Chapter 4
Hayley eyed the long, muddy driveway. It was mostly uphill, and with the rain, she doubted her tiny rental car would make it more than a few yards before sliding helplessly into the ditch.
Choosing to make the hike on foot, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed a flagstone path that wound through the ancient evergreens and moss-covered boulders. The fog and shadows gave the scene an eerie vibe, sending a chill up her spine.
She sighed. “This gloominess seems appropriate, sadly. When you consider the circumstances.”
Her wolf scoffed. “Hah! Gloomy? Take a deep breath and relish the scent of the earth and the pines. Lie to yourself and say you haven’t missed being up in these mountains at least a little bit.”
“No, I don’t miss it. That’s why we have parks at home. All the nature you want without the trouble. Besides, all I smell is mold and worms.”
But when she turned the last bend, she noticed the cabin. The warm orange glow flickering from the windows pierced the mist. A lone rocking chair was the only thing on the long front porch, which stretched across the entire length of the cabin. She had expected to find a run-down shack, but instead, she found a neatly kept home. She couldn’t deny it. The cabin looked warm and welcoming.
Off to the side of the cabin, a mud-splattered pickup truck was parked at the top of the drive. A couple exited the cab just as she stepped onto the porch. The man was huge, easily six and a half feet tall with shoulders so wide, she wondered if he’d fit through the door frame of the cabin without turning sideways. She could feel the power of his Alpha radiating from him. The feeling of dread pooled in her stomach, while her wolf responded with excitement.
“Calm down, girl. We have no idea what he’s like as a person. He could be worse than Griffin for all we know. This could be nothing more than an elaborate setup to capture us.”Hayley silently warned her wolf.
“It’s not a trick or a trap. He’s good. He’s a true Alpha—not an imposter. I can feel it. I do not doubt it.”
The woman who had stepped out of the truck looked happy and confident. She wrapped one arm around the Alpha and smiled up at him. Compared to her mate, she looked tiny—almost half his size. But what Hayley quickly noticed was how much love the woman had for her man. Surely, if he was evil, as Griffin had been, he wouldn’t have such a lovely mate who openly showed her affection for him.
“Hayley! Glad to see you made it. I’m Calder, and this is my mate and wife, Daisy,” the man said, extending his hand.
“It’s nice to meet both of you,” she replied, feeling the raw power seeping out of the Alpha’s pores as she shook his hand. The excitement in her wolf continued to build. She felt like her animal might explode out of her at any moment.
“I asked Calder to build a fire to get the chill out of the air before you got here. I hope you don’t mind,” Daisy said with a welcoming smile.
“Not at all. I appreciate you looking after the cabin after Henry passed away.”
“Our condolences,” Daisy said.
“Thank you, but to be honest, I haven’t seen him in years. I honestly didn’t even know he was still alive, let alone living here. I didn’t think I had any relatives left on the planet.” Had she known that Henry had survived Griffin’s rule, she might have reached out to check on him, then again, not if it meant Griffin finding her.
“How about we show you around your cabin, Hayley,” Calder suggested, holding the door open for her.
Butterflies twisted in her belly. She had no idea why she was so nervous. Was the nervousness because she didn’t trust the Alpha or the situation? Or was it because the realization had just hit her that she was truly back at Twisted Tail? A place she swore she’d never return to. She swallowed her fear, pushing it down inside of her. It served no purpose at the moment. It was as if she felt a threat from the Alpha or his mate. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Daisy had a way of making her feel welcomed and safe.
“Wow. I didn’t expect it to be so clean and tidy,” she replied as she stepped inside and glanced around. The clean and uncluttered cabin caught her by surprise. After all, she’d imagined finding the typical sanctuary of a recluse, packed to the rafters with junk and dust and more magazines than a person knew what to do with.
“As you can see, Henry wasn’t much of a pack rat, but there are a few things stored in the closets and cupboards. I dropped off these boxes to help you sort through them,” Daisy said, pointing out a small stack of flattened cardboard moving boxes.
“This old cabin is solid, but I’ll be honest with you, there are some things that need attention. The roof should be checked out, and I know it could use some new windows. You’ll notice there aren’t nearly enough electrical outlets, so you’d probably want that redone. There are also a few places where the paint could be touched up, but that’s just cosmetic and easy to take care of.”
“And don’t forget a full kitchen remodel,” Daisy said, pointing to the dated appliances and modestly sized counter with a tiny porcelain sink. “Really, this place would be perfect for a full renovation. It could be so cute.”
“Nope. I’m not even worried about those things. I just want the basic things checked out. You know, the bare minimum to put it up for sale. The next owners can have that fun with whatever design they want.”
Calder shrugged. “We’d love to have you here with us at Twisted Tail. This is your pack. I want you to remember that. But the cabin is yours, and you’re free to do what you want. I can refer you to a couple of people who’d be able to inspect the place and go over any work that might be needed.”
“I think I have that covered. Cam, from the diner, gave me the number of a guy she thought would be good. I was going to introduce myself, but he seemed to be in the middle of some drama with his wife or girlfriend. I figured I’d get in touch with him later.”
“Sounds like Jackson,” Calder said.
“And his ex-girlfriend, Sherry. I swear she’s made it her life’s mission to torment that man,” Daisy added.
“Hopefully, she won’t be a distraction. The important thing for me is if he can devote himself to the job. I really want a quick turnaround. What do you think of him?”
“He’ll be all right. Sherry isn’t from Twisted Tail, anyway. She blows into town every now and again and is about as welcome as a skunk at a picnic,” Calder replied.
Hayley hoped Calder was right. She could care less about her prospective handyman’s personal problems. All she wanted was someone trustworthy and focused on the job so she could get back to her life in the city.
“I wasn’t sure where you were planning on staying. I brought along some clean bedding if you’d like to stay here at the cabin, or we have a guest cottage at our place if you think you’d be more comfortable there,” Daisy said.
Hayley took another quick look around the cabin. Removing the dust cover from the sofa, she found it to be large, comfortable, and nearly new. The warmth from the fire made it feel especially cozy. “You know what? I think I’ll take you up on that bedding,” she replied.