Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 4 - Memories

All of sudden we heard, “Woohoo! I have arrived.”

Ah, shit!

“How many tents do we have, Greg,” I hissed, causing him to flinch.

“Three, why?”

“Remember when I told you about her snoring? Where’s the damn store?” I questioned him as he pointed.

I grabbed my backpack and took off to the store as if my ass was on fire. I didn’t care how rude it seemed but I needed to get to the store and replace a high priced tent.

I walked into the store. I wanted to gag at the cigarette smell. The store was entrenched in the smell. I would have to air my tent out before I slept in it. I found the tent first. I grabbed it and looked around to see what else I needed. I found a lantern and grabbed it. I grabbed the fuel and two flints. I grabbed a lighter and looked around again. I saw the snacks and colas. I was all over the snacks and drinks. I grabbed a handful and went to the register to barter.

“How much for the tent?” I asked the lady.

“Five-hundred-dollars,” she replied, smirking at me.

I smirked back. “I will give you three hundred for everything.”

She smiled, showing off her yellow teeth. I wanted to gag but I kept the smirk on my face. I didn’t want her to think I was a pushover.

“Three-hundred-and -fifty-dollars,” she bartered.

“Three-twenty-five,” was my reply.

“Damn, girl, you drive a hard bargain. I love to barter, but no one is brave enough anymore. I’ll take your three-twenty-five,” the lady told me as she smiled at me.

I handed her the money so I could get out of the store. I didn’t want to miss my boat and I wanted out of the store, away from the smell.

“Come back and see me again, okay?” She asked.

No fucking way.

I nodded my head, slinging the pup tent over my shoulder and throwing my snacks and drinks in my backpack. I stowed the lantern, along with flints and fuel in my bag, packing it tight.

I walked quickly to the boat, stowing all my gear in our spot. I made sure nothing could be destroyed and I pulled a coke and a snack cake out of my backpack, sitting down and getting comfortable.

I was interrupted from my snack. “What’s a pretty lady like you doing with all those weapons,” a big game hunter asked.

“Well, they're for protection against anyone who wants to take advantage of me. Don’t you agree that I have the right to protect myself?”

“Yeah, sure,” he said sarcastically as he turned around to smirk at the rest of the guys.

I grabbed my blade as his back was turned to me. I was twirling the blade through my fingers. I would catch in the air as he turned back to me. He lost his smirk and stepped away from me. I smirked and put my blade away.

Daisy walked up next. “Why did you go get a tent. We were supposed to share one,” she whined.

“Nope. You fucking snore and I need my sleep,” I explained.

Daisy jumped back onto the pier and walked away. I was happy for a second or two, then I realized I was trying to fit in and my way of doing things wasn’t helping me to fit in.

I jumped onto the pier and called for Daisy. She stopped as I apologized to her. I don’t think I have ever apologized before. But, I knew I needed to do it to fit in. When she walked off I was sure she was going to go whine to the guys.

Well, I did try.

I got back on the boat and settled in a spot for now. I went into my head again, thinking about the monster and his ways of training me up to be a good mate - a mate that he would pick for me. I didn’t want the mate he picked for me. The man was sick and twisted. I had the scars to prove how twisted he was. I remembered all the twisted things the bastard did to me. What his men did to me.

“Are you okay?” Daisy asked.

I was surprised she was talking to me. It took me a few seconds to answer her. “I’m fine. I was in my head about my ex-husband. All the things he did to me,” I answered honestly. Although, he wasn’t my ex but my future mate. It was the same for me.