Faent Hearted

Chapter Two

I unpacked boxes in my cozy apartment above the bookstore, thankful Gran had left quite a bit of her furniture in it.

A large vanity dresser sat in the bedroom with an ensuite and small walk-in, a lounge and kitchen separated by a small counter between them with Gran's overstuffed couch and lazyboys around the small fireplace and a wide hallway to the front door with a closet in the centre of the two rooms. The wooden floors were red oak, polished to a beautiful shine and covered with an adorned rug Gran loved with some form of writing I could never decipher in the stitching that created the swirling image of a mountain range.

The best part of the whole place was the bay window seats that sat on either side of French doors leading to a small balcony that overlooked the small suburban part of town and forest to the North. The peaks of smoke and lights of the Pack territory in the distance.

I chewed my bottom lip, pulling out my phone and Lucian's number, finally deciding what to message him.

Hey Lucian, thanks again for today! But, you never answered if you think the Pack would like some of the books I'll be selling. I typed, a small twist of nerves taking me as I hit send. Hopefully, that wasn't too pushy - and realising it was nearly midnight, not too late.

I busied myself unpacking, and five minutes later, as I placed a vase on the shelf, my phone sounded.

I bit back on my nerves, seeing Lucian's name on my screen.

Already thinking they'll love them. You've got a great selection. Some might even start a literary war over that rare edition of Dracula I spied.

Also, no need to thank me. Happy to help.

I chuckled, imagining a pack of natural wolves fighting over books, realising I'd never seen a Werewolf before...even a picture. I shook the thought; maybe some of the movies I got from Gran will have something and focused back on Lucian's message and unpacking.

Literary war, huh? Guess, I'll have to stock up on more classics, then I replied, unwrapping the last of my bookshelf knickknacks and bookends.

Definitely. So, looking forward to tomorrow? Lucian asked.

My heart skipped a beat. I tried to play it cool.

Yeah, sounds like fun. What time were you thinking? I typed, carefully placing a framed picture of Gran and me in the entry hallway.

Seven? I'll pick you up. He replied, making me smile and then look at the opening schedule I had.

Sounds perfect! I'll be done with the opening by then, as long as there's no chaos like today. I hit send and went for a quick shower, calling my day done for now. When I came back out, Lucian had replied.

I'm sure you'll do great. You looked pretty gorgeous in the chaos today.

My cheeks flushed. I felt a flutter, almost putting my phone away, but something nagged at me, telling me to reply.

I opted to play along.

Charmer, huh? I teased, dressing in my loose matching turquoise cotton pyjamas and climbed into the antique framed queen bed.

Guilty. Lucian admitted.

I giggled to myself. Bet you say that to all the damsels you save with your Alpha strength. I teased.

His reply was rather quick, setting my heart off. Just the ones I can't stop thinking about. He followed it with another message that did nothing to ease my excited heart.

Can't wait to see you tomorrow.

His words made me blush and I found myself squirming. I imagined his smile, his eyes and how his skin felt against mine. I shook my head, feeling a little...childish about this sudden crush.

Me either. I found myself admitting, quickly following it with a longer message, hoping he didn't read all that was really in those two words.

Thanks again for your help today. I really wish you'd let me repay you somehow. I typed back, shuffling in my bed with my knees up and slumped into my mountain of pillows.

No debt owed, Bella, remember? Plus, I enjoyed it. Lucian replied, making me blush again. I got to spend time with the beautiful bookstore owner.

My heart skipped a beat. Flirting or sincerity? Casanova or Prince Charming?

I couldn't decide because of the battle inside of me.

Either way, I liked it.

I found myself smiling, wanting to hear his voice, to feel the warmth of his presence.

Another message sounded. Could I call you? Just to say goodnight?

My heart seemed to stop as I read it, my fingers already replying. I'd like that.

His response was almost immediate. Great, gimme 10, okay?

"Okay," I said aloud as I hit send on the same word, feeling my heart pound erratically with excitement and fear.

I sat with my phone in my hands, just watching the minutes moving agonisingly slow, almost convincing myself I'd imagined the conversation.

But exactly ten minutes later, Lucian's name lit up my screen.

I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hey."

"Hey, beautiful," Lucian said, his deep voice soothing. "Just wanted to say goodnight."

I smiled, feeling a flutter. "You're really sweet, Lucian, you know that?"

He chuckled. "Don't tell my Pack, they'll think I've gone soft."

I giggled softly. "Your secret is safe with me, Alpha."

We lingered on the line, the silence comfortable for a few moments. I heard him moving around, doing something that sounded like...bed sheets being pulled back.

Before I could start thinking about what his bedroom, or a Packhouse, looked like, he breathed a soft breath, speaking again.

"It was great meeting you today, Bella," he said, a smile in his voice. "I hope you'll stick around for a while." The was an edge of something in his voice...longing? Pleading? I couldn't quite place it, only that it made me want to comfort him.

"Me too," I replied, my voice still soft.

There was a small noise from him, almost a sigh.

The words spilled out of me. "You sound tired," I noted, my voice pitching slightly.

A small chuckle replied. "It is after midnight," he noted, making me pull my phone away to see it was nearly one in the morning. Our comfortable silence had been ten minutes of... I brought the phone back to my ear.

"Oh, I'm sorry-"

He chuckled again, stopping my stammering. "I asked to call you, remember?" He teased, making me blush and glad he couldn't see me, despite wishing he was right beside me. "But, you should get some rest, little one." He said then, his voice soft and melodic. "I just..." he hesitated for a moment, my heart spiking as the second before he spoke again felt like hours. "I just wanted to hear your voice before I fell asleep, honestly."

I curled into my bed, smiling. "You did?" I asked quietly.

He huffed a small laugh as if he couldn't believe he said it. "Yeah, I did."

I chewed my bottom lip for a moment, letting my tired mouth win. "Me too."

There was a moment of silence but his breathing hitched, surprised - I think - at my own admittance to the same feelings. Maybe we were both...I stopped the thought as his voice hummed in my ear.

"Get some sleep, Bella" Lucian whispered, sounding like he was drifting off to sleep. "Sleep tight,"

"Sleep well" I replied.

We lingered on the line, our breathing falling into a peaceful synchronisation that threatened to pull me into a deep sleep.

"Goodnight, little one," Lucian said finally, his voice thick.

"Goodnight, Lucian," I mumbled back, half asleep, hearing his half-asleep chuckle

We finally hung up, and I sluggishly set my alarms for the day, rolling into my pillows and drifting.

The end of today couldn't come soon enough.

Lucian's voice echoed in my dreams, soothing every fibre of my being for some reason, like it was covering me with a warm blanket of serenity.

Goodnight little one.

--------

While I was still excited for my afternoon.

The morning could suck it.

No Reception.

Crap! I grumbled inwardly, turning and kicking the tire of the stupid rental truck that was broken halfway between Ashwood and The Burrows, a small human town I'd rented the truck from.

It was due back by 8am, so I'd left at four for the hour drive to and from to make sure I got home in time to open the store and be ready for my...evening...with Lucian.

I wasn't going to call it a date - especially if I was going to die from damn frost bite from the cold ass weather of the North.

I pulled my sweater on, grimacing slightly it smelt a bit sweaty from yesterday, but there was a soft sweet hint that made me think of Lucian, my mind calming from its angry panic at that.

I leaned against the hood of the car, thinking and glancing down both ways of the empty dark highway that was barely lit by road side lamps. I could walk closer to one of the towns and hope there was reception somewhere - or just walk back to town and go back to bed for at least an hour by the time I got back.

I sighed, pushing off the truck, grabbing my handbag and keys, locked up the truck and headed towards The Burrows.

I kept my phone in my hand, my eyes pinned to the reception bars in the corner, hoping they'd magically start appearing.

I screamed suddenly when a hand clamped down on my shoulder.