Chapter Five
Oswald
Signs around town announced a food truck festival in two days. Explaining why the one small motel was fully booked for the next week or so.
No rental units available. No vacation rentals.
Nothing. There was no place for me to stay.
I really didn’t want to go to the next town, but it was looking like that was my only option.
I’d called Troy back, but he basically told me the same. Go to the next town. The city would pay for whatever I found.
That was great, financially, but not for my morale.
I found myself outside the Bear’s Den again.
It felt like a safe spot to park. Under a streetlight.
And the alpha who maybe lived inside seemed nice from a distance.
He was working on his place and starting some kind of business.
That had to mean he wasn’t a complete jerk.
Right? Probably a stretch, but I really wanted to like him.
I finally gave up trying to find somewhere to stay and tossed my phone into the passenger seat.
Den. The Bear’s Den. It wasn’t listed on the town website as a place to stay, but with all those rooms, from what I could guess from the outside, maybe there was one available? For rent?
Hell, at this point, I’d sleep on his couch or the floor if he let me.
Emboldened by my lack of options, I got out of the car and bounded up the steps of the Victorian home, sending a prayer to the goddess that the alpha would have a kind heart.
I knocked, stomach tightening. Please. Please. Please.
“Hello,” he said, opening the door.
I stepped back as his scent pushed at me, so much more complex than the faint cedar and rum I’d caught before.
He was everything a bear should be. Warm.
Smoky, in a good way. Fire. Cedar and rum were there as well but underneath a cinnamon ribbon.
Whatever business he was starting here would be fruitful because of that alone.
While the scent hit me first, his power affected me more. He was certainly an alpha. The power came from him in waves, making my fox bark, piercing and sharp inside, showing me how much he approved of the man standing in front of me.
“Hi. My name is Oswald. I’m the new librarian.”
He opened the door wider. “That’s nice. I’ve been wondering when it would open again. I’m Greg.” The alpha extended his hand, and I took it. My fox went silent. Somehow the world did as well.
His warmth seeped into my body, sparking all kinds of effects. “It’s…” Goddess, I was stuttering out of nervousness. “It’s nice to meet you. What is the Bear’s Den, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“Ah.” He glanced at the sign. “I’m opening an inn. There is a severe lack of B&Bs in this town.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I got into town today and was supposed to be living in an apartment owned by Henry?”
He nodded. Of course, everyone in this town probably knew each other.
“Anyway, there are some repairs going on, and I can’t move in. The motel is booked, and I’m out of options. Is there a chance you have a room available?”
He stepped fully out on the porch. I had to look up to make eye contact.
I did love a tall alpha.
“I’m sorry, but my inn isn’t ready for guests. It should be soon, but that doesn’t really help you, does it?”
I shook my head, demanding that I not shed a tear. Not a single one. The day and the last couple of life changes were crowding my senses and making it hard to breathe.
“Do you know anywhere else I can stay?”
“Maybe there’s somewhere in the next town over.”
I shrugged. “I tried. There’s a food truck thing here this weekend, and apparently everyone is booked up tight.”
Most strangers wouldn’t have cared about someone else’s troubles, but he looked truly torn.
“What will you do?” Greg asked. His eyes were warm pools of brown. So easy to get lost in.
I let out a laugh, even though there was nothing remotely funny. “Sleep in my car, I guess. I don’t have another option. Maybe something will open up tomorrow. Thank you anyway, Greg. It was really nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he whispered.
I turned to walk down the stairs but as I reached the last one, Greg yelled out, “Stop!”
“What is it? Did you think of somewhere?”
He sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I thought of something.”