Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Cassian
Closing the trunk of my car, I sighed in relief.
It was done. My apartment had been emptied out.
My father had been informed of my resignation.
Now the house I’d inherited from Granddad waited for me in a new town.
A brand new life was just around the corner, and I couldn’t fucking wait to start living it.
I didn’t know if it was a me thing, or not, but big tall buildings gave me the creeps, and that was all my future here held; massive grey buildings filled with people in suits who all looked to have their shit together but probably hated life and needed lots of hugs.
I didn’t want to be around those people, but I had been, for way too many years.
I was in my mid-thirties but felt like I was going through a midlife crisis.
Hell, I’d even cut my long hair. I was this close to coloring it, too, but fortunately my hairdresser could sniff out a crisis so she stopped me from making that mistake.
Not that I couldn’t rock the pink look, she’d said so herself, but did I truly want to rock it?
Now, with my resignation email sent—because telling my father in person was a nightmare I had no plan on ever experiencing in real life—I was good to go!
My new house was in a small town by the cute name of Groove Vale, and I could already feel the cozy vibes just from the name alone. And I needed coziness.
Into my car I went; the radio up loud, and my mind already in the future.
I just had a seven-hour drive and then I’d be home.
Did I have to make my escape in the middle of the night?
No, but with traffic and my father checking his email like his life depended on it, it seemed three A.M. was the perfect time to make my great escape.
I wondered if I would have a big backyard? I really should’ve asked more questions when I got the call, but I had simply been too ecstatic to ask important questions. How did other people deal with the news of suddenly inheriting a house and all of a person’s possessions? I guess I’d never know.
The drive out of the city took forever even with less traffic, another thing I couldn’t wait to get rid of for good.
Since everything was so last minute and not at all planned, I had no idea what I would be doing for a living.
I’d fantasized about adopting some cats, but not really how I would afford living in my own home… Being an adult sucked sometimes.
After thinking about what kinds of positions might be open for newcomers in town, I figured maybe waiting tables or working in a shop would be my best bet. At least until I figured out what I truly wanted to do, and if I could actually do it.
I decided my future cats would be called Diamond and Daisy after a song on the radio mentioned both.
It was like destiny, uuuh, maybe one should be called Destiny!
I would have to get three cats then, what a tragedy!
I never got to keep any of the strays I’d found as a child and one of my biggest wishes was to redo that and pour all my love into animals that needed it, and a forever home.
Feeling all giddy with excitement of soon having a home and cats, I let my good mood take over as I continued driving.
It was easier to imagine my future the further away from the city I got.
With trees and nature taking over the scenery, I could almost smell my morning coffee with a hint of pine tree.
I would have to sit outside each morning and just take in the fresh air. Damn, I couldn’t wait!
The fall weather made everything better too.
I loved fall and how beautiful everything was.
The reddish leaves that crunched on the ground.
The cinnamon scented everything. That was it, I had to bake cinnamon muffins, and maybe add some nuts to them…
I could make cupcakes; I made a mean frosting.
My whole house would smell so delicious!
The rest of the drive went to plan, with one stop so I could relieve my bladder and fuel my stomach.
The breakfast burrito I’d bought helped my mood even more.
It was as if I truly felt more alive the further I got from the towering buildings and suffocating noise.
My phone had been on silent the whole way, and I may have blocked my father’s number and those I knew from the company, too. Afraid of conflict, who me?
I’d deleted my email, too, and made a brand new one.
I should’ve just gotten myself a new number while I was at it, and maybe I would once I was moved in and everything.
My father wasn’t someone who was used to being rejected, or dismissed, or anything really that wasn’t perfect submission and loyalty.
He was good at his job, which included buying and selling big properties.
One of the reasons I couldn’t get away fast enough was the fact I still had no idea how to do my job there, or what my job truly was…
. After years of playing Sequence on my computer I figured it was too late to ask.
A cute sign was placed up ahead with the words “Welcome to Groove Vale”. Damn, it was adorable. The whole town seemed to be surrounded by a huge forested area, the trees enormously big and beautiful.
The road I drove on had trees on both sides and in the distance I could see houses, not high buildings with grey on grey. No, here there was color and low houses, cute houses!
In my admiration of the approaching town, I completely missed something in a reddish-brown color running from the forest, just in front of my car.
I slammed the brakes, but it was too late. I hit the animal, swerving my car, and almost crashing into a tree. Once my car fully stopped, I panted, my fingers shaking as I unclasped my seatbelt. I’d been lucky. Not one scratch on my body. But the animal….
Stepping out on unsteady feet, I slowly made my way over to what I could see was a huge wolf. Damn, it was a beast! And I’d killed it!
Moving faster towards it, I kneeled next to its unmoving body.
I touched where I believed its heartbeat should be and let out a relieved breath when I felt its heart was still beating.
Looking around at our surroundings, I figured I would need to somehow move it into my car, but it was huge!
I wasn’t skinny or weak, but I had to admit I could spend more time lifting weights than donuts. Donuts were just much more fun to lift.
Taking in a deep breath of what I hoped was confidence filled air, I stood and carefully made my way around the wolf, searching for anything broken before I attempted to move it.
The wolf was male, which was logical enough from the size of him.
One of his back legs was definitely broken, so I grabbed him around his middle in a sort of hug, made sure I wasn’t hurting his ribs, then dragged us both towards my car.
Getting him inside was way harder than expected. I had to maneuver him inside with me. With all my belongings taking up space, it was a tight fit. But no way in hell was I leaving him on the road. I was the one at fault here. Had I only paid enough attention, he wouldn’t be hurt.
With the wolf now secure in the back, I got back behind the wheel and used Google to find the nearest vet. I found one five minutes away and drove directly there, letting my GPS guide me.
The vet clinic was a nice little beige brick building with only two cars parked out front. Hopefully that meant they weren’t too busy to take a look at the wolf who was still passed out in the back.
Leaving the wolf behind felt wrong somehow, but I pushed through my unease and hurried inside the building. A woman sat behind a computer and tapped away, her red hair almost glowing in the sunlight that peeked through the window.
“Good evening,” she greeted with a friendly smile, just as a man who looked to be in his mid-fifties walked out of one of the rooms.
“Hi,” I said, knowing I needed their help as fast as possible. “I hit a wolf and need your help.”
The man stopped in his tracks and eyed me with confusion. The woman then shared a look with him I couldn’t decipher.
“A wolf?” he asked, his tone serious.
“Yes, please,” I said, gesturing to the door. “He’s in my car. Can you take a look at him?”
They shared another look, but then both followed me outside. As soon as I’d opened the backdoor and they’d had a peek, they burst out laughing.
“What the fuck?!” I exclaimed. “Why are you laughing?!”
Weren’t vets supposed to love all animals? Seriously, what was their deal?!
“I apologize,” the man wheezed. “We’ll get him inside and take care of him.”
I stepped in front of the open car door, shielding the wolf from the vets. “No need. I’ll take care of him myself.”
No way was I letting those assholes take him in. For all I knew they’d just end his life and be done with it. I felt I needed to protect this poor wolf that I’d hurt, accidentally, but still. I wanted to help him, and these people weren’t getting him.
“Sir,” the woman began. “That is a wild wolf. You cannot just take him, he’s dangerous.” Their laughter had died off by now and instead they looked ready to fight me for him.
Were all small-town people this weird?
“Nope,” I declared. “He’s mine now. I’m adopting him and will heal him myself.”
Would I be able to help a wolf with a broken leg? Not likely, but over my dead body would they take him from me.
A whimper came from behind me and I turned, finding the wolf’s green eyes on me. Relief like no other hit me, and I almost fell to my knees right there. “I’m so sorry I hit you,” I whispered. “I’ll make sure your leg will heal, I promise.”
“We can take him,” the male vet said, his tone amused.
So, they were back to thinking this was funny?!
“Assholes,” I muttered under my breath, and I swore the wolf huffed in agreement.
Closing the car door, I quickly got back behind the wheel. They moved closer, trying to stop me, but I was faster and felt the need to get him away, so I did. Backing out of the parking lot, I drove back to where I’d found him and then tapped the GPS to guide me home.
I guess I’d just sort of adopted a wild wolf.
“I promise to take good care of you, Red,” I declared, already naming him and claiming him as mine.
I couldn’t wait to train him, maybe teach him a few tricks.
I guess I should’ve been afraid. He was wild after all, and as the lady vet had said, he was dangerous.
I shook that thought away. Red wasn’t dangerous.
I could feel that. And if my instincts were wrong and I ended up as wolf food, then at least I'd have died doing something good.
I fully had the intention of driving him back to the forest once his leg had healed.
Until then, he would be mine to take care of.