Werewolf Boyfriend: Oliver (special preview)

You go through the spices inside the box, examining each one, even putting the cinnamon into your coffee. As you’re enjoying that first long sip there is a knock at your door. 

“Good morning,” Mrs. Locklear says with a smile.

“Is something wrong?” You gasp.

“No, no,” she shakes her head as you let her in. “Just coming to check on you. After the rain and all-” her eyes look down at the wooden box and she picks up the bit of poem.

“Everything is fine, unless the backyard flooded again. I can’t tell due to all the fog around.” You watch her carefully.

Mrs. Locklear waves the piece of Keats poem at you. “Secret admirerer?”

“Oh uhm-” you flinch.

She smirks at you. “You know, here in Hearthway Hollow, there is a tradition.” She glances out the window. “When someone finds their true love, they start a little ritual.” She glances down at you. “Have you heard of it?”

“I’ve heard that the town has an inordinate amount of wolves but-” you shake your head, “I haven’t seen any.”

“They’re all in sheep’s clothing,” Mrs. Locklear chuckles. She then steps back towards the door. “I just wanted to check on you this morning.”

After she leaves you finish making your breakfast and end up being a bit late to work. On your way home you consider stopping into the library but your nerves win out and you end up going straight home.

Once there you find another gift on your front porch. This time it is a rain slicker and a pair of matching galoshes. Inside the slicker you find another piece of a poem.

“And the sunlight clasps the earth 

  And the moonbeams kiss the sea: 

What is all this sweet work worth 

  If thou kiss not me?”

It was a piece of a poem by Shelley. You look around, wondering if anyone is watching you. The next day it is raining again and the slicker and galoshes come in handy.

You gather up your courage and stop by the library on your way home. You had a short day at work, so you had time to dawdle. As you step inside you take off the raincoat and hang it on the coat rack by the door. 

“Well now, look who's back.”

You look up, seeing Oliver is perched on the top of one of the shelves. You wave up to him. “Thought I would come say hello.”

“Hello,” he chuckles. He then lifts up a book. “I’ve been hunting down things.” He steps onto a ladder and then walks to you. “You look prepared today.” He nods towards your new raincoat.