New Age Werewolf Series Book 2: Hunter's Daughter, Alpha's Mate

Part 1: Settle In, Move Out

"Your dad is so cool, Lani!"

I looked at my best friend Didi and sighed. "I guess."

"You guess?" Didi laughed. "Ever since I've known you, you are the first to get a room or whatever at school. Before you go home for summer you are already moved into your place for fall!"

I've always thought that was weird. Most kids go home from school and then have to hit the ground running trying to secure new housing on their return, or at least settle into a new dorm, but my dad wouldn't have it. My living arrangements were always done well in advance, and the first years of college, Dad made sure that Didi and I were roommates. It had to be costly, had to be. Even now, Didi was going to be next door to me in the college senior living complex. "Thanks for helping me decorate my place--"

"Hey, we always decorate our spaces together," Didi put an arm around me, giving me a squeeze. "I love it!"

"You sure you don't want to come home with me this year?"

Didi rolled her eyes. "Are we going to be in boot camp again?"

I cringed. "Was it that bad?" My dad trained me every summer in combat and what not, being a bounty hunter himself. "I guess I'm just used to it."

"Uh, don't forget, you're a natural-living off the land, hand to hand, target practice--" Didi rolled her eyes again. "What are you getting ready for, the zombie apocalypse?"

I had to laugh at that a little. I didn't want to tell her that my talents were hereditary from Dad, that there was a part of me that was acclimated to nature. It was weird until I found out the truth a few years ago. "I told you what Daddy does for a living, so he wants to prepare me in his own way, that's all."

"Well, one thing for sure, you'll be able to beat up anybody, fugitives included."

"Not a bad thing," I giggled. "At least I'm not going into the family business."

"You sure?"

"Oh, I'm sure," I nodded. "I don't want to chase criminals for a living."

"Anything else?" Didi asked. "Anybody else?"

I sighed dreamily. "Oh...I dunno." I fell dramatically on my bed.

"How about--" Didi fell on the bed next to me. "Adam Bennington?"

We shared a scream and I kicked excitedly, laughing. "Look, I'm not even on his radar." I looked at the ceiling.

"You don't try."

"Hey, I love gazing at the moon, but that doesn't mean I want to get into NASA."

"He's a lot closer than that."

"Is he?" I turned on my side to look at her. "Is there something you know that I don't?"

She rolled her eyes. "No." She threw my phone in the air. "Think fast!"

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. I reached effortlessly for it though her throw was off. "Thank you." I checked my phone again. Dad hadn't called with a pick up time and place yet. I clicked speed dial. The think fast game was boring for me, but tickled her death. She liked trying to catch me off guard, but never could. Truthfully, I could almost smell her coming.

"Calling Dad, huh?"

"Yep," I frowned. "Usually he sends me my pickup info by now and this time he hasn't," I shrugged. "I know he didn't forget."

"Think he's chasing a fugitive?"

"I hope not," I said, listening to the phone line ring. It went into voice mail. I suddenly felt a wave of dread. Dad was a creature of habit when it came to our timetogether--summers consisted of one month in the family cabin, one month in his RV driving to tourist spots, and two weeks just roughing it in some really beautiful country. The final two weeks are the best because it's all about shopping and me spending time at a spa that a  friend of his owns. It's been this way since I could remember, especially after Mom died...and he had to tell me the truth.

"You're not worried, are you?"

The question hung in the air. "Maybe he's going to surprise me...or maybe--"

"Maybe what?"

I could smell her anxiety, maybe even a little fear. I felt the same way. "Maybe I should surprise him." I shrugged. If I didn't hear from him, I was going to the family cabin. I was afraid to break the pattern, but suddenly, deep down, I was afraid not to. I was twenty yeas old and quarter werewolf. My senses were basically off the chain, and I was more than capable of protecting Didi and myself. Maybe it was time to go.