Page 14 of Siren in the Rain

Yep. Total surfer dude. Just with canine ears and a tail. Talk about a lethal combination.

Haku bristles. “Master Shae is mine!”

Wolf Boy grins, flashing his pointy canines, and shakes his head. “Nope. He’s my fated mate. That trumps everything else. Sorry, little dude.”

He yelps a moment later when Haku singes him with a thin stream of fire.

But far from angry, Wolf Boy’s eyes somehow sparkle even brighter. “So cool, man! I’ve never met a drake before. I’m Griffin. What’s your name?”

Haku huffs in irritation and settles himself on my shoulder, turning his head away dismissively.

I reach up and stroke his spiny back. “This is Haku. He’s been with me most of my life.”

“Haku?” Wolf Boy practically vibrates with excitement. “Shut the front door! Like in Spirited Away?”

I flush and cross my arms defensively. “Yeah, well, I was a bit obsessed with that movie as a kid, so when I named him, I naturally chose the name of my favorite character.”

Wolf Boy captures me with his glittering gaze and I can’t look away.

“I freaking love Japanese animation! Miyazaki is a master, amirite?”

It’s the first time someone’s gotten Haku’s name reference in a long time.

Despite myself, I’m intrigued. “You… like anime?”

He nods eagerly, his fluffy ears twitching. “Love it!”

Fucking hell. That’s what’s throwing me for a loop! He resembles an adorable anime character, and it’s messing with my head.

My brain comes to a screeching halt.

Did I just think Wolf Boy is adorable?

Oh, fuck no.

“You two are so precious already! It’s like I’m getting to watch you falling in love live and in real time,” the red-headed woman squees.

“Good for you, Griff. Lucky bastard,” the white-haired man says, but he gives us both a thumbs-up.

My head is spinning. It’s like I’ve landed in some kind of alternate reality.

Or a really weird nightmare.

“No one is falling in love here,” I say through gritted teeth.

Wolf Boy leans in and nuzzles his face against my hand that he’s still holding, and Haku spits fire.

The enormous man with fuzzy bear ears, who’s been crouched by my bed this whole time, finally stands and pulls the anime cutie away from me with the greatest of ease.

My hand immediately misses the contact and I sigh with regret.

No, relief, dammit.

“Sorry about this one,” the giant says in a deep but gentle voice.

“Dallaaasss!” Wolf Boy whines. The golden ears tipped with white and the fluffy tail all droop. “He’s my mate. I just wanna hold his hand. He totally needs my SCSS!”

What the fuck is he talking about?

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