3. Sawyer

Chapter 3

Sawyer

J ust who was this human? I couldn't keep my eyes off him.

From his warm, chocolate-brown eyes to his dark curls that looked irresistibly soft, and that smile—it was a smile that lit up his entire face, genuine and welcoming.

He even smelled good, like coffee and cedarwood.

So good I wanted to walk up to him, put my nose to the side of his neck, and commit his scent to memory.

Benny barked in my arms, pulling me back to the present. I felt slightly guilty for forgetting about him after bumping into this cute human.

Then I remembered Benny had run right into him, as if he knew him.

"I'm Sawyer, by the way," I introduced myself. "Benny here seems familiar with you."

"I'm Casey. I volunteer at the shelter sometimes. Benny's my favorite," he said, giving Benny an affectionate pat. "To be honest, I was getting a little worried no one was going to adopt him."

There was something about the way Casey watched me—almost like he was sizing me up. His eyes seemed to flicker with a hint of hesitation, and I wondered if he was being polite or if there was something else going on.

For a moment, I felt a spike of uncertainty, like maybe I wasn't making the best impression after all.

"Well, my brother Miles and his mate Cooper got him for my birthday. Miles moved out of our place recently and thought I could use some company," I said.

Crap. Was I babbling? When had that ever happened?

In the flirting department, I always had it easy. Before my accident, hook-ups and one-night stands were the norm for me.

But my inner wolf told me that Casey wasn't like those guys whose names I never bothered remembering. Casey could be someone special.

"It's sweet that your brother thought of you like that. And Benny's a lucky dog to have you," Casey said, his expression softening.

The cautious look in his eyes finally seemed to melt away.

Did my rambling actually helped break the ice? Whatever the reason, I felt the tension slip away, and I mirrored his relaxed smile.

"Well, he seems to think the same about you," I said, scratching Benny's ears. "He ran straight to you like you were his long-lost buddy."

"Maybe he just has good taste," Casey replied. "Besides, anyone who adopts Benny has to be a decent person."

"You're giving me a lot to live up to," I joked, feeling a spark of excitement. "So, you said you volunteer at the shelter. What got you into that?"

"I just love animals," Casey said with a shrug. "And moving to a new town, I figured it was a good way to meet people and make a difference. Plus, I get to hang out with great dogs like Benny."

"That's really cool. I'm still getting used to having Benny around. I think Miles and Cooper thought Benny would help with my healing," I said.

"Healing?" Casey asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Yeah, an old injury," I replied, trying to keep it light. "But enough about me. What about you?"

"I own a pet grooming business called Furry Tails," he said, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"That's awesome! What made you start it?" I asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Honestly, I just thought Pecan Pines needed a good pet grooming spot," Casey explained.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card, handing it to me.

The moment our fingers touched, I felt a strange spark, like a gentle, electric jolt that made my heart race.

"You and Benny should come by sometime," Casey said with a shy smile.

"I'd like that. Maybe Benny and I can get the full VIP treatment," I said, flashing a grin.

"For you two, absolutely," Casey replied. "And if you ever need help with Benny or just want to hang out, you know where to find me."

"I'll definitely take you up on that," I said, feeling an unfamiliar but welcome warmth spreading through me.

This guy was different, and I couldn't wait to get to know him better.

"Sawyer, there you are. We were all starting to get worried," said a familiar voice. Griffin.

It looked like either Cooper or Miles had sent him to look for me.

I wasn't even irritated that my brother and best friend thought I couldn't manage finding Benny on my own.

Bumping into Casey and chatting with him put me in an indescribably good mood.

"We should probably head back," I said, securing Benny under my arm and laughing as he licked at my arm.

We were getting along quite nicely, I thought.

"I sort of ran out of my own birthday party to chase Benny," I admitted to Casey.

"Your birthday... oh. Happy birthday," Casey said.

Somehow, hearing those words from his lips made me happy, which was strange since technically we were complete strangers.

"Oh hey, do you want to drop by? There's free food and cake," I added.

Did I sound too hopeful? Desperate? Judging by his conflicted face, I wished I could take my invitation back.

"Um, I think I'll pass. I have plans. Thank you for the invite, though," Casey said apologetically.

I felt a little foolish. A gorgeous guy like him? Of course he had plans on a weekday night.

Wait. Did he have a boyfriend?

But... I definitely didn't imagine the chemistry between us during our brief conversation. Either way, it would be too rude to ask him that.

"See you around, Casey," I said.

"Enjoy the rest of your party," Casey said, coming forward to give Benny an ear rub.

He was standing so close, it would be far too easy to steal a kiss from those tempting lips or give him a playful bite on the neck.

I took a deep breath, relieved when he finally stepped back. Why was my control so strained when it came to Casey?

"Who was that?" Griffin asked me once Casey had left.

I was glad Griffin stayed in the background and let us finish our conversation.

"Casey, he owns a pet grooming store," I said, showing the business card to Griffin.

"Oh yeah, I pass by his place on my way to work. If I owned a dog, I definitely would bring him there," Griffin said with a nod, returning Casey's card to me.

"I also noticed you seemed extra friendly with him," Griffin added.

"Extra friendly?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Like, I haven't seen you smile like that in a while," Griffin said, nudging me playfully. "It's nice to see you enjoying yourself again."

I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the beer I'd had earlier.

"Yeah," I said.

"Come on, let's get back to your party. Everyone's waiting," Griffin said, clapping me on the back.

As we walked back to the bar, I couldn't help but think about Casey.

Maybe Griffin was right. Maybe Casey was just what I needed right now.

And who knew? Maybe this was the start of something special.

I sipped my third can of beer that evening while occasionally stroking Benny's fur.

He had curled up on my lap a few minutes ago and decided to take a nap there. It felt rude to disturb him, or at least that's what I liked to tell myself.

I appreciated my pack mates and friends showing up, but I had reached my limit when it came to socializing.

Nine out of ten times, someone would ask me about my leg and how I was doing.

While I appreciated their concern, I couldn't help but think if they were scrutinizing me, wondering if I was fit to be pack second.

I wouldn't be surprised if challenges arose, and I needed to prepare myself for that. To do that, I needed to get fit and healthy again.

I glanced down at Benny on my lap and envied him a little. He looked like he had zero cares about the world.

"Hey, Sawyer. Your brother sent me here to ask why you're brooding in a corner at your own party," Uncle Ben said, taking the empty stool next to me.

"I'm just winding down, relaxing," I said.

Uncle Ben snorted, clearly not buying my lie.

He was sort of a father-figure to Miles and me, especially after our own father passed away, so he could read me more easily than most.

Uncle Ben cleared his throat.

"Also, did you know that Ron is now single?" Uncle Ben asked out of the blue.

I groaned and looked at him. "Let me guess. Miles also told you to point that out?" I asked.

"Well, Ron's a good guy, but I'll tell Miles you're not interested," Uncle Ben said.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Well, I'll leave you to your brooding," Ben said.

I wasn't exactly brooding... just thinking about Casey. How he was like. What his favorite food and color were.

How would he feel about dating a shifter?

Would Casey be open to it? When Ryder had been lead alpha, he hadn't exactly left a good impression on the humans living in town.

So, understandably, relations between the pack and the humans were a little strained.

Casey didn't appear afraid of me, though, just curious.

I made a mental note to schedule an appointment at Furry Tails. I glanced at Benny.

He looked clean as a whistle. How soon could I schedule a grooming?

Maybe I'd take him to the park tomorrow. Let the little guy play to his heart's content.

That reminded me. I needed supplies, dog food, and some toys for him. Nothing but the best for my little buddy.

My thoughts predictably, went to Casey again. Casey seemed different from anyone I'd met before.

There was something about him, a kind of warmth and openness that drew me in.

I wondered what he liked to do in his free time. Did he have a favorite spot in Pecan Pines?

Did he like coffee as much as he smelled like it?

Maybe we could grab a cup together sometime. I imagined walking into his shop, Benny trotting beside me, and seeing that bright smile of his.

His smile was the kind that could light up a room—genuine and inviting, with a hint of mischief.

And those eyes, deep chocolate brown, warm and expressive. I could get lost in them.

Benny shifted slightly in my lap, reminding me of his presence. I scratched behind his ears, and he let out a contented sigh.

Yeah, tomorrow I'll spoil him a bit. He deserved it after being cooped up in the shelter for so long.

Maybe I'd even pick up a treat from that new pet bakery downtown.

The thought of seeing Casey again made my heart race a little.

I hoped I hadn't come on too strong earlier with the party invite, but I had just been a little excited. That was all.

"Look who's here," I overheard Noah whispering to Griffin nearby.

I looked up, and my mood soured at the sight of Garth.

The party was open to all pack members, but that didn't mean Garth was welcome.

Garth looked around, as if looking for someone. Then he saw me, grinned, and walked up to me.

"Did our little competition earlier tire you out?" Garth asked with a laugh.

Nearby pack members quieted to look at us.

I set my drink on the table. Benny woke up from Garth's laugh and barked at him.

"Ugly little critter," Garth muttered.

Benny whimpered and that pissed me off. The little guy was enjoying himself earlier.

I protectively held Benny close to my chest and stood up, so I was eye-to-eye with Garth.

His problem was with me. Why pick on my dog?

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Heard there was free cake, thought it was open to everyone," Garth said.

"It is, as long as you behave and don't cause trouble," I replied.

I was surprised by how calm I sounded.

I was handling the situation the best way I could, even though I seriously wanted to throw Garth out the door.

Clearly, some of the other pack members felt the same way because they were distancing themselves from Garth.

Maybe they thought a fight was going to break out... but Garth wouldn't do such a thing, not when Cooper was nearby.

"I'm hurt you'd think I'll cause trouble," Garth said, clutching his chest mockingly.

"Garth, why don't you have some cake and beer? There's plenty here," Cooper said by the food table.

"Sure, boss," Garth said, chuckling.

A wave of relief filled me as Garth sauntered over to the food tables.

I wasn't scared of Garth, but the last thing the pack needed right now was tension between the higher-ranking members of the pack.

Garth may have convinced Cooper that he was rehabilitated and wanted the best for the pack, but I wasn't easily fooled.