“What do you do?”
Viktor gives a little shrug. “It’s complicated,” he says, taking another bite of his food. “I’m kind of in between stuff right now? Like I said before, I just came into my magic recently.”
“Right. That must have been scary, especially if you didn’t know about the paranormal world.”
“Yep. I was completely blindsided. Thankfully, I very quickly found a pack that welcomed me in. They helped the transition so much.”
“That’s amazing,” I say, something inside my chest twinging. That must be nice. To have a pack. People all around you, helping to take care of you.
“They really are,” he says, letting out a little sigh. “They’re this family that I didn’t know I needed until they drew me in and forcibly adopted me.”
“I’m a little jealous,” I say softly.
“You don’t have a pack? I know what they say about making assumptions but you’re a wolf. I guess my brain automatically assumed you’d have a pack.”
I shake my head, picking up another fry and popping it into my mouth, giving myself a moment to chew so I can think. “My mom and dad are both wolves but they were raised in money. They sort of isolated themselves without even meaning to. They have friends and colleagues and stuff like that, but we don’t have a pack.”
“Oh,” Viktor says. Reaching towards me, he runs his fingers over the back of my hand, a shudder running through me. “I’m really sorry to hear that, Duncan.”
“It’s been okay so far,” I say, trying to reassure him but I can tell he sees right through me. Thankfully, he jumps back to my question.
“Right now I’m mostly learning how to take care of our pack lands. There’s a section of forest that we use for shifting, a place that’s safe from prying eyes. I’d also like to get strong enough to put protections over our entire community, but I’m a ways out from that.”
“That’s amazing that you can do that! Do you like enchanting? Do you feel like that’s where your magic lies?”
Viktor shrugs. “Enchanting is what comes easiest so far,” he admits, pulling a necklace out from inside his dress shirt. “This was the first thing I made. It glows when there’s ill intentions around.”
The necklace is pretty, a hemp rope twisted around a little black stone. Viktor’s fingers run over the stone and I feel mesmerized, unable to look away. His hands are long and delicate, his nails painted black. I have the image of kissing them and my stomach floods with warmth.
“Here,” Viktor says, pulling the necklace off his neck. “Why don’t you try it on?”
“What? No, I couldn’t, Viktor!”
“Yes, you can,” he says with a small smile. “I like people being able to use what I make. Plus, you’ll always know when someone is around who doesn’t deserve your time.”
I hold the necklace in my hand, worried my heart might actually leap out from my chest with how hard it’s pounding. I look Viktor in the eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
I can’t help but smile as I carefully pull the necklace over my head. I tuck it into my shirt and then place a hand over my chest. I can feel it against my skin, a little piece of tonight that I get to keep. A little piece ofViktor.
“Thank you, Viktor.”
“You are so very welcome, Duncan.”
We continue to eat, watching people walk around and mingle with each other. This is nice, having someone next to me as I people watch.
Viktor makes all of this so much easier. He puts me at ease in a way I haven’t felt with anyone before. I like just being near him.
“Do you have much experience with jewelry making?”
I look over at Viktor in surprise. “I’ve done it before but not very often.”
“Oh,” Viktor says, shaking his head. “Sorry, I was just having a silly thought.”
“What is it?”
“It’s stupid.”
