Peak tourist season had hit Blackfall, bringing all different kinds of folks into the normally sleepy area while everything was in full bloom. Teddy had been struggling to keep all of his flower shop orders filled with how in demand everything was right now. He was exhausted, wishing he could be anywhere but here.

The tavern was loud and far too full. He felt suffocated sitting in the booth, trying and failing to keep all seven feet of himself from brushing against the crowded people around him.

But you and his brothers had wanted to get a drink, and how could he ever say no to you? You were the first and only human he had ever told the truth about his family that they were all werebears. But you two had been best friends since you were two years old, and it just hadn't felt right hiding a secret from you, let alone what he really was and why he had to disappear for three days out of the month.

He took a sip of ale from his mug while his oldest brother, Theodore, went on and on about the log-throwing contest he was entering at next week's festival. Timmy was nodding along, adding his two cents every few minutes, while you just seemed pleased as punch to be with all of them. After all, his brothers treated you like part of the family. As Teddy looked around the chaotic tavern, he spotted a small woman sitting down at the bar, her bag left open and her wallet fallen onto the floor.

Pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head, he murmured an excuse to the table and slid out of the booth. He walked over, grunting softly as he bent down to pick up the small, flowery wallet.

"Excuse me, miss—" He didn’t even get to finish his sentence. The woman spun around, took one look at the absolute mountain of a man towering over her, and shrieked in pure terror, drawing the eyes of the entire tavern. Teddy panicked, immediately holding up his giant hands to show he wasn't a threat. “Oh shit, no, I’m sorry! I didn’t—I’m not trying to scare you!”

The woman shrank back against the bar, and the whole tavern seemed to freeze, staring at him. Feeling completely overwhelmed and heartbroken, Teddy looked back over at you, his warm amber eyes practically begging you for help.