Chapter 1
Since turning sixteen, solitude has been my constant companion. My family banishes me, sending me away for reasons I never truly grasp. I always strive to be a caring daughter, excel at my studies, and maintain strong friendships. Yet, on my sixteenth birthday, my father meets my gaze just once, and that seals my fate.
He hands me a thousand dollars, instructs me to fill a single bag with my belongings, and warns me that returning to the pack would mean certain death. The reasons behind their decision elude me. Werewolves are supposed to support one another, particularly when humans find sport in hunting us.
Despite being the daughter they could have been proud of, something about me must be unforgivable, though no one ever clarifies my supposed crime. There is no explanation, only exile. Rather than marking my sixteenth year surrounded by laughter, decorations, and friends, I stand alone at a bus stop, tears slipping down my cheeks in silence.
Almost five years have slipped by since that moment, and I, Charlotte Brown, have mastered the art of solitude. With the money my father gave me, I journey to a distant city, choosing a place untouched by wolf packs, and find ways to make ends meet.
Now, a week before I turn twenty-one, I lie in bed, reluctant to face the day. Rain is in the forecast, and I feel weighed down and sluggish. If I could, I would simply remain under the covers, hoping for sunlight to break through.
Eventually, duty calls; I must prepare for work, as missing a shift would cost me income I desperately need. Moving slowly, I sit up and begin my morning routine. My apartment may be small, but it’s cozy.
The bed doubles as my couch in the shared living area, while the kitchen and bathroom have their own nooks. Inviting people over would embarrass me because of the size, but that hardly matters when I
have no one to invite.
C
I go about my usual tasks, securing my apron and tying my hair back. The room seems gloomier than normal, so I draw back the curtains, exposing a sky heavy with rain clouds. Although the downpour
hasn’t started, the threat hangs in the air.
I slip an umbrella into my backpack, pull on a light jacket, and step outside. My reluctance to leave bed puts me behind schedule, so I know I’ll have to hurry on my way to work.
Descending the stairs two at a time, I push open the main door and am met by a blast of chilly air- autumn has finally arrived. My home is on the third floor of an aging apartment building, which can be tiring to climb after a long day, but it suits my budget and lets me walk to work, keeping transportation expenses low.
Half running, I make my way to the coffee shop where I’m employed, worried I might not make it on time. My manager likely wouldn’t mind my occasional tardiness, as I’m usually early, but I cannot shake the anxiety that comes with the thought of being even slightly late; the drive to be flawless
consumes me.
I dart through the narrow alley and head straight for the staff entrance. The door is already open, indicating someone else has arrived ahead of me. I slip inside quickly, but my pace slows as I approach the breakroom.
My chest burns a bit, but I do my best to regulate my breathing so it appears normal. I don’t want
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anyone to realize that I’m slightly winded. Reaching my locker, I focus on steadying my breath while stowing my jacket and bag inside.
“You know, there’s no need to sprint to work every single time,” Sophia remarks from directly behind me, causing me to startle. Sophia manages the coffee shop and owns it as well. She’s the only person who sometimes beats me to the shop. Usually, it’s a fifty-fifty chance as to who arrives first.
“I have no idea what you mean.” My words still sound a bit tight. The chilly air outside hasn’t made it any easier for me to catch my breath.
“Alright, sweetheart. If you want to act like you didn’t rush over here, I won’t argue, but we both know the reality.” Sophia heads off toward her office.
A small grin tugs at my lips. Nearly three years have passed since I started working here, and Sophia understands me well. She’s also learned not to press me about things like this. After shutting my locker, I make my way toward the main area of the shop. “I’m going to start on the prep work,” I shout over to Sophia.
“Sounds good, hon. I’ll have the others help out once they get here.” Her reply comes, slightly muffled, from her office.
I walk to the front and begin lowering the chairs from the tabletops, arranging them neatly where they belong. A quick glance at my watch tells me we have just about twenty minutes before the morning rush begins, and people come seeking their caffeine fix. After preparing all the tables, I flip on the machines, and that’s when I pick up voices drifting from the breakroom.
“How does she manage to get here early every single day? It makes no sense.”
“That’s what happens when you don’t have a social life.”
Hearing my coworkers’ words causes my spirits to drop. I’ve always known they weren’t fond of me, but it still stings to overhear their comments. I rest against the counter for a moment, taking a long breath.
I can’t let them see me without my usual smile when they join me. Showing any sign of exhaustion would only give them more reason to talk. I have to maintain the image of the ideal employee, or risk fueling their gossip even further.
Helen and Elsa stroll in, moving at a leisurely pace. We’re down to just ten minutes before the onslaught of orders and hurried customers begins, but they act unconcerned.
“Helen, would you mind setting out the cream and sugar? And Elsa, could you start brewing the dark and medium roasts?” I always assign the morning tasks; otherwise, Helen and Elsa never actually get started.
Maybe that’s why they’re not big fans of mine. They prefer chatting about the attractive guys in their classes. Both are first-year college students, still inexperienced with the real world. Their parents cover all their expenses, so this job is just for “life experience.”
“Of course.” Helen sighs and rolls her eyes as she begins, though I act like I don’t notice. Technically, I’m not their supervisor, but fortunately, they still follow my lead.
With two minutes left before opening, Sophia steps out of her office, the keys to the front door jingling in her hand. “Are you ready, ladies?”
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“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Elsa replies, smoothing out her apron.
I respond with a nod and put on my brightest customer service grin, though today it feels more forced than usual. Sophia unlocks the doors and welcomes the line of waiting customers inside. The daily
rush is about to start.
Customers stream in nonstop, leaving us hardly a second to catch our breath. By 10:30 am, exhaustion threatens to overwhelm me. Even Sophia jumps in behind the counter to help prepare drinks and take orders, given how hectic it gets.
When the pace finally begins to slow, I seize the chance to slip away to the bathroom. After finishing up, I stand at the sink and finally catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
My eyes look hollow, and my skin is paler than I remember. Am I coming down with something? I never get sick, but I certainly don’t look healthy. I splash cold water on my face and brace myself to tackle the remainder of my shift. Calling out isn’t an option.
As I step out of the restroom, I catch Helen and Elsa quietly whispering to each other behind the
counter.
“Did you notice his eyes?”
Helen murmurs, glancing toward a table.
“I know, right? I wouldn’t mind if those eyes looked into mine while he-”
I clear my throat as I approach the counter. Discussing customers like that isn’t acceptable. My arrival has its intended effect-they immediately fall silent and shoot me a glare.
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“She’s such a buzzkill,” Helen mutters under her breath. They don’t realize that I hear everything, no matter how quietly they whisper. It’s one of the side effects of being a wolf. Sometimes, though, I wish my sharp senses didn’t pick up every word. It stings occasionally.
I snatch a towel and start cleaning up some spills on the counter while I wait for the next customer. Elsa finishes up a drink and calls out, “Elijah!” She places the cup at the pickup station and lingers there longer than usual. Is this the guy they were gossiping about?
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I glance over as the man approaches the counter. My heart jolts when his intense blue eyes lock with mine. I can’t tear my gaze away as he stares straight at me. He grabs his drink without responding to Elsa’s attempts at conversation. He also leaves the napkin with Elsa’s phone number untouched.
“No thanks,” he says, his voice resonating deeper than I expect, leaving me frozen in place.
His gaze still locks onto mine as he lifts his glass and drinks. I find myself unable to look away. There’s something otherworldly about him-he’s not just a man. He’s a werewolf, and his presence is absolutely overpowering. I’ve never encountered another wolf who radiates this much authority. He must be an alpha, and a formidable one at that. I’m barely able to breathe.
“Charlotte? Charlotte?” Sophia waves her hand in front of me, finally snapping me back to reality.
I catch the wolf’s low laughter, which unsettles me. Finally, I tear my eyes away and turn toward Sophia. “Huh? Sorry. What did you say?”
Sophia narrows her eyes at me. “Could you step into my office for a moment?”
“Yeah, of course.”
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Damn. She must have noticed me gawking at a customer, and now I’m probably in for a reprimand. What’s wrong with me?
I trail after her into the office, but I can sense the man’s eyes tracking me as I leave. The sensation sends a chill down my spine. He probably senses I’m a wolf too. I just hope he’ll keep his distance.
Sophia closes the office door once I’m inside. Suddenly, I’m acutely aware of my predicament, and my heart hammers in my chest. I dread being in trouble.
“Take a seat, please.” Sophia gestures to the chair in front of her desk.
I sit down right away and begin fidgeting with my nails. Breathing feels difficult. “I’m sorry, Sophia.” I start to explain, but she interrupts me.
“Sorry for what?” She furrows her brow in confusion, then her eyes widen. “For staring at that handsome guy? Relax, it’s not a crime to admire someone good-looking now and then.” She chuckles softly.
I manage a small, somewhat uneasy smile, relieved but still anxious. Sweat is starting to dot my forehead. Has her office always been this warm? “So, um, if I’m not in trouble, what did you want to discuss?”
“You’ve been with me for quite some time now-almost three years, if I’m not mistaken. Throughout, you’ve been an outstanding employee. I think it’s time your title reflects your contributions.” A wide smile appears on her face.
My breaths grow shallow, and I struggle to focus on her words. “So you mean…?”
“I want to promote you to store manager. You’ll get your own set of keys, and you’ll be able to open or close up on your own. Naturally, this comes with a raise and some new duties.” She pauses, waiting to see how I’ll react.
“That’s wonderful news.” My response comes out flat, despite how significant it is. With this promotion, I won’t need to exhaust myself with extra shifts. I’ll earn more, and maybe I could even afford a nicer apartment.
“Are you alright?” Sophia’s smile fades with concern.
“I’m okay.” I can’t even force a proper smile. My limbs feel weak, and my stomach is starting to twist itself into knots.
“You don’t seem well. It’s best if you head home. We can revisit this topic once you’re feeling up to it.” The worry in her tone is unmistakable.
“I can’t leave. I’m on the schedule for a double shift,” I reply, feeling my pulse quicken. “I really need the paycheck.”
“I need my staff to be healthy,” Sophia responds firmly. “Go home. Your well-being matters more at the moment.”
I rise, ready to object, but the floor seems to shift beneath me. “Maybe you have a point.” The idea of going home doesn’t appeal to me. Since I started, I haven’t taken a single sick day.
My wolf heritage gives me an almost unbeatable immune system-I just don’t get ill, so something must be wrong. I steady myself with a deep inhale. “Let Elsa know to-”
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“I can manage my cafe, thank you,” Sophia interrupts with a chuckle. “Don’t stress, I’m perfectly capable of keeping an eye on the kids. Just go home and rest.”
I agree with a nod. I’ll need my strength just to make the walk home. Leaving her office, I find myself subconsciously scanning for the wolf, though I’m not sure why. He’s nowhere in sight, which makes my chest tighten a bit.
Of course, he wouldn’t linger. Other werewolves always kept their distance from me, and that’s probably for the best. I head toward the break room to collect my things, skipping my jacket because my skin feels feverish.
As I push open the door into the alley, the crisp autumn air hits me, and for a second, I can finally breathe. I mop the sweat from my forehead, surprised at how much there is-I hadn’t even noticed how clammy I’d become. It’s as if I just stepped out of an oven.
“Are you all right?” a low voice calls from the far end of the alley.
I glance over and spot those familiar intense eyes. My heart pounds harder. Who is this guy, and why is he here? I had hoped he’d disappear, yet his presence brings a strange sense of relief. I stare at him without blinking.
He advances by a few steps, his movements deliberate and careful. “You really don’t look okay. Maybe you should sit for a minute?”
“I’m all right,” I finally get out, my voice shaky. I try to move ahead, but another dizzy spell hits.
In an instant, he catches my arm to steady me. My nerves explode with sensation, making it hard to catch my breath.
“You’re definitely not okay. You need to sit down,” he says in a smooth, gentle tone.
I yank my arm away. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you don’t need to worry about me.” Being around another wolf feels strange now, and I don’t appreciate him touching me. Determined to leave, I start past him down the alley toward home.
A drop of water lands on my cheek, making me stop and glance up. The sky has threatened rain all day, and, of course, it chooses now to let loose, just as I’m heading home.
As the rain intensifies, I realize I should keep moving. I take another step, but dizziness overtakes me. I reach out, bracing myself against the wall as darkness creeps in and the world begins to spiral away.
