Chapter 1 #2
She opened her locker, running her fingers over the smooth metal door. Such a simple thing, having her own space at work, but it made everything feel more real. More permanent. She hung up her light cardigan and placed her lunch on the shelf, watching as Layla did the same.
Beth took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, letting excitement begin to creep in. She was really doing this! Her hands smoothed down her scrubs one final time as Barbara led them toward the reception area.
"Holly will show you the reception desk systems," she told Layla.
"And Beth, Dr. Shelton is waiting for you in exam room two.
He's got a busy day scheduled and could use the extra hands.
Remember," she added with a warm smile for both of them.
"Everyone here started as a beginner once. Just ask if you need help."
Beth squared her shoulders, drawing strength from Barbara's encouragement.
After everything she'd survived, learning a new job shouldn't be scary.
Yet her pulse quickened with a different kind of excitement as she headed down the hallway.
This was her chance to build something new, something meaningful.
She could do this. She would do this.
The whole day stretched ahead, full of possibility. Beth felt a smile tugging at her lips as she approached exam room two, ready to begin.
Beth's muscles ached as she walked to her car at the end of her shift, but her heart felt lighter than it had in years.
The day had flown by in a whirlwind of learning new procedures, meeting patients, and working in the feline wing of the clinic alongside Dr. Shelton.
The veterinarian's warm manner and patient teaching style had put Beth at ease immediately.
She couldn't face going straight home. Not when she felt this alive, this accomplished. Layla had already headed out with Tamera, the sisters having plans to celebrate her first day on the job. They'd invited Beth, but she'd had enough of people for the day, and made a polite excuse to decline.
A local bistro caught her eye as she drove through the small downtown area - she'd been meaning to try it since it opened a month or so ago.
Going inside, the hostess seated her at a cozy corner booth.
Beth ordered the chicken marsala and settled back with her Kindle while she waited.
The familiar comfort of losing herself in a book wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
She'd forgotten this simple pleasure—dining alone, losing herself in words while flavors bloomed on her tongue.
Long after her plate was cleared, Beth remained in the booth, legs crossed at the ankles, completely absorbed in her novel.
The wait staff didn't seem to mind, keeping her water glass filled as the dinner crowd thinned out.
For the first time in too long, she felt like herself again - the Beth who used to spend hours in coffee shops and bookstores, the Beth who had dreams and plans before everything fell apart.
Today felt like the first real step toward reclaiming that person. Not just surviving, but living again.
Beth startled at the time displayed on her Kindle - nearly eight o'clock. The bistro had emptied considerably while she'd been lost in her book. Guilt nagged at her as she quickly gathered her things and settled the bill, leaving a generous tip for her waitress.
The night air held a slight chill as she hurried to her car. She hadn't meant to stay out so late, especially not on a work night. The streets were quiet as she drove home, streetlights casting pools of yellow light on the empty sidewalks.
Naomi met her at the door before Beth could even get her key in the lock. Her twin's eyes, the same silver-flecked blue, sparkled with amusement.
"There you are! I was starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost." Naomi pulled her into a quick hug. "Did you forget how to check your phone?"
"I'm sorry." Beth fumbled for her phone, wincing at the missed text notifications. "I stopped for dinner on my way home, and got caught up reading."
Naomi held the door wider, waiting for Beth to step inside. "So tell me how your first day went," she invited.
Beth smiled at her twin. "It was actually really good. Dr. Shelton is-"
The thunderous roar of motorcycles shattered the evening quiet, cutting off her response.
Beth spun around, the sound vibrating through her chest as her heart hammered against her ribs.
Two sleek bikes charged down the street, their engines growling in perfect harmony before roaring to a stop directly in front of the house.
The sudden silence felt almost as startling as the noise had been.
The matching black motorcycles gleamed under the streetlights, their chrome accents catching the glow. Beth found herself frozen on the doorstep, watching the riders dismount with fluid grace. Their movements mirrored each other perfectly.
Beth watched, transfixed, as the riders pulled off their black helmets in perfect synchronization. Long, pale blond hair spilled free, catching the streetlight like spun silver. Their fair skin seemed to glow in the evening darkness.
The two men came together in an enthusiastic high-five, their matching grins lighting up identical faces.
"Beat our record by three minutes!" one crowed.
"Told you taking Miller Road would shave off time," the other responded with a laugh.
As they turned toward the house, Beth caught her breath.
They were stunning - like mirror images of each other, with brilliant blue eyes and chiseled features that reminded her of Chris Hemsworth from those Thor movies.
But their coloring was even lighter, more ethereal, like the elves from Lord of the Rings with their luminous pale skin and silvery-blonde hair.
Beth couldn't tear her gaze from the identical men approaching their doorstep. Beside her, Naomi murmured "Whoa" in a stunned voice that perfectly echoed Beth's own thoughts.
"Who are they?" Beth whispered, mesmerized by their fluid, synchronized movements.
Naomi shook herself, as if breaking free from a spell. "If you'd bothered to check your texts, you'd know." Her voice took on a pointed tone. "They're here to install security systems - both for the house and Liam's shifter clinic in the carriage house."
Beth frowned, her brow furrowing as she turned to her sister. "But we already have security systems. Liam had them installed way back when you two bought the place."
"We need more than basic alarms now. We need cybersecurity." Liam's voice came from behind them as he stepped onto the porch. His tall frame blocked the porch light, casting shadows across the wooden boards. "We have to protect not just ourselves, but all our client information too."
“The clinic records?" Beth's brow furrowed. "But we don't treat shifters at the Country Clinic - just regular pets. What would anyone want with vaccination records and spay appointments?"
Liam ran a hand through his brown hair, hints of auburn catching in the light.
"Medical records, client addresses, staff information - it's all data that could be dangerous in the wrong hands.
With shifters now exposed to the world, hackers might target the clinic looking for connections or clues about who might be a shifter.
We need top-level security on our computer systems to protect everyone associated with the clinic. "
"But no one even knows about your shifter clinic here," Beth protested. "It's on your private property, completely separate from the Country Vet Clinic."
"True," Liam acknowledged, "but I still work as a veterinarian there.
Anti-shifter groups might scrutinize everyone connected to the clinic more carefully now, especially the staff.
With Troy's wife publicly out as a shifter, anyone associated with the clinic could become a target for investigation.
They'd be looking for any connections, any patterns that might lead them to more shifters. "
Beth hadn't considered that angle. The thought of strangers digging into their lives, hunting for their secrets, sent a chill down her spine.
She glanced back at the twins, seeing them in a new light. Their casual stance and matching grins belied what must be serious expertise if Liam trusted them with such critical security needs. Still, she'd had enough of strangers for the day.
Slipping past her sister and Liam, she retreated into the house. Her social energy had drained completely after the long first day at work. Meeting the mysterious twins would have to wait.
She had a moment of regret, remembering her old self.
When she'd been in college, she'd loved meeting new people.
Her psychology classes had fascinated her, leading to endless conversations with classmates about human nature and behavior.
She'd been the one organizing study groups, planning coffee meetups, bringing people together.
Now the mere thought of facing strangers made her heart race.
The young men from the security company looked nice enough - their matching grins and synchronized movements spoke of a playful nature.
But the idea of going back out there, of making conversation and being social, sent cold tendrils of anxiety through her chest.
She knew she needed to push past this. Dr. Shelton and the clinic staff had shown her such kindness today. Their gentle acceptance helped ease her back into interacting with others. But it was still exhausting, requiring constant effort to keep her anxiety in check.
Toeing off her shoes at the front door, the hardwood floors warmed her feet through her socks as she padded down the hallway to her room. Living in Florida, she'd never even heard of radiant heating until they moved in here. Now she was a total fan.