True Love Hunting

Chapter 4

I entered the cottage, and my attention was immediately drawn to the fireplace that was glowing and crackling with a newly lit fire. Despite the open door, I could feel its warmth already spreading through the room. Spencer had lit it for me before leaving, and that small gesture of kindness managed to bring tears to my eyes. It had been a long week of escaping my family, fleeing my past, traveling, and trying to get situated at the college in my new job. I was exhausted, and my emotions were raw from the difficult time. I turned and closed the door and latched it for the night. I moved through the cabin with my small suitcase in tow, stirring up the dust as I walked.

The cabin had a relatively thick layer of dust, and I spotted cobwebs in many corners. I made my way to the back bedroom that held a queen bed and a vanity. I deposited my suitcase at the end of the bed and looked at the bed. The blanket on top had that same layer of dust, but underneath I was relieved to find clean linens. I gathered up the bedspread and carried it outside to shake it out. At least I would have somewhere to sleep tonight. The rest of the cottage was going to take some time to get up to living standards, but I was grateful for my place to live. After shaking out the comforter and placing it back on the bed, I took a look around.

The cottage had stone walls and a wood-shingled roof that seemed to be in ok repair, small windows with wood frames and glass panes wavy with age. Next to the door was a window seat that was nestled close to the fire. Built-in bookshelves framed the seat that had obviously been made for reading. Looking over the packed shelves, I couldn't help but run my fingers over the beautiful hardbacks that were just waiting for me to dive into them.

I loved reading, and having the perfect place to do it, made it feel more like home. I decided that I would start my cleaning there so I could perhaps use it that evening. I turned to look at the rest of the cabin. It had a small kitchen on the opposite side of the room, a quaint dining set snuggled in the corner and a door down the hall that led to the small bathroom. It was snug and comfortable cottage that I could come to call home. Tomorrow I would have to take a look around outside after work.

I turned my attention to finding cleaning supplies in the small cabin and went about sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the main living area, starting in the reading alcove. I stopped at one point and put more logs on the fire to feed it. It was early spring here, and the nights were still cool and damp.

Once the alcove was clean and before it became too late, I stopped my work to peruse the hardbacks that lined the shelves. So many classics and others I had never even heard of. I decided to start with one of my favorites, Pride and Prejudice. I had had to leave my copy in my room when I fled. I missed stroking its worn pages that I had read through so many times. Pulling the book from the shelf, I set it on the window seat and went to change into my long nightgown that would be more comfortable. I pulled up a blanket and snuggled down in the alcove to dive into the book. I couldn't stop myself from leaning down to inhale the old book smell before turning to the first page.

A wolf's howl woke me with a start, and I sat up, my book falling from my chest to the floor with a thud. The fire was a pile of glowing embers, and all was dark. I had fallen asleep reading about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Another wolf's howl had me looking outside the cottage, shivering. The woods could be dangerous at night, but I had locked the door and knew I was safe inside, so long as I didn't run out of firewood. I pressed my face to the glass to look out into the beautiful night, seeing stars in the gaps in the trees. A movement in the tree line caught my eye. I could just make out the shadowed figure of the wolf who stood there, looking at the cottage. No, he wasn't looking at the cabin; he was looking directly at me. His yellow eyes stood out against his black fur.

I studied the wolf, not looking away from him. The intelligence I caught in his eyes intrigued me. Watching this magnificent creature should have inspired me with fear, but for some reason, I felt none. While looking into his eyes, my gift awakened once more, sending feelings of trust and comfort washing over me. It drove me to rise from my seat and walk to the door. I reached out with my hand and lifted the latch, pulling the door open towards me. There he stood, still at the tree line, watching my every move.

I took a step out of the doorway onto the damp forest floor with my bare feet as the breeze whipped my hair around my shoulders. I couldn't take my eyes off of the wolf, my gift driving me to be closer to this animal. I just watched him for a while before the popping of the coals in my fireplace inside drew my attention. When I turned back to look at the wolf, he was gone. One more glance around the forest, and I walked back into the cabin to feed the fire and slip into my bed for the night.

************

Spencer had driven home on his motorcycle with Lenny on his mind. Her family, her situation, her safety. It had been hard to leave her alone in the dark forest. No sooner had he arrived home, parked his bike, and deposited his leather jacket inside, than he decided to go for a run. His inner wolf needed to let loose for a few hours before he settled down for the night. He lived far out of town on his own for privacy and because of what he was. He walked into the trees behind his house, and slowly his body bent over and flowed down into the shape of a black wolf. He took off into the trees running, stretching his legs and thinking about the strange turn of events his day had taken.

Aimlessly running around in the forest was nice, but what he really wanted to do, was make sure that Lenny was safe. With a growl of irritation, he turned toward the Barrett's land. It wasn't usually the wisest place for him to spend his time, but if he skirted the property line and swung around, he would come upon the cottage without risking crossing paths with the Barretts. It took some time, but he made it around without any trouble. The brothers hadn't been out in the woods anyway lately from the smell of things. The freshest scent was a couple of days old. He found the cottage easily enough and stayed out of sight, watching. The fire he had lit for her glowed in the hearth, and through the windows, he would catch glimpses of her as she swept and cleaned. His sharp hearing could just pick out her light singing as she worked, songs of her people.

She disappeared into the bedroom in the back and emerged in a nightgown, settling down to read a book. He smiled inwardly when she leaned over the book to inhale its scent; at least that's what it looked like she was doing, stuffing her nose inside the book in her lap. He looked around the area, listening, smelling that things were safe, before turning back to watch her read, nestled in the window seat. He left to go run around in the surrounding forest, really checking things out, even marking the area to keep real wolves away. He knew it would probably irritate the Barretts, but he didn't care. Lenny's safety was more important.

He returned to see her reading in the window seat and laid down to get some sleep before he ran home for the night. It was midnight when he awoke, and the moon's pull was at its strongest, tearing a howl from his throat as he stood. He could see Lenny startle awake, dropping her book at his cry. Another howl built up inside him as the moon's light bathed the forest in a silvery glow. It tore from him as he stepped toward the light. His eyes met hers through the window. She had seen him, and he felt transfixed by her presence. He watched her stand and disappear for a moment. Had he scared her so badly? Then the door to her cottage opened, and she stepped out into the moonlight, their eyes locking.

What was she thinking?

"Lenny, are you crazy?" he thought. "Walking toward a wolf in the forest in the middle of the night!" It's not like she could know that it was him watching over her. It could have been a wild wolf.

Even though he felt irritated with her carelessness, he couldn't help but be awed at her bravery and enraptured with her beauty. Her white nightgown and beautiful brown hair were blowing about her in the night's cool breeze, giving her a mystical appearance. Her tiny white feet stood on the moss of the forest floor, leaving tracks in the night's dew. Her cheeks and lips were turning red from the spring cold. She didn't take her eyes off of him. It was like she knew, somehow. She looked right through him, into him. Did she know? Was she one of the gifted of her people that helped to hunt his kind down? Is that why she had walked outside, so unafraid?

The pop of the fire behind her drew herattention, allowing him to slip into the shadows unseen. She returned her gazeto the forest, looking for him, but he remained out of sight. She went backinto the cabin, locked the door, and made her way into the bedroom to sleep. Hedidn't know what to make of her. He checked the area once more for otherthreats before running home, skirting the Barrett property as much as possible.He pulled his form back into the shape of a man and went to get some restbefore the night was over and he had to return to work the following day. Hefell asleep dreaming of Lenny with her white flowing nightgown and cinnamonhair. Her reaction to him the next day would be very telling about whether ornot she actually knew the wolf was him.