dan

eavy thud. I had tried to set it down gently, but the

acing it safely in the sink. She had always been fiercely protective

n my cheap jeans, suddenly terrified. I was a man who used to flip massive mahogan

pocket watch. I needed to get closer. The visual and taste tests had broken me, but my wolf wa

d my werewolf senses to the maximum. I waited for the sweet, i

he old wood of the shop, the metallic tang of the sil

d her memory. It had comple

ing howl of pure grief. To a werewolf, losing the scent of your mate wa

chest almost brushing against her shoulder a

survival instincts kicked in. She took a large,

please maintain a proper social distance." He

nd my heart twisted. I realized how I lo

ng a pathetic, self-deprecating smile. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I

athetic excuse, but she stayed firmly out of my reach.

as suffocating. Then, the brass b

e, murderous rage crossing my face. Whoever dared

bag, bringing a gust of cold autumn wind with hi

elted from her shoulders. A bright, genuin

The golden light of my wolf threatened to bleed into my

y?" June's voice was light and happy.

g down. "Lunch break. I brought you your favorite tuna sand

casually tucked a stray stra

sliced through the skin of my palms. It took every ounce of

noticed me standing there. His acting was flawless. He

eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses

ne said casually. "Bren, this

words sounded lik

d me. "Hello, Mr. Bren. I'm the histo

le hand. My eyes darkene

d hand and gripped his. The second our skin t

corner of my mouth. I was going to

eet you, '