While Dawn suggested Jack shadow both her and Elsa, Elsa had other ideas. After her talk with Dawn in the break area, Elsa wondered if her urge to act out was due to more than just irritable weariness. Normally, she could brush off any agitation with ease and a forced smile. For the past two days, Elsa's impulses were untamable.

She concluded the white haired male was an instigator to her irrational change in behavior and considered her options. If she couldn't avoid him, the less time she spent with him was second best. However, he soon caught on to her plan and schemed his own game of cat and mouse. She would bring more books out from storage, and he would bring her the wheeled shelving rack. She would set up a display of new arrivals and he would bump into them, apologizing and offering to help her fix it. He even went out of his way to pop up over the shelves when she was in the aisles, leaning in on top of the books with crossed arms.

"Got'cha," he would claim.

Since the bookshelves only reached partial height and one could see anyone from across the room, she grinded her teeth, exasperated that she hadn't heard him. Or according to the strange wolf-man, smell him.

"It's a bit odd that your hearing is better than your nose. It should be just as developed in this form as the other," he commented, after he could catch her off guard for a third time.

Elsa's eyes zeroed in on the nearest customer just a little ways off. The man continued to flip through his journal copy.

"Stop worrying so much. It's only when you act suspicious that people take notice," Jack pointed out.

"I have no idea what you could mean," Elsa responded.

She walked away, but he followed her on the other side of the bookshelf. Though she carefully avoided the other bodies in the aisle, she could feel his presence as acutely as if he stood just beside her.

"So what you mean to say is you're always jumpy and snappy?"

"I am not snappy."

"Point in case. I mean I get it, the full moon just passed and I'm still itchin' in my own skin."

Almost instinctively, she asked,

"Why is that?"

"Eh, our tutors used to say something about the birth of the shifters, but I can't remember the whole history lesson. My guess is when the moon is at its brightest, the call to the wild is loudest."

Her mind took in every word he said, and sorted the important tidbits to jot down later. Shifters, he called them.

"Hey, don't stop now. That's the second time we've made decent conversation," he teased.

Elsa walked ahead and stopped in front of the bay window. Jack followed suit, but jumped upon the padded bench with one leg folded under him and the other swinging off the edge. She watched the people walk by the shop through the glass, faintly seeing her reflection, her expression tightlipped and befuddled.

"Let's play a game."

She looked at him, her eyebrows knitted together almost into a single brow.

"Ever heard of twenty questions? We'll each ask one question to the other person."

"And why on Earth would I believe anything you say?"

This time, his eyebrow rose at her incredulously.

"I'm guessing you've never smelled a rat before."

Further embarrassed by his casual mention of their supposed abilities, Elsa turned forward and away from his stare. Out of her peripheral, she watched as he leaned forward a bit, his expression softer yet curious.

"People tend to sweat more when they're nervous, so picking up that scent helps detect a lie. Or you can hear their heightened heart rate or change of tone in their voice."

Elsa processed this information, one hand reaching out to tuck a nonexistent strand of hair behind her ear. She could feel the miniscule interest worm its way to the surface, her obsession for more information exposing itself despite her distrust of him.

"Even if I could tell when you're lying, how could I trust you. I don't even know you."

"Then, I supposed you have your first question."

"And if I don't want to answer one of your questions."

"You can pass, and I'll get to ask a different question."

Her eyes flitted from the people's faces outside, to the blue irises of his eyes. She exhaled, feeling the last bit of reluctance submit to her wretched yearning.

"Who are you, and why are you here?"

Instead of calling her out for asking two questions, his reaction lacked its usual confidence. She could detect his hesitancy in the slight shift in his natural scent, tree bark and soil, but his heart rate stayed the same. He stood up from his seat at the bay window and his hand moved to rub at the back of his neck, before dropping it.

"Now, I know this may seem strange, but it's more out of habit than anything so don't freak out."

He stood to his full height and faced her with a smile different than the ones she'd seen before. His right up reached up to place his palm over shirt, over the middle of his chest, his fingers splayed slightly toward the left side.

"My name is Jack Frost, rogue, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Overland, alpha male and alpha female of the Nightlight Pack.

Keeping his palm over his chest, he bowed his head.

The gesture and his declaration left Elsa disoriented and dumbstruck despite his request she remain calm. His voice never wavered and sounded dignified if anything. The habit as he said, ingrained in him probably since birth, while she was lucky enough to simply remember her parents' names.

She quickly composed her facial expression when he brought his eyes back to her eyes, and moved to shove his hands into his pants pockets.

"I left my home to make a fresh start here in Snow Haven," he finished.

"Your family didn't mind that you left?" she asked, shocked.

However, Jack tilted his head and his teasing smile did not answer her question. Feeling her cheeks flush at her slip-up, she waited for his rebuke.

"Don't feel bad, that's not the point of the game. My turn. The other day, I asked if you're alone up here. This is pretty far from other packs."

She felt her internal wall ascend like frost climbing up a windowpane. She could still see Jack's inquisitive face through the feelings of discomfort and reserve.

"That's not a question."

"My mistake. So, are you on your own here as well?"

"Yes. "

"Wow, and from what pack did you belong to before you were exiled?"

"I wasn't exiled. And that's two questions now."

Instead of going on the defense, Jack laughed. A rich sound given its usual scratchy quality. Though she felt slightly miffed he laughed at her, she enjoyed hearing its spirited tone. He fell back onto the seat at the bay window and gestured toward her for her turn. Instinctively, Elsa sat down at well.

"Where does the Nightlight Pack reside?"

"That's not what you asked before."

"I wanted to change my question."

"You can only change your question if I pass."

"I'll come back to it."

"That's against the rules."

"You never set any rules."

"Everyone knows the rules to twenty questions."

"Will you just let me change my question?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"That's not fair!"

Jack laughed louder, and Elsa rushed to shush him with a finger to her lips. However he continued making the distinctive sound at her expense and she decided to quit her efforts. Her abrupt stand from her seat caused him to reach out to wrap his hand around her wrist. The instant they touched, Elsa felt her knees buck and his laughing ceased. His grip softened and her body language followed suit.

"You're just too fun to tease," he admitted.

Fighting her immense pleasure at his touch, she intended to slip her wrist from his grasp. However, when Elsa made the move to escape, she felt Jack's fingers linger on the skin at the base of her palm, before letting her go.

"Here they are, must be talking about Story Time. Jack, this is my grandfather, Ciaran Stone," Dawn introduced.

Elsa looked up at to see Dawn and Mr. Stone eyeing both of them with interest.

"Young man," Mr. Stone greeted.

Now that she understood better how to use her senses, Elsa was surprised to detect the underlying change in her employer's voice. Gone was the sound of its usual warmth, and in its place was a firm command. The full-tone carrying the clear meaning of suspicion and warning, but of what she wasn't sure. Because though his exterior presented full authority, she heard his heartbeat speed erratically inside his rib cage.

"Shaman," Jack greeted in return.

He stood from his seat and stepped forward, as if presenting himself as a contender. She watched as Mr. Stone's eyes started at Jack's eyes and fall to judge the rest of him, with nothing in his expression.

"My granddaughter informed me that you were looking for employment, Mr. …" Pabbie trailed off.

"Frost. Your granddaughter was generous enough to offer a meeting yesterday, and who was I to turn away such hospitality?" Jack responded.

Mr. Stone's eyes narrowed and Elsa heard his soft exhale through his nostrils. She wondered why Jack's polite, yet lighthearted words would set the older gentleman on edge. Unless they had a double meaning, in which she had heard the slight exaggeration in a few of Jack's choice words.

"I see. Well, please join me in the break area and we can begin our interview. Elsa, you are free to go home early," Mr. Stone commented off-handedly.

Elsa blinked in surprise, as both Dawn and Jack frowned. The first she had seen on his usual cheery face.

"We seem to be over staffed at the moment, but don't worry, I will include a full day's pay in your next paycheck. Enjoy the rest of your evening, young lady. I shall see you tomorrow," Mr. Stone explained.

Elsa nodded, feeling as if her employer left her no choice but to accept the bid. She caught the tiniest smirk on Mr. Stone's face at seeing Jack's confusion in her unforeseen departure.

"Thank you, Mr. Stone. Good evening, Dawn. Good evening, Jack," Elsa bid them farewell.

Without a glance back, Elsa made her way to the mudroom to gather her things. She listened to Mr. Stone speak with Jack before their footsteps sounded down the hallway. She hastened to put her boots on and slipped out the door, when she caught sight of Jack following Mr. Stone into the break area. By accident, she lingered to see Jack's playful smile back in place as he waved his fingers in goodbye, and then instinctively, slammed the door on her way out.