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something I have never heard. You are actually happy. You always seem so sad, Nat, so melancholy. Now a man comes along and you are smiling. Love at first sight can be pretty potent: just don’t let it cloud your judgement about him.” Trudy spoke with kindness, and Natalie wanted to laugh and tell her not to panic, that this was more than true love. It was two souls meeting on a different level and knowing they were meant to be together, but Trudy might really think she was stupid.
    “I’ll bear that in mind.” Natalie ran the hot water into the sink and washed her utensils. Then she prepared some dough in advance, trying to keep her mind on her work, instead of watching each minute tick by as the clock hand made its slow way up to mark the hour.
    At five to four, she was standing in the small store saying good-bye to Trudy, full of the knowledge that Riley was across the street. As he came towards her, she felt the connection, the elastic between them growing shorter, thicker, making it harder to breathe.
    “Have a great evening, Natalie! Just remember I need you in the morning, no matter what happens.” Trudy’s words hung in the air, full of meaning. Was this it? Would she take him home now and mate with him? Was that all that this bond was, a connection between their bodies and their souls that led to sex? Natalie wanted more. She needed a connection between their minds too.
    “Don’t worry. Things won’t be moving along that fast,” Natalie said.
    “I wouldn’t be too sure. I’ve seen the look in his eyes before,” Trudy said, nudging Natalie as Riley reached the door.
    “Hi,” he said, smiling at her, making her stomach explode into cascades of butterflies.
    “Hi.” She stood, not knowing what to do, feeling like a bit of a fool.
    “Shall we go?” he asked, holding out his hand to her.
    As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she placed her hand into his and they walked away from the bakery. For several steps she couldn’t speak, the feel of his skin against hers all too consuming. Then she pulled herself together; she wanted to get to know him, which meant talking to him, not trying to imagine what it would feel like to have his hands on the rest of her skin.
    “Where do you want to go?” she asked, thinking of the smell of baking that always clung to her hair and wishing she had time to go home for a shower. But if she took him home, would he expect more than coffee, while he waited for her to change?
    “I don’t care. I just want to be with you. I know it sounds stupid, but I’m still stunned.”
    “Me too.” They crossed the street, still walking aimlessly.
    “Do you want something to eat? I could take you to dinner,” he offered.
    “Maybe later. Look, what I would really like is a hot shower and a change of clothes. But nothing else.” She cringed at the way she put it, but he looked as if he understood perfectly.
    “I will wait outside if that makes you more comfortable.”
    “No. Don’t be silly. I just wanted to get it straight. I’ve been away from Wolf Valley, from the whole wolf thing, for too many years to just suddenly pick up and go back as if nothing happened.”
    “What did happen?” he asked, a little suddenly. Did she really want to tell him now when they had only just met? Yet he was the man she was supposed to be able to tell anything.
    “I’m not ready to talk about it. I haven’t thought about it for so long, and suddenly it’s all come rushing back to me. I need a little time.”
    Riley nodded. “Take all the time you need.”
    “Thank you,” she said and they walked on in silence.
    “This is more awkward than I thought,” he said as they neared her apartment.
    “Weird, more like it. I mean here we are, complete strangers, knowing we are going to be together for the rest of our lives. Not exactly normal, is it?” she asked, casting a glance at him, trying not to stare, although she wanted to absorb everything about him, his face, his