Page 35 of Entering a New World

“Do you want to sit?”

He startled so badly, he literally jumped into the air.

“I’m sorry,” I said, giving him an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, I…” He took a deep breath, hiding his face in his hands for a moment. “I’m sorry. I… I’d like to sit down for a while.”

He didn’t really sound like it, voice all shaky and hesitant, his whole body tense like a bow, as if he was ready to bolt any second, but he still sat down opposite of me, drawing his shoulders up to his ears.

“I’m Levi,” I introduced myself, winking at him. “And I’m new to the area, too.”

The guy gave a shaky nod. “I’m Nix,” he whispered, his eyes flitting through the room as if he was scared someone might hear.

For a while, we stayed quiet, neither one of us knowing what to say. Or maybe he didn’t dare? I couldn’t speak for him, but I could certainly say that I had no idea what to say to him.

For one, I didn’t know if he was pack or a regular human—apparently, that made a difference. Which was weird. Two weeks ago, I’d just have struck up a conversation with him. Now I was questioning what I could talk to him about.

Fuck.

This whole paranormal world-slash-shifter thing was complicated.

Like… with Herb, it was easy. I knew he was human, so I’d known what topics to stick to. Okay, granted, the fact he needed help to operate the coffee machine was definitely helping to find safe topics.

But with Nix?

He appeared so nervous I was afraid he’d just take off if I said the wrong thing, so…

“Uhm… do you want to eat something?” I finally asked.

You couldn’t go wrong with food, right?

He blinked at me, his blue, almost turquoise eyes widening comically. “I… uhm…”

Was he trying to find a polite way to tell me he didn’t have money?

I carefully studied him closer, noticing a twig caught up in his shoulder length hair, a few bits of leaves sticking to his hoodie, cementing my suspicion he might be homeless, maybe even roughing it in the woods.

Which wasn’t possible, was it? Rhett had scented me from miles away, and the pack was patrolling the pack lands every single day. They’d have easily found Nix if he was camping outside, and even though he might not be Rhett’s mate, I couldn’t even begin to think that Rhett would just leave him out there.

“Look, I’ve got this whole plate of delicious treats, and that’s definitely more than I can eat, so feel free to help yourself.”

Nix pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, his eyes searching mine. “You sure?”

I nodded. “A hundred percent.” Patting my stomach, I winked at him. “I know I look like I need the food for myself, but let me tell you, I get the most incredible meals at the Balwood Inn. The Innkeeper is an amazing cook.”

Nix hesitated for another second or two, then carefully extended his hand, giving me another look before finally grabbing a donut. He hurriedly took a bite out of the pastry, and his eyes damn near rolled back into his head as he chewed and swallowed.

“This is so good,” he mumbled between bites.

“I bet it is,” I said with a smile, drinking another gulp of water. My body almost felt normal again, at least if it wasn’t for the heavy exhaustion settling in my bones. I yawned, willing my hands to stay still and not rub my eyes. “If you’re new in town, are you staying in a hotel? Or do you have an apartment?”

Nix looked up from the already halfway gone donut, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I’m…,” he began, furrowing his brows, “I’m in temporary housing,” he finally said, whatever it was supposed to mean. “I’m not sure if I want to stay long term, you know? What about you? You said you’re staying in the Inn? Are you planning on staying here?”

“Maybe?” I said, scrunching up my nose. I shouldn’t have started asking questions I couldn’t answer myself. And I definitely didn’t have an answer about whether I was going to stay here, because in the end, that train of thought only led me back to Rhett.

If Rhett and I started dating or became a couple or whatever, I’d have to move here, right? I mean… he had the pack, and the pack was like a ginormous family. His whole life was here, a life deeply rooted in this community, in his pack. I couldn’t imagine he’d ever leave this life behind, not even for me.

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