Three

I gazed out through the windscreen and up at the highlighted brickwork. The spotlights on the walls bathed the guesthouse in a pale-yellow hue and a sun canopy stretched around the front of the building like a light and dark striped skirt. The inside was just as modern as the outside. Peter helped to bring my belongings to the reception desk. We had to be quiet so as not to wake the sleeping borders. Chloe and Lincoln were there to greet us, and what a fine-looking couple they were too. Chloe’s summer dress clung to her voluptuous figure like she had been hand-stitched into it, and her blonde hair and tanned skin gave her a healthy glow. Her husband, Lincoln, stood around six-foot-five, rocking the hot mountain man look without really having to try. Either he was well-endowed, or a snake had slithered up the inside leg of his jeans, because fuck me, that was one impressive appendage. I turned my attention elsewhere.  

Peter and Lincoln carried all my luggage to my room, allowing Chloe to give me a brief tour of the guest house.

“I hope you like your stay here at Whitehaven. If there’s anything you need, just let me know,” Chloe kindly offered.

“Thank you. I’m going to look around the town tomorrow to get a feel for the place. Maybe talk to a few of the locals, meet some people, and settle in,” I replied, thinking that she was the luckiest woman I had ever met.

“You want some company? I was planning on taking the kids out for a few hours, anyway?” Chloe suggested.

“That would be great, but only if it’s not too much trouble,” I answered, not wanting to be a burden.

She gave me a look that implied, “Don’t be silly,” before responding in a hushed tone. “It’s Linc’s birthday this weekend, and the kids want to get him something special. So, trust me, honey, it’s no bother at all.”

“Oh. I’ll tag along then. What time should I be ready for?” I asked.

“Oh, say nine-thirty after we sit down to breakfast. The kids usually have me up around six. They run into our room and bounce on the bed. They’re natural alarm clocks.” Chloe chuckled.

“Well, in that case, I’ll let you get some rest. I know that I’ll crash as soon as my head touches the pillow,” I replied, struggling to contain a yawn.

Chloe escorted me to my room before saying goodnight. As the light filled the lavishly decorated suite, my jaw hit the floor. I considered my house to be a palace, but this place was stunning.

I let out a low whistle, wondering how much of the budget was being blown on my accommodation costs. Not that I was prepared to trade this in for a shitty truck-stop motel. No way.

They had crafted the bed from the same oak wood that flowed throughout the building. All the soft furnishings matched in cream-colored cotton with a country rose pattern. I took a seat on the bed to peel off my clothes then pulled on a pair of pajamas, yawning and in need of some rest. As I cocooned myself in the feather-soft sheets, I sent a quick text to my parents and Joanne, just to let them know I arrived here safely. I didn’t expect an immediate reply from them because of the time difference.  

Drifting off to sleep was easy. I would have had a full, peaceful night if it wasn’t for the loud, harrowing sound that tore me from the land of slumber. I knew it was late because it was still dark outside. I looked around for my phone and pressed the home button to illuminate the screen.

“It’s four o’clock in the morning for fuck’s sake,” I grumbled, after reading the time.

I was too sleep-drunk to get up and peer through the open window. So, I just lay there and suffered through the commotion. Another loud chorus of keening howls filtered into the night. I recognized it as a wolfs’ song. I had barely managed to grab two hours' worth of sleep, and as the sound grew louder, I groaned with annoyance. Fair enough, this is what I came here for, but for God’s sake, I was exhausted. On clumsy feet, I stumbled out of bed and staggered to the window. The curtains were swaying gently in the cool night breeze, and I made a mental note not to leave it open the following night.

“Oh, bugger off and howl somewhere else,” I complained sleepily. “I’ll get revenge when I come and poke my nose into your habitat. If you disturb my sleep, I’ll fuck up yours. Trust me, I have a box full of rectal thermometers and I’m not afraid to use them.”

My fingers clutched the window frame and slammed it shut. That only made matters worse. It was as if the wolves were heckling me for their own amusement. My eyes strained through the darkness, but all I could make out were shadows. I yanked the curtains closed before shuffling back to bed. At least I knew my research was going to prove a success, especially if there was a pack of wolves living beyond Chloe and Lincoln’s back garden. The insufferable noise continued into the early hours. Instead of letting it torture my eardrums, I plugged my headphones into my phone and listened to my playlist. With the velvety tones of Adam Lavigne crooning into my ears, I drifted back to sleep.

The annoying high-pitched sound of my phone alarm ripped me from a pleasant dream. My earphones only amplified the sound. I yanked them from my ears and rolled over, then grabbed my phone to turn off the alarm. A groan escaped my lips the second I saw it was already eight a.m. My eyes stung and my head felt foggy as if I was suffering from a hangover. The infernal racket from last night didn’t help. I felt as if I hadn’t even slept at all. After much deliberation, I forced myself out of bed and began my morning routine.

Having a shower helped to wake me up, scrubbing myself with the soapy sponge until I felt clean and refreshed. Clutching my damp towel around me, I shuffled over to the window, scanning the clear blue sky for any sign of a rain cloud. The sunny morning helped me to decide what clothes I should wear. I put on a vest top, jeans, and a comfortable pair of sneakers. 

I had a good feeling about today. This place felt like a home away from home, although I wasn’t sure why. New places were supposed to feel different. Whitehaven didn’t. Before leaving my room, I grabbed my handbag and slumped off downstairs towards the communal dining area. Chloe was there, dressed, and ready to start the day. She was busy fussing over her children, who were arguing over who had the most cereal in their dishes. I watched as she tipped a few more grains into one bowl so that it evened them out.

“There, now you’ve got the same amount as your brother.” She placed the bowl down in front of the little blonde-haired girl, who had been giving her some attitude.

“I’m a big boy, aren’t I, Mommy. I’m gonna grow up big and strong just like Poppa Bear, won’t I, Mommy?” The little dark-haired boy asked angelically.

“You sure will, Cameron,” Chloe replied, then bowed down and kissed the top of his head.

“Will I be big like Poppa? Or will I be a princess like you, Mommy?” The little cute blonde girl inquired, scrunching her brows quizzically.

“Oh, Angelica, you’re the only pretty princess around here,” Chloe fawned, squeezing her daughter’s cheeks. She chuckled, then leaned down to plant a kiss on the side of her face.

“Poppa calls you his princess,” Angelica stated, her brown eyes flared wide with innocence.

“Yeah . . . and he’s my big, cuddly teddy bear.” Chloe noticed me standing in the doorway smiling and shot me a grin.

“Coffee?” she offered.

“That would be great, thank you,” I replied politely. I would have preferred tea, but I doubted they drank Yorkshire Tea here. I didn’t much care for alternative brands.

We ate a quick breakfast before we headed into town. It made more sense to take Chloe’s car as it already had the kids’ car seats installed in the back. After such an enchanting breakfast, listening to the children’s tales, I was convinced that they were two of the most adorable children I had ever met.

Cameron and Angelica were four years old and were fraternal twins. Angelica loved to chat non-stop. Chloe often had to remind her to slow down while she was talking, whereas Cameron was the quiet one who hardly said a word. Chloe referred to them as her cubs. Maybe that was just a cute pet name that also meant kids, but they referred to their dad as Poppa Bear. So maybe that’s where the nickname cubs came from.