Jamie made it home, the scent of old books and something uniquely Katy still clinging faintly to his clothes. The cool night air of Havenwood had done little to settle the hum beneath his skin, a resonance sparked by the librarian with her curious eyes and surprisingly direct questions. He shrugged out his thoughts when he saw his brother, Jayden, leaned against the door frame, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips. Jayden was almost a mirror image of Jamie – the same dark hair, the same powerful build, the same golden eyes, though Jayden held a sharper, more knowing glint. He had a few more tattoos, some wrapping around his neck and disappearing under his shirt, making him look even more untamed.
"So, you went to watch her at the library again, didn't you?" Jayden said, his gaze dropping to the stack of books Jamie had dropped near the door. "Since you actually came home with books, it looks like you actually went in... after six months." The last part was delivered with a mocking chuckle, laced with a familiar teasing edge that only a brother could get away with.
Jamie just grunted, and walked past his brother, heading straight for the kitchen to grab a sandwich. His hunger, a familiar, primal pull, was a welcome distraction from Jayden's probing.
Jamie pulled out bread, deli meat, and cheese, assembling his sandwich with swift, efficient movements. The mundane act was a grounding force, but even the aroma of food couldn't entirely mask the subtle, intoxicating scent that lingered in his mind – Katy.
He sat down at the kitchen table, biting into his sandwich, the silence stretching between them. Jayden took the opposite seat, propping his elbows on the table, his golden eyes fixed on Jamie.
"Katy's scent is getting stronger," Jamie finally admitted, his voice a low growl, barely above a whisper. He didn't look at Jayden, instead staring intently at the patterns in the tabletop. "It's starting to get too hard to control. We need to get her here and make her our mate."
Jayden's smirk finally faded, replaced by a deep, serious glint in his golden eyes. He nodded slowly, a ripple of understanding passing between the two brothers. "I know," he murmured, his own voice dropping to a low, gravelly tone that always surfaced when their more primal instincts came to the forefront. "I can smell it on you, brother. And I've felt it too, lately. That pull." He leaned forward, elbows on the table. "But it's not that simple. Haven wood is a small town. We can't just 'get her here.' She has a life, a family. We have to be careful, make sure she chooses us. It has to be her choice."
"What did she say?" Jayden asked, his voice cutting through Jamie's thoughts. "When she saw the books, about the shape-shifters?" He leaned in slightly, his golden eyes sharp with curiosity.
Jamie swallowed a mouthful of sandwich. "She just asked if I was writing a paper," he mumbled, a faint smirk touching his own lips at the memory. Curious, but didn't push. Just 'interesting choices,' then asked about a paper." He could still picture the slight wrinkle between her brows, the way her eyes, a soft, warm brown, had widened just a fraction when she saw the titles. She was observant, not easily swayed by superficial answers.
"Well, maybe next time you should pick books out books that aren't a risk to outing us," Jayden said, a dry note in his voice, though his gaze softened slightly. He understood the impulsive nature of the mate bond, but they couldn't afford mistakes, not in a town like Haven wood.
Jamie nodded, a flicker of reluctant agreement in his golden eyes. Jayden had a point. Their existence depended on discretion, and his longing for Katy had almost made him careless.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked, his voice low, his gaze finally meeting Jayden's.
"We invite her here," Jamie stated, his voice firm, a new resolve hardening his features. To a party tomorrow night. I can go back to the library, pretend I forgot a book, and invite her then."
Jayden raised an eyebrow, considering the suggestion. "A party. Not a bad idea. It'll be casual, less pressure. "Good cover." He nodded. "Alright." Just don't scare her off with that intensity of yours, brother." A hint of his usual smirk returned.
Jamie pushed away from the table, finished with his sandwich. "I'm going for a run," he announced, heading towards the door. He paused, glancing back at Jayden. "You smell like wet dog, so go shower you mutt." With that, he left, the front door clicking shut behind him, leaving Jayden to his own thoughts, and his lingering scent.
He found a familiar clearing, hidden by a dense cluster of elderberry bushes.
Without a moment's hesitation, he let the shift take hold. His muscles bunched and rippled, a deep growl vibrating in his chest as his human form began to contort. Bones cracked and popped, shifting, reshaping. His skin stretched, tightening, then erupting into thick fur. His dark t-shirt and jeans tore, useless fabric ripping as his frame expanded, his limbs lengthening, his spine arching. In a matter of seconds, where Jamie had stood, there was now a magnificent wolf, with sleek, brown fur and eyes that glowed with the same familiar, intelligent golden Hue.
He lowered himself to a powerful crouch, then launched forward, a silent, agile blur disappearing into the deeper woods. The forest floor flew by beneath his paws, the wind a rush against his muzzle, carrying away the last vestiges of human thought, replacing them with raw, exhilarating instinct.
But even in his wolf form, Katy wasn't far from his mind. The subtle, sweet scent of her, mingled with the lingering memory of her soft brown eyes, persisted. The thrill of the hunt, the primal urge to run free, was underscored by a new, more profound ache.
Was this a good plan? he thought, his powerful legs pounding the earth. Inviting her into their world, into their home? A shiver, not of cold, ran through his massive frame. When she learned of their secret, when she understood what he and Jayden truly were, would she run off terrified? The thought was a bitter taste in his mouth, threatening to spoil the wild joy of his run. But the pull was undeniable, an ancient, instinctual command that resonated deep within his very bones. They had waited long enough.