“If you want to pick your key up in the morning, you’re welcome to. We stay open until noon,” said the agent.
“Yes, if I could. And is it okay if I have some food and drink delivered there in the morning?”
“Absolutely. The cabin will be all yours until noon on January second . Oh, and here’s a brochure listing the ones that are for sale. I know you expressed an interest in purchasing.”
Kent took it from him. He’d need someplace to live if he was setting up home in Kalispell again.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” asked the agent.
“No, I think, you’ve been more than helpful,” said Kent, sticking out his hand. “Oh, one thing I would like to make sure of is that there’s plenty of firewood. I hate chopping the stuff myself and there’s nothing as romantic as a wood burning fire.”
“I’ll see to it there’s a fresh supply waiting.”
Kent nodded and left the office. He headed down the steps, but then stopped in his tracks.
Had he just used the word romantic?
He’d never used that word in his life.
****
Ally tried on the dress in the changing room, but then sat on the chair in there and cried. This was her first time buying new clothing since Andy had died and now she didn’t have anyone to advise her if it made her butt look big.
“You know, honey, you have the cutest butt in the world. This man will love it as much as I did.”
She looked up at the ceiling, positive she’d heard Andy’s voice booming that down to her.
She stood and tried to get her composure together before she stepped outside and looked into the three mirrors that showed you every possible angle. Yikes, that was so scary.
The moment of truth.
She pushed back the curtain and waited until another lady had stepped back into the dressing room to take a look at the dress she’d picked. Ally had a pair of black pumps she’d only worn once and that was to a fundraiser for the Research Center. The last event she and Andy had attended before…
Don’t go there, look at the dress.
Ally spun around. She loved this dress. She’d fallen in love with it the minute she’d seen it in the window. They even had her size. She turned to look at her butt. Even made that looked sexy.
“How’s the fit?” asked the assistant.
“It’s perfect,” said Ally.
“That shade of red looks beautiful on you. Are you going anywhere special for New Year’s Eve?”
“Yes, somewhere rustic in the woods.”
“Ooh, that sounds so romantic.”
****
If you would have asked Kent how he’d be welcoming in the New Year, he probably would have said he’d be having a few drinks, renting a few movies, and then sleeping in late New Year’s Day. He hadn’t envisioned himself renting a cabin and playing a thrilling game with a human.
He put both the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge. Ava had insisted on packing enough food to last him a week up here. Breakfast items, orange juice, bread, and fixings. Food was actually the last thing he had on his mind.
Kent looked around the cabin. It was what he’d call modern rustic. Exposed wood, squishy chairs and couches, but a couple of things would have to go. The wolf pelt hanging on the wall, the bear skin rug, and the deer antlers. For all he knew, these could have been shifter buddies. He rounded up everything and put them into a cupboard by the back door.
The fire was already sizzling, and like he’d requested, enough firewood had been piled outside to keep it going for a long time. Now for the collar. Should he just go outside and hold it high in the air? Should he put it on? Should he shift? What would she like best? What would he like best?
****
Ally parked her car in the turnaround spot by the woods. She’d packed everything she needed, including her new dress, in her backpack. She’d put on her hiking boots and warm jacket, hoping Kent wasn’t too deep in the woods. She looked at her watch. A few more minutes and she’d turn on the tracking device.
One job she loved was meeting up again with the animals that were part of her research. This time around, it would be even more thrilling. She got out of her car, locked everything up, and then slung her backpack over her shoulder. She activated the tracking device and got two beeps telling her it was working. She held the antenna up in the air.
The beep picked up tempo and she knew she needed to walk straight ahead. She wrapped her scarf around her and headed off on the first step in her adventure. She got to the top of a ravine and lifted the antenna again. The beeps were louder and closer together, which told her she was going in the right direction.
The wind was picking up, so she decided to stop for a few minutes and put the hood of her jacket up over her head and ears. The beep got faster and super loud in one low spot. She turned around and held it up high.
West—Kent was definitely in that direction.
It was an almost continual beep as she pushed through some heavy bush and saw a cabin up ahead. A wolf stood on the front porch.
What if she had imagined he’d turned into an animal? What if all the sorrow and loss had made her mentally ill and she was having delusions?
Only one way to find out.
She walked toward him, quickly recognizing those beautiful eyes. She put her hand out to him and he slipped the top of his head underneath its palm. He brushed against her and then darted around the side of the cabin.
Ally knitted her eyebrows together, wondering what he was up to and if maybe he’d run away, but then Kent, the man, appeared. He was naked, apart from the radio collar that now hung around his neck. He rubbed his hands up and down his arms.
“Let’s get inside because without my fur I’m freezing.”
She followed him in, somewhat in awe over how nice the cabin was. It felt warm and inviting, too. Couches and plaid throws and big, squishy cushions.
He took off the radio collar and set it on the table. “Did you have any trouble finding me?” he asked, turning around.
Wow, the view was great. Even his flaccid cock was impressive, but she wished he’d cover up because, right now, she was tempted to just jump on him and ask where the bed was at. He must have caught her staring because he grabbed his sweats and got dressed.
“No problem at all. The trusty radio collar equipment never fails. Is there anywhere I can put my stuff? I have a dress and it’s in my backpack…”
“A dress. You’ve brought a dress with you?”
“I know it seems strange, but I…”
He took two big strides over to where she stood and took her in his arms. “It’s okay, Ally. I understand, and later on, I’d like to see you in in. Well, rather out of it, but you know what I mean.”
She nodded, feeling his cock stir against her body.
“There’s a closet in the bedroom, through there.” He pointed to the left.
“I’ll just go put my things in there.”
“You want anything to drink? I do have champagne, but I was keeping that so we could toast the New Year.”
Champagne. She hadn’t enjoyed that since she and Andy had gotten engaged.
“Soda’s fine for now,” she said.
“Coming right up.”
Ally headed to the left and saw the bedroom. A four-poster bed covered in a plaid quilt sat against the wall. She creamed thinking about what they were going to do on it. She pulled out her dress and hung it on the rail. Next she took out the box of condoms she’d purchased. She thought it best they use them this time around for the just in case scenario.
She walked back out to see Kent sitting with two drinks in front of him. The sun was just setting over the horizon. He patted the space next to him. She sat, feeling the warmth of the wood fire kissing her cheeks.
“Isn’t this beautiful?” he asked.
“It is, and one of the reasons I like working with nature.”
“And wolves,” he added.
&n
bsp; “And wolves, too. And you haven’t told me how you can be one and also a man.”
“Umm, I forgot all about that. You have to promise what I tell you won’t go outside this cabin.”
“You can count on me.”
He turned to face her. “I sure hope I can because it’s not only me you’d be a risk, but lots of other people, too.”
“So there are more like you.”
He nodded.
“All wolves?”
Kent shook his head and put the glass of soda on the coffee table. “Bears, cougars, lions, you name it.”
“But how is that possible?”
He pointed to the ceiling. She knitted her eyebrows together. He’d totally lost her.
“We came from another planet. You humans thought an asteroid landed near Glacier about thirty years ago.”
“Thirty years ago I was just one year old, so I can’t remember that.”
“It was our planet, or should I say what was left of it, slamming into the ground. Many died, many were injured, but we kept it all a secret.”
“So you’re saying that where you came from humans could morph into animals and it was the norm?”
“Couldn’t have put it better myself.”
Ally shook her head. If he’d told her all this without her knowing he had been the wolf she’d picked up, she would have dialed 911.
He rubbed the back of her hand. “I can trust you to keep this to yourself?”
“Oh yeah. I don’t think I’m going to be telling this story anytime soon.”
“And how about you, Ally, what’s your story?”
“It’s not as unusual as yours, that’s for sure. I’m from Kalispell. I’m one of two children and have always loved animals. Met a vet and fell in love with him.” She looked down into her glass. Had a teardrop fallen? She was always shocked just how quickly she could cry even with the mention or a mere thought of Andy. “I married him three years ago, but he was killed.”
Kent squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Ally.”
“Drug addict broke into his surgery. He didn’t know Andy was working late and he shot him.” Ally’s lower lip trembled as she relieved the horrible story in her mind. The police coming to the door just as she was unpacking the first of the baby’s nursery furniture. Andy was going to put the crib and changing table together that weekend. “Did you know that people get high on what vets use to euthanize animals?”
Kent shook his head and swept away a tear that she knew was close to entering her mouth.
“I was pregnant.”
He took both her hands and squeezed them. “It’s okay, Ally, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, I want to. I haven’t cried like this in forever…well apart from Christmas Eve. Not even when they sent me to a counselor. I lost the baby six weeks later. I was six months pregnant and I gave birth to a stillborn girl.” Ally couldn’t help herself, she burst into tears and fell onto Kent’s shoulder. He rubbed her back as her sobs got louder.
“Ally, what can I say?” he whispered. “I hope they caught the man and that he’s facing his punishment.”
She nodded. He was locked up, but it was Ally who’d been serving the time. She was the one whose life had been changed. She’d been denied a husband, a baby, a future.
“It’s why I was working on Christmas Day. It’s the first Christmas without him and the anniversary of his death is coming up on January fifteenth.”
“I’ll help you get through this, Ally. I promise you, I’ll make you forget you ever felt the pain of loss.”
Chapter Nine
Kent intended to keep the chocolate covered strawberries to accompany the champagne, but he couldn’t think of a better time to pull them out of the fridge than now.
Life was a bitch for some people. Poor Ally losing her husband like that. He’d like five minutes with the guy who shot him. He’d gather up a bunch of fellow shifters and they’d show him what pain was all about.
Wolves howled in the not so far off distance as he carried the tray of berries to Ally, who now had her shoes off and was lounging on the floor by the fire.
“The wolves are saying it’s going to snow,” said Kent.
Ally sat up. “You can understand them?”
“Sure.”
“You know, you might want to think about joining the team. You could give us some insight into what they’re thinking and feeling.”
He put the tray down. “I don’t know what my fellow shifters would think about that.”
She turned over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling when they howled again.
“Sounds like there’s a party about to start,” said Kent.
“You’re joking, right?”
“What, you think wolves don’t party when it’s the New Year?”
“Now you’re messing with me.”
“I am, but they are gathering someplace tonight.”
“And you can talk back to them?”
“You want to hear me tell them Happy New Year?”
She looked at him and smiled. She had a gorgeous smile, which made it all the more heartbreaking that less than thirty minutes ago, she’d been crying non-stop.
“Help yourself to strawberries while I go outside and send our greetings.” Kent walked to the door, stepped out onto the porch, and howled.
Seconds later, wolves—not only the ones they’d heard earlier, but two other packs—howled back.
Ally was now right beside him. “What did they say?”
“Happy New Year to you, too.” He wasn’t lying, that’s exactly what they’d howled.
“Teach me how to howl,” she said.
“What, right now?”
She nodded.
“Okay, put her head in the air like this and take a deep breath.” He stood behind her and held her. “Now put your lips like this,” he said, touching them. “Just go for it.”
Her first attempt was awful. It sounded like a wolf that’d had its paw trampled on.
“More lip action,” he said.
The second attempt was better, but he didn’t let her try a third because he turned her around and used those lips for another purpose. Kissing her.
Tiny flakes of snow circled them as he slid his tongue across her lips. It was like a scene from a romantic movie, apart from the fact that Kent never had been a romantic type of guy.
“Let’s go inside and get warm by the fire,” he said. He took her hand and led her back inside. She sat in front of the fire while he put another piece of firewood onto it. The last thing he wanted was it going out or it getting cold in here.
He sat down beside her. Their arms brushed against one another. He offered her a strawberry.
“You haven’t told me what you do for a living?” asked Ally. She peeled off some of the chocolate and put it into her mouth.
“A little of this and that. I guess you could call me a free spirited entrepreneur. I just sold a business in Portland and now I’m back here and looking for my next venture.”
“That sounds like fun.” She rested her head on his shoulder. He inched in closer to her. She was warm, she smelled of a floral based perfume, and for the first time, he loved the human scent on her.
Kent put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it.
“If I hadn’t run into you last week, did you have plans for the holidays?” she asked.
“Not really. I’m a traditional shifter and holidays aren’t our thing.”
“Yet, you’re here tonight with strawberries, which are wonderful by the way, and champagne.”
“I can make exceptions when I meet a sexy woman.”
“No one’s ever called me sexy before.”
“Not even your husband?”
“He called me honey bunny.”
Kent smiled. “You do know wolves devour rabbits, right? Come to think of it, you were wearing a red coat and it had a hood, too. Maybe I’ll call you Little Red Riding Hood.”
“And what’s
the big bad wolf going to do to me?”
There was something very sexy in the way she’d asked that question. He turned to her and inched his body around, forcing her to lie on her back. He straddled her. “What would you like me to do?” he asked.
“I’d like you to be bad.”
“That I do very well.” Kent howled and she laughed.
He unbuttoned her blouse and pulled the sides apart. Her chest rose and fell and he heard her heartbeat picking up. He smelled her arousal building second by second. He ran his finger over the tops of her breasts, noticing that the clasp was at the front. He popped it open with a flick of his fingers. It parted and quickly exposed her breasts. Her nipples were already erect and acting like a beacon to him. He lowered his mouth to the right one and sucked. She tasted as good as she smelled. He drew his tongue across it and then did the same to the left nipple.
Her breasts were round and heavy and he couldn’t help but hold them in his hands, take their weight, and admire their beauty.
“Little red riding hood’s very sexy,” he said.
Ally lifted her hand and ran it down the side of his face.
He slid open the button on her jeans and pulled down the zipper. He opened her pants further to reveal her black lace panties. Kent desperately needed access to every part of her.
“Lift that cute butt of yours,” he said.
Ally swung her hips upward, allowing him to pull both jeans and panties down her body and legs. Kent admired the thick, dark curls sitting at the top of her thighs. He ran his fingers through them.
“If you ever think I’m overly obsessed with these, I am. Female shifters are bare here and I love these little curls.” He pulled on a few.
“I would ask why they don’t have any pubic hair, but I’m scared it will spoil the moment.”
Kent smiled while pushing her thighs apart. She was all glistening and pink. He played with her folds and then found her clit.
“Don’t tell me they don’t have clits either.”
“They do, but inside their pussies.”
Ally sat up.
“Don’t ask me anything about that either because I don’t know why,” said Kent. He played with hers for a bit.
Miracle Wolf for Christmas Page 5
