by Tigris Eden
Nerina woke to an empty cave. A little dizzy, she sat up and looked around. Memories from the last two nights swirled in Technicolor through her head and she quickly took stalk of her body.
Completely healed.
She hadn’t been dreaming.
It was all real.
Victor.
Their time together.
The fact that he was a werewolf.
All real.
Where was he now? Had he gone out? Standing she walked to the mouth of the cave and saw that the storm had passed. Blinding brightness assaulted her eyes. She had to squint in order to focus. Everything was quiet, too quiet. She looked out into the vast whiteness of the forest and saw nothing but snow covered trees. It was as if the color of the forest had been turned into a blank canvas. There weren’t even tracks. Turning back into the cave, Nerina pulled her boots on, and there next to her shoes, scratched into the dirt was a message from Victor.
I didn’t want to wake you. See you in town sometime.
Victor.
See you in town sometime? Really?
Huffing, Nerina pulled what was left of her tattered jacket around her. She looked back at the bear pelt on the ground. It would make a great rug in her cabin. She wasn’t mad that he left without saying good-bye. That’s what one-night stands were. Two nights. Whatever. That’s what happened. Guess it didn’t matter the species of man. They were all the same. Distant.
The snow was soft which meant everywhere she stepped, she sank. Any other day she would think this was great. Not today. Today she was irritated because she had to walk back to her cabin in it. The better terminology would be trudging. She had to trudge through the snow in order to get to her cabin. Surprisingly, she wasn’t cold. She could feel the cold. It looked for ways to get past her skin in order to settle into her bones. But thanks to her new body, it also came with new defenses to nature’s bite.
Werewolf blood kicked ass!
Nerina stopped short and took stalk of her bodies strength. She felt the same, but not quite. Her breathing wasn’t labor, which normally it would be, especially at the altitude she lived in. She found when she walked at a clipped pace it wasn’t as rigorous as it would have been had she been back home in New York. By now, she’d be gasping for breath. Her chest didn’t feel heavy or clogged. Taking a deep breath she pulled in the crisp clean air. Nothing. Not one single ache. Picking up speed, she ran through the forest reaching the clearing that showed her cabin in record time.
Wow!
That was the only word she could think of. She wasn’t winded and her muscles weren’t on fire. Smoke piped out of the cabin’s chimney. Someone had started her fire. Victor maybe? Nerina opened the door to her cabin. Both her dogs sitting by the fire looked up as she walked in.
“You guys miss me?” She walked over to Demon and Daar, scratching them behind the ears. Both dogs stood walking a circle around her as if inspecting her. Daar whined while Demon sniffed her hand. They must know you smell like a wolf. Like Victor.
“Don’t worry guys. Everything is good. Learned a lot these last two days. I’m glad the two of you were okay without me. I’m going to shower.” She sat the bear pelt down on the floor in front of her couch and quickly walked around the cabin. Different smells assaulted her nostrils and each carried a note of an emotion or a memory. She could tell right away it wasn’t Victor who had made the fire, but Teak. He’d been inside her cabin, along with his grandfather. They’d been there not even two hours ago. How did she know that? Because the strength of their scent. It wasn’t strong, but it wasn’t fading either. There was just enough that lingered that let her know they’d come and gone. Fed the dogs even. That was nice of them.
Nerina made quick work of her shower. It wasn’t as hot as she usually liked it, but it would do. Breakfast tasted better than it usually did, and she hadn’t done anything different. Was everything prior to Victor’s blood muted? Her senses were alive before, but now they were turned up. As if her body had been given a volume nob turning the sound all the way up. Everything she was experiencing was more. More color, more smell, more flavor, her skin was tight and sensitive but strong.
There was a knock at her the door, stopping her from further pondering her newfound abilities. Her shower hadn’t done much to wash away the scent of Victor. Nerina could smell the sex and his distinct scent. It was a heady combination of musk and man. If he were a Werewolf that meant that whoever was at the door would have to be one too. The entire town was a town of wolf shifters. Realization dawning as she made her way to the door. From the scent she could tell it was Cassandra, Teaks mother.
“Cassandra,” Nerina greeted as she opened her door.
“Nerina,” the other woman pulled her into her arms for a huge hug. Shocking, as she’d never hugged her before.
“Hey.” Pulling back she eyed the other woman skeptically before allowing her to enter. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, yes, of course. Victor told us what happened. I’m just glad you’re okay. Dad and Teak were here earlier to make sure a fire was burning. I came up here to see how you were holding up.”
“Holding up?”
Cassandra looked around the cabin, nodding in the direction of the dogs.
“Yes, holding up. You know, since now you know about us and all.” The words were rushed.
“I’m good Cass. Nothing’s changed, and I won’t tell anyone.” Nerina laughed. “Not that I could. Who would I tell?”
“Point taken, as everyone in town is well, you know, wolves.”
“Yup, kind of figured that out.”
Cassandra walked further into the cabin. The silence between them awkward.
“So uh, Dad wants me to invite you over to dinner. You know, to explain some of our customs and of course, our concerns.”
Of course he did. Thorn was a nosy bastard. She knew why Cassandra was sent. Whether she volunteered to come up and check on the situation or not. Thorn wanted to make sure that Nerina wasn’t going to go running into the night like a screaming lunatic, and to ensure that his town was safe. It’s the same thing her father would have done. She couldn’t fault Thorn for wanting to protect his family. Nerina could smell the concern on Cassandra. It was so weird for her, knowing how to tell which emotion was tagged with what scent.
“Cassandra, everything is fine, I promise. Tell your father I’ll be there tonight for dinner. Should I bring anything?”
The other woman gave her a bright smile shaking her head.
“No, mom and I will prepare everything. Bring Demon and Daar, though. They love mom’s cooking.”
Nerina looked back at the dogs and smirked.
“I don’t let them eat table food. Demon gets an occasional special treat here and there, but for the most part it’s deer meat for them.”
Cassandra laughed.
“They aren’t dogs. Can’t you tell?”
No she couldn’t. But even before her new senses, she knew there was something off about Demon.
“They’re wolves?”
“Yup, Demon is the oldest, and Daar is his mate. She’s been like this for at least fifty years, and because she refuses to shift back, Demon has taken to staying in his wolf form as well.”
What?
“You mean—,”
“Yeah, they’re shifters like us.”
That meant that Demon and Daar knew everything about her. Even her bad shit. Shit she hadn’t shared with anyone. Turning, she eyed both of the wolves. She could smell it now. It was faint and she didn’t know why, but she could not only tell they were in fact wolves, but she also knew they were shifters.
“Ms. Raine left them here because they wanted to stay with you. Don’t be angry Nerina, they meant no harm.”
Nerina grunted. She wasn’t angry, but she wasn’t happy either.
“It is what it is. Serves me right, moving into a town over run by shifters.”
Cassandra laughed.
“So dinner will be at eight tonight, and just
a little advice. Be sure you wash my brother’s scent off of you, even though he has bedding rights until the spring, it would still be offensive.”
Offensive? To who, his family? What the heck was bedding rights?
“No problem, I totally understand.”
“I’m glad. He was worried that you would take the news bad. Anyway, tomato juice will get the scent off you.” She shared.
That was her next thought. Tomato juice. It was either that or kerosene.
“Why would I do that? He saved my life. If anything, I’m grateful.”
Cassandra smiled again, her bright eyes looking Nerina over from top to toe.
“His blood agrees with you. Not that I didn’t like you as you were before, but wolves for some reason are so particular about those they see as weak. Please don’t mistake my bluntness for rudeness. It’s just always been that way. I thought you were perfect before. But now it will be easier for the towns people to rest easy knowing you’re not a Hunter.”
“A Hunter?” There was that word again.
“Yeah, we can talk more about it over dinner. See you then, Nerina.” Cassandra swooped in for another hug and quickly left. Now that she knew about the town it seemed things would be a lot easier for her. Turning back to Demon and Daar, she walked passed them towards her small bedroom.
“Don’t even think of following me. You two are nothing but a couple of voyeurs. Thanks for that.” She grumped before closing the door on them and quickly gathering clothes for her dinner with Cassandra and her family. She had plenty of time, but it was already getting late. The sun would be down in no time at all. What the heck did someone wear to a dinner with shifters?
Victor paced back and forth, nursing his nursing his second glass of whiskey. There was no reason to be nervous. He and Nerina had both agreed things would go back to the way they were. Their two nights in the cave were officially void. She said she understood. But Victor knew women. No matter what they claimed to be or what they said, it was always something different. His father should have waited until after Sasha and her parents left to have a conversation with her. Thorn felt Nerina needed things explained to her clearly. This way, there was no way she would ever spill their secrets.
Sasha and her family were due to arrive at any minute, as was Nerina. Cassandra said she and Nerina had talked, and that she’d understood. So why was he so damn nervous? Because in your gut, it’s Neri you want. He wanted her in a way that was quickly becoming a necessity. Mating Sasha was his duty. Claiming Neri was his right. Denying what he wanted, and what his wolf and warrior craved was going to prove more than difficult. Menes hadn’t chimed in on the internal struggle Nerina presented. Had he stepped in and offer more than a desire, that would have prompted a different kind of conversation.
“Would you stop pacing,” his sister scolded. “Everything is going to be fine. Nerina assured me she understood the situation and she has no plans to disrupt that.
All that did was piss him off. She should be just as tormented as he was. Their last night in the cave she’d made it perfectly clear she wasn’t clingy. Which was not what he wanted either, but he at least wanted to know she was suffering as much as he was.
His father opened the front door and Sasha and her parents walked through. Victor turned just as his intended made her way over to him. She was wearing a long crème woolen trench coat cinched at her waist. Out of respect, he helped her out of her jacket. Sasha was dressed scantily, with a black halter dress that exposed her back and a slit that stopped at the base of her hips. This wasn’t unusual for her. She liked to dress provocative. It was her way of seducing. Her targets always men, tonight it seemed she wanted to command the entire room.
“You look lovely as always Sasha.”
She dipped her head demurely, looking up at him from beneath thick lashes.
“You honor me with your words Victor.”
The hell?
She was never this respectful or submissive. Must be a new tactic.
Victor’s mother appeared after the introductions and walked everyone into the great room. Both his brothers were there as was his nephew Teak. The only person that was missing was Nerina.
Thorn walked in seconds later with Demon and Daar on his tail. Both wolves took a seat by the fire, but otherwise said nothing. Victor tried to communicate, but Demon had no words for him.
“Why the silence old friend.”
Demon huffed, but otherwise said nothing.
Her smell was the first thing that alerted him to her presence. She’d wiped all memory of their time together from her skin. He had to admit, if only to himself, it stung. He wanted every male in the room to know he’d marked her and with pride. She no longer smelled of him. Her scent was stronger and more pronounced. It wasn’t as muted as it was before and the hint of his wolf’s blood was the only sign that there was something different about her.
Colin rose just as he did.
“I’ll go and fetch our guest.” Colin said, stepping away from the others in the room.
Sasha walked up to him. Her hands remaining by her side, but Victor could tell she wasn’t happy about the new development with Nerina.
“No one said she would be here,” Sasha hissed.
“That would be because there wasn’t a reason to before. Nerina is a part of the community, and as such needs to be acclimated in our ways if she is to remain her on a permanent basis.” Thorn answered.
“But she’s human. She could be a Hunter.” Eric commented. His words rushed.
Victor understood their hesitation. They still believed she could be the enemy. But she wasn’t and she’d proven that that the night at Eden’s when she’d helped him and his brother get away from her friends. He still had many questions for her, but that would have to come later. Hunters appeared human, which was a huge misconception. They were something more, something darker if they didn’t control their urges. The feud between Hunters and Werewolves stemmed back to a time that was forgotten among most of their kind.
“She’s not a Hunter. She is however, a bit more than human now.” Cassandra put in.
Eric turned in her direction and sneered. “You’ve given her your blood?”
“She would have died had Victor not saved her from that bear.”
“Wouldn’t that have been better?” Sasha questioned.
“No, someone would have come looking for eventually. Family. Friends. We don’t need that kind of trouble or inquiries. We’ve kept to ourselves this long, she’s not going to be a problem.” Thorn answered.
All eyes were on Victor. He picked his drink up from the nearby table and took a sip.
“I can assure you she’s not a Hunter. I know this as fact.”
“Really?” Sasha queried.
“Yes, really.” Nerina’s voice echoed through the great room as she stood next to his brother Colin. Her hand in the crook of his arm. She looked relaxed. Steady. She didn’t immediately look to Victor; instead she nodded to everyone else, saving him for last. Thorn walked over to her and greeted her with a quick kiss to her forehead. Something his father only did to those he considered family.
Interesting.
“Nerina dear. I’m so glad you could join us for dinner. It means something to me and to my family that you accepted my invitation.” Thorn held out his hand and Nerina tentatively accepted. She was staring at his father with a peculiar look on her face. “Would you like a drink before dinner? We usually have a small drink and then head to the table once Allesandra and Cassandra have put out the food.
“Can I have a beer?”
“Sure. You can have anything you want.”
“You feeling okay Thorn?”
“Of course, why do you ask?”
“You’re never this nice.” Nerina stated.
“You were an outsider before.”
“And now I’m not?”
“Now, you’re not.” Thorn assured her placing a hand on her shoulder.
&
nbsp; His father sent Teak off to get her beer.
Victor made a move to go and talk to her, when Sasha held out a hand to him.
“Introduce me to your little friend, Victor.” Sasha purred.
He hated pissing contests and that’s exactly what Sasha wanted to do. She wanted to piss on Nerina in any way she could.
So this is a classy dinner. Nerina was dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a loose sweater. She knew she should be freezing, but with the recent changes to her body, it seemed the cold didn’t bother her so much anymore. But now she felt ridiculously underdressed. Thorn was in slacks and a nice shirt as were his sons and grandson Teak. Allesandra and Cassandra were both in long sheath dresses that hugged all of their curves. Their long black hair hanging loose down their backs. The other guests, who she had no idea who they were also dressed in similar fashion. The one with hair like Goldie locks eyed her in a way that was meant to be threatening.
Ignore her. Back home she would have been just as abrasive. But because she was a guest in Thorn’s home and didn’t want to offend him, she decided to not say a word.
Don’t show your ass, show some class. Nerina accepted the beer Teak brought to her, and chucked him on the shoulder when he grinned at her.
“When’s dinner?” Thorn asked.
“Table is already set.” Cassandra answered.
Thorn motioned for everyone to follow him in to another room. Colin stood next to Nerina pulling out her chair and she politely thanked him. Their younger brother Theo sat on her other side. He was an exact replica of Thorn minus the greying sides. If there was one thing she learned from her father, it was impeccable table manners. She could pull of dinner without a glitch. The blonde chick was seated across from Victor at the other end of the table. He seemed truly uncomfortable. A few days ago, she would not have paid him any attention. Now it seemed she noticed everything about him.
As dinner was being served he would glance up and look over to where she sat. She could feel the heat of his eyes on her. It made her uncomfortable.
“Nerina, how are you settling in?” This was asked by Allesandra.