A Hunter's Choice [The Hunters 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Suzy Shearer

  Before leaving, she had checked online about the temperament of the three breeds. She was a little hesitant at the Bullmastiff. Her inclination was to go with the Shepherd. She remembered her mother owning one when Julie was a child.

  Pulling up at the shelter, Julie was surprised at the amount of dogs and cats there. When she introduced herself, explaining what she was looking for, the attendant smiled and told her the three dogs were all ideal for her situation. He told her they generally received dogs weekly, at times daily, so if none of the dogs they had available struck a chord with her, he was certain they would find something within a week or two at the longest.

  He took her to a large open room and told her to wait while he brought the Shepherd around.

  The dog was lovely. He was a little shy at first but soon was licking her hand. Julie thought he would make a great friend but was not too sure how he would be guarding. The attendant, John, assured her that once he settled into her home he would be fine. Julie spent fifteen minutes playing with him before John suggested she see the other two.

  She was a little reluctant but realised it made sense.

  He brought the Rottweiler in. He certainly looked the part but he was not as friendly as the Shepherd was. Julie was not as comfortable with him as the other dog and told John. He grinned and said that some people preferred a guard dog to be more aloof. He took him away.

  Julie was certain she would take the Shepherd until John walked in with the Mastiff following him. The dog took one look at Julie and ran over to give her a doggy kiss and then put her head on Julie’s lap, looking up at her with adoration in her eyes.

  It was the proverbial love at first sight.

  Julie had to admit she was surprised, because the huge Mastiff was the one that she had most reservations about buying. Instead, she grinned and rubbed the dog. She was a soft tan colour with a black muzzle. John told Julie the dog stood just over sixty-three centimetres and weighed almost fifty kilograms.

  “She will still grow a little but not too much more.”

  “How old is she?”

  “She is eighteen months. She had been desexed. Her previous owners reluctantly gave her to us because they had to move overseas suddenly. She has been trained well and will walk on a leash, she also obeys lots of commands.” He rubbed the dog’s ears, “I’m glad you like her. I think she is a wonderful dog but her size has put off a lot of people buying her. She needs to find someone to love her.”

  “This will sound silly, but I have chickens, they are in a fenced area, but would she bark at them and harass them?”

  John laughed. “I doubt it, she loves cats and the previous owners had ferrets that she played with. Mind you, she has been trained to protect, but once you let her know her property and her boundaries I’m sure she will do fine.”

  John left her with the dog for a while so they could get a better feel for each other. The mastiff seemed to be eager to please Julie, she seemed to sense that if she behaved correctly this would be her new owner. They played together for a while. Julie gave her some simple commands like sit, stay, fetch, drop and she obeyed each one without hesitation.

  When John came back into the room, the mastiff went onto alert until she realised he was not threatening.

  “Looks like she has decided who she wants to protect already. What do you think?”

  “She is perfect, I love her! What did they call her?”

  “Milly.” The dog pricked her ears up when she heard her name. “I have to warn you though, she is a cuddler. She doesn’t seem to understand that she is a big dog, she thinks she belongs on your lap.”

  “I don’t mind. I live alone so it will be great to have a companion as well as someone to protect me if needed.”

  Julie looked at the dog sitting at her feet. “Well Milly, would you like to come and live with me?”

  The dog took that as a sign, gave a little bark, and tried to clamber onto Julie’s lap. Laughing, she pushed her down and told her to sit. Milly obeyed immediately and Julie went on to discuss costs, feeding, and any issues the breed may have.

  “Milly passed all the vet checks with flying colours so you should not have any problems with her. I would suggest you give her a few small meals rather than one large one, they tend to have a problem with bloat but if you space the smaller meals there should be no worry at all.”

  “Oh, damn. I don’t have any food or leashes or anything. This was a sudden decision today, I didn’t think I would find a dog this quickly. Can I pick her up tomorrow after I have bought food and things?”

  John smiled at her. “Well, our shelter dogs all come with collar, lead, bed, bowls, and a week’s food. We try to make it easier for people to adopt. You will get all her certificates, she is a pure breed, and the previous owners gave us her pedigree papers. She has also been microchipped. We just need to sign her over to your name and she is good to go.”

  “Oh that’s perfect! That means I can take her now.”

  Julie and Milly followed John out into the office. He put a collar on her and clipped on a leash. She was wriggling in excitement.

  “I hope she likes the car.”

  “Don’t worry, she loves riding.”

  Julie filled out all the paperwork and John assured her he would lodge everything immediately. She paid over the fee and John helped her carry the bonus goodies out to her four-wheel drive. As soon as Julie opened the rear door Milly was in, she jumped to the front and settled on the passenger seat.

  “Looks like she is ready to go.” John laughed. “I’m sure you are both going to have a wonderful life together. If you have any concerns, just give the shelter a ring and we can help.”

  They shook hands and Julie climbed into the car.

  She looked over at Milly, who gave her a doggy grin.

  “Now you sit and behave, Milly. I haven’t a harness to lock you in.”

  The dog looked at her and gave a little bark. Julie laughed, unwound Milly’s window, and drove off.

  Milly seemed to enjoy the ride back home. She hung out the window at times and Julie had to giggle as the wind caught her jowls.

  When they reached home, Julie let her off the leash. Milly spent the next ten minutes investigating while Julie unloaded the car. When she called her, Milly bounded up and sat in front of her.

  “Tomorrow I’ll take you on a walk, but for now, this is home, enjoy.”

  The dog ran off again and Julie went inside, leaving the back door open with a brick holding it. Tomorrow she would have to arrange for someone to install a dog door, in the meantime, she’d have to leave it ajar. Milly kept coming back inside every few minutes to check on Julie, then back outside to continue her exploration.

  Julie set out water for her, and filled a bucket with more water to put outside on the back verandah. She wondered where to set the dog bed, then decided if she wanted her for protection, there was no better place than in her bedroom. So she put the dog bed beside her own bed.

  It was getting late. Julie went out to feed the chickens and make sure they were all locked up for the night. Milly followed her and when she told her to stay, obediently sat outside the fence gate. Julie herded the chickens into their large coop, left food, and collected a couple of eggs. She locked the door then closed the gate.

  She and Milly went indoors. It was six-thirty, time to make something for them both to eat. Julie wondered if Milly liked vegetables and discovered that she did, when Julie was cutting some for her meal she gave Milly as few pieces and the dog ate them with relish. She fed the dog and completed making herself some fresh vegetables with a curried-flavour tofu.

  Once both were fed, Julie settled on a couch with a book. Milly did a prowl around then jumped up beside Julie and snuggled in, her head on Julie’s lap. Julie smiled down at the dog, rubbing her ears. She thought Milly was the best decision she had made in many years.

  A few minutes later, Julie had to grin. Milly snored. Not too loudly, but she definitely snored. Julie immersed herself
in her novel, she was re-reading a few old favourites and had almost finished Pride and Prejudice.

  She yawned and after looking at the wall clock, Julie put her book down. It was almost ten so she decided to go to bed. When she stood, Milly was alert instantly and scented the air.

  “It is okay Milly, bedtime.”

  She took the dog to the backdoor and waited while she wandered around, checking the area and then relieving herself. Milly bounded back inside, and Julie shut the door and then walked into the bedroom. She showed Milly the bed and told her to settle and sleep. The dog climbed onto it, turned a few circles, and lay down.

  Julie used the bathroom then climbed into bed. It had been a long day, but she felt very safe with Milly snoring beside the bed. Lying there, her thoughts turned again to Tomas, wondering if he gave any thought to her. She fell asleep to dreams of him making love to her.

  She woke through the night to feel a heavy body on the bottom of the bed. For a moment she was startled, then realised it was Milly. She was about to shoo her off when Julie decided she felt even safer. If anyone entered the house, they would have to get past Milly to get to her.

  The next morning Julie arranged for someone to come out and put in a couple of dog doors. One for the screened back door and one for the actual heavy back door. A local tradesman, a man called Fred who did small odd jobs, agreed to do them and told her he would be able to come that afternoon.

  Fred turned up around the mid-afternoon. He looked at the doors and told her could do the screened one there and then but would need supplies for the heavy door. Milly didn’t seem to like him and kept at Julie’s side. She had to admit that the man gave her the creeps. He kept looking at her and when he spoke, he spoke to her breasts rather than look at her face.

  She decided to let him put in the dog door in the screened door but tell him not to worry about the main door. She would find someone who she felt comfortable with to do that job. She just didn’t trust him.

  She never mentioned not doing the other dog door until Fred told her the price for the one he finished. When she paid him, he wanted to arrange to come the next day for the other. Julie told him she would leave it for a while, and get it done closer to winter. He wasn’t happy but couldn’t do anything about it. He left his business card and gathered his tools and left.

  Julie looked at Milly. “I didn’t like him. Did you?”

  Milly gave a bark in agreement and Julie laughed. Milly spent a few minutes studying the door, and then went through it a couple of times. Julie was happier, she felt safer. Now she could lock the screen door and the dog could still get outside whenever she needed to.

  She just prayed the vampires wouldn’t use it as well. She thought perhaps it would be too small for one to fit through, at least she hoped so.

  She took Milly for a walk through the countryside and they both returned back to the house tired but feeling good. She wondered what Tomas would think of Milly. Julie looked down at the dog.

  “I miss him so much, Milly.”

  The dog cocked her head and looked up at her mistress. Julie sighed.

  “Somehow I have to get used to this pain in my heart.”

  She shook herself and went outside. Julie took care of the chickens, made meals for her and Milly, then they sat together on the lounge again. Milly to snore and Julie to read.

  * * * *

  When they woke that evening, each took a list and flew off to begin the search. Tomas was even more depressed. Michael said to Louisa that he hoped they found Julie soon. Tomas would be unbearable if they continued drawing a blank in their search. There was also the problem of the strigoi, they needed to concentrate on finding them and destroying them before more victims began piling up.

  Louisa agreed. “If we can’t locate Julie tonight, maybe you should start the search for the lair while Tomas and I concentrate on Julie.”

  “That is probably a good idea, iubită, let us hope we have success tonight.”

  * * * *

  Tomas was getting desperate, what if they could not find Julie? What would he do then? He “heard” his mother telling him to relax, and he thanked her, but he still worried. Knowing his One was nearby and knowing he couldn’t find her was tearing him apart. He knew he’d be no use to Michael and Louisa if he couldn’t get his emotions under control. He continued flying.

  Matei “spoke” to him. “Relax, my brother. If you don’t find her this night then you will tomorrow or the next or even the next. You need your thoughts clear. If you let your emotions take control you may miss something important that would lead you to her.”

  “I know, Matei, I know, but I’m so scared we won’t find her. What if I have lost her?”

  “You will find her. Use all your senses, you know her smell, her taste, her touch, her mind. Use them all. Look for traces on the wind. You are a Hunter, use your skills.”

  Tomas knew his brother was right. He had been only listening for her mind, he had forgotten his basic skills.

  Ruefully, he thanked his brother for reminding him.

  “Go find her, my brother, and when you do make sure you make at least one exchange regardless of her wishes.”

  “Oh I will Matei, I will.”

  He landed in a nearby tree and began to search the air for any trace of his beloved, his iubită.

  Slowly the search went on through the night with no results. When Tomas arrived back at the apartment, the other two were already there. Louisa went to go to him but Michael held her back.

  “Leave him, iubită, there is nothing you can do or say to bring relief to his pain. Best he sleep.”

  Tomas walked into the bedroom but stopped at the doorway.

  His voice was flat with pain. “Where do we search tonight?”

  “I’ve printed out the list. There are only seven places. They are all the far rural areas on the very outskirts of the city.”

  “I don’t know that we’ll get to them all in one night because of the distance between them and the distance from here.”

  Tomas just nodded his head in answer, then threw himself on the bed. His mind was in turmoil and it took him a long time to calm his thoughts and sleep.

  He rose before the others and looked at the lists Louisa had printed. They were scattered, all on the furthest points from the city centre. As he was choosing which list to take, Louisa and Michael came out. Louisa touched his arm, she didn’t speak but he knew what she felt without the need for words.

  “I’ll take these two.”

  He picked up two names, they were some distance from each other but closer than the others. He thought he could get to them both in one night. Walking to the balcony, he transformed and flew into the sky.

  Chapter Seven

  Julie and Milly spent the day learning more about each other. Julie was surprised at how quickly the dog adapted to her. She spent some time in the morning throwing a stick for Milly. After about thirty minutes, Julie’s arm was tired from throwing it, but Milly seemed just as fresh and eager to play.

  “Come on, Milly, let’s go inside and we can both have lunch, then this afternoon I’ll take you for another walk.”

  The dog gave a little bark of agreement.

  In the afternoon, she took the dog along some of the nearby trails. Milly took great delight in chasing lizards through the underbrush and jumping across the tiny stream that ran alongside Julie’s property. Julie laughed at her antics. She was definitely making the lonely feeling in Julie’s heart a little easier to bear.

  When evening came and Julie had locked up the chickens, fed herself, and Milly, she grabbed her book and sat down on a couch in the family room, Milly beside her.

  “I wish you could’ve met Tomas, Milly. He’s so wonderful.”

  Julie sighed as she rubbed the dog’s ears. “I think I made a huge mistake in running away. Now I feel so alone, so lost without him.”

  Milly put her head onto Julie’s lap and looked into her face, her eyes on Julie. Julie felt as if the dog u
nderstood her sorrow and was trying to comfort her.

  “I don’t even know how to find him, Milly. He is gone.” Julie felt her tears run down her face. “I’ve lost him because I was a fool. I don’t know where to start to try and find him. I doubt there’s a webpage saying ‘Vampire Hunters are Here.’”

  Julie cried a little longer, then dried her eyes. Somehow she had to get over him. She cuddled Milly. They sat together for a few hours until Julie could no longer keep awake. She led Milly into the bedroom and they both settled down for the night.

  * * * *

  The search was fruitless again. Tomas managed to get to both of the names on the list he had taken but Louisa and Michael only managed one each. There were still three names to check.

  He could barely be polite to the others when he returned to the apartment. Instead he shut himself in his room and threw himself on the bed until sleep overtook him.

  When they all woke in the early evening, Tomas grabbed some fruit from the fridge and ate quickly before taking a name, then flying off.

  Louisa sent him a message about twenty minutes after he left, telling him they had both started their search and hoped one of them had some success.

  Tomas checked out the address he had—he was so frustrated and angry when it proved not to be Julie’s. He guessed they would now have to start searching all those with the surname of Smith. He was just starting on his way back.

  “Tomas! Michael, this way. Quickly, I can sense a psychic woman!”

  Louisa sent a message to them both. Both quickly changed their direction and flew to her. Michael arrived in fifteen minutes while Tomas, who had been the furthest away, landed in twenty.

  They perched on a fence alongside Louisa, Tomas sent out a trace. He sighed sadly. “No, it isn’t her. This woman feels younger than Julie and her mind is different, but she is a strong psychic.”