Moonlit Bond

that always seemed to teeter on the edge of something more. Each time the bell above the shop door chimed, Emma

when the shop was quiet. He'd browse the shelves, occasionally picking up a book on

, Emma found herself hyper-aware of Liam's presence. He was in his usual spot, leaning against a bookshelf w

reorganizing the already tidy counter. She could feel the

ing?" she asked, breaki

voice low and warm. "This town has quite a colourful history. I'm

one. Most people around here consider

e. "And what do you think, Emma? Do y

e? Emma couldn't quite place it. She laughed nervously, shaking her

thought she might have imagined it. He closed the book and approached t

raordinary things are hiding in plain sigh

er throat. Was he talking

am glanced at his watch. "I

the pang of disappointment in her c

tonight. But I'll be back

rhaps a bit too quickly. "You

nd made Emma's heart stutter. "Goodnight, Emma," he said soft

orn off relationships after her last disastrous attempt, content with her books and her quiet lif

a sadness in his eyes sometimes, a weight that seemed to press down on his broad sho

. This time, he arrived earlier than usual, just as

tling Emma and causing her to

ands brushing. Emma felt that now-familiar jolt of

Was it her imagination, or did his hand

r racing heart to calm down. "And tha

p, his gaze landing on the 'Local Authors' section. "You know," he said c

in surprise. "Real

a sign of nervousness. "It's... complicated. A mix of romance and supernatural elements, I

s. For a moment, the air between them

her mind whirling. Why did his

managed to say. "I'd lo

n, as if catching himself, he took a step back. "Well, I should l

tment that welled up inside her. "O

m?" He paused, looking back at her with those intense green

, fear, longing, and something else Emma couldn't quite iden

a with a whirlwind of confusing f

street. The recent animal attacks had everyone on edge, and the smart thing would be to hurry hom

or a moment, she thought she saw a large, wolf-like shape sli

monsters in the dark. She locked the door firmly behind her and started her walk h

ding secrets – secrets that Liam Blackwood might be at the heart of. And despite her best efforts to maintain her emotional distance, Emma knew she wa