Tara POV
“Speak,” he growled.
I whimpered and cowered away from him. As if realizing his harshness was doing nothing for me, he released his hold and took a step back. His eyes changed back to the beautiful ocean blue.
“I’m sorry,” he offered me a soft smile, “let’s try this again. Hi, I am Victor and you are?”
His deep voice was like sweet honey to my ears. I could listen to it all day every day. It wasn’t until he cleared his throat did I realize that he was waiting for a reply.
“Oh...ummm...my name is Tara. Tara Landon.”
He extended his hand to me and I took it tentatively. His hands were soft, much softer than you would think a male of his size would have. He took his hand back and we stood staring at each other awkwardly for a moment.
“I will leave you to whatever you were doing. The guys won’t bother you again.”
He turned to leave and I panicked.
“I’m a werewolf!” I blurted out.
‘Nice going, Tara,’ I scolded myself.
“What I mean to say is...that...I just found out I’m a werewolf less than forty-eight hours ago. I lived with my mom and her abusive husband and last night he tried to kill me. My mom stopped him and then told me everything.
“I was planning on running away either way beforehand, but now seeing as I am a mythical creature and whatnot, I thought that now would be the perfect opportunity, given I need to find out where I belong,” I laughed nervously making a poor effort of explaining myself to this beautiful man, “so I found myself here. I did a crap job of explaining but hopefully, you get what I’m trying to say.”
He blinked at me like I was insane because truth be told I had just spewed a whole lot of nonsense. If someone had overheard our conversation they would have thought that I was insane.
He opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him.
“I know you don’t know me, but I am just trying to find a place to call home and seeing as you guys are my people, what better place to stay. My mom told me we belonged to a pack and I think this might be the one. I didn’t even know wolves resided here but it must be fate that I found myself here...right?”
Victor nodded his head slowly trying to catch everything I was throwing at him. “Follow me. We can talk more comfortably at my house. You can also rest there for the night and then tomorrow we will discuss what to do with you.”
I shouldn’t have accepted an invitation from a guy I knew nothing of but I found myself following closely behind him. While we made our way up the trail we remained silent but my mind was racing a million miles a minute.
I had these conflicting feelings inside of me that I didn’t understand. That stirring was gone for now, but I wanted to know what that was. I knew it had to be connected to me being a werewolf, I was sure it only happened when that wolf tried to attack.
We got to a small cabin in the woods. Victor walked ahead of me and opened the door for me. The cabin was nicer than what I had expected. The floor and walls were made of hardwood and it smelt fresh.
“You can just place your bag over there and then you can follow me into the kitchen. I need to ask you a few questions first.”
He pointed to a corner and I placed my duffel bag down. I followed behind him taking in the beautiful interior of the cabin. I was so mesmerized by my surroundings that I smacked right into his back. I had to catch myself before I tumbled to the floor.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
Victor waved me off and gestured for me to take a seat at one of the island chairs. I settled into my seat and waited for him to do the same.
“How did you go all your life without knowing you are a wolf? Did you not shift at 13?”
“By shift, I’m guessing you mean to turn into a werewolf?”
He nodded.
“No, I didn’t. I mean aside from getting boobs and my period there were no real major changes in my life,” I laughed nervously.
He hummed his acknowledgement. He stared at me with this gaze that had me heated all over my body. I had never had this kind of reaction to anyone before so it was overwhelming. I had also never met anyone that looked like him before in my life.
“So...” I drew out, “I know I may be asking for a lot right now but is it possible if I could use your shower.”
“I don’t have one.” He blinked.
“What do you mean you don’t have one? Your house doesn’t even have a bathtub?”
He shook his head, “I’m off the grid. If you want to wash you will need to go to the lake. That’s where the pack bathes.”
My eyes widened. What Stone Age place had I stepped into? Was that what all werewolves did? It did make sense seeing as they were half beats but still. Their human side could at least have indoor plumbing surely.
“I can take you there in the morning if you would like?”
If that was my only option then I would take it. I nodded, ‘okay.’
“I know you must be tired so I can take you to the room. I only have one bed so I will take the couch.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t impose. I can take your couch; you need to sleep in your own bed. It wouldn’t feel right if I made you uncomfortable for the night.”
He shook his head, “I will be fine Tara.”
The way he said my name had my toes curling. I now only ever wanted him to say my name. It rolled off of his tongue beautifully.
“No, please, I insist. If anything we can share if you want?”
Why had I suggested that? Now he was going to think I was some creeper trying to come onto him which I wasn’t.
“Okay,” he said easily. “Let’s go.”
He went to the small foyer area and picked up my duffel bag. I followed wordlessly behind him. My heart was hammering so hard in my chest I felt like I was about to faint. How in the world have I allowed myself into this position?
I had never kissed a boy and now I was going to bed with one.
“I can hear your heart,” he said over his shoulder as we climbed the stairs.
I stopped.
“Wolves have very strong hearing and I can hear your heart loud and clear. I’m not going to grope you in your sleep Tara. I have no interest in you whatsoever.”
That one hurt. I should have been glad he said he wouldn’t take advantage of me but him saying he had an interest in me kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
There was no way that I was going to date him or anything crazy like that, he was way out of my league anyway and I wasn’t planning on staying in Kevent for long. I was only passing through. But I wanted him to at least be somewhat attracted to me. Isn’t that every girl’s dream…to be desired?
Victor opened the bedroom door for me and I walked in. The room was not overly large but it was bigger than the room that I had back home. Home. That was such a foreign word for me now. New York was no longer home for me.
Home was a place you were meant to feel safe and loved. New York hadn’t been like that for a long time. Hopefully one day I would find a place I could call my home.
When I thought about it, I wasn't necessarily searching for a place, I was searching for a feeling. A feeling of safety and warmth.
“Time for bed,” Victor turned to me and gestured to the bed that we were about to share.