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“Yeah, I guess I do. I love all old books but scrolls like this are so rare.” I stepped away from his workspace reluctantly. “It’s beautiful.”
“It really is, isn’t it?” His eyes flickered to my neck, checking for a mating bite. When he didn’t find one, he stuck out his hand. “I’m Gabe, by the way. And you are?”
“Ella. Ella Landis,” I answered, thankful that my sister’s name was common enough not to raise alarm. If any werewolves were searching for Mariam Hinder, they wouldn’t think to look twice at Ella Landis. I had always preferred my mother’s maiden last name, anyway, and it felt good to make use of it.
“Thanks for your help, Gabe. Enjoy the scroll.” I left the male werewolf and walked back to my table and barstool. Hours passed as I poured over the text. My stomach growled angrily from being neglected for so long. It had been over a day and a half since I had eaten the fast-food cheeseburger.
“It sounds like you could use a break,” Gabe said, joining me at the table again. I blushed, knowing that he heard my growling stomach. There wasn’t much that could get past werewolf hearing, especially in a small, quiet place like this.
“You’re probably right. Do you know when the library closes?” I still needed to check a few things, but it felt like I was getting closer to finding some answers.
“Today, it closes at six. We have a pack run tonight, so everything is going to shut down around then.”
I nodded, hating that my wolf wouldn’t be able to join the others on the run. We weren’t members of the pack, so we wouldn’t be welcome to take part. Maybe I could take us to the outskirts of town and give her a chance to run on her own out there.
“Let’s go,” Gabe held out a hand to help me off the stool. I accepted it and followed him out, glancing at the clock on the wall as we left. It was already one-thirty and well past time for breakfast. If I bought lunch, maybe my wolf would be able to catch a rabbit or something to avoid paying for dinner. She nodded, excited at the opportunity to hunt.
Gabe led me to the diner I saw earlier on Main Street. It was busy, but we found an empty booth in the back. I studied him as he looked at the one-page paper menu.
He reminded me of Patrick in some ways, even though he was much slimmer. My heart clenched at the thought, hoping that my friend was alright back home and that our alpha wasn’t blaming him for my escape.
“So, what’s good here?” I asked, eager for a distraction from my thoughts.
“My favorite is the meatloaf, but the menu changes every day. Today, the two entree options are beef stew or a clubsandwich. They’re probably going light because there will be a lot of food at the bonfire tonight.”
I had to smile at the way my wolf grinned at the mention of a bonfire. Dark Claw usually had one after a pack run if it wasn’t raining, too. Nothing worked up an appetite more than running with other wolves.
“I think I’ll have the beef stew. It’s been a while since I’ve had something like that.”
Gabe nodded. “That’s the better choice, to be honest. Maggie does a good job with most things, but the club sandwiches are kind of dry.”
“You’re dead meat when I tell her you said that, Gabe,” A pretty waitress appeared next to our booth and set down water glasses in front of us. Her eyes smiled at the joke and the way Gabe turned pale from her threat.
“You wouldn’t dare. This is the only restaurant within walking distance of town hall. A single guy like me would starve.”
“If the single part is a problem, I’ve already offered to fix that for you,” the girl answered, eyebrows raised.
I choked on my water, not fully believing what I was hearing. Flirting hardly ever happened between unmated wolves at Dark Claw, and when it did, females were never the instigators. She quirked an eyebrow at my reaction, assessing me more closely now.
“Do I have some new competition here, Gabriel?”
Gabe gave me an apologetic glance and scowled at the waitress. “Cool it, Samantha. She’s just new in town and needed something to eat. Besides, we’ve been over this before; we’re just friends.”
“For now,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Okay,friend, whatdo you want?”
“We’ll both have the stew,” Gabe answered, trying his best to look annoyed but failing at it. Their relationship was odd at best, but they seemed to like each other, so I remained quiet and sipped my water until the waitress left.
“Sorry about Samantha. She’s probably my best friend, but she can come on a little strong, especially if you aren’t used to her.” Gabe unwrapped his straw and took a long drink from his glass. “So, where are you from, Ella?”
“The east coast,” I lied. My mother’s pack was from Massachusetts, so it only made sense to say I was a member of her pack if I was going to use her last name. “I just wanted to travel a bit and see some other packs along the way.”
Gabe nodded slowly, considering my words. If he didn’t believe me, he made no comment about it. Samantha returning with rolls and two bowls of hot soup that saved me from having to manufacture any more lies.
The beef stew warmed me from the inside out, and my wolf was thankful for the nourishment. If we were going to shift tonight, she would need the strength that the hearty meal provided. I reached for the check when it came, but Gabe snatched it up first.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not every day that a mysterious and beautiful new wolf comes to town,” he said, eyes twinkling with humor.
I blushed and mumbled a thank you before following him out. My first date had been with Alexander, which could mean that this was my second date since he was picking up the tab. My wolf snarled at the idea of starting a romantic relationship with the new male. She had her heart set on getting to know our mate better, and she wasn’t interestedin Gabe in the slightest.
