“What?” He felt disoriented, like the first time he got drunk on whiskey. It was right after he had watched his dad get lowered into the damp ground. He remembered staring at the dirt under his fingernails as he held a tumbler in his hand. Dirt from the handful he had tossed on top of the casket. He sat at the bar in a room full of strangers, isolated by his grief and his lack of close relationships. Daniel’s dad had been his rock. They had moved so much that faces, except for his family’s, became a blur. Now he looked at this woman, and her face was so clear, while everything else was blurry.
“You haven’t touched your lunch.” She pointed at his lunchbox. He had gotten as far as opening the darn thing but had been too busy staring at the human woman, making a fool of himself.
“Oh, I guess not.” He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. Daniel didn’t embarrass easily, but this woman had him all out of sorts. Then he glanced at his wristwatch and cursed. He had five minutes to get back to the job site. He mumbled an apology and grabbed his stuff.
A faint giggle followed him as he rushed off.
“I’ll be here again tomorrow, same time!” she called after him.
Her invitation caused him to slow down. He spun so he walked backwards, wanting one last glance at his fair-haired temptress. That’s exactly what she was, a temptress. Why would fate be so cruel as to make his mate a human? Committing his final glance to memory—the way her hair blew in the gentle breeze and how her brown eyes lit up when she smiled, which revealed a dimple. And she was smiling, smiling at him. His inner cat growled when Daniel turned away and ran through the square, his lunchbox knocking against his leg. By the time he crossed Fourth Street, he slowed down and walked the rest of the way. When he reached the jobsite, it wasn’t just his inner beast growling, but his stomach. He’d just have to eat lunch in his truck from now on.
That very night, he found himself in the woman’s backyard. He paced in the shadows, his paws barely making a sound, muffled by soft earth and grass. Clouds had moved in, rendering the dark an extra inky black and lending a stillness to the damp air. The dampness amplified the scent of everything. The sweetness of roses blooming and the aroma of rosemary in the herb garden were strong scents, but not strong enough to cover up that of his mate. He’d recognize her anywhere.
All of the windows in the house were dark. The occupants had been asleep for hours. Daniel had watched as an older woman, who bore a strong resemblance to his mate, washed dishes before turning off the light. A young boy in a bedroom on the second floor had been playing a record, and the twang of Johnny Cash could be heard through the open window, but he eventually settled down. Anytime there was movement in his mate’s window, his eyes were immediately drawn to it. When he was at just the right angle, he saw her at a vanity, brushing her hair. He longed to run his fingers through those silky strands. She, too, went to bed, and yet Daniel stayed, unable to pull himself away.
When the sky began to lighten to the east, he reluctantly stepped into the thatch of trees and ran along the river, following its curve through the forest until he crossed County Road, reaching his cabin, where he fell into bed.
Managing a little less than three hours of sleep, Daniel arrived at the jobsite looking as refreshed as a hungover hobo, or his boss. Herschel rolled out of the job trailer wearing the same sweat-stained clothes as the day before, and reeking of beer. He squinted his bloodshot eyes and peered out at the crew, which had decreased by one. After barking out orders and announcing the foundation would be poured that afternoon, Herschel disappeared back inside his trailer, leaving Daniel to manage the day’s work, not that he minded. The group of six sweaty men smelled better than his boss.
When lunchtime rolled around, Herschel didn’t make an appearance, so Daniel dismissed the workers. Mickey, the shifter, asked if he wanted to go to Burger Bar. At first, he was going to say yes, because he wasn’t going back to the square and back to that bench, but ten minutes later, Daniel found himself in the same spot, waiting for his temptress to arrive.
He saw her when she emerged from underneath the shade of the awning in front of Campbell’s Market. She waited for a 56 Merc to drive by before crossing Eighth Street. When she looked up and saw Daniel sitting on the bench, she flashed a wide smile and waved. She was wearing a pair of navy-and-white-striped capris, white Keds, and a white shirt. She skipped over and sat down next to him.
“I’m Colleen, by the way.” She held out her hand, and Daniel grinned at her forwardness.
“Daniel,” he said and shook her hand. The moment they touched, he knew he was doomed. It was like his pulse jumped to meet hers. Her brown eyes, which were framed by the longest, thickest lashes, widened, and she gasped. This was how he knew she felt the connection, too.
They stayed like that for a few moments, hands and eyes locked on each other. Only when two teenage girls walked by giggling did they separate. Colleen blushed, her fair skin flaring a beautiful dusty pink. Reaching for her lunch bag, she pulled out a sandwich along with a bottle of Coca-Cola, followed by a hardcover book. This time, Daniel glanced at the cover. She was reading Peyton Place, one of the previous year’s best sellers. He heard it was being made into a movie.
Actually eating his lunch this time, Daniel ate his sandwich and took time to observe the town. Here in the square, he was basically sitting in the heart of Havenwood Falls. Whisper Falls Inn, a beautifully restored Victorian, sat kitty-corner. Baskets of purple and pink petunias were hanging along the eaves of the front porch. The bank, located next to PPP Agency, had a steady stream of people coming and going. He could see two ladies in the window of the beauty parlor sitting in chairs with their heads underneath some sci-fi-looking contraption.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” Colleen asked out of the blue. Turning to look at her, he saw her book was closed on the bench between them. She had finished her lunch and had moved so she sat at an angle, facing him. Her legs were crossed at the ankle and her left arm was draped over the top of the back of the bench, her fingers inches from his face. This position caused the buttons on her blouse to gap slightly, and he caught a glimpse of her white bra.
Swallowing hard and tearing his gaze away from her breasts, he met her eyes. “No, I’m not. This is my first week here.”
“I thought so. Everyone basically knows everyone in Havenwood Falls.”
“Have you lived here long?”
“Born and raised.” She stared wistfully off toward Mount Alexa. The peaks were still capped with snow even though summer was already underway. “I’ve never really been anywhere else. Where are you from?” she asked, turning her attention back to him.
Daniel sighed and stretched his legs out before him, settling in to the conversation. “All over really. My family moved around a lot. I’m from Colorado originally, though, and just moved back after spending ten years in Kentucky and West Virginia.”
“Golly! What was that like?”
“Different, but the same. People don’t really change, just the landscape.”
“Huh.” Colleen contemplated his statement. “I never really thought about it that way.” She moved her arm from the back of the bench and started gathering her things together. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she stood up. “I have to get back to work and I’m off tomorrow, so maybe I’ll see you Friday?”
“Maybe.”
Her smile faded slightly at his noncommittal response. “I understand. It was nice meeting you, Daniel.”
With a final wave, she rushed off in the direction of the market. He watched her until she was safely across the street and inside. The moment she was gone from sight, a small ache formed in his chest, like a mild case of heartburn, but not quite. Frowning, he rubbed at it and kept rubbing at his chest as he walked back to the jobsite. It grew increasingly worse as the day progressed.
“You look like you need a drink,” Mickey said as he helped Daniel clean up at the end of the day. The concrete had been poured, and there wasn’t much else they could do
until it cured enough. That meant they had the next day off.
Hoping a drink would take the edge off the burning sensation, Daniel agreed. Half an hour later, they were parked on two bar stools at the Haven Saloon. As soon as they were seated, Mickey ordered them each a shot of whiskey and a mug of Coors beer.
The whiskey had an interesting golden glow to it, and Daniel’s inner lion became piqued with interest, making him realize this wasn’t ordinary hooch. He lifted the shot glass and raised an eyebrow at Mickey.
“Apparently there’s a secret ingredient. Warded Whiskey, the Tinker’s Drink, has been distilled right here in Havenwood Falls since the 1800s. There was a couple who owned a shop right on the square, and they made clocks, puzzle boxes, all sorts of early engineering type gadgets. The guy, Gregory, built a still, and it took off from there.”
Mickey raised his glass, and they both tipped the whiskey back with one swallow. Daniel coughed, and his eyes watered as the liquor burned a path down his esophagus. Once the liquid hit his stomach, warmth bloomed from within, like a mushroom cloud had erupted from his core. His already acute eyesight sharpened, and his other senses became more heightened so suddenly, the saloon, which was already loud, became almost painful to his ears. Chasing the whiskey with a gulp of Coors was like dousing flames with water, and his body returned to normal except for the looseness of his muscles, which usually took a six-pack to achieve.
“Holy Toledo, that is some potent juice!” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and noticed his lips were slightly numb, like he had been out in the cold too long.
“One of Havenwood Falls’ best kept secrets,” Mickey said with a wink.
“What’s yours?” Daniel asked, keeping his voice low. “I know you’re a shifter. I just can’t tell what kind.”
“Hawk. And you’re some kind of big cat, am I right?”
Daniel nodded and took another swallow of beer. “Mountain lion.”
“In the normal animal kingdom, we wouldn’t be getting along like this. Cats and birds don’t mix well,” Mickey said with a grin and waved the bartender over for another round. “How are you at darts?”
Turned out, with their preternatural eyesight, they became competitive and kept playing to one up the other. Five rounds of drinks and five games later, they stumbled out the door into a town transformed by dusk. This was Daniel’s first time in town during the evening as a human, and he stopped in his tracks to take in the soft glow from gas-lit street lamps. They cast a flickering light on the sidewalk and sides of buildings. Garlic and other spices laced the cool air, and his stomach growled.
“I’m famished, too. Been to Napoli’s yet?” Mickey asked, and Daniel shook his head. “Come on. Their food is cheap and tasty.”
Daniel fell into step alongside Mickey, their strides evenly matched. Mickey was about Daniel’s height, which put him around six feet tall. They crossed Main Street and walked down Eighth Street on the storefront side. Daniel paused outside Campbell’s Market and raised his head, scenting the air and inhaling the faint traces of Colleen that seemed to permeate the building. The store was closed, and all of the lights were off except for those of the cooler that ran along the back wall. Bottles of milk and blocks of cheese and butter lined the shelves.
“Hey, blockhead.” Mickey tapped Daniel’s shoulder, getting his attention. “They’re closed. Food is this way.”
Backwoods Sport & Ski was still open. The front window displays featured mannequins dressed in the latest summer hiking and fishing gear. A wooden canoe filled the whole length of one of the two windows. Daniel made a note to stop in and replace the Levi’s he destroyed in his uncontrolled shift the other night. The scent of garlic grew stronger as they made a left on Stuart Street. The fire department, a two-story brick building with two arched garage bays, was all lit up. One of the garage doors was open, revealing a shiny red firetruck. A Dalmatian lay in front, watching the street with alert eyes. It was a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting until the dog turned its head toward them and growled slightly, most likely sensing the animals lurking beneath their skin.
Napoli’s was a small restaurant around the corner from the town square. A screen door let out the noise of several conversations as well as the tantalizing smell of food. A teenage girl greeted them when they walked in. She wore a black poodle skirt and a white shirt. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail tied with a red ribbon.
“Welcome to Napoli’s!” she chirped, greeting them with a bright smile and more enthusiasm than an entire glee club. She grabbed two menus, and they followed her down a narrow aisle between tables, her wide skirt brushing against chairs and patrons as she charged ahead. There was something about the girl that seemed familiar to Daniel, but he knew he hadn’t met her before.
They were seated at a booth in the back near the kitchen. Minutes later, a woman closer to their age came to take their orders. She introduced herself as Karine. She had thick dark hair, the tight curls pinned close to her head, and large green eyes that were accentuated by thick, contoured eyebrows. Daniel was briefly distracted by her red lips before noticing the apron tied at her waist showed off her curves. She could have easily been one of those girls painted on WWII fighter jets. He realized the normal attraction he should have experienced wasn’t there. This woman paled in comparison to Colleen. Geezum crow, three days around her and she was deep under his skin. The bird taking their order didn’t do anything for him. All he wanted, all his inner mountain lion wanted, was Colleen. A human.
Suddenly, his buzz dissipated, and after the waitress left, he let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back heavily in the booth.
“What’s eating you?” Mickey asked, before taking a sip of Coca-Cola through a straw.
Daniel surveyed his new friend. Mickey was a shifter, and by the looks of him, an Indian. Out of anyone, he had to understand.
Leaning forward in his seat, he gestured for Mickey to lean forward too, so other diners in the cramped restaurant didn’t overhear.
“I met my mate. She’s here in Havenwood Falls.”
“That’s fantastic, daddy-o! Why do you seem so gloomy about it?”
“She’s—” Daniel paused. “She’s human,” he whispered.
Mickey’s face transformed from a smile to a scowl, and he moved away. He tapped his fingers on the table and regarded Daniel.
“Are you a purist?” he finally asked.
“A what?”
“A purist. You only procreate within your own kind and shun everything else. You didn’t strike me as one, but if you have an issue with your own mate—which is a gift not to be spurned—because she’s human, then I guess I was wrong about you.” Mickey made a move to leave, a look of disgust on his face.
“Hold on,” Daniel said. “Let me explain.”
At that moment, Karine returned with their food. They had each ordered a large pizza and an order of garlic knots. As soon as they were alone and in between mouthfuls of food, Daniel told Mickey about Sunset Creek and how that history was behind every move his family had made.
“That’s how I was raised. That’s all I know, but Colleen—she’s mine. I can feel it here.” Daniel pounded on his chest above his heart. “How can she be my mate? It doesn’t make sense.”
Mickey set his slice of pizza down. “My ancestors helped to build this town alongside the founding families. All of the founders were either hunted or cast out because of their supernatural abilities. Witches and witch hunters helped to build Havenwood Falls—together. My great-great-grandmother was a white woman and a witch. My great-great-grandfather is from the Chickasaw tribe. Their relationship was forbidden by society, yet they found a way. You can figure this out. But to deny your mate? You know what that means, right?”
Daniel nodded and looked away from Mickey’s intense dark gaze. He knew what it meant, and as the whiskey wore off, the physical effects were no longer masked. The ache was back.
After eating, they walked back to the jobsite
where Daniel had left his truck, but as they passed Burger Bar, which sat dark and quiet, Daniel caught the scent of blood in the air. He raised his head slightly and inhaled deeply through his nose. It had the distinct smell of humans. Animal blood had a richness to it that human blood lacked. Mickey came to a stop, his head tilted to the side and his eyes closed. Suddenly his eyes popped open, and he started running toward the jobsite. Daniel immediately followed, not wanting his friend to go into an unknown situation alone. He could see at night almost as well as during the day. A man was laying on the ground, moaning.
They each came to a stop on either side of the man, whose face was beaten to a pulp. Daniel almost didn’t recognize Herschel, if it wasn’t for the clothes. They were stained with sweat earlier, and now they were soaked with blood. Alcohol wafted off his body like he had been soaking in a vat of whiskey.
“Mr. Ross, can you hear me?” Mickey asked. He rolled Herschel onto his back, and the man let out a hoarse cry that tapered off to a whimper.
“Christ, he’s a mess,” Daniel said, noting the crushed nose and eyes swollen shut. Herschel tried to say something, but his jaw hung at an angle, making it impossible for him to produce words. Drool, tinged pink from blood, dribbled down the side of his mouth. “Help me lift him up. He needs a doctor.”
Herschel cried out when they lifted him off the ground. Mickey was at his feet, and Daniel supported the almost unconscious man with his hands hooked underneath his arms. Together they carried him up the slight incline to Main Street and the short distance to the medical center, which looked more like a house from the outside, not a hospital.
There was one nurse on duty, and she came running from the reception desk when she saw them outside the front door. She held it open so they could carry Herschel inside. He had passed out during the brief walk. Daniel noticed her nametag pinned to her starched white dress uniform when he passed by: Sharon Heller, RN.
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