Chapter 1
"Klaus?"
I took the take away tea cup from the girl behind the counter, who was being entirely too obvious, with a nod and small salute with the cup. I'd been to café's that asked for your name, but as the only patron in the place, I knew what was really going on, and it wasn't going to happen. I sat at one of the small tables outside to watch a woman to whom I would happily give my time.
I came to this spot every day. It had a perfect view into the little bookstore across the street. It looked warm and welcoming, as if someone's grandmother opened the store every morning and locked up every night. It wasn't the store that had brought me here every morning for here past week though, it was the gorgeous woman who worked there. Tall and blonde, with a smile who's warmth shone through the large windows of the store and across the street. In a word, she was lovely, and I hadn't even met her yet.
In fact, I hadn't met much of any one since I stopped in this town two weeks ago. Just the kind older couple who owned the motel I'd rented a room from, the gentleman at the art supply store I'd ordered canvases from, and the girl from the café who, unfortunately, now had my name. I spent the full moon in my room, sketching, one of the things I had missed most being in my wolf form for so long. I wanted to keep a low profile for a bit, try to fit in as a human before I threw being an alpha wolf into the mix.
There was a "Help Wanted" sign in the window that hadn't been there the day before. Perfect, I now had a reason, not only to meet her, but if I was lucky, see her regularly. I tossed my empty cup in the trash and walked across the street into the store. The first thing I noticed was the smell of old books and tea, it was oddly comforting. The second thing was that there were books and boxes all over the floor.
"Hello there! Is there anything I can help you find?" Her voice … I wanted to close my eyes and savor it, so beautiful.
"Just having a look around Love. I'm new in town, exploring a little is all… and I may have noticed the "Help Wanted" sign in the window," I held out my hand with a smile, "My name is Klaus."
"Caroline," she shook my hand, "please excuse the mess. I haven't been able to put this week's book order away yet, so clearly I am in need of help." She laughed, "I'll tell you what, I really hate interviews, from either side of the table it's awkward. So here's what we'll do instead: you work a day with me, and help me fix this mess, and if it goes well you can come back tomorrow."
"Perfect. What is it we're doing here?"
The day passed quickly as we worked together, adding this week's shipment of books into her inventory system and shelving them correctly. I quickly learned my way around the store, and was feeling quite confident in my navigation skills by the time we were finished. She told me all about the store, how it had been in her family for generations and, just as I had suspected, was a place everyone loved to spend time. I was surprised at how busy the store was, not many people frequented small businesses anymore. She laughed when I told her this.
"A few years ago one of those big name books stores tried to open up here; you know the ones that sell electronics and gadgets as well? It didn't last 6 months. It was an amazing feeling, the love and support from everyone in the town. This whole town supports each other, it's like were a big family." I was glad she had that. It reminded me of pack life; having a support system to fall back on no matter what.
I interrupted her as she was walking toward her car after locking up the store, talking about store hours and scheduling. "So did I get the job then?" I smirked at her shocked look.
"Oh! Yes of course, I totally forgot, sorry! I open at 9 tomorrow, if you're still interested. You can work your shifts with me if that's ok? Matt and Bonnie work their shifts together, they're a couple, if I separate them they would never see each other." She laughs.
"That's perfectly fine with me, love. I'll see you in the morning." I walked back to my motel with a smile. For the first time in years, things were looking up.
The next few weeks passed quicker than I ever could have imagined. The full moon was tomorrow night and I couldn't ignore the full of the moon this time. Though I was in control of my transitions, the moon still called to my wolf side. I hadn't spent this much time as a human in in years, my skin was starting to itch. I was glad to distract myself everyday with Caroline.
Working with Caroline was the most fun I'd had in years, she was always smiling, always laughing. Though I learned, she had plenty of reason not to. She told me about how her parents had passed away 4 months ago in a car accident, and how not long before that, her boyfriend had skipped town with another woman. "If I ever see him I'll tear out his liver." I threatened, furious that someone would hurt this beautiful creature I was coming to care for.
"No need," She laughed, "I'm better off without him. Tyler was far too possessive, he would have been pissed that I work with you every day. And if I was still with him," she looked up at me through her eyelashes, "I wouldn't be able to explore anything new." It had been a while, but I was pretty sure she was flirting with me.
"Well maybe if he was here you wouldn't be interested in anything new." I didn't want to be too presumptuous. Apparently, I needn't have worried.
"Nope, I most definitely still would have been."
Before I could reply, the door to the shop burst open and a man with fancy hair and a leather jacket strode straight to Caroline, effectively breaking the sexual tension. I hated him immediately.
"Caroline! We still on for tomorrow night?" Was Hero Hair what she meant by something new?
"Right! Yeah I almost forgot about that, thanks." I guess not, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's okay if you don't want to do it Caroline, everyone will understand." Ok, now I was confused.
"No no, I'll be there, I need to get back into things. I've just been so busy, but now with Klaus here... Oh my god, I'm being so rude, I'm so sorry. This is Klaus, our newest member, he's new in town. Klaus, this is Stefan, one of my oldest and best friends." Hero Hair had a name, I think I'll stick with Hero Hair.
We shook hands. "By oldest, she means we've been friends a long time, she has friends older than me, you should see her at Bingo. She gets along with all the grannies."
I laughed, "You know that doesn't surprise me in the slightest."
"Ha Ha let's all laugh at Caroline," she teased, "now get out, time to go home."
"Either if you up for a drink?" Stefan asked as we locked up.
I agreed, I hadn't had a good drink in quite some time, and it couldn't hurt to get to know her friends. Caroline declined.
"I'm headed home, I need to sleep. You two behave yourselves." She said, waving her finger back and forth between us before getting in her car and driving away.
"My brother has a bar down the street. You like bourbon?"
"Lead the way." I waved my arm ahead of us. Perhaps Hero Hair wasn't so bad after all.
Let me know what you think! -xo
