Chapter 1
I sighed as I settled onto the couch, a steaming bowl of Raman noodles in my lap. I snatched the controller and turned on the TV, not quite paying attention to what channel was on. Until I heard the news.
"Five people killed in rural Florida town, Darlington." The news reporter announced. "Cause of deaths still unknown, but police officials believe…" I quickly flipped to a different channel. All appetite gone, I set my bowl on the coffee table. I closed my eyes and rubbed my face, trying to erase the grisly death scene from my mind.
It would have to have been me to have stumbled onto the third victim. Never having the ease of peaceful sleep again, knowing that there was still something out there, and it was still killing people.
I stood up abruptly, deciding that I was in the mood for Supernatural. Maybe the episode when Castiel first arrived. I was at the foot of the stairs when someone knocked on the door.
"Dang it." I groaned as I made my way to the door. Who in the world could that be? I looked through the peephole out of habit, thinking that if it was that creepy Eric dude again then I was going to have to break out the heavy artillery, and then I stopped breathing.
No way.
No freaking way.
I opened the door and looked into the faces of Sam and Dean Winchester. In the flesh. For three seconds I stood in the threshold trying to come up with a logical answer of why the guys who played Sam and Dean were standing at my door. I stood there for another two seconds trying to figure out why they were in their Fed uniforms.
"Hi. Are you Allie Roe?" Sam asked. I nodded mutely. "My name is John Dunham and this is my partner, Mike Smith. We work with the FBI and were wondering if we could ask you some questions about the killings around town." They flashed me their badges as Sam was talking. The look on my face must have been something else because Sam and Dean—I couldn't remember their actor names—exchanged a look of their own.
"If that's okay?" Dean added after a moment.
"Umm, okay. Sure." I stood back and waved them in. Sam said thank you as he walked in and Dean threw me a grin that I would have found complimentary if I wasn't freaked out. I closed the door and stood there staring at it for a moment. "Wait, wait, wait." I said turning around. "What did you say your names were again?" I knew for certain that the ones that they had told me were not their actor names. Because I suddenly remembered that they didn't have actor names.
Sam looked at Dean. "John Dunham and Mike Smith. Is something wrong Ms. Roe?"
"Umm, yeah I think so." I looked at them. I had to make sure.
"Just…hold on sec. I need to grab something." I ran upstairs without waiting for their reply. I threw open my door and ran to my DVD shelf. Grabbing the fourth season I ran back down the stairs, and once I was in front of them again I held the DVD case in front of me and compared the pictures on the case to the supposed John and Mike. They were the same.
"Holy crap." I whispered. I looked up at them and saw they had concerned looks on their faces. "Okay, first off, you're Sam and Dean Winchester. Second—" I cut myself off, not quite knowing what was second.
"Wait," Dean said. "What do you mean are names are Sam and Dean Winchester?" He looked at Sam. "We gave you are real names." My eyes narrowed.
"Well, considering that you don't have actor names, I'm guessing that Sam and Dean are your real names."
"What do mean by actor names?" Sam asked. Both him and Dean looked confused, a feeling I was beginning to share.
"What you are talking about period?" Dean asked clearly getting irritated.
"I'm talking about this." I held the Supernatural case up to where they could see the front. I was starting to get a seed of doubt of some kind…something was definitely off.
"What the…" Dean came over and snatched the case from my hand.
"Where the hell did you get this."
"At Wal-Mart, it was on sale." I stared at Dean as he opened the case and grabbed the episode guide. "What's going on? You're acting as if you've never seen this before." I looked at Dean, and then at Sam's distressed look. I could feel my eyes widen. "Oh my gosh…you haven't have you?"
"Sam…they have me coming back to life on here." Dean flipped the guide over. "And here's where we found Anna. Then the monster movie shapeshifter." Dean looked up at me and he was angry. "So, what? Someone's going around filming every thing we do, and then turning it into a TV show?"
"Dean."
"Who the hell does that kind of thing. Some sick bastard?!"
"Dean!"
"What?!" Dean turned to Sam and it almost looked as if he was going to slug him.
"Maybe we should ask Ms. Roe." Sam said calmly, nodding in my direction. I stood there for a moment as both Sam and Dean turned to look at me.
"Maybe I should just show you." I said quietly, pointing to the living room. Sam nodded and turned to walk to the couch, Dean right behind him. I sighed and followed after.
*****
I stopped the DVD and turned to watch their reactions.
Dean was ticked off. His jaw was clenched and he kept fidgeting until he got up and started pacing. Sam was quite as he continued to stare at the TV screen. His jaw was tight and his fists clenched.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "If I had known…" I trailed off, not quite knowing what to say. Sam was looking at me, his jaw clenching and unclenching.
"So, let me get this straight." Dean said angrily. "Some guys are following us around, filming us, and then putting it on TV?"
"That seems to be it." Sam said tiredly. Dean continued to pace and started mumbling something about death. Sam rubbed his eyes and then looked at me. "How many seasons are there?"
"Five. Four of them are on DVD and the fifth is still on TV." I was staring out the window when I said this. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Sam and Dean were real…and so were the monsters that they hunted.
"What was the last episode that you watched on TV?" Sam looked like he was getting a handle on the situation while Dean continued to pace back and forth, mumbling angrily to himself.
"Umm, I think it was the one where you and Dean get trapped in TV land by the trickster." I closed my eyes for a moment. "Yeah, that was the last one that I watched." Dean stopped pacing and looked at Sam.
Sam's brow was furrowed. "That was months ago. A lot more has happened since then." Sam looked confused for a moment, but then a knowing look came into his eyes. Sam let out a small chuckle that surprised both Dean and me.
"What?" Dean asked. I could tell the shock and anger was wearing off from both of them.
"It's like a regular TV show." Sam said. Dean had a blank look on his face so Sam continued to explain. "You know how they always film months before the show is supposed to air on TV? That's what their doing with our lives." Sam let out another little amazed chuckle, while Dean just stared at him like a he was an idiot.
I had to crack a smile at them. Even though the high of the moment was gone, I still couldn't quite believe that I was in the same room as Sam and Dean Winchester. But then the reality came crashing down on me when I remembered why they were here. My smile faded and I sighed as I stood up from my chair. The brothers turned to look at me.
"Look, guys, I know why you're here, but before we discuss that particular subject I wanted to ask you a few questions. I looked at Dean first and then at Sam. "If that's all right?" They both looked a little confused.
"Okay, sure." Sam said.
"Alright, first things first. What motel are you staying at?"
"Uh, none yet." Sam said giving a side long glance at Dean. He clearly wasn't expecting that kind of question. "We were actually going to ask you where the nearest one was." I sighed quietly in relief, mentally uncrossing my fingers.
"The nearest motel is thirty miles away. Besides I have a better arrangement, and you won't have to pay a dime." I was looking straight at them so I saw the look that passed between them. "And you won't have to squat anywhere either." I added ruefully.
"And where would this place be?" Dean asked with an almost sarcastic tone.
"Right here." I said with my fingers pointing down. I saw the look of surprise cross their faces and I had to fight to keep a smile off my face. "There are two spare bedrooms upstairs and fridge full of food in the kitchen. Plus if you stay here you'll be right in the middle of all the killings." I winced at the last word; I was not going to be looking forward to addressing that.
"I don't know." Sam's brow furrowed and his face went into the 'we care about your safety and wouldn't want to impose' look.
"Look," I started. "It would really be a relief to have you guys around. Ever since the…incident I've been a little freaked and unsettled. Believe it or not having both of you here is like having a giant security blanket." I gave a little laugh. "Which that was a really bad analogy but you get the picture. What do you say?" I stared at them, hoping that they would see the truth and sincerity in my eyes and voice. Sam still looked a little uncertain but then I saw Dean crack a smile.
"Well, mam, if it'll make you feel better we'll stay around. It'll be nice to actually be invited into a house instead of us breaking in." Dean was still smiling when Sam gave him an exasperated look. I was smiling too, but in relief and amazement that I had gotten the brothers to stay with me here.
"If you go get your things I'll show you to your rooms and everything."
"Alright." Sam said as he stood up. "Come on, Dean." I followed them to the door, so I was right behind Dean when he turned around and looked at me.
"So, between Sammy and me, who's your favorite?" Dean had a crooked grin plastered to his face, as if he already knew the answer. Sam had turned around and was giving Dean a look.
"Dean!" Sam said incredulously.
"What? I'm curious."
"No, it's all right, Sam." I had a huge smile on my face as I leaned against the doorframe. "Sorry, Dean. I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
"Aww, come on." Dean said in a pleading voice and crooked grin. Sam grabbed Dean by the arm and dragged him out the door. I stood there laughing for a moment before I went back inside to the kitchen.
I was betting that they hadn't eaten yet when I opened the freezer and grabbed a bag of Mom's homemade hamburger patties. I grabbed a pan and dropped a few drops of oil into the bottom before placing the raw patties in the pan. Turning the heat up, I walk over to the pantry and grabbed seven potatoes. Grabbing a potato peeler, I set the spuds on the counter. I was determined to give Sam and Dean homemade meals while they were here. I shuddered at the thought that all of those greasy diners' food and microwavable food market meals was all they ate.
I was peeling the potatoes when I heard Sam come back in. He placed his duffel bag at the foot of the stairs before coming into the kitchen.
"Ms. Roe, you don't have to cook for us." Sam said embarrassment plain in his voice.
"Please call me Allie." I looked up with a smile. "And actually I do. I realized that all of those places that you and Dean have eaten at are real. It's time that you guys have some home cooked meals."
"But—"
"Sammy!" I looked up to see Dean striding into the living room. He dumped his duffel bag next to Sam's and came into the kitchen. Dean was looking at the sizzling hamburgers with the look of a kid in a candy store. "We'd really appreciate the meal, mam. I don't remember the time we've sat down to a homemade meal." Sam gave him a look as he sat in the bar stool across from me at the counter.
"Allie," I corrected Dean with a smile. Dean came over and sat beside Sam. They watched me as I took the now peeled potatoes through a french fry cutter. I grabbed a cast iron pan and filled it with oil for the fries. I checked the hamburgers and put a little sauce on them. I made my way over to the fridge and opened the door. I grabbed a tomato, a head of lettuce, and an onion. I sensed Sam behind me before I heard him.
"Is there anything I could do?"
I stood up from bending over to look up at Sam's earnest face. Smiling, I handed him the veggies.
"Could you put those over by the cutting board?" I asked.
"Sure." Sam grabbed the tomato, lettuce, and onion and headed back over to Dean. I ducked back into the fridge to hide my smile. Grabbing the cheese, mayo, mustard, and ketchup, I walked back to the counter. I took the fries and dumped them into the hot grease, snapping my hand back when a few drops of the scolding liquid splattered on it.
"Careful there." Sam cautioned. I turned to see Sam with one of the kitchen knives in his hand, slicing the tomato. The onion was already laid aside, sliced into even pieces.
"Dang, you're fast." I said with a smile. I walked over to the hamburgers and started flipping them. "So, where do you want me to start? Or would you prefer to wait after you get done eating to hear the gory details?" I glanced over my shoulder to see Dean mouthing no to Sam and giving him a look. Sam cracked a smile the same time that I did. I had forgotten that Dean could get queasy when he was eating.
"I'll think we'll wait." Sam said a smile still in his voice.
"That's just fine with me." I would rather not lose my appetite either.
"Hey, Allie?" Dean said almost like a question.
"Yeah?" I said pressing the spatula onto the patties.
"How many episodes of…Supernatural have you watched?" Dean asked. I heard a scuffling like Sam shoving Dean, but I was suddenly too tense and embarrassed to turn and look. I was hoping that they would keep that question to themselves. It was a stupid hope.
"Well, umm." I pressed the spatula a little harder than necessary on one patty. "Actually…all of them." I heard Sam's knife stop chopping and I could practically feel their stares boring into the back of my head. "Maybe not all of them." I said quickly. "I think there are a few episodes in season one that I haven't watched."
"But all the others you've watched?" I could hear embarrassment—and something else?—in Dean's voice but I was too chicken to turn around and face him. I grabbed a plate from the cupboard.
"Yes," I mumbled. "I've watched all the others." I started to put the hamburgers on the plate, thinking that they were done enough for the brothers, and quickly put the cheese slices on top of the hot patties. I finally turned around to look at Sam and Dean and immediately wish I hadn't.
Dean just looked stumped, as if he couldn't wrap his head around it. Sam, on the other hand, looked as if someone had punched him in the gut. The look on his face made me have the sudden impulse to go over and wrap my arms around him and tell him that I didn't blame him for anything. Just then an episode popped into my head and I could feel the blush creeping up my face.
Sam's face went from despair to confusion when he saw the crimson blush spreading across my face. "Wait, why are you blushing?" Dean looked up and then in a split second he understood.
"Aw, man." Dean looked very sheepish all of a sudden. Sam looked at Dean in confusion, but then I could practically hear the light bulb click in his head.
"Oh," Sam shifted around self-consciously for second. "Um, what exactly are in some of the episodes?" I set the plate of hamburgers on the counter. I glanced up at the brothers and my blush deepened.
"Well, let's just say I fast forwarded through some scenes." I quickly turned around and grabbed another plate, placing a few napkins on it. I spooned the fries onto the plate and turned back to the brothers. Sam was actually blushing and had a very sheepish look one his face. Dean kept glancing at me then looking away, clearly uncomfortable.
And I laughed. I couldn't help it. They looked so much like they did in the first season, before all the other crap happened, that I had to laugh. I threw some salt on the fries and placed them by the burgers.
"Suppers ready, boys," I said with a grin. "Dig in."
*****
"Allie," Dean said with a sigh as he fell onto the couch. "That was the best cheeseburger that I've had in a while."
"He's right." Sam added as he set himself down next to Dean.
I smiled at them as I curled up in the lounge chair across from them.
"Thanks guys. And thanks for helping with the dishes as well." I sighed then, knowing what was coming next. "Okay, where do you want me to start?"
"How about you just start at the beginning." Sam said.
I took a deep breath and collected my thoughts. "I had heard about the other two deaths in the news, but I didn't give it much thought, just thinking it was a couple of drunken dudes who got themselves mauled by a bear. At least, that's what I thought until two weeks ago.
"I had decided to go for a hike at a local spot that everyone knew was pretty much free of wild animals. I thought I was being smart, since I knew the killings happened in secluded parts of the woods." I stopped and let out a humorless laugh. "Smart me, huh?
"Anyway, it was about fifteen minutes into the hike when I came upon the body." I stopped and closed my eyes. "He was right in the middle of the trail. I called out to him, thinking that maybe he had just tripped and knocked himself out. But as I got closer I could tell that something was not right. Blood was everywhere, dripping of the trees and bushes. I ran the last few steps to the man, and landed on my knees next to what was left of him. His arms…his arms had been ripped off. Half of his left leg was gone. His chest was torn up so bad I could see his ribs and his guts were spread out over the place. His face was so ripped up that I couldn't tell if I knew him or not.
"After the shock wore off I called nine-one-one and told them the whereabouts and all that. It was after I hung up that I realized that I was being watched. I looked up to see what I thought was a man in the bushes a little ways up the trail. I called out to him asking if he had seen anything."
"Did you see what he looked like?" Dean asked, leaning forward in the couch.
"No, and that's what tipped me off even more that something was wrong. The thing was completely covered in shadows. It was standing unnaturally still as well, with its head cocked to one side. It…unsettled me, badly." I stopped and shuddered at the memory. "I had a staring contest with it too."
"Wait," Sam said. "A staring contest?"
I cracked a grin, and then frowned as I remembered some of the details. "Yeah, that's the only way I can describe it. It almost felt like it was studying me. It would cock its head to one side and then the other, like it kept trying to get a better look at me. It was creepy. About fifteen minutes later the cops showed up. I turned to look at the cop car coming up behind me, and when I turned back the thing was gone. I told the police about it, but they never could find anything."
"They probably couldn't if they didn't know what they were looking for." Sam contemplated. "You said that it was covered in shadows?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I don't know…" Sam brought his hand up to his mouth, his brow furrowed in deep thought. He looked up at Dean. "What do you think, Dean?"
Dean stood up and went to the window, staring out of it until he turned around. Shrugging his shoulders he said, "I got nothing. A wendigo maybe? "
I groaned and put my head in my hands. A wendigo. I hated that episode. It was the only one that really scared the crap out of me, and now I might actually have a freaking one in the woods nearby.
"Maybe, maybe not." I looked up to see Sam and Dean staring at me. "I'll do some research tonight and we'll have a look around tomorrow."
"Sounds good to me." Dean said heading for the stairs and his duffel bag. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get out of this monkey suit."
I smiled as I stood up and stretched. "I'll show you to your rooms." I heard Sam stand up and follow me upstairs. In the short hallway I turned to the left and opened the door to one of the bedrooms. I turned around to open the door across the hallway and ran face first into Sam. I jerked back so quickly that I would have fallen if Sam hadn't have reached out for me.
"Oh, sorry!" Sam said, quickly releasing me when I was back on my feet. I gave a little breathless laugh and tried to calm my spitfire beating heart.
"It's okay." I flashed him a smile as I stepped around him and opened the other bedroom's door. "I'll let you and Dean fight over which room you want. The bathroom is right there and my room is right down that little hallway." I pointed to each door. "So if you need anything just give me a holler."
Dean came up the stairs right then and shoved his way past us.
"Dibs on the shower, Sammy." Dean threw a grin at Sam as he closed the bathroom door. Sam let out an exasperated sigh. I smiled at the brothers antics.
"Thanks again, Allie." Sam said turning to look at me. "You really don't have to do this."
I looked up Sam—he was a foot taller than me—and gave him a straight answer.
"Yes, I do. You and your brother deserve to live comfortably every now and then. And I want to see this thing taken care of. Besides," I looked away from Sam and crossed my arms. "It feels as if I owe it to you."
"Why?" Sam asked. "Because you've watched our lives for the past five years? You didn't know it was real. Hell, most of the time I think my life isn't real. I go around chasing monsters and demons and things people only see in their worst nightmares. If I was in your place I would have thought it was all a TV show. You had no reason to believe that Dean and I are real people, that we weren't just a couple of actors." Sam looked at me intently for a moment. "And you're actually taking this all much better than most people have, considering you just found out all those monsters are real."
"Oh, don't worry." I smiled ruefully. "I am completely freaking out on the inside. It just seems like I'm handling it well. Though I guess I am dealing with it." I let out a long sigh and shook my head. "Yeah, I'm dealing with it.
"Listen, why don't you go ahead and get comfortable while Dean is in the shower. I'm going to go and make sure everything is locked up."
"Okay," Sam said and then. "Do you want some help?"
"Naw, I got it." I said, already going down the stairs. "Thanks though, Sam. Oh, and we have wifi here so feel free to use it." I heard a mumbled alright as I continued down the stairs. I went straight for the back door and made sure it was locked.
Heading back towards the stairs and front door, I had to contemplate the odds of having the Winchester brothers staying at the house. No doubt I will get a better night's rest than I have in a while.
I saw that the front door was still locked so I made my way back upstairs. I could hear Dean was out of the shower and that he was arguing with Sam.
"Sammy, I am not sleeping in that room!"
"Sorry, Dean. You're the one who wanted first dibs on the shower, so I got first dibs on the room.
"It's like the freaking Little Mermaid in there!"
"What's the problem? We've stayed in motel rooms that had worse themes then that one."
"Dammit, Sam. You know I hate the beach."
"Too. Bad.
"Fine. We'll settle this the usual way."
"You're on. But you're gonna lose like always."
"Shut up and play."
I heard the smacking of fists against hands.
"Ohh. Always with the scissors, Dean."
"Two out of three, come on."
I had stopped in the middle of the stairway, my hand over my mouth as I tried to keep the growing hysteria inside as I heard them go again.
"I win again, Dean. Tell Sebastian I said hi." I could hear the absolute smugness and pleasure in Sam's voice at the victory he had had over his brother. I continued walking up the stairs and saw Dean shake his fists and mutter something to Sam.
"Jerk," Sam retorted. I knew right then and there what Dean had muttered under his breath.
"Alright guys, I'm turning in. I'll see you in the morning." I couldn't keep the smile off my face any longer. They turned and looked at me.
"What?" Dean asked a little petulance in his voice. I held my hands up as if to ward away a charging bull.
"Absolutely nothing," I said, though my smile got wider. "Goodnight Sam, Dean."
"Goodnight," Sam and Dean said in unison with a funny look on their faces, as if they've never really told anyone goodnight before. I fled to my room before my smile got any bigger or I started to burst out laughing.
Yes, I would sleep peacefully tonight.
*****
I woke up to Eisley's song 'Wake up in the Morning' blaring in my ears. I reached over and smacked the off button more violent then necessary. Groaning, I stretched in the bed, laying there for a moment, waiting for the dry blurriness to leave my eyes.
I sighed in annoyance at the alarm clock from waking me up from the awesome dream I was having of Sam and Dean. They had come to the house dressed up in their FED uniforms, and by the end of the dream, were staying in the house with me. It had been so vivid, much more so than my usual dreams. Too bad it was just a dream though.
I stood up from the bed and walked over to the dresser. Throwing on a pair of jeans, I rummaged around the draws until I found my favorite blood red T-shirt. Heading to the bathroom, I ran my hand through my ash brown hair, undoing knots before the brush got a hold of them.
I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I was a mess. Dark circles under my eyes told of my many a sleepless nights. My skin was paler than usual, sallower, as if it had been months instead of just weeks that I had been out in the sun. I sighed. Appearances were not on my priority list at the moment. After putting my hair in a ponytail, washing my face, and brushing my teeth I headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, I snatched the orange juice and then headed over to the cupboards to grab a glass. Standing at the faucet pouring the juice into the glass, I glanced out the window that was over the sink, and froze, almost dropping the glass. I looked out the window harder, placing the orange juice and glass on the counter, so I could get a closer look.
There outside, parked next to dad's old rusty Chevy truck, was Dean's 1967 black Impala. I stood there, staring at the classic muscle car, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Then it hit me like someone had thrown the coldest bucket of water they could find at me.
It wasn't a dream. Sam and Dean were really upstairs in the spare bedrooms sleeping. Everything was real. The monsters, killings, everything. I groaned putting my head into my hands as it all washed over me. Supernatural wasn't a TV show. It was real.
But then, despite the absolute horror that reality brought with it, I smiled. Sam and Dean were in the upstairs bedrooms. In my house. I grabbed the glass and drank the juice down in gulps. As long as the Winchester brothers were in the house I was relatively safe enough.
I checked the fridge real quick as I placed the orange juice inside of it, making sure that I had everything to make breakfast with. Seeing that there were no eggs, I made a mental note to check the hen house. I grabbed the egg basket and went out the door.
The morning air was filled with a slight mist that instantly coated my skin and clothes with little water droplets. It was warm and slightly muggy, promising that it would be another humid day. A low neigh wafted through the air to greet me and I smiled in response.
"Hold on there, boy. I'll have your food out to you in a minute." I got a low snort for an answer and then a thundering of hooves. Three horses; Brego, Sojourn, and Listener galloped along the fence line, bucking and snapping their teeth at each other. Brego stopped at the gate and pawed the gate three loud times to let me know I wasn't going fast enough.
"Yeah, yeah." I said to him. "I'm hurrying." I went to the shed and opened the door, completely forgetting who I had locked inside yesterday. I was greeted by huge white flying ball of fur. I landed with an *oof* on my backside and next thing I knew I had a paw on each shoulder and was welcomed with big slobbery kisses.
"Aww, yuck!" I cried, laughing. "Aww, man! Get off, Traiden! Get off!" Traiden let out his little wolfy laugh and jumped off of me to run in a circle a few times before coming back and sitting down in front of me. I laughed again as I got up, brushing my backside off. I stopped and I couldn't help but admire Traiden.
Anyone who saw Traiden would immediately think 'wolf'. And they would be half right. Traiden was a wolf hybrid, his father being a white German Sheppard and the mother a grey Timber wolf. His solid snow, white coat, which he somehow never got dirty, his size—his back came up to my waist—and unmistakable amber wolf eyes only strengthened their first assumptions.
Traiden looked at me now, his head cocked and tongue lolling, as if to say 'what's wrong? Let's get the chores done then get back inside and eat.'
I grinned and rubbed his head, scratching him a bit behind the ears. He whined in pleasure and then took off to chase the horses as they continued to run along the fence line.
I hurriedly fed the animals, only pausing long enough to give each horse a pat on the neck and to gather the eggs. I got lucky and scavenged two dozen and a half eggs. I gave one to Traiden, which he practically swallowed whole, and threw another one to the cats as a treat.
I hurried back to the house, Traiden right on my heels, hoping that Sam and Dean were still sleeping, and betting strongly that they were. I was at the door about to open it, when I stopped. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood up as I felt the sensation of something watching me. Traiden leaned against me and I could feel the growls rumbling through his body. I immediately grabbed the fur and skin between his shoulder blades to keep him in place. His hackles were raised and his mouth pulled over to reveal sharp canines. I slowly turned my head, scanning trees and bushes, trying to make out every shadow.
I stood there for five minutes before the uneasy sensation went away and Traiden relaxed his aggressive pose. I let out a long breath and stood up straighter, rolling my shoulders. I quickly opened the door and pulled Traiden inside with me. Turning around I locked the door, securing the extra bolt for my peace of mind.
I went to the kitchen, Traiden leading the way, and placed the basket off eggs on the counter. Reaching for mom's recipe box that she kept in the cupboard above the fridge, I tried to remember what recipe that I wanted. Placing the box on the counter, I opened and found the recipe right in front.
"Bingo," I said, clapping my hands together and rubbing them. "Let's get to work, shall we?" Traiden wagged his tail in anticipation.