4. Gruffydd

Chapter 4

Gruffydd

"Make it a double this time."

Huw, the bartender, a grizzled old Squatch, raises a bushy eyebrow at me but then nods, reaches for my quart-sized stein, and fills it to the brim with the potent, amber liquid before sliding it over. I grab it and take a long, deep pull, the burn of the alcohol searing my throat.

The barstool creaks under my weight.

My soulstone, nestled on the tip of my cock, thrums with a steady, annoying pulse. Like an itch I can't scratch. I press a hand against it, as if that might soothe the sensation. No such luck.

As I suck down another huge swallow, I hear the scrape of stools and look up to see Olwydd and Taredd settling in on either side of me. Great. Just what I fucking need.

Olwydd claps me on the shoulder, nearly making me slosh my drink. "Thought we might find you here, buddy. Where’s your mate? Oh, wait, I remember she took one look at you and screamed in fright.”

I shoot him a glare and raise the corner of my lip in a snarl.

Taredd roars in laughter.

"Fuck off, you two," I growl before taking another long swig of Giir, relishing the burn. Maybe if I drink enough, I can drown out the memory of her scream. The look of pure terror on her face.

Taredd leans in, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Fright? I don’t know. Maybe she took one look at your ugly mug and ran screaming for the hills."

They both burst out laughing. I feel my cheeks heat under my fur.

I know they mean no harm. I’m aware they’re only trying to lighten the situation and my mood by teasing and making me laugh. But I’m not laughing.

Olwydd wipes a tear from his eye. "Oh, that's rich. The mighty Gruffydd, brought low by a little human female."

I scowl into my stein. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

Huw ambles over. "Another round, boys?"

"Keep 'em coming," I say, pushing my empty stein towards him.

As Huw refills our drinks, Taredd leans back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "You know, maybe you came on too strong, thrusting flowers at her."

I bristle.

Olwydd snorts. "Maybe she doesn’t like lilies."

I open my mouth to retort, but the words die on my tongue. I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. "I don't know what I'm doing. I thought...I thought when my soulstone started singing, that was it. That she'd feel it too."

Taredd pats my arm sympathetically. "Don't beat yourself up, buddy. This whole human-Sasquatch thing, it's new territory for all of us. We're bound to hit a few bumps along the way."

I nod, but my heart isn't soothed. All I can think about is her. My mate. The way her dark curls framed her face, the sparkle in her eyes behind those glasses. And her scent, like spring blossoms.

I close my eyes, letting the memory wash over me. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to hold her, to bury my nose in her hair and just breathe her in.

Then I remember her scream. Her mouth so wide I could see her tonsils, and my eyes snap open. I signal for another drink.

As Huw sets a fresh stein in front of me, Olwydd leans in conspiratorially. "You know, I heard a rumor about these human women."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh?"

He nods, lowering his voice. "Apparently, they're not just here for mate-matching. Word is, each one of them is running from something. Hiding out here in Grotto."

I frown. "Running from what?"

He shrugs. "No idea. But think about it, it must be something serious, for them to agree to shack up with a bunch of Squatches."

I turn this over in my pickled mind. I suppose it would make sense. Afterall, the mate matching algorithm that we acquired from the dragons in a trade was specifically altered to find single human women who would potentially be open not only to mating with our species, but to forsaking their human society entirely and remaining in Grotto indefinitely.

“I could research it for you,” Olwydd offers. “Do some digging on the dark web.”

“Huh?” I stare at him in confusion. “Research what?”

“Why she’s hiding. What her story is.”

“No,” I growl.

But what could my mate be running from? What secrets is she hiding behind those big, beautiful brown eyes?

“Well…maybe,” I reconsider.

I close my eyes, picturing her again. My mate. My...what was her name? Ah, yes, Maria Garcia. I had Colwynn look it up for me. Maria Garcia.

I sigh. Even her name is cute.

I wonder what she's doing now. Probably cowering in fright. Or shuddering in revulsion. Maybe she’s climbing the walls to get the hell out of here, far away from us monsters.

I ignore their snickers as I signal Huw for another.

They’re right, though. Some mate I am. Can't even impress my female without terrifying her.

But then, that's why I've always stuck to the gardens. Plants are easy. Straightforward. You give them sun, water, and good soil—you care for them, and they grow.

Females, on the other hand...Well, I’ve never had one before so I haven’t a clue about females, especially the human variety.

Maybe Wmffre is right. Maybe this whole human-Sasquatch mating thing is a mistake. Maybe we should just stick to our own kind.

But those beautiful brown eyes…my soulstone singing…her delectable scent like a fresh springtime breeze. My whole being seemed to light up, like I'd been living in the dark until she arrived—like she’s my sunshine.

No. I can't give up. Not yet. Not without a fight.

I'll just have to try again. I’ll figure out how to show her I’ll be a good mate. I think. Maybe.