Chapter 10 Alaric
ALARIC
Alaric had slipped out after Elara left the tavern and now watched from across the street as she approached the Book Nook. Snow had started falling again, thick flakes that muted sound and softened edges. She paused at the door, adjusting her glasses, then pushed inside.
He gave her thirty seconds before following.
The bookstore smelled like old paper and leather. Shelves climbed to the ceiling, packed tight with volumes that looked older than the town itself. A black cat lounged on the front counter, its amber eyes tracking Alaric as he entered.
Lucien appeared from between the stacks, his dark hair falling over his shoulders. He saw Alaric and his expression tightened.
"Twice in one day," Lucien said. "She's persistent."
"Where is she?"
"Back corner. Looking at the local history section." Lucien's green eyes narrowed. "You planning to shadow her all night?"
"If I have to."
"Council's orders?"
"Something like that."
Lucien moved back behind the counter, stroking the cat. "She asked about archives. Wanted to know if we had records about the town's founding, early settlers, that sort of thing."
"What did you tell her?"
"That most of our older records are in private collections. Not available to outsiders." Lucien paused. "She didn't like that answer."
Alaric found her exactly where Lucien said she'd be. She stood with her back to him, running her finger along book spines, occasionally pulling one out to examine.
"Find anything interesting?" he asked.
She jumped, spinning around. "Do you have to sneak up on people?"
"Wasn't sneaking. You were focused."
"I was reading." She held up a thin volume.
"Local Legends of the Blue Ridge. Published 1947.
Did you know Hollow Oak is mentioned in exactly three books?
Three. In seventy-five years of regional publications.
That's statistically impossible for a town that's supposedly been here for over a century. "
She set the book back on the shelf. "The archives Lucien mentioned. Are they really in private collections, or is that code for 'we don't want you reading them'?"
"Both."
"At least you're honest." She pulled out another book, flipped through it. "Why are you here, Alaric?"
"Making sure you're not causing trouble."
"In a bookstore? What trouble could I possibly cause?"
"With you? Hard to say." He leaned against the shelf. "You have a talent for finding things people don't want found."
"That's my job."
"So you keep saying."
She closed the book. "You don't trust me."
"I don't trust anyone who asks this many questions."
"Must make for a lonely life."
"Trust gets people killed. Learned that a long time ago."
Something in his tone made her pause. "What happened?"
"None of your business."
"You can't just say something like that and expect me not to ask."
"I can and I am." He straightened. "Store's closing soon. You should head back to the inn."
"It's barely seven."
"Snow's getting worse. Roads will be dangerous."
Elara looked toward the front windows. The snow had indeed picked up, wind driving it sideways. "Fine. Let me check out this book first."
"You're not checking out anything. Lucien doesn't lend to outsiders."
"Of course he doesn't." She shoved the book back onto the shelf with more force than necessary. "This whole town is impossible."
She pushed past him, heading for the door. Alaric followed, nodding to Lucien on the way out.
Outside, the wind hit immediately. Elara pulled her coat tighter, but it wasn't enough against the cold.
"I know where the inn is."
"I'm walking you back."
"I don't need an escort."
"Wasn't asking." He started walking, and after a moment, she followed.
They moved through empty streets, fresh snow under their boots. Elara kept her head down against the wind. Alaric stayed close enough to block the worst of it without crowding her.
"Why do you do it?" she asked suddenly.
"Do what?"
"Follow orders without question. Watch me like I'm some kind of criminal. Protect this town like your life depends on it."
"My life does depend on it. Everyone's here does."
"From what? What are you all so afraid of?"
Alaric was quiet for several steps. The wind filled the silence between them.
"Why do you care so much?" Elara asked finally. "About protecting this place. It's just a town."
Just a town. If only she knew.
"It's not just a town to me." The words came out rougher than he intended.\
"What is it then?"
He couldn't tell her. Shouldn't tell her. But something about the way she looked at him, waiting without pushing, made him want to give her something real.
"I lost people once. People I was supposed to protect." He kept his eyes forward, watching the snow fall. "I followed orders. Did what I was told. And they died because I wasn't there when it mattered."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It taught me something important." He looked at her then. "Trust gets people killed. Following your instincts instead of your training gets people killed. So now I don't do that. I do my job. I protect what I'm told to protect. And I don't fail."
"That's a lot of weight to carry."
More than you know, he thought. My pack. My failure. The hunters who knew exactly what we were and how to kill us.
But he couldn't say any of that. So he said nothing.
They walked in silence for another block. Elara pulled her coat tighter against the wind.
"Is that what I am to you?" she asked. "Another job? Another thing to protect the town from?"
Yes. No. Both. Neither.
"You're someone asking questions that could hurt people," he said instead. "That makes you something I need to watch."
"Not someone. Something." She stopped walking. "Do you even see me as a person, Alaric? Or just a problem you need to solve?"
His wolf violently snarled at the accusation. She was his mate. Of course she was a person. The most important person. But he couldn't say that either.
"I see you," he said quietly.
"Do you?"
More than I should. More than is safe.
He started walking again. She followed after a moment, and they covered the rest of the distance in silence.
At the inn steps, she shifted to face him. "Thank you for walking me back."
He nodded.
"And Alaric? Whatever happened to those people you lost. Whatever made you this way. I'm sorry for it." She climbed the first step. "But not everyone you protect is going to die. Not everyone who asks questions is trying to destroy what you love."
She went inside before he could respond. Which was good, because he didn't have a response.
Alaric stood in the falling snow, his wolf restless and demanding. She'd seen something in him. Something he'd tried to keep buried. And instead of backing away, she'd offered sympathy.
Understanding.
Like she knew what it meant to carry the weight of failure even when it wasn't entirely your fault.
His wolf pushed at his control. Wanted him to follow her inside. Wanted him to stop treating her like a threat and start treating her like what she was.
His mate.
But she didn't know what he was. Didn't know what this town was. And until she did, until he knew for certain whether she could be trusted with their secrets, he had to keep his distance.
Had to keep watching her like she was the enemy.
Even if every instinct screamed that she was anything but.
He had a pack once, he thought, staring up at her window as the light came on. He failed them. He wouldn’t fail Hollow Oak. No matter what it costs.
Even if it costs you her? his wolf asked.
Even then.