by KD Jones
“It is not your eyes that will recognize her, but your heart.”
“My heart and I haven't spoken since my wife and daughter died,” he said bitterly.
“It will beat again, and all you lost will be re-gifted to you.”
“No one can give me back what I have lost!” He was getting angry now.
“Shhh…” She was by his side standing over him, stroking his hair to comfort him like she had all those years ago. “A re-gift will be different, not the same, but a new gift.”
He was lost to what she was saying, but he closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch. It was like a mother comforting a child. He had missed her company all these centuries.
“I missed you as well. I will rise again soon. I dreamed that I too would find my own mate. Sleep for now and remember, listen to your heart.”
He faded back into the blackness that always surrounded him in sleep, and no other thoughts came to him.
✯✯✯
It had been a month since the lone werewolf had bitten Samantha. There were physical changes she had to adjust to. She no longer needed glasses because she had perfect vision, and her once too thin frame was now filling out with muscles. Her breasts were larger and her hips were a little wider giving her an hourglass figure. Her complexion was perfect, and she was much stronger, like stronger than three human men put together. Even stranger, it had all happened before she even left the hospital.
The first week home was quite eventful. Samantha’s Mom kept her in her room for no real reason other than to fuss over her. Samantha had eaten every bit of food in the house.
Week two her Mom finally let her out of her room but they learned quickly they had to keep all the inner doors of the house open. Samantha had accidently ripped two doors off their frames. But Samantha’s hopes were up since she was moving and feeling good. She wanted to go back to school, which led to an argument.
“You can’t go back!”
“If I don’t finish my classes I won’t graduate with everyone else. I am going back!” Samantha argued.
“You were attacked a week ago and you haven’t completely adjusted to everything. Its too dangerous.”
Samantha picked up her book bag and started down the stairs. “I’m going!”
Jackie grabbed her arm to stop her but Samantha jerked free. Then she jumped down the rest of the stairs shifting automatically into a wolf. Her clothes ripped from her furry body. She growled up at her mother with her canine teeth.
Jackie was stunned at first. This was the first time Samantha had actually fully shifted. She had only done partial shits of her teeth, fur on her hands or claws that shot out of her fingernails. “Oh no you don’t young lady.” She stormed down the stairs without a care and faced a fiercely growling she-wolf.
“You change back right this minute!”
Samantha growled again and snapped her teeth.
“Samantha…Mary…Tegan! You do not growl and snap your teeth at your mother! Change back right this minute!” An angry Jackie was not something even a she-wolf would go up against, so Samantha shifted back. Her clothes had ripped off and she stood at the bottom of the stairs completely naked, before she fell to her knees and started crying.
“What I am going to do? I can’t go to school if I shift willy nilly.”
Jackie’s anger was forgotten at the sight of her child in distress. Kneeling on the floor in front of her she took her into her arms. “We’ll get it worked out baby. Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
Week three she was in much more control over her shifting and her strength. She shifted at night and raced next to the horses. But the horses never let her approach them. They sensed her wolf inside and were fearful of her. But at least her Mom agreed she was ready to go back to school. She had looked forward to seeing her friends again.
Week four there had been no signs of Carter and Samantha was almost living a normal life again. She liked her new abilities and reveled in finding out more about them. The only thing she had to go by were books or movies on TV. which were not the most reliable. But at least she had hope now..
✯✯✯
Adrian listened as Charles led the meeting with investors for overseas. He was trying to expand and open more Blood Corp Warehouses, but some European Vampires did not believe in bagged blood. They preferred to drink from the source.
“The taste is not the same. My vampires may fear that they are not receiving adequate nutrients and continue pursuing hosts.” Victor Lance Master Vampire of Venice stated his objections
“I understand your concern, and we all agree, live hosts are preferable source of nutrition, but they are a weakness. Look at all the cases where the live host poisons themselves and in turn poisoned the vampires that drank from them.” Adrian pointed out.
“Either those cases were unintentional poisonings or the live hosts were seeking revenge for a loved one they thought was killed by the vampires. It is not always so.” Victor returned his argument.
“That may be true, but every bag in my Blood Corp Warehouse is screened and filtered. It is much safer than any blood you get from a host.” Adrian paused as he thought about what the real conflict was. “Perhaps my scientists can work on the taste, to make it more like a live host.”
Victor wasn’t happy but he knew his people needed to take more precautions. “I will allow two warehouses to be built. I will encourage my people to use your stock.”
“We’ll have the supply available for you within a matter of days.” Satisfied, Adrian ended the meeting and left without another word.
✯✯✯
“How is she doing?” Mary asked as she sat on Jackie’s old comfy sofa. They were having a girl’s night in watching old movies and eating popcorn.
“Better, much better. It’s been four weeks and we have worked hard to get her shifting under control.”
“It’s good to be a professional horse trainer, huh?” Mary laughed.
“Yes it is.” Jackie sighed. Her horse training and boarding days were about over though.
“What’s wrong?”
“Samantha isn’t able to help out with the horses because they fear her wolf. I’m unable to run the boarding and horse training business on my own. I have already had to let some of the boarders go, so my income has been cut in half. Robert won’t give up his half interest in the ranch, and he won’t help me make the loan payments.”
“Let me help you. I have some money.” Mary offered.
Jackie shook her head. “Honey, I’m not going to take money that was left for you and Connor. We’ll be okay. I am going to fight to keep this ranch. It’s been in my family for over a hundred years, but Robert is relentless. He called two days ago telling me he had buyers lined up to buy the ranch. They want to demolish it and turn it into some kind of Maxi-Mart or something.”
“It’s kind of ironic that he called right before you received that letter from the bank.” Mary observed.
“Yes it is. I’ll see if I can sell some of my assets to pay off what the bank is asking for.”
“Let me know what I can do to help.”
“Thank you, honey, I appreciate that.”
✯✯✯
Samantha stood at the top of the stairs. She had excellent hearing now and she heard everything that her mother and Mary had said. She felt so bad, if it weren’t for her getting changed into a werewolf, her mother wouldn’t have to shut down the boarding business. This was her fault and she needed to do something to fix it. She needed a job.
Chapter 7
“Mom I’m going over to the Library to study!” Samantha called as she rushed down the stairs. Her Mother was just coming out of the kitchen.
“Wait its getting dark out, honey. Why are you going now?”
“I forgot I have a paper due tomorrow and I need something from the library.”
“Give me a few minutes to change and I will drive you there.” Jackie removed her apron.
“No don’t. My friend Leslie is taking me. I th
ink I hear her pulling up in the drive now.”
“I don’t know.” Jackie was fearful after everything that had happened to let her daughter go off at night. It had barely been four weeks ago that her daughter almost died.
“I’ll be fine. I promise if I see anyone suspicious I will have Leslie bring me right back.” She continued to the door.
“When will you be home?”
“In a couple of hours. I’ll call you when I am on my way home.”
“Straight to the Library and back.” Jackie called out.
“Sure Mom.” Samantha was out the door.
She sighed as she watched her daughter get into her friend’s little yellow Volkswagen. She hated that she didn’t have the money to get Samantha a car for graduation. Robert wasn’t willing to go in on one for her, because he said Samantha didn’t need a car. Then he turned around and took a cruise with his floozy of the week.
Jackie was about to head back to the kitchen when she spotted a piece of paper on the steps. Bending down to pick it up, she realized it was a clipping from a newspaper, and a section was highlighted.
It read: “Day time security guards needed. Must be strong and trained in self-defense. $2000 a week with benefits. Apply in person at the new club Light It Up between 7 and 8pm.”
Samantha was trying to get a job? Crap! She must have overheard her and Mary talking about it the other night. This security job sounded way too dangerous. No way would she let Samantha put herself in danger. She could get hurt again or worse she could be exposed and the werewolves would come for her.
That was their biggest fear. If Carter was telling the truth, then all the packs of werewolves needed females and would share them amongst themselves. Jackie felt rage at the thought of filthy no good males getting their hands on her innocent daughter. No way in hell! She had to stop Samantha before it was too late.
✯✯✯
After a long night of interviewing people, Adrian decided to start again early before the club filled up. He reserved a booth a little out of the way on the second level so he could observe what was happening below. So far he’d had only two shifters show up for an interview, the rest had been humans.
Adrian frowned at the two male werewolves that sat across from him. They were twin brothers, Rod and Jay Baker, and they were doing a tag team version of an interview. It was a first for Adrian. There was no need for any of them to state what they were to one another because they all could identify each other’s species by scent.
“So, what pack are you two from?”
They both answered at the same time. “Red Creek Wolf Pack in Ontario.”
“Canada? This is a long way to come to look for a job. Does your Alpha Ric know you’re leaving his pack?”
“We’re not leaving the Red Creek Wolf Pack. Forest fires destroyed our pack land. Our whole pack needs to relocate. Alpha Ric sent us to scout out locations that did not already have a wolf pack and that had plenty of room to run in our wolf form. We also need a place that offered good jobs. We saw the ad and hoped that there would be more positions open for the rest of our pack.”
“I am sorry to hear about your pack land. I’m old friends with your Alpha, so I will give him a call later this evening.”
“Does this mean we’ve got the job?” The two brothers looked so hopeful.
“Yes. I still need a third guard but the two of you report to the local Blood Corp Warehouse on Lawson Street first thing in the morning and ask for Ted. He’ll get your paperwork started and get you on a shift.”
“Thank you Mr. Belliveau,” the brothers said at the same time as they stood to leave. All three men sniffed loudly when a new scent entered the club. A she-wolf.
“Holy shit!” The Baker brothers spoke at the same time, and then stumbled down the stairs trying to get to the female simultaneously, but she walked right past them, moving up the stairs toward Adrian.
A female werewolf? There weren’t that many that Adrian knew about. They were very few left. He smiled gently down at the young female who couldn’t be more than eighteen. She was still innocent and wary. It was the wary part that bothered him. What happened to make this poor creature so fearful?
“Mr. Belliveau?” Samantha asked shyly, feeling very intimidated as she spoke to the man before her. He had black hair and a golden tone to his skin. His deep blue eyes seem to see right through her false confidence, and he wore a very expensive dark navy business suit.. He was hands down the prettiest man she had ever seen, for an older guy in his late twenties.
“Yes. How may I help you Miss…?” he asked with an odd accent.
“Tegan, Samantha Tegan. I came to interview for the job of security guard.”
“I’m sorry, excuse my manners. I am Adrian Bellivaeau.” He shook her hand released it quickly sensing her unease. “Please, have a seat.”
As soon as Samantha sat down she thrust her resume in front of Adrian on the table. “I don’t have a lot of work experience, but I am a very hard worker.”
“I am sure that you are. What pack do you come from?”
Her eyes went wide in fear. “I’m sorry? What did you ask me?”
“I asked what wolf pack you come from?”
Samantha shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you mean, but I have lived here in Strange Lake Falls all my life.”
“Miss Tegan, I know you’re a werewolf. I can smell it on you just as you can smell that I’m a vampire.”
“Wh…a vampire? For real?” Her eyes got even bigger. It was true, she had noticed something different about his fragrance, but she figured it was his cologne or something.
“You didn’t smell that on me?” He looked at her questioningly. “Who is your alpha?”
“I don’t have…I need to go.” Samantha stood up turning to leave, but she found herself suddenly wedged between two huge bulky hot guys. “Excuse me,” she said, trying to push through, but they would not budge.
“You’re a female wolf, and I would like to court you,” Rod said, with his brother standing beside him for support.
“No.” Samantha shook her head. This wasn’t happening. She had gone months without seeing any signs of wolves. What if they were from Carter’s pack? She shuddered thinking of what might happen to her. She just couldn’t deal with this right now. “I have to go.” Using her strength she shoved one of the brothers out of her way, and headed down the stairs when the doors to the club opened and her mother stormed in. Oh shit!
Chapter 8
Adrian was stunned. The moment he got a good whiff of the sweet scent of the angry woman who had just entered his club, he knew she was meant to be his. The beautiful older woman looked so much like the young she-wolf who was trying to make her escape, but the new woman was completely human. There was no scent of wolf on her. Who was she? He had to find out. He made his way down the stairs, having to force the Baker brothers from their position blocking Samantha’s passage.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Samantha was frozen on the steps.
Jackie stormed over to the stairs ignoring the looks she was getting. She had exchanged her baggy t-shirt for a blue blouse, but she still wore her jeans and boots. She wasn’t there to party. She was there for her daughter.
“I think the question is, why are you here young lady?” Jackie was furious that her daughter lied to her.
“Let’s leave and I’ll tell you.” Samantha tried to rush down the rest of the way, but the werewolf guy halted her with a hand.
“I haven’t even gotten your name yet, beautiful.” Rod said in a sexy voice.
“Get your hands off my daughter or I’ll cut them off!”
The male released her immediately. He raised his hands up in the air. “I meant her no harm.”
Jackie didn’t trust him at all. She reached for Samantha and pulled her down and behind her. “We’re leaving. If anyone tries anything I’ve got a shotgun and I ain’t afraid to use it!”
Jackie had one hand on Samantha’s arm,
as they both started to walk backwards, but all of a sudden she hit a wall. Turning she discovered the wall was not a wall at all, but a man, and what a man.
He was tall, dark and yummy. His body was to die for. She wanted to lick him head to toe. But it was his face that had her suck in her breath. My God, no man could be so beautiful.
“Hello, I am Adrian Belliveau, the owner of this club.” He reached out for her hand.
“I’m Jackie Copley-Tegan. She placed her hand in his politely expecting a simple handshake, but he raised her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
“Is Jackie short for Jacqueline?” he asked without releasing her hand.
“Yes.” The way he said her full name made her knees weak.
“My dear Jacqueline, I would like to invite you and your daughter to come and sit at a booth upstairs so we can settle our issues quietly and calmly.”
Wow. He had the sexiest accent she had ever heard. It sounded a little French. Damn near made her panties wet. Bad Jackie! The man was barely twenty-five if that. What was he saying?
“What?”
“Come and sit down so we can talk things out.” He motioned her back up the stairs to where his booth was still available for him.
Jackie didn’t know why she was allowing this young man to tell her what to do, but something in his eyes, and the way he watched her, had her heart racing like a schoolgirl. Wait until Mary hears about this. She was going to tease Jackie forever. She could almost hear the jokes now, “Come on Mrs. Robinson, give us a kiss.”
She sat down keeping herself between Samantha and the other men. When she spotted Samantha’s name on a paper lying on the table she reached for it, scanned it and then turned on her daughter. “Samantha Mary Tegan! You are not eighteen yet!”
“I will be in four months.” Samantha responded defensively.
“You lied about where you were going tonight, and you lied on your resume. I raised you better than this.”
