Magic and Wolves: Book 1 of West Mountain

You Guys Don't Mess Around, Do You?

They stopped in front of a little restaurant, tucked back away from the noise of the Downtown streets. Several tables and chairs were placed out on a fenced in patio and had a variety of patrons already enjoying food.

A tall, willowy woman came out carrying plates of steaming food. She seemed almost human until you noticed the pointed cat ears coming out from her hair, a long tabby striped tail and cat eyes.

Hammer inhaled sharply, "Animagous? I thought they had all disappeared?"

"Not so much disappeared as taken refuge in safe havens like West Mountain. It's harder for them to hide like other Fae so they prefer places like this."

"They're fascinating. I've always been curious about them and what makes them different from shifters."

"First off, what aren't you curious about, I've never met a more inquisitive person." Cecilia laughed, pulling him into the restaurant, "I'll tell you what I know and I'm sure once the Fae here know you better, they'll do the same. Who knows, maybe you could write some sort of Fae almanac."

Hammers eyes lit up, ideas forming. Cecilia could see his passion for knowledge bubbling inside him. "Imagine the good it could do if we could understand the differences between Fae, the misunderstandings that could be avoided." His expression got sad for a moment, "Maybe if we can understand our differences, we can all start to accept each other. "

They had made it to a table and Hammer held out Cecilias chair for her. They were seated at a small intimate table, tucked in a corner. The room had a distinct romantic feel to it. Votive candles were lit on all the tables giving off soft glows around the room, tables were placed far enough apart to give a feeling of privacy.

Cecilia fiddled with the place setting in front of her nervously, the restaurants atmosphere made the fact that this was a date much more real. After the fourth time she had readjusted the alignment of her silverware in under a minute Hammer reached out and put his hand over hers. Cecilia raised her eyes to meet his and gave him a wry smile.

"I don't really date much." Cecilia admitted.

"I think this might be the first date I've been on in 10 years A Chuisle. I'm nervous as well."

Cecilia could feel her eyebrows shoot up, "You haven't been on a date since you were 18?"

"It never seemed more important than the work I was doing. There was never anyone I was willing to make the time for. Until now."

Cecilia blushed slightly, "Flatterer."

He had managed to use ease her nerves and their date could continue with ease.

"Sampson?" Cecilia asked pulling his attention from the menu in front of him, "You've said something a few times and I'm curious about what it means."

"What is that?"

"A Chuisle? What is it?"

Hammer chuckled, "It is considered a term of endearment in my home country. When I first used it, I was just trying to startle you, rattle your cage so to speak. I wanted to shock you out of that facade you had up. But once we made eye contact and I felt what I now know was the Mate Bond I realized how accurate a term it was. Roughly translated it means, My Pulse."

Cecilia blushed, looking back down at her menu. Normally she hated terms of endearments but this one wasn't the standard babe or dear, it was something unique, just for her.

"You said Mages don't usually find their Mates? Why do you think that is?"

Hammer thought for a moment before answering.