Page 3 of Draven

When nothing happened, my momentary paralysis shattered, and I found myself inexplicably drawn to the stranger.

Summoning what little courage I had left, I approached him, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Uh, is this seat taken?" I asked, gesturing awkwardly to the empty stool beside him.

Instantly, I felt foolish for asking such an obvious question.

"Brave little wolf. Come sit next to me," he said, his voice rough, with a gravelly edge that sent shivers down my spine.

I should have been offended by the nickname, but instead, I found it... incredibly hot when he called me 'little wolf'.

Excitement hummed through my veins like an electric current, sparking something primal within me.

In the eyes of the town, I was just plain Tobias Anderson. I blended into the background, never standing out.

I kept to myself, accepted long ago that I wasn't anyone's romantic prospect.

Once upon a time, I had dared to dream of finding a mate who would embrace my awkwardness, maybe even find it endearing.

We would create our own little haven in the world, build a home together, perhaps even start a family. But those dreams faded as I grew older.

I had resigned myself to the idea of being the town librarian until I was old, grey, and alone.

And strangely enough, I was okay with that. I had my books, my dad's old trailer, my little flower bed, and all the simple comforts that came with them.

But the way this intimidating outsider looked at me, it was as if I was the only thing he could see in the entire room.

It was... intoxicating.

"You have a name, little wolf?" the stranger's voice was low, his gaze still locked with mine, making it impossible for me to tear my eyes away from his.

Such strange eyes. Not just because they were gold, a telltale sign of a shifter's animal half peeking through.

On second thought, maybe I shouldn't be engaging in conversation, let alone flirting with this stranger.

But then again, was this even considered flirting when I had no idea what I was doing or saying? Where was I even going with this?

Focus, Tobias. His eyes.

Under the dim light, they almost seemed slightly reptilian, a curious anomaly.

I knew alligator shifters existed down south, but this was Red Vine, not exactly known for its reptilian population.

Curiosity killed the cat, they say. Part of me, the cautious side, urged me to step back, to come up with some excuse and leave.

But there was this new, unfamiliar side of me that whispered to stay, to see where this would lead.

I snapped back to reality as I remembered he had asked me a question.

"Tobias. Tobias Anderson," I replied, cringing inwardly.

He didn't ask for my full name, but I blurted it out anyway.

"Tobias," he repeated.

He whispered my name like it was some sort of prayer, and it made me shiver with anticipation. Goosebumps appeared across my arms.

He took a long pull of his beer, the silence stretching uncomfortably between us.