ONE
Gerri turned the envelope over and back again in her hand before opening it. It was curiously rigid. Removing the folded pages, she found a DVD tucked between them marked, ‘Eyes only.’ She set the kettle on to boil and spread the pages on the counter. The handwriting was distinctly masculine.
Ms. Wilder,
We need your help. Addian Hevir is the sole heir and chief to the Hevir clan. Unfortunately, if he does not find and take a mate soon, the number of challengers for his post is incalculable.
Yes, he is aware that I am reaching out to you. (He’s not happy about it, but is aware.) Whatever efforts he has made to find a mate have not worked. Please watch the enclosed video to understand more fully the magnitude of our dilemma. There are no females of our kind, so consequently, finding a mate is challenging at best.
I am hoping you can help us. I have heard from multiple others that you are our best option. I am enclosing Addian’s contact information as well as my own on the additional page. Please copy me on anything you send him and I will make sure that he is wherever you need him to be.
The hope of our clan is in your hands.
Respectfully,
Omen Brander
Gerri’s curiosity was piqued. The whistle of the kettle pulled her attention from the pages. Pouring herself a cup, she left it on the counter to steep, moving to the player to insert the disk. Her eyebrows arched at the still image that loaded before she pushed play. Addian Hevir was huge. She would watch, but just at a glance, was nearly certain she knew exactly what she was dealing with.
As the video started, she crossed her arms over her chest and tapped long, well-manicured fingers against her elbow as she took in the scene. As suspected, she was watching a berserker. But, she couldn’t guesstimate his overall size by the background, it was filled with mature trees that gave her nothing to gauge from. Her eyes widened and squinted as she watched him become even larger still when the berserker took over and the orange glow lit his eyes.
Sitting down, she flipped through her mental Rolodex of possible potential matches. Her thoughts paused as he changed again. Over the course of the next several minutes of video, he shifted forms multiple times, at least a half-dozen that she noticed. While certainly no expert, she knew enough to know that this berserker had a big problem. If he did not find a mate, the beast within would soon take over, and his humanity would be lost for good.
As video concluded, he was returned to his more human form. The exhaustion was evident across his face at the effort required to do so. She would need to work quickly. Luckily, she knew just the female he needed. The only question was if it could work. They were from dramatically different worlds. Though their paths could easily cross professionally, the chances of them getting together by any other means but her, was slight. She would make it happen.
Tapping her nails against the tabletop, she debated. It took less than a moment. Grabbing her phone, she moved to the counter to get the number. By the fourth ring she was preparing to hang up. She would not leave a voicemail about this. A gruff voice nearly shouted into the receiver.
“Hevir!”
“Mr. Hevir,” she said pointedly. “It’s Ms. Wilder. Have I caught you at an inopportune moment?”
She could hear his surprise easily through the line.
“My apologies.” He said at a more respectable volume. “No, now is fine.”
“Excellent. I received the note from Mr. Brander with the video. He indicates that you are aware, but unhappy about this development. I need to know from you if you are actually open to this process, or not. It will not work otherwise.” She directed sternly.
He exhaled forcefully, though it was muffled as though he covered the phone. “I suppose. I don’t see that I have other choices, and he will badger me mercilessly if I don’t try. If he trusts you, then I will also trust you, and be open to the process.”
“Excellent. I wonder if you could tell me a bit about yourself. The video shows clearly what you are, and the challenge you are facing, but doesn’t tell me much about you as a person.” She said sweetly.
“What do you want to know?” He hedged. “Like what?”
“For example, what do you enjoy? What do you do to relax? What do you do in your free time? What are you looking for in a mate?”
He scoffed. “Relax? Free time? I’m not sure that I know what that is. I don’t make time for anything like that.”
She could hear him scratching the rough of his chin and smirked to herself that it shouldn’t be a difficult question. She was preparing to prod him again when he spoke.
“I suppose the water calms me. I am usually relaxed by the sway of a boat.”
“That’s a start…” She forced herself to wait for him to say more, shaking her head by his next comment.
“Uhmm... Yeah, no. That’s it.”
“Your hesitation tells me that there is something else.”
She could hear him grumbling under his breath, though again it was muffled. She snickered to herself that he somehow believed that would dull her ability to hear it.
“I can’t believe you are wanting me to tell you this.” He said, the sound hitching as he obviously fidgeted on his end of the call.
“Would it be better if we met and you told me in person?” She challenged. “Or, I could ask Mr. Brander.”
She heard him snort harshly. “He would be more than thrilled to share it with you. No, I’ll tell.” He groused. “I like bubble baths. The static-y sound of the foam as it settles clears my head.” He finally admitted.
“Bubble baths.” She repeated softly, considering the sound he was referencing. It had not occurred to her that the sound was soothing. “I see. Well, if that’s all, I will be back in touch soon. I may have someone for you to meet.”