Contents
Title Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Other Books
Garden of the Wolf Box Set (Werewolf / Shifter Romance)
MAC FLYNN
Text copyright 2015 by Mac Flynn
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission in writing from the author.
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Garden of the Wolf #1
Chapter 1
"Deer!"
My friend's finger practically jabbed into my eye as she pointed at the placid creature chewing on some grass some twenty yards off the road. I grabbed her hand and pushed it away from my face. "Will you not do that while I'm driving? It's bad enough I don't know the road," I growled.
It wasn't that great of a road, either. It was only graveled, and there were some sharp corners I couldn't see around because of the steep, wooded hillside on our left. On our right was a gradual drop-off to the forested, bowled valley below. All around us was a forest of thick, ancient trees that spread their branches over the small, one-and-a-half car road. If a semi came along we'd be toast.
But before I go too into detail with this trip let me introduce myself. The name's Abigail Lee. Abby to all my friends, and some other names to my enemies. I was your average office girl who squeaked by on my salary. You notice I used the past-tense on that whole 'average' part? Well, that's because a few things changed, and it all started with that drive up a mountain road. It was all Susie's fault. That's my friend who tried to jab my face with her finger. Susan Baker, plotter extraordinaire. She got it into her head that we both needed a vacation away from our doldrum lives, and going to the mountains and getting ourselves killed on this back road was just the thing.
"Well, you wanted to drive," Susie argued.
"Yeah, but I didn't know you weren't going to be much help. You've pointed out every squirrel, chipmunk and deer we've passed," I retorted.
Susie shrugged. "Hey, I've only been up here once, remember? What's a city girl like me to do when she sees some wildlife?"
"Sit still and behave," I suggested. I ground my teeth as we came upon another corner in the dirt road. "How far is it to this resort again?"
Susie rubbed her chin. "Well, we've been off the paved road for about a half hour, and the air's starting to get pretty thin, so I'd say we're almost there."
I sighed. "Tell me again how you talked me into going to this resort."
"Because you love me and I batted my eyelashes at you. You know you can't say 'no' to my eyelashes," she replied.
"Uh-huh, I recall that conversation a little differently. There was something to do with a large lake and some relaxation," I argued.
Susie shrugged and leaned back in her seat. "Well, there was that. Oh, and the discount because this is my second time up here and I referred a friend. That helps."
We rounded the corner on the gravel road and there was another mile of straight washboard road ahead of us. "And why exactly is this such a great place again?"
Susie pulled a brochure from her purse at her feet and unfolded the flaps. "Because it has its own lake, hot springs, restaurant and hiking paths, and it's all out in the middle of a really large forest."
"I don't see that last part as being a selling point unless someone's aspiring to be a serial killer," I countered.
"We could think about changing occupations," she teased.
I snorted. "Yeah, you do that, but what's the name of this place again?"
"The Gardens."
"And a resort in the middle of the forest is called that again why?"
Susie rolled her eyes. "You're such a worry-wart."
"And forgetful, so humor me," I returned.
"It's called The Gardens because they make their own food up there," she explained.
"They grow their own food, you mean," I corrected her.
"Yeah, that, and that's why everybody comes here because they advertise the food as being rejuvenating. We're going to stay there for what they call a session, which is two weeks long, and we'll feel refreshed and younger," Susie told me.
I snorted. "Sounds like a Fountain of Youth type of thing. You sure we're not paying half price for a full scam?" I asked her.
Susie crossed her arms over her chest and turned her annoyed eyes on me. "I'm living proof that it works."
A grin spread across my lips. "But not intelligent proof. Maybe I should ask for a second opinion."
She stuck out her tongue and picked up the brochure in her lap. "You might think I'm crazy, but everybody who's anybody comes to this place to lose a couple of years. I lost ten pounds being there, and I swear I lost ten years."
"So you went from twenty-two to twelve?" I teased.
"Twelve and a half, but I really do almost feel like I should be going to school and pasting posters of hot boy bands on my walls," she returned.
I cringed. We shared the same apartment. "Please don't. I don't know how I'd explain that to anybody who visited us."
"Nobody visits us, and that's another reason we need to get out more," Susie commented.
"The spinster life not fun enough for you?" I wondered.
"Abby, there are guys in the world. Needy, bachelor-type guys who are just aching to have their way with us," Susie told me.
I snorted. "Those must be the ugly ones because I don't see any handsome ones falling over each other to get at us."
"That's because we don't get out enough!" She tapped the back of her hand against the brochure. "We go here, find a couple of rich, handsome guys, and then we're on track to a life that doesn't involve pushing papers and making creatures out of paper clips and staple removers."
"I kind of like making those creatures," I defended.
"Yeah, but for the rest of your life? That's what nowadays? Seventy, eighty years more?" Susie tilted her head toward me and her voice took on a more serious quality. "Come on, Abby, you know we could do better than the dead-end life we're leading."
I pursed my lips and glanced out my window. She was right, kind of. We could do better than going to work, coming home, sleeping, and rinse-and-repeating. "We could also do a lot worse," I argued.
"How?"
"We could be out of jobs and kicked out of our apartment."
Susie looked forward and rolled her eyes. "You're too practical. That's another reason why I'm dragging you up here, so you can get some experience in being impractical and having some fun."
"And you needed me to get the discount," I reminded her.
She sheepishly grinn
ed. "Yeah, and good thing we got our reservations in early. I heard they stopped offering that referral discount a week after we got the cabin. Something about getting too many referrals."
"Well, if they're advertising themselves as the next Fountain of Youth then they were probably losing their shirts," I agreed.
A faraway look slipped into Susie's eyes and a lecherous grin slipped onto her face. "I hope some of the managers lose their shirts. They're not bad. Heck, everybody up there's like some sort of a god, even the cabin attendants."
"The cabin attendant is the person we have to deal with a lot, right?" I asked her.
She gave a nod. "Yep. They're pretty much our personal servant. They get us food, drinks, they clean the place, everything. I got a cute guy the last time who gave me a really nice massage."
My eyes flickered over to her. "You're drooling."
Susie clapped her mouth shut and shrugged. "He was a really good massager."
"Masseuse," I corrected her.
She scowled at me. "There you go trying to be Miss Perfect. You need to relax."
My hands clenched the steering wheel as we rattled through another mess of washboard. "I'll relax when we get there." I glanced upward and noticed the sun would set in three hours. "How far is this-"
My question was answered when we rounded the next corner. The trees and road opened to reveal a large flat meadow of over a hundred acres near the top of the mountain. At the front of the acreage and closest to us was a two-floor lodge hewn from the local logs. The balcony on the second floor hung over the front of the ground floor and created a comfortable porch. Large windows on both floors allowed us to see a spacious lobby with high, open-rafter ceilings which extended to the back of the lobby. From there a wall separated the back lower-half of the lodge from the front, and a pair of doors on the ground floor, along with a balcony on the second floor, allowed access to the inner depths of the building. Along the left side of the lodge was another dirt road that wound its way into the woods behind the building, and near the road was a small parkling lot with half a dozen golf carts.
The road ran past the front of the lodge to small, two-room cabins made from the same woody material. The last of the cabins signaled the end of the road, and it curved back to the lodge. The thick forest lay on our right and behind the lodge. There was parking in front of the lodge and along the sides of the cabins. I took a spot in front of the lodge and we stepped out.
I tilted my head back and gazed at the full scale of the lodge. "What's the lodge used for?" I asked my friend. When I didn't receive an answer I turned to her and found Susie's eyes glued to the golf carts. There was an eager devilish grin on her face that I knew all too well. I looped my arm through hers and pulled her toward the lodge doors. "Come on, you can wreck them later," I told her.
"But golf carts! Driving!" she protested.
"Didn't have your fill of wrecks last time you were here?" I teased.
"They weren't here on my last trip," Susie told me.
"Well, they'll be there later, so let's check in," I persisted.
We walked inside and over to the long desk on the right side. A wrinkled old woman of about eighty stood at the desk and by the scowl on her face she wasn't happy. "I demand a male attendant for my cabin," she insisted.
The young, handsome man across the desk smiled at her, but shook his head. "I'm sorry, Miss Platt, but we're short on staff and can't change attendants. I'm sure Lindsey will satisfy your needs."
The old woman scoffed. "Not all of them, but we'll see. I'll be putting this in my review of this place, you mark my words."
The young man bowed his head. "We look forward to hearing about your experience." The old woman made one more huff and stalked off toward the doors. She pushed between us and marched outside. The young man noticed us and his smile brightened. "Hi Susie, it's great to see you again."
Susie stepped up to the desk and I followed. She nodded at the doors where the unhappy guest had gone. "After dealing with her I'd be happy to see anybody else."
The man shrugged. "I'm sure she'll be pleased with Lindsey. She's one of our most experienced attendants. Anyway, I saw your name on the list and have your cabin ready." He reached below the desk and pulled out a key. "It's cabin fourteen close to the trails to the lake."
Susie took the keys and batted her eyes at him. "You sure know how to spoil me, Frank."
"We try our best to spoil all of our guests," he countered.
I rolled my eyes and looped my arm around one of Susie's. "Come on, I want to collapse on a soft bed."
Susie yanked on my arm and I stumbled against her. "Frank, this is my friend, Abby. Abby, Frank. He's the mastermind behind this place."
Frank chuckled and held out his hand. "I try to run the front desk, but Mr. Young and Mr. Nelson handle the big decisions."
I smiled and shook his hand. "Well, you handled that unhappy woman just now pretty well."
Susie leaned one elbow atop the desk. "Yeah, about that. Are there a lot of those this round this session?"
"That's a possibility that can happen during any of the sessions," he replied.
"Susie, could we please go check out our cabin?" I pleaded with her.
Susie let me pull her away from the desk, and she waved to Frank. "All right. We'll see you later, Frank."
Frank returned the wave. "I hope you enjoy your stay," he called back.
Chapter 2
I dragged her outside and to our car. "Which one of these is our cabin?"
She nodded at the row of cabins. "There's twenty cabins, so it's near the end."
We packed into the car and I drove down the numbered cabins to fourteen. The space between the cabins was enough that there were small natural lawns around three sides. I pulled into the gravel driveway beside number fourteen, and we stepped out with our bags slung over our shoulders. The cabin was a square twenty-by-twenty foot building with a smaller second room on the back for the bathroom. Windows were on every wall, and a small wood porch covered the front door. As we moved toward the cabin the door was opened by a young woman of eighteen.
She had a bright smile on her face and the prettiest blue eyes I'd ever seen. They suited her long blond hair that was pulled back in a braid. Her complexion was fair-skinned but for the tan, and she had a name tag on her white blouse that read 'Linda.' She wore black pants with matching shoes, and walked with the lithe gait of a gymnast.
The young woman met us on the porch and held her hand out to us. "Hi, you two must be Susan and Abigail. I'm Linda, your attendant."
Susie being the more friendly of us stepped forward and gave Linda's hand a good shake. "You can call me Susie, and this is Abby," she introduced us.
Linda bowed her head and stepped aside. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, and I hope you'll find your stay here comfortable. I've prepared your cabin, but tell me if you need anything changed or moved and I'll be glad to do it."
"If it's anything like my last trip then it'll be perfect," Susie replied.
Susie stepped inside, and I followed her. The large main room had a real wood floor and the wood walls were smoothed and polished to a bright shine. At the back wall was our beds, and on the far left of that wall was the door to the bathroom. There were two dressers on the right-hand wall, and on the left front wall was a small living area complete with two chairs and a coffee table, but no TV.
Susie strode over to the bed closest to the bathroom and tossed her bag and herself onto the soft, hand-quilted covers. She bounced a few times and her eyes swept over the room. "Not bad. I like the extra dresser. There wasn't another one in my last cabin."
"That's because you were alone. I made sure to have two when I heard you were bringing a friend," Linda explained.
I walked over to the other bed and sat down. The mattress was bouncy, but not too bouncy, and there was a softness in it that made me drowsy. "But no TV," I noted.
Linda smiled and shook her head. "No, TVs and most other electronics aren't allo
wed in the cabins. We like to emphasize exercise, and we have some wonderful paths to hike and a large lake to swim in."
"What about cellphones?" I asked her.
"There are no cellphone towers for reception, so the only phone that works here is a land line in the lodge and-well, an emergency one elsewhere," she informed me.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the reception bars. Nothing. Not even a one little one. I cringed. "I was joking about the serial killer thing," I mumbled.
Susie whipped her head to and for and her smile broadened. "But isn't this great? No phones, no TV, and-"
"-no hope of outside help if a forest fire happened," I added.
Linda shook her head. "Oh, we don't have those. Scott-um, Mr. Young keeps very good care of the property and thins the sick and crowded trees. He's the manager and owner of the Gardens, you know."
"What about those golf carts near the lodge?" Susie spoke up. "I don't remember them being here last time."
"They're new, and used to only to help the more elderly of our guests to the hot springs," Linda explained.
Susie's face drooped. "Damn," she muttered.
"But if you'd like I could drive you up to the springs one day. The keys are left in the carts for easy use," Linda added.
Susie sighed and shook her head. "It just wouldn't be the same as driving it myself."
"Yeah, less collateral damage," I teased.
My friend stuck her tongue at me and returned her attention to Linda. "So when's dinner?"
"Anywhere between four-thirty and seven, but tonight you're asked to attend at five-thirty for the initiation ceremony at six," Linda told us.
While Susie asked about the dinner options I wandered into the bathroom. It was a spacious area with a large counter and a combined shower and tub. At the far back was a window to the rear of the cabin and the woods that lay beyond it. I opened the sliding window and peered out. The trees were thinned to several feet apart as Linda had said, and trails wound between them and out of sight into the woods.
Movement caught my eye and I noticed a man jogging along one of the paths that ran parallel to our cabin. I couldn't help but gawk at his handsome appearance. He was tall, about six feet, with short blond hair and a tanned complexion. He wore a thin, sleeveless white shirt that showed off his abs, and his black shorts showed off his tight thighs and leg muscles. Nothing was too bulky or too thin on him. He was just the right bit of porridge for a desperate girl in need of male companionship.