Page 5 of Twisted Destiny

“Just get the hell out of here,” he growled, feeling his wolf push forward in his mind, wanting to take command and force Sherry to leave him alone once and for all, but he knew how dangerous that was. Not to mention the fact that he was pretty damn sure Calder would not appreciate him wolfing out in Cam’s Diner during rush hour just to stick it to his ex.

“I’ll check back on you soon. I’m sure you won’t be too busy,” she said, strutting out of the diner.

Callie returned and refilled his coffee cup. “That woman is poison.”

Jackson answered with a nod. Callie was right on the mark with her observation. Sherry was poison. To Sherry, all the work he’d done to straighten out his life and to repair his reputation had meant nothing. In fact, she felt it made him look weak. To make matters worse, she actually wanted him to embrace his troubled past and join her and the criminals at Red Fang.

Remembering what he overheard Cam talking about, he met her at the cash register. “Did I eavesdrop on you correctly? Were you recommending me for some work?”

“Sure was. And I would’ve introduced you, but I think she got spooked by Sherry’s little interaction with you. Hell, I thought our diner was about to have a video go viral on social media.”

“Who was it?”

“A woman named Hayley Adams.”

“Adams? Do I know her?”

“You might remember old Henry Adams? He was her great-uncle.”

“Huh, I had no idea he had any family left. I thought Henry was the last of them, after all the shit with Griffin. He had it out for that poor family.”

“I know. Henry kept his mouth shut about Hayley. He didn’t want anyone to know she survived. Hell, even Hayley didn’t know whatever happened to Henry. She ran off when Twisted Tail was a total wreck under the old Alpha. I think Henry found a way to get her out of here. She was smart. She never looked back. Henry didn’t come back until after Calder took over and straightened things out. I guess you could say they just missed meeting each other again by a few years. It’s a tragic story.”

“What brings her back here now?”

“Calder. He went out of his way to track her down so he could let her know she inherited Henry’s house and whatever else he left behind. All I told her was that you'd be a good choice if she was looking for someone to do some work over there. But then Sherry had to drop in like the wicked witch and ruin the moment. I was going to introduce the two of you, but she didn’t seem to want to hang around once the drama started.”

“Well, I could sure use the work. Thanks for giving her my name, at least. I’ll probably take a drive up there. Maybe I’ll catch up to her and get an idea of what her plans are for the cabin.”

“Well, I wouldn’t wait too long before heading over there. She’s only planning on staying a week, just long enough to make any arrangements and get the property listed for sale.”

“Thanks for the lead, Cam!” he replied, donning his rain poncho and heading back out into the rain.

4

Hayley eyed the long, muddy driveway. It was mostly uphill, and with the rain, she doubted her tiny rental car would make it more than a few yards before sliding helplessly into the ditch.

Choosing to make the hike on foot, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed a flagstone path that wound through the ancient evergreens and moss-covered boulders. The fog and shadows gave the scene an eerie vibe, sending a chill up her spine.

She sighed. “This gloominess seems appropriate, sadly. When you consider the circumstances.”

Her wolf scoffed. “Hah! Gloomy? Take a deep breath and relish the scent of the earth and the pines. Lie to yourself and say you haven’t missed being up in these mountains at least a little bit.”

“No, I don’t miss it. That’s why we have parks at home. All the nature you want without the trouble. Besides, all I smell is mold and worms.”

But when she turned the last bend, she noticed the cabin. The warm orange glow flickering from the windows pierced the mist. A lone rocking chair was the only thing on the long front porch, which stretched across the entire length of the cabin. She had expected to find a run-down shack, but instead, she found a neatly kept home. She couldn’t deny it. The cabin looked warm and welcoming.

Off to the side of the cabin, a mud-splattered pickup truck was parked at the top of the drive. A couple exited the cab just as she stepped onto the porch. The man was huge, easily six and a half feet tall with shoulders so wide, she wondered if he’d fit through the door frame of the cabin without turning sideways. She could feel the power of his Alpha radiating from him. The feeling of dread pooled in her stomach, while her wolf responded with excitement.

“Calm down, girl. We have no idea what he’s like as a person. He could be worse than Griffin for all we know. This could be nothing more than an elaborate setup to capture us.” Hayley silently warned her wolf.

“It’s not a trick or a trap. He’s good. He’s a true Alpha—not an imposter. I can feel it. I do not doubt it.”

The woman who had stepped out of the truck looked happy and confident. She wrapped one arm around the Alpha and smiled up at him. Compared to her mate, she looked tiny—almost half his size. But what Hayley quickly noticed was how much love the woman had for her man. Surely, if he was evil, as Griffin had been, he wouldn’t have such a lovely mate who openly showed her affection for him.

“Hayley! Glad to see you made it. I’m Calder, and this is my mate and wife, Daisy,” the man said, extending his hand.

“It’s nice to meet both of you,” she replied, feeling the raw power seeping out of the Alpha’s pores as she shook his hand. The excitement in her wolf continued to build. She felt like her animal might explode out of her at any moment.

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