Selene
With our heads bent close together, Ria murmurs, “Mmm-mmm, look at him, he’s so beefy, I’d throw away my diet just to take a bite outta his juicy—”
“Asteria! Shut the fu—” I cut myself off as he approaches. Straightening, I raise my voice to greet him, “Hey, funny seeing you in here again, like this. Um, would you mind lending a hand again?” I sheepishly ask, pointing to the organic dried cranberries on the top shelf.
Smirking, he quips, “Maybe you should keep a step ladder in your car. It would come in handy, seeing how you tend to shop for hard to reach items,” and smiles after easily grabbing a container before passing it to me.
Rolling my lips into my mouth, I bite back a grin. Asteria nudges my shoulder as she turns around, announcing, “I just realized I forgot something, I’ll be back in a couple minutes,” and slyly winking at me before rounding the corner.
Glancing back over at the alluring man, I notice a catchy logo on the left breast pocket of his black t-shirt, reading ‘Howler’s Bar & Nightclub’ in two arcs around an image of a full moon. Curious, I ask, “Is this where you work? I’ve never heard of it before,” indicating his shirt with my hand.
Briefly looking down, he responds, “Yes, it is. I, uh, actually own the place with my brother, Treyvar. We opened it earlier this year in the springtime, so it is still fairly new,” and shrugs a rounded shoulder.
Wanting to hear his husky voice some more, I prompt, “Oh, that’s awesome. Where is it?” A shy smile pulls at the corner of my mouth as I ask.
“Just past the town line, across from the city park on the corner, you can’t miss it,” he replies instantly. Rubbing his hand on the back of his neck, he offers, “You, uh, you should drop by some time, I work the main bar. You can have any drink off the menu, on the house,” he quickly adds and flashes a charming grin.
I gotta tell Ria, we should change our plans for Friday with Hazel and Melody to check out his bar instead of the lame lounge we always go to, the idea flits through my mind. Feeling a blush, I swipe a lock of hair behind my ear as I look at my shoes with a smile. Peeking up at him through my lashes, I murmur, “I will be sure to keep that in mind. Thank you for your help, again,” I add, taking a step back and turning toward the end of the aisle.
Shit, his name! I forgot to ask for his name! I abruptly realize and pause my steps. Spinning on my heel, I gasp as I bump against him. Quickly looking up with my hands splayed on his firm chest and cheeks flushing warmly, I notice he seems surprised as well, as if not expecting me to have turned back around. Flustered, I stammer, “I—I, your na—I forgot—” and squeak as he leans down close to my ear.
Smirking, he murmurs in a low voice, “Kyran, but meat-cart guy works just as well,” and chuckles as he grabs the end of his grocery cart, dragging it behind him as he leaves the aisle.
With my mouth dropping wide open and face on fire, I momentarily forget how to breathe as I twist around, watching his wide back disappear around the corner. Ria crests the same corner with her face identical to mine as we grab hands, quietly squealing like schoolgirls.
“Okay, Sel, I totally get why you were acting so weird yesterday!” she exclaims with a huge grin spread on her face.
“Shh! He might still be nearby,” I scold, grinning just as wide as my sister. Peering around the corner, I spot Kyran at the checkout. Pulling back before he notices, I round my eyes at Ria. “Did you catch any of that?” I ask, still feeling a bit flushed.
Rolling her eyes, she snorts, “Duh, I was in the next aisle over. I heard everything,” and waggles her eyebrows.
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“So you know about his bar, then. I thought maybe we should ask the girls if they’d like to change the plans slightly this Friday night?” I hedge, biting my lip.
“Sel, I’m way ahead of you,” she divulges, showing me the group text on her phone with Hazel and Melody already informing them where we’re going on Friday.
I lightly swat her shoulder as I grin, picking up our basket and head to checkout. Once we stop to wait in a short line, I glance over at the exit and catch Kyran looking over his shoulder. He smiles warmly and gives me a small wave. With my stomach slightly flopping, I smile and wave shyly back at him before he walks out.
Ria hands her selections of dried cranberries, almond flour, sour cream, and pecans to the cashier. She pays for the groceries while I watch Kyran through the large windows overlooking the parking lot. As he leaves, I notice his vehicle and get a little glimpse at his character. He has plenty of money to spend hundreds of dollars on two shopping carts of meat, yet he chooses to keep an old truck, I observe. Tilting my head, I consider that to be an admirable trait, financially stable enough to not have to be frugal with groceries, but not being boastfully ostentatious about it either. Although, a cart full of meat is still quite peculiar, I wonder as he drives out of view.
Giving me a slight nudge, Ria leads me out of the store and we cross the lot to her Prius. As she drives, I can’t help but daydream about the way Kyran’s voice sounded so close to my ear, deep and enticing with his gravelly baritone. A small shiver traces my spine, remembering the brief contact with his broad, firm chest. He certainly takes care of himself, I muse, smiling as I bite my lip. Attempting to distract myself, I absently discuss the muffin recipe with Ria during our long drive home.
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After a successful afternoon of crafting and taste-testing muffins with some general housekeeping throughout the evening, I retire to my room and sit on a floor cushion in front of my open balcony doors. Peering through the slats of the railing, I watch the draping branches of the massive willow dance in the moonlight as the crickets’ songs float through the night, lulling me into a peaceful drowsiness. Stretching my arms overhead, I rise to latch my doors closed and climb into the middle of my plush bed. My last thought before gently falling asleep is the playful glint of Kyran’s alluring gaze.
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KYRAN
I spent many useless hours attempting to catch up on office work and sitting through a drawn-out pack meeting which definitely wasn’t given the best of my attention after I returned from the grocery store. Restlessly laying in my bed and staring through the wide skylights recessed in the vaulted ceiling, I watch the moon crawl leisurely across the stars. Sighing irritably, I throw the covers off and resume pacing my bedroom, trying to come up with something to get me to sleep. It’s impossible when silvery strands, rose brushed porcelain, and flashes of azure have taken residence in every aspect of my conscious thought.
Take to the woods. This is becoming unbearable, Valdr grumbles with irritation.
With a lack of any better alternatives, I concede and descend the stairs quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone from sleep. Stepping into the gardens, I mindlink Trey about taking a run alone and not to expect me for a few hours. Removing my clothes, I allow Valdr to take control and as we shift I warn, stay to the south, keep to the prairie lands and valleys tonight.
Receiving only a snort in reply and a glance to the moon, I wait until Valdr bounds into the forest and weaves between trees. After keeping watch to ensure he heeds my words, I grow tired of Valdr running relentlessly without direction and let my mind wander once more. Hours pass until I notice he’s come to a peaceful place to rest and we both drift off to sleep.
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Jolting awake, I receive a sharp peck to my nose followed by an accusing squawk from that damned raven perching on my bare chest again. My breath turns to concrete in my lungs as I am immediately reminded of the unmasked threat from long ago, ‘your kind are not welcome here, not anymore. I need not give you my reasons. You stay away from me and mine, and I shall stay away from you and yours. Leave my woods and my home alone. If you absolutely have need of me, you know how to contact me. If any one of you shows yourselves around here, I will kill you without hesitation’.
That was two centuries ago and no questions have been asked as to why the sudden change nor has any challenge been made to the declaration since. She is not one to be crossed. Only a complete moron would dare provoke her power. I was just a boy at the time I watched my father unequivocally agree with her, in these very woods I lay in now. So why am I here, in her forest, two nights in a row? I wonder apprehensively.
Shaking my head, I quickly rise to my feet sending the annoying bird flying and swiftly shift, making a beeline toward home. The icy fingers of fear grip my heart the entire way back as I imagine her following through on her grave threat.