Chapter One

 

 

Jane Pratt clutched her purse tighter, bringing it close against her body as her steps became more rapid with every passing second. The darkness of the forest which lurked just beyond the parking lot seemed far too forbidding for her to not pay it the respect it was due. She’d heard stories about what remained hidden just beyond the tree line. Tales of what the other kind did once the sun set. Other than curiosity of the shifter kind, they were stories that she hadn’t paid much mind to. At least not until she’d taken the job at Covington Properties. The picturesque landscape that the luxury housing complex splayed across was beautiful on even the dreariest of days. But, at night time, the solitude that the estates provided lent to a creepiness that she couldn’t ignore no matter how hard she tried.

Having been unemployed for nearly two months in a job market that had little to offer, the position as lead sales associate was one that had far too many pros than cons for her to turn down. Her savings had dwindled to her last hundred dollars. It wouldn’t have mattered what or where the job was. It was one she had to take. But in that moment, walking in the darkness with only a dim light casting a small bit of comfort as she made her way to her car, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe the benefits would not be worth the risk.

If she was honest with herself, she’d rationalize her fear, knowing that her imagination is far worse than anything that she feared. Ever since she was a child she’d had a ridiculous flair for the dramatics when it came to anything spooky. And much to her dismay, becoming an adult hadn’t cured her of those foolish childhood fears.

A noise startled her from her worried thoughts. The sound of rustling leaves sang ominously in the distance as she fought to keep herself from turning around. She wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t look back. Her car was far too close for her to stop now.

Her heels clicked on the pavement, echoing in the deafening silence. Only a few yards to go and her heart was nearly pounding through her chest.

With her keys in hand, the longest one slid through her fingertips should she need to use it as a poking device, she pressed the unlock button and swung open her car door before sliding in behind the wheel and pressing all lock buttons.

Breathing in deeply, trying to steady her nerves she laid her head back against the headrest. The anxiety and unnecessary dread were beginning to subside as she silently chided herself for carrying on like such a scared child.

With winter approaching, daylight savings time had done her no favors over the weekend by making dark come much sooner than it had.

This job and the money it was bringing in were worth her heightened fear and wandering thoughts.

Resolving to get a grip on reality and stop letting her juvenile fears get the better of her, she let out a deep breath and put her key in the ignition. The welcome sound of classic eighties rock blasted through her speakers as she put on her seatbelt.

She put her car in reverse and pulled out of the parking space. Ready to get home, she turned on the bright setting of her headlights in preparation for the dark mountain roads.

As she turned to exit the lot her eyes caught a glimpse of something reflecting in the distance. At first, she couldn’t tell what it was, but then, as it turned to face her, she knew exactly what she was staring at.

The deep hues or oranges blended along with black stripes as the majestic tiger stood in the distance. A thick and furry tale moved back and forth as it appeared to be almost waving at her and acknowledging her presence.

Blinking its eyes once and then twice, she saw a gentleness staring back at her. One that contradicted her fears of the big cats and all the shifters. Her isolated childhood with overprotective and hovering parents had done her little favors in terms of how to handle real life. She may put on a brave face in front of others, but what many didn’t realize was that she had an unhealthy fear of the unknown.

The tiger leered at her, seemingly sizing her up as he paced to and froe in the distance. She was transfixed by the glow of its eyes, the way that they reflected at her, unaffected by the harsh glow of the headlights.

She wasn’t sure why, but she felt oddly calm as they stared at one another. The fear that normally held her hostage was no longer present. It opened its mouth slightly, making a small noise, one that she couldn’t hear, though she knew somehow that it was unthreatening.

Turning down her car radio, she inched closer toward the creature, purposely going slow as to not scare it away.

It stepped out of the way, moving from the parking lots entrance as she approached. For a moment she thought of rolling down her window and reaching out her hand. It was an idea that both scared and excited her.

She’d seen tigers in the Zoos. And she’d seen the documentaries of the shifters who live among the humans. But, to her knowledge, she’d not met any. At least none that she was aware of. And this one, she was sure was no creature who’d escaped from the zoo. Whoever it was, it was most definitely a shifter. And a shifter that for some reason unbeknownst to her, she wanted to know more about.

Seconds ticked by as she looked at the cat, trying to read his expression while it looked at her with gentle and unthreatening eyes.

With a soft and slowed blink, the tiger began to move. Their moment apparently over as it turned its head and walked away toward the tree line beyond the parking lot.

She watched as the strong and majestic creature disappeared, wondering who they were, what they’d look like in their human state. Or if even, someday they might someday meet.