He knocked lightly on her door. She opened it, clothed in a simple oversized white tee shirt and black leggings. Her long red hair dripped down her back, the tendrils leaving small drops of water on the floor as she vigorously brushed it. "I feel a thousand times better," she said with a smile as her hand grazed her lower stomach. The discovery had happened in the shower. She had noticed her stomach, usually relatively flat, now had a small, rounded bump. She knew that the pregnancy of her kind was faster than that of human women. She wanted to wait to tell him until the time was right. She did look the most relaxed that Garin had ever seen her. Her face was serene and still red from the heat of the water. It was scrubbed clean of any dirt, blood, or makeup. She seemed to have a glow about her. He wanted to just lay with her in his arms forever but instead, he had to tell her the truth about her father. "What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his drawn face. He motioned for her to sit o
The bell tinkled over the front door, announcing a late afternoon customer. Willow sighed. She was hoping to close up early today. She had barely slept last night, and visions of her bed swam before her eyes. She dusted her hands on the tea towel hanging from her waist and turned to greet them, pasting a smile on her face. Her heart jolted, causing a blush to pink her cheeks. He was tall, nearly 6'3". His muscles strained against his grey, heathered long-sleeve tee. His hair was a thick, chestnut brown. He wore it longer on top, the strands curling loosely around his abnormally handsome face. She was taken in by his sharp jaw and high cheekbones. No one had a right to be that handsome. She patted her auburn braid, assuring that nothing was out of place. His smile was warm as she approached the counter. "Hey, what can I get you?" she asked. He checked his phone. "A medium latte, large black coffee, and two small chai teas, please," he replied, reading from his phone. "Great. T
She shut the door firmly behind herself, twisting her key into the finicky lock on the ancient building. She stared up at the glass-fronted café, feeling a sense of pride as she did so. She had done this by herself, working hard at the diner to raise enough money for the cart and eventually the store. Night had fallen completely now, the sun well below the horizon. She could feel the moon creeping up behind her, taking its rightful place in the night sky. The autumn breeze stirred leaves around her feet as she began the long walk home. His scent was still here. Instead of fighting the scent, she inhaled deeply, letting the warm amber aroma swirl inside her. She had avoided the Brochades so far. They rarely came into town, preferring to shop in the bigger cities outside of the small town. Garin was the first she had actually come into contact with. She hadn't experienced this before. Her grandmother had warned her about their scent. "You'll know what they are when you smell them.
Willow tossed and turned. She couldn't get comfortable. Her sheets twisted around her legs and eventually she kicked them to the floor. With a loud sigh, she got up. She checked her phone. 3:03 am. "Ugh," she said aloud and tossed it back onto her bed. She mussed her long curls and rubbed her dry eyes. She had only managed to sleep for about two hours before it had evaded her completely. Her body felt restless. Feeling trapped, she craved the open air. Glancing out the window, the moon shone brightly, taunting her. She knew she wouldn't be getting sleep tonight. She padded quietly down the steps. Her grandmother's snores tore through the house, covering the squeaky wooden steps. Willow stopped by the back door and pulled off her clothes, folding them neatly on the bench tucked away near the coat closet. Naked, she stepped outside. The grass was cool against her feet as she crossed the yard towards the forest. The trees beckoned to her. She shook out her long hair and raised her
Lyall walked in, a smile plastered across his handsome face. "Hey babe," he said and pulled Willow in for a rough hug. He buried his face in her hair, nuzzling her neck. She stiffly returned the hug before pulling away slightly. "You're here early," she replied, looking him over. He looked good, she couldn't deny that. Her grandmother had at least picked her a striking mate. He was tall, not nearly as tall as Garin but he was close. His build was lankier with leaner muscles. Where Garin was refined, Lyall was all rough edges. During the warmer months, he kept his beard short, preferring a small amount of stubble. With autumn around the corner, he had begun to grow his beard out. His ruddy skin was tanned from working outside and he kept his long black hair secured into a tight braid that lay between his shoulder blades. His eyes were a dull yellow-green that had always reminded Willow of a serpent. Today he wore a thick, black cable knit sweater and jeans with the knees torn ou
Garin felt a tangible shock as she walked into the bar. He had been keeping his distance from the café all day, hoping to avoid running into her. She looked incredible. He had only ever seen her once, the day before but he hadn't paid that much attention to what she was wearing. He didn't realize how long her hair was. It had been pulled back into a tight braid the first time he had seen her. Now her hair tumbled free over her shoulders, a cascade of rubies in the candlelight. She was dressed in a skin-tight green dress that illuminated her every curve. He noticed a hand around her waist, and it was only then, he saw that she had an escort. This other man irritated him for some reason. He was probably also a shifter, although from what he read, the males weren't nearly as powerful as the women. Their abilities were more sporadic, dependent upon the moon phases as opposed to just ability. Her eyes flashed to his and she looked just as affected as he was. She held his gaze for a mo
Willow's heart raced the entire night. She could barely eat. His presence burned itself into her awareness. She was hyper-aware of where he was at all times. Every shift he made in his seat, she viscerally felt it. She felt Lyall's eyes on her every time she shifted to look behind her. "Checking out that guy back there?" he asked sharply. She turned back to him; a blush stained across her cheeks. "No, he's a hunter. It makes me…uncomfortable when they are that close." She replied after a moment. "I've never seen him before. Is he a Brochade?" She nodded. "I guess he is just in town for the festival," she stated. Lyall nodded. His mood evening out now that he didn't think she was attracted to the man in the corner. They were onto their dessert course when she felt Garin stand. Her back began to heat as he drew closer, she felt as if she were aflame. He passed by without a glance at her table. The woman with him spared her a small glance and she felt a traitorous twinge of jeal
A walk would be nice, she decided, not a run like this morning. Was it just this morning that she had been out? It had felt like a lifetime since then. She wouldn't shift, not tonight. It was too close to the full moon. She didn't want to tempt fate. Tugging on a thick green hoodie, jeans, and woolen socks, she felt better. Calmer. More in control. She braided her wet locks into two tight braids and pulled on a grey knit beanie. The nights were growing colder fast and the last thing she needed was to catch a cold when she had to work the next week straight. She sneaked down the stairs like a burglar on her stockinged feet. Peering around the corner, she saw her grandmother fast asleep, mouth agape, and snoring loudly. Her long hair was unbound and flowed around the back of the chair like kelp in the ocean, swaying slightly with every deep-throated rumble. Willow smiled, her heart squeezing and left through the front door, holding her boots in her hands. Even though she wasn't in