Levy's concentration was broken by a voice calling out to her.
She looked around but seeing no one around she was confused as to where the sound came from until she was directed to look upward.
Levy was nervous that another Alpha had come to pester her but was pleasantly surprised to see it was an Exceed addressing her.
She watched as he hovered down until he landed on the bench and a warm smile bloomed on her face as she took in his appearance.
Black body with a white muzzle, soft but serious red eyes and an old scar over his left eye, she couldn't help but internally squeal at his cute rounded ears.
"Oh… uhmm… why yes it is a book on Dragons. Hi there, my name is Levy McGarden."
Levy reached out her hand to shake the Exceed's paw.
"Hello to you as well, my name is PantherLily but you can just call me Lily."
Levy smiled as she closed her book to show the cover to her new acquaintance.
"To answer you previous question, yes I am reading a book about Dragons!" Levy said excitedly.
"That's a very hard subject to find information on. You're very lucky to find a book about them."
"I know exactly what you mean. I was astounded to find a tome for sale in this small town and I had to have it. It's a subject I want to learn more about and the Draconic language and culture is simply amazing. I would love to learn from the source but Dragons are no longer around."
Gajeel clenched his fist at hearing those words, remembering how his adoptive father disappeared when he was a boy.
"Sadly that is true. But at least we have a link to those ancient creature through the Dragon Slayer Mages, I'm sure they know of things not recorded in books." Lily subtly flickered his eyes upwards to catch Gajeel's burning gaze.
"He better not do what I think he's gonna do." Gajeel thought anxiously.
"Miss Levy, how would you like to meet a Dragon Slayer?"
"R-really?! You know a Slayer?!" Levy jumped up in excitement.
"Yes. And he's closer than you think."
"What do you m-"
"Dammit Lily!"
Levy flinched at the sudden booming voice coming from the tree and gave a tiny yelp as a figure suddenly came crashing down.
Levy took in the figure. Wearing a sleeveless trench coat, cargo pants and heavy boots, there stood a tall young man, definitely an Alpha judging by his earthy and metallic scent. She noted his scar covered tan skin that had piercings along his eyebrows, nose, chin and arms. Black hair, as wild as her own, splayed across his back and his deep red eyes glared at the Exceed as he stood with his arms crossed.
"Ah Gajeel, perfect timing I was just about to call out to you." Lily said with fake innocence.
"Tch. You were running your mouth about me so here I am."
Gajeel stood still as he awaited the normal reaction he got from strangers at seeing his menacing appearance.
He subtly smelled the air to pick up on the scent of fear from the Omega but was surprised that he smelled the woman's natural sweet scent of honey and books.
He looked at her and saw that she was gaping at him and flinched at the unexpected eye contact from the small woman.
"You got something to say?" Gajeel said stoically.
Broken out of her daze she took a few steps towards him.
"Are you really a Dragon Slayer? As in raised and taught by a Dragon!?"
Lily looked on in amusement as Gajeel looked bewildered as he took a half step back at the closed distance.
"Wow that is amazing! I'm sorry to pester you after just meeting for the first time but I would love to ask you some questions if you don't mind."
Gajeel broke out of his stupor and reverted to his tough guy persona.
"Gihi~ that's right Shorty, I'm the real deal."
"S-sh-Shorty?!" Gajeel smirked as he saw the woman immediately triggered at being called small.
"Feisty little thing ain't ya?" Gajeel thought.
"I'll have you know that I am not that short! And I-"
Levy was interrupted by the town clock striking 5pm.
"Oh shoot! We're going to be late for the evening activity. I have to go check on my books! I'll see you later… uhmm?" Levy paused in her flailing to look back at the Alpha.
"Gajeel." He said as he watched her smile at learning his name.
"Gajeel? Well it was a pleasure to meet you. My name is Levy and I hope we can meet later so we can discuss Dragons. I've got to go so it's bye for now!"
Levy took off running as Gajeel once again watched her as she disappeared from his sight.
Lily chuckled and flew over to Gajeel to pat him on the shoulder in support.
"Looks like somebody made a friend~"
"Tch. This changes nothing. She's just some bookworm looking for information. Nothing more."
Gajeel swatted him away and sat on the bench where he could still smell Levy's scent.