average human’s Reviews > Unwilling Queen > Status Update

Come on, boys.” She picks up the ball and tosses it down the beach. The dogs chase after it, and they suddenly disappear like they walked into thin air.
My mouth drops open in shock, and I scramble to my feet, looking from where the dogs disappeared to the woman who laughs.
The woman I just realized I never gave my name to turns and winks at me. “I have all the faith in the world for you. You just need to believe in it and trust that I have put all the support you need in place.”
I gape in surprise as the woman follows her dogs and also disappears in the blink of an eye, her voice carrying on the wind. “You have a week before I make you go, Colbie.”
Holy fuck. I think I may have just been visited by the goddess, and from her words, there is no way I am getting out of this.
My heart races, and my breathing picks up as I start to panic. I feel tears well in my eyes at the realization that there’s no getting out of this.
I start to run down the beach, my movements jerky in the deep sand, my tote bag flapping against my side with each step. I get to the end of the cove and scramble over the large boulders that jut out into the ocean like a handful of marbles rolled by a giant. The sounds of the ocean and the coming storm become a background blur in my panic. My thoughts are chaotic as I still try to think of a way out of this, but deep down, I know it’s futile. There’s no where I can escape to where the goddess won’t find me—not even one of the other kingdoms.
I reach the next secluded cove, one where I’m even less likely to see anyone, and collapse onto my favorite rock. It’s flat and perfect for sunbathing on a sunny day. This cove backs up to a forest that is private land. There’s a cottage up in the woods, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone there, so maybe it’s a holiday home.
I bury my face in my hands and start to sob, letting out all the fears and emotions that have been building since this morning. If that really was the goddess who visited, because who else could it be, then there is no getting out of this. Everything I’ve ever worked for is about to go up in smoke. My stomach rolls when I think about my bakery. I’m pretty sure they are not going to allow the shifter queen to work a normal job. Hell, what does being the queen even involve? The thought of ruling over a society I know nothing about is terrifying, and I haven’t even considered the rest that comes along with being the queen of the shifters.
Magic is something I have never even really thought about. I’m human, and I was never going to be anything else. I was happy with my lot in life. Now, all of that is going to change. My entire being is going to change. I’m going to be gifted with magic that will allow me to shift into an animal form.
I wipe at my cheeks and look up as another crack of thunder booms across the bay. The storm arrived a lot sooner than I expected it to. The sky is dark and ominous, and I can see the sheet of rain racing toward me as a couple of drops land on my cheeks. A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky, striking the ocean far out. Fuck, there is no way I’m going to make it home without getting soaked. What was I thinking?
Oh, that’s right, I wasn’t. I was operating on fear and emotions. I scramble to my feet and look for shelter, but there is none—only the beach, the boulders, and the woods.
There is also the cottage in the woods. I guess that’s as good a place as any. It has a porch I can shelter under until the rain eases. I grab my tote and start to scramble over the last couple of boulders before I hit the sand, then I run up the beach toward the woods and the cottage nestled amongst them. The sky opens up, and I groan as it pelts against my back as I run the remaining distance. The rain is cold against my skin as the sand gives way to gravel, and I’m able to move a little faster. My breath heaves out of my lungs as I reach the cottage and scramble up the steps and out of the rain. I turn around as another boom of thunder rolls across the sky, followed by another flash of lightning. The wind has picked up again, and I shiver as it blows against my wet clothes.
Well, this sucks. I lean against the railing and catch my breath, pushing the bedraggled tendrils of hair out of my face. I look down at my body. My sundress is plastered to my skin, and my tote bag is soggy. I groan and drop it on the floor before looking around the porch. There’s a surfboard rack on the far end with a couple of boards sitting in it, as well as a wet suit tossed haphazardly across them, like the owner took it off and threw it there without any other thought. There are a couple of chairs, but they have cushions on them, and I don’t want to get them wet. I consider removing them and sitting on the bare chair when I hear a voice behind me.
“Can I help you?”
I scream and whirl around, grabbing my chest in fright.
I stumble backward a little, staring at the man leaning in the doorframe of the cottage. He’s tall, maybe six-two, and has the most amazing chestnut-colored eyes with flecks of gold in them. He pushes a lock of dirty blond hair back over his shoulder, which is almost as long as mine and has that went swimming and let air dry look about it. It’s windswept and a little messy, but it suits him perfectly. His skin has a beautiful golden tan, like he sees the sun regularly, and I guess he does if he surfs. He has a cord around his neck holding a pendant made up of black and gold stones, and above his heart is a tattoo, but I don’t stop to inspect it too closely. My eyes drop lower, and I lick my lips as I take in his naked chest and eight-pack slab of muscles. Holy shit. Unlike the shifters, he’s long and lean, and his muscles have a sleekness to them rather than bulk. I reach the waistband of his gray sweatpants, and I realize what I’m doing, so I shake my head and bring my gaze back to his face. He has a small smirk on his full lips, and his own gaze slips lower. His expression heats when he sees my sundress plastered to my body, but then his gaze catches on the cuffs on my wrists and his eyes widen minutely. When his gaze returns to mine, he looks closer and obviously notices the remnants of my sob fest. I bet my eyes are red and my face is blotchy. I am not a pretty crier, so it’s ugly sobs and snot all the way for me.
The smirk drops, and he pushes off the frame and steps forward, holding out a hand.
“Are you okay?” I can hear the concern in his voice, and I almost start to cry again, but I bite my lip as the wind picks up, blowing straight through my dress. The rain falls even harder, and I can’t stop the shiver that racks my whole body.
“I’m sorry. I got caught in the rain, and I was just going to stand under here until it cleared enough for me to return home,” I tell him as my teeth start to chatter.
He looks away from me and out at the storm and frowns. “I don’t think this is going to ease anytime soon. Do you want to come inside? You can dry off and wait until it clears.”
I bite my lip and look from him and out to the storm again. He’s right, it looks like it settled in for the evening.
I shake my head. “I’ll just call a rideshare and get out of your way. I’m sorry I disturbed you,” I say as I feel my hair drip down my back, and I wince.
He chuckles. “I’m not sure anyone will let you in their car soaking wet.”
Ugh, he has a point, but I don’t know this guy, and for all I know, I will walk through his door and never walk back out. Before I can make a decision, I hear a plaintive meow, and a cat slinks between his legs, weaving in and out of them. A wide smile brightens his face, and I stare, stunned at how gorgeous he is. He bends down and picks up the fluffy gray and white thing and holds it up, rubbing his head against the cat’s. “What do you think, Stormheart? Shall the pretty lady come in and get dry?” He talks to it in a baby voice, and I can’t stop the snort of amusement that comes from my mouth. It’s so freaking adorable and kooky.
He turns to me, tucking the cat under his arm, and the two of them look at me. I swear the cat narrows its eyes on me in warning, like it’s saying don’t you dare, but the guy still looks welcoming.
“I’m Nox, and this is Stormy. Come on. I’m not going to bite.” He doesn’t wait for a response, just heads back inside, leaving the door open.
I glance back at the storm and shrug. What do I have to lose? If he kills me, at least I won’t have to worry about the shifters.