The Quest for Happiness: MacTire Legends

By Andrews

This cozy romance fantasy is perfect for readers looking for an uplifting story.

A fulfilling job. Love. Family. That's all Adam has ever wanted. But fate had other plans for him. Suddenly, a thousand-year-old c

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Quest for Happiness
• Release date: Mar 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869271501

Book preview

1

A Beautiful Day

The smell of the crisp summer morning was saturated with strong scents of hay, wood, grass, and, on top of all, the musky scent of predators. Adam sighed and smiled. I love this place, he thought as he walked toward the enclosures.

And he should care about it.

The Jameson Wildlife Sanctuary was built out of his passion, and its state-of-the-art animal care and facilities attracted thousands of visitors every year. His heart glowed with pride as he passed the wall of their awards and accolades, the result of years of research and the hard work of every employee.

Adam strongly believed in the importance of protecting the animals, but he knew the reserve alone wasn’t enough. Educating others about the importance of wildlife conservation, explaining the intricacies of predator behavior, and combating harmful stigmas was equally vital. And he aimed to spread the word. His articles, teachings, and seminars had become an invaluable resource for conservationists around the world.

Although his dedication to the cause was admirable, it was nothing compared to his love for the bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves he cared for. The daily moments of connection shared with these animals were his most significant source of fulfillment. Whenever he was with them, he could get lost in time.

Adam stepped in to lead the last interactive tour of the day since Stacy, his tour guide, was out sick.

Adam smiled as he greeted the crowd, a mix of families and adults who looked like they were all somewhere in between excited and harried, depending on the number of small children attached. But, overall, the crowd teemed with eagerness.

Welcome! My name is Adam, and I’ll be your guide during this next activity. How is your day going so far?

They responded with positive answers and glances.

Glad to see that you are enjoying the experience. But now, brace yourselves because you are going to be in for a treat, entering a cage and engaging with wolves, he enthusiastically called out to the crowd.

He went to step forward but paused. Adam peeked down at his feet, where a small shape stepped on his toes. He grinned at the child, who couldn’t have been more than three. Hi there.

The child blinked at him. You have the prince's eyes, she said to Adam, wonder lacing her voice.

Thank you, he responded with genuine kindness. He knew his eyes were unusual. They were bright aquamarine, a bold and dazzling color. Adam, however, was used to people noticing, and he took the compliment for what it was.

Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, a parent gushed, swooping up the errant child. I looked down, and she was just gone.

No worries. I’m used to kids being around. He gently patted the child on her head.

His eyes weren’t the only things that made him stand out. He was tall and charming but modest, even though he could fill a room with his presence.

Today, I’ve got a treat for you, he said, ushering the group into a small theater behind the wolf enclosure.

The group gasped with excitement, as not every day that the group had a chance to be that close to these beautiful wild animals. Adam opened the fence that connected to the wolf space and whistled. Two of the wolves trotted up and patiently waited while Adam put the leashes and harnesses on them that would give the crowd the illusion of safety.

In reality, should any of these wolves choose to attack the audience, he could do very little to stop them. However, Adam knew these wolves, and he knew in his bones, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they would not harm anyone. They were the right ones to do the outreach.

Harnesses attached, the wolves padded quietly out into the theater. The crowd shrank back, and Adam smiled, hoping to dispel some of their fear so his animals wouldn’t catch on. Here we have two wolves that would love to meet you. This is Kya and Oso. They are very friendly, so don’t be scared. You can come up to them and let them sniff you. If they choose to interact with you, then go ahead. If not, I will ask you to step away.

Adam approached the crowd. The two wolves were shy at first, not leaving Adam’s side. He knelt down and gave them an encouraging talk. It’s okay. These people just want to know you.

The wolves looked at him, now at their level, as an invitation to show their care. They brushed their bodies on Adam, licked his face several times, and gave excited wags of their tails. He laughed, gently caressing them. Easy now.

Wow, that is a lot of excitement! exclaimed one of the visitors while observing all that fuss.

Yes. Adam laughed, the movement illuminating his whole face. The wolves like me, and I like them a lot, too. They are my preferred animals in the sanctuary. He continued with a lower voice, winking to the kids in the group. But don’t tell the other animals that I said this. It would be our secret.

Some of the tension dissipated from the crowd, and a few brave people inched forward. The wolves sniffed hands and legs with mild interest and allowed some visitors to touch or pet their heads.

Good job. Very good, Adam praised the wolves. Affection warmed his heart as he glanced at his wolves, who seemed now to be genuinely enjoying the crowd’s attention.

Unbelievable, they behave like dogs, one woman said.

Wolves are misunderstood creatures. They are very affectionate, as you can see. Social, caring, playful, timid with humans, and would do anything for their families. But don’t try to get closer to them in the wild, as they are very protective of their territory, and since they don’t know you, some might run scared, but others might want to defend what is theirs and attack.

Some visitors nodded, understanding how serious that was.

So, who is the all-powerful alpha here? asked a young man.

"Sorry to break the news, but the alphas are nothing more than the wolf pack's father and mother. These are their kids, so neither one of them is considered alpha.

Really? Reacted the young man with some disappointment in his voice.

Adam laughed. There are lots of myths about wolves. Another myth I’m going to bust is that the wolves don’t really howl at the moon. The wolves’ howl is a communication tool to gather the pack or warn them about danger, for example. It can be heard up to ten miles in the open. Can you imagine?

That is far, a mother agreed.

Okay, let’s have some fun. Adam clasped his hands, shaping into a cone in front of his mouth, he began to imitate a howling sound. The wolves looked at him and, a few seconds later, joined the symphony. The visitors were amused by the animals’ behavior.

Seeing the wolves were comfortable, Adam assisted the kids with the petting. He continued to talk about the animals’ habits and answered additional questions, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everybody, including the wolves, an essential aspect for him. After all, the sanctuary’s core mission was to protect and provide a quality life for the animals.

After the end of the tour, Adam walked toward the main office, holding the papers from the suggestion box. Those papers represented the whole day of activities, critical in seeing how the visitors were perceiving the sanctuary experience. Upon entering the office, his partners, Cinthia, a great and very competent veterinarian, and Nick, a tremendous business guru, greeted him and, seeing his happy expression, asked him, practically knowing the answer. Another successful day, I suppose?

Yes, it seems like it. There are some great comments here. Listen to these, he read out loud some highlighted parts:

Great time all around, worth the time and money . . .

We learned so much today . . .

The staff was so patient with the animals and the people around no matter how many questions we asked. . .

My daughter loved petting the pup . . .

The staff really cares for the animals . . .

I’ll be back. . .

Cinthia added, There’s more. Check out these online reviews and comments. She pointed at the computer screen.

The website was also full of praise for the sanctuary and its staff, but mainly for Adam, whose deep knowledge, combined with his down-to-earth personality, helped people easily learn while appreciating the fantastic bond that he had with all animals.

Congratulations! said Cinthia. She looked at him, radiating pride. Adam, you’ve built something important here. People are learning so much about all of the animals.

Adam blushed, a little uncomfortable with her compliment. "We did it. It wouldn’t be possible without every single person here."

Adam, Cinthia chided. Take credit where credit is due.

He got on his radio and summoned the staff for their final end-of-day meeting. Adam read the feedback to the group, noting how everyone beamed under the kind words.

He lifted the page of feedback like a prize trophy. This is how we live our vision. And it’s not just me . . . This is a victory that belongs to all of us. Thank you for your dedication to everything you do. It takes a village to make this experience worthwhile, and you guys are the best. People are recognizing, and I’m sure the animals are too, as I see how much they like being around you and how well cared for they are. Congratulations for the great work again today, and a big round of applause to all of you.

All applauded. Adam posted all the comments on their board so everybody could see the fruit of their hard work from others’ points of view and dismissed the team for the evening.

Nick, Adam’s good friend and partner, surfaced through the crowd. Well, I have some more good news, too. We also received some hefty donations, said Nick, walking up to Adam and high-fiving him.

Sweet. Adam knew donations were critical to keep a place like that running. The animals deserve it!

The love and care for animals were part of Adam’s DNA; since he was a little boy, something inside him felt at ease in their presence. He would offer to walk neighbors’ pets, and he volunteered at a rescue center. In his spare time, he would still bring injured animals home and nurture them back to health, no matter the size, which led to several conversations about safety. His parents still remembered with fear a bear encounter when Adam had returned to their tent on one camping trip.

Adam, you are holding a bear cub. The mother is probably coming for him. Let it go. This is dangerous! exclaimed his concerned father.

Don’t worry, Dad, she knows I’m taking care of her baby and his cut paw. She won’t hurt me.

Luckily, he was right. The parents saw the mama bear, a very protective animal, looking from a safe distance and patiently waiting for Adam to finish his work on her baby.

Don’t try this again. The next animal’s mama may not be this patient and might hurt you or worse, reinforced Adam’s mother.

Of course, he wouldn’t listen. But the reality was that he had a way with the animals, and they would, somehow, trust him easily.

He ended up studying biology at the University of Colorado Boulder. In his years there, he interned at a conservation park, which was hard labor, twenty-four/seven dedication to the animals, and lots of learning. Still, he immediately fell in love with the mission and importance of the work. That was it; he found his purpose in life.

Adam was adopted by a loving family in Colorado, and with the adoption came a sizable amount of money that he could use when he reached adulthood. Mom, Dad, this money is ours. Let’s use it for something we need.

No, this is your inheritance and yours alone. You will find something meaningful to do with it when the time comes.

And he found something indeed. He used his inheritance as seed money to start up the wildlife sanctuary, buy the land, and build all infrastructure before needing to pursue grants in later years.

He had a purpose in life, protecting something that he loved. A supportive family that has always been there for him and also great friends.

He couldn’t ask for a better life.

2

And it Began

Less than a week later, Adam began his day like always: prepping the staff and getting ready for tours, but something was off.

Adam couldn’t quite place it.

He hardly got sick, nor had he ever felt like that before. It was like a tingling sensation deep inside his body that seemed to scratch restlessly at the surface of his skin.

As the day wore on, Adam became more and more agitated. He felt uncomfortable. He was hot and cold, and he developed a pounding headache. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He popped his head into his partners’ office. Hey, Nick, Cinthia, I’m heading home. Do you mind holding down the fort for me?

Sure, no problem, but are you okay? Nick asked, raising his eyebrow. I have never seen you leave early before.

Yeah, that’s got me worried, Cinthia added. Gosh, and you actually look tired. Did the twenty-four/seven work style finally catch with you? You usually have this immense amount of energy.

Adam chuckled. C’mon, you know that being around the animals and nature relaxes me. But today, I have this annoying headache. Maybe I’m coming down with a cold or something.

Before you leave, let me check on you first, Cinthia radiated concern. She looked at the basics — for any fever, his eyes, throat, and shook her head. I don’t see anything obvious. Do you need anything?

No, thank you. I might just need to sleep. I will let you know otherwise, okay? Adam smiled, trying to reassure her. However, his instincts told him that he might very well be mistaken.

Cinthia’s eyes searched his, but she nodded, somewhat mollified. "Well, you might consider taking the day off tomorrow. It is Monday, and the sanctuary will be closed to the public anyway, a perfect reason to give your body time to recuperate.

I will think about it. His response was unconvincing, even to his own ears.

Cinthia sighed. Listen, I know you. I know that you’ll be back here as soon as you can. But Adam, we can’t do much if our fearless leader is down. Take care of yourself, okay?

Okay, and call me if you need anything.

The only thing I need is for you to get better, Cinthia said fondly.

Adam left the sanctuary in a daze. He tried to shield his eyes as colors exploded across his vision, each shimmering and vibrant. He swore the trees had never been that green or the sky quite that shade of crystalline blue.

As he scrambled to get the key into the lock in his door, the sound seemed to ricochet off the brick around him. Swirling with sensation, Adam ducked inside. He went to the shower, hoping to have a nice, relaxing time, but instead, the water felt rough on his skin.

He was definitely coming down with something; he thought as he ended his shower fast and tucked himself into bed.

When Adam fell asleep, the world blissfully fell away.

The first rays of the sun beamed into Adam’s room. As he rested in bed, he remembered his vivid dreams: a beautiful place, many cliffs, and caves with a group of friendly wolves happily playing, running, and communicating with him. Oddly enough, he was able to understand their language and talk back. It seemed so real that he could almost feel it.

As the dream faded and he returned to reality, he sat up and took stock of his body. The headache was gone, but his eyesight was somehow different, more focused; the colors around him seemed brighter, and he could see further. Curious, he went to check in the mirror, and