Page 4 of The Right to Bear Claws (Hollow Oak Mates #6)

KAIA

T he moment Kaia stepped onto Hollow Oak's main street, she knew she wasn't in Kansas anymore.

Not that she remembered being in Kansas, or anywhere else for that matter, but the point stood.

Street lamps flickered to life as evening settled over the town, their warm glow revealing shop windows that practically hummed with personality.

Hand-painted signs swayed in the October breeze, advertising everything from "Enchanted Eats" to "Mystical Mechanics," and the very air felt different here.

Thicker somehow, like it was carrying secrets on every breath of wind.

"So," she said, glancing sideways at Elias as they walked, "is Hollow Oak always this... atmospheric?"

His mouth quirked in what might have been amusement. "You haven't seen anything yet."

Before Kaia could ask what that meant, a melodic voice called out from across the street.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't our mysterious lake visitor!"

The woman approaching them looked like she'd stepped out of a fairy tale, all wheat-colored hair and knowing smiles.

She was petite but carried herself with the kind of confidence that suggested she could handle whatever life threw at her.

Her eyes, light brown with flecks of brightness that seemed to dance in the lamplight, studied Kaia with frank curiosity.

"Twyla Honeytree," Elias said by way of introduction, his tone holding fond exasperation. "Owner of the Griddle & Grind. And the town's unofficial welcome committee."

"Among other things," Twyla agreed cheerfully, extending a hand to Kaia. "And you must be the poor dear who gave our Elias such a fright last night. How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"Better, thank you." Kaia shook the offered hand, surprised by the warmth that seemed to radiate from Twyla's skin. "Everyone's been incredibly kind."

"That's what we do here." Twyla's smile was genuine, but those dancing eyes missed nothing. "Speaking of which, you simply must come by the café for proper sustenance. Hospital food is one thing, but inn food, bless Miriam's heart, doesn't quite have the healing properties you need right now."

"Healing properties?" Kaia echoed.

"Oh yes, dear. Food is medicine, if you know what you're doing." Twyla winked. "And I always know what I'm doing. Come along, both of you. I was just closing up, but I can whip up something special."

Before Kaia could protest, she found herself being ushered across the street toward a cozy storefront with "The Griddle & Grind Café" painted in cheerful yellow letters. Elias followed silently, but she caught the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The café's interior was exactly what Kaia had expected from the outside: warm wood, mismatched furniture that somehow worked perfectly together, and the lingering scent of coffee and cinnamon.

What she hadn't expected were the tea leaves floating in lazy circles above their containers, or the sugar that poured itself into waiting cups without any visible assistance.

"Um," she said intelligently, staring as a spoon stirred itself in a nearby mug.

"Oh, don't mind that," Twyla said airily, bustling behind the counter. "Just a few little conveniences. Makes life easier when you're running a one-woman operation."

Kaia blinked, then looked at Elias for some kind of explanation. He was watching her carefully, like he was gauging her reaction.

"Magic," she said slowly. "That's actual magic."

"Good eye," Twyla called over her shoulder. "Most newcomers take a bit longer to catch on. Though I suppose after what you've been through, a few floating tea leaves aren't that shocking."

"What I've been through?" Kaia's stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

Twyla emerged from behind the counter carrying a steaming mug, her expression suddenly serious. "Sit, dear. Both of you. This conversation requires proper seating."

They settled at a small table by the window, Kaia accepting the mug with hands that trembled slightly. The tea smelled like chamomile and something that made her think of clear skies and steady ground.

"Clarity tea," Twyla explained, settling across from them. "Good for when your mind's all jumbled up and you can't quite see the forest for the trees. Now then, what's the last thing you remember clearly?"

"I..." Kaia took an inhale of the tea. "Driving. My car broke down somewhere in the mountains. I was walking, looking for help."

"And before that?"

Kaia sipped her tea, buying time, but the warm liquid settled something restless in her chest. Like it was giving her permission to be honest.

"Nothing solid," she admitted. "Just fragments. Dreams that feel more real than memories. Places I've never been but somehow recognize."

Twyla nodded as if this made perfect sense. "Dreams can be tricky things. Sometimes they show us what was, sometimes what might be. And sometimes they show us what's hunting us."

The suggestion sent ice down Kaia's spine. "Hunting me?"

"Now hold on," Elias interjected, his voice carrying a warning. "Twyla, you're scaring her."

"Better scared and prepared than blissfully ignorant," Twyla shot back. Then, to Kaia: "You've got shadows clinging to you, dear. Old ones, hungry ones. They followed you here."

"I don't understand." But even as Kaia said it, she knew it wasn't entirely true. The whispers at the edge of her consciousness, the sense of being watched, the dreams that felt too real to be dreams. Part of her had always known she was running from something.

"You will," Twyla said gently. "When you're ready. For now, drink your tea and let me ask you something. How did Hollow Oak feel when you first saw it?"

Kaia considered the question, thinking back to her first glimpse of the town from Elias's arms. "Like coming home," she said quietly. "Which doesn't make sense, because I've never been here before."

"Haven't you?" Twyla's smile was knowing. "Dreams have a way of calling us to where we need to be, especially when we're gifted."

"Gifted?"

"With abilities most folks don't have. Like walking between sleeping and waking, or seeing things that haven't happened yet.

" Twyla's tone was matter-of-fact, like she was discussing the weather.

"Hollow Oak has always been a sanctuary for people like that.

People who don't quite fit in the regular world. "

The words resonated deep in Kaia's chest, striking something that had been waiting to be acknowledged. She'd always been different, always felt like she was seeing the world through a different lens than everyone else. But she'd never had a name for it before.

"I should probably get her back," Elias said quietly. "It's been a long day."

"Of course." Twyla stood, but her eyes never left Kaia's face. "Take your time with the tea, dear. And remember, doors that are meant to open will open when you're ready to walk through them."

They left the café in silence, Kaia still processing everything she'd seen and heard.

The floating tea leaves, the self-stirring spoons, Twyla's casual mention of gifts and abilities.

It should have been overwhelming, terrifying even.

Instead, she felt a strange sense of relief, like she'd finally found a place where being different wasn't a liability.

"Want to see the bookstore?" Elias asked as they passed a charming storefront with "The Hollow Oak Book Nook" painted in elegant script.

"Sure." Kaia peered through the window, then blinked in surprise. "Are those books... organizing themselves?"

"Lucien likes to keep things tidy," Elias said with the first real smile she'd seen from him all evening. It transformed his entire face, softening the stern lines and making something flutter within her.

"Lucien?"

"Friend of mine. Owns the place. He's probably still here if you want to meet him."

But as they approached the door, it opened before they could knock.

The man who emerged was tall and elegant, with shoulder-length dark hair and the kind of angular features that belonged in a gothic novel.

His green eyes held an otherworldly quality that made Kaia think of deep forests and ancient secrets.

"Elias," he said, his voice carrying a slight accent she couldn't place. "And you must be our mystery guest."

"Kaia Monroe," she said, offering her hand. "Though I'm starting to think 'mystery' might be putting it mildly."

Lucien's smile was sharp and amused. "In Hollow Oak, mystery is just another word for Tuesday. How are you settling in?"

"Still processing, honestly." Kaia gestured toward the bookstore. "Do all the books really organize themselves?"

"Only the well-behaved ones," Lucien said solemnly. "The poetry section is particularly rebellious."

Despite everything, Kaia found herself laughing. There was something absurdly normal about discussing rebellious poetry while standing in a town where magic was apparently as common as morning coffee.

"I should let you both get some rest," Lucien continued, his gaze shifting meaningfully to Elias. "But Kaia, you're welcome in the shop anytime. I have a feeling you might find some interesting reading material."

As they walked away, Kaia glanced back to see Lucien watching them with thoughtful eyes. "Let me guess," she said. "Another friend with mysterious knowledge about my situation?"

"Something like that." Elias's voice was careful, but she caught the underlying tension. "Hollow Oak's a small town. Word travels fast."

They completed the circuit of Main Street, Elias pointing out various shops and businesses.

The Silver Fang Tavern, where raucous laughter spilled out into the night.

The Hollow Mercantile, its windows full of crystals and herbs and things Kaia couldn't immediately identify.

Moonlit Meadow Restaurant, closed for the evening but still somehow inviting.

With each step, the sense of belonging grew stronger. This place, these people, they felt right in a way she couldn't explain. Like she'd been searching for them without knowing it.

But as they made their way back toward the inn, shadows began lengthening between the buildings. The cheerful warmth of the shops faded behind them, replaced by something darker. More watchful.

"Elias," she said quietly, stopping in the middle of the street.

"What is it?"

Kaia closed her eyes, trying to identify the sensation crawling up her spine. It felt like being observed, studied, hunted. Like something in the growing darkness knew her name and was whispering it just beyond the edge of hearing.

"Something's wrong," she whispered.

Immediately, Elias moved closer, his presence solid and reassuring at her back. "What kind of wrong?"

"I don't know. It's like..." She struggled to find words for the creeping dread settling in her bones. "Like something's calling to me. Something I don't want to answer."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication. Around them, Hollow Oak's cozy atmosphere seemed to flicker, shadows deepening and streetlights dimming as if something was drawing the light away.

"We need to get you inside," Elias said, his voice tight with concern.

But as they hurried toward the inn, Kaia couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was calling to her wouldn't be deterred by walls or wards or the kindness of strangers. It knew where she was now.

And it was patient enough to wait for the right moment to answer.