempted assault?"

That shut them down.

"Sorry. I'm not trying to turn a great night into a bad one. I'm just telling you want you need to know."

"Yeah, that's fine," Rose said trying to assure him. "We'll just ignore her."

The others agreed before they left for the food stand. They took their time seeing as it could take a while for the band to get through the crowd.

Jacob and his group went in and sat down in their assigned seats. They took their time seeing as it could take a while for the band to get through the crowd.

Jacob and his group went in and sat down in their assigned seats. They were seated in the tenth row giving them a great view without having the action right in their faces. It was relatively empty with concert goers here and there, but it wasn't long before seats started to get filled in.

The lights dimmed off after the roadies finished setting up the stage. There was just enough light on the stage to see that as they were leaving five others walked on making the crowd start to holler and cheer. Jacob looked over to see the girls bouncing in their seats making him smile.

All the lights went out except for the spotlight shining on a small spot on the stage, and in that light was the end of a large rattlesnake tail. It lifted higher before it started to shake and vibrate next to some mics set up at the end of the stage creating the same buzzing rattle that was on Rose's CD.

When the tail retreated the lights went up over the stage reveling the whole band. Joe looked out to the audience with such fierceness and confidence that something stirred deep inside Jacob, and it had nothing to do with anything below his belt.

Joe's tail waved behind her before she screamed out accompanied by showers of sparks signaling the start of the show. It reverberated in Jacob's chest and he could have sworn he could feel it coming from her soul.

From that moment on, Jacob was entranced by Joe that he wasn't really paying attention to the lyrics. He was enjoying watching her on stage just having the time of her life up there.

There was one song he tried to listen to. Something about vipers, love biting, and she does too. Then there was remembering or forgetting about a girl. He probably wasn't getting it straight in his head, but he didn't care.

It wasn't until the middle of the fourth of fifth song that Grace bumped a little too hard into him that it jarred him from his trance. He looked over to see a couple guys trying to put their hands on Rose and her friends.

"Hey!" he tried yelling over the music. But when he moved to get at them, two pairs of hands held him back. "Hey! Let go of me!"

"Hey, bro, relax," one of them said in his ear. He could smell the alcohol coming off his breath. "We just want to holler at these fine ladies."

"Back the fuck off!" he growled. "That's my niece, dipshit!"

Jacob heard the girls scream as they tried to fight them off. He tried to shake off the guys holding him, but it was so cramped that he didn't have enough space to struggle. He saw Rose getting grabbed all over which lit a sudden fire in him. He grabbed the seats for leverage and started to pull away. As he pulled he felt his shirt stretch to the point of tearing.

"Hey, Darren, point the spotlight right there!"

Jacob's area was flooded with light from up above causing everyone to cover their eyes.

"Are you guys okay over there? Can somebody hit the rest of the lights?"

Jacob looked through his fingers to see Joe was looking right at him. The other lights came on slowly and his eyes were already started to adjust. He looked behind him to see a canine rubbing his eyes and knew that was the guy who spoke to him.

Jacob quickly punched the guy square in the nose sending him back into his seat.

"OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!" he heard the crowd groan.

"Nice shot!" Joe commented.

He looked to one side of the stage to see his group on the big screens. The whole crowd saw the punch. He looks around to glare at the assailants, daring them to try anything.

"Hey, douchbags!" Joe called out to their attackers. "I saw what you were doing. This is a damn concert, not a fucking brothel! You don't EVER touch anyone like that, you fucking shit stains! You ain't that cool! I saw your fucking hands on her chest! What the fuck is wrong with you?! You know what I think would be cool? Me and Vicky fucking each of your parents while you are strapped down to watch!"

The audience watched as the guys shrank under her own assault. Her eyes were locked on them.

"KICK THEM OUT!!!" someone shouted raising Joe's eyebrow.

"Now there's an idea. Everyone here paid a lot of fucking money to come out here and have fun, not get felt up by fucking creepers like you! You think you guys are the fucking shit? Not when we come down there and make you guys our bitches! Now, you assholes are going to either apologize to them and leave, or I'm coming over there to smash each of you in the head with my mic stand before security drags your asses out that fucking door!"

Jacob waved his arms up getting Joe's attention.

"What's up, handsome?" she smirked at him.

He hesitated for a moment before pointing to the guys. He then waved his hand in front of his nose and pretended to hold a bottle to his lips. He told her that they were drunk.

Joe's eyebrow knitted together. "Seriously?! Fucking hell!" she groaned pinching the bridge of her nose. "Security, show those guy the door, but leave the others alone. He earned that punch."

A security team came within seconds from being called to grab each of the assailants. There were six of them in total and it was the best march of shame anyone seen as they were booed and heckled all the way to the door. The moment the doors closed the audience gave a little cheer.

"Now that that's been taken care of, let's get this night back on track," Joe declared. Just as the lights dimmed again, Jacob could have sworn she winked at him. "Chelsea, if you please?"

The Labrador on the drums raised her sticks over her head and tapped them together with each count. "One!... Two!... One, two, three, four!"

Lisa started up with her guitar starting the song over. She looked pretty annoyed, but it didn't matter as the rest of the band followed up and were having the time of their lives.

The rest of the concert went without incident and Jacob and his charges had a great time. The final song they played was the second encore. It ended on a high note with more showers of sparks flying everywhere. The crowd, and even Jacob, went wild cheering and whistling for them.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight!" Joe called out while Jacob noticed Lisa setting her guitar down and walking right off before the band bowed in appreciation. "Have a safe drive home tonight and have a happy 4th of July!"

The stage light went off just as the rest of the lights came back on. The rest of the band walked off giving each other hugs and high-fives congratulating each other on a successful night. When they left, a human woman who was looking very business savvy in a tan dress suit, square frame glasses, and her hair pulled up into a bun came to the mic.

"Any attendees with backstage passes are welcome to come back as of this time," she called out. "Please be sure to have your tickets read and make your way to the left of the stage."

"That's us," Jacob said.

The girls were so excited that they looked ready to burst at any moment. They moved out into the aisle carefully making their way to the stage through the crowd that was heading in the opposite direction.

They made it to the door only to be standing in front of a scowling bull man that stood a head taller than Grace and she was the tallest in the group. He was definitely intimidated with his arms crossed and a name tag that read "Bruno."

"Tickets, please," he asked.

Each of them reached into their pockets handing over their tickets. He took a scanner from his belt and passed it over each QR code.

He looked at the small screen and nodded. "Your tickets check out, and that's everyone." He reached back to a table taking all the cards attached to lanyards and handed them to the group. "Have these passes on you at all times while you're back there, otherwise you will be escorted out. And you're welcome to take them home with you." He moved to the side letting them through with a genuine smile. "Have fun."

"Thank you!" the girls sang.

"Wait a minute," Jacob said as he looked at the table then to the bouncer. "What did you mean by 'that's everyone?'"

"Heh," he laughed and grinned back at them. "It means no one else bought backstage passes for tonight and you get the band all to yourselves."

Jacob just shrugged. "Meh. I guess that's okay."

There wasn't much to be impressed by when they came up behind the stage. It felt more like a steel jungle than anything with steel beams reaching up to the ceiling holding up scaffolding and catwalks.

"Hello there," the woman with the dress suit greeted. She paused when she saw that it was just Jacob and his small group. "Um... Is this everyone?"

"According to Bruno, it is," Jacob answered.

"Okay. Sorry, I'm used to seeing more people. Anyway, I'm Jessica Starr, the band's manager. They are getting themselves cleaned up at the moment and will be here in a moment. Feel free to grab any souvenirs we've set aside. They're free for VIP guests."

"Thanks, Jessica." The already went for the table.

She nodded before hurrying off somewhere and he went to join the girls.

After a few minutes of browsing the table, Jacob picked up a CD that had their greatest hits, a black tee for him and a white one for his mom. He figured she would wear it for her future granddaughter.

"Check out this CD!" Char said as she picked it up. "This one's different. And there's no cellophane covering it."

"Yeah," Grace said as she scrolled on her phone. "And I'm not finding anything about it either."

"That's because we haven't made that one public yet," a woman said proudly from behind them. They recognized the voice making them whip around to to see joe coming up in more casual clothes and a hand towel around her neck. But she stopped when she saw them. "Oh, hey! You were the guys that were getting grabbed. Are you all okay?"

Rose didn't say anything. She couldn't. But instead threw herself at her idol wrapping her arms around her. Joe returned the hug.

"Yeah," Jacob answered for them. "We're fine thanks to you. I thought those guy were going to carry my future niece away." He placed a hand on Rose's shoulder. "My name's Jacob. And this is Rose."

"What?! We stopped the show for them?!"

Everyone looked back where Joe came from to see Lisa storming up to them followed calmly by the rest of the band.

"Well, hel-lo," the lioness said seductively. "You're hotter up close. Name's Victoria Ross."

Jacob put on his enigmatic smile, even though Lisa put his emotions to a point that even he couldn't tell what was going on. "Hey, Lisa. Nice to see you again after all these years."

"Fuck you!" she growled.

"You two know each other?" the Labrador asked.

Joe interrupted. "We care about all of our fans, Lisa."

Lisa looked to the lead singer. "Doesn't mean we had to stop! They should've been thrown out too! They already paid for their tickets."

Jacob sighed still holding his smile. "I see you haven't changed at all. Picked up a guitar. But we both know you got that idea from me."

Lisa glares daggers at him. "You're still not enough!"

Jacob just shrugged. "Still don't know what that's suppose to mean, but I stopped caring about it a long time ago."

The whole band were so confused right now. This was supposed to be a meet-and-greet, sign some autographs, and take pictures. But what they were getting in front of them was a whole lot of drama.

Joe clears her throat getting their attention back on track. "Anyway, I saw how hard you were trying to fight. You looked like you were about ready to kill them."

"If you hadn't stopped the show to tell them off, I probably might have," Jacob said.

Joe nodded. "Back to what I was saying about the CDs. Those are a special editions of the ones that we plan on announcing in the next couple of months. We've been giving them away for the VIPs during the tour this year. We sighed each and every one of them personally," she said with a smirk.

Char and Grace had grabbed the new CD and opened them up to compared them. Sure enough, each signature had differences in them making all the more valuable. They squealed with delight as the others went to take ones for themselves. Even Jacob ended up taking one.

"I got to be honest, Joe," Jacob said. "I have never heard of your band before today. It was Rose here who introduced me to your music."

Joe smiled. "Rock on, Rose!" She presented her fist to Rose which she instantly bumped. "Always great to meet people new to our music. Are you guys all one group?"

They nodded.

"Well, if you guys aren't in a hurry to leave, why don't you follow us back to the green room. It's going to be a while for the roadies to pack up everything and you could probably use some time to wind down after the night you had."

Before he about to answer, Jacob was met by four pleading girls pulling at him.

"What?" he smirked. "I was going to say 'yes.'"

The squealing laughter they made drowned out everything around them. It became a problem when Rose went too high hurting the ears of all the anthros around her.

"Fucking hell..." Lisa groaned.

Jacob's group was stunned when they came into the green room. It looked more like a lounge from a nice hotel. There were soft looking upholstered couches and chairs around a decent sized coffee table. The walls were painted a calming ocean blue, probably to help the nerves of the performers.

"Come on in and take a load off," Joe said. "And help yourselves to anything in the fridge. There's water bottles and coke."

Mostly everyone took a seat to relax. Grace went to the fridge while Sera went to the bathroom.

"Looks like you have a bigger selection than coke in here," Grace observed.

"I'm from Texas," Joe replied. "We say 'coke' in the southern states."

"Tough luck for you," Jacob retorted. "You're in the north, so it's 'pop' around here."

"Like fuck I'm going to say that!"

Everyone but Lisa laughed at the light jabbing between the two.

"Makes Australia sound bland, then," Grace said. "We say 'soft drinks.'"

"An Aussie chick, huh? I feel honored you came all this way to see us."

"Stayed actually. I'm a... was a transfer student who just graduated. I couldn't pass this up before heading back home."

"You like it here so far?"

"It's been aces here! Made some ripper mates here." She indicated to the girls there. "I plan on coming back for Uni just to be close to them."

"Nice!"

Rose stood off to the side fidgeting before she finally spoke up. "Hey, uh, Joe?"

Joe looks over to her and nodded. "'Sup?"

"I was wondering if I could go back out to the car to grab something. You see, my dad was a Naval Commander and I brought his ashes hoping you could meet him and maybe sign a couple picture I have of us."

"Another military brat, huh?" she smiled. "I would be honored to meet him. Both my parents are Marines. Let me tell you, they were hard on me but still let me choose my life. They put me through their version of Marine basic training. That's how I got my rockin' bod." She lifted her shirt to show off her toned belly that had hinted at a six-pack in her underbelly scales.

"Damn..." she gasped. "I should probably do that."

Joe got up from the couch and moved to the door. "You can't exactly get basic training without enlisting unless you know someone who will train you But believe me, it gave me some healthy habits to stick to. Let me grab someone to take you out there." She opened the door and spotted someone. "Hey, has anyone seen Bruno?"

"I think I saw him at the back door," the guy outside said.

"Can you get him for me? Got someone in here that needs to grab something from their car."

"Sure thing."

Joe turned around to address Rose again. "Trust me, Bruno's a great guy."

"Hell yeah," Victoria said. "Take's his job seriously, but he's a sweetheart. He'll keep you safe."

"Told you she would be aces with it," Grace smiled.

After a couple of minutes, there was knock at the door.

"You asked for me, Joe?" they heard Bruno ask.

"Yeah," she answered. "C'mon in, big guy."

The door opened enough for him to bring half his body in. He looked around the room and smirked at the scene.

"Looks like I'm owed fifty bucks."

Joe chuckled. "Happy to help with your bets. Listen, we need a favor." Joe moved next Rose. "Can you help her to their ride and back? She needs to grab something."

"I can do that."

Jacob handed Rose his keys before they left.

"Thank you," Jacob said softly. "This means a lot to her." The rest of the band nodded except for Lisa who just sat avoiding eye contact with everyone.

There was a lot of conversation while Rose was gone and the mood felt more relaxed. The band signed all the merchandise Jacob and the girls grabbed. Lisa stayed where she was not partaking in anything, only signing when it was her turn, which suited Jacob just fine. Turns out that Joe was descended from Native Americas in Texas, which explained her headband. Her mother fell for a diamondback rattlesnake anthro back when they were training and she knit it for her when she graduated college. She wore it whenever she went out.

During their conversations, Jacob glanced over to see Victoria watching him. She wasn't shy about it as she waved her fingers at him with hooded eyes. He waved back which made her smile seductively towards him. He recognized the signs when a girl was attracted to him because he and his brothers were a pack of handsome young men. Lucas and Mark have remarks that it's more of a curse, but Matt embraced it until he met his girlfriend. Now he just makes fun of it.

Rose came back after a short while carrying her father's urn in her arm and the photos in her hand.

"Thanks, Bruno," Rose said.

He nodded before closing the door behind him.

It was when Rose turned around to face everyone that the band, except for Lisa, stood up. "Slitherin' Joe, ATTEN-TION!" Joe sounded. They slammed their heels together, stood ridged and straight, and brought their right hands up to salute her and her father.

"Commander," Joe said firmly with respect. "Thank you for your service and all that you've done for your country!"

"Thank you for your service!" the other two sounded.

Rose was so filled with emotion at that moment. Her idols were pay her father their respects that it was such a joy to hear that couple tears trailed down her cheeks.

"Thank you everyone," she choked.

"It's what we're all about," Joe smiled, then turned to Lisa who was still trying to ignoring them. "For some of us, anyway."

Rose managed to compose herself and handed her the envelop. "Here's a couple of my favorite pictures of us."

"Let's see here..." She opened it and whistled when she saw him. "Damn! He was a big dude!" Chelsea and Victoria looked over her shoulders at the pictures. One was Rose's family photo while the other was her hanging off his arm.

"Look at those arms!" Victoria gasped with a hint of arousal. "They're tree trunks!"

"And your mom is beautiful," Chelsea complemented. "And look at you! You were so cute and grew into a fine lady."

"Thanks," Rose smiled in embarrassment.

"Your old man looks like he could probably give my parents a run for their money," Joe said. "Bet he was a strong flyer."

"Yeah. He'd let me fly around with him, as long as I was tethered to him."

"Awww!" all three cooed.

"Please tell me you have a brother!" Victoria demanded.

Joe snickered. "Slut."

"What?!"

"Not with my dad," Rose replied. "He was deployed after these were taken and he... he got killed a couple weeks in."

"What happened?" Joe asked compassionately.

Rose held her dad's urn closer to her chest. "The cowards rigged a remote car bomb. After we got his ashes, we had no idea what to do with them for a long time. But lately I thought about putting half under a new tree in the park and the other half out at sea. Like off a ship."

Without a word, Joe walks over to the coffee setting the envelop down. She takes a black marker and writes something down on it before handing it back to Rose. She looks at it to see a phone number written on it.

"Call me, okay?" Joe winked. "I want to know when you are going to do that so I can be there to see it. Or if you just need someone to talk to. Either is good with me. Hell, I might even train ya if you want."

"Count me in," Victoria said. "Not the training part."

"Same," Chelsea said.

"You sure on pass on the training, Vicky?" Joe teased. "You'll get a nicer ass."

"My ass is gorgeous!" Vicky shot back. "And I don't want to lose my best assets." She grabs her breasts squeezes them for emphasis.

As everyone laughed, more tears filled Rose's eyes. "Y-You guys a-are just making me a m-mess of emotions, aren't you?"

Joe just smiled good-naturedly. "About those pics..." She held her marker.

"Yes, please."

One by one, each band member signed the backs of the photos. Joe wrote a message at the top that read "Rock On For Your Country!!! Slitherin' Joe." They went around until it was Lisa's turn. When the pictures were held out to her, she looked at them then to Rose.

"$20 for an autograph," she stated flatly.

Everyone was taken aback by her statement except for Jacob. He wasn't surprised at all by her. He thought back to when then they dated and how greedy and prideful she was. Whenever he picked up something cute, she would ask him "Is that the best you could do for me?" But when he did get her something expensive, she would take it like without a word like it was expected.

Joe was starting to get irate with her. "C'mon, Lisa. Can't you do just this one thing?"

Lisa scoffed. "Why? Just because a kid lost her daddy, I'm supposed to give out my autograph? As fucking if! Listen, I signed that shit earlier because they paid for being VIPs and we get the commission. Signing these is personal, and I don't do charity."

Rose felt like Lisa had personally stabbed in the heart. "You... You're a monster!"

"I'm a fucking rockstar, little bitch. You're a nobody. I'm in this for the fame and the money, and nothing more." She stands up from her seat and started for the door. "I'm done with this. Let's go, Chelsea. We're going to the bar."

Chelsea shook her head a little timidly. "I don't feel like drinking tonight. I'm staying."

Lisa stopped and turned to her growling. "I said 'let's go!'"

Lisa went to grab Chelsea by her arm but was stopped when Jacob grabbed her wrist.

She glared up at him. "Are you fucking touching me?"

Jacob just looked at her with an icy stare and spoke with a voice that was just as cold. "Fuck yeah, I am, Your Grace. I would have thought that your time in prison would've taught you to respect other people."

"Tch! Yeah right. I was the alpha inside those walls!" She growled yanking her arm out of his grip.

The sound of the rattling buzz cut though the air causing everyone to freeze.

"That's enough!" Joe demanded after her tail quieted down. "Lisa, go get your drink and cool off!"

Lisa only responded with another growl before heading through the door and slamming it shut.

Joe sighed and her shoulders slumped finally releasing some tension. "Really sorry about her. Every day it seems like she's getting worse. No one's told, but we're on the hunt for a new lead guitarist for a while now. But it's like when we find someone, she manages to do just enough to outshine them."

"It's not your fault," Jacob said holding a now sobbing Rose. "She's a manipulator with what I like to call a 'Queen Complex.'"

"So how do you know her?" Victoria asked.

"That's not important."

"Prison, then?"

"I put her behind bars because she was harassing me and tried to attack me."

Victoria blinked in shock. "Oh... damn..."

"Well," Joe said. "It's getting late and I'm sure you guys have a drive ahead of you."

Rose let out a huge yawn as if to prove her point.

"Yeah, unfortunately," Jacob said.

When they all left the greenroom, Joe and her band took the liberty of escorting this time. They took them through the building to the main hall. It was a little weird seeing the place empty aside from a couple janitors just doing their job cleaning after all the crazies.

When they were out and finally got back to his car, Jacob turned to Joe with a very serious look in his eyes as the girls climbed in.

"Joe, listen to me. For your band, your fans, and your sake, trust me when I say you've got to let Lisa go. She is very toxic and will only bring you down. Go on hiatus if you have to while you are looking for a new guitarist. No amount of talent is worth keeping her around."

Joe sighed putting her hands on her hips. "Yeah, I know. Maybe we'll do that after the tour. Thanks for the advice." She comes closer to kiss him... on the lips!

Jacob just stood there, stunned felling his face heat up. His lips felt like they were on fire in a pleasant way, especially with the spicy flavor he was getting off of her. She actually hid her true intentions from him. There was no hint from her at all and he was starting to like her more and more.

Joe chuckled at his reaction. "Rose has my number," she said before mouthing "call me" shile gesturing with her hand at the side of her face.

When she walked away, Victoria came up behind him slipping something in his back pocket. "And here's mine," she whispered hotly giving his rear a firm smack.

His heart pounded in his chest, and it wasn't because of any palpitations.

Both Victoria and Chelsea followed Joe to the elevator, his eyes drifted down to stare at all three of their asses. Joe's was nice and tight while the other two looked plump and juicy.

Chelsea looked back at him making him look back up. She had worry written all over her face, but it was when the elevator closed on them that he heard cheers and wolf whistles from behind him. He turned around to see his charges all had huge shit-eating grins on their faces.

He didn't say anything. He just smiled and climbed into the driver seat.

Shortly after they left Jacob and the girls, Chelsea was in her hotel room hurryingly putting everything back in her suitcase on the king size bed. All of her stuff was haphazardly thrown in that it was difficult to close and she was pushing it down with all her might.

"Come oooonnnn!" she grunted and growled. "Before she gets back!" She ended up sitting on top of it for it to close and latch. "Finally! I hope Joe and Vicky will let me stay with them for tonight."

Chelsea grabbed the handle and moved quickly to the door. But just as she was two steps away, she heard the door unlock and opened hard enough that the doorstop hit the wall with a loud thump making her let out a small scream.

"Going somewhere?" Lisa said coolly, but her eyes were filled with rage.

"I... I-I-I was just... going to put my suitcases on the bus." She was so scared that her shaking was making her case rattle.

"Really? At this time of night?"

"Um..."

"Kadisa..." she hissed.

Chelsea instantly stopped shaking. Her expression fell as well as the suitcase in her hand. Her eyes took on a duller light as she stared almost blankly at Lisa.

Lisa smirked evilly. "Good. Your conditioning is progressing nicely. I only had to say it once to get you under." As she stepped into the room, Chelsea moved aside like an obedient servant. "But there's still a ways to go." She turns to her girlfriend grasping her by her floppy ear. "You straight up defied me back there!"

"F-Forgive me, mistress," Chelsea pleaded.

"Mistress?"

"M-my queen!"

Lisa just growled before letting go. She moved to the bed and sat on it crossed her arms and legs. "Speak!"

Chelsea moved herself in front of her and kneeled down on both knees. "Joe is still looking for a new guitarist to replace you. Jacob insisted that they let you go regardless and to go on hiatus. Vicky slipped her number into his pocket and both of them told him to call them."

"Fuck!" she shouted, not caring if there were other people beside them. "Upping my game isn't working anymore. I knew getting this band under my thumb would be slow. That retard, Jessica, is coming along well enough, but Joe is being a hard-ass bitch to crack for some reason, and I just started on Victoria! Now that Jacob is back, he's going to ruin everything again! And it's bad enough that we're giving away free shit AND most of the money for a fucking charity. How am I supposed to live my best life if I can't fucking afford it?! And you... You just go along with it because it's the 'right thing!'" she said with air quotes. "Bullshit! The 'right thing' is for losers who don't have the balls to take what they want!" She glares down at Chelsea. "I'm angry and frustrated," she said expectantly.

Chelsea shook, struggling to stay still. "M-My...?"

"Kadisa..."

Chelsea stopped again. She crawled to the bed hoisting herself up to lay half on it and her legs over the side to present her ass. Lisa smirked at her obedience. She stood up moving over to the closet. She took out her duffel bag to pull out a dark leather paddle. Chelsea just stared blankly at the wall as Lisa came up behind her tapping it against her other hand.

She lifted the paddle high into the air.

"Kadisa..."

***

The next morning, Jacob came into his dad's barn a little lighter on his feet. He had a little happy smile on his face while humming a tune from one of Slitherin' Joe's songs.

"Mornin', Dad!" Jacob said a little too excitedly betraying his cheerfulness.

Robert jumped from the sudden greeting at his desk. "Geez. Mornin', son. Good night, I take it?"

He let out a happy groan. "Oh, the best!"

"Well? Don't keep me in suspense."

Jacob looked at his dad raising his eyebrow. He was at his desk with a file in his hand.

"Aren't you still catching up on paperwork?" Jacob teased.

His old man tossed the file on his desk like the afterthought it was and stood up. "My shop, my rules. This is more important." He came up next to his son taking a look at his face and smiled. "Color looks like it's coming back. You aren't as pale as you were yesterday. And those bags under your eyes are lightening up. Spill it!"

Jacob laughed as he and his dad took a seat on the furniture. He recounted everything from the night before, even the run in with Lisa. He knew it wouldn't do him any good to omit anything from his dad because he had developed a keen eye from raising four rambunctious boys. Jacob put a lot of importance on Joe making him brighten up. He even spilled Joe's kiss and Victoria slipping her number in his pants.

"Those are some good ladies, Jacob," Robert said. "Except for Lisa, of course."

"Right. And get this. My dream changed a little last night."

"Really? What happened?"

"Joe was in it. She was there when Lisa getting carried away. She had her arm around my shoulders like a best friend telling me that I did the right thing."

"Well, if that isn't a sign that things are getting better, I don't know what is!"

Just then, the phone on Robert's desk started to ring.

"Well, good to know you are doing better," he said patting his son on the shoulder before going to answer the phone. "Bentley Auto Services."

While his dad was getting a potential job, Jacob grabbed his guitar and strummed it without plugging it in. He tried playing one of the songs from last night's show to see if he could recreate it, but without the amplifier he wasn't sure. Instead, he started strumming a song he knew that had an upbeat melody to match the mood he was feeling.

"Alright. We'll be right out there." Robert hung up the phone to address his son. "Jacob, that was the local dispatch. There's an RV bus that broke down and they called for a tow. Nothing's working."

"A bus?" he asked putting his guitar back on the stand.

"Yup. This is a job for Big Bertha. Open the front doors and get your mom's van. There'll be seven people out there. I'll open the back."

His mood shifted into rescuer mode. "You got it.I'll be right behind you."

Jacob ran over to the big barn doors sliding them open. He then jogged to the house going into the front.

"Hey, Mom," he called. "Where are the keys to your van. Duty calls."

"They should be right there on the hooks," she answered.

He looked at the hooks next to the door. "I don't see them."

"Argh! Hang on. They're right here." His mom came out from the kitchen holding the keys. Your dad, I swear..." She looked up to see him and blinked in surprise. "You seem to be doing better."

"Thanks, Mom. But we're kinda in a hurry." They heard the roar of a diesel engine to prove his point.

"Right, right," she sighed. She kissed him on the check. "Go be a hero. Just like Lucas." She was referring to the time his brother rescued his girlfriend from a gang in an alley.

"Hey!" he complained as he went out the door. "Seven people, Mom!"

"Okay. I'll get lunch started."

As he was coming down the porch, the sound of the engine came closer of the engine came closer as blue and white heavy-duty tow truck came around the barn. The side of rig displayed their contact information on the door of the cab while the back end had a sign that had "Bentley's" in cursive and "Big Bertha" in big, blocky capital letters.

Through the door's window, he saw his dad hold five fingers meaning the channel on the radio. He nodded and got into the van. After he started it, he reached up to radio sitting in the middle of the dashboard tuning it to 5.

"Checking in, checking in. Dad, do you hear me?" he said into the radio.

"Loud and clear, Son," Robert responded. "You all set?"

"Let's rock."

Robert switched on the lights before pulling out of the driveway with Jacob right behind him turning down the road away from the city.

A few minutes out Jacob sees the bus on the opposite side of the road. It was a huge rig the looked like it would be big enough to throw parties on the road. Both of them waited for the traffic to clear long enough so Robert could cross. When it did, Robert lined up with the back end of the bus while Jacob made a U-turn to position himself in the front.

Making sure the coast was clear of cars, Jacob got out of the van and stepped around it to the grass. The driver, a deer anthro, got up from his seat coming out to greet him.

"You guys are quick! Thanks for getting here so fast," he said shaking Jacob's hand.

"No problem. Our shop is actually up the road from here."

"Well, that's a convenient."

Jacob nodded. "Is everyone alright? I need everyone out of there so we can hook up safely."

"Well, look who it is!" an awfully familiar voice call from behind the driver. "Our new number one fan is now our savior!"

Jacob looked and his eyes widened when he saw Joe leaning against the door. She looked as great as she did the night before and his lips pulled back automatically into a happy smile.

"Holy shit... Hi," he said.

"Hi yourself, Jacob," she smiled back, though a little seductive. "Girls, look who came to our rescue!"

Behind her the rest of the band and Jessica came around the corner. There was also another deer anthro who looked like he just woke up not that long ago, probably a second driver. Lisa looked horrified the moment her eyes landed on him.

"Hey!" Victoria cheered pointing at him. "It's Mr. Handsome from last night!"

His face was starting to turn red from all the attention. Now he thinks he knows how Lucas felt.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Jessica asked. "You do look a little familiar."

"He's one of the VIPs from last night, Jess," Joe said to her before turning back to Jacob. "Don't mind her. She deals with a lot of people."

"I can imagine," Jacob said. He moved out of the way so everyone could get off. "Where were you guys headed?"

"We were heading to the next couple states over," the first driver said.

"You know if you took the freeway you'd be a lot further ahead."

"That's what I've been telling my brother here," the second driver said elbowing his brother. "That GPS is outdated and a piece of shit. He needs to use his phone."

The bus shifted next to them catching their attention as they watched the front bumper lower slightly.

"Well, consider yourselves lucky that we're set up nearby," Jacob commented. "We'll figure out what's wrong with it and get it fixed up."

"She's all hooked up!" Robert announced.

"Hey, Dad," Jacob said a little excitedly. "This is the band I was telling you about."

His dad nodded his head politely. "Good to meet you ladies. Thank you for what you did for Rose last night." His eyes went over to Lisa. "You seem to be doing good yourself, Lisa Rowan."

"Fuck off, old man!" she snarled. "And that's not my name!"

Robert remained cool in front of everyone. "I don't really care, young lady. But you best watch that mouth of yours. I'm the owner of the tow truck and the shop, so I follow my own rules. I can drop the bus right here and leave it."

"That's abandonment!"

"Right. But I'd be okay dealing with any legal shit and letting someone else take care of you. More than likely they'd charge you more because your famous."

"I'll leave a bad review!" That made her sound like she was trying to grab at anything to get her way.

Robert only crossed his arms. "Is that supposed to scared me? I know one bad word would be detrimental, but I have great ties to the community around here and something like that isn't going change anything. Beside..." He taps a small black box with a light attached to his shirt. "Body cam. I can post this whole conversation online and use it against your slander."

Joe groans in frustration. "Damn it, Lisa. Will you just apologize already?!"

Lisa grumbles turning away while mumbling something that sounded more like an insult to them.

Robert turns to his eldest son. "Did that sound like an apology to you?"

Jacob just looked back at him and shrugged.

Robert shrugged as well. "Guess I'm putting it back down."

Everyone around her, except Chelsea, gave her a death stare. Joe's tail started to rattle.

Lisa growled more pulling on her dyed hair. "GrrrrAHHHH!!! I'm s... s... s... ssssoooorrrryyyy!"

Robert stopped halfway to his truck. He turned back to her with his hands in his pockets and eyes that expressed his disappointment. "That musta hurt. Fine. I'll accept your apology." He then addressed the whole group. "Now, here's how things are going to play out. My wife's van can only hold six passengers. One of you will need to ride in the truck."

Joe spoke up before anybody else. "If Jacob drives the truck as well as you can, I'll ride him... with him!" She smirked at her own joke making him blush again.

"No fair!" Victoria cried.

Robert fished the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Jacob. He wasn't paying attention as they hit him high in the chest close to his neck. It shocked him enough to wake him up and fumble only for them to fall to the ground, embarrassing him in front of everyone. It was worse because it happened in front of his and Joe.

Joe came up next to him smiling before slipping her arm around his making him smile as well as relax. He handed the van keys to his dad before they made their way over to the tow truck.

"Looks like I won't have to wait for that call," Joe said.

"Nope. And what's with Victoria? I've been asking that since last night."

"She's a bit of a slut. That's just her way. Vicky is Vicky, but she's good people. But can your dad really abandon our bus?"

"Ah hell, I don't know what the laws are. But if he radios in, I will do as he says."

They got around the truck, but instead of giving Jacob a chance, she opened the door herself and climbed in. He was a little shocked because his mom always taught her boys to be gentlemen, even if one of them had ulterior motives. Joe was something else, and he liked it.

Jacob shook himself out of it and went back around to climb into the driver seat. He started the engine and waited for the few cars coming from both directions.

"Dad'll be taking everyone straight to the house," Jacob explained. "We'll need to take a couple side streets just to turn around. They shouldn't miss us that bad."

Joe gave him a sideways glance. "I don't mind the drive. The big engine feels good under my ass. But now we're alone..." She turned to him fluttering her eyelashes at him.

He swallowed hard as he got the truck moving. The way she was looking at him made him think that this wasn't going to be a typical cruise around the countryside.

"Y-yeah?"

"What's the story between you and Lisa? She's been bitchy since she joined us, but anyone could see bad blood there. Even with your dad."

"Heh, wow. We're going for a nice drive, and you want to talk about her?"

"Yes, she said flatly.

He could just tell that she wasn't going to let the subject go. It was a touchy subject for him, but she deserved to know. Her future was at stake if Lisa was in the picture. He took in a deep breath and let it out.

"Okay. Her real name is Lisa Rowan, and she's my ex-girlfriend."

"Okay. That explains the familiarity. Go on."

"And while we were dating, she was dating and/or fucking pretty much the whole town. She even tried to seduce my brothers."

Joe eyes widened. "Whaaat?"

Jacob told her everything that he went through. From the unappreciated gift giving, bad dates, to the emotional torture and rumors that floated around. He even told her about the last day he saw her. The very day he actually caught her cheating on him giving him another man a blowjob in his car. All the way leading to call her out and getting her arrested for attempted assault because of her hot temper.

Time had flown by while he told her his and Lisa's story as the farmhouse came into view.

"And every night since then, I have been having dreams of that very day playing over and over. I don't regret what I did. She's a menace. But for some reason it's affecting my health."

Joe couldn't look away from him as she couldn't believe that it was the same Lisa in her band. "So, what's wrong with you?"

"Heart palpitations. Lately, I'd been getting them about four or five times a day. My doctor says to reduce stress, but I have nothing to be stressed about. I work with my dad fixing cars at our own pace."

"Fuck... I am so sorry!"

"Don't be," he said as he pulled into the driveway. "Because, after I met you last night, I only had one this morning and my parents are telling me I'm looking better."

Jacob started the slow pull into the barn. His dad was off to the side guided him. He drove straight and watched his dad giving him hand signals. He had already pulled the truck halfway out the other side when he was given the sign to stop. He did and put the truck in park waiting for his dad to unhook the bus.

Joe smirked at him when they stopped. "Well, that sounds like a declaration of love to me."

"Well, I can't say that I don't have a crush on you." He smirks back at her. "But I bet you get that a lot. Men just throwing themselves at your feet. I'm nothing special."

She moves closer to him. "Yes, you get used to it and find ways of deflecting them. Comes with the territory. You, however, did NOT throw yourself at me and it kind of threw me off a little. I had to adapt."

"So says the rockstar who can get anyone. Needed to actually try, huh?"

She got closer to him until she was inches from him. "Yeah, and I don't like it..."

Being this close to her he could make out that some of the small scales on her cheeks were a little darker color, almost like they would be the human equivalent of freckles. If it wasn't for the seductive way she was looking at him, it would have been cute.

He felt himself wanting to taste that spicy flavor again...

But two pounds on the driver side made them jump and back to their senses.

"Hey!" his father called. "You two better just be talking in there! It's still my truck. Your mother and I are the only ones allowed to have any fun in that cab. Now get Bertha out of the way!"

Joe crawled over Jacob and rolled down the window. "We were just talking, until you interrupted us."

"Sorry, Dad! I'll get the truck moved," Jacob said.

Joe moved back to her seat. He puts the truck into gear pulling out of the barn and maneuvered. it under a canopy next to a smaller truck labeled "Brunhilda." Just as Jacob was about to get out, Joe was already climbing down and shutting the door robbing him of another chance to be a gentleman.

However, when they came around the tow truck, she slipped her arms around his. He looked down at her curiously, but she just stuck her tongue at him. She knew what she was doing to him.

After they walked into the barn, Jacob went ahead to slide the back doors closed while Joe joined the rest of her group over at the lounge. Lisa claimed the recliner and was brooding but staying quiet. His dad must have said something so she wouldn't cause them any trouble and keep her in line.

"Hey, Jacob," Victoria called from where his guitar was. "This yours? Looks pretty banged up."

"Yeah. Had it since I was in high school. Had to save up every penny to but it from a pawn shop. That's why it looks so beat up. But Gibson brand is built to last."

"Sweet! I thought it was a Les Paul! Hey, wait a minute." She leaned in getting a closer look at his guitar, more specifically the strings. "Your strings are in the wrong order."

"Oh?"

He plugged his guitar into his amplifier making sure the volume wasn't too high and took the it in his hands that was comfortable for him, with the neck resting in his right hand. He positioned his fingers and strummed the strings slowly at first before picking up speed and then finished with a high not while reverberating the pitch with the whammy bar.

"Works fine for me," he chuckled.

The girls were speechless. He looked at the wonder in their eyes taking it in as he had so many times before when he played for customers. But out the corner of his eye, he saw Lisa staring right at him. It wasn't hate that she usually had. What he saw saw bafflement and fear. A clear sign to him that he had gotten better while she was out of his life as the conversation of replacing her came to mind.

"Hello, everyone! Lunch is ready!" Susan called from the front of the barn. She carried a plate in with bacon mac & cheese and a sloppy joe. She set it down on her husband's desk giving him a kiss before she looked to see all the women gathered around her son. "Oh my! Building a harem are we, Jacob?"

"I wish!" he joked back. "Mom, this is the band I went to see with Rose last night, Slitherin' Joe."

Susan nodded until her eyes landed on Lisa making her face sour. But despite Lisa even being on their property, she smiled for the rest of their guests.

"If everyone will follow me to the house." Everyone gathered around her except for Lisa. She calmly came over to her to address the polar bear. "Lisa, you are welcome to bring your plate outside if you want space from anyone. But no one is going to serve you on this property. You can either fix your own plate, or you can skip the meal entirely. Your choice."

Lisa groaned at being told off like that and got up to join everyone. Joe looked at Jacob mouthing "Damn!" His lips pressed into a thin line just nodded.

Everyone followed Susan into the house and they were immediately hit with the aromas coming from the kitchen. They followed it past the dining room and were greeted with a large pot and skillet on the the stove. They all gravitated over to fix their plates.

"If anyone wants seconds feel free to have some," Susan said. "I made sure to make plenty."

"Wow! Thanks, ma'am," Joe exclaimed with a slip of a southern accent.

"Susan, please."

"Thanks, Susan. This is very generous of you. I'm Joe."

Susan nodded. "It's not the first time we've had guests around meal time, but this is certainly a first that I had to host celebrities. Thank you for what you did for Rose. Her mother called while my son and husband were out to get you."

Joe nodded.

Susan's eyes took on a mischievous glint in her eyes as she looked into Joe's. "I'm going to need you to do me a favor, Joe," she said with her own southern accent. "Take good care of my oldest boy, ya hear?"

Joe could hardly contain her chuckles. "It won't be easy, ma'am," she said slipping into her own accent, "but I'll try damnedest to turn him into a man." They both cracked up laughing. "Your accent is pretty smooth. You from the south, too?"

Susan nodded. "Albuquerque, New Mexico."

"Hey, we were just there earlier in the tour!"

"Excuse me, ladies, I'm going to make a couple calls," Jacob said suddenly. "Looks like it'll be a while before I can get my plate." He walked off towards the front door.

Joe and Susan looked toward the stove to see that there was hardly a line left because there wasn't that big of a selection. They looked to each other coming to the same mental page and tried to hold back their laughter.

"He's going to call Rose," Joe snickered.

"Close," Susan said. "If I know my boys, and I'm pretty sure I do, he's going to call his brother and make it a surprise for her."

They both smiled as they looked towards the door he left through.

Jacob went down the steps onto the grass and looked back to the house to make sure no one was following him before pulling out his phone. He pulled up his contacts and texted Mark.

Hey, when you are COMPLETELY alone, call me!

He didn't even want the slightest chance the Mark's family could hear their conversation because of their excellent hearing. He hit send and it didn't take very long for his brother to call him.

"Hey," Jacob answered.

"Yo! My ladies went out grocery shopping. What's going on?"

"Grocery shopping? Without you?"

"Yeah," he said sounding dejected. "They want me to try grilling for the holiday. Going to grab a grill charcoal, the works. I've been watching videos since left to learn how before you texted. So, what's with the secret call? This has to be a surprise."

"Oh, baby brother, you have no idea. You are NEVER going to guess who's at the house right now!"

"I don't know when they'll be back, bro."

His brother had a point, so he got straight to his. "Slitherin' Joe!"

There was a long, silent pause on the other end.

"Mark? Mark, did you hear me?"

"Are. You. SHITTING! ME?!?!" Jacob was kind of expecting this kind of reaction, but he still had to pull the phone away from his ear.

"No, I am not! Their bus broke down, Dad is looking at it, and now they are having lunch with us."

"No fucking way! Rose is going to flip!"

"Right. I'm going to call up Erik to prepare him for our VIPs. I need you to figure out a way to get your family out there before we arrive."

"Mmmmm... It won't be easy, but I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, bro. I'll let you know when I'll leave. Your girls are going to love you for this."

"Oh, don't say that! I already had a hard enough time trying to get Rose to talk to this nerdy kid from her high school just to get her off of me!"

"Do I want to know what you mean by that?"

"I'll see you at the tavern tonight," Mark said flatly before hanging up.

Jacob shrugged before he went back to his contacts and hit Erik's Tavern.

It rang twice before he woman answered. "You've reached Erik's Tavern. We are not currently open for business. Please call back after 2. Thank you."

"Wait don't hang up! It's Jacob Bentley!" he said quickly.

"Oh, hey, Jacob! Sorry about that. Its Alexis. Did you want to talk to Lucas of Kyle?"

"Thanks, but no. I would've called his cell. I need to talk to Erik. Is he available?"

"He's wiping down the bar top. Hold on..."

A cheery tune replaced her as he was put on hold. It didn't last long when Erik's gruff voice came on.

"Hey, Jacob. What's going on?"

"Hey. How well do you serve VIPs or important people?"

"One patron is no more important than the person next to 'em."

"Okay. I was asking because I have some VIPs who I might be bringing to the tavern later."

"Heh! Is that so? I still won't be getting the red carpet out. Who are they?"

"They are a band called Slitherin' Joe."

"Sounds like punks to me. I don't listen to that."

"Not a problem. I just thought I'd give you a heads-up in case there's a riot just form them showing up."

"Okay. Thanks for that. See you later."

After they hung up, Jacob walks back into the house. He comes in to see Joe, Victoria, and Chelsea looking at the pictures on the wall with his mom telling stories behind each one.

"Showing off the pictures again, Mom?"

She just smiles at him. "You know it's mom do."

"Hey, Jacob," Victoria said hotly while looking at a picture of all four of the brothers together on Mark's 21st birthday having his first beer. "Would you talk to your brothers about meeting me in hotel room for a party?"

"I can already tell you that Lucas and Mark would be out," he replied. "Lucas would be too scared, and Mark is too dedicated. Besides, you'd have to get through all my brothers' women first."

Jacob pulls out his phone to show his brothers with their women. First, Mark with his future family, Matt and his Bernese Mountain Dog, Roxy, and then Lucas and with his Savanna Cat, Indigo.

Jacob continued. "Roxy there is with the DNR and former forest ranger from Canada. She might look like a timid giant, but I think she would tear you in two. Indigo is a retired Army Staff Sergeant. She'd make sure you'd have a closed casket funeral, regardless of you standing by the military or not. And as for Mark, you don't want to make Rose sad, now do you?"

Victoria stomps her foot. "Damnit! I'm never going to get my party!"

Jacob just smirked and walked into the kitchen finally fixing his plate. He went back into the dining room to sit down as far from Lisa as possible. He looked around to see the deer brothers discussing routes to get everyone back on track. Jessica was on her tablet and phone probably checking social media and texting the people at the next gig. She honestly looks pretty with her hair down, but it looks like she isn't the type that knows when to stop working.

"So, Jess, I don't suppose the band instruments were on your bus, were they?" Jacob asked trying to make small talk.

She finally looked up from her business. "Hmm? Oh, just the their guitars and Joe uses the mics provided by the venue. We have Chelsea's drum set so separate truck on its way to the next gig right now."

Jacob looked confused. "They're still heading over there? Shouldn't you stop them in case something serious is wrong with the bus?"

"We have to make sure we're ready for tomorrow night."

The sound of the front door opening caught everyone's attention as Robert walked.

"Okay, everyone, good news is I found out what the problem is," Robert said. "The whole fuse box is fried. That's why nothing was working."

Jacob cringed knowing exactly what that meant. He looked over to the deer brothers just as they hung their heads meaning they knew too.

"That doesn't sound so bad," Jessica said. "How long will it take for you to install a new one? Hopefully we'll be back on the road sometime today."

"That's the bad news. I let the manufacturer know and it'll take at least a week for a new one to arrive."

Jessica's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. "Say WHAAAAAT?! You said it was the fuse box! Don't you have any spares lying around?"

"That's the thing," he said calmly. "A fuse box is not just any kind of part. It is specific to the make and model. You can't just throw in a new one and call it good. You have to let the manufacturer know so they can send you the right one. Any garage will tell you the same thing and it would take roughly the same amount of time. And with tomorrow being the 4th, it's not going to get sent out until probably the day after."

Jessica started to sway as she started to hyperventilate. "The schedule is ruined now..."

Joe came up behind her before she could topple over guiding her over to the living room. "Easy now." She sits themselves on the couch. "Jess? Hey, look at me." Here eyes finally come up to meet hers. "I keep telling you this. Deep breaths. Relax. You are too high-strung. What's the other thing we keep telling you that you need to do?"

Jessica took a few slow, deep breaths before answering. "You keep telling me... that I need to get laid."

Jacob and his parents were taken aback by what they were witnessing.

"Right," Joe said gently. "Because?"

Joe nodded. "You are a beautiful woman, Jess. You're going to wear yourself down and stress lines won't do you any favors. We'll get you a dick one of these days," she encouraged with a wink. "And the schedule isn't ruined, it's just going to change. That's all."

One of the deer brothers walked in holding his phone. "I just got a hold of the other driver. I gave him our location at he's going to turn around."

Susan came over and gently rubbed Jessica's back. She urged her to follow her upstairs to lie down. She nodded getting up and allowed her to take her up. Years of helping Lucas helped out in this situation.

The moment they disappeared, Joe looked to Jacob and Robert. "Sorry about her. She has ADHD. Not much of a people person, but her attention to detail is indispensable."

"No problem," Robert said. "Don't worry about Jessica. My wife will calm her down. One of my boys used to get a lot of panic attacks."

"Oh good!" she sighed.

"So, what's the plan?" Jacob asked

"Good question." She say there looking deep in through.

"Could always cancel," Lisa blurted out loud.

Joe looked towards her rude bandmate. "The from the vendor are non-refundable. The fans will want what they paid for."

"They paid. We got paid. Done deal. Let's just go home."

"And ruin a tradition? I think not. Maybe we could do the last concert here. And since this wasn't anticipated, we could do a free one."

"Oh, fuck that!"

"You got no ground to stand on, Lisa," Jacob said. "Deal with it." He took a moment to think. "We don't have any halls here. Those are in the next town over."

"Nope, not happening," Joe declared. "You guys showed us some wonderful hospitality. Its only right that we pay it back by doing it here."

"Yeah, I agree," Victoria said.

Chelsea nodded.

"Okay, since there's no way to really stop you," Jacob said. "I guess that would leave the high school football field. I just hope our music shop will loan out their gear."

His father spoke up. "You let your mother and me see what we can do about them. I think it's about time we cash in a favor with the owner."

Shocked, Jacob took a noticeable step away from the man because it was the most badass thing he ever said.

"So, that settles that. Time to let the know. Chelsea, can you grab Jess' tablet?"

She went over to the table and brought it back with her. Joe took it and logged in to her social media. Jacob looked to see that she was going to make a live video message.

"Here. Allow me," Jacob said.

He extended out his hand offering to hold the tablet. She smiles handing it over as he sits on the coffee table holding it up for her. She touches the live stream button and gets herself ready.

She smiled into the camera. "Hey, everyone! Joe here. So, we got some bad news for you guys. Our buss broke down and we're stranded for a while. Luckily, we were rescued by some very nice people. Hell, I'd call them friends we're so grateful to them for their hospitality. So, to say thanks, I have decided to have the show at the town we're at. For those of you who bought tickets for the last show, I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but there is much we can do until we get the part for our bus. We are well aware of the tickets being non-refundable. I just wish you could join us for this, maybe use the tickets for a live stream."

Jacob suddenly had an idea. He remembered Lucas saying something about a guy at Erik's who was good with computers.

He decided to speak up during the stream, but plugged his nose changing his voice because Rose was probably watching. "I think there's a guy who might be able to help."

Joe looked up at him. She was a little confused at first by his voice but went along with it. "You sure he can help?"

"Don't quote me on it, but I think he would be happy to try."

Joe looks back at the tablet. "Well, you heard him. I'll be sure to update you if we figure something out and where we'll be playing. So keep an eye out. Love ya!" She reached forward tapping the screen to end the stream.

Joe fell into her seat while Jacob handed the tablet back to Chelsea.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just a lot happening all at once. So, why did you plug your nose?"

"Well, Dad and I are well known in the community. Somebody will recognize my voice then the farmhouse will get swarmed. But mostly because I want to surprise Rose later."

"Ha! Good call. I can imagine any of those girls just losing it. Hey, Jacob, as long as we're here tomorrow, why don't you sit in for a couple songs?"

Jacob froze staring at her wide-eyed. Lisa was equally shocked as her breath hitched in her throat.

"Say again?" he said.

"I'll say it as many times until I get the right answer. Do. You. Want. To. Sit. In?"

Jacob couldn't speak. He was filling with so much joy that he felt like his chest would burst open. His teenage dream was suddenly filling his mind.

Robert came up next to his son placing a hand on his shoulder. "Joe, my boy would love to sit in."

She raised an interested eyebrow towards him. "You speaking on his behalf?"

"Yup, because he's my son. I should know what he wants." He looked down at his oldest boy and saw a returned life in them.

In the background, Lisa saw it too, and she was not happy about it. In fact, she was fuming. Having him sit in was an absolute insult, and the fact that her conditioning was wearing was only making it worse for her composure.

She also saw in his eyes the one thing that she sees in all the fans that come to see them: attraction. And it looked like Joe was returning it. She started biting her shirt out of frustration because she would be outnumbered if she tried anything.

"Well, in that case," Joe said as stood up bringing out her hand, "welcome aboard."

Jacob shakily brought his hand up and shook hers. It was weird but pleasant sensation when he touched her. He always thought dessert snakes had rough scales. She was smoother than he expected sending jolts through his arm and up to his brain. Sure, they her palms were callused probably from working out, but it was clear she took care herself seriously.

"It sounds like everything is settling in place," Susan said as she stepped off the stairs. "Jessica is resting comfortably in one of the bedrooms. Which brings us to the finally issue: Sleeping arrangements seeing as you're all kinda stuck here. There's only two bedrooms left in the house, so some of you will have to make arrangements somewhere else..."

Joe throws her arms around Jacob. "SHOTGUN!!!"

"SHOTGUN!!!" Victoria shouted as she grabbed his arm, but a half moment too slow. "FUCK! Your really live up to your snake heritage."

Joe hissed and stuck her tongue out playfully at her bandmate.

"Wait. Why can't we both sleep at his place?" Victoria asked like he wasn't right between them.

To say Jacob was shocked at what was going on around him was an understatement. He was always the collected one of his siblings, but his shell had been cracking ever since he met these girls. He looked at the bass player, but when he noticed that her large breasts were also wrapped around his arm. She had a bigger chest than Lisa and she was certainly bigger than Joe's modest sized bust.

"Uh, my apartment only has enough room for two people at the most," he said. "And Joe called it first."

"Damn it!" Victoria groaned. "Guess I'll take one of the bedrooms here then. But you guys owe me!"

"My brother and I can take up a hotel or see if there's an Air B&B anywhere," one of the drivers said. He took out his phone to look while his brother ordered a pick-up.

Before Lisa could say anything, Susan stopped her with a pointed look.

"Lisa, I don't care where you go, but you are not staying a night in this house," the woman declared. "Not in a room, and not on the the couch. I've tolerated you enough being on our property and serving you food, but I will NOT have you sleep in this house where you can cause trouble."

She turned her demanding gaze towards Jacob expecting him to say something. But all she get was a nonchalant shrug from him.

"What are you looking at me for?" he said. "I never had a say here. Not my house, not my rules."

"Tch! Fine, I'll sleep on the bus," she seethed.

"You do that," Susan said. "And don't even think of breaking in. Our security system up to date. We take care of other people's cars, after all."

Robert spoke up. "And it won't do you any good to mess with anything in the barn. Everything is backed up and insured. Feel free to watch anything on the TV, though."

"That just leaves the last room for Chelsea," she smiled to her as if it was a done deal.

The drummer hesitated under the mother's smile, and Lisa's watchful stare. "Um, I really don't mind if I st-stay on the bus..."

"Oh, please, Chelsea, I insist." She gave her a look that was so warm and motherly that it was hard to refuse. And she was damn good at convincing others with it.

"O-oh... Well, okay, if you insist..."

"Thank you, dear."

"Okay," Jacob sighed getting everyone's attention. "A lot's happened, a lot was planned out. Who's up for a drink?"

"Oh, God, YES!" Joe groaned.

Victoria smiled and shrugged. "Well, if I can't get a stiff dick, I may as well get a stiff drink."

"Mom, can we borrow your van?" Jacob asked.

"Okay, but if its low, fill it up."

"Fiiiine!" he complained like a child. He took out his phone and shot Mark the text.

"And I don't want to see you here for work tomorrow," his dad declared. "You two spend some time together before the concert. It's the holiday and it'll do you both good to relax a bit."

Jacob looked to Joe to see her giving him a big shit-eating grin.

"That's going to be such a chore!" he mock complained.

"I promised I won't bite too much," she said.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah right..."

He still had the keys but before he got everyone in the van, they all made a quick trip to the barn. Jacob went to grab his guitar since Lisa was going to be right next to it while the others grabbed their luggage. After putting his guitar and Joe's duffle bag in the trunk of his car and Chelsea and Victoria put their luggage in the house, they piled into the van and drove off. He took a leisurely cruise through the town showing them around before pulling into a parking space at the tavern.

He took the scenic route to hopefully give Mark enough time to make his way to the tavern before they arrived.

When they got out, Jacob turned to them. "Now listen up. This is the place in town, but is also pretty relaxed. You probably WON'T be swarmed or have anyone throwing themselves at your feet."

Joe gave an overly dramatic gasp. "No one will be worshiping us?"

"Joe!" Victoria said putting on her own act. "I will NOT stand for this! We will NOT be treated like..." she gave dramatic shudder, "normal people."

"Then we must change their opinion of us, Victoria. Everyone, inside!"

They stepped through the door with the chime announcing their entry. The patrons inside glanced up out of curiosity but no one made any moves from where they were sitting.

"Damn," Joe said softly. "Nothing."

"Toldja," Jacob smirked as he made his way to the front of the group.

"Hey, Jacob," the gruff Rottweiler greeted from behind the bar. "These ladies your so-called 'VIPs?' They don't look like punks."

Joe chuckled. "That's 'cause we're metal."

"JOE!!!"

Everyone looked to see Rose trying to weave her way around the tables. Her wings weren't helping as she brushed and hit people and items in her rush.

"Hey, Rose!" Joe answered. "Good to see you again!"

The young bat practically crashed into the rattlesnake wrapping their arms around each other. Rose was able to pull herself away to see Jacob which instantly helped put the pieces together.

She spoke directly to her future uncle with a playful growl. "You're... an... asshole... I should've know that was your parents living room..."

"Why thank you," he joked taking a small bow.

She turned back to Joe almost jumping she was so excited. "C'mon, we're over here. Hey, Erik, can we move that empty table over to outs?"

"Yeah, sure," he answered.

"Hold that thought, kid," Joe grinned. "There's something I always wanted to do." She put her fingers to her mouth and let out a sharp whistle getting everyone's attention. "Next round's on me!"

The cheering from everyone brought a smile to her face as they started to step through to where Mark and Jazmine sat. However, they stopped when they heard a deep growl. They looked back at the bar to see Erik baring his teeth.

"Hey, you! Lisa Rowan!" the bar owner called. "Out!"

Lisa stopped. "What?! Hey, the name's Lisa Nole, asshole! I'm with the band!"

"I don't care what your name is! You're blacklisted! Just because you changed your name and hair color doesn't mean we don't remember you! You are gone or I'm calling the police for trespassing! GET! OUT!"

The whole place was quiet as everyone stared at the polar bear. Some were even sending her death glares. The rest of the band blinked. Jacob looked over to Mark at a booth and they exchanged their surprise as this is the first time either of them have seen Erik so hostile. Even Jazmine was taken aback.

Lisa's white fur turned to a lighter shade of red. "I am paying customer! You can't treat me like this!"

Erik picks up the phone without a word.

"You know what? Fuck you all! I always hated this town..." she said as she storms back to the door.

"And the town hates you back! Good luck getting any kind of service."

Rose blows her tongue out at her, and she comes back by flipping her off with both hands before finally exiting.

"..." Lisa hissed.

For some reason Jacob didn't hear what she said. He did register that she said something, but only that it was somewhere less than a mumble to quiet. However, what was more important was what when she said it. His heart give a bad flutter before another palpitation thumped in his chest. He grasped himself over his heart as he felt his blood rush to his head. He looked to see Chelsea have a blank expression while Victoria just shook her head and reached a finger in her ear like something was tickling it. Joe just watched her guitarist walk off as if she wasn't affected by whatever Lisa did.

He sees her stomping towards the van and he gets out the keys unlocking it just before she reached the sliding door almost ripping it off as she opened it. It would not have ended well if it was still locked.

Joe looked around. She saw the whole place still staring after Lisa for a moment longer before bringing their attentions back to where they were before. It amazed her how much hate their was for her. All she was dealing with was her selfish attitude and then remembered Jacob's parting words from the previous night.

They had to let her go, and soon before she makes them crash and burn.

They finally make it over to Rose's table. Jazmine pulled herself out of the booth and stood in front of the lead singer. Joe just rests a hand on her hip.

"Hello. Josephine Gaillard, I presume?" Jazmine asked.

"Yes, ma'am," she answered. "But, please, call me Joe."

"Joe, I'm Rose's mother, Jazmine, and I just want to thank you for being such an inspiration for her." She was shaking a little bit as she was trying to keep her emotions in check, but the formation of tears was betraying her.

Joe nodded smiling warmly. "It's what we do."

"One other thing, from me." She pulls Joe into a hug of her own as well as releasing a built-up tear or two letting her emotion show. "Thank you for honoring my late husband."

Joe returned the hug. "Anyone who fights for our country deserves all the recognition we can give." She turns her attention to the human guy sitting with them. "And who are you supposed to be?" She already knew the answer as she remembered the pictures back at their parent's house.

Mark smirked up at her. "I'm Mark, Jacob's baby brother and the replacement dad."

She turns to Jazmine and Rose nodding her approval. "You lucky bitches!"

While everyone was getting their seating taken care of, Jacob stepping up to the bar in front of Erik who was toweling a glass dry.

"Hey, Erik," he greeted.

"I already greeted ya!" he replied.

"I need to borrow one of your staff. Lucas said one of them was good with computers. I can't remember who it was."

Erik nodded. "That would be John. He's with your group right now."

Jacob turned around and recognized the young man going around their table taking orders.

"Oh yeah, I remember him! At the dinner party on Father's Day weekend. Cool. Thanks."

Jacob hurried back over just in time to sit down before John left him parched. He placed his order and asked him if he could spare a few minutes after he brought them their orders. He says he probably could if he sacrificed his break.

After everyone had settled with their food and drink, John turned to Jacob asking him what he could do for him. Jacob filled him in on the band's predicament asking if he could do anything for the people who already had had tickets.

John's face scrunched tight thinking hard. "Well... I think it might be doable. It won't be easy with amount of time I'm given here. I might be owing some favors if I ask for help."

"Please?" Joe begged putting her hands together and bowing her head. "I'll hook you up with tickets, merch... Hell, I'll even though in Victoria here!" Said lioness smiled seductively while running her finger around the rim of her glass. "Anything! Shit, we'll both fuck you! Its for the fans."

John chuckled at her attempt of bribery. "As much as I would love to take up on that offer, one: I have a girlfriend and she can be too innocent at times. I haven't got the heart to do that to her. And two: and this is no offence to you, Joe, but I don't do scalies. Had a bad experience with one I really don't want to get into. But I never said I wouldn't try. I like a challenge. Gonna be leaning towards being a little bland, though."

Joe turned to Rose. "If you were one of those fans, do you think you would mind?"

Rose thought for a moment. "In my opinion, I don't think I would. But I think I would need a heads up, like with your video message earlier."

Joe turned back to John. "Go for it."

"Here," Jacob said as he wrote down a phone number on a napkin. "This is my dad's number. I don't know what he has in mind, but get a hold of him to pool your resources."

John's eyebrow raised intrigued and brought his eyes to Joe. "This will be doozy. Two tickets to your next concert, plus travel expenses, and merch."

Joe smirked. "Make happen and I'll make them VIPs."

John whipped around to the bar. "Erik! I got to go. Need to make a technological miracle happen for tomorrow night."

Erik groaned. "Again? Fine! But you are going to make up for it on your next shift."

"I promise!" he said pulling his apron off and bolting for the door.

Later after dinner, Jacob arrived back at his parents' farmhouse. The movement turned on the motion lights that he knew had a camera on it. Chelsea and Victoria went into the house while Lisa just made her way over to the barn looking just as pissed off as she was earlier.

Joe watched the brooding polar bear until she went inside. "I don't think she left the van the whole time. She's going to be hungry."

Jacob sighed. "We're not heartless like she is. My parents know how much damage she caused, but my mom would've left her something to eat and drink on the bus. Come on."

He guided her over to his car finally opening the door her. She smiled knowingly at him before climbing in. When he closed the door, he silently celebrated that he was able to finally be a gentleman in front of her and he didn't care if care if she saw him.

"You're a dork," she said when he got in.

"You're the one who robbed me earlier," he fired back.

At his apartment, Jacob unlocked the door to his apartment and held the door for her getting another victory over her. Joe just rolled eyes walking past him.

Joe looked around the apartment taking it. Though, there wasn't much to take in. His living room had the basics: a TV on a stand, game console, couch, recliner, and a bookshelf with books and movies. There was some framed pictures on the TV stand, but other than that it looked like he probably moved in not too long ago. At least he kept it cleans.

"This place feels... kinda empty," she said not sure what else to say about it. "How long have you lived here?"

"For a few years after I graduated college," he answered. "But yeah, I get that a lot. I'm trying not to be too attached to it because I want to own a house someday."

She thought about that and decided it had some logic behind it. She took her shoes of next to the door and tossed her bag unceremoniously next to the coffee table. Jacob went to the fridge to grab them a couple beers.

"Well, this has been quite a day," Jacob sighed.

"Fuck yeah, it has," she replied groaning. "I'm ready to unwind..."

It sounded a little strange in the way she said that last part. He expected her to be a little worn out by the day's events, but she sounded like she there was still more left in the tank.

Jacob came around the corner and stopped. What he saw facing him wasn't the woman anymore, but the rock goddess that she was. She had one hand on her hip while the other was caressing her outstretched thigh and she was looking at him with half-laid eyes that had a come hither glint to them. She was all kinds of sexy, but it was the grin on her lips that said "predator." Her tail swayed hypnotically behind her while the tip rattled softly creating an almost calming effect.

Joe sauntered over to her entranced prey taking the beers from his hands setting them on the counter.

"I remember your dad telling you to spend some time with me," she said hotly sliding her arms around his neck. "And I think we could have a great time together. Don't you?"

She pressed herself onto him pushing her breasts against his chest. She was the tallest of the band being eye level with him, but she had the smallest bust among them which didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. He could feel some hard spots where her nipples were as they all poked at him as it dawned on him that she wasn't wearing a bra. This was a woman who knew how to push the right buttons.

Jacob, in response, slipped into his usual enigmatic smile. "Oh, I think we could make some beautiful sheet music together. But we just met last night."

Joe seemed to pick up on the non-existence behind his smile but pressed on. "So? You know how many new guys I fuck on occasion? I'm not on Vicky's level, but I will admit that I'm close. And before you say or think of anything, I make sure they use protection and I get tested."

"Good to know!" he jabbed playfully removing her arms and grabbing the beers.

"Don't be like that!" she pouted as he moved past her towards the couch. "I haven't gotten laid in a few days!"

"Wow! A few day? You're really going the distance, aren't you?"

"Oh please! This is actually the longest I've seen Vicky go. I wouldn't be surprised if she jumps you soon. Besides, most guys would kill to put their dick in a fucking rockstar like me or her!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm not most guys."

He paused when he didn't hear any kind of a reply, though he did feel a disturbance in the Force. A disturbance that was emanating right behind him.

He slowly turned around to see her bent at the knees looking less like a goddess and more like the predator she came from coiling back to strike. The moment his eyes landed on her, her tail came around and started to rattle playfully, if that was even possible for a rattlesnake. He felt a little chill crawl up his spine but he still kept that smile.

Knowing this was going to be little rough, Jacob stepped out and behind the couch where there was more space. Joe instantly took advantage of the wider area and launched herself at him with her arms outstretched to grab him. Her lunge was straight, true, and fast. Almost too fast for him as he leaned to the barely dodge her.

Joe landed on all fours quickly turning to strike again. When she leapt at him, she was going along the couch so he had only one way to go if did try to get out of her way again. And this time she used her tail to try to hook him.

He was ready for her that time as he moved away from the couch just like she hoped. But instead of getting caught by her tail, he spun around making it glanced off him.

She turned to face him again when she landed and was slightly winded.

"You should just give up," Jacob cautioned. "One of my brothers knows Snake Style Kung Fu and Drunken Fist. He used it on the rest of us so we could better defend ourselves."

Joe chuckled as she stood back up. "I should say that you're no fun, but this has been a lot more fun than I usually have off stage. But tell me something." She looked with concern. "Why does your smile feel so empty right now? It's not the same as when we locked eyes earlier today when you came to our rescue."

That was a question that he'd like to have an answer to as well.

They sat together on the couch and had their beers and relaxed with some Netflix, during which Joe was trying to get a little handsy but only came close to his crotch without touching it. Jacob felt her tail snake its way (pun intended) behind him coming out the other side to wrap around his waist. He looked at the segmented rattle section of her tail tip as it flopped onto his lap with a sound that was like setting down a shaker. He asked if he could touch it to which she nodded.

To him, the glossy sections felt closer to fingernail. she explained that there's actually nothing inside them other than air. Each section knocks against each other at high speed to create the buzzing, rattling sound that they are known for. She demonstrates by shaking it slowly which was still pretty fast.

After a while, Jacob grabbed his guitar and started to play a few songs he practiced over the years. He explained to her how he got it and all the work he put into it as well as the dream he had when he was younger.

She reached for her duffle bag and pulled a smaller bag from inside. Opening it up, she took out a metal case that had four all white cigarettes tucked with one of them having been half burned and a matchbook. Jacob peeked in the small bag to see plastic bags with something different in each one along with a mortar and pastel.

"You roll your own cigarettes?" he observed as she took out the one that was half used up.

"Mm-hm," she nodded with a small smile. "Mugwort, lavender, raspberry leaves, white sage, and chamomile. Herbs are great for relaxation. I also got some rose petals in my bag." Her smile took on a mischievous glint towards him. "Those make for a good aphrodisiac."

Jacob smirked incredulously at her. "What about weed?"

"I have some, but you build up a tolerance. I make a few of these and light one up after some shows and it helps without the high. But smoking is smoking to some people. It's not like I smoke these everyday, geez," she smiled more in annoyance. It sounded like she got told off a time or three.

She brought the cigarette to her lips and lit it. She took a long draw before letting it out slowly. When he smelled the air, his brain was expecting to register the smell of tobacco, but instead found a mix of scents that was hard to pin down. She offered him her roll but he declined.

Seeing the clock was nearing midnight, the pair decided to turn in. Jacob insisted she take his bed while he took the couch. She was about to protest when he moved the coffee table and removed the cushions pulling a mattress out of it. She pouted a little about the situation, but the whole day he was trying to be a gentleman for her so she accepted.

It was a scene Jacob was all too familiar with when he closed his eyes every time every night.

He had left his college classes for the day and was walking out towards his car. On his way over he noticed what looked like a man sleeping in his car as his head was reclined back until he saw a shapely body draped across the center console. Her head was bobbing making it obvious that the guy was getting a blowjob.

Because it was none of his business, Jacob was about to move farther away so he wouldn't be spotted and potentially embarrass the two.

That was until she took his dick out his mouth and Jacob got a good look at Lisa's face, the girl that he thought loved him.

"You gonna come for me, baby?" he heard her say for the umpteenth time. She said something else but it came out worse than a muffled murmur that he couldn't make out what ever she said. But the sight was enough to make him sick.

Neither on in the car had noticed him yet, so Jacob quickly got his phone out, took a picture with both of their faces, and quickly walked to his car.

Back at his apartment, Jacob gathered all of Lisa's belongings. There was a knock at his door as the police he called for showed up because he was familiar with Lisa's explosive temper. He threw all of her stuff outside while the cops stayed inside with him. He sent Lisa a text telling her to come back and that he had a surprise for her.

When she did show up, she saw her belongings with a note on the top that told her to never come back. That was when she started pounding on his door to get back in. He then sent her the picture of her with the other man that day.

The sight of the pic sent her into a frenzy as she then attempted to break down the door. But then the familiar scene changed when they heard the sound of a familiar rattling buzz fill the air coming from behind him. He looked back to see the two police officers he asked over take off their caps revealing themselves making Lisa freeze.

One turned into Joe! She stepped up to her guitarist tossing her hat away raising her fists. The moment she squared up, she let her fist fly right into the left side of Lisa's face with a savage hook with her whole body behind it. The blow sent her flying into the wall on the other side of the hallway cracking the wall on impact.

Jacob couldn't believe his eyes. He was prepared to go through the same moment again like he did every night. He looks back to see the other officer was different too. He was a huge, heavily muscled bald eagle anthro who's head nearly touched the ceiling and shoulder width that was twice that of his. The eagle was watching Joe with his thick arms crossed but then glanced down at him. The look alone was almost enough to bring him down to his knees in submission. One of his great wings stretched out and wrapped around Jacob in a protective manner.

"That's enough out of you, Lisa!" Joe declared bringing both their attentions back to them. "I think I understand now. You've been fucking with him in his dreams."

"No! It's not enough! It will never be enough!" Lisa growled as she stood on shaky legs from the impact. She glared over to Jacob. "How are you still alive?!"

Jacob couldn't answer still stunned by everything going on around him. But when the big eagle man touched his back, he felt a sudden surge of calm that allowed him to find his words for a moment.

"You've always known how stubborn I am," he answered. "I've accepted my fate, but what's been keeping me going this whole time was making sure my family will be happy when I finally fade away. Do you get it? Love! I guess you never got any from your family by the way you've been treating others. And by the looks of things," he looked around his dreamscape, "you're done."

"NOOOO!!!" Lisa screamed. "Not until I HAVE IT AAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Everyone will BOW TO ME!!!"

Joe scowled as she flicked her wrist and a tomahawk with white feathers with red tips tied under the ax head materialized in her hand.

"And once you... You, Joe... are under my..." Lisa's monolog was cut short when Joe quickly threw her ax embedding itself in her skull with a wet thunk.

"Dream Lisa fell to her knees and faded into mist before her body hit the ground leaving the tomahawk behind.

"Well done, Josephine!" the eagle boomed shaking the entire dreamscape, and Jacob, to the core. "Her will is nothing compared to yours."

Joe stood humbly before the huge eagle man. "Thank you, great eagle spirit."

"Your will alone is what keeps you resistant to her attempts to control you. However, her hold on this one," he indicates to Jacob, "cannot be undone so easily by dispelling a mere shade. He will continue to have these dreams for her roots in him run deep within his mind."

Joe nodded. "I understand." She then looks to Jacob sympathetically. "Sorry. I tried to help."

Jacob was at a loss for words again, the change of the script coming back to him. Joe smiled putting her hands on his shoulders. With the close proximity, he could make out those cute freckle-like scales on her cheeks. But another thing he wasn't expecting was that she was bringing herself forward to smash her lips against his and her tongue immediately invaded his mouth. He was surprise to find that same pleasant, spicy flavor on her lips like in the real world.

Since when did dreams become so vivid?

Before he could even register the moment so he could enjoy it, Joe pulled away. "I think it's time for you to wake up."

Jacob's eyes snapped open and immediately sat up. He recoiled from the morning light coming through his windows. He looked around confused at his surroundings because it wasn't his bedroom, but then he remembered he had Joe sleeping in his bed.

Joe!

Jacob jumped off his hide-a-bed and quickly but quietly stepped over to his bedroom door. He eased the door open a crack so he could peek inside, but all he saw was that she was still in his bed asleep. He let out a disappointed sigh thinking that if she was awake, he could probably ask her about seeing her in his dream. His mind was more open to those kinds of possibilities, especially after hearing about Alexis' boyfriend, Tobi, and Flimua, a special kind of drake who suddenly showed up seemingly out of nowhere.

The room was sufficiently dark as he slipped in. He didn't want to wake Joe knowing she had a hell of a lot on her plate. He made his way over to his dresser opening it as quietly as possible pulling out a fresh set of clothes. But before he slipped back out, he moved over to the side of his bed to get a better look at her. Her relaxed face was actually pretty cute as she slept peacefully. He wanted to kiss her.

Jacob finally tore himself away from her and quietly left his bedroom for the bathroom. He set his clothes on the counter and did his business. He took off whatever clothes he had on stepping into the tub. He resigned himself knowing that there was a chance that the shower would wake his guest up and turned it on. The faucet roared for a second before he switched it to the shower. The warm water ran over him soothing his body and his mind slowed down from the process letting him to finally analyze what he had just went through.

His dream. Joe changing the scrip. A huge eagle man. Joe lips...

Jacob's heart fluttered in his chest, but this time it was a good kind. He couldn't remember the last time he felt like that. Even Lisa didn't cause him to feel anything close to what he felt for Joe the whole time they known each other.

"Hey, pass me the shampoo?"

Jacob let out a quiet, happy sigh when he heard Joe's voice. "Sure." He reached for the bottle... But then he paused. "Wait." He remembered where he was and turned around to see a very naked Joe right behind him. "What the fuck?!"

He tried to cover his eyes but Joe grabbed his wrist with one hand and trapped his other hand with her tail pinning him against the wall.

She chuckled. "Gotcha! You are one stubborn man, Jacob. I've never had to work on hard for prey."

Jacob closed his eyes but Joe used her free hand to force one eye open.

"Damnit, you better fucking look at me!"

He finally opened his eyes to see a playful little smile and eyes that were meant to attract from afar. Her hand slides down to his chest and moves back some to let him really see her.

He got to see that her diamond printing started at her shoulders and went the entire length of her toned arms. His gaze drifted lower to see that her beautiful breasts were indeed a modest size for her frame and were capped by red erect nipples. She had pierced them with silver bars that really stood out against the dark coloring. He went lower to take in her trim waist and the definition in her abs. Her outline continued on to modest sized hips and bare crotch, but her toned legs looked like they could continue on for days. She might even be able to run that long considering the training she mentioned.

He took her in and really appreciated her form as she looked completely comfortable in her skin. He always preferred women who didn't do extreme alterations to herself. Now that he thought about it, he wondered what he ever saw in Lisa. She had gotten implants that were several cup sizes bigger just to turn heads even though she never acknowledged any of them. She only took it in. And despite Victoria and Chelsea being bigger than Joe, he guessed that those two were natural.

"You're beautiful," he said honestly. "Fucking perfect."

Joe let out a content sigh as her cheeks started to flush. "There you go. I feel appreciated now." She released both his arms but her hand on his chest. "Now then, I come to find out last night that I don't like stubborn men. I am a fucking rockstar! There isn't a single man out there who doesn't want a piece of my ass!" She slaps her ass for emphasis, and with it wet from the shower and the confined space it was very audible.

Jacob huffed in amusement. "Me stubborn?! Look who's talking! You're the one who put me in a compromising position. And I told you, I'm not most guys. I'm very particular..."

"Oh, bullshit!" Joe cuts him off and smashes her lips against his.

And there was that spicy flavor once again. But this time he decided right there that he would respond instead of freeze like he did in his dream and kissed her back.

He was going to wrap his arm around her, but she made it clear that was going to be the one in charge since he didn't respond the way she wanted. She took his hands in hers pressing herself onto him even going so far as to push her legs between his like a man would. It was starting to turn him on and she felt.

"Mmm! She gave a sound of fake surprise before breaking the kiss. "Now you're happy to see me, aren't ya?"

"A little vain, aren't ya?" he shot back.

"Oh, please! At least I'm not like Lisa." She leaned back to look down at him to see what she was dealing with. She gave a nod of approval, impressed by his size, but she wasn't going to let him know that. "Not bad, but I've had bigger."

"Listen, bitch...!" he started to say but was cut off when she gripped his length. He held back any more sounds because he didn't want to give her the satisfaction just yet.

Joe's emerald eyes bore into his with powerful intent. It almost felt like he was a cornered prey, being stared down by a silent predator just waiting for the chance to strike. But he could sense that his predator was holding back.

"Ready or not, I'm getting what I want!" she declared, her face pressed right up to his.

Jacob smirked at her pressing his forehead against into hers, matching her hot gaze with one of his own. "Do your worst! A mere human like me like me can handle himself against an anthro."

A spark glinted in Joe's eyes and sprang forward with no warning crashing her lips against his. He groaned faintly as the back of his head hit the wall. But despite her forcefulness, she was still able to control herself enough to keep from actually cracking his skull.

Her eyes remained open as Joe fiercely pursued his tongue with her own, inviting him for a wild dance. She wanted to party.

Moans escaped her mouth whenever a small gap opened up between their sealed lips, or whenever they had to pause to take much needed breaths. Except for those brief moments, they were entangled with her aggressive tongue having the upper hand.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed how Joe's body pressed up against him that he couldn't see much. Going by what sensations he could feel, her leg was perfectly situated between his. It was then he realized that there was even more he could be doing here. Her enthusiastic exchange with him had caused him to almost miss that particular detail. He figured it would be such a waste to a great opportunity slip on by.

After placing his hands on her hips and a slight adjustment, his thigh collided with Joe's crotch, grinding into it from underneath. She released a satisfied groan into his mouth, and he felt the corners of her lips rise just a bit as she immediately began helping him by gyrating her hips.

There was a new warmth spreading over his leg, firmly trapped now between Joe's thighs. Her breath grew slightly more erratic as she ground herself into him.

Jacob decided to press into her a bit against her pussy.

"Oh, fuck..." Joe huffed in instant response.

She chuckled seductively right after and then pressed her mound down harder against him. She was using his thigh for her own pleasure, while assaulting his mouth at the same time. But she didn't intend to keep them there for long.

Stopping the fierce make out session, Joe withdrew her face from his with a smack that could be heard over the shower, now decorated by a beautiful and alluring smirk.

"I feel like I scored the jackpot with you," she said drawing circles on his chest with her finger. "The other guys I fucked just want to have their way with me, but I give them the Reverse Uno. You, however, actually want to have fun with me."

A sly grin rose on his lips. "I just know how to treat a lady."

Joe let out a quiet growl, grinding her pelvis into his thigh again, and pressing him back into the wall the rest of her body.

Shit, that sounded fucking sex to his ears.

"You're not making it easy either, Jacob," she cooed into his ear.

"Is that right?" he replied, pressing his thigh back against her mound the moment she brought her crotch down, increasing the friction even more.

Another growl reverberated in the back of Joe's throat. He could hear this one much more clearly, especially when its source being right next to his ear.

In a flash, Joe squat down. She didn't leave him any time to prepare for the situation as she shoved his entire cock in her mouth in one go right down to the base, pushing her fierce, charming face into his pelvis.

"Oh, ffffuuuuck..." he cursed.

With his hands now free, Jacob supported himself on the wall behind him as Joe bobbed her head back and forth. She had gone after his cock like the merciless predator she was, using all the necessary force to capture it. She kept pushing her mouth onto him so hard that he felt a tightness around the head and knew he was in her throat. It felt fucking amazing.

Perhaps a little too amazing as Jacob momentarily lost his balance during one of those mighty thrusts. Instinctively, he braced one hand against the wall, while the other went out and grabbed the next available handhold. It come as no surprise that the nearest thing ended up being Joe's head.

The moment his fingers touched her, Joe let out a moan around his cock, stimulating it even more with the vibration. She drew herself back, sucking hard before releasing his member with a pop from her deceptively dainty lips, gazing up at him with hooded eyes. They fluttered closed when he brushed his fingers through her wet, silky locks.

She switched it up to leaving tender, suckling kisses and pecks all over his entire length, not neglecting the hanging orbs just below. He continued to gently caress Joe's scalp, listening to her melodic sighs and appreciating the care of her lips on his rod and balls.

After a moment, Joe took his wrists and guided his hands around her head. She put his cock back into her mouth with a sensual motion, maintaining eye contact with him the entire time. She held him there for a moment as she swirled her tongue around his head while her fingers grasped his ass.

Then she slammed her face into his pelvis taking him deep into her throat. It took three additional slams of Joe's hot mouth with her intense, unblinking gaze directing him from below for his thoughts to finally align with her intentions.

This chick wanted it hard!

When she smirked at him and increased the pace of her thrusting, he reaffirmed his grip around her head more firmly and pulled in sync with Joe's actions.

A groan escaped his lips as her tight insides closed around his cock, squeezing it from all sides, as the head of his dick pressed beyond the back of her mouth. It wasn't just him throat fucking this serpentine rockstar, Joe herself pushed forward with more strength than he pulled her face into his pelvis as his ass slapped against the shower wall. Loud, sloppy slapping could be heard over the shower as her face smashed against him.

Somewhere along the way, Jacob noticed one of Joe's hands fiercely plunging between her thighs. Love juices sporadically dripping from her pussy and merged with the running water beneath her hips.

"Oh fuck! I... I can't hold out much longer like this..." he admitted under the serpent woman's fierce assault.

Jacob's words seemed to be the trigger for Joe. She left her lower lips alone in a blink, moving both hands up to wrap around his thighs and held tightly.

The intensity of her already excited blowjob kicked up another notch as she swallowed him repeatedly, pressing him back against the wall and bringing him closer to climax. Even his firm grip in her hair couldn't stop his body from twitching as his hips thrust convulsively back and forth.

Needless to say, he burst a moment later as she took his cock as far down as she could, only stopping when she was kissing his crotch. A full, hot load flooded into Joe's gullet in waves as he came in her throat. She gulped it all down without even a hint of struggle, her throat squeezed his member tenderly as she swallowed his thick seed.

Pulse after pulse, wad after wad, he kept coming. When he finally did finish, she methodically withdrew her mouth, licking his shaft and glands as they retreated from her lips' hot embrace. With his rod set free, she stood up with a wide smirk and licked her lips.

"Damn, guy, you were pretty backed up there. No action lately?"

He chuckled a little embarrassingly, somehow still very hard and ready to go. "More like no action in years."

"Fuck..." she said sympathetically.

But the fact he was still hard didn't go unnoticed by the voracious, and apparently sex-starved, rattlesnake. Joe eyed his erection with great interest.

"What say we take care of that?" she smirked. "Here. You'll need these..." She takes his hand then a couple item from a shelf.

She gave him a condom and a half empty bottle of lubricant.

Without another word, Joe moved away from him. Mesmerized, Jacob watched as she stepped over to the next wall, where she placed her hands on its surface, bent over, and stuck out her shapely ass. She coiled her tail around in the air giving him the place to aim.

"That is..." she whispered, "if you think you can go for another round."

That did something to him to make him wake up. Even though his cock was going flaccid, he felt it firm up again. He wasn't going to let a comment like that go unchallenged!

Now it was Jacob's to answer. He tore open the condom, slid it on, slathered his prick with the lube, and placed his hands on her hips.

Gazing down upon Joe's hips and ass, he watched as her tail sway causing her buttocks to do the same. No matter how simple they were, her sensual movements were still strong enough to utterly hypnotizing him.

However, when he placed his cock at her entrance, she stopped him by covering it with her hand.

"Hang on there, handsome," she said calmly. "Don't fuck me there. I take it up the ass. I'm saving that hole for the man who's lucky enough to be my husband."

Jacob nodded respectfully. "That guy would be one lucky bastard." He took the lube bottle again putting some on his thumb and using it massage around her pucker. It was when he slipped it in did he realize how loose it was.

"That feels nice," she cooed feeling him explore the entrance to her asshole.

Jacob smiled knowing that he was making her feeling good and focused on his finger easing it in and out. After a few moments, Joe started to moan as a shudder rushed through her form.

Jacob had no such inhibitions if others perceived something like anal as wrong. People had their own kinks and pleasure centers. And HE was going to fuck a rock goddess in the ass where she liked it. Other men may have done this with her, but for some reason he was okay with it. He figured that she gave the others protection just as she did him. But damnit, he was going to give her the best fuck of her life just for that earlier comment!

Having lubed Joe's anus, Jacob drew his cock over and pressed the head to her pucker. He had never fucked someone in the ass before, but she's an expert at it, so this was already looking good. His lesson in anal begins now!

"Uugghh! Fuck yeah!" she crooned in ecstasy.

He pushed against Joe's ass, where the walls opened easily for him but still tightness in her ring. The burning ache made her arch up causing her to scratch her nails onto the shower wall.

Even it Jacob was told to stop, he couldn't. Joe's ass was so damn tight, but the lubricant just added to the experience from how dry it usually is. But that wouldn't have stopped him from pushing in deeper... And deeper. She panted and moaned more the further he went inside her until he rested his hips against her ass.

Damn, it felt so hot inside her. And she reveled in having those walls of hers spread open for the umpteenth time. After a few more moments of Jacob just sitting there, Joe looked back at him wrapping her tail almost lovingly around his waist.

Jacob then began pulling his cock back, forcing a groan from the snake's lips as his length traveled the full course of her asshole... just to be pushed right back in. And after a few steady thrusts, he could feel her anus growing looser and looser and the lube helped making things easier.

The pace was slower than with a pussy, but no less strong. Every time his cock pulled out of her asshole, Joe let out a gasp. And every time he pushed in, she moaned. Every thrust was more pleasurable than the last.

Anal sex wasn't half bad in his opinion.

The exciting feeling of fucking Joe's ass sent a delightful thrill through Jacob's cock as well. The grip of her pucker, the bumpy texture inside, and the overall heat. Everything about it was unique! Feeling it stroke his length drew gasps from his lips, and sending tingling sensations to his balls.

Joe could feel that tingling too as her pussy was beginning to quiver.

"Yeah, Jacob!" she groaned excitedly. "My ass! Fuck my ass! Fuck it!"

One thrust after another, he fucked and pounded her up against the wall. Her face came around for a moment and Jacob thought she looked so damn slutty with her smile and her eyes rolled up.

Her tongue hanging out and the gasping breaths, she was almost looking like a whore who could think only about sex. To think she could be reduced to this level. And then she cried out.

"Nuuuugggghhhh!!!"

Joe's legs shook as her feminine juices poured onto the tub from her pussy and down her thighs. But despite that climax rocking her body, Jacob didn't stop. The way her body locked up during her orgasm drove him to push and fuck her even harder! He needed to fight in order to pull his cock free from her ass even with the lube's assistance, and he fought just as hard to push it back in!

The feeling of him growing more ruthless did not go unnoticed by Joe, who tried to look at him over her shoulder.

"You haven't cum yet, baby?" the rockstar gasped. "Come on! Come for for me!"

Jacob was definitely not going to stop until he came! And his climax was coming ever closer! His cock throbbed and pulsed within her ass, further widening out those anal walls while his balls drew up close, slapping against her pussy. He pulled his hips back one last time to slam it back in.

"GAAAAAAAH!!!" he groaned out as he came.

And Joe could feel it.

The tremors of a climax were a fantastic feeling coming from one of her fans. But coming from Jacob was doubled from someone who has been backed up like he was as his seed filled the condom and touched her walls. It was strange, unique, and oh so good. So good in fact, that when he began pulling his cock back, Joe was left feeling rather wanting.

Retreating fully, Jacob left her ass gaping slightly. And whatever had possessed him in that moment instantly left. He braced himself against the next wall so he wouldn't collapse in her company. He had his dignity to maintain.

"Ho... Holy fuck...!" he panted.

Joe turned around on legs that weren't as shaky as his but still propped her feet against the walls of the tub just in case. She looked down at his still hard cock but was more amazed by how much of his cum was in it. There was so much in it that she could barely see the head and it was ballooning just like she felt. Now she really missed out.

But she won't make that mistake twice.

"You can't tell me you're done yet," she challenged again. "Your cock's still hard. I can go at least two more times. But I think I can go easy on you for one more round. You in?"

"Fuck yeah I'm in!" he panted.

She looked back at him with hooded eyes that hid her excitement. "Sweet! Let's move this somewhere a little more... comfortable."

Jacob nodded as he took the condom off letting it drop in the tub thinking he could take care of it later. After turning the shower off the two quickly toweled themselves off as best they can. When she felt they were dry enough she took him by his wrist and lead him back out to his bedroom.

When they were inside he stopped for a moment opening the top drawer of his dresser. He felt around under his socks until he pulled a condom of his own, but a scaled hand stopped him before he opened it.

"Not this time," she whispered hotly. "I want to feel you shoot it up in me..."

Jacob dropped the condom back in the drawer and shut it.

His hands fell upon Joe's hips gently stroking her feeling the tough yet supple scales. With a soft giggle, the sexy snake guided him over to the bed. She crawled on all fours and maneuvered herself until she was resting on her chest, her ass swayed invitingly at him. she proved to him that she was much stronger and had more endurance for her to be resting like that, but he didn't mine. He could he, when her tight ass was pointing towards him. Damn did she make his length throb!

And that hole... it was still gaping slightly. It was still slick from the lube and twitched hungrily for him.

Climbing up on his knees, Jacob pressed the head of his cock up against her loose anus and started pushing in. Joe bit into her bottom lip smiling excitedly.

And Jacob did not disappoint.

"Mmmm..." she cooed.

The new position left her felling better than when she was in the shower. The difference for her was made him feel longer reaching so damn deep. For a moment, Joe thought it would go on forever until he finally bottomed out with a little pat.

She let out a small whimper when it ended.

Hands on her hips, Jacob sat there basking in the feeling of her around his cock. The way it squeezed and sucked his dick in was pleasant enough to nearly make him cum again. He still had energy in him left and he wasn't going to stop until his legs gave out!

So, he sucked in a breath drawing back and rocked his hips forward. Joe moaned as the ridges of her anus were gently caressed by his naked cock. From its shaft to the head, it seemed unable of doing anything but hit her buttons just right and she started to push her ass back against him.

Joe's tight rear clapped against his waist, quaking though her form. The sight alone would have made his cock harder if it was possible. Every slap against their bodies nearly made him cum, but he held firm refusing to let it go now.

The powerful claps echoed all over his apartment. Jacob's brain was jumping around with thoughts of their bodies together sent electricity straight to cock and balls. He could feel his third climax coming, and he was going to unleash it deep in her ass.

He's going to have to thank her soon. He would not have been capable of such a performance otherwise if she didn't take jabs at him.

Just then they heard a loud "smack" echo off the walls.

"Ah?!" she cried out happily.

Jacob looked down to find that his hand stung. For some reason he slapped her ass and it stung. It was the probably the combination of her stiff scales and her heard muscle underneath that made him hurt. But he just pulled his hand back and...

SMACK!

"MMMMmmmm!"

She was absolutely loving it! The sound of striking the rockstar's ass was glorious! And he didn't care if he broke his hand.

SMACK!

Many erotic sounds kept playing around in his bedroom. A lewd symphony for only the two of them, with their bodies as the instruments and the vocals being their moans and groans.

Their bodies collided with a "thwap" and a "clap!" And his hand came down with another stinging "smack!"

Jacob then forced himself hard into her one last time.

"HHAAAhhhh!!!"

"HAUUUUNGNNHH!!!"

It erupted inside of her ass, shooting out a torrent of cum that flooded deep in her. There was so much cum that she felt it burn deeper inside her. The searing heat triggered her own as her juices coated his testicles and thighs.

Jacob then pulled back, taking his cock out with a wet "pop." His rod flicked up, spurting a few more ropes of cum painting Joe's ass, tail, and her back, while he fell upon the bed in an exhausted slump.

He let out a final "Ugggghhhh..."

High from their orgasmic bliss, Jacob fell on Joe moving himself to her side. She turned herself around draped her arm and leg over him snuggling against his with her head on his shoulder. She brought herself so close against him that she was pretty much squeezing him. He didn't mind though as he wrapped his arm around her enjoying the moment.

However, the terrific moment turned somber as Joe let out a mournful sigh. Jacob noticed but didn't say anything letting her talk when she was ready.

After another moment, she finally spoke. "Jacob, can I tell you something?"

"Yeah. You can tell me anything," he answered rubbing his hand along her back reassuringly.

Joe looked up at him and he could see in her face that she was letting down much of her guard revealing her vulnerability.

"I'm worried about the band. More specifically Chelsea. I know you're right about Lisa when you warned me about her the other night. I've seen bruises on Chelsea on days after she tried to stand up for herself. Yesterday, before we hit the road, she was having a hard time sitting down."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "Lisa has a very short fuse. She even smacked me more than a few times in private and had me convinced that it was my fault and I deserved it."

"How could you even stand to be around her?"

"I have no idea. It was like she had some kind of spell over me or something."

"Mmh," she nodded. "Well, I'm worried that she might accidently kill Chelsea. But it's funny that you mentioned 'spell.' I came across them one night and overheard Lisa say a strange word to her. Then Chelsea got a blank look in her face and was totally obedient. They were in a public area and Lisa was all over her grabbing and biting Chelsea's tits and shoved a hand down her pants."

"What was the word you heard?"

"..."

"What's the word?"

"..." she said a little louder.

"You are right in my face, next to my ear, but I still didn't hear it. And it looked like your lips disppeared."

Joe's eyebrows knitted together. "Huh. That's weird."

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Jacob's head.

It really was weird. A situation that was weird enough that it might require a different kind of intervention. Perhaps a magical one.

"I think I might know someone who can help. Or at least point us in the right direction," he said.

"Really?" she asked with a little bit of skepticism.

He nodded. "This'll be weird to hear, but it turns out that magic does exist. And there's a master of the art working at Erik's."

"You've got to be joking," she deadpanned.

He looked back at her with a very serious face. "I've never seen it myself, but any stories that go through Erik's are true more often than not." He motioned himself out of his bed dragging her with him. "Come on, we need to nip this in the bud before tonight."

She smirked at him liking this assertive side of him. "Right!"

"Text Chelsea to grab my mom so she can drive her over to the tavern and then Victoria to keep Lisa occupied. I'll test my mom the same."

The duo hustled around with a new sense of purpose getting their clothes on. Jacob took a moment to see that his observation last night was confirmed as she put her shirt on with out a bra. Such a badass!

When they finally got themselves together, they found their phones and sent out their texts. Jacob told his mom that he would drive Chelsea back after their business was finished. With that done they grabbed what they needed and left.

It didn't take them long to pull into the parking lot of the tavern. When he put his car in park a curvaceous figure with grand dragon wings landed gracefully in front of the tavern. She didn't have the long snout of a drake making her quite the specimen.

Joe started to feel self-conscious as her eyes landed on the drake's chest and hips.

Next to her landed another blue woman with dragon wings, but unlike the first, she was rather flat and slim with red hair and onyx horns but still quite pretty in her own right.

"Oh, good! They're both here," Jacob said as they got out. "Flimua!"

His call got both of the dragons' attention.

"I'm sorry, Jacob," the curvy dragoness apologized with a voice that was rich and mature. "The tavern won't be open for another few hours."

"We're not here for a drink or anything," he explained. "We were wondering if you'd be willing to help us. Something weird is going on around us and we were hoping you could at least point us in the right direction."

She thought for a moment and said, "Weird, you say? Alright. I guess we could help if we can."

"Sweet! We're just waiting on someone else."

Flimua unlocked the door letting everyone in. "So, what can we help you with?"

"Ma'am," Joe spoke up, "I think it would be best if..." She was cut off by a knock at the door. She turned to see her Golden Lab drummer and Susan's car pulling away. "There she is." She opened the door for her. "Hey, Chelsea."

"Hey," she greeted back as they hugged. "Things were really weird this morning."

"What happened?"

"It was Lisa. She comes into the house holding her left cheek and rubbing her forehead. She went up to Robert asking him politely if she can see the security footage from last night thinking that someone was on the property and assaulted her. That was around the same time me and Susan got your guys' texts and slipped out."

That was such a big coincidence to Jacob. He remembered that those were the same places that Joe hit her in his dream last night.

"Mother, the other dragoness spoke up with an Irish accent staring at the three. "I can sense something about all of them." She turns attention to Joe looking above her.

"Let's see what they need first before we satisfy our curiosity." She turned her attention back to the trio.

"Thank you," Joe said. "My name's Josephine, but everyone calls me Joe, and this is Chelsea, my drummer. We're here to figure out something that might be wrong with her. Hopefully we could have it taken care of by tonight. I caught one of my bandmates speak a word to her and she went totally submissive."

"Oh dear! I know of only a few things that could do that. What was the word?"

"..."

Flimua covered her mouth in shock but couldn't stifle her gasp. She looked to Chelsea to see that she had that thousand-yard stare. Jacob felt another heart palpitation and clutched his chest, though this one wasn't as bad as the others he's had.

He let out a short cough. "And I don't hear it and her mouth disappear to me."

"It seems this bandmate has done more than just put Chelsea under mind control," Flimua observed. "It looks as though she used it as a trigger for you. What else have you been experiencing?"

"I've been having the same dream every night for years since I got her arrested." He tuned to Chelsea shaking her a bit and snapped in her face a few times before finally waking her up.

"I see." Her eyes took on a grim look as she addressed them. "Your bandmate is no friend if she is using that word. It is used in amantra to control the speaker's partner. I only knew of a couple of monarchs back then who used that word to make their concubines more submissive. It is a psychological manipulation tactic that magic cannot mend and it is more effective in the right state of mind."

"What kind of state?"

"For that word, they would have to be blissful or euphoric. Then after it has been said enough, it can be used at any time. It translates to 'love me, obey me.' If I am being honest, I had hoped those words were lost to time."

"Wha... What are going to do?!" Chelsea asked as fear shook her and tears welled up in her eyes. Joe was at her side wrapping her arms around her as her composure faltered. "I... I don't... I don't want her around me anymore!"

"Thankfully, the solution is simple," Flimua assured her. "You use a mantra to fight a mantra. I am well versed with them, the good and the bad. And I will be taking them back to the grave with me. I'll teach you of the most powerful ones. Where most mantras need an extended period of time, this one doesn't need much to take root and will protect anyone from future mantras. Lo'mata..."

Jacob felt a tingle in his ears making him shake his head. Chelsea put her fingers in her ears to try to make hers stop.

"Gabriel, say it with me. The more people who say it, the more powerful it will be."

She nodded.

"Lo'mata!" the dragons said in unison.

This time Jacob felt something hit him in his cranium making him groan and rub his head. He heard Chelsea next to him making the same noises.

Flimua scratched her head. "Looks like the roots on them run deep. It would take time to take effect."

Joe spoke up. "I'm pretty sure I'm Lisa's real target. She's used that word on me whenever we found ourselves alone together. Sneaking it in like every other word or at the end of every sentence. If she ever got to me, she could get to our fans spreading out like a plague."

"Yes, mantras can be used like subliminal messages. But what I find curious is why you haven't been affected."

She smirked at the voluptuous dragoness and said casually, "I've been told I'm pretty strong-willed."

"Mmm," Flimua mused. "Or there could be something else aiding you. Gabriel, let's see what you have been sensing."

Gabriel nodded before going behind the bar filling a glass with water.

"Now then, remember you mana lessons."

"Right," Gabriel said. "The key is intent."

She poured the water on her hands over the sink wetting them thoroughly. She closed her eyes in concentration holding her soaked hands when they started to glow a lighter blue than the rest of her. She came back over to Flimua, still in deep concentration, placing one hand over her mother's eyes. Her skin glowed just like her daughter's hands when she moved her hand away before placing a hand at each of her ears snapping her fingers making the insides flash.

Flimua opened her eyes and looked toward Joe only for her attention to be drawn upward. Whatever she saw made her take a shuddering breath and a step back.

Jacob and Chelsea looked to Joe see her smirk grow like she knew something. They looked above her to only find air.

"What? What is it?" Chelsea asked.

Flimua hesitated. "I... I see a great eagle spirit standing beside her." She bows respectfully.

"Eagle spirit?!" Jacob shouted before looking wide-eyed at Joe. She looks back at him sticking her tongue out at him teasingly.

Joe was, in fact, consciously in his dreams last night trying to help him with the eagle.

"I see now," Flimua mused directing her attention to the eagle spirit. "You have been protecting her from her bandmate." She suddenly looked confused. "What do you mean 'no?'" Her attention was intensely focused on the air where the spirit was. "Even you are impressed by her strong will. She didn't need your protection in the matter."

Joe put her hands on her hips proudly. "Told ya! He's been serving my bloodline and anyone involved with us for generations, but he's never been involved because I can take care of myself. He just helped me enter Jacob's dream last night because I felt the stress on him since I met him."

Flimua's shock wasn't any better as she turned her attention back to the spirit. "Great eagle spirit, would it be possible for you to help dispel the effects on these two?" She pauses as she listens to the spirit but her shoulders fell. "No, he cannot. Not unless they are more involved with you, Joe."

Joe nodded slowly. "I think I know what that means." She turns to her lover and bassist. "Marriage. Becoming a part of my tribe. Vows, consummation, the whole nine yards."

Jacob swallowed. He and Chelsea turned to each other before turning back to Joe.

Joe continued. "Unfortunately, my tribe never, at any point, believed in polygamy. Otherwise, I would marry you both if I could. Chelsea, I love ya, but I'm straight. But that doesn't mean I might not want to have fun with you someday." She steps up to Jacob, intimately close to him. "That just leaves you, I guess," she sighed like she was settling for the third best option.

Jacob frowned. But the moment he opened his mouth to fire back at her she pressed her lips to his cutting him off.

"The people of this era are so strange," Flimua observed with a lopsided smile.

Gabriel giggled. "I told you! But I also said that it makes it more interesting."

Flimua giggled with her daughter before addressing Jacob and Joe after they separated. "Leave Chelsea with us. We'll keep chanting to her while you two do whatever you need to do."

"Oh absolutely!" Joe declared. She grabbed Jacob by his arm and dragged him back out to his car.

As he was being manhandled outside, Jacob thought to himself that he had never been pulled around like this before. At least, not in a way that he didn't like. After Lisa was removed from his life the last time, he swore to himself that something like that would never happen to him again. Though with Joe, he liked this very much.

Back at his apartment, Jacob watched as Joe went rummaging through her luggage pulling out different items setting them on his coffee table. She took out a tablet, a ceramic bowl, and a beautiful, multicolored shell that were all well used with burns in them. She then took out several plastic bags marked white sage, cedar, sweet grass, rose, and one marked "C. Tobacco."

"C. Tobacco?" Jacob asked.

"Ceremonial tobacco," she answered. "Not to be confused with commercial tobacco."

"There's a difference?"

"Oh, HUGE difference! You'll never see me touch that other shit! Now where did I put it?!"

Joe didn't elaborate further so he let it go.

"Here we are!" she nearly shouted. She pulled out a two-foot-long silver case with clasps. She popped it open taking out a large brown feather. "I thought I'd have to ask for another one..."

Jacob blinked dumbfounded at the feather. "Is that a...?"

"An eagle feather, yup," she stated nonchalantly. She looked over to him to see the shock written all over his face. "Don't look so surprised. I'm descended from a native tribe and I have a permit to keep one. Plus, this feather came a dear friend of mine. This was one of her primary flight feathers."

Jacob's face scrunched up. "Ouch!"

"Damn right, ouch! She bled!"

"Okay. What are you doing now?" he asked curiously.

She stood up her tablet before answering. "We are going to start to start the ceremony with smudging first. But my native tongue is a little rusty so I need to call my family for help.

"Smudging?"

She points to the plastic bags. "To put it simply, I burn those in the shell and use the smoke to open ourselves to receive the blessing of the spirits. The tobacco is for healing and giving thanks, the sage removes negative energy, the cedar chips help to cleanse and protect, and the sweet grass brings the spirit of love and kindness for a visit. You already know what the rose is for."

"I'm not all that religious because I honor my God by being the best man I can be, but I'll take any help I can get. But are you sure you're okay with marrying a guy like me?"

After Joe got everything set up, she looked him from head to toe as if sizing him up, smirking. "Meh, I've met worse. And I've certainly met better. You're nothing special."

Jacob smirked back at her. "You know what this means, right? No more groupies!"

"Oh, fuck that! You can't expect me to go cold turkey in one night, do you?!"

Jacob shrugged. "Fine. If you are so insistent on it, you can have the boys while I take the ladies."

"Fuck that, too! You are going to be married to ME! My ancestors would never approve of that!"

Jacob's eyebrow raised as she fell right into his trap.

Joe realized what she said making her face drop. "FUCK!!!"

"Keep it between us and the band members?"

She sighed in defeat. "Agreed..."

She taps on her tablet starting the video call to her family. The screen changed as a snake anthro's face was displayed. The person was a full snake with a flat triangular head unlike Joe and had her light, sandy colored scales.

"Hey, Dad!" Joe called.

This was definitely not the way to meet the family.

"Hey, snakelet!" he called back. "I saw your video message yesterday. I'm glad you're all okay."

"Thanks. Meet our rescuer." She moved our of the way pulling Jacob into the camera.

To say Jacob was nervous was an understatement even if he was looking at a screen. This man was a full-on anthro rattlesnake. But he managed to keep most of it from showing as he looked in his slitted eyes.

"Uh, hello, sir. My name is Jacob."

Joe's father narrowing his eyes looking at him menacingly as he brought himself closer. Suddenly he jerk forward at Jacob with a frightening hiss and flashed his venomous fangs while rattling his tail off camera making him jump back.

"Dial it back, Dad," Joe said. "He's going to be your son-in-law."

Her dad froze as he stared at her. "Excuse me?!"

"Long story short, Lisa is causing havoc in the band. Jacob here is a guitarist and we need the Great Eagle Spirit's help to cleanse him. We need Mom and Grandpa's help."

He moved back from his tablet and seemed to calm down some. "I hope you thought long and hard about this. I know how you are with your fans."

Jacob took a nervous glance at Joe before looking back.

"Not too long." She looks to Jacob showing him a happy smile. "But I don't think I'll be regretting it."

Her father sighed in defeat, then turned to the side. "What do you think, Ashwiyaa?"

"I'm gonna have to see him first," a mature woman's voice scoffed.

The tablet on their end turned to view a tanned skinned human woman probably in her mid to late fifties. Jacob could see the resemblance between her and Joe.

Ashwiyaa took one look at Jacob and gave a thumbs-up. "He's a keeper, Allen!" Joe definitely take after her mother.

"Seriously?" Allen asked incredulously off camera. "Just like that after one look?"

"Our Joe is strong enough that she can take care of herself," she reasoned. "We trained her. If he tried anything on her we wouldn'tbe looking at him right now. And she found herself a fine-looking young man." That last part had a hint of attraction in her voice.

Allen groaned as he came back in front of the camera. "Fine... Jacob, was it?"

"Yes, sir," he answered.

"And he has manners!" Ashwiyaa interjected.

Allen ignored his wife. "I expect to meet you in person soon." There was no arguing with that comment before he walked away.

"Good riddance! I swear he can be such a pain."

Wait 'til I'm out of the room before you start talking behind my back!"

Both Joe and her mother cracked up laughing.

Ashwiyaa finally calmed down before addressing her daughter. "So, let's get started."

Ashwiyaa guided Joe through the process while contacting other family members who could help. She instructed her on how much was appropriate amount of each herb to put in the shell before lighting them. Soon enough, Joe's grandfather, with the help of one of her cousins, joined the video call telling her what to say in their native language. The wizened man had a presence about him even through the screen as his experience was visually evident on his features. He just called for respect but never demanded it. Jacob imagined being hugged by him, then all of his troubles and negativity would melt away.

When there was a nice flame, Joe waved the eagle feather over it putting it out but the contents were still smoldering. She bathed her hands in the smoke while reciting the words her grandfather spoke to address the eagle spirit and honor him.

Jacob sits across the table from Joe as she waves the feather through the smoke smudging it before gathering some in her hands and bringing it to her face inhaling it. It is explained that she is smudging her breath because that is where the sacred words will come from. She gathered more bringing it to her eyes and to her ears so she can experience all the good things that are to come.

She smudges herself further, placing it in her hair and in her breath again as they were her identity, against her body, and all the way down to her feet so that she can walk on Mother Earth with great respect. As she is smudging, she was praying in her native language offering thanks to the great spirits and the Creator to be with them asking for their help and their blessings.

To Jacob, the whole process was very fascinating and oddly calming as he watched and listened.

Joe then picked up the shell with the shallow end facing him and the feather. She waved the plum towards Jacob offering the smoke to him. He gathered it and breathed in deeply taking it in catching the unique scent. He copied what she did to herself cleansing his hands taking it into his lungs, to his eyes, ears, against his body all the way down to his feet.

While he was smudging himself , she held the eagle feather up with respect to honor it and help it hear the offered prayers.

Joe's grandfather, who also approved of Jacob and was made aware of their situation, spoke to the two. "You two now have the full attentions of the Creator and the Great Spirits. Are you ready?"

"I am, Grandfather," Joe said respectfully taking Jacob's hands. "Though this is way out of the blue, I really like him and I am confident that we'll grow even closer."

Jacob's lips curled into an appreciative smile. "I feel the same way. I just want this bullshit to end and find my own happiness now. Pardon my language."

Joe's grandfather nodded. "Though this is not how the ceremony is meant to be done, we will prepare for the proper one at a later time. I pray that it will have the same desired affects you are looking for. Let us begin.

One of Joe's cousins started tapping on his wooden drums to get her family ready. One held up a wooden flute to her lips, another was tuning an acoustic guitar, and her mother held up a pair of beautifully painted gourd shakers.

The drum was beat and a moment later the flute joined. When they were played together, the harmony of the notes had Jacob feeling how primal and calming it was. The guitar and shakers were were introduced adding a sense of control and fluidity to the wild nature of the music. As he absorbed it in though his senses, he would feel like he could be free yet remain in total control. If he was in a fighting game, he would feel like he could perform a 50-hit combo, yet have the state of mind to stop himself halfway.

"Jacob, Josephine," Joe's grandfather said with an authority that made them snap at attention. "Do you wish to to recite your own vows?"

Joe thought for a moment before answering. "I think I would."

Joe's grandfather nodded before taking a deep breath. He hummed before his he started to sing in their native language with a voice that was relaxed, lyrical, and deep that it gave Jacob goosebumps from his toes to the crown of his head. It was just another level of how pure and primal everything felt.

Joe then turned to Jacob. "Jacob, let me start by saying I have never met a man like you before. As a rockstar, you challenge me when everything is usually thrown at my feet. I don't know if it's because of Lisa's effects on you but I want to know the real you. Not only that, but you and your family treat and the rest of the band like we're already family. I don't think I'll ever meet another man like you, and, personally, I don't want to. As your wife, I promise to cherish you and care for you through the highs and low of life. I will take you as my husband."

Jacob heart thumped in his chest from how moving her speech was. The only way he could possibly match it was if he spoke from his heart. It felt like the easiest thing in the world at that moment getting a mental boost from the music and just from looking at her.

"Joe, from the moment I saw you perform and then met you in person, you tripped me up hard. Like a full-on faceplant on the sidewalk." Joe chuckled. "Life had felt so predictable to me. I was able to move all the pieces on the board in a way that would help my brothers find their own happiness. Except for Mark, he found it himself. It had to have been what Lisa did to me because I didn't give a second thought to myself. Then, you put all of your attention on me, and to be honest, I feel like I'm starting to heal. So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And as your husband, I claim the same promise you made to me. To cherish you and care for you through the lows of life. I will take you as my wife."

They moved closer into a kiss that had more passion than they experienced prior. It was full of the love that was missing in either of their lives until now.

Joe's grandfather paused his singing to address the new couple. "In order for the Great Eagle Spirit to him, the two of you must consummate your marriage. We will keep playing to keep the way open for your spirits."

"Okay," Joe said nearly out of breath. "Then I'm turning the mic and camera off. The is one performance I don't want an audience for."

Her grandfather I don't nodded before continuing his singing. She reached for her table doing what she needed before moving to Jacob's bedroom.

"How do you want to do this?" Jacob asked her as she set her tablet on the nightstand.

"It's been a while since my family performed a marriage ceremony," she replied. "One round should be enough."

Joe wrapped her arms around his neck bringing him in for another passionate kiss before they went about taking each other's clothes off.

Jacob stepped out of his bottoms and had his shirt halfway off when Joe snatched it off him. He blinked when he looked at her seeing those predatorial eyes of hers from the night before. And with her being so close the chances of him escaping this time around were nonexistent.

She giggled evilly as she placed a hand on his chest and walked him over to the bed. And with a single shove he fell backwards on the mattress. It was a good thing he changed the sheets before they left to meet Flimua.

"Joe..." he chuckled, only to stiffen up when he felt her hand rousing his cock with firm strokes.

Like the silent predator she was, Joe started stalked her way on the bed with Jacob beneath her, making him scoot himself back fully on the bed. And before he knew it, he was lying flat on his mattress resting his head on the pillow with the serpent on top of him, straddling his hips as a sensual smile graced her face.

"I'm gonna fuck the living daylights out you..." she whispered. "And I'm gonna do it with my pussy this time! So, let's not waste any time on foreplay..."

Her tone sent a shudder through his body. "Oh shit..."

This was it! The big moment!

Her hand on Jacob's cock, Joe angled it up to her tight cunt as a twitch of excitement traveled through her. Her grin grew bigger, the excitement she felt palpable from the sight alone! There was also a level of concern in her eyes, but not so much that she felt any fear.

Instead of pushing herself down on his cock, Joe gently rubbed her folds with the head. Every stroke made him groan, desperate to feel her body wrapped around him. But the snake was doing what serpents do best, being patient.

But there was only so much waiting she could take before she struck.

She spread her legs to squat giving Jacob the perfect view of every inch of her awesome body. Her tight pussy, those strong legs and thighs, and her lithe body. All of Joe was free to be marveled at to his heart's content.

And that amazing body started to push down on him.

"Ooooh... Fuck!" Her voice got uncharacteristically higher as she felt herself being parted.

She felt his cock travel deep into her pussy. It brushed against every slick wall, every groove and fold of her sex as she sank down more and more. It almost felt like she had bitten off more than she could chew, and she was loving it! This dick of his was stretching her out in all the best ways, and it was pumped with so much heat!

It was when she dropped down the rest of the way did she throw her head back gritting her teeth to try and hold back a painful cry.

And then it was over. It felt like forever, but it was finally over as the pain subsided and allowed her to breath more easily.

Joe's pelvis was fitted perfectly on Jacob's lap, and his cock was buried in her pussy with a little around the edges. But the two were now connected, with her tight cunt gripping down hard on his rod.

It didn't take long for her to relax so she could squeeze and stroke him with her walls. He thought about moving, but every twitch through his cock, which made him lean back with groaning pleasure.

Jacob looked up and marveled at her. She was unlike anyone he had been set up with by his brother Matt. She was perfect in his eyes with a strong mind and a fun personality. To feel this body of hers impaled on his cock, Jacob was filled with a thrill he hadn't felt in a long time.

"H-hey! Feeling good down there?" Joe asked, her cracked attitude trying to repair itself. But that was okay though as Jacob didn't really want to banter with her after just losing her virginity to him.

"You feel better than good, Joe. You feel fucking amazing!" he replied, but the tightness was starting to get to him. "But, Joe... fuck... Ease up a little. You're clamping down on my dick... I can't even... you might tear it off!"

"Heh! Fuck no!" she replied as she sat her hands on her knees. "I'm gonna start moving now. So, get ready!"

Jacob's eyes went wide with worry.

Putting on a face of raw lust, Joe pulled her hips up, dragging her cunt along every inch of his cock provided. She wanted him to squirm. Every twist and turn as he gave into the pleasures of her body provided. At the same time, the jolts she suffered caused her to gasp and moan.

As her pussy grew more accustomed to his length, Joe moved faster. The pace she set was steady, slamming her body down on his pelvis with a heavy "pat" after heavy "pat." With every impact, Jacob could feel the full weight of her compacted body pressing down on him. The mattress wobbled beneath them, and the reaction made Joe's breast bounce.

The way she was moving was like she was trying to make him crack, but really she the one who was cracking. His dick was easily carving an impression in her pussy, which itself so hungrily clung to his length. Joe may not have had vaginal, but she used her experience with anal to compensate.

Jacob just then realized. He hadn't touched a certain area on her yet on her yet. So, he reached up.

"Hm?"

Joe looked down and grinned. He had grabbed onto her gorgeous breasts, one in each hand.

Squeezing in, Jacob felt a spurt of energy surge through him. He wondered to himself why he didn't touch her tits before. They were so firm and smooth with a perfect shape. Every squeeze not only coaxed a groan from her lips, but from him as well. And the silver studs in her nipples! When he tried to touch them...

"Ah! Jacob!"

His face was brought up and smothered by the scaled flesh of her glorious breasts. Surrounded on all sides by her supple underbelly, he felt the same pleasure his cock experienced just moments ago. He realized he could easily get addicted to this.

His body began growing hotter and his loins started to churn, and to Joe's surprise, his hand suddenly traveled down her waist to grasp her tight ass only for a finger to slip into her puckered hole. The difference in her scales were a stark contrast. Gripping her tightly, Jacob quickly took lead point as he pulled her up and slammed her down with an audible "thwap."

"GOH?!"

Joe's entire body bounced by Jacob's action, his cock burning deep into her core. But he didn't give her the chance to catch herself up, because he suddenly slammed her down on his cock once more, and again shortly after!

Setting up a steady pace, Joe's cunt was slammed down around Jacob's cock with incredible power. If he hadn't been holding onto her, and if she hadn't been doing likewise, he would have probably sent the rockstar tumbling off of her bed! Everything about he form was bouncing. From her firm ass to her long hair, not one aspect of her being was spared from these waves of pleasure created from his assault.

And nowhere was that more evident than her pussy.

Twitching and spasming, Joe's cunt rippled around Jacob's cock, stroking him with a hungry need. His every pound made his balls churn and drew more noises from her lips, with each sound being higher in pitch than the last. Even her mind began to drift, unable to think about anything or anyone other than the man below her. She just focus on the pleasure he was giving her, letting it wash over her.

Jacob felt her pussy clamp down harder and became even tighter, almost to the point that it was impossible for him to pull back! But either it being from sheer determination or just raw strength, he had enough in him to force his cock out one last time... before sending it back in and finally shooting his biggest load yet deep inside her!

Joe was holding on for dear life. She had to! And during his climax she squeezed him tightly. Her nails had begun scratching lines along his back. He felt the pain, but he fought through it, and for his efforts he was rewarded.

"GOOOOH!!!"

Joe's eyes rolled back and her head tipped to the skies. Her moans roared throughout his home. She felt amazing pleasure that would continue to stay in her mind for years.

Her pussy squirted hard, wetting down his cock and lower stomach with her clear nectar. He could feel it streaking where it stained his bed beneath with their combined fluids... messing up his bed again. But for the next few moments, all they did was breathe.

As his feeling of bliss was at its peak, Jacob felt a weird sensation around him. He opened his eyes to see he floated in a smoky white void. He looked around only to see the Eagle Spirit standing beside him looking down on him. Without saying a word, the spirit placed both his taloned hands on his chest over his heart and gave him a hard press as if he was giving her CPR. The action forced some air out of his lungs, but when he eased up his heart pumped hard and strong. It was like he had a healthy run, but he realized that this feeling was how his heart was supposed to beat having been progressively weakened from the stress Lisa put him through.

Then the memory of that fateful day rushed to the forefront of his mind.

When Lisa was in the car giving the guy a blowjob, he remembered that the guy was one of her teachers and the word she was using sounded like kadisa.

Then when she was being taken away by the police, she was shouting out a long rant at him.

How dare you do fucking do this to me! Kadisa! she was shouting.

You have the right to remain silent... One of the officers were trying to read her her rights but she was drowning them out.

You will remember this day for the rest of your fucking life! Kadisa! You and your fucking smile will fade away! Kadisa! And the moment you regret what you've done to me will be the moment you drop dead! My word will torture you forever! KADISA!!!

Jacob sighed as relief washed over him. He just knew now that the memory will never haunt him ever again. He looked up to the Eagle Spirit and he looked back to him nodding assuringly.

"It is done," he declared. "From now on, Lisa and her memory will never plague your mind again. And her word will no longer have any effect on you. As long as you are Josephine's husband and lover, your mind will be free and clear."

Joe...

With that thought, the white void went dark and his world settled back into place. His eyes slowly opened as he took in the sexy sight of Hoe on top of him from on his back. What felt like a few minutes was probably only a moment as she was still in the throes of her orgasm. He could still hear her family playing from her tablet, but the players were starting to slow meaning they were getting tired.

"Ho... Holy shit, that was amazing!" Joe breathed. She looked down at him glowing all the more radiant from the aftermath. "Now I know what Vicky keeps bragging about. But I think I'm still an anal girl.

Jacob chuckled. "God, your hot! You are every bit the rockstar you claim to be. You're a much better sight than that eagle friend of yours."

"Hm? Finally met him yourself, didja?" She suddenly blinked as she stared at him. "Jacob, your face isn't as pale anymore. And the bags under your eyes are gone."

His hands instantly went to his face. She was reluctant to get off him as he moved out from under her and rushed to his bathroom. He looked in the mirror and saw how right she was. His skin was darker and looked much healthier than that morning and the bags and dark circles looked like they were never there.

Joe came up behind him wearing a shirt of his with black panties wrapping her arms around him.

"My family offered their congratulations when I told them," she said gently. "My dad, however, is still demanding to meet you."

The memory of seeing the snake man on the tablet flashed in his mind, but he didn't cringe. He turned around to face him as his lips pulled up into the most confident smile he ever gave in years, and he was giving it to her.

"The next time you talk to the man..." He yanked her closer into a heated kiss that nearly took her breath away. He let out a little growl as he said, "You tell him I said 'bring it on." And that I love his daughter, and not like some random fan of hers."

She chuckled as she grinned at him. "Well, this is new! Where the fuck have you been all my life?! I'm really falling for you now!"

"You can blame Lisa for that! Speaking of the bitch, I think I have an idea of what we should do to her tonight."

Joe's face took on a dangerously mischievous look. "Oh? Do tell!"

Jacob smirked. "Lisa's got to be on her last nerve and I think she's about to blow. You ladies do your best to piss her off and bring me on stage to play after a while and I'll handle the rest. If she hasn't done anything yet at that point, announce our relationship. She'll go nuclear and show everyone her true colors."

Just then, Joe received a text from John. He gave the details of the temporary streaming site he created giving her a link to it. He finished his message by saying that he will going to bed now.

Jacob got a text from his dad saying the music shop owner would be happy to loan out what they needed, on the condition that the band autographed what they used. He would even throw in camera equipment and his staff to help with the stream. He then shot off texts to his family and Erik telling them what was going to happen later that night and to help spread the word. When his brothers asked him where they would meet up with their loved ones, he told them to meet under the scoreboard.

Joe quickly got herself together and posted the link to her social media. When that was set, she did what Rose suggested the previous night by making another video message.

Jacob again helped her by holding her tablet so everyone could get a good look at her. In her message to her fans, she explained the details given to her by John on how to use their tickets to view the live performances live online. She tells them the show will start before it starts getting dark.

When her message was finished, the duo rested on his couch as there was still a lot of time before the show. The plan Jacob came up with for Lisa revolved a lot around him getting up to play with the band and that part had him excited.

Joe on the other hand, was feeling excited as well but with a mix of anxiety. She and her band hadn't done something like this since their early days playing for their community before Lisa came along.

And they knew a great way to steady the nerves and pass the time. She took him by his hand and lead him back into the bedroom.

***

Dusk was setting in as people started to fill the grounds around the high school football field. A large tent was set up on the feild for the band as like a makeshift greenroom. Cameras were manned on the inside of the fence. John was on his laptop taking control of the site with his snow leopard girlfriend, Lyra, sitting on one side of him watching with Jessica on his other side. Local police were posted on and off the field along side volunteers who wanted to add to the security.

Jacob's family and their loved ones had gathered where he said with the addition of Indigo's brother, Infra, as well as Alexis with her boyfriend Tobi. She had invited her best friend Melissa along with her man, Todd, to make it a party. Susan and Robert had brought a pair of lawn chairs to sit in.

It was only until Todd spotted Jazmine when she walked up with Mark and her daughter did he swallow nervously. Jazmine smiled at him.

"Oh, Todd!" Jazmine greeted. "Fancy metting you here."

"Uh, yeah, likewise," he responded.

Melissa, Todd's white mouse girlfriend, came up next to her man. "Is she the one you've been talking about?"

"Um, yeah. She's the supervisor of mine and Mark's team."

She then turned to look at the bat mother. "On his behalf, could you lighten up on him, please?"

"Yeah, that's not going to happen," Rose said leaning in. "I can tell you that she treats everyone the same, even to her fiancé here." She pointed to Mark.

"I know I'm a little intense at work," Jazmine explained, "but if I do lighten up on everyone then nothing will get done."

Mark coughed. "Slavedriver!"

Jazmine's mouth twisted before she smacked his shoulder. "I'll show you slavedriver when we get home tonight!"

He leaned down to her face. "Bring it on!"

Just then Gabriel dropped in from the sky close to the group with Collin climbing down from her back.

"Hey!" Lucas called over to them.

Collin and Gabriel waved back strolling over to them.

"Hey," Collin called. "Wow! Got a nice big grrrroup over here," he said in his Irish accent rolling his Rs.

"This was Jacob's idea. Why don't you two join us?"

Before Collin spoke, Gabriel cut in. "Aye." She took her man by the arm guiding him over.

"Oi!" Collin called. "I was goin' to say 'aye!'"

"I know," she smiled.

"Speaking of Jacob, where is he?" Matt asked.

"Right here," Jacob announced from behind them with his guitar case in hand. "Sorry. I had to find a place to drop Joe off. I don't want paparazzi taking pictures of us just yet."

Mark looked at him giving a devious knowing look. "Is that the ONLY reason why you're late?"

Jacob gave his baby brother the smuggest smile back at him. "Of course not! We did exactly what you're thinking of. We fucked a little longer than we should have."

Mark was instantly shut down. He really wasn't expecting him to outright admit it so casually. Then he spotted his guitar.

"Any reason you brought your most prized possession?" he asked.

"There is."

Mark blinked waiting for more than that but wasn't getting any more info. "Care to share with the class?"

And then Jacob smiled confidently, which made Mark do a double-take. Now that he got a better look, he could see the life back in his eyes and his smile actually had something behind it. He always had confidence, but it was always hidden. But now it was showing.

"B... Bro?"

Jacob nodded as he draped his arm around his brother's shoulders. "Mom, Dad, Mark, Matt, Lucas and Kyle... I'm back. And tonight, I'm going to some payback."

"Oh, I know that look," Indigo said. "I've seen it on plenty of soldier's faces. Everyone better get out of this man's way."

In the tent, Joe's band had gathered and were each doing their normal routine before a show started. John had already come to them earlier saying that the system was up and running and that a lot of people were already streaming. Joe looked through the flap at the crowd eager to get the party started. Meanwhile, Lisa was looking just as grumpy and standoffish as usual.

"We ARE getting paid for this, right?" Lisa asked.

Joe smiled. "Nope. We did set up a tip jar over at the parking lot for anyone who wants to donate."

Lisa started to seethe. "If we're not getting paid, then I'm not going out there."

Joe shrugged. "Suit yourself. I figured you might say that, so I got a backup who can take over."

"What? You talking about that dipshit?"

"I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. So, you can just sit back here while we have all the fun."

Lisa then grinned like she had a ace up her sleeve. "I don't think you understand. You might have talked that fucker into playing, but you'll be out a drummer, too." She looked over to her "girlfriend." "Right, Chelsea?"

Chelsea just huffed in amusement, which was out of character. "As if!" she declared. "I'm playing with or without you."

Lisa's white furred face was starting to turn pink. "Kadisaaaa..." She reached out to take Chelsea's wrist.

However, the drummer slapped the polar bear's hand away and just stared at her. "There's that word again. What does that even mean? Is that supposed to be some kind of mantra?"

The defiant confidence coming from Chelsea took Lisa by surprise. She glanced over to Victoria to see her starting at her and not effected by her montra either. But even with her blood starting to boil, she stood up straight looking Joe in the eye. "Tch. Fine. I guess I'll go out there."

Joe reached over to pat Lisa on her head. "Atta girl! Doing what we can for the soldiers and our fans!"

She smacked the offending hand away before it could touch her head again. "Whatever..."

Joe brushed it all off and looked at the dimming sky. "Okay then. It's show time!"

The moment she threw the tent open the crowd went wild. They walked over to their instruments in the middle of the field waving to the cheering audience. Chelsea was loaned a very nice drum set to use since hers didn't show up in time. Lisa hadn't calmed down as she clenched her teeth but made sure no one saw giving off the same impression that she was an entitled bitch that she always was. In front of the crowd, John gave them a thumbs up telling them that everything was still good and received a nod of understanding in return.

"Hey, everyone!" Joe greeted into the mic while the others got themselves situated. "Thank you all for coming out on such short notice. A busted bus can do that." The audience laughed a little. "And I want to thank our fans who are streaming right now for sticking with it. Now, let's rock!"

Chelsea raised her sticks in the air and tapped them in tempo while Joe raised her tail rattling it like she always did. Chelsea then did a quicker four count and Lisa started strumming her guitar, but her fingers were tripping over themselves throwing the song off for a moment. She took a breath and quickly composed herself to play normally.

Her composure didn't last long, however. Before the next song started memories of every recent event came back to her making her stumble all over again. It wasn't until the third song that Joe finally decided to addressed the issue.

"Whoa, whoa! Hold up!" Joe called making everyone stop. Victoria turned away hiding her smirk.

Joe turned to her lead guitarist with her hands on her hips. "What the hell, Lisa?! We just started!" she said not bothering to turn her mic off. "I know we had a bit of a rough time since the bus broke down, but come on! Do you need a break?"

Lisa couldn't help but be tongue tied being being talked to like that from her. The way she was looking at her like she was in charge of her was really getting her pissed off.

"Go take a break," Joe said pointing her to the tent.

"I can still..."

"I said 'go!'" She was resolute in her statement.

Lisa scoffed as she unplugged her guitar tossing the cord to the ground before walking over to the tent. She heard the crowd started to to boo, smiling thinking the crowd was directing it at Joe. But when she looked up all the eyes were directed at her and some of them were giving her thumbs down. The whole crowd knew her and it looked like she was going to blow any second.

"Really sorry about that, everyone," Joe apologized. "We all have out off days. But maybe we could keep the show roll with another guitarist?"

Victoria played along. "But who could we get on such short notice? Lisa even took her guitar and I doubt she'll just give it up."

The crowd murmured in confusion but none of them spoke up.

Over at Jacob's group, the same idea flashed across all their minds as they collectively looked at him. They now realized why he brought his guitar. He and Joe planned this out as his guitar is modified to suit a left-handed person.

"You're crafty," Susan said beaming.

"That's my boy!" Robert said matching his wife.

"OVER HEEEERRRREEEE!!!!!!" Rose shouted from the chain-link fence getting everyone's attention. When the band looked over to her, she pointed right at Jacob. "JACOB CAN DO IT!!!!!"

The mention of Jacob's name made Lisa freeze before she stepped into the tent. She turned her head, eyes wide with a rage that she was having a hard time trying to keep back. She was minutes away from going nuclear.

"Yeah?" Joe observed, her eyes hooded with an expectant look. "I wouldn't dream of asking our rescuer to help up out. Him and his family have done more than enough for us."

Robert stepped up next to Rose putting a hand on her shoulder. "We insist you take my boy, Joe!" he shouted.

"Weeeellllllll, if you really insist... Jacob, care to join us?"

Jacob grabbed the handle of his guitar case and stood up. "I'd be happy to," he called.

The crowd cheered for him as he walked into the field. He glance over to John who gave him a thumbs-up with a wink. Jacob nodded in reply.

He stepped up to Lisa's spot setting his case down on the ground so he could open it up. Inside with his guitar was a mic system for his ear. He slipped it on and clipped its box to his pants behind his back turning it on.

"Thanks for filling in," Joe said as he plugged in his guitar. "Know any good songs?"

"None of yours, sorry," he said. "But if you don't mind going off the rails with some classics..."

"Hell yeah! Whacha got?"

Jacob spread his feet giving him a good base and took a deep breath. It wasn't the first time he played for people, but having an audience this big was another story. Pick in his left hand and right fingers at the ready along the neck. He strummed the cords for the higher sharp notes and his fingers flew from one position to the next. Chelsea instantly knew the song and was bobbing her head to measure his timing. When she had it, she struck her drums and the crowd was cheered.

"Lo'mata..." he whispered into his mic. It was barely audible over the music and the crowd as John made it blend in on his laptop. "Lo'mata, lo'mata, lo'mata..."

Jacob breathed the mantra over and over as he played. But as he played he wasn't tripping or missing a note. The same was said for the band members as they played from their hearts having the time of their lives.

Lisa, on the other hand, couldn't believe what she was witnessing from Jacob and just stood there staring with her teeth and fists clenched. She realized that her time in the band was coming to an end and it was all his fault.

The song slowed to a stop and the crowd went wild. Joe and her band looked to him applauding him as well making his pride and embarrassment well up as he scratched the back of his head, smiling the biggest smile he ever had. He couldn't see if his mantra had any effect, but he was confident in it enough to enjoy the spotlight.

Joe stepped over to him and thew an arm around him. "Oh yeah, you're a keeper alright!" she said into the mic. "And one more thing..." She turned his face towards hers and kissing him hard making the audience whistle and cheer.

He responds by wrapping his arms around her waist pressing their bodies closer together sandwiching his guitar between them.

"Holy shit!" Matt said in amazement as the family's former playboy never expected something like that from his brother.

"Dayum! Hit that shit, Jacob!" Indigo cheered.

Lisa, however, was the only one not happy about any of it. She was rooted in place stunned gripping her guitar as the sight of her master plan was crumbling before her eyes.

Joe forcefully separated with a loud pop. "So, lover, when's the first date and when are you going to propose?" she said as more of a statement than a question. The whole place was shocked silent by her statement as they watched the couple. "That's right, everyone! I have taken this handsome man for myself."

While the audience was cheering for them, to say that Jacob's group was still shocked was an understatement.

Rose especially.

"Mom..." she croacked.

"I heard that too, honey," she replied.

"Then... does that mean..."

"You know her better than I do, but I think it does. Forget autographs. She's going to be your aunt."

Rose squealed so loud that it was almost inaudible to the humans among the group.

As her daughter was jumping around laughing hysterically, Jazmine turned to Mark with a look in her eyes that said: "This marriage better go through and for a long time for my daughter, or I will castrate you!" Mark gulped in fear and nodded.

Infra, who was initially hostile towards Lucas for even being around his sister, was all smiles as he pulled him in calling him brother. Kyle took over at that moment because Lucas was still processing Joe's declaration. He elbowed the Savanna Cat in the stomach shutting him down.

However, the revelry was interrupted when everyone heard a rage filled scream. They whipped around to see that it was coming from Lisa. The crazed look in her was enough to let everyone know that she had snapped. She took her guitar and rushed over to the new couple with it reared over her shoulder ready to attack with it.

The police officers and volunteers tried to get in her way but started to swing her guitar wildly forcing them to back off. They were prepared to deal with some crazy fans from the audience, not someone from the band they were supposed to protect. One officer was unluck enough to get hit in the arm. Lisa didn't care as she was laser-focused squarely on Jacob. The mad woman screamed more as she raised her weapon over her head as she reached him.

Jacob instinctually and protectively shoved Joe out of the way and raised the only thing he had to protect himself with: his own guitar.

The sound of the collision between the two instruments would've been a little funny if the situation wasn't so bad. Over the sound Jacob actually heard a crack. His guitar couldn't take another hit like that, which was why Lisa readied for another swing. She didn't care about striking an officer of the law meaning she was out for blood.

Jacob had no choice but to bring his guitar up again to block the attack. But once he did and the instruments collided, both of them broke right where their necks connected with their bodies. The force made him lose his balance and fell down only to have Lisa on top of him with both halves of her guitar attempting to strangle him with the strings. He held the strings with the neck of his guitar and looked up at her to see that she was absolutely rabid and devoid of any reason.

"Just... give it up!" Jacob strained against her. "You've lost! You'll never own the world!"

"NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!" she screamed.

Jacob thought he was going to sloe strength in his arms when he felt Lisa tighten up. He looked up to see Joe gripping her hair pulling her off of him. She stood her up only to punch her former lead guitarist in the face, the same side where she struck her in his dreamscape. Then she punched her a second time, and then for the third strike she let her go sending her to the ground in a heap.

Lisa struggled to lift herself up and spat out a couple of molars. But before she could get her knees under her, a few officers finally showed up to subdue her. they pulled her arm out from under bringing them behind her back and cuffing her.

When she was brough up to her feet again, she started to shout her word with a bit of a slur. "Ka... Kadisa! Kadisa! KADISA!!! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!!! I OWN YOOOOUUUU!!!"

"Lo'mata, lo'mata, lo'mata..." Jacob quickly said to counter her. It looked as though it was having the desired effect as no responded, not even him. He also found that his mantra flowed easier out of his mouth than hers did as it could be used in a rhythm.

Joe shook the discomfort from her hand. "Lisa Rowan, it is not with you anymore. You are out of the band!"

Lisa screamed and struggled against the police as they pulled her away and off the field.

"Hold on!" Jacob called to them. "Don't take her away just yet. I have to tell her something."

Lisa said nothing as she glared at him. Whatcould he possibly want with her? He already ruined her life for the second time.

Jacob wasn't dissuaded by her as he stepped up to her. Then he smiled at her, the same one she took from him all those years ago. The one that was full of unshakable confidence. Her eyes widened when she saw it and recognized it, her spell on him completely broken.

He stopped in front of her and cleared his throat. He tapped his mic smiling when he heard the feedback telling him that it was still working.

(Metallica -- King Nothing)

"Dig for gold, dig for fame, you dig to make your name. Are you pacifiiiied? All the wants you waaaaaste, all the things you've chaaaaased. And it all crashes down, and you break your crown. And you point your finger but-there's-no-one-around!" he sang while pointing at her. "Just want one thing, just to play the queen. But the castle's crumbled and-you're-left-with-just-a-name!" He paused momentarily for a dramatic effect and leaned right into her face with his confident smile. "Where's your crown, Queen Nothiiiiiiing?"

She screamed trying to lunge at him only to be held back by many strong hands. They get her moving again but she was thrashing around so much that they had to grab her legs and carry her.

"Where's your crown, Queen Nothing? Oh, you're just nothing!"

His voice projected from the speakers as she finally left the field. The audience cheered and hollered as they witnessed their bad app;e get what was coming to her. And since it wasn't her time with aggravated assaulted, the court system won't be so lenient on her this time.

The rest of Slitherin' Joe gathered around Jacob as they saw her start to hit her head against the window pressing her face into it glaring back at them before she was taken away.

An explosion sounded with blue lights came from behind them in the sky drawing everyone's attention away. The fireworks were being fired off some distance away as more followed the first shot. It was definitely a moment to remember for everyone as they all won their freedom.

Jacob's family and friends joined them on the field. Rose crashed herself into Joe again wrapping her arms around her. Her and Jacob chuckled at each other at the moment and were bringing themselves closer to kiss.

That was until a hand of a certain lioness grabbed his shoulder.

"Hey!" Victoria hollered. "I've waited long enough for one!" She turned him around and kissed him hard, her sandpaper-like tongue absolutely filled his mouth. She sighed happily when she pulled away.

"Happy now?" Joe asked amused.

Victoria just shrugged. "It's a start."

"Okay. So, if you'll excuse us..." She goes for the kiss again...

But she was interrupted again when he turned around by Chelsea making him facing her this time.

There was a mix of emotions in her eyes as she looked into his. "Thank you," was all she said before wrapping her arms around him an kissed him and kissing him full on his lips almost being just as aggressive as Victoria.

"Damn, girl!" Victoria jabbed. "Didn't know you swung both ways."

"I'm willing to give it a try," she said smiling seductively at him.

"Alright, damn it!" Joe remarked as she pulled Jacob back towards her. He was dazed from being tossed around. "Now looked what you did to him." But her remark held none of the concern behind it as she finally kissed him.

Everyone around them laughed at his rough treatment. He laughed along with them, more from embarrassment. He picked up his broken guitar mourning the sacrifice made, but it was worth it in the end.

He along with everyone else turned their gazes back up to the show in the sky happy with how everything turned out. He was back to normal, claimed a rockstar for a lover and wife, and was the band's new lead guitarist. He couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.

End