Auden Visits Violet

Auden walked into Violet's shop for the second time, which was two times too many. No one saw that man walking around talking with anyone outside of the council, so why did he have to come bugging her?

The elder always gave her the creeps. His eyes were large and protruded out of his round face like a bug, and he fidgeted with his hands like he was eager to be doing things with him that he shouldn't. No wonder he didn't have a mate.

He leered at Violet and leaned over the counter. "We need your help again, pretty one," he said in that strange gravel he always used.

"If it's involving Graeme, I don't want to help," she said quickly. His eyes narrowed, and she began tidying things below the counter for an excuse to avoid looking at him.

"That's not what you said last time," he reminded her.

"He doesn't want to talk to me, Elder Auden. He shut me down that day at the council, and he made it very clear the other day that he doesn't even want me looking at his mate, so…"