One day Brandon was sitting at the giant wooden table inside of the library next to Jacob. The soft scent of leather bindings and wood mixing in with the heavy and captivating scent that Jacob had floating off of his hair and skin

To Brandon Jacob smelled of a strong combination of spices. A smile that made Brandon tingle from head to toe...and his skin flush with heat. Smelling Jacob, speaking to him....looking at him....It all felt good.

So For a long time Brandon sat next to Jacob, pretending to read, while he simply basked in that odd appealing smell while Jacob sat back in his seat.

One large hand was tucked behind his head, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow.

He appeared to be sleeping, and for a long time Brandon had simply stared over at him, watching him breath.

But....as much as watching Jacob mesmerized Brandon...he soon became bored. So, leaning out of his seat Brandon reached out and wrapped a small hand around Jacobs’s giant, hard left leg. Squeezing Jacobs knee and shaking it softly to awaken the man Brandon called out.

“Jacob? Jacob?” Brandon softly called

With a soft exhale Jacobs eyes sprang open. A small flash of light danced across Jacobs gaze as he awoke from sleep, in a matter of seconds. Jacobs eyes fluttered down and back up, and the yellow glow was gone as if it had been a dream.

Releasing a small growl Jacob looked over at Brandon and smiled. “Yes, Lil One?” he asked.

IT was not the first time that Brandon had seen that light...or the first time he had herd Jacob growl.

With a sudden and languid stretch of his arms above his head Jacob moved in his seat and tilted his head to Brandon.

Brandon looked back at him, loving the fact that Jacob was speaking to him.

“Jacob...?” Brandon started on a sudden question. “Um...why do your eyes change colors?”

Jacob sighed and scratched the back of his head “Because I’m not a human. I’m a Shifter, basically I’m a supernatural being. A Lion inside of a human’s body.” He explained.

“Lion Shifter?” Brandon repeated. Speaking the unfamiliar term for the first time. An image of a large orange and red beast flashed inside of his mind

“Yes...Lil One.” Jacob acknowledged, then he smiled and said. “I’m a Lion. A giant cat. I’m really strong and fast...and I growl claws and fangs.”

Brandon tilted his head, as a new question suddenly popped into his head completely brushing aside what Jacob had just told him.

This new question came to him whenever Jacob called him Lil One instead of Brandon...which the man did very often.

“Jacob...why do you call me Lil one?” Brandon softly inquired.

Instead of answering the question Jacobs black eyes turned away and he chuckled. “Why do you ask?” He said reversing the question. “Don’t you like being called Lil one?

Brandon paused and furiously nodded his head, making his hair dance across his eyes.

“Yes!” Brandon told him happily, then shrugged a shoulder. “But most of the time you don’t use my name....or Nora’s name.” Brandon softly pointed out, glancing over at Jacob from his seat. “You call her Acolyte or beautiful or sweet heart or.....”

Jacob cut him off with a small chuckle.

“They are just nick names Brandon.” Jacob said next, turning away from the table completely, and leaning on his chairs arm so that his face and upper body were facing Brandon.

“Nick names?” Brandon repeated, also trying this new word out on his tongue slowly.

“Nick names are shortened versions of a longer word.” Jacob quickly explained. Then a cool smirk touched his lips and he pointed at Brandon. “Why don’t you try to give me one?” He suddenly proposed.

“Ummm.... “Brandon began, putting a small hand to his head in concentration. It seemed to take him a long time, but when he did finally settle on a name....it was if it sprang from somewhere deep within. Somewhere in the back of his mind and heart.

“Ja...” He cried suddenly dropping his hand as the name fell from his lips. Brandon couldn’t have explained why, but saying that small word felt natural and right to him. Familiar....just like Jacob.

“Ja!? What about Ja?!” he cried louder looking at Jacob to see if he would like the nickname that Brandon had chosen for him.

Jacob froze, and a small spark of pain lit in his eyes, before he unfroze, cleared his throat and cast Brandon a small smile.

“Ja?” He mused softly. His black eyes shining slightly. “Very good! From now on my Nick name will be Ja...Okay?” he requested.

Over joyed to receive his praise Brandon out small hands over his mouth and giggled into them.

“Okay Ja!” he cried cheerfully. Jacob smiled back and after that he and Brandon returned to their reading and words.

Soon enough the hours had melted away....and it was time for Brandon to return to his room with Nora.

“Good night Lil One.” Jacob told him when Nora came to collect him from the library. Jacob petted him on the head and soon enough Brandon was walking behind Nora on his way to bed.