Her Fire

06 ~ Whatever it takes

“…is that a… wolf?” Deirdre asks, turning to Mattia who seems to have swallowed his own tongue as he stares at the wolf in disbelief.

“No, uh… Y-Yes… Uh, a half-breed…He’s domesticated, Miss, really, there’s no need to worry. He’s… he's quite harmless.”

Deirdre secretly rolls her eyes. She knows a wolf when she sees one. This one might be smaller than the ones she was used to in her past life, or maybe it's still young, but it is a pureblood wolf nonetheless. Her annoyance at being taken for a fool must have shown on her face because the wolf seems to have sensed it and starts backing away as if hurt.

Deirdre looks away and stares longingly at the cottage instead, to avoid making the wolf feel conscious. “Whose cottage is this?”

Mattia clears his throat. “The… uh… It belongs to the owner of the vineyard. He’s… He’s not here at the moment, he’s… uh… traveling abroad. Yes. Traveling… probably won’t be back for a fortnight….maybe even longer.”

She brightens up immediately at the thought of being able to stay at the cottage even for a short period of time. “Really!? Can the place be rented, then? It’s absolutely enchanting!”

Mattia seems taken aback, not really expecting her to be interested in renting the place. He opens his mouth to answer before stopping abruptly, glancing at the wolf and frowning.

“Uhm… yes… yes… That can be arranged, of course. When do you plan to..?”

“I’d come back tomorrow if it’s not a problem.”

Mattia blinks, still glancing at the wolf. Then he seems to regain himself and gives her a full professional smile that would have made her swoon if she were even a little bit inclined. “Uhm… tomorrow’s… tomorrow should be fine. I’ll have someone clean up and prepare the bedding and stock the kitchen for you, if you want. Unfortunately, the closest supermarket is almost an hour away by car so it might be a good idea for the pantry to be stocked. However, we can also arrange a car for you, if you want…”

Deirdre nods and smiles. “I’ll take all that, thank you very much.” She turns to Roberto who is watching them, fascinated at the unfolding situation. “I might need your service again tomorrow to bring me back here and come fetch me in two weeks, if that’s alright.”

As Roberto nods in agreement and makes a few suggestions, Deirdre surreptitiously watches as Mattia and the wolf seem to have some sort of silent conversation.

Could they be shifters? Oh, but to her knowledge, the last actual shifters were ultimately seen in the previous century and the original ability to turn into wolves has evolved into something else and is now completely lost.

As far as everyone knows, the old shifters no longer exist.

“Everything okay?” She asks, startling Mattia who smiles brightly and shakes his head.

“No, no… everything is… fantastic! Shall we go on with the tour? We can settle the details and everything else in the office later, after we’ve visited the cantina.”

“Sure.”

As they turn to go, Deirdre glances back at the wolf who is still standing there staring at her unmoving, like a squirrel in a state of freeze response. Despite its size and ability to tear a human to shreds, it actually looks more scared of her than anything else, so she gives it a small smile and a friendly wave before turning away.

The wolf seems to perk up and gives a short and low whine, almost as if telling her not to go, but Deirdre dismisses it as pure fancy. Maybe it is calling Matt instead of her.

The tour ends with her signing an agreement with Matt in his office for the cottage’s lease starting the very next day.

***

Mattia’s eyes widen in surprise when he sees Flint. “What in the hell!?”

“…is that a… wolf?” the woman asks.

“No, uh… Y-Yes… Uh, a half-breed…He’s domesticated…” Mattia answers, almost in panic before mind-linking him. “Dude! Why are you..!? What is happening!?”

“Mate. She’s my mate.” David answers wryly.

“WHAT!?”

“Whose cottage is this?” David hears the woman ask Mattia.

His cousin clears his throat before stuttering a distracted reply and David wants to roll his eyes.

“Idi0ta! Why do you have to act so suspiciously?”

Mattia growls right back. “You don’t just drop a bomb like that and expect me to remember the script! Are you sure she’s your mate!? She’s human…”

“…probably won’t be back for a fortnight…. maybe even longer.”

The woman eagerly asks about renting David’s cottage. Mattia seems taken aback, not really expecting her question. His cousin opens his mouth, about to answer that no, the cottage is not for rent, but David grabs the opportunity.

“Tell her yes!” He shouts via mind-link. It’s the mate bond at work! He’d be damned if he doesn’t let it unfold and this way, he doesn’t have to go to the city to pursue her.

Because he is now realizing there is no way in hell he’s going to just let her go. For the first time in forever, Flint was interested enough to step away from his comfort zone for this woman who seems to be willing to stay in this godforsaken part of the world, which is a blessing because trips to the city will actually be too much for both David and his wolf.

The moon goddess is literally serving him his chance on a silver platter. He might actually have a shot at a family of his own after all.

“Uhm… yes… yes… That can be arranged, of course. When do you plan to..?”

“I’d come back tomorrow if it’s not a problem.”

Mattia blinks and glances at Flint again. “Well?”

“It’s fine. I’ll sleep in the villa’s guestroom. We’ll have the cottage prepared immediately as soon as the cleaners can come. Tell her yes to everything she wants and make sure she won’t change her mind. We’ll provide everything, even the car. And a chauffeur if she doesn’t drive.” He answers quickly. “And whatever else she might need or wish for.”

He'd sleep under a tree if that's what it takes to keep her there.

Mattia plasters a winning smile on his face for Deirdre. “Uhm… tomorrow’s… tomorrow should be fine. I’ll have someone clean up and prepare the bedding and stock the kitchen for you, if you want. Unfortunately, the closest supermarket is almost an hour away by car so it might be a good idea for the pantry to be stocked. Although, if you want we can also arrange a car for you. Do you drive?”

Deirdre nods and smiles. “I’ll take all that, thank you very much.” She turns to speak to Roberto and in the meantime, David and Mattia argue quietly.

“Dude, are you sure about this? I mean, I’m thrilled for you, but… what if it doesn’t work out? You’re already a recluse…Your mother will have me gelded if you end up alone for the rest of your life—”

“Why would it not work out!? She’s my mate! This is meant to be.”

“Sure, sure… but…”

“But what!?”

“I mean, it’s you David. “

“What the hell does that mean!?”

“Hey, no offense intended, okay? It’s just… we all know you. You’re going to end up just hiding from her all the time and then—”

“I won’t. Not this time.”

“Everything okay?” His mate asks, startling Mattia.

“No, I mean yes… everything is… fantastic! Shall we go on with the tour?”

David and Flint watch them walk away to continue the tour. Their mate looks back, smiles and waves as she walks away and Flint actually yelps quietly, feeling like an abandoned puppy.

“Don’t worry, buddy. She’ll be back soon.”

***

When Deirdre returns to the cottage the very next day, there is no sign of the previous occupant anymore nor of the wolf she saw yesterday. The house has been cleaned spotless and prepared for the new tenant, but for some reason, it does not have the same homey atmosphere as it did yesterday and it feels as though something is missing.

It’s now somewhat empty, colder and more distant, like a flower with its familiar scent missing.

How strange.

Mattia smiles at her from the doorway. “Here is the key to your car in the driveway. I hope everything is to your liking. If there’s anything else you need, please feel free to call me anytime.”

“Thank you… Um, what happened to the wolf? I feel guilty for taking his home away, even if it’s just for a few days.”

Mattia’s smile freezes on his lips for a few seconds before he blinks several times and clears his throat. “Oh, uh… He’s staying with me for now. You don’t have to worry, he’s got everything he needs there too.”

“Oh, well, that’s a relief. If he’s not aggressive, maybe I can play with him one of these days.” She says this as she is in the bedroom, grabbing a sweater and so she completely misses the look of unholy amusement on Mattia’s face.

“Oh, I bet he’ll like that.” He says, chuckling to himself.

“What is his name? I forgot to ask yesterday.” Deirdre asks again as she comes back to the parlor.

“The wolf? His name is Flint.”

“How old is he?”

Mattia blinks furiously. “Sorry, I got something in my eye, do you mind if I rinse it in the bathroom?”

“Oh, no, of course not, go please!”

She explores the cottage, looking around for something that can tell her anything about the previous occupant but finds none, as she waits for Mattia to come out of the bathroom and yet when he does, he is on the phone, frowning as he talks to someone about business. He mouths an apology and signs to her that he’ll be back later before hurrying out of the door.

Shrugging, Deirdre goes to the fridge to grab something to drink and takes a bottle of iced tea before going to the garden to marvel at the beautiful view, loving the colors of the autumn leaves and the soft breeze that carries the scent of the vineyard.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, wishing she can stay there forever.

When she opens her eyes again, she gasps in surprise as she sees the gray wolf sitting near a tree, just several feet away, observing her with eyes that seem to know more than they should.

“Oh, hi…” She whispers, smiling a little. “Flint, right?”

The wolf merely blinks and turns around, walking towards the vineyard, looking back at her after several steps, as if asking her to follow.

Deirdre hesitates, wondering if it’s safe.

Matt did say the wolf is domesticated, but… this will be the first time they will be alone together and she’s not entirely sure this will be a good idea.

Before she can decide to stay safe rather than sorry, the wolf runs back to look at her, barks once and whines as if scolding her for being slow to move and running off again.

Deirdre chuckles. If that isn’t an invitation, she doesn’t know what is.

Sighing, she throws caution to the wind, grabs her cell phone and follows the wolf, picking up a stick she found on the ground, just in case she needs to defend herself.

Following the pawprints that the wolf left behind, she walks straight to the vineyard, calling the wolf’s name. She has already been walking for several minutes when she suddenly ends up in an empty and secluded corner, where there is nothing but a very high wall.

“Flint?” She calls again, getting rather annoyed.

No response.

She turns right, wondering at the tall trees behind a curve in the wall as she sees a hint of a rooftop. A treehouse, perhaps?

Before she could get around the corner to find out though, her way is blocked by another tall wall, this time made of muscles and quite warm to the touch.

A man. Tall and wearing a simple white shirt and gray pants.

“Oh I’m so sorry, I—” She gasps when the man turns around and he meets her eyes.