Bitten by the Alpha Wolf Read online

  The man’s grizzled face softened to one of understanding, and he nodded. “Maybe I’ve been a bit rash,” he said. “But the stories…”

  Kyla knew she’d won. This man just needed a firm hand and a bit of her gift for logic. “Even if they’re true,” she said, “have you noticed any real trouble lately, other than a return of these stories? Has anything actually happened?”

  “Well, no.”

  “Exactly. Go on your way, sir. If a werewolf starts causing trouble, then we’ll talk. Stop letting fear and prejudice rule you. We’ve had enough of that in our lives, haven’t we?”

  “I guess you’re right.” The man shuffled off down the driveway, away from Landon’s house.

  Kyla took a deep breath. Had that just happened? Had she gone up against a scary man with a knife?

  Yes, she had. To protect what was hers. And she wasn’t a werewolf, this wasn’t her land. But Landon, he was hers. She just hadn’t known that, until now.

  Slowly, probably to avoid spooking her, Landon came around the side of the house. “You were amazing,” he whispered.

  “I can’t believe it. I just, stood up to him and talked.”

  “I think that’s what he needed. No more of the stories and the fear. Maybe now he’ll stop trying to incite the neighbors into torching my home.”

  “They were going to do that?”

  He nodded sadly. “There were rumors and some general plans in the making. Just talk at the bars and such. But nothing had happened yet. I think he’ll talk to the others. I have some friends who listen in for that kind of news, so I’ll find out soon.”

  She exhaled. “Landon?”

  “Yes?”

  “I need you. This is the scariest thing I’ve done in a long time, and it isn’t because you’re a werewolf. It’s because I have a hard time giving myself away and feeling vulnerable. But I need you, and I want to be with you, and I think I’m falling in love.”

  He rushed over and pulled her to him, slipping the gun from her grasp. She shook against him, terrified.

  “Kyla, I love you, too,” he whispered.

  She wept into his shirt, relief and love bubbling over so that she couldn’t hold them in any longer.

  Sniffling, she leaned back a little. “So I'm dating a werewolf?"

  “So we're dating?" he said, grinning.

  “That depends. What does it look like when you turn into a wolf?"

  Landon shook his head. “It’s a painful process, both turning and coming back from it. The whole thing is exhausting and I try to stay away from doing so unless my family needs me."

  “This is all so strange,” Kyla murmured.

  Landon took her by the hand. "I do realize that, but from the moment we met, I had the feeling that I could share all of this with you, Kyla."

  She surprised herself by nuzzling a bit deeper into his arms. "So how do we make this work? I mean, the entire city is after the werewolves. What happens next?"

  "Kyla, I don't want you to be worried about that. My family and I have that under control, and what you did here tonight helps immensely. I don't want everyone to think that the werewolves are out to kill anyone. We just want to protect what’s ours. It's that simple. It is not that easy being judged from the outside."

  She knew all too well what that felt like. Being a woman of color and plus-sized sometimes subjected her to the judgment of others. But the opinions of others didn’t matter to Kyla. It used to, and those feelings had been just beneath the surface after her ex-fiancé cheated on her. She’d experienced what it felt like to have her self-confidence shattered. Thinking of things in that manner, she wanted to make sure it never happened again to Landon or his family.

  "Look, we both have been there. People judging and making comments based on their own ignorance. I get it. It’s not a good place to be. But let's make a pact from here on out. No secrets. If we’re going to make this work, no secrets."

  Landon pulled her closer to him. "I can agree with that. No secrets. Besides, it’ll be nice to have someone that I can depend on to share my life with besides family. It gets pretty solitary out here."

  "I'm here for you, Landon. And if you'll let me, I’ll be that person for you. As long as we can share with each other."

  Landon nodded. "If you will have me in your life Kyla, I promise to try to make you happy every day."

  It was like she was seeing a different side of him. He was open with her, and there was a space between them full of light and honesty. She figured that it must have been a load off to share his secret.

  "I would love that."

  “It’s late,” he said, “but I’d love to walk with you, and answer any questions you have. Nothing’s off-limits to you.”

  Landon never took his hand from hers as they walked along the banks of the river. They shared stories of their childhoods, their innermost thoughts, their dreams. They spoke of promises for the future as they skipped rocks in the river. Once Landon let down his wall of defense and shared his thoughts and his life experiences with her, it felt like they had known one another their entire lives. So many parallels and similarities between the two of them.

  The moonlight shone on the water's surface. The night was perfect. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled, but Kyla didn’t feel the fear she once felt when she heard that sound.

  "Remember when we first met at the coffee shop and you told me that going to the shop that day, you were trying something new?"

  "I do," he replied.

  "It's amazing how doing that can change your perspective on life."

  "Kyla, I hope every day with you is like trying something new."

  And there, in the bayou where she was once afraid, Kyla found comfort. She found that being somewhere new with someone different could be just the thing in her life that she needed.

  Kyla was used to getting what she wanted. And this time, with Landon, had been no different.

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  Bitten by Two Vampires

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  “Ah, now I understand,” said Jenny. “Gosh, how was I so stupid not to get that?”

  She checked in the mirror at the line of cars behind her all heading to the coast. From her peripheral vision, she caught a glimpse of the dark brown hair of the person beside her.

  “I thought it was strange,” she continued. “I couldn't quite work out why you wanted to go to a traditional seaside resort. Seemed like the most boring place in the world. I mean, I couldn't imagine you'd be wanting to sit in a deck chair all day looking at the sea. You don't even like fish and chips.”

  Jenny paused as they came to a roundabout and like all the other traffic, they took the road leading to the coast.

  “Do you know,” Jenny asked her companion, “I even thought you might have picked Whitby because of me. Because I was talking about the holidays at the seaside when I was a child. I almost invited your grandparents.”

  Jenny unwrapped a hard candy and popped it in her mouth.

  “So it’s right then, is it? That's the reason you wanted to have a holiday here, is it? Bloody Dracula.”

  There was no answer and Jenny turned to look at daughter. But Ana had her earbuds in and was absorbed in her phone.

  Jenny tapped her knee. “Ana,” she said, “I'm talking to you.”

  Ana looked up and scowled. She took her earbuds out.
r />   “What do you want?”

  “Dracula,” said Jenny. “That's why you wanted to come to Whitby, isn't it? All those Dracula wannabes?”

  Ana looked at the line of traffic ahead. “Maybe,” she said.

  Jenny laughed. “I knew it. I can't believe we’re having a goth holiday.”

  “It's not goth,” said Ana.

  “Well, emo, or whatever. It looks goth to me.”

  “Mum,” said Ana, the frustration rising in her voice, “I've told you, its steampunk.”

  “Steampunk,” said Jenny. “What on Earth is that?”

  But Ana was no longer listening.

  *

  Ana went back to her earbuds and Jenny turned up the radio. The local station was playing a 90s hour and she sang along as the wound their way closer to the coast. At one point they played The Cure and she thought about mentioning it to Ana but changed her mind. Maybe The Cure wasn’t steampunk, but it was definitely dark and dramatic—two things that Ana seemed very interested in.

  Dracula, Jenny thought. It figured.

  The traffic thinned and they began to make good time. They sped over the moors, purple in the August sunlight. Sheep roamed in fluffy flocks and Jenny realized she felt happy with the window open and the music playing. It was an unusual sensation and it almost made her nostalgic for a time when happiness came easily. Perhaps the holiday wouldn't be all that bad.

  No, she thought, it was no good getting sentimental or getting her hopes up. She had learned that well enough.

  Still, when they crested the brow of the hill and the sea came into view, a gray-blue line against the sky, Jenny couldn't help but smile.

  “Hurray,” she said, “the sea ! Ana, look.”

  But Ana ignored her and continued jabbing out a message to someone else in another place entirely.

  As they came into the town, Jenny pulled over and said, “Okay sweetheart, can you give me the map of the bed and breakfast?”

  “It's on my phone,” said Ana.

  Jenny held out her hand, but Ana kept the phone.

  “I'll direct you,” said Ana.

  “It would be easier if I have a look. It's not easy to drive around here. The streets are really narrow.”

  “If you just drive, I'll tell you which way to go.”

  Jenny sighed. “All right, have it your way.”

  She drove on through the narrow winding streets of the town. The houses were all painted white and seagulls stationed themselves on chimney tops. Jenny had forgotten how pretty it was.

  “You need to be over there,” said Ana, pointing across her to the right.

  “That's not really possible, honey,” said Jenny.

  “You need to be over there,” repeated Ana.

  “If you took your nose out of your phone, you'd see there was a river in the way.”

  They drove back to a bridge and Jenny looked over the River Esk with the fishing boats tied to the dock and the blue and white cottages. Tourists sat on benches and strolled, eating ice cream.

  “Isn't it lovely?” Jenny said.

  “Turn left,” said Ana.

  They turned left and went up the hill, winding between the old stone houses, avoiding the tourists who climbed slowly with their backpacks and red sunburned shoulders.

  “Take a right here,” said Ana.

  “It's a one-way street.”

  “Well, it's to the right of us, so you need to turn right.”

  “Well, I can't because it's a one-way street.”

  “Mum, it's just there. You can see it.”

  “It doesn't matter, I can't turn into that street.”

  “Don't be stupid, it's ten yards away.”

  “Hey,” said Jenny. “That's enough.”

  She drove on to the top of hill and turned right along a main street and then took the first right back down again.

  “Is this the street?” Jenny asked.

  “Next one,” muttered Ana.

  They found the guest house at the end of the street. It was a grand old terraced building made from stone, warmly lit by the afternoon sunlight.

  “Oh,” said Jenny, “good choice, honey. Looks very traditional. Hope we get an old-fashioned guest house owner with her hair in curlers and a cigarette in her mouth.”

  She parked at the end of the street and stepped out of the car and stood stretching, breathing in the fresh air.

  “Feels nice,” she said. “The sea air.”

  Ana stayed in the car and Jenny leaned in through the window and said, “Did you print out the booking?”

  “On my phone,” said Ana.

  “Well, come on then,” said Jenny.

  They walked up the path through a neatly tended rose garden to the front door, and Jenny pressed the doorbell. She moved down her sunglasses to survey the street and as she turned back to the door she looked at the large bay window next to her. Involuntarily she jumped backwards, feeling Ana jump back with her.

  Staring back at her, not three feet away, was a white face, peering between the red velvet curtains. It had extravagant black eyebrows that curved over large eyes on either side of a long, sharp nose. The chin was similarly sharp and upturned. The face was framed by lank, black hair that was slicked into a parting that Jenny would say was either very fashionable, or the very opposite.

  The curtain was opened and two hands pulled up the window. The man stuck his head out. He was wearing a black roll-neck sweater that exaggerated the whiteness of his face and hands, with their long, bony fingers. Jenny thought he looked like a mime artist, but his features were pleasing, despite his strange appearance.

  “Good afternoon,” the man said with a heavy European accent. He laughed. “My apologies, I think I may have frightened you a little.”

  He grinned, taking his time to look at them, first at Jenny and then at Ana. Jenny felt Ana shift a little, uneasily.

  “I trust you had a pleasant journey,” he said.

  “Very good,” said Jenny. “Traffic wasn't too bad at all.”

  “Excellent. Excuse me.” He took out a cigarette and lit it, exhaling smoke into the street. “Ahhh,” he said, with obvious satisfaction. “Excellent, excellent. The traffic in England can be very tiresome, can it not?”

  “Sometimes,” said Jenny, “but we didn't have too far to come.”

  “You are English?” the man asked, pointing the cigarette at both of them. “Hmm,” he said, not waiting for their answer. “I see.” He considered them and smiled as if to say, yes, it was acceptable to be English. “Excuse me,” he said, “I am Razvan.”

  He said this as if they should have been impressed and for a moment Jenny wondered whether she had seen him before. He seemed familiar, as if she had seen him on a reality television show about odd people.

  Razvan held out his hand to her and she shook it. His fingers were incredibly long. They wrapped around her hand completely and she could feel the bones not very far beneath the translucent skin.

  Then he held his hand out for Ana too, which Jenny was unsure about. Ana took it and shook it limply, as if she were being made to touch a dead fish. His hands were so white they even put Ana's to shame, making her look tawny by comparison. Ana was probably impressed by this, she reflected. Their first wannabe Dracula sighting.

  Razvan inhaled from his cigarette again and held it in front of him, peering down the length of his nose at it, as if it were an interesting specimen.

  “You have brought the weather,” he observed raising his eyes to the sun, suspiciously, like a man scared of skin cancer. “Glorious,” he said extending the word, languidly.

  “It's beautiful,” agreed Jenny.

  “We don't often have days like this,” he said, “in England.” He spoke as if England were something small that continually failed to meet his expectations. “Even in the summer.”

  Just when Jenny began to wonder how long this doorstop conversation could possibly go on, Razvan gently extinguished the cigarette on the window sill. He then produced
a clear plastic pouch and popped the remains of the cigarette inside, before concealing it and his lighter about his person and making loose-wristed flapping motions to disperse the smoke.

  “No smoking,” he said. “No smoking everywhere in England. But we must all enjoy our little pleasures, mustn't we not?” He smiled at Jenny, showing a sharp set of teeth. Jenny made a forced smile as if to agree with him.

  He grinned at Ana. “Our little secret. Don't tell Bruce.”

  Ana scowled back, which appeared to delight him.

  “Bruce is my partner,” he declared. “Anyway, you should come in,” said Razvan, and pulled down the window.

  “I can't believe it,” muttered Ana. “It's a dosshouse for illegal immigrants.”

  “Don't be rude,” said Jenny. “You don't know anything about him.”

  It was then that Jenny realized the door was actually slightly open. She pushed at it and walked into the hallway. Ana followed.

  The hall was large and there was an impressive balustrade staircase leading up the first floor. Beneath the staircase was a small plinth which Razvan stood behind. He opened a huge reservations book, like a preacher flicking through a Bible.

  “We are very old school here,” he said. “Mrs. Jennifer Cooper?”

  “Jenny,” she said, “and Ana.”

  “Jenny Cooper,” said Razvan. “You are staying for five nights.”

  “Correct.”

  “Perfect,” said Razvan. “I shall call Bruce.” He did just that, turning his head into the room and exaggerating the r and s sounds. “He will come and collect your luggage. He is a strong man,” he said, by way of explanation.

  Jenny avoided looking at Ana, afraid she’d laugh. She could only imagine her daughter’s scowl. Ana had wanted Dracula, and she got Razvan. It was perfect.

  Razvan smiled. “You are on the top floor. In the roof. It's fantastic up there. Room at the front for you, with en suite bathroom,” he said to Jenny, handing her the key. “And room at the back, for you,” he said to Ana, giving her another key. “Ana, I'm afraid you will have to use the bathroom on the landing, but there is no one else up there to disturb you. All of our other guests are staying on lower floors.”