Page 13 of Demon Rejected

“Uuu.” She moans and goes back to sleep.

“Little Flame, Scarlett?"

* * *

Scarlett

As I opened my eyes, he stood there with a bowl of food in his hand. Why was I not dead?

“Why didn’t you let me die?"

Mountain Man sits on the side of the bed, his eyes carry a deep sadness. “If you do something like that again, I’ll put you over my knee and spank you with my belt."

The serious way he said it made me giggle.

“Yeah, sure."

“Scarlett, you have to start understanding and accepting reality. I don’t want to harm you, but I won’t allow you to harm yourself either. You are not mad or crazy. We’re wolf shifters. I’m a different kind of shifter than you. I’m not your enemy. I’m part of an organization run by shifters who free young shifters like you from places that abuse them. I will teach you how to control your fire and your wolf. I’ll teach you how to fight and how to use guns and, at the end of the training, you can choose your own path. Until then, you are going to do as I say."

Mountain Man was bossy. Even though he was bossy, I felt he cared about me, and there was another thing that I wasn’t about to tell. Listening to him made my core melt. That was crazy. Have I already developed Stockholm Syndrome?

I pushed my hair back from my forehead and touched my throat. The scar should be there, gushing and thick.

“Where’s the scar?"

“I helped you heal. Wolves are pack creatures. We thrive when we are not alone. Your wolf is stronger now that she’s close to mine."

I had to wrap my mind around what this man, this very good-looking man, was telling me.

“You’re saying I’m not crazy? You shifted into a wolf out there. The real deal, a fur and fangs type wolf."

“Yes, I did, and you should be able to do the same. Unfortunately, there’s not much information about the Fire Wolves, but I’ll help you as much as possible. All I know is that you have the control of fire."

“Do you turn with the full moon, like in the old movies?"

Mountain Man laughed. His hair was pulled back in a short ponytail, and his shoulders looked so strong and covered in muscles. I wanted to become a vine and surround them.

“The full moon has a strong pull, but I don’t have to shift if I don’t want to. I like to shift and run through the forest because a wolf feels closer to nature during the full moon. But, unfortunately, Hollywood had many things connected to the shifter nation wrong."

“Wait. There are more like you?"

“Yes, and I will teach you how to identify them. You have an accurate sense of smell. Also, your gut feeling is warning you when you are in danger. Am I right?"

“Yes.” I looked down. He put a bowl on a tray in front of me.

“Eat. You need your strength." He took his bowl and started to eat the pasta dish. To be honest, it smelled delicious.

“The food is delicious,” I said after stuffing a fork into my mouth. “Is your wife cooking?" What was wrong with me? This man was probably in his 40s, he could be my dad, but my heart shrank at the idea that this hunk had a wife.

He smiled.

“No." And he took another bite.

“Girlfriend?"

“I cook. I can make a few dishes. I’m glad you like it."

“Uhu. Are we alone here, and, hm, where is here exactly?"