by Sam Crescent
Kenny and Mark crowded in behind her, sounding more like bulls barging into a china shop, and she was thankful there wasn’t anything to smash. They dumped their various bags on the floor and hurried over to the fire roaring in the large fireplace. Gabrielle took off her coat and draped it over her arm.
An old woman came bustling from what looked like the kitchen area, carrying a tray loaded with mugs. Jaeger hurried to help her and took it from her to set upon a side table.
“This is Agathe,” Jaeger introduced her. “She runs the kitchen, so if you need anything don’t let her stoic demeanor scare you.”
Agathe gave him the stink eye, huffed, and returned to the kitchen. Jaeger looked at Gabrielle and winked.
“Tea, if you wish,” he said.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle murmured. “I think I’d like to freshen up some. My team and I have an interview to conduct in about an hour.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re a reporter?”
“Oh, no,” she said. “I’m a cryptozoologist. I’m here to investigate a photo that was sent to us about a creature that might or might not be related to the Yeti.”
Chapter Three
Everything inside Jaeger turned to ice. He must have said the right thing because Gabrielle pulled out a tablet and showed him a set of photos, ones he knew very well because he was staring at himself. They had to have been taken the night he’d decided to stretch his legs and let his wolf run free, safe from the knowledge he wouldn’t accidentally be struck by a hunter’s bullet.
Along with the realization that someone had caught him with a camera was the fact that his mate was there to oust his wolf. She was a cryptozoologist? How could he ever tell her about the legends of his people or the fact he could shift into wolf form? To her, he was the stuff of mythology. A werewolf, for lack of a better term.
Or a monster.
And it was her job to expose him.
He would have to think about how to proceed because now that his wolf knew her scent, it wanted her.
“You seem to have accepted my profession well,” she observed.
“I’m not sure if the word ‘accepted’ is what I’d use,” he said. “I think I’m more curious and a bit confused. I believe cryptozoology is considered a pseudoscience at best.”
Her shoulders went back and her pert little nose rose just a little, as if she were preparing for battle. Perhaps she was. After all, her chosen profession wasn’t exactly normal.
“Many modern-day accepted beliefs were once considered pseudoscience,” she said, a bit stiffly. “Like the earth being round. Or us circling the sun instead of vice versa. Less than a hundred years ago people were still dying from infection.”
“Granted,” he replied. “But creatures of mythology? Like Loch Ness … or, say, a werewolf?”
“Werewolf? Um, no. That’s not a cryptid, that’s folklore.”
“I’m surprised you distinguish between the two.”
“Is belief in a cryptid so hard to fathom?” she asked. “Every year new species are being discovered, on land and in the sea. One day I plan to be the one to present evidence of one.”
“And you’re currently on the hunt of the Yeti. Aren’t they in the Himalayas? Why come to Alaska?”
“The pictures, of course.”
“I would’ve said that creature in the pictures is more related to Big Foot.”
Instantly, he could tell it was the wrong thing to say. Her face smoothed out and went blank. She put her tablet back into her shoulder bag and then wrapped her arms around herself, as if protecting herself.
“I know cryptids aren’t the norm for most people,” she said. A definite chill had settled in her tone. “I often get the eye roll or snort of derision. I can see the disbelief in their eyes along with the thoughts that I might be crazy. Even my own parents think this is just a little side hobby, not real. Certainly not real science. But I don’t need, nor do I ask, for acceptance. I’ve paid for three rooms, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to head to them now.”
“If I’ve offended you, I am sorry,” he murmured. “Let me make it up to you. Would you like to explore where those pictures were taken?”
Cautionary hope flittered through her eyes. “Did you recognize the area?”
“Yes, I did,” he said. “We can go explore it tomorrow if you’d like. I own two snowmobiles.”
Excitement lit up her features, making her shine. He had to fight the urge to grab her and drag her upstairs like a damn Neanderthal. He glanced over at her companions, who had partaken of the tea, and decided it really wouldn’t be a good idea to act on his more basic desires.
“Thank you,” she replied. The chill in her words had thawed a bit. “I would like that.”
“Then it’s settled,” he said. He gestured to the staircase. “If you will follow me?”
She nodded. Kenny and Mark put down their cups to grab their gear, and moments later Jaeger led them upstairs. Jaeger wasn’t that concerned about her profession. After all, she was hunting him, and as long as he didn’t shift, there was no way she would ever suspect the creature she wanted to find was the very person who soon planned to share her bed.
****
“What was that all about?” Mark asked as soon as they all climbed back into the rented Jeep.
“What was what all about?” Gabrielle hedged. She knew exactly what he was asking but was trying hard not to analyze her reaction to Jaeger Larsen.
“Don’t play coy,” Kenny said from the backseat. “It wasn’t like we’re deaf and didn’t hear the exchange between you and Mr. Universe.”
The description momentarily distracted her. “Mr. Universe?”
“Yeah, he’s like six-foot-five, all rippling muscles, and buns of steel,” Kenny said. “I’m not gay, but even I can appreciate a fine piece of the male species when I come across one.”
Gabrielle chuckled. “I’m thinking you may need to reevaluate which side you bat for.”
Kenny flipped her off.
“Some serious hormones were bouncing off both of you,” Mark said.
The humor fled, leaving Gabrielle feeling a bit defensive. “So what, he’s a good-looking guy. Can’t I appreciate that for a change? Most of the time eye candy isn’t readily handy.”
“Is she talking about us?” Kenny asked Mark.
“Yeah, I think she just called us ugly,” Mark replied.
“Stop it,” Gabrielle said with a wave of her hand. “Kenny, directions to your photographer, please.”
As she followed Kenny’s instructions, her mind drifted back to Jaeger. She’d never felt such an immediate and complete attraction to anyone, and it disturbed her equilibrium. As much fun as it might be, she simply didn’t have the time or the energy to devote to an affair, and that was all she could give to him or to herself.
Fate, my ass.
They were meeting the man who took the photos in a small restaurant located off Main Street. The roads had been plowed, but Gabrielle was thankful for the chains on the tires. She parked the Jeep and all three of them hurried into the small restaurant. Once inside, they looked around and a man held up a hand, waving them over. He was clearly Inuit, with the broad forehead and flat nose of his ancestors.
“Hello,” he said, greeting them. “I’m Qannik.”
“Gabrielle,” she said. “This is Mark, and I believe you know Kenny.”
They shook hands and then sat down. Immediately, Kenny pulled out the series of photographs he had printed out. Some had the creature blown up, but the larger image only disintegrated more from the pixilation.
“First, I want to say thank you so much for contacting me,” Kenny told Qannik. “We’ve never seen anything like this creature before.”
“Neither have I,” Qannik said. “There are stories, though. Ones I never believed in until I saw this thing with my own eyes.”
Gabrielle nodded. “I’ve read the accounts, but those beasts are usually black or brown haired. Mistaken bear sightings. The m
ain difference between those stories and this creature, though, is the snout. This isn’t a bear.”
“No, it was not a bear,” Qannik said.
“Tell us what it looked like,” Mark urged.
Qannik took the photos that Kenny had and began pointing. “It was strong and it walked on two legs, although the legs were more disjointed. Like … like a dog, you know, how the joint kicks out.”
“Yeah, I see it here,” Kenny murmured, looking over Qannik’s shoulder. “If it was on four legs, it would look exactly like a wolf.”
“A wolf,” Gabrielle said softly as she stared at one of the photos. “A werewolf.”
Jaeger had brought up the folklore creature in the first place, and now they seemed to be looking at one. Was it possible he knew something and wasn’t sharing? If so, why would he keep such a secret? Gabrielle had been half skeptical about the photo yielding any significant clues, especially anything having to do with the Yeti, but all her instincts suddenly jumped alive. No, it wasn’t a Yeti, but maybe she had just found something else. Something that could erase the wounds of the past.
When they returned to the lodge, dusk was beginning to fall and the temperature was dropping. Another vehicle was parked in her spot. She stopped next to it and they all piled out of the Jeep.
“I thought we were the only visitors,” she said.
The door to the lodge opened and a man stepped out. He wasn’t very tall, but was very fit for his age. Hair cut so short it made him almost appear to be bald. He wore a ribbed turtleneck, jeans, and hiking boots, and he saluted her with his mug of tea.
“Hello, Gabs,” he said. “Funny meeting you here.”
“Dendy,” she muttered. “What the hell are you doing here, you bastard?”
Chapter Four
“How did you know I was here in Alaska?” she demanded.
“What?” He opened his arms. “No hug hello?”
“Why are you here?” She folded her arms across her chest. She wasn’t about to give an inch.
“Why are you here?” he countered.
She rolled her eyes and marched up the porch steps to push past him. Kenny and Mark were close behind her. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw Dendy had brought his assistant, Ernrider. The two men were as slimy as slugs and about as useful.
“Funny to see you here, Kid,” Ernrider said.
She flipped him off and headed for the stairs. Jaeger came from the kitchen and their gazes met. He narrowed his eyes and did a quick sweep from her and Dendy and back again.
“We’re checking out,” she informed him.
“Gabs!” Kenny exclaimed as he rushed up to her. “We can’t leave just yet. There’s the thing, and the other thing, and maybe that new thing.”
He held up a hand to shield his face and mouthed the word werewolf, like she didn’t know how to translate Kenny speech.
Jaeger came forward and took her elbow. “Come to my office.”
He was dragging her even before she realized what was happening. A second later, he pulled her into a spacious room and closed the door behind them. A large desk dominated one side of the room, with two leather chairs resting by another fireplace.
“Let me go,” she said, pulling her arm free.
“You aren’t leaving.”
She narrowed her eyes and stuck a hand on one hip. “Last time I looked I’m a paying guest and can terminate my reservation at any time.”
“Because of that man?” he asked, pointing at the closed door.
“That man is an asshole. I can’t believe you rented a room to him!”
“I haven’t.”
That took the wind out of her sails. Her mouth opened and then closed on an awkward huff.
“Oh, um,” she mumbled. “But I thought…”
“He was here inquiring about rooms. As I was gathering material together, you parked the Jeep, and he went out to greet you.”
“Greet is a strong verb. I would use the phrase ‘make my skin crawl.’”
He walked over to her, and with each step, butterflies in her belly woke up and started flittering. Everything else died away. Dendy, her job … thoughts about a possible werewolf existing. He touched her hair, rubbing the light-red strands between his fingers.
“Do you feel this between us?” he asked softly.
She opened her mouth to answer, but his lips settled on hers and all coherent thoughts fled. At first it was just a chaste kiss, a mere dusting of mouths. But then he leaned firmly into her, and his tongue grazed the seam, seeking entrance to the dark caverns of her mouth. She allowed him access, and the kiss changed from barely there to red hot in an instant.
He swept in, plundering swiftly, seeking her tongue to dip and twirl with his. He went deep and then pulled back, only to plunge back in, teasing her, drawing forth a moan of desire. She wanted more, so much more. She wanted to melt into him, give him everything, forget about the world around them.
And that scared the shit out of her.
She pulled back and blinked at him. Her lips tingled at the loss of his, and she licked them in hopes of easing the sting. He reached for her, but she evaded him, moving back.
“Gabrielle?”
“No,” she said, holding up a hand as if warding him away. She drew in a great gulp of air in hopes of steadying her nerves. “I can’t.”
“Can’t?” he asked, the word so thick it came out like a growl. He ignored her outstretched arm and took hold of her shoulders. She placed her hands on his chest and stared up at him. “You can’t deny this power between us.”
“No,” she whispered. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give into it.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m leaving in a few days. And I don’t really do affairs.”
He opened his mouth, as if to argue, but then abruptly closed it. A frown settled between his eyes, creasing the area between them.
“I’ve had one affair in my life,” she said. She took a deep breath. “And he betrayed me. Took my research. Made me look like a fool. I spent years trying to get over it, to forget that he made me believe and then made me question everything I had come to value.”
“Dendy,” he muttered.
She nodded. “I know this situation is nothing like that one, but I vowed to myself long ago to stay focused on my work. And that’s why I’m here. To work. So you see why I can’t?”
“No,” he said. “I can understand your reluctance but know this, Gabrielle. You are different. In my life I’ve never felt like this around anyone. Can you say the same?”
“We just met,” she replied, a bit breathless because that was what he did to her. “It’s hormonal. Attraction based on our aesthetics, enhanced by psychological factors of possessing traits and desires in which—”
He shut her up by kissing her again. This time she didn’t bother pushing him away, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into the kiss. Being with him like this, it was hard to remember why she should push him away. All her arguments fell flat. Would it be so bad to give into the attraction? What would it hurt to share his bed for the time they had together?
A knock sounded on the door and he raised his head. The sudden intrusion shocked her back to reality and she hastily pulled away from him, far enough this time so he couldn’t touch her again.
“No,” she said. Although she wanted to go right back into his arms, she forced herself to walk away. “I need to stay focused on my work.”
“You’re a stubborn woman, Gabrielle. You know it’s only a matter of time.”
She narrowed her eyes and raised her chin. “You have business to conduct, and so do I.”
With that, she turned and headed for the door. When she opened it, Dendy stood there, hand raised and ready to knock again.
“How did you know I was here?”
He did a one-shoulder shrug. “Let’s say a little bird might’ve told me. Did you miss me, Gabs?”
She pushed him out of her way and stro
de determinedly through the lodge and up the stairs. Once in her room, she let out her breath and sagged onto the bed. Resisting Jaeger while dealing with Dendy was too much for her to handle.
****
Jaeger studied Dendy as he watched her walk away. Now that he knew some of Gabrielle’s story, he wanted nothing to do with the man. Just knowing at some point he had touched his mate made Jaeger want to rip the smaller man’s arms off.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to conduct business after all,” he said.
Dendy’s eyebrows arched high on his forehead. “After one private moment with Gabs? I must admit, she’s good.”
Jaeger’s wolf prowled inside him, wanting free so he could rip apart the man who he now saw as his rival.
“You say one more derogatory thing about her and I’ll punch you so hard you’ll forget why you’re in Alaska,” he said softly. The words were a vow.
Dendy lost his smugness. “Yes, I see now we can’t rent rooms here. Then let me say good day.”
“You better hurry to the hotel in town,” Jaeger replied. “Night is falling. And it can get very dangerous out there.”
“You’re threatening me? Over her? She has no business being in this business, a two-bit hack who couldn’t even finish school, calling herself a cryptozoologist.”
Jaeger moved fast, so fast that Dendy hardly blinked from one moment to the next as he grabbed the front of his sweater and brought him up on his tip toes. The three men watching behind them all yelled, and the next instant, Dendy’s friend was there trying to pull him out of Jaeger’s grasp.
“I would leave now if I were you.” Jaeger let him go and both stumbled back.