town. You think I’m new here when actually; I’ve lived in this town all my life. Because of the shit I went through from grammar school, up until I graduated High School, I didn’t really want to stick around. However, this is my pack just as much as it is the shifters, so I still called Milliken my home. Until recently though, I’ve just used my place to crash and spent my waking hours elsewhere. I guess you could say I went lone wolf for a while."
Griff grimaced and then said, "And I sent you figurines of them."
"No, those were great, I didn't mean that. Listen, it was a long time ago, and I’ve tried to put it behind me. That’s why I accepted the post as Sheriff, my dad left my mom before I was born, and so she came here to live with her folks, when I was about two, she married this great guy Gregori, he’s a wolf shifter. They travel a lot so I live in the apartment over the garage and keep an eye on the house when they're away. Anyway, I was raised in the pack and there was a group of shifter children who seemed to think it was funny to pick on the human.”
Griff's eyes turned hard and he said, “Who was it?"
Lev laughed and smiled. "I don't think they all still live here; I saw one today. That isn’t the point. I have struggled for years about coming home, or maybe I should say making my presence known. It’s just that it’s time, and the request from my Alpha to take over as Sheriff showed that I’m valued. My parents usually head back to Alaska this time of year but for now they’ve decided to stick around, it’s nice spending time with them again."
"I would never say anything that implied a shifter is better than a full human, because it’s flat out not true.” Griff said and made a strange noise. If he had to explain it later, he’d be unable to. "I had similar problems when I was growing up but not for being a non-shifter, for being different. So I would never judge you."
"It's cool I’m over it or mostly. Let’s change the subject to something more pleasant, back to you. You moved to Texas?” Lev said and thanked the waitress who brought him an iced tea.
"Yeah, well, I had this desire for sparkly things. I loved making jewelry, so I went to school, and now that’s what I do. I work with different metals and made the figures I gave you myself out of molds I made for pendants and necklaces. I’m doing real well now that our Pride moved up here with me. My parents are building a home by the one I built. It’s just east of town." Griff smiled. He relaxed once again now that they had changed subjects.
"What are you going to have for lunch?” Lev said and then they talked about the town and various light topics. Lev found himself liking the other man’s sense of humor and general laid-back attitude. He was very easy to talk to, and Lev found himself wishing the lunch date wouldn’t end. By the end of the meal, they had discovered a lot of things about each other, and Lev felt comfortable enough to think that this might be good relationship.
They stood, and Griff insisted on paying the bill. As they walked outside, Griff put a hand on his back, and Lev felt the heat through his shirt. Wow, this guy was sexy .
When they stepped out into the sunlight, Griff gently touched his back and said, “So, we are still on for dinner?"
Lev smiled and nodded. "Absolutely, what time should I be there?"
"Uh, is 6:00pm too soon?" Griff grinned, and Lev chuckled and shook his head.
"Nah, six would be perfect."
"Great, I'll meet you after work at my store," Griff said and then hesitated. “I know we didn’t have a chance to talk about this, but uh, you do realize that we're mates?"
Lev felt his eyes widen; he may not be a shifter, but he knew what a mate was. This gorgeous and handsome man was his mate, like they were to be together for the rest of his life? Had he really just dropped that bomb on him standing on the sidewalk outside of the Diner?
"Wh...What?" Lev stammered.
Griff tried to
Griff grimaced and then said, "And I sent you figurines of them."
"No, those were great, I didn't mean that. Listen, it was a long time ago, and I’ve tried to put it behind me. That’s why I accepted the post as Sheriff, my dad left my mom before I was born, and so she came here to live with her folks, when I was about two, she married this great guy Gregori, he’s a wolf shifter. They travel a lot so I live in the apartment over the garage and keep an eye on the house when they're away. Anyway, I was raised in the pack and there was a group of shifter children who seemed to think it was funny to pick on the human.”
Griff's eyes turned hard and he said, “Who was it?"
Lev laughed and smiled. "I don't think they all still live here; I saw one today. That isn’t the point. I have struggled for years about coming home, or maybe I should say making my presence known. It’s just that it’s time, and the request from my Alpha to take over as Sheriff showed that I’m valued. My parents usually head back to Alaska this time of year but for now they’ve decided to stick around, it’s nice spending time with them again."
"I would never say anything that implied a shifter is better than a full human, because it’s flat out not true.” Griff said and made a strange noise. If he had to explain it later, he’d be unable to. "I had similar problems when I was growing up but not for being a non-shifter, for being different. So I would never judge you."
"It's cool I’m over it or mostly. Let’s change the subject to something more pleasant, back to you. You moved to Texas?” Lev said and thanked the waitress who brought him an iced tea.
"Yeah, well, I had this desire for sparkly things. I loved making jewelry, so I went to school, and now that’s what I do. I work with different metals and made the figures I gave you myself out of molds I made for pendants and necklaces. I’m doing real well now that our Pride moved up here with me. My parents are building a home by the one I built. It’s just east of town." Griff smiled. He relaxed once again now that they had changed subjects.
"What are you going to have for lunch?” Lev said and then they talked about the town and various light topics. Lev found himself liking the other man’s sense of humor and general laid-back attitude. He was very easy to talk to, and Lev found himself wishing the lunch date wouldn’t end. By the end of the meal, they had discovered a lot of things about each other, and Lev felt comfortable enough to think that this might be good relationship.
They stood, and Griff insisted on paying the bill. As they walked outside, Griff put a hand on his back, and Lev felt the heat through his shirt. Wow, this guy was sexy .
When they stepped out into the sunlight, Griff gently touched his back and said, “So, we are still on for dinner?"
Lev smiled and nodded. "Absolutely, what time should I be there?"
"Uh, is 6:00pm too soon?" Griff grinned, and Lev chuckled and shook his head.
"Nah, six would be perfect."
"Great, I'll meet you after work at my store," Griff said and then hesitated. “I know we didn’t have a chance to talk about this, but uh, you do realize that we're mates?"
Lev felt his eyes widen; he may not be a shifter, but he knew what a mate was. This gorgeous and handsome man was his mate, like they were to be together for the rest of his life? Had he really just dropped that bomb on him standing on the sidewalk outside of the Diner?
"Wh...What?" Lev stammered.
Griff tried to
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