Page 32 of Taming of a Wolf

Jamie’s mouth falls open. “What? No, not at all.”

“Then why can’t I let others know? You’re mine, and I’m yours.”

Sighing, Jamie rubs the back of his neck again. “Bailey is a human. They won’t understand. Besides, we’re not…” Whatever he was going to say, he doesn’t finish. Good. I don’t wish to hear it.

“I do not like her.” I glare at Bailey.

“Them. Bailey’s a great person. Give them a chance.”

“Them?” As far as I can tell, there is only one of Bailey.

“Bailey isn’t a man or a woman. They’re nonbinary.”

I’ve never heard of such a term before. “So… in between?”

Jamie laughs softly. “No. Not in between. They exist outside the gender binary.”

I still don’t understand, not quite. “So instead of he or she, Bailey is they?”

“Yeah, exactly. So, you know you’re a man. Right? If someone called you her or she, that would feel wrong, wouldn’t it?”

I nod. “Aye.”

“Bailey has never felt like a man or a woman. So they identify as neither.”

I’m still not sure I understand. “That’s strange.”

“It’s different, but different doesn’t always mean bad.” Jamie frowns. “That’s not a problem, is it? Anders, I can’t let you work here if you’re going to harass Bailey.”

“Why would I harass her—them? I don’t mind if Bailey is a they. I was angry that they touched you. There’s nothing going on between you two?”

Jamie snorts. “Not at all. Like I said, Bailey’s got a girlfriend.”

Good. For a moment, I thought I was going to lose him to someone else.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks, frowning up at me. “You took Bailey’s affection toward me pretty personally.”

“Hardly.” The feeling wasn’t only rage. It was dread, like nothing I’ve felt before. Jamie is mine from now until the moment we part ways.

“We’re open!” Jamie calls.

In a few moments, people enter the store. They order drinks at the counter, and Bailey prepares them swiftly and with confidence. They really are skilled. Jamie was right, customers are sloppy. Not only do they leave crumbs all over the tables, but they also leave books lying around the shop, forcing me to gather them up and stuff them back on the shelf. A plump woman with piercings in her nose and green highlights in her hair enters theshop. She removes her sweater, revealing tattoos on her arms. Jamie and his friends are a colorful bunch.

“Hey! So you’re the new guy?” she asks, striding up to me.

“Aye,” I answer. “Uh. Are you a they as well?”

The woman laughs. “Nope. Boring old she/her right here. Name’s Jess.” She thrusts out her hand.

“Anders.” We shake.

“Nice to meet ya, Anders. Just a friendly critique, you’re stocking those books wrong.”

I grimace. “I am not.”

“You’re mixing the dark romance with the rom-coms.”

“So?” She’s the one who is wrong. I know exactly what I’m doing!

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