Page 6 of Christopher

Once they were far enough away from the coffee shop, he slowed down, but he didn’t let go of Chris’s hand.

Chris didn’t, either.

Drake beamed. They were already holding hands.

“So, as I said earlier, I’m Drake,” he explained. “I’m a shifter, which you probably already know from the smell. I’m pretty sure you’re a wolf shifter, but I’m not. I’m an aardwolf shifter.”

Chris blinked again. “I’ve never heard of that.”

Drake shrugged. He wasn’t offended, because a lot of people had never heard of it. Most humans expected shifters to be lions, tigers, wolves, or bears. That was what most shifters were in books and movies. They never considered smaller shifters that were less impressive, so most people didn’t, either. “I guess you can call me a small hyena, or as some say, the hyena’s weird cousin. Obviously I’m not actually one, but I look similar, just smaller. I don’t laugh, though.”

Chris nodded, but he looked more like he was going along with whatever Drake was saying than like he understood what was happening. It was sweet and made Drake want to cuddle him. He didn’t, because they were in public and he didn’t know if Chris would like that, but he made a mental note to ask once they were in a more private setting. He couldn’t wait to cuddle his mate.

“Are you a wolf, then?” Drake asked since Chris wasn’t volunteering any kind of information.

Chris nodded curtly. “I am. Is that a problem?”

“Why would it be a problem?” Drake asked with a frown. “I mean, it’s not like either of us can do anything about what kind of shifter we are. You’re a wolf, and I’m an aardwolf. That’s never going to change.”

“No, it’s not,” Chris murmured.

Drake wished he could read his mate’s mind. He desperately wanted to know what Chris was thinking about. Chris looked confused, which would be normal even if they weren’t mates because that was how most people felt when they were with Drake. The only people who didn’t tease Drake for it were his best friends, but they weren’t here right now.

They knew how much he’d wanted to meet his mate. He’d been talking their ears off for years, and it had only gotten worse after Dennis had met Kyle. They would have a field day with this, but Drake couldn’t find it in himself to care. He’d met his mate, and nothing could bring him down from the high of that.

“Anyway, I moved to Green Hill a few years ago,” Drake explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around, though. Does that mean you’re new here, too?”

Chris cleared his throat. “I just moved here with my family.” He looked down at their hands, which were still linked. He wiggled his fingers as if he wanted Drake to let go.

Even though Drake didn’t want to, he did. The last thing he wanted was for Chris to be uncomfortable with him. They were going to spend decades together. They needed to be comfortable around each other, and that had to start right from the beginning.

“That sounds great,” Drake said. “You have siblings? Who else moved with you?”

“My grandfather, my brother, and my sister.” Chris shook his head. “Look, Drake, I’m sure you’re a very nice guy, but I have to go.”

Drake frowned. “Oh, you’re busy. Of course. Well, I can give you my number, or you can give me yours, and we can text. That way, we’ll have each other’s number.”

Drake fumbled with his jacket to get his phone out, unlocked it, and raised it toward Chris. He frowned harder when he realized that Chris had stepped away, putting more distance between them.

“Chris?” he asked.

Chris shook his head. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“That’s fine, but give me your number first. That way, we can get in touch.”

Chris’s foot caught on a welcome mat in front of a store. He stumbled back and quickly turned to check what he’d stepped on. Drake rushed forward to help him if he needed to, but Chris turned around and rushed away, leaving Drake standing like an idiot in the middle of the sidewalk.

Had his mate just run away from him?

Drake sighed and put his phone back into his pocket. He knew he should’ve kept his mouth shut. He’d apologized for talking so much, but he knew how much people were bothered by it anyway. He should have done a better job keeping himself under control, but he’d been so excited, and he hadn’t thought his mate, of all people, would have a problem with that.

It looked like he was wrong.

Chapter Two

Chris had never realized that he could panic for such a long time, but he’d been freaking out over Drake ever since he’d met him yesterday, and he still didn’t know what to do. He’d been hiding in his bedroom, feeling like a child but unable to leave his bed.

Drake was his mate, but he didn’t know what to do. The only thing he did know was that Drake wouldn’t find him in his bedroom, which was why he was there. Unfortunately for him, he’d eaten all the snacks he’d kept there, which meant that if he wanted to eat, he’d have to leave the safety of his bed.

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