Chapter 4 - Callie

Another day at the diner, and I'm the picture of calm—except for the part of me that's always scanning the room, always ready to bolt. I've mastered the art of small talk with the locals and have even developed a routine for getting through my shifts without making a complete fool of myself. Another day at the diner, and I'm the picture of calm—except for the part of me that's always scanning the room, always ready to bolt. I've mastered the art of small talk with the locals and have even developed a routine for getting through my shifts without making a complete fool of myself. As I make my rounds, refilling coffee cups and flashing polite smiles, I look at my customers with a new eye.

Ever since meeting Justin and becoming aware that there were other shifters in the area, my perception has shifted. I just wish it was easier to sniff out the wolves. I'd feel better knowing who was what, but with the constant smell of coffee and greasy food in the air, it's next to impossible to discern the shifters from the humans.

Some of them definitely have an aura about them, a certain energy that hints at something more than meets the eye.

Take Justin, for example. He's the owner of the pet store next door, and there's something about him that sets my instincts on edge. Maybe it's the way he carries himself, like he's always assessing his surroundings, or maybe it's the lingering curiosity in his eyes whenever he looks at me. Whatever it is, I've grown more and more aware of his presence around the diner over the past couple of days.

It's unnerving.

But I push those thoughts aside as I focus on my tasks, keeping my guard up and my secrets locked away. The last thing I need is to attract unwanted attention, especially from someone like Justin. He may be friendly enough, but I've learned the hard way that trust shouldn't come easy. So, I stick to my routine, serving up plates of pancakes and cups of steaming hot coffee for minimum wage and crappy tips.

My inner wolf behaves herself. She hasn't so much as whispered a word since her outburst outside the diner a few days ago. It's a relief. The last thing I need is another incident like that, especially not one that could potentially expose us to the whole town. The problem is, as wound up as I am, I'm not sure I'm capable of holding her back if push comes to shove. But as long as she doesn't detect a threat, we should be safe.

As the evening wears on, I help a few more customers, flashing my practiced smiles and making small talk as I refill coffee cups and clear empty plates. It's a simple enough task, but I find myself enjoying the repetition. The work is easy enough, and the customers are friendly. The monotony of this job helps keep my mind busy, and right now, that's exactly what I need.

Finally, the last few patrons finish their meals and trickle out the door, leaving the diner quiet and empty. With a sigh of relief, I start closing up for the night, wiping down tables and stacking chairs as I go. The routine is comforting, grounding me in the familiar tasks as I work to tidy up the space. Once everything is in order, I make my way to the front door, flipping the sign to "Closed" before turning the key in the lock.

I'm about to clock out when Mrs. Henderson walks in, and her brows are knitted together in that trademark scowl.

"Callista, the bathrooms need cleaning," she instructs as she hands me the dirty cleaning supplies.

"Sure, no problem," I reply. "I'll get right on it."

With a curt nod, she walks off.

I make quick work of the task, wiping down the sinks and countertops, but as I pass by the large mirror on the wall, my reflection catches my eye. It's not the first time I've stopped and stared at myself as of late. After everything I've been through lately, I don't even recognize myself anymore. I had to dye my hair brown to throw off people who might be looking for me, and I've lost a ton of weight from the stress of being on the run. Maybe one day, life will get back to normal, and I won't have to hide anymore, but I'm not holding my breath. Chaos is my new normal, whether I like it or not.

Once I'm done cleaning the bathroom, I toss the cleaning supplies back in the supply closet before heading to the kitchen to clock out. "See you tomorrow, Mrs. Henderson," I say to my boss.

She nods and doesn't look up from her crossword puzzle as she waves me off.

I grab my jacket and wave goodbye to Janice, the only other person still working tonight, before I head for my car parked out front. As I walk to my car, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and a sense of unease settles over me like a heavy blanket. The familiar feeling of being watched makes me shudder. Instinctively, I quicken my pace, and every nerve in my body tingles with apprehension.

I hear something scurry behind me, and I whirl around to confront whatever idiot thinks it’s a grand idea to sneak up on a shifter in the dark. I deflate in an instant when I see a small, scruffy puppy trailing behind me. Its fur is matted and dirty, and it limps a bit as it follows.

"Well, hello there, little one," I say softly, crouching down to the puppy's level. It looks up at me with big, pleading eyes, its tail wagging eagerly.

I reach out a hand, and the puppy nuzzles against it, seeking warmth and comfort. My heart melts at the sight, and I can't help but smile.

"Where did you come from, huh?" I murmur, scooping the puppy up into my arms. It wriggles with excitement, licking my face and covering my skin in slobber.

I glance around, searching for any signs of the puppy's owner, but the streets are deserted, and there's no one in sight.

"Well, it looks like it's just you and me, buddy," I say. "Guess you're coming home with me tonight. We'll get you checked for a chip in the morning."

With the puppy cradled in my arms, I unlock my car and carefully place the puppy onto the passenger seat. It snuggles up against me, resting its chin on my lap, already starting to doze off. I stroke the soft fur on its head as I pull out of the parking lot and head home.

***

The next day, I make my way to the local animal shelter to see if anyone has reported my new friend missing and check if he has a microchip implanted. The little guy slept like a rock all night, only waking up occasionally to give me a few licks before dozing off again. I've grown quite attached to him already, and if I'm being honest, it was nice sharing my bed with someone for a change. Even if that someone was covered in hair and drooled in his sleep.

As I step into the shelter, a friendly-faced woman behind the front desk looks up with a big smile. "Good morning! How can I help you today?"

"I found this little guy wandering around last night," I explain, holding him up for her to see. "I was hoping you could scan him for a microchip to see if he belongs to anyone."

"Absolutely. Let's have a look."

The puppy snuggles closer into me, and I run my fingers through his soft fur. "This little guy sure is friendly," I remark.

"Oh, he's a sweetheart," the woman coos as she scans the puppy's body with a handheld device. "But it looks like there's no chip. Unfortunately, that means he doesn't have a registered owner, and we haven't gotten any reports lately that fit his description. "

I sigh, feeling a pang of disappointment. I had hoped the puppy would have a family missing him, but it looks like he's all on his own. "That's too bad," I reply.

"Well, maybe he's a stray," the woman suggests.

"What's the procedure for you guys taking him in and finding him a nice family?"

"We can definitely make some room for him, but I'm worried it may be a while before he finds someone to take him home. Looks like he's a Great Dane mix, so he's going to end up fairly big. The larger breeds are more difficult to adopt, plus we're really overcrowded right now. It's kitten and puppy season, and we're struggling to find homes for all these little ones."

I nod, trying to hold back the tears that sting my eyes. Poor pup. He's a great dog, and the last thing he deserves is to be alone in the world. "That's awful."

"We're doing everything we can, but there are just too many animals and not enough adopters. I don't suppose you have some room at your place for him?" the woman asks, her voice hopeful. "He sure seems to have taken a liking to you already."

I chew on my lip, weighing my options. He does seem to have already formed a bond with me, and I can't bear the thought of abandoning him now. But can I really take on the responsibility of caring for a puppy?

Before I can make up my mind, he lets out a soft whimper, nudging my hand with his nose. It's as if he knows what's at stake, pleading with me without saying a word.

"I'll take him," I say suddenly, surprising even myself with the decisiveness of my words. "I can't just abandon him when he needs me. Do I need to fill out paperwork or anything?"

The woman's face lights up, and she nods eagerly. "That's fantastic news! I'm sure you two will be very happy together. Since he hasn't technically been brought onto our roster, we don't need to fill out any paperwork."

"What are you going to name the little guy? He's sure got a lot of personality!"

I think about it for a moment, holding him up to inspect the puppy's face as he licks my chin. "I'll call him Champ," I say, and he barks excitedly, as if he approves of the name. I grin and hold him against my chest again. "Guess we need to pick up some supplies. He'll need a proper collar and some food. "

"There's a pet shop in town," she reminds me. "One of the shelter's employees owns it. Pawsitively Purr-fect."

"That's right," I muse, remembering Justin's shop right up the strip from the diner. I'm not looking forward to seeing him again, but the puppy needs his supplies. "Thanks," I say with a nod, and I head for the door. Champ wags his tail, eager to get on the move.

"See you later, Champ," the woman calls as we leave.

As I step into Pawsitively Purr-fect, Champ squirms in my arms, but without a leash, I can't set him down. The bell jingles above the door, and I catch a glimpse of Justin behind the counter, his eyes widening in surprise as he sees me.

"Hey there," he says, flashing me a friendly smile. "What can I do for you today?"

I shift Champ in my arms, feeling a little self-conscious under Justin's gaze. "Hey," I reply, trying to sound casual. "I, uh... unexpectedly ended up with a new housemate. A stray. I need to pick up some supplies for him."

Justin's eyes light up at the sight of Champ. "Oh, he's adorable! Congratulations on the new addition to your family."

"Thanks," I say, trying to keep the heat from rising in my cheeks.

"You can set him down if you want."

"I don't really know how well he plays with other dogs," I admit. "I haven't had a chance to test it out."

He waves me off and takes Champ from my arms, placing him on the floor. "Only one way to find out. My dogs are probably the best guinea pigs around. Let's see what happens."

Champ bounds off in a few different directions, sniffing everything he can get his nose on, and it isn't long before he comes running back to Justin and starts tugging on his pant leg. Two German shepherds appear from the back room, and I tense for a moment before the smallest one approaches Champ, sniffing him and then licking his face.

"Looks like they're getting along just fine," Justin remarks.

I bite my lip, trying not to grin. "Looks like it."

"What supplies do you need? Happy to help you find them."

"Thanks. I'm not really sure what I need, though. I've never owned a dog before."

Justin's smile widens, and he nods understandingly. "No problem. I can help you out with that. Let's start with the basics—food, a bed, some toys..."

As Justin begins to gather supplies for Champ, he's so cheerful and helpful that I can hardly believe this is the same grumpy man who accosted me on the street the other day. He's being so helpful and kind, and it makes me feel guilty for the way I treated him. He was just trying to protect his dogs, and it wasn't his fault that he mistook me for a threat.

After a few minutes of browsing the aisles, Justin returns with an armful of goodies for Champ. "Here we go," he says, setting the items on the counter. "I picked out some high-quality food for him, a cozy bed, and a few toys to keep him entertained. You'll also need a collar and leash."

I glance at the items on the counter, feeling overwhelmed. "Wow, that's a lot of stuff. Are you sure I need all of this?"

Justin nods. "Trust me, you'll thank me later. Having the right supplies will make life a lot easier for both of you."

"If you say so."

"Listen, I know this can be overwhelming, especially if you've never had a dog before," he says gently. "But I'd be happy to help you out. I could swing by your place later and help you set everything up, show you the ropes. You're definitely going to need to puppy-proof the house. At his age, they'll get into anything and everything. What do you say?"

I hesitate, torn between accepting Justin's offer and maintaining my independence. On one hand, I could definitely use the help, but on the other, I don't want to owe him anything. In my experience, nothing good comes from getting too close to others, especially not other shifters.

"I appreciate the offer, Justin, but I think I'll manage," I say, mustering a smile. "Thanks for all your help today, though. I'll make sure Champ gets settled in just fine."

Justin's smile falters for a moment, but he quickly recovers. "Of course. If you change your mind, though, you know where to find me. In fact..."

He scribbles his number on a piece of paper and hands it to me, and I tuck it into my pocket with a nod of gratitude. "Thanks, Justin. I really appreciate it."

After I pay, I attach Champ's new collar and leash before gathering the supplies and heading for the door. I don't miss the way Justin's gaze follows me, lingering on my backside as I push open the door. "Anytime, Callie," he calls after me.

I offer him a small wave before stepping out into the sunlight with Champ happily trotting beside me. As I make my way back to my car, I have a sneaking suspicion that Justin's offer of help might be more than just about Champ. He was certainly checking me out. If things were different and I wasn't hiding from my past, maybe I’d consider pursuing something with him. He's cute and charming, and he's clearly interested in me.

But right now, I don't have the luxury of worrying about a man. Especially not another shifter. I have enough on my plate with trying to make a new life for myself in this small town. Adding a romantic entanglement to the mix would only make things more complicated.