Chapter 1
Heart pounding and skin dripping, Alice jogged down the simple sidewalk path she had memorized by heart. Breath coming out in short bursts of air, she bounced along to the rhythm of the heavy metal song that pounded along in her earbuds. Despite having her own senses hindered by the loud music, Alice Reid still had her senses on high alert as she completed her morning route.
Seeing the end of her driveway come into view, she pushed her legs into a longer, ground eating stride as she propelled herself into a hard run the last several meters of her jog.
Breath hissing through her gritted teeth as she worked to keep her breathing under control, Alice couldn't help the small cloud of steam that drifted from her lips. Being a Dragon Born meant some things she couldn't control. Like when her dragon sat close to the surface, smoke had a tendency to come out of her mouth. On an instance where she was extremely upset, little plumes of fire quickly followed.
Not that it truly bothered her, living in a primarily supernatural dominated area meant she didn't have to hide many of her quirks. Just when it came to other male Dragon Born. After a rapid decline of females being born to the species. Female Dragon Born became a rare and coveted facet of the species. Those that remained single and of child bearing age were quickly swept up by groups of male Dragon Born. And Alice wanted no part of that, so she did everything she could to hide what she truly was. Even if it meant suppressing the best parts of herself.
Slowing her hard run down to a light jog, Alice then slowed down to a walk as she came down her driveway. Arms stretched high over her head as she breathed in and out in controlled inhales and exhales, she moaned in delight as the cool morning air brushed across her exposed midriff. Cooling down the hot, sweaty flesh. Taking the few steps up onto her porch, she stopped to take her earbuds out and pop them back into their wireless case before setting them down on her porch swing and beginning her post run stretches.
Arm's stretching high above her, she curved her back inward as she leaned back before diving down to place her palms flat against the ground. Feeling the muscles running through her buttock and thighs stretch and burn, she groaned at the sensation of her tired muscles stretching out after the long run she did.
Finishing her stretch, she snagged the water bottle she stashed on her porch for post run hydration, she popped the lid open and began to chug the slightly warm liquid. Hearing the bottle crunch as she gripped tightly onto it, she popped it away from her plump lips and sighed in relief. Darting her tongue out, she licked a droplet of water off that dangled precariously from her bottom lip.
After finishing her post run routine, she finally headed inside. Tossing her electronics on her kitchen island, she shucked her shoes off and tossed them by the front door before she began to make her way back towards her back bathroom where her shower awaits her return.
Hearing her phone ping with an alert, Alice paused in her disrobing. With her tank top already half way over her head, she finished peeling it off before walking back towards where her phone sat on the kitchen counter.
Clicking her phone on, she looked at the new alert that read:
You have a new Job Alert!
Curious, she unlocked her phone and opened the job alert up. Watching as it pulled up a help wanted ad hiring for a personal chef.
Phone in one hand as she read the job details, Alice continued to disrobe with the other hand as she toddled back towards the bathroom.
Help Wanted!!!
The MoonValley Ridge Pack is looking for a new live in Private Chef!!!
Must have at least 1 year of experience with a degree in cooking preferred.
Please submit your resume and a list of referrals to the email listed below.
Serious applicants only!
Thumbing through the rest of the details and what the pay rate would look like, Alice hummed in interest.
Entering into her bathroom, she reaching into her shower and cranked the water up to as hot as it could get. Standing there in her own bathroom absolutely bare naked, she began going through the application process inputting her resume information as well as importing her list of referrals and education and work history.
Alice liked to think she had a gift for cooking. She understood the science behind it as well as the soul value to it. She and food connected and it only showed a little on her. She was a lot more rounded in certain areas than other female dragon born tend to be, but it gave her more room to love.
Alice never had any negative views of her own body, she couldn't understand the humans obsession with body images. She was just glad she was alive, she was healthy and she hadn't been found by a group of male single dragon born and dragged back to their brooding nest.
Hitting submit on the application, she sat her phone down and hopped into the shower and began cleaning herself.
Humming to herself as she lathered soap over her breasts, she heard the shrill ring of a call coming through. Cursing, she quickly rinsed herself off and turned the water off. Grabbing a towel, she reached out and grabbed the phone as well, swiping up to answer the call, she began to step out as she worked on wrapping the towel around herself.
"HelloooAHHHH" CRASH!
Right as Alice began to speak into her phone, she lost her footing and slipped on the damp bathroom flooring. Groaning as she struggled to keep the phone to her ear and herself in one piece, she slowly sat up, listening as a confused male voice spoke over the phone.
"Uhh...hello?" She heard come from the other side.
"Is this Alice Reid?" The voice piped up after a moment of silence.
"Oh hi! Yes, yes this is she!" She replied breathily as she gripped her onto her bathroom sink and slowly rose up from the ground.
"Ah yeah, this is Adrien Montgomery from the MoonValley Ridge. I was calling because I just got your application in and looking it over and I wanted to know if we could schedule an in person interview?" He asked her.
For some reason the male on the other side of the phone sounded nervous. Unsure of the reason why, Alice continued on with the phone call.
"Yeah absolutely! What time are you wanting to hold the interview at? Is there anything specific I need to prepare or have with me?" She asked Adrien.
After a pause of silence on his end she heard his quick intake of air.
"Can you come in and do it as soon as possible? Perhaps today? In say...30 minutes? I saw on your application that you aren't too far away from the main pack house, and honestly you don't really need to bring any paperwork with you. We just need a demonstration of your cooking skills. I'm honestly growing desperate at this point, and your application looks absolutely too good to pass up." He rushed out, his voice was pleading and if he were in front of her, it sounded like he would be on his knees begging her as well.
"Oh uh...yeah I guess I can...I will just need to get ready and I will head that way then. Do I need any specific information or do I just need to call you back?" She asked him, confusion lacing her voice as she stalked out of her bathroom and towards her closet.
"Oh thank Luna! Yeah once you hit the gate that leads to the main pack grounds, just give me a call and I will escort you in and where you will do the demonstration. You wont need to worry about bringing anything, we keep our pantries and fridges well stocked, as well as the kitchen supplies. I just need you to bring yourself and your cooking skills. Thank you so much Alice, you have no idea how much this means to me that you're responding so quickly to my slightly ridiculous request." He rushed the details off.
Completely flabbergasted, Alice couldn't help but mutter an okay and a quick goodbye. Dropping her phone off on her bed, she walked into her closet and began to throw together an interview friendly outfit she could cook comfortably in.
"I wonder what they are going to want me to make." She murmured to herself.
It was highly unusual for an interview to not only pop up so quickly, but for the employer to request an actual demonstration of her cooking skills.
"They must really be desperate for some good food." She muttered as she threw some clothes together.
Stopping by her full length mirror, Alice couldn't help but wince at the new patch of scales that popped up on her waistline.
It was growing close to shedding season for Alice and her dragon was making it's presence known more and more by the appearance of scales coming through her skin. Once Alice finished her full shed it would be hours after the event would she come into a full heat.
A moment where her dragon would be ready for breeding and ready to rear offspring. Anxiety rose through Alice's mind, she didn't have anymore of the ingredients to help suppress her pheromones and with the rising inflation on magical herbs, couldn't afford to order more.
She'd have to find a better way to hide herself, once her pheromones began to release, it would signal to any male that she was ready to be bred. Coupled with her dragons desire to be mounted she would be launched into a fierce breeding frenzy that could last anywhere from a few hours up to a few days.
Shivering at the thought, she ignored the new scale growth and began to tug her clothing on.
Simple dark slacks, with a gray flowy blouse that allowed for arm flexibility and movement, underneath her simple yet business professional outfit, she slipped on a matching simply lace panty set in a deep gray tone. The gray's enhanced the fiery reds in her hair and turned her yellow green eyes into a more golden tone.
Applying some light makeup, she slipped on a pair of simple comfortable black shoes on, grabbed her belongings and headed out the door. Locking up before she got into her car and headed off to her interview.
Nerves thrumming through her veins she couldn't help but tap her fingers along her steering wheel and drove towards her destination, not even her loud obnoxious heavy metal music could ease her jittery nerves.
Finally after about 25 minutes of driving, Alice reached her destination. A large towering gate surrounded by luscious pine trees all over the place.
"Holy Hallmark movies this place is already gorgeous." She muttered to herself as she pilfered through her purse for her phone.
Grabbing it and turning it on, she pulled up her call log and hit dial on the most recent phone number that popped up in her recent log.
"Hello?" That same familiar male voice answered after picking up after the 3rd dial tone.
"Hi! This is Alice! I was told to call back when I reached the gate." She rushed out quickly. Her nerves getting the better of her normally forced even temperament.
"Ah! Alice yes, we are already on our way to open the gate and escort you in. Just standby and we will be there soon." He told her.
After a quick goodbye, Alice sat in her car, keeping an eye out for anybody coming up.
Granted seeing a small pack of giant sized werewolves and a guy on an ATV wasn't quite what she expected, she just swallowed her nerves and waited for the gates to open.
