by Martha Woods
A low growl rumbled in his chest as he got up and padded back into the safety of the bushes. He didn’t want any trouble and he really didn’t want to kill anyone so soon after arriving back home. Liam let out a sigh. So much for a peaceful night run, he thought.
He treaded lightly, careful not to make a sound. All he had to do was make it back home undetected. Stealthily, he moved through the woods, listening for any sign of his unwanted companion. There was silence. Had the person turned back? With any luck, whoever it was had taken caution and turned back. But he still couldn’t shake the feeling of danger. His sense radar was always on point. But it was just a human, right?
Stories of werewolf hunters that he had heard of as a child suddenly flooded his mind. It was the eeriness of his current situation that brought on the foolish memory. He had always thought hunters were nothing more than myths because he had never seen one. Plenty of stories about other wolves’ experiences were heard - which had to have been exaggerated, he was sure. Wolf shifters were powerful, cunning creatures. There was no way a single human with a sword could take one down. And that was always how the story of the hunter went: a human, wielding a sword, taking out a wolf three times his size. Ridiculous.
The farther Liam walked into the forest, the more he should have felt at ease. He was sure he had put a good distance between him and whoever had been approaching from the other side of the river, but he still felt like he was being watched. His golden eyes surveyed the surrounding area. There was no one or anything in sight. His moderate pace then turned into a full out run.
Then he heard the footsteps again. They were approaching him at a rapid pace, going almost as fast as he was. So whoever was in the woods with him wasn’t human and it definitely wasn’t a fellow wolf. For a second, he considered stopping to confront whoever – whatever – followed him. It could be a vampire on the prowl. But they were rare in this area. They avoided small towns.
If he stopped then he could have a midnight snack. His wolf loved the idea of fresh meat, but Liam shoved down the craving. He was sure he could outrun his pursuer. Suddenly, something whizzed past his head.
What the hell?
He looked ahead to see an arrow lodged in a tree. His eyes widened. Was he being hunted? Could it possibly be the hunter of legend on his tail? It was hard to believe but he wasn’t taking any chances. He decided not to lead whoever it was to where he lived. Liam knew the forest like the back of his hand and he used that to his advantage, making sudden twists and turns and confusing trails of paw prints. Hopefully he would lose whoever it was. He moved tirelessly until the footsteps could no longer be heard. He smiled, knowing there was no way his mystery stalker could keep up, even if it was a hunter.
Liam closed his eyes, held his muzzle up, and inhaled deeply. The scent had disappeared and there was once again silence. He waited a few minutes before heading back in the direction he had come from. The tree that the arrow had lodged in came into view. He went closer to study it. There were strange markings along the wood, markings unfamiliar to him. He had to get it home. Maybe his housekeeper could tell him what they meant. The woman loved strange things like ancient languages and artifacts. She was a bit peculiar but if she didn’t bother him, he wouldn’t bother her. Plus, she was one hell of a cook.
Liam used his teeth to pull the arrow from the tree trunk. He was surprised to see that the tip was made of silver. His blood ran cold. The arrow was meant to kill him. If it had hit him, he could have kept running. Unless it had lodged in his heart… then he would have been a goner. Did someone know who he was or was it just coincidence that someone attacked his first night home?
* * *
Cayden walked toward his truck, wearing a deep scowl. He slid inside and threw his bow down on the passenger’s seat and slammed his palms against the steering wheel with aggravation. He had the abomination in his sight but he lost him deep in the forest. He needed to get better at the hunting these things if he was ever going to find the beast that killed his father. He pulled up the sword strapped to his thigh and ran his fingers over the curved blade. He stared down at it with reverence. It was the weapon that had been in his family for generations.
Pain and anger ripped through him. He wouldn’t be holding the blade if his father was still alive. He let out a breath that he had been holding tight in his chest. He didn’t want this life, the life a hunter. His father had always shielded him from the strange world he was meant to be a part of until he couldn’t hide him anymore. Cayden had a curious nature and had wondered about his father’s strange behavior, all the secrecy and lies that had driven his mother off.
One night he had decided to follow his father to see where he went almost every night. Now though, he really wished he hadn’t. Hidden in the bushes, watching his father, confusion had muddled his mind. The only rational explanation to why his father was lurking in the woods with an arsenal of weapons was that he had to be hunting wild animals. Then something had jumped out of the bushes. It was a man with red eyes and abnormally sharp teeth. To his amazement and absolute terror, the man had transformed into a beast right before his eyes‒ a wolf-like creature, only much bigger.
A teenage Cayden had watched, transfixed and too afraid to move as his father battled with the creature and ended the fight by the taking the beast’s head off with the same blade he held now. That night had changed his life forever and pulled him into a world of darkness and death. His father had known all along that he had followed him into the woods. He figured it was time for Cayden to know the truth about his family lineage. Imagine his shock when he discovered that he came from a long line of hunters. Throughout history, his kind traveled around the world maintaining order and protecting humans from all magic and supernatural creatures. That explained his father’s sporadic, long absences.
Cayden was stronger and faster than most humans, able to handle himself in a fight with a werewolf, any kind of shifter, a vampire, and the list went on. Of course, he refused to accept his heritage and left home and all the craziness when he was nineteen. All he wanted was a quiet life, a nice, safe desk job, and maybe a wife and a kid or two.
He remained estranged from his father for years. Finding out that his father had been killed a year ago, he had finally assumed his title as hunter. Guilt and pain drove him to find the shifter that killed his father. Maybe if he had stayed and hunted with his old man, protected him, he would still be alive. He’d always thought it was less than smart for one person to hunt alone. There should be a team of men and women working together. The best he had done was check up on his father every once in a while, but he chose to stay away for the most part. The last he heard, his father was in these very woods, hunting a pack of shifters and one of them had killed him.
Cayden set down the blade. He vowed that it would be the weapon he used to end the shifter when he found him. Tonight, he had hoped to get his hands on one of the creatures and torture him or her for information, then kill the abomination of course. He had been close, but the wolf was fast and had the advantage of knowing the terrain.
No matter. He would remain in town until he accomplished his mission. In the meantime, he would take out as many abominations of nature as he could and hone his skills. He started his truck and drove off, easily navigating his way through the dark with his enhanced vision. A shadow of a smile hovered on his lips. He may not be thrilled about what he was but he was going to have a grand time in Boulder Junction wreaking havoc on all the creatures that went bump in the night.
Chapter 2
Skylar ducked into her car. Her heart raced and her breathing came out in short huffs. How had they managed to find her? She had been careful, laying low since she found out that she was a target. Letting out a frustrated growl, she checked her rearview mirror and reversed. She didn’t even know what she was being targeted for. But she had a pretty good idea why. No doubt her father had something to do with it. If he would just answer his phone, she could at least know what he did, and to who this
time.
Once she hit the highway, she fished around her handbag for her phone. Glancing in her mirror again, she was satisfied to see that no one was trailing her. She dialed her father’s number. The phone rang a few times without an answer.
“Dad, unless you’re dead, you had better answer,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Sky?” the deep, raspy voice answered.
She let out a breath, relieved that he wasn’t dead. “Dad, it’s about time. I was worried, which I don’t even know why since you managed to pull me into your mess. And I don’t even know what kind of mess it is!”
“Slow down, honey. What are you talking about?”
“Men have been following me for about two weeks, Dad. I’m no criminal. I didn’t screw anyone over. So that must mean you did.”
There was a string of expletives followed by, “I didn’t know they would actually go after you, sweetheart.”
She drew in a breath. I knew it! Her eyes narrowed to slits even though he couldn’t see her but she wished he could so he could see how pissed she was.
“What did you do?” she asked wearily.
“I owe someone money and I may have mentioned that I have a daughter who could help me out.”
Skylar’s mouth dropped open. “You may have mentioned me?” she scoffed. “I can’t believe you. Tell me, Dad, what the hell am I supposed to use to help you out? I don’t have a job. I just graduated. And you didn’t even come to my graduation,” she added with a pout.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry… I was…in hiding.” He paused. “Are you sure you don’t have any money left? Your mother-”
“Left me enough money to finish school,” Skylar interrupted. “You are a piece of work, Andrew Moore. And don’t you dare talk about Mom. You don’t even deserve to mention her.”
Her voice shook and her eyes filled with tears as they usually did when she thought of her late mother. It had only been the two of them for a long time, after she kicked her husband out of their house because of his gambling and drinking. He was constantly putting them in danger with his antics and Sharon was through putting up with him. She was the only parent Skylar knew from the age of six. Her father called once in a while and showed his face for birthdays, even though Sharon never liked the idea of him coming around.
Andrew had the decency to sound repentant. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“Yeah, you’re always sorry,” she grumbled. “Back to the matter at hand. The big, scary looking guys have been following me because they think I can pay off your debt, correct?”
“Er, I suppose.”
“Well, what else could they possibly want me for?” Images of her gagged and bound and being tortured filled her mind. Or what if they wanted to sell her to some creepy rich pervert to get their money or force her into prostitution? “You know what? Don’t answer that.” She took a deep breath. “Look Dad, you need to tell your friend that I am of no use. I have no money so you’re going to have to dig your way out of this one on your own.”
Andrew sighed. “Skylar, wait. How do you know these men are after you? I mean, I mentioned you, that was all. I didn’t give away your address or anything.”
“Well, I’m bright enough to know that when I step out of my apartment and see large men dressed in black with mean looks on their faces, it doesn’t mean they stopped by for a friendly visit. And when said men continue to follow me around, I know they are up to no good.”
It was a good thing she was quick and crafty. She had learned a few things from her mother. She had learned to be observant and how to make a quick escape if necessary. Sharon had lived in fear of her husband’s activities catching up to them. It had a few times and that was why they had moved often until they ended up in Miami.
They were in Miami for the longest because everything seemed to have settled down. There Skylar had finished high school and went to college like her mother had wanted. Skylar hadn’t found out that her mother was sick until her last year in school, when the effects of her illness started to physically show. Sharon had made her promise not to drop out of school, as her intention had been to drop out of school and get a job to help pay her mother’s mounting medical bills. She died a few months before Skylar graduated.
“Okay, maybe you should come and stay with me, Sky.”
She let out a laugh. “Are you insane, Dad? That is the worse idea I have ever heard. Sure, just go straight to the guy who has a bull’s eye on his forehead.”
“You can’t protect yourself from those men.”
“Like hell I can’t. I’ve managed to stay one step ahead of them and I’m going somewhere far, far away.”
“Where are you going?” Andrew asked. There was genuine concern in his voice, which Skylar ignored. It was best if he didn’t know.
“I’ll keep that to myself for now. Just be careful, Dad. I’ll call you. Okay?”
“Sky-” She quickly hung up before he convinced her to tell him where she was heading. She had always had a soft spot for her father. She was the type to always see the good in people. And she was convinced that deep down, her father was a good man. She let out a long breath as she turned her focus back to the road.
Surely if she laid low long enough, this entire thing would blow over. She smiled, feeling a sliver of hope. As soon as she had realized that she wasn’t safe, she had taken steps to get herself out of Miami. She had been scouring the internet for a job, and like a quick answer to her prayer, the job posting had appeared. Some rich business man was looking for a personal assistant in Boulder Junction. She didn’t even know where in North America Boulder Junction was until she looked it up. It was in Wisconsin, far enough from Miami.
Applying for a job as a personal assistant was a waste of her business degree, but there was something about the ad that seemed to call to her. She couldn’t explain why she had been so drawn to it. Plus, it was perfect for the time being; a job in a town far from the danger in Miami and she could start paying off her mother’s medical bills. Later, she could do what she really wanted to do: go into accounting. She had always been good with numbers and figured that was a good way to use her skill.
“This will be temporary,” she assured herself out loud.
Skylar bit her lower lip. Guilt nagged at her as she thought about the job. She didn’t think she would actually get the job without any experience but she had. The ad had specifically asked for male applicants but for some reason she had gone ahead and applied. Her name was unisex so the employer naturally assumed that she was a male.
“Oh God, I’m turning into a liar and cheat like my father.”
Well, it was too late now. She was already on her way to Wisconsin, two days earlier than planned, but she had to get going when the men showed up at the motel she had been hiding out in. This time there had been three of them. They had pulled up in front of her room in a heavily tinted van.
Not conspicuous at all, she thought, rolling her eyes. Her bags were packed and already in her car. All she had to do was slip out the back window, make it down the fire escape, and run.
* * *
Skylar smoothed her skirt as she stepped out of her car. Looking down at herself, she frowned, wishing she had something better to wear. She had always been a jeans and t-shirt girl, and the drab brown skirt suit she had on was the only business attire she owned.
She gazed up at the house in awe. It looked like a cabin but a very big one. A mansion. A mansion cabin? A cabin mansion? Whatever it was it was beautiful.
“And in the middle of the woods,” she mused, looking around.
Well, it would suit her just fine. It was secluded and far from the town. Her father’s enemies would have a hard time finding her there. She teetered on her high heels toward the door, praying that she didn’t break an ankle. Heels were something she didn’t wear often. Maybe because, subconsciously, she knew she always needed to be ready to run.
She smoothed her hair, which was caught in a simple ponytail. She figured it would mak
e her look more business-like. When she made it up the last step and stood in front of the door, she took a steadying breath. Whoever answered probably wouldn’t be amused to find out that she wasn’t what they had asked for. She grasped the gold heart-shaped pendant around her neck that her mother had left her.
“Well, here goes nothing.”
She lifted a hand toward the brass knocker but the door opened before she could use it. With wide eyes, she stood face to face with a woman. The woman looked middle-aged with graying, black hair. She had dark skin and wore a friendly smile. Her dark brown eyes shone with intelligence and seemed to look straight through Skylar. At least, that was the impression she got from the woman’s penetrating stare. She wore an apron around her waist and Skylar wondered if she was the housekeeper, or perhaps the wife of the man she had applied to work for.
Skylar put on her brightest smile. “Hello, I’m Skylar Moore. I’m-”
“Mr. Conway’s new personal assistant,” the woman finished for her. She had an unusual accent that sounded French.
“Uh, well. I certainly hope so.” She let out a nervous giggle and clamped her mouth shut. She waited for her gender to be addressed.
“My, my. You are by far the prettiest man I have ever seen.”
Shocked, Skylar stared at the woman. She saw the humor shining in her eyes and couldn’t help smiling. Color seeped into her cheeks and she looked down at the tip of her shoes. “Er, about that. I’m so sorry but I -”