Page 19 of Claimed

In our rental vehicle, we follow Dante in his dark green jeep down a road that looks like it’s seen better days, all gravel and full of holes. We are surrounded by a forest that looks shady and green and good for running.

“I hope he’s not leading us into a trap,” Maddox says from the driver’s seat as his brow pinches in worry.

“I didn’t get any bad vibes from him,” Gage says in reassurance.

Bain strokes my side and I press further against his chest. He makes a great seat. They all do. Sitting on your own is simply overrated. I highly recommend a big, strong mate as a chair, ten out of ten. I feel his lips touch the top of my head, and I let out a sigh, wishing I could shift at will.

I close my eyes and search for the spark of magic, and for the first time in years, I feel the barest hint of it. It’s not enough to grasp onto, but it’s enough to give me hope. That wasn’t there a week ago. Does shifting help it grow? Or is it being in Starfall Haven that’s helping ignite it?

Suddenly, a pulse of power moves through me, making my eyes fly open.

“Fuck! Was that the town barrier?” Chase asks, rubbing at his chest.

“It must have been. Dante warned us about it,” Gage replies. “That means no humans from here forward.”

“I think we’re here,” Hunter says, and I peek around Maddox to look out the front. Up ahead, I can see the heavy treeline ends, and in its place are quaint little buildings.

Dante pulls off into a parking lot on our left that seems to be at the very edge of town. Maddox parks beside him as the guys start to get out.

“Stay close to me,” Bain says before releasing me and letting me jump out on my own. I wait for him to climb out as I take a look around. Behind Dante is the edge of a large forest. Thick oak, pine, and maple trees tower above me, and the sounds of birds and squirrels chirping away have me excited to explore.

Something about it feels more inviting than the forest back in Nebraska. Maybe because there are no humans here? Whatever it is, it calms something inside me.

Bain closes the car door, and I stay glued to his side as we approach Dante.

“You felt it when you drove through the barrier, yes?” he asks as he glances around.

“We did,” Maddox answers.

“So as long as you don’t feel that, you know you are safely in Starfall Haven’s protected land.” He points to the forest behind him. “This is Starfall Forest. Many supernaturals who like to run, such as wolves, can run freely here without worrying about being hunted. I thought I should show this to you first.”

“Thank you,” Maddox says as we all look toward the forest. Does that mean Dr. J and his men can’t find me here? I’m pretty sure they’re human, but he’d already recruited supernaturals to help him once when he convinced Kane to capture me. I’m still not entirely safe here, even if it does feel ten times better than Westgrove already.

I press myself against Bain’s leg, and he leans toward me, stroking my head and neck. Dante watches us, and I see a small pinch of his brow before he glances at Maddox as if trying to piece something together. But then he seems to shake himself out of it, his casual smile returning as he gestures down the street.

“This is Main Street. You’ll find most of your needs here. There are quite a few restaurants, a bakery that makes delicious treats, a couple of cafes, and even a hotel in the center of town.”

I look where he’s pointing and am pleasantly surprised. I’m not sure what I expected from the supernatural town, but it definitely wasn’t this. It looks like something pulled straight out of an old postcard—brick storefronts with hand-painted signs, flower boxes spilling color beneath wide windows, and not a single chain in sight. Something in my chest loosens. Could this really be as ideal as it looks at first glance?

I learned long ago that evil can hide anywhere, and first impressions aren’t always correct.

“I assume you’ll want to head there first?” Dante asks.

“Actually, could you tell us where to find a realtor?” Gage asks.

Dante’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “You haven’t even been here five minutes, and you’re ready to move in?”

“We may stay at the hotel for a few days, but in the meantime, it will be good to know what’s available,” Maddox explains.

“Peggy is the only realtor in town. She’s an earth elemental, and she’ll definitely be able to help you. She’s actually only a few buildings away from the hotel.”

“Is there a restaurant close by too?” Chase asks. “I’m starving.”

“Yeah. I recommend Yum Yums. It’s an American diner.”

“Thanks, I could totally go for a cheeseburger,” Chase says, rubbing his stomach.

“With fries,” Hunter adds.