Fire in Cabin 27 (Double-Booked for the Holidays #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Kyson

“What’s that, mom? I can’t hear you. The call is cutting out.” I made ridiculously sounding static noises like the call was about to drop. “The storm is rolling in. Gotta go!” I hated lying to her.

Kinda.

Sorta.

Meh, not really.

But I was so over this and her and the other females in our family trying to set me up with every abled dragon omega within a thousand miles.

Not everyone within the same species was compatible.

Not everyone was compatible with me.

Maybe no one was, and I was more than fine with that. I liked my freedom and enjoyed my quiet space. No one nagging me for shit…except for her.

Far too many holidays have been spent listening to why aren’t you mated yet?

Your younger brother has kids, yet you have none.

Are you broken? Then come the chuckles and pity stares from the entire family.

All forty-three of them. That may be an exaggeration since I literally just pulled the number out of my ass, but the Cinders dragon brood was full of fertile fuckers, so why in the hell did they zone in on me?

Like we needed anymore mouths to feed up there?

Welp, not this year, Felicia. And oddly enough, that really was my mother’s name. It’s quite fitting for a meme, if you asked me.

This year I had booked myself a remote cabin for ten glorious days far, far, away from my prying, meddling family. If I got lucky, Santa would bring me a huge snowstorm with zero cell reception. This will be the best nag-free Christmas and New Year’s my thirty-four years had ever seen.

Yes, I was the grouchy fucker in the family.

I liked my space free and clear of other mouth breathers.

Hell, I didn’t even know if I wanted kids, to be honest, let alone a mate.

Dirty diapers, messy faces and fingerprints I’d have to continually repaint walls over—not my cup of tea.

Not to mention how much shit would be destroyed while they got their fire under control.

Don’t even get me started on someone adding their shit to my house and redecorating my bachelor pad.

That vision really got my blood boiling.

Solo existence was the life for this dragon.

Why was that so hard for them to understand?

I turned up the radio and continued down the highway toward the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge where I’d booked the furthest cabin away from all others per their online map and double verified with the booking agent.

If I was lucky there would be a nearby lake my dragon could get some swimming and fishing time in at.

Frozen over or not, we enjoyed the cold.

The brisk temperature was refreshing, and the tasty fish were a bonus treat.

Simply Fated Vacation Rentals, the site I’d booked through, now showed all cabins as sold out, so I was glad I had jumped on it as soon as I did…

back in July. With them all rented to shifters, my dragon could roam about without issue.

We envisioned stretching our wings and napping in front of a roaring fireplace.

Living within the city limits, versus on our familial lands, didn’t allow for as much flying time as we’d like, but it did keep the busy bodies out of our personal life.

All but the blood related ones...

This was going to be the holiday to beat all holidays.

Too bad it took me years to figure this out or I’d have escaped much sooner.

All presents for the dragonets had been mailed to my parents’ house which checked off my only holiday commitments.

The closer I got to the cabins the more stress left my body.

The parking lot was packed, though I’d been assured by the man I’d spoken with that the cabins were spread far and wide across their acreage and not a soul would bother me. Yes, I triple checked that one.

Thank fuck for that. Peopling wasn’t my thing.

Whistling as I walked across the gravel lot, happy as could be until I opened the door and got a glimpse inside the office.

“Whoa.” The line to check in wound around the lobby and into the massive dining room.

Good thing I didn’t stop and get groceries first. I did my best to keep in mind that as soon as this was over I’d be blissfully alone for two glorious weeks.

Only forty-five minutes into this the line had hardly moved.

There was a lot of commotion at the front from someone who had checked in already yet returned, though I couldn’t hear what they were saying over all the voices.

My dragon was restless and hungry, and it was taking all my strength just to hold him back.

I promise dragon, once this is done we’ll get food and stretch our wings.

Harumph.

Clearly, he disagreed with me, but allowing him to surface now would wreck this place.

I see no problem with that.

Dragon, no.

One day you’ll learn that I’m in charge, human.

If you’re in charge then how are you still subdued?

Not in the mood to deal with the authorities.

I call bullshit on that one.

Harumph.

Yes, my dragon was equally as grouchy as I was.

The commotion at the front desk hushed him but the bear behind me groaned. I glanced over my shoulder at him. Must’ve had resting bitch face because he immediately apologized.

“Sorry, any idea what’s going on up there?” he asked me.

“Nope, but that’s the fifth unhappy guest I’ve seen cut in line.

” I wondered if I’d made a mistake booking here.

Too late to turn back now, I’d already paid in full to lock in my cabin.

In the end, it took another thirty minutes before I finally made it to the front desk where a very frazzled associate greeted me.

“Good afternoon and welcome to Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge. My name is Branson. How may I assist you?” His words said one thing but the fear I smelled on the omega said another.

Sometimes it was hard to remember my size and well, scowly face.

I’ve been told I’m intimidating as hell, so I took it down a notch.

“Kyson Cinders checking in.” I handed him my license and credit card. He clicked away, then clicked some more and sighed.

“Excellent. Mr. Cinders, you are in cabin twenty-seven. Here’s a map of our property, you’re here right now,” he circled the office in red ink then drew a weaving line around the map.

“This is the road that leads back to your cabin. There’s a binder inside your unit that lists all the amenities we offer, along with the local town, and the shops and restaurants they have. We hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you, Branson.” I signed the receipt and grabbed the map.

As I drove along the gravel road several no-so-happy guests passed me as they headed back toward the office.

A few colorful curse words were thrown around, so I rolled up the window and pretended not to notice them.

I wasn’t here to get involved in anyone else’s issues.

Nope, I was here avoiding mine.

It took about fifteen minutes to get to my cabin, and as promised, it was far away from the others. “Ah,” I got out and stretched after I parked in front of it. “Home sweet temporary home.” I grabbed my suitcase and bags of staple food items I had brought and headed inside.

“Whew,” I whistled, taking it all in. With these high vaulted ceilings and the furniture moved aside, my dragon could cozy right up to the hearth for naptime.

There was pine as far as the eye could see.

The furniture and blankets were kitted out in flannel.

All the comforts of home were available, as far as I could tell.

A king-sized bed and bathroom were behind the first door I opened, and another had a small coat closet and the third, which was a slider, led out to the rear of the cabin.

The kitchen was behind the wall that divided it from the living room, and it had two windows with great views of the surrounding forest.

My dragon sighed.

Soon, dragon. Soon. Let’s get some food in us first.

On the dining table sat the binder Branson had mentioned. I located the map with directions into town and snagged it then headed out to grab a bite and get groceries. If all went well, I wouldn’t have to leave the cabin again until the end of my two weeks, and I’d be back before dark.

As I drove past the front office, a new line had formed that ran out the door. Glad everything was good with my cabin. Given the remote location of it, though, it took me about forty minutes to hit the edge of town.

Decorated like Santa’s Village, the quaint shops that lined the road were in full on festive mode.

Not normally my taste, but I’m sure the others staying in the cabins may partake in their Yuletide festivities.

The snow had been freshly plowed and the piles lined the sides of the road and a couple of children were playing in them, their parents watching from nearby.

Soon enough I came upon a diner and popped in for a quick bite and hopefully directions to the local grocer.

“Afternoon,” a seasoned waitress greeted me. “Table for one or would you rather sit at the bar?” Her beehive hairdo was as step back in time but oddly enough, fit the vintage décor of the place.

“One by the window if you have it.” I might as well do a bit of local watching while I eat.

“Follow me.”

She seated me in a corner booth with a great view.

I gave her my drink order and asked for a few minutes to glance over the menu.

A fine omega caught my eye as he passed by with one of those fancy, spiky, frou-frou haircuts where the sides were shaved and the top swirled almost like a sideways ice cream cone.

Boy, what I wouldn’t give to lick that boy’s cone clean.

Tight pants tapered to the ankle. Was he wearing.

.. I’ll be damned, that snazzy boy had on heels.

Brave on this icy terrain. He moved like the wind as he walked, swishing that fine behind of his.

Down, dragon.

It’s been too long since we claimed a sweet omega for a night of fun.

Too true, dragon. Too true.

But it wasn’t like him to clamp onto one this quickly.

He usually just went along to appease my fixes.

I don’t know what it was about taming snarky twinks, but that always got me riled up in the bedroom.

I shook my head and focused on the menu, deciding on the turkey meal with all the trimmings ‘cause I sure as hell wasn’t cooking all that while I was here.

But damnit if I wouldn’t like to trim that twink too. I bet that boy was sparky as hell and a wild ride in the sack.

Enough, Kyson. Enough.

I took some time to breathe and savor the wonderful meal as opposed to shoveling it in while watching holiday shoppers as they passed by with their bags.

Smiling faces, warm greetings and hugs were exchanged as they ran into friends.

Honestly, I don’t remember a time I’d ever felt that free or been that cordial with anyone.

Even as a youngling I was bristly and standoffish.

No wonder I had no friends. It would take a hell of a lot to thaw my cold heart.

When I’d all but licked the plate clean, I thanked the server for the meal, and she was kind enough to give me directions to the grocer, which was just around the bend.

With a promise to return before the end of my vacation, I was off to battle the crowds at the store.

Hopefully this one trip will be enough, but with my dragon’s appetite appeased and him napping, it was the right time to shop.

Parking was a bit of a challenge and finding a cart was next to impossible. I literally stalked the corral waiting for a return, which took a few minutes, but finally managed to snag one then reluctantly, headed inside.

“What the ever-loving fuck.” Dante had nothing on the circles in this hell. A woman tsked as she passed me, muttering nonsense about my language. I blew her off and dove into the abyss.

A verbal battle with a wolf shifter ensued and my dragon nearly burst forth in front of the meat cases.

Finally, the butcher arrived with trays laden with chicken and beef, which we both emptied into our baskets.

Foolish wolf, as though he could take on a dragon.

But our growls did clear the crowd and provide the perfect exit after scoring this win.

Many of the shelves were empty and in the end I was pleased with what I was able to get. After a lengthy wait in the checkout line, I’d finally loaded my purchases into the truck and found my way back to the cabin.

“What the?” There was a small sports car parked where my truck had been. With no neighbors around there was no way any of them ran out of parking spaces at their own cabins and had to utilize mine.

Omega, my dragon snarled.

Yes, I smell it too.

Slowly, I crept inside. The music was so loud it was impossible for the intruder to hear me as I neared them. My stuff sat by the front door, bags of dry goods included.

But that scent…

I followed it to the kitchen and there he was, sans heels, dancing to whatever this infernal racket was.

Mate.

Do not fucking go there, dragon. There is no way the goddess would be so cruel.

But would it truly be cruel? I mean…yeah.

You smell it too.

Enough!

“What are you doing in my kitchen?”

He screamed and clutched his chest. His eyes rolled back and thankfully, I snatched him up before his head hit the floor.

We broke him.

Yes, dragon, it appears we did.

Fuck, now what do I do with him, though a better question was, what the hell was he doing in my cabin?