20. Monica

20

MONICA

" T hank you kindly for this. I really needed it."

That was an understatement. I couldn't put my need to get out of that sanctuary into words. My first day at work was not what I had expected. I met each and every one of my colleagues. They were not that many of them, but the doctors and nurses were not my issue.

It seemed that word about Shandaken's new doctor had spread far and wide. Making me into an absolutely uncomfortable spectacle that Monday morning. The locals were apparently enthralled by the fact that a New Yorker had decided to "honor them with her presence" in Shandaken's Medical Center. At least those were the mayor's words.

The mayor … it was astounding to my New York City sensibilities that the town's highest-ranking official had chosen to be there, and so very early in the day no less. After his short speech, many of the town's three thousand residents had paraded through the halls of the medical center, hoping to catch a glimpse of their new doctor. I must have shaken more hands in eight hours than I had in two years at the Metropolitan Hospital. By the time my shift was over I was exhausted and had a throbbing headache.

Heading back to that "dungeon" as Raul had called it was not an option. I needed space. Wide-open, big space with sky and most of all, no gawking crowds. When I met Helena that afternoon and she was about to transport us back to the sanctuary, I instead asked her to take me to the place where Raul and I had kissed for the first time.

"I can understand your frustration," she said in a cheerful tone as the two of us strolled through the brush. "You're new here and not used to this sort of attention. I should have warned you about the locals. They're small town folk, which means everyone knows everyone. Everybody's business, no matter how hush-hush, tends to get out and sometimes, they do get a bit too friendly."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked looking over at her and trying to understand.

I'd never in my life been in a small town for more than a night. Everything she had just said sounded so weird as to be completely alien. In the city you minded your own business. Period.

"Don't worry about it. It's really not a big deal," Helena said. "It's just that they tend to be a little too cordial at times. Like this one time a local farmer, Walter Telford, had a cow in labor. Christopher Lansdale, the local vet, came and delivered her. Everything went just fine. Cow and calf were in perfect health. Walter was so happy, God rest his soul... He hugged Lansdale so hard that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets."

"Oh, God…" I chuckled, her story sending a sensation of warmth into my stomach. "You're a fine storyteller, Helena."

"So I've been told." She smiled over at me. "Hold on."

Her abrupt halt made me to do the same and then I heard the noise of leaves and brush being crushed under pressure. Further down in the woods, three figures were disappearing behind the tree trunks, only to reemerge closer to our spot. I recognized the three immediately. All three of them were tall. The shortest was 6'1" or 6'2" with short, blond hair and was the leanest of the group. On his left, a man of almost equal height, but a heftier stature walked. He had brown, somewhat longer hair. On his left, was the biggest and most handsome of the three. Raul…

"It's nice to see you back here in human form, pups," Helena said, her voice firm, almost grim. "I take it you were looking for me."

"That's true," Raul confirmed. "And we're here in human form as a display of trust, so drop the attitude. We didn't come here to fight or argue with you."

"You seem troubled," she said as she scanned their faces one at a time. "What's wrong?"

"We ran into our Alpha tonight," Raul said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I thought I was in for a repeat of our fight from a couple of weeks ago, but I was wrong. He came to inform us of some human deaths that happened in nearby towns." Raul looked at me for a long moment and my heart sped up as our eyes locked. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth but the frown on his face won out as he furrowed his brow and shook his head. "Another shock for you Mon, I'm sure, but the deaths were because of vampires." He shifted his gaze to Helena. "Do you know anything about that?"

Vampires? Sure, why not. Shifters, witches, only stands to reason, right? Vampires. For fucks sake. What next? Bigfoot?

Thinking that, I scanned the woods half-expecting to see some large ape-like human staring back at me because my world was getting just that weird.

"I know that he is correct," Helena nodded, pursing her lips. "Two humans have been recently murdered by vampires, not so far from the Catskills. What else did he say?"

"He used that as an excuse not to fight," Raul said, putting some force in his voice. "That's the funny part, actually. Brad never shies from a fight. He's not what you'd call a leader of the people, at best he's a self-centered bastard. Helena…" he stepped closer to the witch "I saw myself fighting him by the lake in your orb. I saw it, but I don't know one thing and that's the thing I think that matters most. When is that?"

"Sometime in the next four days," the witch answered readily. "But all you be advised, and listen to me, that was only one possible version of the future. The future is always based on the decisions you have made at the time you view it and making assumptions as to what you'll decide next. If one of those future decisions changes then the future changes too."

"So, it most likely goes down before those bloodsuckers will decide to invade Dawson," Raul concluded and looked away from her.

"Vampires…" I sighed, running my fingers through my hair as I shook my head.

As if the world wasn't dangerous enough without all this. Home invasions, mass shootings, terrorists, none of that was enough for me. Now I had to get involved with these guys. Yet, when I looked at Raul, I didn't care. It's not just how sexy he was, though that's a given, it's him. He's a gravity well and I was caught in it. I couldn't imagine not being involved with him. Being near him. The idea was too unreal to even consider, no matter the risks. Vampires or no vampires.

"I am sorry, Monica," Helena said in a mild tone. "I should have told you about those creatures, too."

"They're our most ancient enemies," Raul declared, sauntering towards me. "The hate between our kind goes back centuries."

"I need an answer from you now, firstborn." The witch started her sentence before he completed his. "What exactly have you decided about your Alpha? To challenge him to a fight?"

"I'm still debating," he answered, his tone deepening. "And with a vampire threat looming over our heads, I'm not going to decide anytime soon."

"That threat isn't important!" Helena exclaimed, a red glow spreading over her eyes. "There's no telling what that vampire clan will do! They may be about as strong as you, but they'll have to be suicidal to mess with an entire town of wolf shifters. Face it, firstborn. It's not bloodsuckers you should worry about right now. It's your unsavory Alpha. He's the one standing between you and your future."

"I know," he replied in an almost growl as his gaze darted from the witch to me. "I need a word with you, Monica."

Helena's eyes narrowed and her frown deepened but she strutted off toward Raul's brothers while I waited for him to join me.

"Your world is full of surprises," I murmured, a bitter smile on my face.

"Listen, I'll understand if you want out of this," he offered, his voice softened as his imposing stature blocked the trees from my view. "I can only imagine how this had been for you, and I know it can't be easy."

"Out?" I asked as I squinted up at him. "Raul I—" I cut myself off because I what? How could I put all these feelings and thoughts into words? It was too big, too much, and even standing there trying to begin locked my tongue up. I closed my eyes and took a heartbeat to let the strength of my emotions subside before starting again but going in a slightly different direction. One that was, at least a little, less vulnerable and raw. "Raul, you're a good man. Hell, you're a lot more humane than most humans I know. Why would I want out?"

Feeling tentative, I placed my hand on his chest, over his heart, feeling it thunder in his chest. He too, it seemed, was dealing with some big emotions.

"Monica, there are other good men out there," he whispered, gazing deep into my eyes. His voice was tight and his eyes glistened, but he continued. "Men who can offer you…"

"What, Raul?" I interrupted, anger adding volume and nerve to my tone. "They can offer me what? Financial security? A dull life, where everything is planned out, even the time we have sex? No, thank you. Been there, done that. I got sick and tired of it. No," I shook my head then clasped his face between my hands. "Hear me, loud and clear, okay? I want to be with you ."

His eyes widened and his frown turned into a brilliant smile.

"You're one, gutsy girl," he praised, cupping my cheeks in both of his hands. "It's all becoming clear to me now."

"What's that?"

"You'll see. Soon," he promised, pulling me towards him.

I rested my head on his chest, his big embrace shielding me from the chill of the night. I was curious about what he meant, but I wasn't going to insist. This was his world, and I wanted to be part of it. I had no wish to leave it, but he knew its rules and I was only beginning to learn them. Whatever he had chosen, I would support it. Raul had done nothing but treat me with love and respect, things that certain human beings whom I had wasted way too much time on had had no idea how to do.