Timothy nodded to where the beach now curved to the right in front of them, the trees growing inland blocking their view.
“It’s not far. Another five minutes.”
John was indeed out fishing. They saw him as soon as they made it past the bend of the beach.
Before them, the white sand curved inward, another bay of sun-warmed sand and blue water greeting them.
And there, among the trees, a small house stood. It was built of gray stone, with a large deck of wooden planks bleached by the wind and the sun. In front of the house, a pier led into the water. A small boat was tied to it.
And in the shade beneath the pier, a man in his sixties was sitting, a baseball cap covering his white hair as he watched a fishing rod.
“Hey John. Hope they’re biting,” Timothy said when they walked closer.
John grunted in response, but then got up and shook Liana’s hand.
“Good to meet you,” he said gruffly. “Name’s John.”
“Liana Robinson,” she said, eying him in fascination. “I’m so sorry if this is terribly rude, but—are you a werewolf, too?”
John laughed hoarsely. “That I am,” he said. “No worries, miss—I prefer striped bass to human flesh. Even on the full moon.”
Behind them, there was the faint sound of a door closing. When they looked up, James came strolling towards them from the house. He must have run back home and shifted there, then dressed. Like John, he was wearing khaki shorts and a worn shirt. He carried another fishing rod in his hand, but unlike John, he wore his gray hair buzzed short.
“James,” Timothy said in greeting, shaking his hand when he joined them by the pier. “Thought we’d come and say hello to our neighbors. This is Liana.”
“Pleased to meet you,” James said as he shook Liana’s hand. He gave Timothy a toothy grin. “So. Finally bringing home your mate, huh? About time.”
“How do you know—” Liana began, frowning at the werewolf.
James shrugged. “Sniffed something weird in the air, so my wolf wanted to go for a run and explore. Knew as soon as I saw you two. There’s something in your eyes when you find your mate. Something in your scent—or maybe it’s just the way two scents mingle just right. Something was up. And of course, what with him being so powerful, some of us can feel a shift in power.”
John rolled his eyes. “And some of us couldn’t care less about gossip and just want to spend a nice day out here by the water.”
James gave them another hoarse laugh. “Bet the folks in town would love my gossip. You visiting them next, boss?”
Timothy nodded. “I want to show Liana the island and introduce her. Oh—and keep an eye on my house for me, will you? I’ve got a visitor in there, and he’s not supposed to start any trouble.”
“Thought I smelled something off.” James inhaled the air. “Who is it?”
“A fire dragon,” Timothy said, not surprised by the way both werewolves started.
“Holy shit,” John said, eyes wide. “For real?”
Timothy nodded. “Keep it quiet. He can’t shift or use his powers, and I don’t think he’s going to run. Still—if he tries to leave, let me know.”
“Sure thing, boss. I’ve got your number.” James patted his pocket, then cursed. “Where the hell is my phone?”
“Here,” John said with a snort, fishing it out of his own pocket. “You forgot it in the kitchen again.”
James took it with a disgruntled sound.
Liana could barely hold back a laugh.
“You’re not at all how I imagined werewolves,” she said, grinning at James. “But then, neither were dragons. I think I like werewolves much better than fire dragons.”
“Ha. Not much of a compliment,” James said with another toothy grin. “But we like humans much better than fire dragons as well, so I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”
Timothy wrapped his arm around Liana’s waist. “Now—how about those donuts I promised you?”