Melted By The Bear: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Amira Rain Page B

prophecy, did she?’ But most people haven’t been listening, or if they have been, apparently they just can’t help but feel the way they feel. ‘Relax,’ I say. ‘Things will be just fine. This new nation is far too strong to be brought to its knees, no matter what.’ But some in this village just want to be fretters and doomsayers, like our dear Hazel here at the house, who really can be a dear in some ways, but she’s also kind of a fretter and a doomsayer at the same time, even without you and the prophecy.”
    “And what about Cormack? Is he a doomsayer? Is that why he’s been so cold to me?”
    Cook all but literally jumped up from her chair, as if she’d been startled awake from a dream. “Oh, dear. I tend to go on and on. Always babbling, always saying too much.” She began hastily filling one of the trays with dishes. “I’d better see to getting these in the dishwasher, then I’d better get to planning tonight’s menu and making sure I have all the ingredients I’ll need. I do feel like we may be a little low on certain herbs... rosemary and sage, I think. I’ll have to check the pantry to see if-”
    “It’s fine, Cook.” I gave her a little smile. “I’ll save any and all further questions I have for when I see Cormack tonight.”
    After a pronounced exhale, Cook gave me a little smile in return, then began heading across the kitchen with a tray full of dishes. But just before the swinging door, she paused and turned to look at me. “If you go into the ‘town’ part of the village today, people may be not exactly the friendliest. Try not to take it personally. Just try to keep in mind that sometimes people become reserved and unfriendly when they’re scared. Look for a young woman named Abby who owns the little antique bookstore. I don’t know her extremely well, but from what I’ve seen of her around town, I think she must have had a mother like mine. And above all else, hold your head up high.”
    “Why shouldn’t I hold my head up high?”
    I’d forgotten that I’d said I was done with questions, but it didn’t even matter. The moment I’d spoken, Cook had already been backing her way through the swinging door.
    Not without a touch of anxiety, I soon left to head into town to do some exploring, and maybe a little shopping if anything caught my eye. When I left the house and began walking down the long, paved driveway in front, I breathed in deep, reveling in the scent of early autumn. It was a blend of earth, yellowing leaves, and something crisp and indefinable, maybe apple trees somewhere nearby. The air was chilly and a bit damp, also signaling early autumn, and I glanced up at the slate-gray sky, hoping my reception in town wouldn’t be quite as chilly.
    I should have known that was hoping for too much. I hadn’t even made it to the end of the short paved lane that led from the mansion to the main paved road through town when the glares began. A young woman riding a bike on the shoulder of the road, heading toward town, glared at me. An older couple planting yellow and orange mums in front of their cabin looked up and glared at me. Just after I’d started down the main road, a woman pushing a baby in a stroller on the sidewalk glared at me. I could have sworn the baby even glared at me a little.
    Over the next quarter-mile or so, until I reached “downtown,” where dozens of little shops, boutiques, and restaurants lined each side of the street, I probably received glares from no fewer than two dozen people, some in cars and trucks and some on foot and bikes. Nobody spoke to me. Not a single word. Apparently, everyone in town had been briefed on my physical description, since every single person I encountered seemed to recognize me as she who must be glared at .
    However, despite not being able to not take it all personally, as Cook had advised, I held my head up high and even waved at a few people, trying to smile. At one point, I even had to bite back a laugh,