Chapter 3: Talk

After a few minutes, he stood as Claire began calling from the kitchen. "Dinner is ready.”

“My sister made a bit more of an effort to plan because she doesn't often get to make meals for visitors”

I grinned as I followed him into the dining room, where the food on the table caused my eyes to widen at the sights and scents that made my stomach grumble. Everything was beautifully presented and the cuisine was outstanding. "She had to spend the entire day preparing this,"

"Oh absolutely. She couldn't wait to start cooking dinner." Cayden replied.

To me, Claire made a chair-related motion. I took a seat. “I appreciate you inviting me so I may indulge in this delectable meal of yours.”

Claire smiled and shrugged it off when I expressed my gratitude. It felt like no time had gone when we sat down and began to eat, yet an hour had passed. I made an effort to assist Claire as she rose and cleared the table. When I reached for a platter, Claire merely shooed me away. Cayden simply shook his head and shrugged while motioning for us to enter the living room once again.

He laughed and continued," She won't even allow me to help her.”

Claire brought us coffee and then went back into the kitchen. Cayden to take us to the couch and sit us down. She came over with her coffee a short while later and joined us.

“Did the dense woodland you passed on the way here catch your attention?", posed Claire.

Cayden spoke out and gazed with a bit of warning at his sister, "Claire, quit it."

Rolling her eyes, Claire turned back to face me. "I'm certain the driver let you know about it. He always does that to some outsiders who stay here."

I asked with interest and nodded. "I believe so. Are there any wild animals around?”

"Wolves alone," she responded.

“Wolves?” My eyes grew wide. I am aware that there are creatures like wolves in that kind of woodland, but the thought of me being that near to one is genuinely unsettling.

Claire simply grinned. "Do not be alarmed. You won't be harmed by that. They do not harm people, especially since this month was the time we allowed visitors in our town.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, though, for some inexplicable reason. I can recall how interested I was when I read about the cabin's intended use as a retreat for just one month. I took a drink of the coffee in my fingers and questioned, "You don't let strangers come here that often?"

"No, we don't. Only a small group of carefully chosen individuals to avoid unforeseen circumstances."

"Then I must be lucky to be selected because this place is really wonderful." 

"I'm happy to hear that. This town, this area, carries such significance for us. This was our home, where our lineage has long flowed."

Unable to reply to such a profound and important statement, I smiled. It appeared as though she was envisioning something.

"Have you heard of shifters?" Claire inquired out of the blue as she lowered her gaze to her coffee.

"Shifters?" I asked, intrigued. "No, this is the first time I've heard it."

"Shifters are a combination of a wolf-like beast and a man."

Suddenly, for no apparent reason, I found myself looking out the window. 

She went on to say, "The shifters are a species who have been living for eons, concealing and blending with humans,", she glanced at me. 

"What do you mean, doesn't that seem like a myth?”

Claire simply smiled as she shrugged.

I was in a state of shock as I looked at Claire. The first is what she says, and the second is the growing sense of unease in my chest. Shifters? The idea of a man who could transform into a wolf was something I had never heard of before. I thought it sounded like a myth.

Exhaling, Cayden rose up and turned to face his sister, who was now intently sipping her tea. "I apologize. I'm not sure why she's telling you this, but I can accompany you home so you can get some rest."

I said, "Uh, yeah...sure," and stood up.

Claire gave me a small smile as she raised her head to me. I gave her a bright smile and said, "Thank you for the dinner. All of your food is great. I loved it."

Cayden and I ventured outdoors. When we arrived at the cabin, I waved to Cayden and shut the door, making sure to lock it. I walked to the single room in the cabin after prepping for bed, and as I was about to lay down, my eyes got a glimpse of the window.

I strolled over to it and took a look outside at the dense row of trees that I could make out in the distance. A silvery, brilliant light was projected across the night sky. It was completely dark deep inside those woods, so dense that I could only make out the shadows between the trees.

My skin suddenly felt tense. I noticed that I was particularly looking in one direction while my heart was beating rapidly. However, I made a conscious effort to step away from the window and shook my head to clear it.

I did not feel any sign of sleep as I lay in bed with the lights off and the night outside my window. I ran my hand over the bed's side for my phone and popped it open, pressing the album. When I opened it, the photo of Anthony and I taken when we were out on a date immediately appeared. He was gazing at me, not the camera, so my smile extended to my eyes. I can't erase our photos or my ring, either. Even though it was difficult to look at, it was simply so unforgettable for me.

I murmured, "I'm so pitiful," as I felt a tear escape my eye.

I threw the phone to the side and shielded my eyes with my arms as tears started to fall.