Free Scent of Salvation (Chronicles of Eorthe #1) by Annie Nicholas

serious. “I admit to not understanding most of it, but you obviously do.”
    Susan finally met his green-eyed stare. “You believe me?” This was a big step in getting someone to help her find a way home.
    His eyes widened a little. “What I believe doesn’t really matter.”
    Jerking, Susan recalled she might have proof. She searched her jacket then her pockets.
    “What are you looking for?” Kele leaned to glance inside her pocket.
    “I had a badge.” She sighed. “I must have lost it between the Temple and here. It’s made of a substance called plastic. I know you wouldn’t have that here. My picture is also on it.”
    “A small piece of unknown material lost in the woods. We should look for it in the morning.” Benic’s speech grew quicker as if excited. “There is more to tell, yes?”
    “Much more. My machine was going to fall into the hands of—of a faction I didn’t agree with. So I destroyed it. In the explosion, I got thrown through the gateway and transported here.” She surveyed Kele’s room. “A very long way from my reality line.”
    Kele leaned back on her hands, her legs stretching forward as she stared off into the distance. Silence hung in the room. “How different are our worlds?”
    A sob strangled Susan’s voice, and her words came out rough. “I barely recognize it as home. The plants, sky and animals appear the same.” She peered from Kele to Benic. “There are only humans in my reality. No shifters or vampires—you’re only myths. Never proven to exist.”
    “Myths?” He rubbed his chin. “Your race is not even myth here. You couldn’t have mistakenly jumped more than dimensions, but worlds as well?”
    “No. I considered it this evening. Except we’re all speaking the same language, breathing the same air, and your food hasn’t poisoned me. Yet. To confirm it, I checked the stars. Even the constellations are the same. This is Earth, but something happened in your past to really divert the branch from my reality.”
    “The only human on Eorthe.” Kele’s voice carried a regret that broke through the unemotional barrier Susan tried to maintain.
    She reached for the small female with her hands, needing something to cling to and anchor her so she wouldn’t be swept away in the tidal wave of sorrow. What she would do to have someone strong to lean on, to protect her in this crazy world.
    Trapped.
    She needed to figure out what to do. Her future seemed bleak at best, living among shifters in a dormant volcano. She thought of Ahote’s dark form slinking through the vegetation. Nausea rose. She didn’t want to end up some male’s plaything. Hugging herself tight, she realized she needed a moment alone and some time to come up with a plan.
    Exhaustion swept her into its strong arms. Her pounding head grew heavy, and she leaned it on her knees.
    “It’s getting late, Benic.” Kele spoke softly and ran her hand over Susan’s back, sending a warm, comfortable feeling over her spine. It was the closest thing to safe she’d felt since arriving on Eorthe. “We’ve had a harrowing day. I want to wash and rest. I think Susan is ready to go straight to bed, though.”
    Yes. Yes, she was.
    Dazed, she watched Benic make his farewells to Kele. His hands lingered on the young shifter’s arms a fraction longer than a friend’s should, and the way he gazed at Kele with a soft expression made his interest apparent. Yet Kele didn’t seem aware of his extra attention.
    She pushed the broken door closed, wedging it into the doorway. “That will have to do until the crafters can fix it.” She sauntered back to the pallet. “You can stay here tonight. Then we’ll find you a place among the omegas tomorrow.”
    “Omegas?”
    She pursed her lips as if thinking hard. “Do you humans live in packs?”
    “We live as families. I don’t know if you’d consider that a pack.”
    “Vampires live in families, or clans, as well. Packs are different. There’s a lot of…” She