Page 1 of Jasper

The early morningsunlight streamed through the leaves of the trees that surrounded the small town of Northbelle. Melody inhaled the pine-scented air of her wolf pack’s territory as she made her way to her best friend Ellie’s house, which doubled as the local coffee shop thanks to a she-shed that had been converted into a coffee bar. A carved wooden sign over the door declared the name, “Chantal’s Coffee,” named after Ellie’s mom. Only the pack came to the coffee shop, not only because it was the most tiniest town ever, but because shifters kept apart from humans so they didn’t accidentally reveal their nature to them.

Chantal’s mom, who was like a second mom to Melody, had invited her to work there during the summers while she was in high school, and she’d gone full time once she finished. She loved the smell of freshly ground coffee in the morning, and hanging out with her bestie too.

Melody pushed open the creaky door, a jingle of the overhead bell announcing her arrival.

“Morning, Chantal! Morning, Ellie,” Melody called out as she stepped into the little shop. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls greeted her.

Chantal looked over from where she worked the espresso machine. “Morning, honey. Ready for another busy day?”

“You know it.”

Ellie stepped out of the pantry with a stack of to-go cups. “Hey, babe! Did you see the sunrise? I took a picture because it was so pretty.”

“You’re always taking pictures of the sunrise,” Melody said with a smile.

“I love it. I should have gone into photography instead of making coffee every day.”

“Hey, it’s our family business,” Chantal said. “You can photograph stuff in your spare time, sweetie. Now, let’s open for business—it’s nearly six.”

“Too early,” Melody said with a yawn. She unlocked the steel window at the front of the shed and pushed it up, locking it into place. Wiping off the counter with a sanitizing wipe, she got to work stocking the counter before the pack members showed up for their daily coffee and cinnamon roll.

It took only minutes for the crowd to arrive. The pack had a construction company that worked odd jobs around the area, and they always got started early. While she took orders and payments, she heard the occasional under-the-breath comment about the non-wolf, which was her.

She’d gotten used to hearing that kind of thing, ever since she’d been unable to shift when she was a teenager. It had been rough having one foot in two very different worlds, a wolf but also not a wolf. The only people who didn’t seem to care were Ellie and her mom, plus Melody’s own parents.

Well, there had been one other person who hadn’t cared she couldn’t shift: Jasper. He’d never made her feel like an outsider. Her childhood sweetheart, hersoulmate, had left her behind seven years ago without a word. She missed him fiercely and the loss of him was like a missing limb. Sometimes, she hated him for it. But no matter how many years passed, she’d never moved on, never tried to take another mate. She was just alwaysalone and didn’t think she’d ever really get over the loss of her soulmate.

“Hey,” Chantal said stiffly. “Melody is my employee and my friend, and you’ll keep your mouth shut or get the hell away from my shop.”

Melody realized she’d gotten so lost in thought she hadn’t moved from the little register where she kept the money. A male named Vince had clearly been the one saying things about Melody and she hadn’t even been paying attention.

Anytime she thought about Jasper she got lost in the past.

“Fine,” Vince said. “Can I just get my coffee? I need to catch up to Alpha Grimes.”

Melody accepted payment while Ellie handed his coffee over. The male gave Melody a curled upper lip annoyed look, and Melody just shook her head and took the next order.

“Thanks, Chantal,” Melody said quietly.

“You’re safe here with us,” she said.

That was very true. The pack might like to remind Melody that she didn’t really belong, but Ellie and Chantal never did. And neither did Melody’s parents. Their unwavering love and support had gotten her through the roughest of times when she was dealing with the discovery that she couldn’t shift. Her mom, with the best hugs on the planet, and her dad, with his playful teasing and kind words, had made her feel loved and valued even when she struggled to see that in herself.

“Hey, Mel, can you grab extra coffee beans? I forgot them when I got the cups,” Ellie said.

Melody shut the register lid after taking payment for two cinnamon rolls and a cup of dark roast, and said, “You got it.”

“Hey, we’re still on for tonight, right?” Ellie asked.

“Movie fest? Heck yes.”

“Good. I’ve got just the perfect movie in mind.”

“Uh-oh. Should I be worried?” Melody asked as she paused at the pantry door.

“Not at all. Be excited. Live a little.” Ellie grinned.

“The last time you said that, we went on a pop-up fair ride and got trapped on it for an hour.”

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