Mystic Realms: A Limited Edition Collection

by Nicole Morgan

  Piper had already been there part of the week enjoying the peace and quiet during the day but at night things were different. She’d been leery to go outside the cabin at all, afraid of the howling sounds invading the private cove. Sleep evaded her the last three nights as the echoes from a wolf came closer and closer. It was probable that there were multiple wolves but something deep inside of her kept going back to it just being one. She felt like she was being stalked. At times, the low growling sounded so near it gave her the chills, like it was talking to her. It wasn’t very likely, but Piper swore the wolf had been right below her window more than once.

  At that very moment however, she’d stepped out further onto the front porch and couldn’t believe her eyes.

  “Please go away, I promise I’ll never hurt you. I just came here for some peace and quiet.”

  The wolf she knew had been keeping her awake all hours of the night suddenly appeared in the narrow clearing, standing maybe a hundred feet from the cabin. Closer than she would like. Her body stiffened then began to shake uncontrollably and her heart raced. She had no clue what to do, she’d never been around a wolf or knew what would even scare them away. She started to back closer to the door. The more fear that racked her slender frame, the closer the wolf came until he was at the base of the porch steps.

  “Shoo now, be a good doggie.” Okay so she knew it wasn’t a dog, only part of the dog family, maybe. And telling it to go away didn’t mean it would. That was a long shot.

  Shit, I don’t even have a weapon to protect myself. Quickly her thoughts drifted off to the interior of her cabin and what she did have in there that might be useful as a weapon. Knives in the kitchen but no guns to speak of. The poker at the fireplace would be perfect, if only she had it now. She might have to start carrying that to bed with her and leave it by the front door when she was awake. For her current situation though, she would never make it inside quick enough to grab any of those items.

  Frozen where she stood and too afraid to retreat, Piper watched as the wolf came closer. It slowly ascended the stairs, but not like any other four-legged creature she’d ever seen. This wolf was much bigger than she thought them to be and somehow, he was changing his features with each step he took until right in front of her face stood a gloriously naked man.

  A faint whisper invaded her mind as strong arms caught her falling body before everything went dark.

  “You could hurt me more than you know…”

  “Damn it. What the hell is wrong with me?”

  Paxson couldn’t be more pissed off at himself. He always made the dumbest choices. Just once, couldn’t he think before he acted? Usually his stupidity only distressed him but tonight’s actions directly affected someone else and that poor woman was mortified enough to faint right in front of him. A great reason his brother was the Alpha and not him.

  Paxson entered his cabin on the grounds he owned jointly with his brother. He led a quiet existence there, without being bothered. Signs posted it as private property so there weren’t usually any trespassers around which made running the woods daily for exercise or sustenance nearly undetectable. The cabin he rented out was the only chance of passersby but he knew when they’d be there.

  He shouldn’t have taken her inside and left right away but obviously, he’d freaked her out by turning from a wolf to a man right there on her steps. He didn’t know what else to do but run. How would he explain something like that? She probably had a shotgun inside and who knows how freaked she would be if she woke up and he was still there. And there was still the part about him having to explain, but explain what? That he was a wolf and a man? And in some weird way she wouldn’t understand, that she was all a part of his world. No way could he make her comprehend that. Sometimes he had a way with words, but he wasn’t that good.

  Paxson shouldn’t have even been there but he couldn’t help it, couldn’t stay away a minute longer. There was an unmistakable urge drawing him to her. He’d known the moment she arrived at Windsor Woods. Even from fifty miles away he knew his mate had invaded his stomping grounds. When he agreed to rent out the cabin for a few weeks, he stupidly assumed the renter was the old man who’d paid the fee.

  Apparently not.

  Honestly, he should be pleased as punch. The woman was devastatingly beautiful with her wistful trusses and an unmistakable natural curl. Her eyes painted a mesmerizing picture, he could tell even from the clearing where he watched her quietly, a hazel sparkle possessing the power to hex him. He didn’t have to see her to know he was in trouble but when he finally had laid eyes on the brunette vixen, he knew his heart was taken. It was the link he’d heard of many times. His brother the Alpha had explained in detail how things had happened with their parents but his brother hadn’t been successful in finding his mate yet.

  “What’s going on with you?”

  “Jesus Porter, you know you could knock?”

  “Well if your head wasn’t an emotional jumble, you would have known I was coming. “

  His brother was right. He couldn’t control himself with her so close but after having her in his arms, he couldn’t think of anything but getting back to her side.

  “I can’t help it, I’m a mess. It’s the woman.”

  “What woman?”

  “The one staying in the rental cabin.” Paxson shifted the wood around in the fireplace but didn’t light it. He never needed to unless he had company of the non-lupus variation. Internal wolf heat was a blessing.

  “I thought you rented that to a man?”

  “I did but he didn’t tell me he rented it for his daughter. Wait, aren’t you the Alpha, you didn’t see her here?”

  “Nope, I only saw you freaking out. What’s up with you right now?”

  “I don’t understand it but I can’t get her out of my head. I was hoping you would know what to do.”

  “Is she human? That’s the biggest reason I wouldn’t see her.”

  “She looks it, and when she saw me shift, she fainted so it surprised her for sure. That doesn’t explain why I can feel her, I’m not even an alpha.” I don’t really want to be an alpha, too much responsibility.

  “You shifted in front of a human?”

  “Okay yes, I know I’m not supposed to do that but seriously, I felt like I had no control and she was drawing me in?”

  “Shit.”

  His brother ran hands through his hair, frustration clouding his features.

  “What’s her name?”

  After giving the name of the woman and her father and where they were from, Paxson paced around the room while his brother typed into his phone.

  “Okay, I’ve contacted some people to do a little leg work so we can find out exactly who she is. But, I think you should go over there, in human form please, and talk to her.”

  “What the hell would I say?”

  “Just be nice, tell her you’re the owner of the cabin and wanted to make sure everything was to her liking. See if she needs anything.”

  “What if she recognizes me from last night.”

  “She won’t. Humans don’t pay attention to detail.”

  “If you say so. I’ll go first thing in the morning.” Paxson wasn’t thrilled at all. The way she’d looked at him before she fainted, it was like she was trying to figure him out. He felt it deep in his soul.

  Chapter Two

  She opened her eyes, looked at the ceiling trying to figure out where she was. It took her a moment but realized she was still in the cabin on vacation. She didn’t remember falling asleep.

  “How did I get on the couch?”

  Piper climbed from the plush sofa and went into the kitchenette and found everything she’d gotten out for dinner still sitting on the counter ready to cook.

  “That is so weird. I feel like I lost hours. I must have fallen asleep.”

  Unfortunately, she had to throw everything away since she’d slept the entire night through. “Good thing dad had the owner stock the freezer.” She walked back int
o the living room struggling to make her mind think. There was something she wasn’t remembering, she just couldn’t bring it to the forefront. It was driving her crazy.

  She opened the front door and looked out into the dark woods, only a small sliver of light shining into the clearing in front of the cabin. It was peaceful. Quiet. Too quiet and she specifically remembered hearing a lot of howling the last few days. It was fuzzy but starting to come back to her.

  “I looked outside because I heard something.” She walked out onto the porch but it was silent. Eerily quiet. “I know I was out here last night, I just don’t remember going back in the house.”

  As she turned to walk back inside, she heard a car coming down the lane so she waited. Piper hadn’t been expecting anyone to visit. No one even knew she was here except her dad and she wasn’t aware of any other places out here where people could stay. However, she also hadn’t done any roaming in the area, only took the lane to the cabin and stayed put. Exploring in the dark woods really wasn’t her thing, day or night. Not that she could tell which was which. The daytime didn’t really look any different than any other time.

  She watched cautiously as a sleek black four door vehicle pulled up near the cabin, and parked next to her own vehicle. The man that exited, proceeded to move as effortlessly as the car did coming down the road. He was also very handsome and somewhat familiar, which was next to impossible. She didn’t know anyone in the area. There was a chance she could have run across him if he ever went into the city but she didn’t get around town much, only to grab lunch occasionally.

  “Hello, can I help you?”

  Oh my! The man that approached the stairs appeared nearly perfect, not overly large but possessed a huge presence and he knew it. His rough buzz cut made him seem like he’d spent years in the military and his eyes shined a bright blue even without the sun shimmering off them. He was encompassed by an aura of light that seeped warmly into her soul, pushing the cool weather away.

  “Hi ma’am, my name is Paxson. I own this cabin.”

  “Oh, my gosh I’m so sorry, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Piper. Would you like to come in?”

  She motioned to the front door, stepping that direction as well. “I was just getting ready to make a little breakfast.”

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt. You go ahead with your meal.” The man turned back toward his car.

  “Oh please, you’re not interrupting at all, I always cook more than I can eat and trust me I shouldn’t eat it all. I’d love for you to join me.” Good lord, what had possessed her to invite him in? She didn’t even know him. It was weird though, that the near proximity of him gave her a sense of freedom, like she had no inhibitions left.

  “Really I don’t want to impose.”

  “Paxson, this is your house, please come in.” This man didn’t just have the extraordinary looks, he was nice too. Politeness wasn’t something she was accustom to where she spent her every waking moment. Men and women were rude in the city, seemed being personable was a thing of the past for them.

  “Well, thank you.” He walked up the front steps and when they stood in front of the door, he held it for her to go first.

  “It’s your house this week, please, after you.”

  Apparently, chivalry isn’t dead. Piper walked into the kitchen and pulled the eggs and sausage from the frig and grabbed the toaster and loaf of bread.

  “How do you like your eggs and how many would you like?”

  “Over easy would be great ma’am and three if you don’t mind?”

  “Only if you stop calling me ma’am, my name is Piper.” She smiled as she broke eggs. She was used to being called anything but ma’am in the city and she knew it was him being polite and respectful. She could tell he was old school, even at his youthful age.

  “My apologies. Piper, it’s a beautiful name.”

  He was making her blush. The world needed more men like this one. She made quick work of cooking the eggs while the bread was toasting. She also dug the ketchup out of the frig.

  “Would you like some?”

  Seriously? What were the odds they liked the same things?

  “I would love some, do you like ketchup with your eggs too?”

  “Absolutely! I use one piece of toast to dip out the yolks, then I use the other one to lay the eggs on and make a sandwich.”

  I’m in love with this woman.

  “You know that’s a really rare way to eat eggs?”

  “I think so, I’ve never seen anyone else do it.”

  “Well now you can say you know someone that does.”

  He couldn’t believe the odds. He didn’t know this woman and here she is in the middle of a huge forest to get away and not only is he oddly drawn to her but they have eating habits in common.

  “Really, you do it too?”

  “I do.” He smiled. She was easy to be around. He felt comfortable enough to start a conversation and try to learn more about her. That’s ultimately why his brother wanted him to visit her in the first place. He was still curious to know too but not as much as he just wanted to get to know her. The more he was close to her, the more he wanted to be around her.

  “You know when I first saw you getting out of your car this morning, you were familiar to me, like I’d seen you before somewhere. Unless you go into the city, I couldn’t imagine where I’d know you from. I work insane hours and don’t have a social life at all. I even order take-out to be delivered so I don’t have to leave my apartment.

  “Wow, kind of like a shut-in?” He was just going to ignore the comment about her thinking she might know him. He didn’t want her to remember last night at all. It was a dumb thing he did.

  “Yeah exactly. The city is crazy and I don’t really like people that much so unless I have to work with them, I’d rather hide.”

  “Is that why you wanted to come out here?”

  “Yes actually. I needed to get away. My life is stressful and the last time I visited my dad I kind of snapped, and he suggested that I needed a vacation. He told me he knew someone that had a place in the middle of nowhere and said he’d make the arrangements so here I am.”

  “Well, we’re glad to have you.”

  “We? Oh gosh, I’m so sorry, I don’t want to be keeping you from your family. I feel horrible.” She started to stand and clean up the table from their breakfast, her expression dimmed.

  “No, you’re fine.” He placed a hand on her forearm to stop her and swore he’d been bit. He pulled his fingers back quick, making a fist and shoved it in his lap. He only hoped she didn’t notice his reaction. “Sorry, what I mean to say is that there is no one else. I’m single. I do have a couple brothers but otherwise I live alone.”

  “When you said we I just thought…”

  “Yeah, I get it, that’s my fault. The we that I was referring to was just my older brother. We own all this land together.” He swung his arm to encompass the entire forest. “We inherited it from our mom when she passed away but the cabin itself I built.”

  “You built this cabin? It’s amazing Paxson. You have quite a talent.”

  “Thanks, it’s just what I do. Build I mean. It’s only a hobby but I love it.”

  “It shows. The woodwork in here is amazing and so detailed. It must have taken you forever to do.”

  “It’s just tinkering usually, until it turns into something like the molding here.”

  “Well, all I can say is that people in the cities would pay a lot for something like what you do as a hobby. Anyway, thank you for hanging around with me. I feel bad keeping you.”

  “I had nothing on my calendar today but chopping some wood so I’m grateful for the diversion.”

  “I did have a question for you if you have a few more minutes?”

  “Sure, shoot.” She could keep him there as long as she wanted, he was in no hurry to be away from her, that weird pull thing and all.

  “Do you think it would be safe for me to go out for a walk in the woods? I’ve
heard a lot of howling at night which kind of makes me nervous. I really don’t want to be cornered by a pack of wolves, I’d have no clue what to do.”

  If she only knew.

  “Yeah, I’d tend to agree, going out at night alone might not be the wisest choice as far as wildlife. I wouldn’t expect you’d run into any people though. This is all private property and we watch it pretty closely.”

  Then he felt bad because her shoulders visibly deflated in front of his eyes.

  “Hey, I could go with you if you wanted to explore the woods, but only if you’re up for company that is.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  He’d do anything she asked.

  “Sure. No one knows these woods better they my brothers and I.”

  “I’d really like that Paxson. Can we go this evening after dinner maybe?”

  “Sure, I need to get a few things done at home but I can come back and get you.”

  “Perfect, but come with an appetite, I’ll make us something we can take out with us.”

  His appetite for food never went away so no worries there but he was pleasantly surprised at the new hunger he had for her. He’d never wanted anyone so badly.

  Chapter Three

  Piper finished wrapping the large sub sandwiches she’d made for them to eat while they walked through the woods. She was excited to be out in nature exploring things for the first time. And it really was a first time. She didn’t ever remember doing things like that as a kid and once she moved out of her parents’ house, she was a city girl all the way. That burned out quickly though. She was still a little worried about the wolves but felt better that Paxson would be with her. He was a kind man but solid in size, not someone she would want to meet in a dark alley at night.

  When she heard a knock at the front door, she knew it was him. She grabbed a couple waters from the frig and headed outside.

  “Hi Piper.” He had a welcome smile when she saw him.

  “Paxson, hi. Thanks for doing this with me. I felt a little dumb having to ask you. Oh, I made us each a sandwich.” She handed him a water too and they took off down the drive.