Chapter Three
Charlie
“Are you sure we’re headed the right way?” I took in the dark scenery and then glanced at Isaac in the driver’s seat. Trees surrounded the car, the ground beneath our tires cracked and unkept. “This doesn’t look like an actual road.”
“I did mention to you that I grew up around here and my family still lives here, right?” Isaac pointed toward an old road sign and smiled.
“See, it’s right here. I told you there was going to be a rest area coming up.
We can pull over for a bit, get out, and stretch. Hell, maybe I will shift for a bit.”
“Are you serious? You want to shift? Here?” I examined the area as Isaac parked in front of the slightly run-down welcome center. There were only two other vehicles in the lot. “Are you sure they didn’t close this place? It looks deserted.”
“I’m sure.” Isaac opened the door and sniffed the air.
“There are a few other shifters around, but everything smells safe and friendly. I have been here a few times since moving to the city and driving down to visit my family. The locals keep this place looking this way to deter humans from stopping here and gawking at us shifting. It works well enough that I’ve only seen shifters in the area. ”
“I’ll trust you, but I swear, if I get killed by some psycho in a mask, I’ll make it my purpose in my afterlife to haunt your every moment and make you pay.”
“Charlie, the last thing I’d ever do is lead you into danger. I thought you knew me better than that.”
I exited the car and stretched. “We’ll see if I put my trust into the wrong person, I guess.”
“Why do you have to be such a brat?” Isaac slapped my arm playfully. “I swear your future mate better know how to tame you—”
“Seriously? Tame me? You wish. I am who I am, and no one can stop me.” I raised a brow at my bestie. “Besides, I’m not a brat.”
“Whatever you say.” Isaac shook his head and walked toward the building. “Brat.”
I loved hanging out with Isaac. He understood me on a level that not many of my other friends did. But I swore, sometimes I wanted him to trip and fall flat on his face.
Maybe I am a brat?
Entering the building, I was pleasantly surprised to find a clean and well-kept welcome center, including a friendly looking security guard.
“Hey, Isaac.” The guard greeted my friend with a large grin. “Who’d you bring with you today?”
“Hey, Kenny.” Isaac grabbed the large man’s hand and pulled him in for a hug. “It’s been a while, man. You’re looking good, though.”
“Thanks.” The upturn of Kenny’s lips lifted even higher, and I spotted an adorable dimple appear on the older man’s right cheek. “Steven’s been making me go for daily walks with him. I had my doubts, but I guess he was right. Daily walks make your whole day better.”
“That’s awesome.” Isaac turned to me. “This is my friend Charlie. We were hoping to shift for a bit and wanted a safe area.”
Kenny gestured toward a door at the back of the building. “You should be fine. There aren’t too many visitors tonight, and most of the ones that have come through are frequent visitors who never cause trouble. Go ahead and let your beasts out for a bit. I’m here if there’s anything you need.”
“Thanks, man.” Isaac clasped the guard on the shoulder. “I’ll make sure to bring you and Steven a few of those pastries next time I visit.”
“The ones from that café up by your apartment in the city?” Kenny closed his eyes and inhaled. “I swear I can almost smell them. And Steven would absolutely love you if you did.”
“Uh-oh. Is he craving the sweets again?”
“Yeah, man.” Kenny blushed, but his chest seemed to puff out. “Baby number three coming in just over a month.”
“Congrats.” Isaac pulled out his phone and jotted down a note. “I’ll bring you double, then.”
“Thanks. Go ahead and change inside the enclosure out back. You can leave all your things in the lockers. No one can mess with your stuff. You can bring me the key if you want, or use one of the special leg bands to hold it. I swear I never thought those worked, but they stretch right along with you as you shift and really do keep everything safe.”
“Cool. We will talk later, man. My bear is growling at me to let him out.”
“Oh, okay. Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you more next time.”
Isaac guided me toward the wooden door in the back of the building. Pulling it open, we entered a small yard with a small wooden enclosure to the left of us and showers to the right.
“Those are for the ones who like to get a bit dirty during a hunt or roll in too much mud.” Isaac gestured toward the stalls. “I have had to use them a few times when I was younger.”
“This is a nice little setup, I can’t lie.” I looked around, trying to find a place to put our belongings. “Where can we put our things?”
“Oh, there is a row of lockers over here.” Isaac escorted me to the enclosure, where I saw the small lockers and a few benches. “We can put everything in one of these and get it back once we are done running. I have used these wallet bands before to hold the key.”
“Why don’t they do combination locks instead?” I figured that would be a lot simpler than the special bands to carry keys in.
“I guess that would work if people carried their own locks, but having keys just makes more sense when dealing with borrowed ones.”
“That’s true. I didn’t think about that aspect.” I undressed and placed my clothes, phone, and wallet in a locker. “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time before. A run is sounding more like what I needed with each minute I get closer to being able to shift.”
“No worries.” Isaac threw his belongings into the locker and shut it. “If we get parted, just meet me here in about an hour. Sound good?”
“Okay. See you later.” I shifted and dashed off into the tree line.
My fox let out an excited yap as we heard Isaac playfully shout after me.
“Brat.”
I ran as fast as I could, loving the way the wind blew through my fur. It felt like it had been forever since I last let my beast out. I needed this.
It was probably my fault for losing myself in the joy of the run that led me to miss the signs of danger.
The tranquilizer bullet hit my side before I even smelled the human.
Pain exploded from the spot, and my vision became hazy.
There seemed to be an energy to the drug that made it work almost instantly—an almost-sweet smell of the magic.
I was immobile, muted, and unable to shift back to my human form.
All I could do was let my body drop to the ground and slip into unconsciousness.
The last thing I heard was a man on a walkie-talkie telling someone he had found another one.
Should have stuck close to Isaac. Stupid brat.