by Mary Abshire
“Living here is different from the modern world out of the reserve. With the exception of the vampires, I’d say each species is self-sufficient. We know how to grow food, hunt, build, and fix things. I suppose vampires are self-sufficient since they feed off the game, but they don’t do much else. As for the winters, they can be pretty harsh. We have to be prepared to survive them. Thanks to technology, I can now use a generator for a while. I use my fireplace as much as I can, but it can stay freezing for weeks and we get several feet of snow sometimes.”
She couldn’t imagine being stuck inside for weeks because of snow and freezing temperatures. Without electricity, she wouldn’t be able to watch television, read on her phone, or use a computer. Paper books could fill the time. A fireplace could supply heat. But what about food?
“I probably wouldn’t make it here on my own. I don’t know how to do most of those things, especially growing food and hunting,” she said. “I hate to admit it, but I’m a city girl. I’m missing many survival skills.”
“The stations have markets to buy food. Every two weeks I go to one and sell some of the game I catch.”
“You know how to hunt?”
He glanced at her. “Yeah. I hunt deer, wolverines, turkeys, chickens, pigs, rabbits…small game mostly. Sometimes I’ll bring fish.”
“How far is one of the stations from your place?”
“A little over two hours to reach the closest one.”
“Do the stations have a lot of supplies?”
“They’re pretty small, so I doubt they hold much. Everyone who lives here knows that the stations are for emergencies only.”
The way of life on the reserve was simple, yet demanding. Could she learn how to tend to a garden? Probably. She was already good at building and putting things together, like furniture, so she could learn how to fix and build other things. Could she hunt? The idea of killing the smallest of creatures made her cringe. Yet, she enjoyed eating chicken and pork. Maybe she could learn to hunt. But if she had a decent man to help, to keep company with, and to keep her warm, she’d survive better. If she had a man like Marcel, she wouldn’t have any problems living on the reserve.
Grinning, she turned to her open window while her thoughts focused on the hot dragon driving the Jeep. Without a doubt, he could keep her warm and busy every day. She could imagine a fun and happy life with him. She could dream about all the things they could do to stay warm in the winter. Thinking about him, she wondered if he ever longed for a woman. Perhaps he might have lost interest after being alone for so long.
“Do you ever get lonely living here?” she asked, staring at the woods.
“When I moved back to help my parents, my focus was just that—to do whatever I could for them. And honestly, I’d had my share of…relationships when I was living with my brother. There was a time I dreamed about falling in love and starting a family, but it faded a long time ago.”
She picked up on two things from his choice of words. First, he’d said faded instead of died about his dream. Maybe he still had hope his dream would come true. Secondly, the way he spoke led her to believe he’d had bad experiences with women. She could relate to having similar dealings with men. None of the men she’d dated had been worthy of her love. All of them had expected her to give-give-give while they took-took-took. If any one of them had truly felt love for her, they would’ve treated her differently. Having grown frustrated with the lack of good fish in the sea, she stopped dating. She suspected the same had happened to Marcel.
“I get it,” she said, nodding. “If everyone you meet turns out to be a user, you get frustrated and move on with your life.”
He veered his gaze from the road to her. “Did you ever dream of meeting Mr. Right and starting a family?”
“Sure, I used to dream a lot.”
“So, who’s your Mr. Right? What’s he look like? What does he do?”
She grinned. “Well, he’s a dream.” Was he really curious to know about some man who didn’t exist? Why would he care?
“Humor me and make him real.” He smiled.
She lifted a shoulder. “Well…he would be handsome, strong, caring, kind, generous, willing to help with anything, willing to listen to me bitch—I mean—complain when I’ve had a bad day at work. He’d take the initiative to do things for me, like if I need an oil change he would take my car and get it done. Or if we’re out of toilet paper or toothpaste, he’d stop at the store and get them instead of waiting for me to do it. He’d be a doer, not a talker.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’d say things and do them instead of saying them and never acting on what he said. I dated a guy that said things like, ‘we should go to this cool festival that comes every year’. When the festival came up, he didn’t mention it. He’d talk about things, but he never acted on them.”
“I see. Is there anything else about Mr. Right I should know about?”
She patted one of her thighs while she considered other qualities. “Uh, he has a good sense of humor. He can flirt well, but only with me. He’s passionate… Oh, and he likes to travel.”
“That’s a big order to fill, but a good one. I think I might have a good sense of humor.”
She chuckled. “Yeah?”
“You haven’t noticed?”
“Well, I guess…I mean, the breathing fire comment was a good one.”
“Give me time and I’ll have you laughing more.”
His good attitude amused her. Another quality her Mr. Right needed to have.
“Well, since I may be stuck here for a little while, go for it. Make me laugh, lover boy,” she said.
His brows rose as he smiled. “Challenge accepted.”
Now that she’d answered his question about her dream man, she wanted to know about his idea of Mrs. Right. “If you met your dream woman, what qualities would she have?”
He smiled as he navigated the Jeep along the winding road. “She would be beautiful and have nice curves.”
“So, you don’t want a thin gal then, right?”
“I prefer a woman to have some meat on her bones. Good hips are important for child bearing.”
She lifted her hand in front of her mouth to hide her amusement.
“See, I made you laugh. Even if it was soft, it counts,” he said.
Grinning widely, she shook her head. Points to him for his effort. “Go on.”
“My dream woman would be funny and smart, loving and kind, honest, trustworthy, willing to have children…”
“Is that a requirement? And does she have to be a dragon?”
“No.” He shot his gaze to her. “She doesn’t have to be a dragon. I would love to pass my bloodline on, but Mrs. Right doesn’t have to be a dragon or carrier. To have children would be a blessing in itself, but if it’s not possible…so be it. If I met a human woman who would accept my love and give it in return, I would be happy. That’s what’s most important, sharing love and being happy.”
Her heart fluttered as she listened to him. She’d never heard a man say such words. Share love and be happy. What a great concept.
“I hope you meet her, Marcel. You’re a good guy in a world where so few exist. I hope you find her one day and get everything you want,” she said.
He ran a hand over his head while he steered with his other and said softly, “Maybe we both will.”
“Maybe.” Doubting her dream would ever come true, she sighed.
Truth be told, she’d given up hope she’d find the right man. Sure, she was young, but her job was keeping her busy. Why bother with the effort of dating and relationships when she can be happy on her own? Love would remain a dream.
For the longest time, she relaxed in the seat while gazing out the windows. Since the dashboard didn’t have a clock and she didn’t have her phone, she had no idea how long he’d been driving. The few times she’d glanced at the dashboard when he’d been speeding, she’d read fifty on the miles per hour gage. With all the curves
along the narrow road, he’d lowered the speed to thirty-five and forty, which meant it could take a while to reach her car.
“Did you bring a cell phone?” she asked after enough time had passed.
“I left it at the house. I don’t have much of a need for it, so I don’t carry it with me. Why do you ask?”
“I was curious to know the time. How much further do we have to go?”
“Not much. It would’ve been quicker to fly, but I don’t take flight during daylight hours.”
“Really? Is it because you don’t want to be seen?”
He nodded. “People here know what I am, but there are certain rules we have to obey to live here. For dragons, we’re restricted to flying at night. I prefer to get out during a storm. It’s more…invigorating.”
“What other rules are there?”
“Oh, the usual…no stealing, no violence, no killing…respect each other’s privacy.”
“Is there much crime on the reserve?”
“I don’t think so, but from what I’ve heard, there is some within the packs.”
“What about those wild wolves trying to attack me. Is that considered a crime?”
“Yes. The ‘do not kill’ rule applies to humans, too. If I find out who chased you, I have the right to seek justice against them.”
“And what does that mean exactly?” She had a good idea, but needed it confirmed.
He met her gaze. “I can kill them.”
She lifted her brows. His type of justice seemed a bit harsh, but they could’ve killed her.
“I don’t know how you’d find the werewolves responsible. I didn’t have time to ask for names, let alone look to count how many there were,” she said.
“I counted five.”
“You could see them well enough in the rain?”
“I can see the heat of living creatures. It’s like having x-ray vision.”
Did that mean he could see through her clothes? She crossed her arms over her chest. “Please tell me you can’t see through everything.”
He glanced at her and chuckled. “Oh, no. No. I wish.”
Feeling comfortable he couldn’t see her naked with his enhanced vision, she lowered her arms.
“I saw five werewolves chasing you,” he said. “Pack members wouldn’t attack. If I find out who the feral ones are, I will seek justice. You can count on it.”
The firmness of his tone assured her he would protect her and ensure the wolves wouldn’t attack anyone else. While she disliked the idea of violence, more—the idea of him getting hurt—someone needed to stop the wild wolves before they hurt someone.
“If you find them, be careful. I’d hate for you to get injured because of me,” she said.
Reaching a clearing from the woods, the vehicle slowed. Ahead Lynn spotted a car in the ditch on the left. Marcel steered the Jeep across the road since there weren’t any other vehicles coming toward him. Now that she could see her car at an awkward angle, facing down, worry began to balloon inside her.
She inhaled deeply. “I have this terrible feeling about my car.”
As Marcel drove slowly toward her car, she noticed the ditch still held plenty of water. How were they going to get it out of the ditch? And once they did, would it ever run again? Would she be able to make it to Connie’s wedding?
Marcel stopped the Jeep off the side of the road a few feet past her car. Before he cut the engine, he scanned the area as if he were looking for someone or something. As they sat in silence for a few seconds, he set one of his hands on top of hers.
“Stay here and let me look around first. I’ll let you know if and when it’s safe to get out.”
Although his touch and his words were comforting, it wasn’t enough to ease her concern. She needed to get her belongings and find a tow truck immediately. And if she couldn’t get her car working, she needed to make arrangements to get to Montreal soon. Her list of things to do was growing by the second.
She gave a jerky nod. “Alright. Be careful.”
He gave her a slight smile before he left her alone in the Jeep.
Clasping her hands together, she watched him walk toward her car. Her heart pumped quickly. She hoped nothing would attack him. Although she’d known him less than a day, she cared about him. How crazy was that? She didn’t want to think about him getting attacked. She wouldn’t know what to do, but she knew she’d have to find a way to help him. She knew he’d do the same for her in heartbeat.
She held her breath as he continued up the road. The coast looked clear, so far. He turned his head in different directions. Since he hadn’t stopped, she guessed he wasn’t finding anything out there to cause trouble. With his gifted hearing and vision, he probably would’ve found something by now. She released the breath she’d been holding.
Marcel was the nicest man she’d ever met. If she managed to get her car working and make it to the wedding on time because of his efforts, she would owe him a world of gratitude. Even now, she felt as if she needed to repay him somehow. She didn’t have much money in her bank to offer, and even if she did, she suspected he wouldn’t take any. But maybe he’d consider a friend, a good one who would look out for his best interest. Maybe she could help find his Mrs. Right. If he helped her out of the knee-deep trouble she was in, she’d make it her life’s mission to locate his dream woman.
Chapter Eight
Marcel strode away from the Jeep and walked along the side of the road, scanning the area for signs of movement, anything that might indicate someone or something was waiting in the nearby woods. His running shoes padded softly on the pavement, but would still be loud enough for any type of supernatural creature to hear. The trees brushed against each other in the wind while birds chirped. Several feet past Lynn’s car in the ditch, he stopped and crouched near the ground. The area near the woods looked undisturbed. He couldn’t see anything unnatural moving near the tree line. If someone was watching, he couldn’t sense it.
He twisted to look back at the Jeep. Lynn was watching him as she leaned out the opened passenger window. He couldn’t stop from grinning. What an incredible woman he’d saved. He couldn’t deny it—he was falling for her hard and fast. She had the qualities he looked for in his Mrs. Right. She was smart and funny. She had a body he wanted to explore frequently. And if she turned out to be a carrier…Life would be perfect. Listening to her had renewed his hope. Maybe he had a real shot at love this time.
He recalled what he’d learned about her. She’d endured some bad relationships that had left her frustrated and unhopeful. While he understood, it meant he’d have to work hard to win and keep her. He was more than up to challenge especially after she’d described the qualities she sought in her dream man. He’d have to prove he was everything she looked for, and more. The idea frightened him in a way because he didn’t want to lose her. He didn’t want to fall short and disappoint her. At the same time, he realized he had a real chance at love and happiness. He couldn’t let her get away.
Although they had their differences, he felt confident they could overcome them. Having been brought up in a city, she hadn’t been taught to be self-sufficient, whereas he’d been raised to rely on no one. Yet, she had the mindset to learn and would fight to survive. She could handle living on the reserve if she truly wanted to, and it seemed as if she might consider it. Perhaps if she had the right person to help her acclimate, she would want to stay on the reserve.
He ran a hand through his hair. He knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up. Love was the easy part. Changing one’s life for love…that was more difficult. He could do it, but then, not much would change for him. He wouldn’t be giving up much. Lynn would be the one making the most sacrifices. Could she love him enough to make them? Winning her love would not be easy, but one thing he knew for certain--even if she were only human, he would live a happy life loving her if she loved him in return.
Hearing and seeing nothing unusual, he rose. He didn’t think any werewolves would stick around to wait for he
r, but had to be certain. If anyone dared harm his potential Mrs. Right, he’d take no mercy in serving justice
Satisfied they were alone, he headed back to the Jeep. He beckoned her from the car with his arm. “Looks clear. You can come out now.”
She pushed the door open and it squealed. He’d meant to add oil to the hinges months ago, but had put it off. He’d have to remedy the situation soon. The Jeep had lasted over twenty-five years and he planned to keep it running for as long as he could.
Lynn smiled as she approached him. “No furry creatures in the woods?”
“I’m sure there are, but I didn’t see any that would attack.”
“I can live with that.”
She passed him and continued to the ditch where her car waited. Instead of following her, he went around to the other side. A couple feet of water hid the bumper and part of the front wheel. The car wouldn’t drive since the engine had been partially submerged. As he surveyed the downward angle of the vehicle, he doubted a regular tow truck could get it out. Someone with extra strength could pull her car to the road. Someone like him in his true form, or a vampire.
With one hand on the car, he looked at the back tire. It was flat and the rubber had been torn in places. Gaze lowered, he spotted something dark in the grass. The object was long and thin and it lay close to her vehicle. He stepped closer and bent to get a better view. The object was some kind of chain or strip with spikes.
“Oh my god!” she yelled. “What the hell happened? Who would do this?”
He quickly straightened. Peering through the windows, he found her kneeling in the front seat. He opened the passenger door. “What’s wrong?”
“Look at this mess! My clothes are everywhere. I didn’t leave my car like this. Who would’ve done this?”
Her purse and what looked like the contents were laying on the floorboard in the front. A small piece of luggage with wheels sat propped open in the backseat. Clothes lay scattered everywhere. She leaned over the passenger seat to begin gathering the items and purse from the floorboard.