casualties.
Chapter 2
Ingrid felt relief wash through her as she drove back to her own side of the gates that opened to Mountain View Crest. If she didn’t need the money, she wouldn’t have taken the cruddy job that sent her to the other side of town. It’s not like she hadn’t applied to other places, but with her options running short, she took what was offered. At least most of her deliveries would be local and on this side of the fence.
She looked at the barbed fencing that surrounded the ‘other part’ of the city in her rearview mirror. She wondered if he was one of them. The researcher she dropped the package off to looked like any other human, but she knew he wouldn’t be there if he wasn’t one of them.
Her father was less than happy she’d have to make deliveries there, but understood work was work. He’d spoken about the shifters over the years, calling them mangy, mutated, and dirty. Dangerous was another word he used often when it came to their world. He knew a guy, that knew a guy that had a cousin that got attacked years ago, back in the years before they added the barbed wire to the fence. Unfortunately families were split and people came and went, but most stuck to their own side of the fence, especially at night. You never knew what would happen in that town at night when they were out prowling in their animal forms. Full moons were the worst…or so he heard.
It was hard to imagine the researcher turning into some wild animal. She wondered what his other form was. It was probably better not to think about it. He was probably something big and strong. At least based on how broad his shoulders were and his size. She shook his image from her mind, though her curiosity laced around her brain on and off as the day wore on. It was the first time she interacted with one of his kind.
Her father kept her sheltered from it as much as he could over the years, and based on his telling of it, with good reason. And her mother, well, she’d lost her mother to a mysterious illness too many years ago to remember. Her dad still talked of her with sadness in his eyes. He could be a little overbearing at times, a little overprotective, but he meant well.
Part of her was fascinated, the other part was scared. She was sure how she felt about the place, but knew with her job she’d be going back. She just didn’t think it would be the next day. When she got her delivery schedule, her stomach knotted. Maybe it was a good thing. Just get used to it early, she tried to convince herself, but when it came down to basics, it made her uneasy.
Chapter 3
Dr. Quinn waited on the courier. He could smell her coming. His keen sense of smell stayed with him even in his human form. Jagger turned to face the door as she knocked and waited for his answer.
“ Come in,” he said, now turning his attention to the girl as she cautiously tip-toed across the room to him.
She avoided eye contact again. Her movements were closed, her body language tight and guarded. He could almost see her holding her breath.
“ Ingrid, how nice to see you again,” he extended.
“ Thank you.” Just get the signature and get out . Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She dared herself to look up. He looked like any other man. Like a man that would live in her neighborhood… only sexier, stronger, bigger. Her eyes darted away again. It wasn’t polite to stare. She hadn’t noticed how attractive he was last time. She wasn’t expecting the thought to jump out at her. Ingrid swallowed hard and held out her electronic clipboard for a signature after placing the package on the counter beside him.
“ Ingrid,” he quizzed, “what exactly are you afraid of?”
“ What?” She was taken off guard. He sensed her fear. Never let them know you’re afraid , were her father’s words of warning if she should come across one. She tried to bolster her courage, but instead her hand shook.
Jagger looked at her plump, little sausage fingers.
Chapter 2
Ingrid felt relief wash through her as she drove back to her own side of the gates that opened to Mountain View Crest. If she didn’t need the money, she wouldn’t have taken the cruddy job that sent her to the other side of town. It’s not like she hadn’t applied to other places, but with her options running short, she took what was offered. At least most of her deliveries would be local and on this side of the fence.
She looked at the barbed fencing that surrounded the ‘other part’ of the city in her rearview mirror. She wondered if he was one of them. The researcher she dropped the package off to looked like any other human, but she knew he wouldn’t be there if he wasn’t one of them.
Her father was less than happy she’d have to make deliveries there, but understood work was work. He’d spoken about the shifters over the years, calling them mangy, mutated, and dirty. Dangerous was another word he used often when it came to their world. He knew a guy, that knew a guy that had a cousin that got attacked years ago, back in the years before they added the barbed wire to the fence. Unfortunately families were split and people came and went, but most stuck to their own side of the fence, especially at night. You never knew what would happen in that town at night when they were out prowling in their animal forms. Full moons were the worst…or so he heard.
It was hard to imagine the researcher turning into some wild animal. She wondered what his other form was. It was probably better not to think about it. He was probably something big and strong. At least based on how broad his shoulders were and his size. She shook his image from her mind, though her curiosity laced around her brain on and off as the day wore on. It was the first time she interacted with one of his kind.
Her father kept her sheltered from it as much as he could over the years, and based on his telling of it, with good reason. And her mother, well, she’d lost her mother to a mysterious illness too many years ago to remember. Her dad still talked of her with sadness in his eyes. He could be a little overbearing at times, a little overprotective, but he meant well.
Part of her was fascinated, the other part was scared. She was sure how she felt about the place, but knew with her job she’d be going back. She just didn’t think it would be the next day. When she got her delivery schedule, her stomach knotted. Maybe it was a good thing. Just get used to it early, she tried to convince herself, but when it came down to basics, it made her uneasy.
Chapter 3
Dr. Quinn waited on the courier. He could smell her coming. His keen sense of smell stayed with him even in his human form. Jagger turned to face the door as she knocked and waited for his answer.
“ Come in,” he said, now turning his attention to the girl as she cautiously tip-toed across the room to him.
She avoided eye contact again. Her movements were closed, her body language tight and guarded. He could almost see her holding her breath.
“ Ingrid, how nice to see you again,” he extended.
“ Thank you.” Just get the signature and get out . Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She dared herself to look up. He looked like any other man. Like a man that would live in her neighborhood… only sexier, stronger, bigger. Her eyes darted away again. It wasn’t polite to stare. She hadn’t noticed how attractive he was last time. She wasn’t expecting the thought to jump out at her. Ingrid swallowed hard and held out her electronic clipboard for a signature after placing the package on the counter beside him.
“ Ingrid,” he quizzed, “what exactly are you afraid of?”
“ What?” She was taken off guard. He sensed her fear. Never let them know you’re afraid , were her father’s words of warning if she should come across one. She tried to bolster her courage, but instead her hand shook.
Jagger looked at her plump, little sausage fingers.
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