Rogue - Curse of the Hybrids Book 1

Chapters 1-5

Hi!  Thank you for checking out Honey's tale.  I've been working on this story for a couple of years with my daughter, who is the same age, as a kind of model, although they don't have that much in common (my daughter is neither wolf nor witch, nor does she have curly hair).

This is the first book of seven.  I was attempting my hand at an 'academy' type book (college level) but it quickly morphed into something completely different because that's what my stories do.  Let me know what you think.  I would definitely not be upset if I got some votes or comments.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Honey

She shouldn't have come. All the people here were old and shabby looking. She stood out because she was young and shabby looking.

"You're new here, aren't you dear?" the short, older woman in line in front of her asked.

The woman's fine silver hair was chopped closed to her head, exposing delicately wrinkled earlobes decorated with dangling purple beads. Her over-sized T-shirt and dark blue leggings were a little worn, but she looked and smelled clean, at least compared to all the other smells Honey was picking up.

"Yes."

"Thought so. I would have remembered those eyes. Are you here alone?"

"Stop flirting with her, Sheila," the old man behind Honey groused.

He had a smoky smell, like a campfire not cigarettes, a wrinkled face, dark hair peppered with gray, and a jacket even though it was summer warm.

"It's called being nice Bob. You should try it sometime."

"I'm nice, when the situation calls for it."

Sheila shook her head. "Never mind him, dear. Where are you from?"

"Um, around."

Sheila nodded like 'around' was a real place. She probably heard it often given where they were. "Have you been camping?"

That was a nice way to put it, but it wasn't the reason the long-sleeve plaid shirt that had been almost new a few days ago now looked and smelled like Honey had rolled in a pile of ashes and run a couple of marathons. Thinking about the reason nearly made her break down again.

"Yes."

"They have beds here. Showers too if you want to get cleaned up. It's pretty safe."

"Thank you." Could the woman smell her? Was her air shield not working? Honey quickly inspected the thin layer of air she'd pulled to herself to hold her scent in. It still looked and felt complete.

The showers and the beds were the reason she'd chosen to come to this shelter. Whether she stayed depended on who else was at the shelter. So far, she hadn't smelled any wolves or magic, but they weren't inside yet. Honey looked around again like she was curious but really, she was pulling more scents from the air. Her nose caught a whiff of fried food from somewhere down the street and her stomach immediately rumbled so loudly a woman three spots ahead of them turned to look.

"When was the last time you ate?" Sheila asked.

Honey rubbed her belly. "Not that long ago." She had eaten her last energy bar at noon, but that was before she'd run fifteen miles.

"They should open the doors soon," Sheila said kindly.

"Good."

"I hope they have bologna sandwiches again," Bob said.