I stand up and stretch my back before rubbing my rounding stomach. I let out a long whistle as I take in my surroundings. This place is beautiful! Beautiful and big. I have no idea how I will take care of the house, let alone the land, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
I press my hand to my forehead to cancel out the setting sun and smile. The rustic mansion isn't just beautiful; it is gorgeous, and the backdrop is something you would see on a postcard. I still can't believe this is all mine.
When I contacted the lawyers handling Hazel Layne's estate, aka my grandmother, I learned about the size of the house and how much money I was inheriting. When the lawyer had informed me I would be receiving just under 63 million after taxes, I fainted.
I don't know the story behind my father's family and where their money came from, but I know I am a millionaire—a millionaire with no idea where to go from here.
"Well, baby, we are here, so we might as well make the most of it," I mumble as I walk towards the fantastic wrap-around porch.
I pull the key I received via FedEx and open the door. It makes a creepy screeching sound, and I feel a shudder run down my spine.
"I should have bought a gun," I mutter as I search the wall for a light switch.
When my fingers finally find what I believe is a switch, I sigh. I flick the first one on, and a gasp leaves my throat as my eyes take in the luxurious living room.
"Oh my," I whisper as I take a small step forward.
The cleaning crew I hired before arriving did a fantastic job. Every square foot of this place is polished right down to the wooden wolf carving hanging over the fireplace. All the furniture looks like it has been custom-made for this place. The wooden pieces are thick, gleaming, and smell like pine.
After I look around the living room, I spot the kitchen, and again, my mouth drops open.
"This place can't be real," I whisper as I gently run my fingers over the marble countertop.
The island alone can seat at least six people, and the cabinets are almost neverending. The sink is a huge double, and there is an industrial level dishwasher.
"What are we going to do with all this space," I whisper to my stomach as I turn off the light and head for the stairs.
The lawyer said this place has five guest rooms, a master bedroom, and a mother-in-law suite. It also comes with four bathrooms and a basement.
I have no idea how Hazel maintained this place, but if she can do it, so can I...right.
I find what looks to be a guest room and smile. For the time being, this will be my room. It feels too weird to go jumping into Hazel's bed when I didn't personally know her, and this room is nicer than all my rooms growing up.
I yawn as the long hours of driving catch up to me and rub my eyes. It's only 8 PM, but I am brushed. I slide off my tennis shoes and head straight for the bed. My small amount of luggage can wait. Baby and I need a good night's sleep.
*******
When I wake up in the morning, I actually freak out a little for a moment. I am so used to my all-white hotel room that the dark rustic decorates in the Layne home startled me.
But after remembering where I am, I smile. I am home. I'm no longer in an emotionless hotel. I am in the house that will welcome my child, and I want to get to know it.
First things first, I head out to my second-hand Nissan and grab my bags. I need a comfortable snooping outfit. I have nothing but time on my hands and a million questions that need to be answered. Like, what did my parents even look like? I'm hoping I find at least a picture of my father.
I drag my bags back to my room and pick out one of my favorite cozy sweats. I slip out of my yoga pants and pull them on. I leave the shirt since it is as comfy as all the others and head to find the master bedroom.
I know when my baby comes, I will want pictures in my room. So maybe Hazel has pictures of her son in her bedroom.
My stomach twists with excitement as I open each door. Every room is as beautiful as the last, and every bathroom looks as if it was remodeled in the past decade. If I ever have to sell this place, I should make a fortune. Especially since my property line goes all the way to the border of Yellowstone National Park. People could turn this into bed and breakfast for tourists.
Finally, I come to the last door in the hall. I let out a deep exhale as I push open the door to what I can only assume is the master bedroom, but when my eyes see the state of this bedroom, a scream erupts from my throat.
I slam the door shut with my eyes wide and my hands shaking. I guess the maid service decided not to clean this room for obvious reasons.
I let my heart rate decelerate before reopening the door to what appears to be the room where Hazel took her last breaths.
I place a shaking hand over my mouth as my eyes examine the claws marks covering almost every surface of the room and the dark brown crusty blood stains on the bed.
"Lord have mercy," I whisper as tears begin to pool in my eyes.
An animal from the park must have gotten in her room and attacked her as she slept. There's no other explanation for the damage carved into the furniture and floors.
Maybe I shouldn't live here. Much less alone! This place isn't safe. Why didn't they tell me she died like this?...... Like my parents! Mauled!!
A sob bubbles out of me as I piece the connection together. I bolt from the room and pull out my phone. I scroll down to the law office I have been talking to for the last couple of weeks. They knew I would be alone! They know I'm pregnant! This isn't okay.
"Stanley and Brothers, how may I assist you," a receptionist answers as I make it back to my guest room.
I close the door and lock it before answering her.
"Yes, Ms. Samantha Layne, for Mr. Gray, please," I answer, slightly out of breath.
"Umm, yes, just one moment," she replies with curiosity dripping from her voice.
I'm only on hold for a moment before I hear the familiar voice of Mr. Gray.
"This is Gray; how can I help you," he answers, and I jump right into what I found.
"Why was I not warned that Hazel Layne was mauled to death in her room?! And why would any sane person think a single pregnant woman would be safe in a home where one woman has already died? I mean, is this some sick joke? My parents died the same way while hiking," I scream/sob as my emotions and stress run over.
Mr. Gray stays silent for a moment before making a strange grunt-like sound in his throat.
"Uhm, Ms. Layne, how much do you actually know about your family? I mean, has anyone ever told you any stories or anything," Mr. Gray asks, and my eyebrows draw together in annoyance.
I wipe my face aggressively until every single one of my treacherous tears is gone. I hate crying, and I hate sounding weak, but I am so over being strong. I am so over dealing with stupid men asking stupid questions. I spent months dealing with this kind of behavior during my divorce, and I am sick of it.
"As I stated before, I was orphaned before the age of one! I don't know anything about these people. My parents died in a mountain lion attack, and now I find out some kind of animal killed my grandmother! Why don't you stop asking me dumb questions and accept responsibility for putting me in a vulnerable position," I shout, and the phone goes dead silent.
I breathe heavily as my mind catches up with my emotional outburst. I want to facepalm and backtrack, but it's too late now. All images of dignified Samantha are long gone. I sound like an overly emotional hothead. But damnnit, I'm scared. It's just my unborn child and me here...all alone.
Finally, just when I think he hung up, he responds.
"My apologies, Ms. Layne; I was under the impression you had been told about your grandmother. Please don't be afraid. Your home is safe. The...rabid wolf was immediately destroyed when your grandmother was found. I am sorry you had to witness such a devastating scene. I will personally contact a proper cleaning service...My family actually lives right next to your property, and I am sure my brother would welcome you with open arms for a couple of days while your home is being cleaned," Mr. Gray says, and I feel the shakiness in my hands lessen.
I weigh my options quickly. I have nowhere else to go, and the thought of staying here is terrifying... The nearest hotel/motel is a good hour away...
"Umm. Yes, I think I will take you up on that offer...I don't feel comfortable here now. As I said, I'm by myself and expecting my first child. I just got through a very messy divorce, and seeing her bedroom really rattled me," I answer while trying to keep my voice controlled.
"I completely understand. Let me contact my brother. His name is Daniel. He will be by to pick you up as soon as possible," Mr. Gray says, and I nod even though he can't see me.
"Thank you," I manage to say before he hangs up, and I collapse.
My grandmother was mauled by a rabid wolf a little over five years ago...right down the hall.
That information plays on a loop through my mind for the next forty-five minutes...until I hear a loud doorbell go off downstairs.
PLEASE LEAVE REVIEWS IT HELPS MY STORIES!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I CAN IMPROVE OR WHAT I AM DOING RIGHT. THANK YOU DANIEL POV (A few weeks before Samantha moves to Wyoming) "I don't care. I don't know why you insist on looking for a Layne spawn after all these years, but I told you before, and I will tell you again. Leave me out of it," I snarl before my fraternal town brother can say another word on the matter. I grab a hay bale and toss it effortlessly into the stall of my favorite gelding. Stanley follows me to the next stall, and I grind my teeth together. "Dan, stop! This is serious. This isn't like the old days when territories could transfer hands without humans knowing. The land is still in the Layne name. I had to make sure there wasn't a single living descendant before we could purchase it. Dad did have me go into law for a reason, you know. We have to keep shifters secret. You being a fucking hot-head isn't going to cut it," Stan snaps, and I freeze. My co
SAM POV "Coming," I call as I quickly make my way to the front door. I don't want to keep my rescuer waiting, and I especially don't want to spend another minute in this house alone. Forty-five minutes of hiding under a comforter that would do very little to protect me from claws were enough. When I get to the front hall, I smooth back my crazy unbrushed hair as best as possible. I glance down at my clothes and grimace, but I'm not going back upstairs to change. These sweats are comfortable, and I desperately need comfort right now. I place a believable smile on my face and swing the door open to greet Daniel Gray, but as soon as he comes into view, I wish I was back upstairs under my protective layer. The tall piece of man-candy standing at my door looks as if he wants to eat me. His blue eyes are ablaze with so much ag
"This place is beautiful," I whisper as Daniel pulls in front of a house similar to mine. He gives me a broad smile before unbuckling his seatbelt...and mine. "Not as nice as yours. I'm guessing you haven't checked out your barn," Daniel says before hopping out and heading around the front of the truck. He opens my door, and I tilt my head curiously. "There is a barn on my property," I ask, and he nods while offering me his hand. I take it and get out, but my wheels are still turning. "How do you know that," I ask, and he looks a little shocked by my question. He grabs my bag from the floorboard and closes the door to the truck before answering me. "We used to stay on that land. Mrs. Layne was over there by herself, so we tended the land and helped out," he replies while trying to seem distracted.
DANIEL POV "So Samantha Layne is your mate," Stan asks before throwing the rock across the smooth water. "Yes," I whisper as the light wind gently blows through the trees. Sweat and dirt tickle my skin, but I ignore them. My body is pulsing with emotions I have never felt before, and they are so intense I couldn't even enjoy our pack run tonight. A run we should have done before Samantha even moved here, but we didn't. It's been weeks since we went for a good run. The Gray pack needed to get out, and the park rangers needed us to do our job. So even though Samantha being here is risky, we felt since she was sleeping, it was the perfect time. "What are you going to do? She doesn't know anything about shifters, let alone mates. Plus, she seems super skittish," Stan asks while our packmates wrestle around in wolf form ten yards aw
SAMANTHA POV Tracking down a bathroom in a huge unfamiliar house while trying to be as quiet as possible is hard. I tried holding my weak morning bladder for as long as possible, but it's still only seven-thirty....much too early to wake up a house full of people playing gracious hosts. My foot finds a squeaky spot on the floor, and I freeze. Damn... The sun isn't even up, and I'm going to wake up the whole house because my child has decided my bladder is its pillow. After a few seconds of holding my breath and staying perfectly still, I take another cautious step forward. I shift my weight to avoid making the floor cry out again just as the closed-door I am creeping past opens. A smirking gorgeous woman, and I lock eyes as my foot touches back down on the floor. After a moment of her staring at me in amusement, I strai
SAMANTHA POV "Thanks for driving me the whole way. You really didn't have to. I know you must have better things to do on the ranch," I say while taking shy glances towards Daniel. He has been quiet ever since breakfast this morning. Even when he gave me a complete tour of the house, he kept his distance and acted as if I had some incurable disease. I don't know if he regrets having a stranger underfoot or if I did something to offend him besides jumping in to stop him reprimanding an employee. "It's no trouble. I like knowing you will arrive safely," Daniel replies, and my cheeks turn pink. "Wow. Umm, thank you. That's sweet," I whisper with surprise in my voice. Daniel gives me a sideways glance then smirks. "I've been known to be sweet sometimes," he says, and his hot meter jumps from 100 to 1
SAMANTHA POV "First things first... I will need to take a few measurements. At this point in the pregnancy the organs are big enough for us to see and check on," Dr. Hurst says as he twirls the machines wand through the goo he put on my tummy. "Okay," I breathlessly say as I watch my child on the dark screen. Dr. Hurst zooms in and zooms out several times before saying anything else, and the entire time I am praying. My biggest fear is that all my stress will have affected my baby in some way. I mean I have had to endure finding out my husband was cheater. I had to go through all the craziness that was my divorce. And then I had to move across the country and start over. The only thing I haven't experienced this pregnancy is the lose of a loved one, good thing I don't have anyone. At least I don't have to worry about money and finding a job.
DANIEL POV I watch as the doctor clicks and measures...clicks, and measures. Over and over again in complete silence. I want to ask a million questions. I want to growl. I want him to tell us what he sees before I lose my mind, but if I demand information like that, Samantha will think I'm a freak. Instead, I glue my eyes on my beautiful mate and her mesmerized face. I can see remnants of stress in the lines on her forehead, but for the most part, she looks completely happy. The baby's heartbeat speeds up a little, and I turn back to the monitor to see its precious face, well skull, on the screen. I don't even know what the baby is, and I'm in love with it. I hope Samantha falls for me and lets me take care of them both. I don't think I could walk away if she doesn't. The thought alone brings me to tears, and a tight fist wraps around my heart. I can't live without this little family. "Do you have any names picked out," Dr. Hurst asks Samantha interrupting my internal d