The Legend Page 12
John came forward and gripped the edge of the worktable as the baker slathered his hands in flour. “There must be someone. What about your father?”
“He was killed some years ago by a hunter,” the baker informed with a sigh, “and he wasn’t an alpha.”
“Then perhaps you can teach me?”
The baker laughed. “Alas, I cannot. I know many things, but to teach is a different concept entirely. I have never had a pupil or apprentice for a reason. Besides, you need someone more dominant to break you into a pack, and I can already tell that you are far more dominant than I am.”
John looked down, wondering how the baker could discern that so readily. “There has to be someone.”
He could not comprehend why it should have been so hard to find others of his kind. Alphas and packs should have been on the lookout for those who needed their guidance. It seemed only right, yet here he was without a network to turn to. It was one more reason he needed to take a mentor so that he could be one for others.
The baker paused for thought, a ball of dough between his hands. “There may be someone, though I can’t recall if he was dominant. His name was Nicu and he was a gypsy as well.”
Annalette bolted from the chair and rushed to the table. “My uncle?” she exclaimed. “He was here?”
The baker smiled to her. “Yes… I can see the family resemblance. He was here for a few days a few years ago. He said he was going to France, back to the place he was born.”
“Albi,” Annalette said. “He spoke of it often. It’s just north of Toulouse and along the River Tarn.”
The baker nodded. “He was the last werewolf to pass through town besides you.” He offered out his hand in friendship. “My name is Bartholomew, but my close associates call me Bart.”
John happily shook his hand, acquiring some of the flour from the baker’s palm. “John. John Croxen. Thank you for your help, Bart.”
The baker nodded. “My pleasure. Will you be going to France, then?”
John looked down to Annalette. A glimmer of hope shone in her face for the first time since they made love near the river the previous morning. She grinned at him and never looked more beautiful with her black tousled hair and clothes that were in need of a good washing.
“I’d like to see my uncle again,” she replied.
“Then we will go to France.” John turned to Bart and gave his profuse thanks one more time before he ushered Annalette from the bakery.
She slipped on her hood, and they stepped into the morning sun. The streets of Chilham were filling, and John knew they needed to escape into the forest before the townspeople grew suspicious.
Once they had made their way down the River Stour, a safe distance from the town, John turned to Annalette. “It won’t be easy to get passage across the channel.”
She gave him a wicked smile. “It wasn’t easy to escape the prison in Canterbury either, but we did.”
John chuckled. “I don’t think shifting into a beast will help us gain passage.”
“Then perhaps it’s my turn to rescue us from danger.”
He gave her a reprimanding look. “I thought Romani were not thieves and murderers?”
Annalette nodded. “Yes, but I am not Romani anymore, and just because I am not a thief doesn’t mean I don’t have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
It was then that he knew everything was coming into place. He had been taught as a child that God ordered the steps of his children and had mapped out their lives from birth to death. The pain, the rejection, the loneliness, it all led to this moment with Annalette.
Perhaps he had survived the last hundred years alone so that he could know the true bliss of having a companion. Perhaps he was denied love as a child so that he would know its full power when it crossed his path.
Staring down at the crafty and stunning Annalette, John realized that what he felt for her could be nothing short of love.
He took her in his arms and kissed her, letting that love pour out with every subtle movement of his lips upon hers. They would travel to France and seek out her uncle. God had ordained these days, aligning the pieces of this game so perfectly that John could not deny His handiwork any longer.
“I love you,” he murmured when they finally pulled apart.
She giggled. “I love you, too.”
God had not sent him an angel, but a gypsy who would love him and lead him out of the darkness to fulfill his purpose.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading about John Croxen and his beginnings as a loup-garou. This is the first in a novella series that will feature the backstories of many pivotal characters in my Loup-Garou series that is available on Amazon.
If you enjoyed this story, please take a few moments of your time to leave a review on Goodreads.
In the meantime, I invite you to check out my social media sites for more updates and sneak peeks into my progress. You can find me at my blog, www.moonstruckwriting.wordpress.com.
Also, find me on Facebook! I have an author page and fan group page where you can stay tuned into the latest news, get the chance to earn free stuff, and talk all about your favorite books.
Happy Reading!
Sheritta Bitikofer
About the Author
Sheritta Bitikofer is an author of eclectic tastes. Her mornings are spent dancing to Frank Sinatra and singing to hard rock bands while sipping on a good Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks. At work, she’s often found without shoes on or running to get her coworkers’ drinks from Sonic during happy hour. And when the day has been hard, she unwinds with a good book and chili cheese fries before snuggling on the couch with her husband. And on some weekends, she can be found at non-profit medieval historical society events either painting or shooting a bow. Her idea of a great time is dining out, chillin’ at the library (or a bookstore) and bouncing novel ideas back and forth with her loving and supportive husband.
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www.moonstruckwriting.wordpress.com
Also by Sheritta Bitikofer
Escape
The Neustrian Chronicles
Clouds
Passions
Silver Screen
The Loup-Garou Series
The Enigma
Becoming the Enigma
Beast Within
Precedence - Releasing January 2018
The Legacy Series (A Novella Series)
The Legend
The Guide - Releasing September
The Decimus Trilogy
The Beast of Verona
Amber Ashes
Saving the Beast