Page 1 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian

Chapter 1

Olivia

The scent of coffee and sizzling bacon clings to my clothes as I weave through the crowded diner, balancing a tray of plates in one hand and a coffee pot in the other. It’s been a long day—double shifts always are—and I’m running on caffeine and sheer stubbornness. The bell above the door jingles again, and I bite back a groan. Whispering Pines Diner never slows down, especially on Friday nights.

“Table six is staring at you like you’re dessert,” Maya calls out as I pass her at the counter. Her dark curls are piled into a messy bun, and she’s wiping down a sticky spot with the kind of efficiency that only comes from years of practice.

I glance over my shoulder and catch Ethan’s grin from his usual booth. He lifts his coffee cup in a lazy salute, his amber eyes twinkling with mischief. I roll my eyes, fighting a smile. Ethan’s harmless enough, but his playful flirting isn’t exactly what I need in the middle of an eight-hour shift.

“He’s not staring at me,” I mutter, setting down plates at table four.

“Oh, he’s definitely staring at you,” Maya says, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. She leans on thecounter, smirking. “You know shifters don’t do subtle, right? If he had a tail, it’d be wagging.”

I laugh despite myself. “Well, he can keep wagging from over there. I don’t have time for a lovesick wolf.”

Maya snorts. “Suit yourself, but don’t act surprised when he starts showing up with flowers or something. Shifters don’t give up easily.”

I shake my head, still smiling, and pour a fresh cup of coffee for a customer at table two. Maya follows me to the counter, leaning on it as I grab a fresh pot.

“So, what are your plans this weekend?” she asks, her voice casual but curious. “Don’t tell me you’re working another double.”

I sigh, setting the coffee pot down. “Not this time. I actually have the whole day off tomorrow.”

Maya raises her eyebrows in mock surprise. “A miracle. So, what’s the plan? Netflix marathon? Sleeping until noon?”

I grin. “Tempting, but no. I was thinking about taking my camera out and finally getting some shots around the park. The light is amazing this time of year, and I haven’t had a chance to do any real photography in months.”

Maya’s face softens, her teasing replaced with genuine interest. “Yeah? That’s awesome. You’ve been talking about getting back into it for ages.”

“I know,” I admit, a little sheepishly. “It’s just hard to find the time between shifts here and, you know… life.”

“You mean supporting yourself while chasing the dream?” she says knowingly. “I get it. But seriously, Liv, you’re good. Like,reallygood. You should be out there doing more with it.”

“Thanks, Maya,” I say, feeling a warm flush of gratitude. “I just need to save up a little more before I can make it happen. The camera equipment alone costs a fortune, and don’t even get me started on editing software.”

“Well, you better make time for it,” she says, wagging a finger at me. “The world needs more of your artsy sunset shots and cute squirrel close-ups.”

I laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I shake my head and head back toward the kitchen. Maya’s one of the few people in town I trust, and she doesn’t shy away from what she is. I’ve always respected that about her.

What’s harder to figure out is Ben.

When my dad died, Ben was the one person I could count on. We moved to Whispering Pines together, both looking for a fresh start, though for different reasons. He was my anchor back then—my best friend, my constant. Growing up, he always seemed larger than life: the boy who could talk his way out of trouble, who could make me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how.

The bell jingles again, and I know it’s him before I even turn around. Ben walks in, holding a brown paper bag from the deli down the street. He spots me immediately, his blue eyes lighting up as he waves. For a second, it feels like the old Ben—the boy who used to make me laugh until my sides hurt.

“Brought you dinner,” he says, setting the bag on the counter with a proud smile.

I grin. “Thanks, Ben. You didn’t have to do that.” I work at a diner, but it's nice to have a meal that isn't deep fried.

“You’ve been here all day,” he says, his tone a little sharper than I expect. “You need to eat.”

The words feel more like an order than a suggestion, but I nod anyway. I can feel Maya’s eyes on us, her expression unreadable. It’s like she’s weighing something, though I don’t know what.

Ben leans closer, lowering his voice. “Do you have to be so friendly with everyone? That guy at table six hasn’t stopped staring at you.”

I blink, caught off guard. “Ethan? He’s just a regular. It’s not a big deal.”

---