During my whole coughing episode the truck slowed down and came to a stop. The water began forming rivulets on my skin and sliding down my face onto the seat.
“Can I take this off yet?” I begged, my eyes getting itchy from the exhausting hours of wearing the stupid thing. “I promise I don’t know where we are.”
“You always this antsy?”
“Please,” I ignored the question. There wasn’t anything I could say that wouldn’t come off as smart, and I wasn’t looking to get in any kind of confrontation while blindfolded.
His cold skin met my cheek causing my insides to crawl. Moments later, the veil was lifted from my eyes and I opened them for the first time since we left.
“Thank you,” I gratefully squealed while immediately rubbing my face until the itching subsided.
“Caged birds always want to fly free until one day they hit a window,” he remarked with a cackle. “Like you pretty little thing.”
I turned to stare at the odd old man. His grey wisps of hair were scattered upon a white crown that trailed down to a short stubble beard. His skin was yellow from too many years of smoking. That much was obvious. Even his voice betrayed a smoker’s rasp. But his smile completely appalled me, his first front row of teeth rotted black as night. Dear God how could anyone let their mouths get like that?
“Go on,” he said, gesturing towards the door. “The sun will be up soon little bird,” he coaxed, using the name my father so often called me.
I wrinkled my nose at the torrential rain and cast him a wide eyed look. “You want me to get out in that?” I pointed at the window, water slowly trickling through the crack I had made.
“You scared?” He chuckled inhaling another large breath of toxic fumes from the cigarette in his hand. “You won’t be alone long I promise, and this is as far as I’m bound to take you,” he slurred, a hint of country permeating his speech.
Grudgingly I did as I was told and flung the door open. All I saw were endless trees in the limited provided light. I shivered and stepped outside, grabbing the bag at my feet before closing the door.
“Hey bird.”
Whipping around to see what he wanted, I spied the butt of a flashlight dangling out the window.
“Take this for now.”
I gratefully accepted and wedged it out of the small space. “Thank you,” I smiled back at him.
He nodded before shifting the truck into drive. “Watch out for windows little bird,” he guffawed before driving off into the desolate darkness of the forest.
“My name’s Juliette,” I shouted to the distance. The only thing I heard in return was the rain drowning out my forsaken echo.
I found the button to switch on the flashlight, the fear of solitude building to levels of desperation. Being in an unknown place alone during the black of early morning was unnerving. But perhaps the worst part of it was absolute isolation from everything I had ever known. The rain didn’t matter, nor the fact that I was chilled to the bone. But my father’s complete detached attitude towards the situation really ached.
So there I stood with great fear in my heart. My boots sloshed in the mud from each forward step I took, heading somewhere and nowhere at the same time. The air had turned chilly, my breath forming steam in the beam of light shining forward.
Thoughts of beasts roaming the woods in hopes of a tasty meal only prodded me forward.
Twigs snapped in the distance alerting my attention to the subtle disturbance. My hand shook, I held my breath, and I aimed the flashlight in the direction of the sound. My ears erratically pounded with blood.
“Who’s there?” I squeaked, doe-eyed and jittery.
Silence.
I took the stance that everyone does when they feel threatened, widening my step and slightly bending at the knees. I raised my flashlight to eye level and scanned the area. Nothing but trees revealed themselves to me.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, a great cry pierced the woodland. This resulted in me clumsily dropping the flashlight after stepping back onto a jutting rock.
I crumpled to my knees. The pain shooting from my left ankle masked my face as it traveled up the length of my leg. I gritted my teeth ignoring the welling tears in my eyes. All I could do was rock back and forth sitting on the muddy terrain. I waited. The pain lessened to a dull ache that managed to pulse with each beat of my heart.
“Damn it,” I growled through gritted teeth.
Fumbling around for the flashlight that now lay a few feet off, I stared in horror as it flickered and died out. The darkness surrounded me in totality.
I felt the air grow heavy and thick, my eyes searching to see the outline of something. Not even the stars soft light penetrated through the thick wood canopy. But none of these things graced my desperate sight. Instead my vision settled on something a few yards off, silver and dimly glowing. I squinted in hopes that my depth would increase, but all I got in return was a headache.
I tried to get up but my ankle refused to support my weight. As I did this my eyes never left the silver spark in the distance until it moved and disappeared.
I froze, searching frantically to find it again, but despite my efforts it was gone.
The air stirred softly around me, arousing my senses to its sweet scent. It had an almost calming quality, slowing my breathing to a deep and steady pace. It smelled familiar but the origin eluded me.
Then almost out of nowhere four different silver lights just feet apart blinked in the distance. They grew closer with each passing second. And with them the sweetness grew increasingly stronger until my head lost all concentration.
Rustling accompanied the light’s movement until soft growls washed over me.
“There she is,” a masculine voice peaked audibly above all else.
I felt almost high and carefree of everything. It was a rather freeing sensation as I looked auspiciously at the newcomers. Nothing mattered to me right now. Not even the fact that four males were standing before me, their eyes permeating the darkness like lanterns.
“Welcome Juliette,” the same male greeted with deep honey tones. His voice was hollow and almost reverberated from his sexy bare chest. “We’ve been expecting you.”
I couldn’t say anything as I took in their beautiful forms. Such creatures didn’t exist near me so pleasing to the eye. Their bodies were bulky, their chests carved as if from marble. Water adorned their sun tanned skin, dripping down each curve of muscle to long dark jeans, which were their only article of clothing.
Circling around me, the leader of the group bent down, his long blonde ponytail brushing my cheek. “May I?” he asked, offering assistance.
“S-sure,” I stammered from his boldness. The scent of him wafted over me as my head soared into the clouds of blissful trust. My guard lowered and I tingled at the touch of his skin. Never had I felt so safe and insignificantly frail in one moment.
He scooped me up in his arms like a feather, taking care not to aggravate my ankle. His eyes wandered downward to the white soaked button-up shirt which now revealed my black push up bra.
A tinge of embarrassment engulfed me from the touch of his probing gaze. Had I known it was going to rain, I would’ve worn something different. I tried not to notice the way he looked at me, his heart beat thudding rapidly against my side.
“Let’s get you somewhere safe,” he said, ripping his sight away from me. “The sun’s already gracing the horizon.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The fever took me during the morning’s subtle chill. Dreams lapsed senselessly into one another as I drifted in and out of sleep. There were times I didn’t know where I was at all but the cool hands that changed the moist cloth over my head felt comforting.
Voices. I could hear voices in the background whispering back and forth, but as always I could never discern their origin. Sometimes I caught a word like “fever” and “chosen,” yet nothing more. I was too deep in the mire of my feverish hallucinations to care at that point.
&
nbsp; Hours went by. On occasion I would open my eyes to see the drapes pulled over a large paneled window, making the time of day indiscernible When I was conscious enough to notice my surroundings, I would sit and stare at the taxidermy that lined the cabin’s walls. It felt so familiar to me with its rustic appeal. Sometimes I wished I were back at home with Father. His look of disapproval hovering over me at early hours of the morning.
Eventually the chills subsided and I fully opened my eyes for the first time. Sleep coated my eyes in a rather unattractive manner. After rubbing them I sat up in the large plush bed.
“You’re awake.”
I veered my gaze towards the sound. It was then I saw him standing there, the long blonde ponytail hanging below his shoulders.
“How long have I been out?” I inquired, attempting to stand but thinking better of it. My body was weak and my head spun from the sudden movement.
“Just a few days.” He turned around to face me. The sun shining behind him cast a glowing aura around his striking physique. “We were worried that you wouldn’t come out of it for a while there. You gave us quite a stir.”
His face replicated that of genuine concern. Yet of all the odd things, his ebony eyes felt quite misplaced against his lighter tanned skin and platinum blonde locks.
He walked with a commanding air over to the chair strategically placed beside the bed. The way he carried himself suggested a strong egotistical character. His shoulders were broad and shapely.
He scrutinized me deeply with such fire in his eyes.
I held my breath and hugged the nearby pillow, almost ashamed of the thin garment that exposed the curve of my breasts. “Can I help you?” I finally found my voice, almost entranced by his beautiful orbs. But the awkwardness of his stare pierced into my soul making butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“Forgive me,” he smiled captivatingly, “but I can’t get over how simply fascinating your eyes are.” He leaned forward to get a closer look.
Flashing a quizzical expression I questioned him on his astute observation. “What’s so odd about them?” My voice trilled upward in tone a little at the end of my question.
“Nothing really, they’re just purple.”
“Oh,” I dismissed the abnormality with a shrug. “They do that sometimes. My eyes are hazel.”
He shook his head disagreeing with me. “They’re literally purple. Nothin’ hazel about them.”
No doubt he was over exaggerating.
“So,” he said, clearing his throat. “Seeing as I know you and you have no clue as to who I am, I should properly introduce myself.”
I leaned in a little to show my interest, hugging the pillow further to hide my exposed breasts. It felt awkward enough that he was in the room with me in barely anything but my negligee.
“I’m Adam. You’ll be seeing a lot of me, especially at the Mating Ceremony.”
“Mating ceremony?” I swallowed hard.
“Your father didn’t tell you?”
“He told me vague details about a marriage but didn’t say to whom.”
If I didn’t know any better, his eyes almost seemed to twinkle at my words. The air grew sweet smelling like it had the other night, and a knock interrupted our conversation.
“What are you doing?” a very aggravated Logan made himself known.
Adam stood up abruptly. “Checking on Jewel’s recovery. She seems to be good as new,” he patted my head, his full lips moist from running his tongue softly over them. “What’s it to you?”
“Jesus Christ Adam,” Logan bellowed, his nose wrinkling with disapproval. “You know the rules God dammit! Get out.”
I stared bewildered from one to the other, the tension in the sweet honey air clearly rising to maximum levels.
“He wasn’t doing anything,” I interjected as their expressions turned from annoyed to hostile. Whatever was happening I wanted no part of.
Logan glared at me in turn. “Speak not of things you know nothing about.”
I could hear the reverberations in his throat, his tongue spewing malice, and his eyes molten. All I could do was keep silent.
“Watch how you speak to her,” Adam defended me, then turned and cast me an apologetic look. “You’re stupid if you don’t.”
“Father said no communication until the ceremony! It’s written in the agreement!” His neck was pulsing. “You can get cast out of line for Alpha if I tell the elders what you’re up to.”
Adam laughed haughtily. “Not if I don’t expose you for the piece of shit you really are. I know what you did…with Sarah. Don’t play the innocent card. It doesn’t suit you,” he spat.
“Then we’ve both reached an impasse.”
Arrogance mingled heavily in the air.
“Agh,” Adam strutted heavily towards the doorway. “Not worth my time.” Then he disappeared, leaving Logan alone in the opening.
“See you in a few days Jewels,” he sneered, grabbing hold of the door frame as men often do. “I’m sure we’ll be getting to know each other quite well.”
“Is that a promise?” I muttered while watching him leave. His physique remained steadfast in my mind causing my heart beat to quicken. That smell…God it made me feel drugged.
I ran to the nearby mirror with the old fashioned basin and wash towel. I snatched the wooden brush up and unknotted my long red locks.
Still disappointed with my reflection I threw on the fresh dress laid out for me and admired myself in the mirror. My face was too pale, freckles too prominent, and my breasts nearly bursting out of the deep neck line.
“Ugh.”
I skipped out of the room in my pale blue dress. The skirt had delicate white lace that barely hit my knees.
I teetered down the stairs making a cacophony of noises despite my best efforts to remain silent. To the left was the kitchen. I smelled bacon almost immediately and was reminded of my insatiable hunger. When was the last time I ate?
My stomach growled. I couldn’t resist. Following the smell I wandered to the table in the kitchen and sat down. To the left of the old iron stove was a fridge with a plump heavy set female digging deep for something.
“Hello,” I asked hoping that my presence wouldn’t startle her.
“Oh my dear,” she jumped almost hitting her bun on the fridge door. “For land sakes child you nearly gave me a heart attack.” She gripped her heart and stood upright with a couple of eggs sitting in her free hand. “Almost made me drop my eggs.”
I jumped up to assist her but she held up a hand to refuse assistance.
“No, have a seat. I was just fixing breakfast. I hope you like bacon.”
She didn’t even have to ask. “I’m so sorry,” I insisted, hoping that she’d dismiss my rudeness. “And yes thank you. I like pretty much anything.”
It was true. I wasn’t a picky girl. Father taught me to eat whatever was on my plate with grace and poise.
“Good,” she hobbled over to the stove and set the eggs down. After retying her apron she turned to me. “I’m Mrs. Bluet,” she introduced herself hastily. “But please call me Beth. I’m not much for formalities,” she winked and resumed her cooking.
I waited for a few minutes in silence as the short stout little woman went to town with her cooking. Finally I could stand it no longer.
“I don’t suppose you could explain to me what’s going on?”
She turned to me with an astute look on her face. “Was waitin for you to ask darlin’. But first, let’s get some food in that stomach o’ yours. Seems to me you haven’t eaten in a couple days,” she deduced while trotting brightly over to the sink for a quick wash.
It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but it would have to do.
After being served, I ate in ungainly silence. When I asked her if she was going to eat as well, she merely replied “I’m old, child. That type of food is not to my liking.”
I took it as rather odd and thought of it no further. Everything about the little woman was strange, but
possibly the thing that struck me the most was the visible scar on the side of her neck.
She caught me staring shortly after I downed the last bite of my buttermilk pancake.
“You’ll have one soon you know,” she called me out, her fingertips flying to softly graze the mark. “Of course it won’t look the same as mine. Each year marks its own daughter to carry the weight of our tribe on her shoulders.”
I dug my elbows into the table surface. “What do you mean?”
“Have they not told you anything?” Her arms folded across a plump belly lavished in red polka dots.
I wished to God they had. “No,” I began to twiddle my thumbs.
She shook her head. “I suppose they can get away with almost anything these days. Come with me, we have a lot of preparation so you will be ready for tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes,” she led me back up the stairs and towards the elegant large bathroom just a few doors down.
Directing me towards the bathtub she turned on the water. As it began to pool in contrast to the cool air, warm steam started to form.
“This, my dear,” she tested it gingerly with her hand. They were worn down with years and hard labor. “Is the first thing we need to get done.”
After stripping down the clothes I had just put on, I stepped into the water, sinking into its warm embrace. As I did so, Beth scampered over to the drawer beneath the large sink and pulled out a gold container the size of a shoe box.
“This is what we need,” her eyebrows danced with anticipation. Pulling out a variety of colorful flasks and bottles, she began to reveal each’s purpose. “Oils,” her fingers delicately placed each beside the tub. “The tears of our ancestors to wash away your old life,” she added while pulling out a particularly odd shaped bottle. It had a silver crest on it resembling a bear ornately embossed on the cap.
I stared at it in wonder. But as she opened it and poured a single drop into my bath water, I watched the black drip dissipate disgustedly. What the hell was she subjecting me to?
“Calm down,” her amused tone rang with giggles. “You’re not the first I’ve done this with, and you won’t be my last.”
Simply Bears: A Ten Book Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Collection Page 48