Page 31 of Claimed By the Bookstore Alpha
"No, really!” She added that we’d done so much for this community. “The readings and the family atmosphere you've created here have brought people together.” And she explained how grateful the shifter community was.
“The least we can do is help you move."
Before I could object, the bell chimed again, and the Murphy family came in with their kids and Mr. Torres. Mrs. Lewis launched into an explanation of our moving situation, and within minutes, it seemed like half our regular customers were volunteering to help.
"We could form a chain." Mr. Torres pointed toward the street. He ran the coffee shop next door. "Pass the books from your apartment to the new place. It would be much faster than carrying boxes up and down stairs."
"A book chain!" Samuel Murphy clapped his hands. "Like a bucket brigade, but with stories!"
My mate was grinning beside me, clearly delighted by the outpouring of support. "Flynn, what do you think?"
I looked around at our customers who'd become friends, families who'd made our store a regular part of their lives and neighbors who cared about our well-being. Six months ago, I would have politely declined and insisted on handling everything myself. But that was before I met Clark and he’d sunshined his way into my heart and I'd learned what it was to be part of a community.
“That would be amazing. If you're all sure you don't mind."
"Mind?" Mrs. Lewis scoffed. "Flynn Tolliver, we're pack. Of course we don't mind."
And so on the Saturday morning of our move, I was in our book filled apartment, watching in amazement as neighbors filed up my narrow stairs. Alpha had driven in with several otherpack members, Dr. Bauer had closed her office for the morning, Clark’s friend, Miranda was here, and some of the parents from Clark's readings had shown up with their kids.
"Okay, everyone." My mate took charge with the ease of someone who'd organized countless school events. "Flynn's going to stay up here and hand books to the first person. We'll form a line from here to the new apartment, and pass them along. No throwing, and if you need a break, just call out."
"What about the rare books?" Martin had turned up and he eyed my first edition shelf with the respect it deserved.
"Those I'll carry myself." I moved toward my most valuable volumes. "But everything else..."
"Everything else, we've got." Mrs. Lewis’s tone brooked no argument and I understood how much Alpha took after his human mom. "Now, let's get this show on the road."
I reminded her that some of the helpers were human so she should tamp down the talk of the pack.
What followed was remarkable. I’d never seen anything like it. The human and shifter chain stretched from our apartment door, down the fire escape, along the sidewalk, and up to the second-floor of our new place. Books passed from hand to hand like precious cargo that included poetry collections and cooking manuals, science fiction novels and children's picture books along with philosophy texts and romance paperbacks.
The kids treated it like a game, carefully cradling each book and announcing interesting titles as they passed them along.
"Ooh, this one has a dragon on the cover!"
”Look, this book is in French!"
"Why does this man have so many books about wolves?"
Clark stationed himself at the receiving end, and had helpers organizing books into rough categories as they arrived. Even seven months pregnant, he moved with surprising energy, and he was clearly enjoying directing the literary migration.
"Flynn." Mr. Torres called out from his position halfway down the chain. "Exactly how many books do you own?"
"I stopped counting at three thousand." My admission earned groans and laughter from the volunteers.
The morning flew by in a blur of carefully passed volumes and easy camaraderie. People took breaks in shifts, but no one left. Parents brought snacks, teenagers ferried boxes of non-book items, and elderly customers provided running commentary on my literary choices. I was so emotional I almost cried.
By mid afternoon, we'd successfully relocated the majority of my library. The volunteers dispersed with promises to check out the new apartment once we were settled, and Clark and I stood in our new living room, surrounded by towers of books waiting to be shelved.
"I can't believe we did that." Clark sank into the one chair we'd managed to position.
"I can't believe everyone did that." I surveyed the organized mess around us. "Six months ago, I barely knew half of those people."
"And now look at you. Mr. Popular with his community book chain." He grinned at me. "Your lone wolf days are definitely over."
I looked around our new space. It already seemed like a home, something my old place never did. Maybe because this wasn't just my space anymore; it was ours.
"You know what the best part is?" My mate struggled to his feet and came over to me. "We have more space for books.” He suggested I could create a library in his office but he had dibs on the space during the day.
