Volunteering for Spellbound Corp’s new Residential Pilot Program was supposed to make Mateo’s life easier.

Instead, between a demanding cyber security job, chaotic roommates, and sleepless nights, he’s more stressed than ever.

Then he meets Dax.

Sweet, earnest, and always showing up when Mateo needs him most, the kraken researcher quickly becomes Mateo’s favorite part of the day. Mateo never intended to rely on anyone, but it’s hard to resist someone offering support, massages, fried chicken, and a safe place to land when life gets overwhelming.

For Dax, falling for Mateo is easy.

The problem is that Dax already knows something Mateo doesn’t.

Krakens recognize their mates at first touch, and the moment Dax met the exhausted human, he knew they’d found each other.

Now he just has to figure out when to tell Mateo the truth.

After all, when is the right time to tell someone they’re your mate?