Chapter Eight
Micah
I wanted to follow him.
One moment, we were walking the town, and I was showing Edwin everything. All the restaurants, the shops. I’d been here long enough that I had anecdotes about most of the owners and their mates and, in many cases, their young. Oliver Creek’s business community was tight knit and we were all working together to help the town grow and thrive.
As we strolled, I was forced to recognize just how short a time most of the businesses had been open. Being part of the day-to-day workings, it seemed normal to me, but Edwin marveled at my explanations.
“And the farms and vineyards I passed on the way into town? They look like they’ve been here for decades.”
“I think some of them were, but most had lost their caretakers or fallen into disrepair,” I told him. “Oliver Creek was no different than many small communities in the nation. Young people were bored and unhappy with the lack of opportunities, so they left for the cities.”
“That’s so sad,” he said. “I’ve always lived in a city, but the country life sounded so nice. I just didn’t see how I could achieve my goals as a dancer in them.”
“See the problem? It was the same for most of them. There was nothing to draw in visitors and infuse the businesses with cash, so what had been a thriving town a half century ago was dying. There are still old-timers here who can tell you all about it, and they are very glad to do so.”
I met him at the park where he was watching the playground with an air of soft longing that made me wonder if he wanted a family as much as I did. I hoped so. If my wolf was right—and when wasn’t he as he often reminded me—then Edwin was our mate.
The evening was going really well, I believed. We were talking about Oliver Creek and some of the different events coming up. I’d never felt so comfortable yet so aware of anyone. His smile warmed me to my toes, and I wanted the evening to go on forever. His steps were so elegant, almost as if they didn’t really touch the ground.
I was just about to suggest we head over to the food trucks and have some dinner when we came to the abandoned dance studio. And his relaxed demeanor changed. First, he seemed eager, peering through the window and mentioning his background as a dancer. And he could teach. I thought maybe he was considering reopening the school.
And then I asked him about what happened with that life, expecting a simple explanation. Dancers didn’t do that job forever. From what little I knew, it was incredibly taxing work. He might have gotten tired. Maybe he’d had an injury or something.
But no, it was so much worse than any of that.
Edwin told me what happened to him without holding back, as if he thought I had the right to know, as if also realizing we were mates. I was so touched, but before I could say more than something about him being poorly treated, everything about the night had changed.
He stammered an apology and took off at a speed my chocolate-tasting body could never keep up with. As if someone had lit a fuse under him. I wanted to run after him, find out what I did wrong. Were my words just the most egregious thing he’d heard?
I couldn’t figure it out.
But at least I knew the streets were safe here, that it was too small a town to get lost in and he would find his way home.
And he hadn’t had dinner. I would have liked to pick something up and deliver it myself, but if I had done something that upset him, I couldn’t do that. So, instead, I continued on to the food truck area and got in line at Dragon’s Breath. Of all the trucks, they always had the longest line, but it was worth the wait. When I got to the window, I placed an order and asked if they had any way to deliver it.
“Hey, Zyran, there’s a guy here who wants delivery.” The young dragon who had taken my order sounded a little sarcastic, but when his boss came to the window, a broad smile broke out on his face.
“Micah! Good to see you. How is the chocolate business? I was gonna stop by later in the week and pick something up for Nash’s birthday.”
“Please do, and if there’s anything special you’d like for your mate, let me know. How are he and Natalie doing?”
“They’re fine, but Nat is running her daddies ragged.”
“No shock.” Their little girl was the cutest dragon in town, eyes sparkling with adorable mischief at all times. “You know I’m available to babysit most evenings. Maybe Nash would like an evening out for his birthday.”
“You sure? I know you’re putting in the hours. You’re as busy as we are.”
“Nothing I like better than an evening of Go Fish and explaining why I can’t breathe fire.” I glanced over my shoulder. “Shoot, I’m holding up your business. Listen, if you have any way to do a delivery, I’d be in your debt.”
“If you watch our darling girl for a couple of hours on my omega’s birthday, we’ll call it more than even. I’ll send Flash there. He’s new in town and way too proud of his fire. Why do you need a delivery? You’re right here.”
“Long story.” My cheeks warmed at the memory and Zyran grinned.
“You can fill me in when I come by the shop. This is going to be juicy.”
He got the info from me. Edwin had told me he lived in an apartment above a garage and mentioned his landlord by name, so I knew just where to send him. “Granger’s rental.” Then I accepted the free burnt-ends sandwich Zyran forced on me and headed for home.
I had to be gentle with this alpha. He’d been hurt and already shown me more trust than I might have in his position. He was my mate and worth waiting for.
No matter how hard it seemed.