Free Bitten by the Alpha Wolf by R. E. Swanson Page A

a special atmosphere,” said Jenny.
    Razvan came and brought her breakfast. “Looks and smells wonderful,” she said.
    “It will taste just as good,” said Razvan, immodestly. He then presented Ana with a book. “Here is the novel. At the back of the book is a map and I have marked on all the places with supernatural significance.” He beamed at her.
    “Thank you,” she said. “That's great.” She turned Jenny. “Mum, I'm going to check out these places before they get busy with tourists. Is that okay?”
    “I suppose,” said Jenny.
    “I'll take my phone,” said Ana.
    Before Ana had finished her breakfast, the dining room had filled up with guests. Razvan was back in the kitchen and Bruce was down and taking orders. He edged between the tables, checking in with everyone to make sure they were starting the day happily. As he moved past Jenny, he gave her shoulder a little squeeze.
    “Still in bed?” he asked nodding to the empty chair.
    “Out already,” said Jenny.
    “Very good,” said Bruce. “Want to meet for coffee by the harbor when I'm done here? About half past ten?”
    Jenny said she would love to.
    Because she had time before meeting Bruce, Jenny walked up the hill to the cliffs overlooking the sea. She delighted in the morning breeze caressing her face. It blew away the previous night to such an extent that she began to wonder if it had all really happened. The second time in a matter of days. It was incredible. It was ridiculous. But was it good? It was exciting, that was for sure. Where it left her, she couldn't really say.
    She walked back to the town till she was overlooking the river. Somewhere up there, near the ruined Abbey, she imagined Ana would be. Jenny wanted to phone her to check she was okay, but knew it was better not to. Ana had a project, something that took her away from the distractions of her phone and television. She was happy for the first time for a long while, and Jenny didn’t want to interrupt that.
    Jenny walked on back through the town and her thoughts turned to Razvan and what a very strange creature he was. Strange, but was he harmful? Jenny's instinct told her he was not. She had never met a character more at home in his own strangeness.
    Despite her meandering walk, Jenny arrived at the café before Bruce. It was warm enough to sit outside and she found a table by the harbor wall. Beneath her, a fishing boat had just returned and the morning’s catch was being lifted in bright plastic boxes. Interested seagulls sat on the wall and watched.
    As she sat outside the café, Jenny's thoughts inevitably turned to Bruce and her feelings for him. Last night she had lusted after him as she had lusted after no man since . . . well, since a few days previous.
    Jenny laughed at herself. The night with Razvan had been a night of wildness. A night when she was drunk on lust. A night she could barely believe happened, and one that left her howling at the moon.
    Surely, the night she had enjoyed with Bruce was a different order of things. Jenny looked down at her hands. That was what she wanted, wasn't it? But was it true?
    How could she want two different things at the exact same time? It made her greedy. She couldn’t allow it.
    But she didn’t think she could be happy any other way. It was a good thing this vacation would be over soon.
    She looked up to see Bruce walking down the road toward her. She smiled to see him in the same black t-shirt that he seemed to have a hundred of. That upright, military march, with his chest out like a barrel. She laughed as she watched him with his solid muscular walk. He saw her and waved, breaking out into that wide, infectious grin. Jenny knew that grin was mirrored on her own face. She laughed to herself and sent Ana a text to say where they were.
    Bruce bought the coffees to the table.
    “Well,” he said, “this is nice.”
    Jenny smiled. “It's lovely,” she said. “It's turned out to be quite a holiday. Definitely the break we