The scent of old paper and dust was Katy's comfort. At nineteen, she knew the rhythm of the Haven Wood Public Library better than her own heartbeat. Every whispered word, every turning page was a familiar note in the quiet symphony of her small town life. Thursdays were typically slow, a gentle winding down before the weekend rush, and this Thursday was no exception. The clock on the wall above the returns desk ticked steadily towards closing time, its hands inching past Seven. Katy was already mentally stacking the last few straggling books, her mind drifting to the hot bubble bath and red wine waiting for her at home.
The bell above the front door chimed softly, announcing a late arrival. Katy looked up, a polite smile already forming on her lips, ready to offer assistance or point towards the public computers. The smile faltered, then died, as her gaze landed on him.
He was nineteen, maybe twenty, but carried himself with an intensity that seemed to defy his years. Dark hair, almost black, fell over his forehead, brushing against eyes that were the color of molten gold in the dim library light. High cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a mouth that looked like it knew secrets she couldn't even imagine. He moved with a quiet, fluid grace that made her think of something wild, untamed, utterly out of place amidst the hushed aisles of literary fiction. He wore a simple dark t-shirt that stretched across broad shoulders and jeans that looked like they'd seen a few adventures. Katy's eyes shifted to the mysterious tattoos peeking beneath his sleeves, swirling symbols climbed up his forearms and disappeared beneath his shirt.
He approached the main counter, his presence radiating an almost palpable energy that made the air around them hum. Katy's breath hitched. She'd seen attractive guys before, of course—Haven wood wasn't a total void—but this was different. This was… arresting.
He placed a stack of books on the counter, a mix of mythology and ancient history, regarding shape-shifters, wolves to be exact.
"Checking these out?" Katy managed, her voice coming out a little breathier than intended. She tried to steady her hands as she reached for the first book.
He nodded, his golden eyes meeting hers. A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips. "Please." His voice was a low rumble, surprisingly deep, and it sent a shiver tracing down her spine. "The name's Jamie."
Katy felt a blush creep up her neck, grateful for the counter between them. "Katy," she replied, her gaze lingering on his for a fraction too long before dropping to the book in her hand. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken curiosity, as she began to scan his selections. Interesting choices," Katy said, the words slipping out before she could censor them. She glanced up at him, a nervous smile playing on her lips. "Are you writing a paper?"
Jamie's smile widened, a flicker of something unreadable in his golden eyes. "Something like that," he murmured, his gaze holding hers. "You could say I'm doing a bit of… research."
Katy finished scanning the last book, the machine beeping softly. "They're due back in two weeks," she stated, her voice a little more business-like now, trying to regain some composure. She slid the stack towards him.
Jamie reached for the books, his fingers brushing hers as he took them. The brief contact sent a jolt up her arm, an electric warmth that lingered. His golden eyes seemed to hold hers for a beat longer than necessary, and that enigmatic smile didn't fade. "I'll remember that, Katy," he said, his voice a quiet promise that seemed to ripple through the quiet library air.
Closing Up and Unraveling Thoughts
The final chime of the library door closing echoed through the quiet space as Katy turned the lock. The click resonated in the sudden silence, a stark contrast to the low hum Jamie's presence had filled the room with just moments before. As she pulled her jacket on and turned off the last few lights, her mind was anything but on the mundane tasks. It was still replaying the encounter, every detail of Jamie, from his molten gold eyes to the mysterious tattoos that peeked from beneath his sleeves.
Walking out into the cool evening air, the usual comforting familiarity of her small town felt different, tinged with a new, intriguing mystery. She knew everyone here, or at least, she thought she did. Haven wood was the kind of place where new faces were rare, and a face like Jamie's? Impossible to forget, impossible to have missed. Yet, he was a complete stranger.
The real puzzle, though, were the books. So many on shape-shifters, specifically wolves. Was he really just doing "research" for some paper? The way he'd said it, the enigmatic smile, the flicker in his eyes—it had hinted at something deeper, something far more personal. A shiver, unrelated to the evening chill, traced its way down her spine. Katy had
always dismissed local legends of strange happenings in the surrounding woods as old wives' tales, but Jamie's arrival, coupled with his reading material, stirred up a strange, unsettling curiosity.
She walked beneath the streetlights, their glow casting long shadows that seemed to dance with her thoughts. Who was Jamie? And why had he appeared so suddenly, bringing with him a quiet storm that had just rattled the peaceful foundation of her familiar world?
Katy finally made it home. As she entered through the door, her father, Dave, emerged from the kitchen holding a plate of pepperoni pizza. " Hey, Sweetheart! How was your day? Grab a slice, I just pulled it out of the oven."
Katy smiled, a genuine smile this time, as she kicked off her boots. "It was... interesting, Dad. Long. But good." She walked over, pulling a warm slice from the pizza pan.
"Interesting, huh?" Dave chuckled, taking a bite of his own slice. "Anything exciting happening in the hallowed halls of Haven wood?" He knew her routine, her quiet life.
Katy paused, the pizza halfway to her mouth. How much could she say? How much did she even want to say about the golden-eyed stranger with the mysterious tattoos and the pile of wolf-shifter books? It felt too personal, too raw, too... unreal to share with her dad over pizza.
" It was just the usual dad" she finally said. " Late fee disputes, reshelving the books about it ."
"I think I'm going to go take a bath, Dad," she announced, already turning towards the hallway. "Long day, need to unwind."
Dave nodded, eyes still on his pizza. "Sounds good, sweet pea." Don't fall asleep in there."
Katy offered a small, distracted smile and headed for the bathroom. The thought of sinking into warm water, escaping the everyday, suddenly felt like the only thing that could quiet the persistent hum of questions Jamie had left behind. She needed a moment alone, a chance to process the unsettling allure of Haven wood's newest, most mysterious resident.
She ran the bath, watching the steam curl upwards, and uncorked a bottle of deep red wine. The first sip was smooth, potent, easing the last remnants of the day's tension from her body. She sank into the hot water, a low groan escaping him as the warmth enveloped her. Lying back, her head resting against the cool porcelain, she closed her eyes.