Page 1 of Simon

Chapter One

Lucy

Iheldmyspiralnotebookto my chest, clutching it tighter by the second. The double suns–light sources,I reminded myself–bore down on the naked skin of the shifters, with the hot summer day. They were loading the open wagons, filling them with supplies: tents, dry food, fire starters and so on. It was more than I thought we really needed, but the queen and my father wanted to be sure that I was comfortable.

Dutton slung a bag of rice over the wagon like it was a small bean bag. Dust flew into the air, and he slapped his handstogether. Dirt swirled around him and clung to the sweat on his bare chest. He turned his body to face me, and he smiled widely as droplets of water ran down his neck and between his pectoral muscles.

My eyes widened, and I looked away. He was a good-looking man. They all were in this realm; the women, the men, and even the children looked like tiny little models running around.

This place was magical. There was no doubt about that. From the multi-colored sky to the palace I’ve stayed in. I’ve been there as a guest for several weeks, hoping to understand the basics of this realm, down to the animals they are used to seeing in this part of the land.

I couldn’t get over how lucky I was to get this job.

I met every criteria they needed. Which was a scientist who understood basic botany, but mostly, with the discovery of new species of animals and insects and anything else that I may deem important.

Especially in a new area to explore where no other scientist had ever been.

It was like being a kid in a candy store.

This was better than any holiday I’d ever encountered. A whole new world for the taking. I wouldn’t be able to share it with Earth—we left that world behind—but this world, Bergarian, seemed to appreciate how I have an excitement to understand it all from fresh eyes and a scientific point of view.

This place was magnificent and seemed to contradict everything I had learned. It could be slightly infuriating but also delightfully exciting at the same time.

“That’s the last of it.” Dutton took a rag from his waistband and wiped away his forehead. He kept his eyes on me as he did, and I looked for my father to keep away from the wolf shifter.

I buried my head in books most of my life, and when I wasn’t working on a research paper or thesis, I was out with my fatherin a remote area doing archeological digs. I had little finesse with talking to the opposite sex. In fact, I hardly had any experience talking to men. My cheeks would flush red, and I would stumble over my words. It didn’t matter if they were young, old, single or married. Father did his best to keep me protected.

My father was the only man I talked to, and he’d been fiercely protective of me since my youth. Unfortunately, it made me socially awkward. I didn’t blame him in the slightest, though; he loved me, and I loved him back just as fiercely. He’d homeschooled me and let me travel with him since I could walk. I’d seen plants, animals, and cultures that many scientists would kill to see.

Now that he was older, he wouldn’t be able to travel on this journey. He’d been very supportive, though, and said I would be fine on my own. I had some apprehension. This trek resembled our previous treks, but it ventured into uncharted territory, encountering unseen animals and plants, unknown to humans and even to the shifters accompanying me.

The thought thrilled me. I’d be able to record everything. Not by camera, however, just by sight and with my pencils. Just like the great explorers in the past, on Earth. It was so primitive, so old-fashioned.

It was how they liked it here. They wanted to keep the land pure and free of trash. Most of its products were biodegradable. The realm's inhabitants permitted very few electronics, and technological communication with the other side was very limited.

Fascinating, simply fascinating.

My heart fluttered, and I stood up on my tippy toes while I bit my lip.

And I was doing this trek on my own. I was in charge!

“Someone is excited.” Dutton strode over. His gait was wide, and the linen pants he wore were thin. It left little to theimagination. To see people strip naked out of the blue was the norm here, especially for shifters. I still wasn’t used to it and would pivot away each time.

I received a warning that this world was a little freer with nudity due to necessity. Shifting with clothes on would just be a waste of clothing. It made sense, and it was something I just had to get used to.

The males laughed when they heard me shriek as they threw their pants off, and now I thought they did it on purpose.

But the thin linen pants that Dutton was wearing grew tighter. The pants bunched and gathered right at an area I did not need to see.

Don’t look, Lucy. Why do you have to look?

Because you are both depraved and deprived. Too worried about pleasing your father with your studies and not taking care of yourself.

I whimpered in the back of my mind.

“I… uh… yes, that’s excellent. Thank you very much, Mr. Dutton.” I turned my face, not looking at him at all, and swallowed.

I could see the smirk in my peripheral as he dusted off his hands once again. “You don’t need to call me mister. That’s so formal. Dutton is fine.” He tilted his head and came closer.

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