Chapter 1:

Callie:

"Jay, shut up" I said. The cafe's bright florescent lights and the sun streaming through the glass did nothing to cover my blush. The muffled chattering of the surrounding people did nothing to stifle the words coming out of Jay's mouth.

"Why? I can you see you making googly eyes at him." he teased.

"I said shut up" I glared at him. I tried covering my hot cheeks with my hands, but that only made him laugh harder. We were enjoying our last days as humans together and Coffee seemed to always warm us up. Standing in line we were talking quietly, or at least I was trying to.

Jay's teasing was about how intent I seemed to be with the guy behind the counter. He had black hair that swept across his forehead and eyebrows and came down around his ears. His eyes were this bright, beautiful, yet guarded blue. And his skin was a caramel tan. He looked like he could be around my age, maybe a little bit older.

*Snap, snap*

Suddenly Jay's hand was in front of my face. I jerked back but Jay steadied me before I could bump into anyone. If I was to go to high school I would be a sophomore and Jay would be a junior. Were 16 and 17... I wonder how old the guy making coffee was exactly… Jay was about 6 foot and was really pretty good looking. He has short cropped black hair and striking green eyes. People have constantly asked him if he is, or would like to be, a model. His high cheek bones and square jaw definitely helped to make his face stand out. Often people would think we were going out because we always hung out together, but it wasn't like that. We were just really good friends. I mean I was friends with the whole pack but Jay was the one who helped me get through those long days when I first began to shift.

"Can I take your order?" they guy at the counter asked. His nametag said COLIN.

"Uh ya, I'll have a latte..." I said. I wanted to make eye contact but I got stuck staring at his beautiful, perfect smile.

"And I'll have a caramel macchiato" Jay said from behind.

"They'll be ready in a few minutes. What's the name for the order?"

"Ja..."

"Callie" I said quickly, before Jay could finish. I smiled as I watched his hand move to write the letters of my name.

We found a small table by the window to sit at while waiting. Without making it to obvious I sat so that I could peek glances over at Colin. The sun coming through the window felt really good. It wasn't super-hot but it wasn't cool enough so that Jay and I risked shifting either.

"So what was that about?" Jay asked once we sat down.

"I dunno. Maybe it was me going for him. Isn't that what you wanted me to do?" I asked smirking at him. He scowled at me but I could tell he was trying to hold back a grin.

"Ya know, your face is gonna end up sticking like that if you don't stop" I said, which caused him to grin. Just then I heard Colin call my name from the counter.

I walked over to the counter and he pushed the coffee cups over to me, but what I saw caused me to smile and I had to look up at him to see his face.

In my latte instead of the usual leaf deco there was a cute little wolf face and a paw. If only he knew the irony in that.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"I love it! You might say I have a special…connection… with wolves" I said, smiling mischievously.

"Ah, but don't we all?" he asked, grinning back. I thanked him for the coffee and made my way back to the table.

Jay looked at me then said "So, did you have fun flirting with the pretty boy?"

"Oh you're one to talk" I retaliated.

He looked over at my latte and I could see him studying it.

"Huh, cute" he mumbled but then concern crossed his face. He leaned in and whispered "You don't think he knows do you?"

I gave him one of my don't be ridiculous looks.

"How would he know Jay?" we sat there in silence, just thinking. I smiled sadly but before I could hide it Jay saw.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm just thinking about what a shame it is that Colin's human… and I'm not…"

"Oh…" Jay looked uncomfortable but eventually stopped acting so weird as we sat there talking. I went back to the counter to give the silver tray back that the coffee was on.

"Thanks for the latte!" I called out to Colin. He looked up from the espresso he was making, gave me a lopsided smile, and held up a finger telling me to wait. Jay stood by the door looking annoyed.

Once Colin finished he came over to me and grabbed the sharpie with one hand, then held out the other to me and said "May I?"

I smiled and held my hand out to him. He took it and wrote down his number. Once he was done he looked at me with a huge grin on his face, winked, and walked away.

When I walked back over to Jay he shook his head at me and together we exited the coffee shop.

It really was too bad that Colin was human and I was stuck as part of the Richfield pack as the warm summer air was fading.

Jay:

I wish I didn't like Callie, but it was hard not to. I mean most anyone would be attracted to her just by looking at her! She was beautiful! She had long brown hair that went down to the middle of her back. Her hair had natural red tints in it and the summer sun made it look copper. And her eyes were this beautiful light blue that sometimes even looked grey. And everything about her was just so amazing! Even looking at her as a wolf you wouldn't want to walk away. She was stunning even then. Her fur was this magnificent copper color that seemed too have gold tints in the sun and her eyes were exactly the same. They had the same color and held the same love and compassion as they did in her human form.

I just wish she would realize how I felt about her. I understand why she didn't though. We had been friends since the beginning. I was 11 and she had just turned 10. I still feel so guilty though. It's my fault she has this life. Has a life she despises.

I was in my wolf form. I was wandering around the woods and I didn't know where I was anymore. All I knew was that I had gone too far because I was on the edge of the woods and there were houses. I went to turn around when I heard someone laugh. I turned and there was this little girl who seemed to be my age running around in her backyard. She turned and spotted me then. She smiled and came closer. I didn't understand. I thought humans were supposed to fear us. But when she yelled out "Come here puppy" I understood. I wasn't as big as the rest of the pack yet, I was just a pup, and apparently I looked it too. She came over and started petting me. It felt so good so I decided to stay. We played around the whole day. We played fetch and I chased her around and it was so much fun. She came over and started rough-housing and we started rolling around on the ground. Caught up in the moment, I nipped her. I didn't know what my bite could do! It was already about the end of summer when it happened. When I came back the next day it was much colder. We played for a while but then she screamed and fell to the ground. Her parents weren't home and there was no one there to hear her scream except me, but I had no idea what was going on. I sat there whining and licking her face as she screamed in agony and clutched her head. Finally her body started convulsing and in what seemed like hours, she shifted. She stood there shivering and cowering, not knowing what was going on. I told her she would be ok, I would get her help. And then I took her to the pack leader, Sam.

I honestly don't think I'll ever stop feeling bad for doing this to her. She's said that it wasn't my fault and she's forgiven me but the problem is, I don't know if I can ever forgive Myself