Chapter 139

Grace

I woke up in a bed, and it wasn't any bed that I recognized. The scent of the room was different. It was like being wrapped in the warm, woody embrace of a forest. I smelled pine and fresh, cold earth. I groggily sat up, cocooned in a soft, heavy blanket that seemed to weigh me down in the most comforting way. The texture was different from my usual bedding, and a sense of disorientation washed over me.

As I blinked the sleep from my eyes and gathered my senses, I noticed the low, muffled crackling of a fire nearby. I glanced around and realized I was in a rather lavish cabin, a stark contrast to the modern architecture of my home. The cabin felt like a cozy retreat in the midst of a winter wonderland. A full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room offered a breathtaking view of a frozen lake, its surface a glistening sheet of ice, and beyond it, a dense, snow-covered forest. There was a chaise lounge outside by a fire pit that illuminated the night.h

Slowly, I untangled myself from the blanket, the rich material slipping from my shoulders, and I padded across the room to see the source of the warmth. Charles was there, tending to a roaring fire that cast dancing shadows across the room. His broad frame silhouetted against the flames.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the mesmerizing play of light and shadow on his features. He was ruggedly handsome, and there was something poetic about him stoking a fire in the heart of a remote cabin, still dressed as if he had come from an office. He turned to look at me, his eyes locking onto mine, and a warm, welcoming smile spread across his face.

"Hey you, Grace," he said, his voice a soothing balm to my senses. "I hope you slept well."

As I moved closer to him and the fire's radiant heat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of serenity wash over me.

"You feeling any better?"

I nodded. "A little... Where am I? What's going on?"

He gently closed the glass door of the fireplace, turning to face me fully. "We're in a remote cabin, Grace. It's a place I own in a neutral area, not too far from an Enforcer base. You're safe here, don't worry."

I furrowed my brow, the fog of sleep gradually lifting from my mind. "A cabin? But how did I...?" I trailed off, realizing that the last thing I remembered was being tucked into a blanket in Charles' lap in the car.

"You've kidnapped me."

He wiggled his hand. "Not quite. Amira, Eason, Kelly, and myself, we all agreed you needed a break. Cecil was even behind it. You've been pushing yourself too hard. It's just us here, and I'm the only one with a phone, so you're not going to have much of a chance of stressing."

I sighed and rubbed my temples. The weight of recent events and responsibilities had left me feeling drained, and while I was grateful for their concern, I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and gratitude for this surprise retreat.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you can't just force me into a vacation, Charles."

He smirked. "Oh, darling, of course I can. Who is going to report you missing when everyone who would know exactly where you are?"

I huffed as he stood and came to me. He cupped my face.

"You've been juggling an immense amount of stress--change, terror, etc. It's just a few days to recharge, alright? The pack won't fall apart in a day."

His reassurance was soothing, and part of me recognized the necessity of a break, but I still wanted to resist. The absolute quiet around us was breathtaking and soothing in a way that I couldn't describe. The cabin, with its remote serenity and only Charles for company, was a welcome respite. I sighed.

"Fine," I said, sinking into the plush couch, wrapped in the thick, warm blanket, and looked at Charles. "So, what's the plan?"

His eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Well, Grace, my job is to keep your mind off of things. Force you to enjoy the tranquility of this place, sit by the fire, and maybe even go for a walk in the snow. Laze about... Maybe a few other R-rated activities if you feel up to it."

My lips twitched. "Showers?"

"If you want," he said. "I think you might enjoy a fireside romp underneath fur."

I wrinkled my nose. "I don't think I'd ever be okay with having sex while shifted." He burst into laughter, and my face heated. "What? Don't lycans do that?"

He snicked, stumbling back. His whole body was shaking. The air was filled with his laughter, and it made me feel embarrassed and a little uneducated.

"Is that what werewolves think of us?" He snickered. "We shift and work out all of our... animal urges in our shifted forms?"

I bit my lip. "There was a... lycan section in one of my culture classes in middle school, standard States education..."

He chuckled and turned. "The only thing we do in our shifted forms is hunt and fight, usually. If there's a couple out there that's tried bestiality essentially, I haven't heard about it."

I huffed as he snickered and walked around me. "I'm going to check around. Stay warm, hm? We're eating outside."

"Outside?" I asked. "Why?"

He grinned, his rugged features illuminated by the crackling flames. "You'll see. Now sit. Want something warm to drink?"

I bit my lip. "Mulled wine?"

"Lycan Winter coming up."

He ducked around the corner. I leaned back into the soft cushions and gazed out at the snow-covered landscape. I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this unexpected retreat.

He came back with a steaming mug of something that smelled so good my mouth watered. He handed it to me and smiled.

"Any other burning questions about lycan sexuality?"

"No," I scowled. "This is a conspiracy, you know."

He replied, his voice soft and soothing, "A well-intentioned one, at least."

I sipped and settled into the comforting embrace of the couch as Charles drifted somewhere else in the cabin. I looked out at the serene, snow-covered landscape out the window. Then, he came into view and started waving his hands through the air. I thought he looked a little funny until I noticed the little glimmer that followed his hands. He crouched by the fire pit that seemed empty and snapped his fingers. A flame roared to life.

The snow-covered landscape around them was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun and the fire. I watched him pull a wall open, revealing a closet inside, and pull out a large fur. I had no idea what it could have been from, but he caught my eye and grinned. I stuck out my tongue and went back to watching the scenery.

I heard him coming back. Then, a tray floated behind him.

"Ready?"

I stood and followed him, intrigued. We stepped outside, and while there was a chill, it was getting warmer.

"You can do magic... Can you heal, too?"

"No," Charles said. "I mean, I can do basic first aid, but my magic isn't pre-disposed to healing... You could call me a combat witch if you'd like."

"Something tells me that's not common."

"More common than you think with lycan, so mixed heritage, and there are a lot of us..."

"And Ethan?"

"We'd have to get him formally tested to know for sure."

I sighed. "I never thought I'd need to know something more concrete about magic."

"It would help you in any talks with witches in the future."

He led me to the chaise lounge. Then, he had the tray float in front of us. There was still sizzling meat and side and a giant pitcher of mulled wine.

We ate, nestled together by the fire. I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the wilderness that surrounded us. The lake seemed to sparkle with ice as the sun set and the moon rose. The tall pine trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches heavy with snow.

The flames flickered and danced, casting dancing shadows on the snowy ground.

The chill in the air nipped at my cheek a little, but the warmth of the food and the blanket kept me warm. As we ate, I felt myself relaxing more and more.

"As usual, you've enchanted my stomach," I said, finishing.

"Good to hear," he said, sending the empty dishes floating back into the house. "Feeling adventurous? Not bestiality adventurous."

I wrinkled my nose. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Never. Adventure?"

I nodded. "What did you have in mind?"

"Several steps above camping... It's a tradition that we do have: sharing body heat by a roaring fire."

"What does it mean?"

He tucked a lock behind my ear. "Intimacy, closeness... peace and safety."

"And what does it entail."

"Sleeping nearly naked outside," he smirked. "If you're lucky, we might even get some R-rated activity in."

I bit my lip. "Show me."