Chapter 1
The music from the radio was playing in the background while the pine scent from the air-fresher pine tree hanging from the mirror danced in rhythm with the truck’s movement as I drove through the dense snow-covered Austrian forest. My eyes followed the never-ending path to the Grizzly Cabin, located deep into the heart of the Austrian Alps. For years I’ve dreamt of coming to this place where I can snowboard to my heart’s delight and be surrounded by the magical winter wonderland I only saw in pictures and videos on the internet.
I was driving all alone into the heart of the Austrian Alps despite this being a two-people trip when I had planned everything, but sometimes life takes deep turns and makes you question the people you hold close to your heart. A sad sigh passed my lips as I kept thinking about Kaiden, my ex-fiance, and how this was supposed to be our future honeymoon, but everything crumbled down like a disastrous avalanche when I found him sleeping with my sister.
My sister!?
The shock only grew when both confessed they’d gone behind my back for months, and they were planning to tell me because things turned serious. They were simply cowards. How long did they want to wait!? Until the wedding day!?
In a way, I was relieved that the truth came out, but the pain in my chest from the betrayal never once left. My sister was the only family I had, and now I couldn’t trust her anymore, nor did I want to see her face or Kaiden. They can be happily ever after for all I care. All I wanted was to find my own happiness in the place I wanted to visit since I was a little girl, but could never afford it until now. The last bit of savings was used for this trip, and in a way, I wish this trip would never end because I knew once it would end I would have to get back to the harsh reality. I had no place to live, so this meant once I get back, I will need to find rent, one that doesn’t suck an entire monthly payment.
A shiver went down my spine, and I turned the heat higher, melting into the driver’s seat as I passed immense pine trees covered in blankets of thick snow. Seeing a patch of color through the never-ending waterfall of white seemed like a rarity. The only color was the blue pristine sky and the rays of the sun making the snow shine like precious diamonds that will vanish once the winter season is over.
I couldn’t wait to get to the cabin, unpack, and enjoy the fresh layer of snow, perfect for snowboarding. A cabin with a ski slope. A dream come true. I couldn’t wait to get there. Just me and the frozen wilderness to enjoy the addicting adrenaline. After one more hour of driving, I finally saw the cabin in the distance, and the closer I got, the more the smile on my face grew.
The cabin had a majestic mixture of stone and wood, giving it a sturdy aspect. Stopping the truck and exiting it, I didn’t expect the cabin to be this big. Not wasting a moment, I walked forward up the front porch, pulling the key of the cabin out of the pocket of my white winter jacket, and unlocking the front door. When I set foot, the beautiful rustic interior caught my heart into a fist. What I adored about the cabin were the huge windows that offered a big connection with the outside world. The rich scents of wood and pine enveloped me, and I was taken aback by how spotless the place was, almost like it was brand new.
Warm wood elements, weathered linens, and vintage accents with a story - this cabin felt like it came out of a fairytale. Dried flowers and animal taxidermy trophies littered the high walls, not to mention the woven pieces of furniture like baskets and chairs. Going deeper into the cabin, I was stunned by the open-spaced kitchen that brought me back into another era. It was so rich in decor compared to the minimalistic kitchen of the apartment I used to live in. Shelves with cute mugs and ancient-looking vessels littered the kitchen. I almost jumped in joy when I saw the pizza oven. I could only imagine all the delicious meals I would cook and bake during my stay here.
The massive stone fireplace in the living room was a masterpiece, especially with the fluffy rugs littering the mahogany floorboards. I could already picture myself all naked in one of these cozy-looking armchairs, drinking a glass of red wine while reading my favorite novel. It broke my cozy daydream when I heard the front door open and a chorus of loud male voices. Instantly, panic settled in, and I quickly walked to the front door to see what all the commotion was about, ready to take the sturdiest object and defend myself if the situation called.
My eyes widened when I saw three guys at the front door with heavy luggage. They were all tall, over 6′3 without a doubt, with sturdy physiques that made my 5′5 frame look like a hare. I kept silent as I studied them. They all had unique features.
One of them had snow-white hair, styled in a wild and spikey manner. The upper part was much longer than the sides but kept out of his steel-grey eyes by a pair of black shades. His skin was of an ivory shade, looking almost ethereal. The second guy was the opposite. He had dark brown hair in the same spikey and rebellious hairstyle, and his skin was a sun-kissed warm honey. On top of his exotic features, he had dark chocolate eyes. The last one was a little odd, with jet-black hair, but a few white streaks. His hair was a little shorter compared to the other two. His eyes were a vibrant green, and his skin was neither tan nor pale, something in between.
Studying their cheerful and laid-back demeanor, I figured they weren’t intruders or people who were looking for trouble. They acted like they had rented the cabin, much like me, and this aspect made me anxious. Finally, I got the courage to clear my throat and catch their attention.
Their laughter died down. I felt anxious as their gazes settled on me. One thing was for sure, they all were undeniably handsome with high cheekbones, sharp jawlines, hunter’s eyes, and kissable lips. Very inviting.
Their grins vanished, and they glanced at me with curiosity. A knot formed in my throat, and my heartbeat increased as I became the object of their attention.
“Are you the housekeeper?” The one with darker features asked me, pulling off his scarf and throwing it over the backrest of an armchair before he let his duffle bag hit the floor with a heavy thud.
I blinked a few times at his question. “Excuse me?” I managed to say, my brow tugged into a frown of confusion as my mind wrapped around his question.
“If you’re the housekeeper, make sure you use a double dose of softener. I like my bedsheets to feel like a cloud. Alright, doll?” I could only stare at him, flabbergasted, as he threw himself into the armchair, kicking his feet on the coffee table, and I instantly grimaced at his rude and unmannered attitude.
On a normal day, I would have been more diplomatic, but after such a long ride and an event that left me emotionally restless, I didn’t have the patience to put up with a jerk, so my temper took charge of the situation. Walking with confidence, I managed to kick his heavy feet off the coffee table.
“First of all, I am not the housekeeper. Secondly, you’re an uneducated bastard who clearly never got a slap over his head from his mother.” I snarked with my hands on my hips. First, a state of shock washed over the guy’s features, followed by an expression of utter violence. His eyes narrowed, and in a second, he stood up. My eyes widened as he towered over me.
“What the fuck did you say, Schlampe?” He snarled like an animal, his Austrian accent thick and heavy. I knew German, and my stomach twisted at the degrading word he called me. The confidence I had before melted like the snow from his sturdy mountain boots. He looked ready to rip my jaw off. His nostrils flared, and shivers went down my spine at how his lips curled in a vicious snarl. (Schlampe= Slut)
“Hey, hey. Easy, Matthias.” The white-haired one stepped in between us, pushing his friend a little back. “Let’s calm down before you do something you might regret later.” There was a certain authority to the white-haired man’s voice, despite the calmness with which he spoke. The brown-haired man, whose name’s Matthias, rolled his broad shoulders back, taking deep breaths before he sent me one last acidic glare and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Fine.” He grunted, rolling his eyes.
I tensed again when the light-colored one turned his attention from his hotheaded friend to me. His glacial grey eyes cut through my soul, and despite his stoic demeanor, I could see the brutal blizzard within his eyes.
“I apologize for my friend’s temper. My name’s Felix, and my friend’s names are Matthias and Maximilian.” He introduced himself and his friends. “We rented the cabin for the entire winter season.”
This new revelation brought a sense of worry. “I-I’m Daisy. I rented this cabin for the following weeks.” I informed them, and the three glanced at each other before Matthias spoke in his gruff voice.
“Sorry to break it to you, Fräulein, but for years, we three had rented this cabin for the winter season.” (Fräulein= Young Lady)
A cold sweat formed at the nape of my neck at how Matthias spoke — as if I was a torn in their side, and they couldn’t wait to pull me out and throw me out in the snow.
“There is no doubt a misunderstanding had been made,” Felix spoke, and from these first few minutes, since I encountered this odd trio, I could tell he was the most mature one — the stoic leader of the triade. “I will give the owner a call and see what happened.” He told me, pulling out his smartphone from the pocket of his white camouflage winter jacket, and walking outside to talk with the landlord.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Blondine,” I glanced back to Matthias, who flashed me an arrogant smirk, looking mighty confident. “The owner has known us for years.” (Blondine= Blondie)
I glared at him, not impressed with his snobbish attitude. Five minutes passed, and Felix came back after he ended the call.
“Yeah. It seems a misunderstanding had been made. The landlord had accidentally given you the wrong cabin, and sadly there are no more free spots for other cabins. It’s winter season, so everything’s packed.” Felix informed me with a sympathetic expression, and my heart instantly dropped.
“T-That means...” I whispered, afraid to finish my sentence.
“You got it, Fräulein. At least see the bright side. You haven’t unpacked your stuff.” Matthia’s sarcastic remark only added gasoline to the fire I felt in my veins.
“There is no way. I will speak with the landlord, too! I made the reservation for months.” I told them, stepping outside in long, angry strides, dialing the owner’s number to have a firm talk with him. After minutes of arguing hotly with him, trying to win over this murky situation, I lost with an empty promise of getting a discount next year for this mistake.
Ending the call, a sad sigh passed my lips, and I leaned back against the tail of my vehicle.
“Told you, Fräulein.” I snapped my head in the direction from where the familiar heavy-accented voice with arrogance came, and my body strained when Matthias came into my view.
“Have you eavesdropped?” I interrogated him, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms over my chest.
“Hard to call it that, considering I could hear your shouting from inside the cabin. Props for the passion with which you argued, but we’ve been here longer than you.” Matthias spoke as if the cabin, the mountain, and everything around us belonged to him, and it only pissed me off further.
“Do you have a hobby to be a jerk?” My sassy attitude showed its claws, and Matthias’s smirk dropped, only to be replaced by a scowl.
“No.” His voice turned a sharp edge, and he took a step forward. “I have a hobby to put dumme kleine city girls back in their place. Remind them the mountains aren’t a place for them,” His dark brown eyes glanced at my hands. “Or their delicate manicured hands.” (dumme kleine= stupid little)
Each word felt like a stab in my back, and I quickly hid my hands as shame bloomed over me, like toxic weeds, making a sour taste fill my mouth. All my sass and courage bent in half as if he just snapped it like a twig. My gaze averted to our boots, having a hard time handling his intimidating stare. Some long curls of my blonde hair fell in front of my eyes.
“What’s the matter, kleines Mädchen? Cannot handle the rough edges of the mountain?” He inquired with gleeful sadism, and I didn’t have to look up to see his taunting smirk. My heart was wretched, and I could taste the upcoming tears in my throat. The worst part was that now I had to drive all the way back with a luggage full of disappointment and sorrow.
“Maybe you should have stayed in the city. We wouldn’t want to get your pretty pink boots to get dirty and ripped.” Matthias continued with the taunting, mocking my pink UGG boots.
I had put up with bullies before in middle and high school, and normally, I always had smartass remarks to put such jerks in their places, but at the moment, a wave of complete vulnerability hit me. I was like a deer caught in a bear trap, without any option to escape. My sight turned blurry, and I knew the tears appeared, brimming at the corner of my eyes ready to fall into rivers down my rosy cheeks.
“Hey,” Matthias grunted. “Look at me when I am speaking to you, Hündin.” His hand shot forward, gripping my chin firmly and roughly tilting my head up. Instantly, the tears in my eyes exploded, running down my cheeks and soaking his black-gloved fingers. (Hündin= Bitch)
When my glassy, stark blue eyes met his rich pools of brown, all that arrogance and aggression vanished, replaced by an expression of worry. His grip on my chin vanished, and I heard him curse in German.
“Scheiße, girl. Don’t cry.” He told me, his tone much gentler than before. “I didn’t mean...” He ran his fingers through his spikey brunette hair which had a golden glow to it from the rays of the sun. (Scheiße= Shit)
I bit my lower lip, my throat trembling as did my heart, feeling a series of sobs ready to come out. I hated myself more than him because I hated being seen as weak, especially in front of strangers.
“Verdammt. Come here,” He grunted out, before tugging me into his arms. I stiffened, not expecting something like this, but the moment his arms wrapped around my petite frame, I broke down. Taking a deep breath, his scent enveloped me. It was something refined yet so raw — a combination of sweet vanilla and rum and rich tobacco and leather. All my emotions crashed like a broken dam. I couldn’t contain my emotional turmoil anymore, so I sobbed into his chest, soaking his navy blue ski jacket with my tears.
Through my sobbing, I could hear him shushing me, and his hands rubbing my back in an attempt to calm me down. It wasn’t Matthias that brought me to this state. The past events had gradually cracked me. Matthias’s words were only the final nail in the coffin. Months of rage, sorrow, betrayal, and humiliation came out, and all I could do was sob my eyes out into the chest of the man who mocked and insulted me.
My ears perked up when I heard snow crunching under heavy weight, followed by two other voices shouting.
“Matt! What did you do to her!?” It was Felix who shouted first.
“Nothing! I just teased her! I didn’t think she would cry, alright!” Matthias yelled but still held me in his warm embrace to calm me.
“You are such an Arschloch, I swear.” A third voice spoke, soft like a spring breeze but scolding like boiling water nonetheless. It must be Maximillian, speaking for the first time since we’ve met. (Arschloch= Asshole)
I could feel their presence, and a small squeak left me when I was carefully tugged from Matthias’s arms only to glance into gunmetal-colored eyes and a set of enormous hands cupping my cheeks.
“What happened, Schatz?” Felix questioned me, looking me up and down for injuries or any sight that Matthias hurt me. I swallowed back a sob and took a deep breath, but I couldn’t get a single word out as I continued to hiccup through weak sobs. (Schatz= Sweetheart)
A long sigh left Felix, closing his eyes for a moment before he opened them and gently nudged me into the direction of the cabin.
“Let’s get inside and calm down, alright?” Pursing my lips, I give a single nod, letting Felix guide me back to the cabin. I was too weak to argue or fight back. All I wanted was to get somewhere warm and curl into a blanket.
