Page 7 of Delivered to My Beasts (Mail-Order Matings #22)

Imogen

Why anyone could call them beasts, I’d never know. They were kind gentlemen who greeted me in a gentle way, one at a time so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed, and then showed me into their home in the most gracious way.

When I left Mateo back at the alpha house, I went upstairs and packed all of my belongings in two duffels and a small backpack.

Then I waited for the car to be brought around.

The beta would leave the keys in the ignition because nobody was coming on our lands to steal a fifteen-year-old sedan that I’d be lucky to manage to get to my destination in.

There were nice vehicles. But nobody was going to give me one.

The males used those and on the rare occasion a female was allowed to borrow a car, it was this piece of crap.

But I didn’t care. Once I was away, I’d have to hide the car anyway, or maybe ditch it somewhere to keep from being found.

With my savings and the money Mateo gave me for a wedding dress and nightie, I had enough to take a bus somewhere and maybe afford a few nights at a motel while I looked for a job.

I told myself that while I waited for an opportunity to get my bags into the car while nobody was looking.

While I drove into town, past Phyllis’s Bridal and the thrift shop that might have a wedding dress or might not.

I had no idea. And beyond the town limits onto the highway that led to the mountains that until now had only been part of the distant landscape.

Although I knew how long it should take to get there, it seemed to take forever.

The mountains never getting closer, until, finally, I reached my exit from the highway and then things moved very quickly.

According to GPS, I was only a few miles from my destination, and they turned out to be steep, dangerous switchback roads.

I gripped the steering wheel while a trickle of sweat rolled between my shoulder blades.

The car chugged and huffed. Technically, two cars could pass, and there was a line marking the lanes, but I was grateful that I didn’t see anyone coming toward me because if I had to go any farther to the right, it would pierce my comfort zone.

But then, as I finally came out onto a straight level section, I reflected on the unlikelihood that anyone would find me here.

The road continued to the other side of the mountains, but it wasn’t the one anyone would take to get there, given a choice.

The highway would get you there a whole lot faster and safer.

I found the home easily enough and pulled into the driveway without the car dying on me and counted that a win. And then they came out to greet me, three of the biggest males I’d ever seen, everything about them showing their bear side.

I should have been frightened, alone in the middle of the mountains with three such huge males and nobody having a clue where I was. But instead, I felt safe. At least for the moment.

Sitting at the table with them, I watched their faces as they joked and chatted, trying to make me feel at home.

Their food was delicious, the conversation pleasant, and I was at the home of three people who might be willing to mate with me when all I had to offer in return was a desperate need for safety. For protection.

I tried to eat, tried to get past the twists in my stomach that kept me from enjoying it as much as I should.

I couldn’t imagine that these males would want me to stay.

Maybe for that week we’d discussed. And after that, I’d have to leave.

Because they were so sweet and kind and deserved better than someone like me.

“Don’t you like the chicken?” Crew asked. “You’ve hardly touched a bite.”

“I do. I guess I’m just tired.” I pushed back from the table. “I apologize for being such bad company.”

“Please sit down?” Duke asked. “Try to eat just a little more. We have dessert as well.”

“Bears are known for their love of sweets,” Jax added. “Wolves?”

“I don’t know about all wolves, but this one does.” I was still tense, but their encouragement, their scents, so woodsy and warm, were easing the tightness inside me bit by bit. “Maybe I can eat. You went to so much trouble.”

They protested, insisted that it wasn’t much trouble at all, but it was.

The house itself, what I’d seen of it so far, was so clean, the food prepared with care, and even dessert.

When I pushed back my nerves a little more, I was able to eat what they made with if not gusto, enjoyment.

And we sat at the table talking about anything and nothing for hours until my eyelids were so heavy, I couldn’t keep them open and had to ask to be excused.

They all three showed me up to a lovely room with a big, comfortable bed that I sank into as soon as they left, and I undressed.

Only to lie staring out the window, worrying about what was happening back in the pack.

By now, they knew I was gone. They would be looking for me…

I grabbed my phone and turned it off. Pulled out the SIM card.

Was finally able to sleep.