Chapter 3 - Justin

I hate losing my cool. I'm usually the calm and rational one in any given situation, and the fact that I blew up at that girl so easily has been eating at me all day. I shouldn't have gotten so angry. Especially not before I knew all the facts.

I'd cornered her and accused her of things she didn't do, and I can't blame her for being furious. I didn't even take the time to confront the waitress who actually got nasty with my dogs. After Calista went back inside, I hurried back to the store because I was so thrown off. Then, I spent the rest of the day obsessing over whether or not I'd fucked everything up for her and gotten her fired.

So, as I glance over my menu and fix my eyes on her as she rushes into the kitchen, I can't help but feel relieved. She's still here. Maybe this'll be the chance I need to make things right.

She scampers back out into the dining room and checks in on another table. As I watch her, a waitress passes by, murmuring, "Callie, table six needs more napkins."

Callie. It suits her.

As she works, it's clear she has no intention of acknowledging my presence, so I suck it up and go to her. As I approach, I try to summon my most charming smile.

"Hey there, Callie," I greet her, trying to keep my tone light. "Mind if we have a quick chat?"

She pauses mid-step, turning to face me with a wary expression. "Do you need something? I'm sure your waitress will be with you shortly, but I can get you something to drink if you─"

"No, no." I clear my throat, suddenly feeling like I've walked into a lion's den. "Listen, about earlier..." I trail off as I search for the right words.

"It's fine," she says, surprising me with her casual tone. "Water under the bridge."

I raise an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by her easy acceptance. "Are you sure? I didn't mean to come off so... aggressive."

She shrugs and says, "It's forgotten."

I pause, watching her for a moment. She's clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Are you from around here?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No. I'm sorry, but I really do have tables I need to get to. Are you sure I can't bring you anything while you wait for your server?"

I hold up my hands, surrendering. "Yeah, sorry. I'm fine. I just wanted to apologize. It's my fault that things got a bit heated."

"Look, it's no big deal," she insists. "Really, I'm just glad we can both move on from this."

"Fair enough. Well, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," I offer. "I'm Justin, by the way. I own the pet store next door."

"Nice to meet you," she says with a small smile before excusing herself to attend to her tables.

Returning to my booth, I settle back into my seat. I pick up my menu again, but my attention keeps drifting back to Callie.

Who is she, really? And why is she working in this small-town diner? There's something about her that piques my curiosity.

I place my order, and as I wait for it, I discreetly observe Callie as she moves between the tables. She's efficient and doesn't waste any time. The way she interacts with her customers is natural, and the way she carries herself is poised, but also cautious. She's still a bit unsure of herself, and she's constantly looking over her shoulder as though she's on the lookout for potential threats.

Is she hiding something? Is that why she's here?

She's so different from the other wolves in this town. There are a few loners who like to keep to themselves, but for the most part, the shifters in the area belong to my pack. We've built our community together, and we've got a lot of history. It's rare to find a newcomer like Callie.

Especially one so guarded.

"Here you are, Justin," my waitress says as she places my order on the table. "Can I get you anything else?"

I shake my head, smiling politely. I've been coming here long enough to know that asking for extra butter for the mashed potatoes is a bit of a lost cause. "Thanks, that's all."

The waitress, a woman named Janice, is nice enough. She's a local and this is her second job, her first being a teacher at the local elementary school.

"How are the dogs?" Janice asks.

I smile at the mention of Stormy and Snow. "They're good. Thanks for asking."

"I heard there was a bit of a hiccup with them today. We have a couple of new girls, but I made sure they both know those dogs are like our little mascots. There shouldn't be any more issues."

"Thanks," I reply with a grateful nod.

Janice smiles and heads off to another table. I take my time eating, using the opportunity to continue watching Callie. When a kid knocks over a cup and it crashes to the floor, I don't miss the way she jumps at the sudden sound and the brief glimpse of fear on her face. Yeah. She's definitely hiding from something. Or someone.

I polish off the last of my meal and take my time nursing my drink, waiting for the place to empty. One by one, the customers and most of the employees leave. When it's just Callie and Janice left, I decide it's time to satisfy my growing curiosity. I push aside my empty plate and signal for Janice to bring me the check.

Once Janice has taken care of the bill, I catch Callie's eye as she passes by my booth. "Mind if I ask you a few questions, Callie?" I inquire, trying to sound as friendly as possible. I don't want this to feel like an interrogation, but I have a pack to look after.

She hesitates, glancing around the nearly empty diner before nodding reluctantly. "I suppose so."

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table as she takes a seat across from me. "Well, for starters, you mentioned you're not from around here. Where are you from?"

"Just passing through, you know? I'm looking for a quiet town to settle in for a while." She shifts in her seat.

"And you don't have any family or pack you're traveling with?"

Callie shakes her head. "No, just me. I prefer to keep to myself."

It's not easy being a lone wolf, especially in a town like Stardust Hollow where everyone knows everyone else. But there's something about Callie's story that doesn't quite add up. She seems too on edge to be a loner. If she's used to being alone, she wouldn't be so jumpy.

"Must get lonely," I comment casually.

She shrugs, but I catch the flicker of sadness in her eyes. "I manage."

I decide to change tactics, sensing that she's not going to open up easily. "Listen, Callie, I know we got off on the wrong foot earlier, and I just wanted to apologize again. I didn't mean to come off so strong. It's just... those dogs mean a lot to me, you know?"

"I get it. No hard feelings."

"Good," I say with a nod.

Callie glances at the clock on the wall. "Is there anything else you need? I should probably start closing up soon." She glances around the emptying diner as if eager to end this inquiry.

"You know, we've got a pretty tight-knit pack around here. If you ever feel like you need some company or just want to meet some new faces, you'd be more than welcome. I'd be happy to introduce you."

"That's all right. I'm good," she says, and I can hear the defensiveness in her voice. "Thanks, though."

I nod, trying not to let my disappointment show. "No problem. The offer stands, though. We're a friendly bunch."

She doesn't respond before she stands up again and goes back to work, clearing empty dishes and bussing tables. With a sigh, I pull out my wallet and leave enough cash on the table to cover my meal and a generous tip for Janice.

I can't explain it, but I feel some strange sense of protectiveness over Callie. There's something about her solitary nature that makes me want to keep an eye on her. Something that makes me want to ensure she's safe. Maybe it's because she's so guarded. Maybe it's because I can sense there's more to her story than she wants me to see. Whatever it is, I can't shake the feeling that something is off about her.

And I've learned over the years to trust my instincts.

So, when I leave the diner, I sit in my truck and wait until I see her leave for the night and get into her car. Once she pulls out of the parking lot, I hang back, giving her a head start before I follow at a discreet distance. Stardust Hollow is a small town, and the roads are mostly straight. It's not hard to keep her in sight.

We reach a quiet wooded area on the outskirts of town, and her car turns into a small cabin with a short gravel driveway. It's a quaint little place with a wraparound porch and a chimney poking out of the roof. This place is remote, a lot like where I grew up. I remember seeing an advertisement in the town's bulletin a few weeks ago that the owners were looking for a tenant. Callie must be renting the place.

There are no other vehicles in the driveway, and I don't see any signs of life around the house. I guess she was telling the truth. She's out here alone.

As she unlocks the door and disappears inside, I linger in the shadows, torn between my desire to know more about her and my growing sense of guilt for intruding on her privacy. I feel like a stalker, and I guess I technically am, but I tell myself that I'm just trying to look out for her. A young girl as pretty as she is living out in the woods all alone? That's just asking for trouble.

Still, a nagging voice in the back of my mind is telling me to mind my own business. If she wanted me to know more about her, she would've told me. I wait for a few minutes before I drive off and head home. The entire way, all I can think about is Callie and the mystery surrounding her. Something tells me this girl isn't what she seems.

She's a shifter. A lone wolf. But how did she come here? Why is she so guarded? What's she hiding?

I can't stop wondering.

I want to know her secrets, but a small, insistent voice inside me whispers that it's a dangerous game.