by Bryce Evans
“So, what do you think so far of our little town?”
“It’s very pretty. Something you would see in a book. I love all the funny names for the store and bakery. Like you said, at least it’s memorable,” Haven said, staring at Southern Treasures. She itched to go look inside, but she needed to wait on Nora. Another B&B. What if the coven did take a chance and come to New Hope? She would need to stay hidden until she went to work. Take all her meals in her room. If Nora knew the owner, ask for her name to never be mentioned. It would be a long shot they would come here, but she couldn’t take the chance of one of them seeing her.
“Maybe you should stay with us until you get on your feet, Haven. Nora wouldn’t have invited you if she hadn’t meant it,” Roy said, bringing her back from her thoughts.
“Well, that was Charlotte,” Nora said, “and she does have a room. I also told her you didn’t have a job right now and needed one soon. She said that Quinn is looking for someone to help them at the store. They have grown so much, they need more people on the floor. After we eat, I can take you to see Quinn if you would like. Now remember if you don’t like it at the B&B, you have a room with us. But I can tell that you want your privacy. My granddaughter is the same way. She loves to come and visit but she loves to be alone too.”
“A job at Southern Treasures? With all the clothes?” Haven asked, staring back at the shop. Her heart leaped, realizing she would be in a store with all those lovely outfits. “Oh my…I can’t believe that. You think she would hire me?”
“Well, you never know. Quinn is such a sweet lady and since all the college kids have gone back to school, she probably will,” Nora answered.
“And I will give you my personal reference. That should help,” Roy said, closing the back of his truck. “Now, I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”
“You’re always hungry,” Nora teased.
“But it’s the weekly special, Nora.”
Haven could barely think about eating. She grew too excited about the job opportunity. Now, she was scared, scared of wanting something and not ever getting it.
“Tina, you want to walk to the restaurant with me? Roy needs to move his truck,” Nora asked.
It took Haven a few moments to realize Nora was talking to her. “Oh…yes, ma’am. Is there anything else I need to do?”
Looping her arm through hers, Nora answered, “No, sweetie, by the looks of it, you did enough. Roy would have been unloading most of the night if you hadn’t helped him.”
“Okay.” Haven smiled and walked with Nora across the street. A black pick-up truck pulled up as they walked toward Get Your Grub. Her stomach twisted in knots thinking about finally being able to live on her own. Roy and Nora were helping her get a job with Quinn and Jade Cross. This was big, and she prayed that nothing stopped her.
Chapter Six
Cosmo waved at Roy as he pulled up at the old mill. He had purchased the place to put a nursery in it. He had three flower shops in different cities and was tired of paying too much money for his stock. This way he could cut out the middle man on most of the flowers and make a bigger profit. He had plans to build three hot houses, then he could sell flowers every month of the year. Even in the winter. More profit meant more money for him and the Death Hunters.
He hired Roy to drive all over the country to buy the flowers, then he would transplant them. Most of these would be planted on the Death Hunter’s land, but soon, he would have his nursery up and running. Now he needed to hire someone to run it for him.
“Hello, Mr. Ivey. You made it back quicker than I thought you would,” Cosmo said, walking to the door. “Holy cow, you’re fast.” He would have to give the man a raise. He had already unpacked the load to inside the bay.
“I had a little help from a friend,” Roy said, closing the back of his truck.
Hairs on the back of his neck tingled. Immediately, he glanced around for any sign of trouble, but it didn’t feel like something was wrong. Something different, but what? A cool breeze blew across his face with a familiar scent. Instantly, his jeans tightened in the crotch. He turned to face away from others who might notice his badly timed hard-on. What the hell was going on? A fragrance on the wind had never affected him so much.
“Something wrong, Mr. Fitzgerald?” Roy asked, watching him.
Opening his eyes, Cosmo smiled. “No, no, sir, just love all the smells from the flowers. I think the next load can be picked up in a couple days. Is that good for you?” Cosmo’s mind tried to locate the memory of the scent, but nothing came forward. He would remember. He never forgot a scent that smelled this intoxicating. His animal was in agreeance. It wanted to find the female owner and—Cosmo shut down the suddenly horny bear. He wasn’t going there right now.
“Sounds good to me.” Roy glanced at the old mill building. “It’s looking good. I like all the changes you’ve made to the place. When do you think you will have it open?”
“I hope in a couple weeks. I have to build another hot house and I will need to hire some staff.” He shook all the nonsense from his head. Now wasn’t the time to ponder possibilities that would never happen.
“Hey, I have a friend looking for a job. I’ll tell her to come talk to you.”
Cosmo smiled. He wouldn’t have to search for employees. Especially with people like Roy Ivey. He would have tons of applications filled out. “I like your style, Mr. Ivey. You sure you don’t want to run the nursery. I need someone like you.”
“Nah, I have a job and I love it. I work when I want, and I play when I want. But I know the people who live in this town and you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find some good people. Tina, the girl I’m talking about, is a hard worker. I will bring her by here tomorrow morning around nine if you are interested.”
“That would be great. Talk to you then. And please call me Cosmo. All my friends do.”
Roy nodded and shook his hand and walked off toward the restaurant. Turning, Cosmo took a deep breath, but the wind had carried the scent away. Crap, now he was late meeting Lennox at the store.
Running across the street, Cosmo stopped and pressed his face against the front window at Southern Treasures, tongue out, eyes crossed. Jade and Quinn both busted out laughing. Lennox just rolled his eyes and turned away. He loved torturing his best friend. He knew deep down Lennox wanted to laugh.
As he waited out front, the scent bothered him. It seemed familiar but from where? Again, his body started to heat. Dammit, now still wasn’t the time to sport a boner. He wiped a hand across his upper lip. What was wrong with him? Was he getting sick? Right, an illness that turned a male into a roaring, mindless hormone?
“You ready to go eat?” Lennox asked. He had come up beside him. “You’re off in space somewhere. What is it?” He took a deep breath.
Cosmo shook his head and stepped away. “Nothing. I smelled something, and I know it from somewhere, but I can’t place it.”
“Well, you were around a lot of flowers. You probably smelled a lot of crap. You love the flowers so much, it’s probably a certain brand of crap that you like the most.” Lennox smiled slightly.
“Ha, ha…”
Two trucks pulled up and Arden and his beta, Bane, got out. “Are the girls ready?” Arden asked.
“We’re ready.” Quinn, Simone, and Jade walked out of Southern Treasures. Cosmo watched the alphas take their mate’s hands and start across the street. Ordinarily, this would have been odd with so much dominance walking together, but he was getting used to it. All they needed was Ben Crenshaw and the whole county of New Hope leaders would be covered.
“It looks like a packed night,” Lennox muttered.
“I think my whole pack and yours are here,” Arden added as he opened the door for them all to go in.
T sauntered out of the kitchen with a huge platter above her head. She smiled at them and said as she passed, “Take the table beside Roy and Nora, Alpha.”
“Thanks,” Arden said but stopped beside a table full of his pack. Cos
mo and Lennox nodded and passed him to sit by Roy and Nora Ivey.
“Hello again,” Roy said, offering his hand to Lennox.
Lennox shook his hand, greeting the older man and his wife. Jade ran over and hugged them both. The scent from before hit Cosmo immediately and his eyes narrowed at the young lady sitting next to Nora. His bear stood and roared, and Lennox stopped in his tracks and stared at the woman.
Nora and Roy both looked at the girl then back at him and Lennox. “This is our new friend, Tina.”
“Haven,” Lennox whispered.
“How…” the woman panted. Her faced paled. “I need to leave…Please, let me get up.”
Cosmo watched as she searched the room for a way to escape, but it was her.
“It’s okay, sweetie. They won’t hurt you,” Nora said, trying to calm Haven.
“That’s not my name…You have the wrong person. My name is Tina.”
Roy slid out of the booth and stood in front of Nora and Tina. “This is my friend. What business do you have with her?”
Arden, Quinn, Bane and Simone stood beside the table looking worried. “What’s going on?”
“Your name is Haven and you’re my sister.” Lennox’s voice sounded deadly. Nobody moved, knowing this could get ugly really quick. It was her. He could see it in her eyes. She had hazel eyes like her big brother. Her black hair appeared silky smooth and flowed down her back. Without question, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beauty hadn’t changed. She had just grown up. Immediately his fingers itched to touch her hair to see if it felt as soft as it appeared. Her skin shined a pale perfection that turned her into a china doll. So delicate, fragile. He had to stop himself from jumping the table to get to her. Then her fear slammed into him.
“Sister…No, I have no siblings. I’m an only child. You…how did you know my name?” Haven whispered more to herself.
“I thought you said your name was Tina?” Nora looked up at her husband, confused.
“Lennox, are you sure? I thought she was dead,” Arden asked.
“We never found her body, but I know her scent and she looks just like my mother. Her hair and eyes. Where have you been?” Lennox asked.
Cosmo couldn’t stop staring either. She was trapped against the wall and he could see the fear in her eyes as well as smell her scent. Nothing like a bear shifter, but something seemed off with her, he didn’t sense her animal.
“Scent? No…my mom died at childbirth and I’m not your sister. I’m sorry about your loss, but…”
“It is you, Haven. I would know your scent anywhere and you look just like your mother and your brother. Don’t you remember me, I’m Cosmo…Cosmo Fitzgerald? I used to spin you around and around and carry you on my shoulders. You followed us around all the time.” Inhaling again, he asked, “Why don’t I scent your bear?”
“Bear?” Haven pushed on Nora. “Please, let me out. I don’t know these people. They’re scaring me.”
“Haven.” Lennox squeezed into the booth seat across from her and picked up her hand and scented the inside of her wrist. His breath came out in a pant. “It’s you. I thought you were dead. They took you away and I thought you were dead. I’m your brother Lennox. Don’t you remember me?”
Haven jerked her hand away. Her lower lip quivered as she whispered, “I’m not your sister. My father is Laris Winter and I’m an only child.” The oh shit look graced her beautiful face. She knew she’d said too much. Now she appeared terrified.
Growling came from each of them as Lennox’s face hardened. “Laris Winter, the leader of the Winter Coven? You’re saying that is your father?”
Haven’s face paled even more. “I…need to leave. Can I please leave.”
“No, you’re not going back to those murders. You’re my sister and I don’t know why you don’t know that. You should remember me at least some.”
Her chin trembling, Haven looked at her brother. “You can’t keep me here. I’m not a prisoner.” Holding her hands tighter, she looked toward the exit in the back. She had no place to run and she couldn’t out run shifters.
Cosmo felt sorry for her as she looked around the diner. When she realized she had no chance of leaving, her body started to shake. He stepped forward to go to her, to comfort her, but Lennox put his arm out, stopping him. His bear wanted to rip off the arm holding him back, then realized they’d be threatening their alpha. Not a good idea.
“Until we find out what is going on, then yes, you are my prisoner. You know what a pack is, and you know that this town is filled with them. Everyone in here is a shifter and the ones who are not won’t get involved. So, listen to what I have to stay. Understand?” Lennox said, his jaw clenched as he took in a deep breath.
“Lennox, you’re scaring her,” Jade said, putting her hand on her mate’s. “Haven, I’m Jade Cross and Lennox is my mate. I suspect that since you’re saying Laris Winter is your father, you know we’re shifters?”
Haven nodded. “Yes.”
“Then you know that the most powerful part of a shifter is our scent and we know our pack members’ scent and our families. It’s imbedded in us from birth. Lennox’s family was killed by a rogue pack. They killed his mom and dad and baby brother. They took his little sister; her name was Haven and they never found her body. Do you remember growing up with Laris? What is your first memory with him?”
She stared at Jade and then back at Lennox. Cosmo watched as Haven’s eyes grew wide at the realization that Jade was a shifter. Clearing her throat, Haven’s eyes drifted off. She was silent for a few minutes and then glanced back at Jade.
“I remember wearing a blue dress with little white bears on it. My father threw it away. He said it was ugly and he hated it, but I loved that dress.” Haven glanced back at Jade. “I haven’t thought about that for a long time.”
A sound took her attention to the man who sat across from her. Tears dropped on the table. He said, “I bought that dress for you. A gift for your birthday and you loved it. We could never get you to take it off. You were wearing it the day they took you.”
“Look,” Haven leaned forward trying to whisper. “I’m sorry…but that would mean that I’m a shifter and I don’t have an animal in me. You have to be mistaken. This is all some kind of weird misunderstanding, because I don’t have a bear in me. Trust me, I would be able to feel it!”
“It’s a spell. They put your bear asleep some way. That’s got to be it,” Quinn announced. “I can smell it on her.” Her nose scrunched up as she stared at her.
“No…no, you’re mistaken. I would know if he did magic on me. I would at least feel the bear, right? I…” Haven grabbed her stomach as a pain wretched inside her. She gritted her teeth, turning away from everyone. She stayed that way until the pain passed.
“You feel her now, don’t you?” Quinn asked.
Haven’s voice hitched. “No…It’s just that I haven’t eaten anything and I’m hungry. It doesn’t feel like a bear in me. My stomach just hurts. That’s all.” Haven tried to explain, but he could tell she was lying. She felt something, but too scared to admit it.
“Come on, Haven. You’re around family now and your bear is waking up. How long has it been since you left the coven?” Quinn asked.
“I ran this morning.” She couldn’t stop spilling her guts to these people. A tear slid down her cheek.
Nora put her arm around her. “It’s okay, Haven. We will figure this out. I promise you are around friends here. Nobody will hurt you. I will make sure of that.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Haven whispered, but they all heard it.
It was evident that Haven was scared to death. If she admitted that she was Haven Bartley then that would mean Laris Winter, her so called father, lied to her and everything he told her about shifters wasn’t true. She laid her head against Nora’s shoulder hiding her eyes. “I don’t understand any of this.”
“Lennox, let’s take her to the cabin. Maybe after we talk to Scarlett. She might be able t
o tell us more,” Quinn offered.
Pulling her head up, Haven shook her head. “No! I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m not your sister. Stop saying that.” Haven looked at Nora, pulling on her. “Please don’t let them take me.” Tears slid down her face, her panic making her think they were going to kill her.
Nora looked at Roy. “We will go with you. How about that?”
“You won’t leave me?”
“No, never. We will get to the bottom of this,” Nora said, shaking her head.
“Haven, I would never hurt one hair on your head. You’re my sister and I would kill anyone who tried to hurt you or take you from me. You are part of my family, but we need you to keep an open mind. I promise no one will hurt you again,” Lennox said but everyone could scent Haven’s fear. And the fact that Lennox never smiled didn’t help. Cosmo needed to talk to Lennox about how he looked at her. He was definitely in that protection mode, and right now, it scared Haven more than helped.
“Are you folks staying?” the waitress asked.
“No, T, we’re not staying tonight. We got some business to handle,” Arden said, moving back so Roy could get out of the booth.
“Roy, do you want to follow us. I think Haven will feel better riding with you,” Cosmo said, looking straight at her. He wanted to soothe her worries away. Take her in his arms and hide her from the nefarious world she lived in. Her look of fear tore at him, breaking his heart.
He buried his hands in his front pockets.
Before he knew what to say, words flowed out of him. “I promise you nobody will hurt her or any of you, but she is the alpha’s little sister. I scented her in the parking lot, but the wind was blowing. I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t place it at first until I saw her.” His eyes followed her every move.
