Page 4 of Call of A Eagle

“Lyra,” I said, opting to fold my arms across my chest instead of shaking his hand.

A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Dirt doesn’t bother me. I would have shaken your hand,” he said, leaning in.

I managed a tight-lipped smile, still unsure what to make of him. When he placed his hands on his hips and turned to look at the garden beds again, he released a low whistle under his breath.

“Yeah, this place is definitely in need of something,” he said.

I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or overwhelmed.

“It’s home, and it’s beautiful,” I replied, a bit defensively. “It’s just in need of someone to tame it.”

“Good thing I like a challenge.” He shifted to glance at me and grinned.

I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that he seemed to have accepted the challenge or anxious. There was one thing I knew for sure, though—I’d have to keep a close eye on him. I couldn’t afford any more uncertainty in my life, and I wasn’t about to let this handsome stranger disrupt what little balance I’d carved out amid it all.

As Waylen walked past me to get a closer look at the nearest garden bed, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope spark to life within me—despite my reservations about him. There was achance Brody was still right about him being a perfect fit for this job.

A small chance, but a chance all the same.

2

WAYLEN

Ibent down to get a closer look at one of the garden beds. Brushing my fingers over the tangled mess of weeds and overgrown plants, I noticed the soil was dry and cracked in some areas, like it hadn’t seen a decent watering in weeks. There were some plants with yellowed leaves and brittle stems, while others were healthier looking.

Even though I didn’t know Jack about gardening, it was easy to see that this bed wasn’t just neglected—it was on the brink of giving up entirely. However, that could have been due to the weather change. We were heading into fall, after all.

What was I doing?

I was supposed to be looking for Maribel—the eccentric raccoon shifter and shaman who might help me and the rest of the Misfit Shifters free Xander from Lucius’s spirit—not to take on a job as a gardener.

Clearly, Lyra had been expecting someone—someone who wasn’t me.

However, now that I was here, I felt as though there was something I was meant to do here. Something big. While I didn’t understand what that was, I understood that my eagle felt aconnection to this land. There was a pull he felt here—a pull I felt, too.

“Each bed has gotten out of control, as you can see,” Lyra said, pulling me from my thoughts. Her voice had a hint of frustration in it, like she’d been battling this garden for a while and was losing the fight. “It will take time, but you said you like a challenge. Does that mean you’ll take the job?”

I glanced at her. “I’ve always wanted to star in my own jungle adventure,” I joked, thinking a little humor might help break the ice between us, but the look she gave me remained all business.

Tough crowd.

Standing to my full height, I locked eyes with her again. “I’ll be here at eight in the morning tomorrow to get started. It’ll take me a while to get things tamed properly, but I’m sure I can do it.”

A noise, like someone huffing, made its way to my ears. I glanced in that direction, and noticed an older woman on the porch, watching us with sharp eyes. While she had the same guarded look as Lyra, there was something else in her gaze, too. The old woman looked as though she could see straight through me.

Was she Maribel?

She was a shifter. I could sense that much about her. Lyra was too. Although, I wasn’t sure what type of shifter they were.

“Don’t mind her. That’s my grandmother. This is all hers,” Lyra said, gesturing to the garden and cabin. “She built these beds and planted them years ago with my grandfather’s help.”

The old woman’s expression didn’t soften any. Instead, she seemed to drill into me deeper. It was as though she was studying me, trying to figure out what I was really about. For a moment, I wondered if she saw through my little act, but then I shook the thought off.

“Eight tomorrow morning sounds good,” Lyra said, hesitating.

Did she not trust I’d be here when I said I would? How late was the person she’d been waiting for?

I debated coming clean and letting her know I wasn’t who she thought I was, but then decided against it. If that old woman was Maribel, then working in her garden was the best way to gain her trust and see if she’d help with the Xander issue.

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