Page 20 of Sing Sweet Nightingale

“Bye then. Until next time.”

I wave at the wolf lying in the grassy field, and only when I’m on the trail in the trees do I turn around and continue walking. I look over my shoulder as I go, checking to make sure the wolf remains where he was. He doesn’t move the entire time.

That was the weirdest and most amazing experience of my life.

~Hunter~

After the blonde-haired woman leaves, I sit in the darkeningmeadow for a few long minutes. When I discovered the source of the alluring scent, I didn’t realize it would belong to a person. Let alone a beautiful woman with golden hair and a soft, captivating voice. She smelled like gardenias and cloves with a hint of mint. I’ve never smelled anything like it before.

I should have stayed hidden in the shadows and bushes, but when she caught me watching her, I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to get closer; to show her I wouldn’t harm her. To rub my scent on her. I’ve never wanted to scent-mark anyone before. The instinct blared in my mind until I couldn’t ignore it any longer, and I gave in, nuzzling and rubbing my neck against as much of her as she would let me.

My chest puffs with pride, knowing if any other non-human were to smell her, they would know she was mine.

Wait, what? Mine? She’s not mine. I don’t even know who she is.She did say she would be back, though. Maybe she’s visiting someone in town?

I can tell by her scent that she’s a human. I can only hope she knows about the non-humans. If not, then she’ll never be mine, no matter how much my inner beast wants to claim her as such. My inner beast isn’t as much of a separate being as it is my deep natural instinct. A part of me that doesn’t weigh the pros and cons or make the decision that’s best for the community. It’s what I truly want deep down without limits or restrictions.

Standing, I shake off thoughts of the woman and her intoxicating scent. I need to check on the cabin. That’s what I came out here to do, not get distracted by beautiful women I can’t have. Turning toward the cabin, I run straight through the foliage, ignoring the path.

I make it to the cabin, and Ryder was right. There’s a silver Nissan parked in the drive and lights on inside the cabin. I sniff around the grounds without getting too close to the cabin. I don’t want to alert anyone inside to my presence.

There’s not much to scent on the property this far away from the structure, just remnants of me and my siblings, and the lingering sweet scent in my nostrils of the blonde woman.

Turning, I sprint back in the direction of my house. I need to shift back and put on some clothes before I confront whoever is inside. Scratching at the door in my wolf form won’t be helpful.

Although I could play the rabid dog angle and literally run them out, that could also turn around and blow up in our faces if they leave and start talking about a wolf attack. Instead, I’ll go for the stern and demanding landlord.

The return to the cabin takes longer in human form since I have to stick to the paths and can’t run as fast on two human legs as I can on four paws.

When I approach the cabin, the sun is almost gone from the sky. I catch a hint of gardenia, but it dissolves in the wind, blowing away as quickly as it came. My head swivels, searching for the blonde-haired woman, but of course, she’s not here.

On the porch, there’s a throw blanket draped across the arm of one of the rocking chairs I made a few years ago, and an empty coffee mug is sitting on the ground at its side. Someone is definitely here.

My fist pounds on the door in a not-so-friendly manner, rattling it on its hinges. Whoever this person is, they’re leavingtonight.

“Can I help you?” a timid female voice calls from inside.

“Yeah, you can tell me why you’re in my cabin,” I call out in a demanding voice.

“I don’t know who you are, mister, but I rented this cabin fair and square.”

The female voice grows a tad stronger but still cautious. As any female alone in a cabin in the woods should be when a man comes banging on her door at night.

“I highly doubt that.”

My irritation is growing by the second. I don’t care if it’s a woman or a queen behind this door. I did not approve of her being here, so she needs tonotbe here.

Her voice grows a little louder and unyielding from behind the blue door when she replies.

“I don’t care what you believe. It’s true. So, would you kindly step off my porch before I call the cops?”

I have to smother a growl at her impertinence. “No, I will not step offmyporch and the Sheriff is my brother. So why don’t you get out here beforeIcall the cops to have you forcibly removed for trespassing.”

The door swings open and a woman I hadn’t expected to see stands before me in a blur, engulfed in that scent I want to rub all over myself. The delicate floral aroma tinged with a tendril of my own unique scent marking.

“No, please don’t do that. I rented the cabin from Ginger. I paid in full for three months, and she said everything was good. I’m sure if you call her, she’ll tell you. I—”

I hold up my hand to stop her rambling and allow my mind a moment to process.

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