by Chant, Zoe
“Good to meet you,” he said gruffly. “Name’s John.”
“Liana Robinson,” she said, eying him in fascination. “I’m so sorry if this is terribly rude, but—are you a werewolf, too?”
John laughed hoarsely. “That I am,” he said. “No worries, miss—I prefer striped bass to human flesh. Even on the full moon.”
Behind them, there was the faint sound of a door closing. When they looked up, James came strolling towards them from the house. He must have run back home and shifted there, then dressed. Like John, he was wearing khaki shorts and a worn shirt. He carried another fishing rod in his hand, but unlike John, he wore his gray hair buzzed short.
“James,” Timothy said in greeting, shaking his hand when he joined them by the pier. “Thought we’d come and say hello to our neighbors. This is Liana.”
“Pleased to meet you,” James said as he shook Liana’s hand. He gave Timothy a toothy grin. “So. Finally bringing home your mate, huh? About time.”
“How do you know—” Liana began, frowning at the werewolf.
James shrugged. “Sniffed something weird in the air, so my wolf wanted to go for a run and explore. Knew as soon as I saw you two. There’s something in your eyes when you find your mate. Something in your scent—or maybe it’s just the way two scents mingle just right. Something was up. And of course, what with him being so powerful, some of us can feel a shift in power.”
John rolled his eyes. “And some of us couldn’t care less about gossip and just want to spend a nice day out here by the water.”
James gave them another hoarse laugh. “Bet the folks in town would love my gossip. You visiting them next, boss?”
Timothy nodded. “I want to show Liana the island and introduce her. Oh—and keep an eye on my house for me, will you? I’ve got a visitor in there, and he’s not supposed to start any trouble.”
“Thought I smelled something off.” James inhaled the air. “Who is it?”
“A fire dragon,” Timothy said, not surprised by the way both werewolves started.
“Holy shit,” John said, eyes wide. “For real?”
Timothy nodded. “Keep it quiet. He can’t shift or use his powers, and I don’t think he’s going to run. Still—if he tries to leave, let me know.”
“Sure thing, boss. I’ve got your number.” James patted his pocket, then cursed. “Where the hell is my phone?”
“Here,” John said with a snort, fishing it out of his own pocket. “You forgot it in the kitchen again.”
James took it with a disgruntled sound.
Liana could barely hold back a laugh.
“You’re not at all how I imagined werewolves,” she said, grinning at James. “But then, neither were dragons. I think I like werewolves much better than fire dragons.”
“Ha. Not much of a compliment,” James said with another toothy grin. “But we like humans much better than fire dragons as well, so I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”
Timothy wrapped his arm around Liana’s waist. “Now—how about those donuts I promised you?”
Chapter Eleven: Liana
To reach the small coffee shop in the middle of the tiny beach town of Wing Island, they walked past several curious stores. There was a little boutique selling all kinds of clothes, from jeans and shirts to suits and baby clothing. There was even a gorgeous evening gown studded with tiny crystals that sparkled in the window.
Above the door, a handmade wooden sign with little bunny ears hung. It said “Bunny’s Boutique,” and when Liana gave Timothy a questioning look, he nodded.
“Really?” she asked, just to be sure. “Bunny shifters?”
“Only one bunny shifter in this town,” a blonde woman said cheerfully, peeking around the corner of the shop. She seemed to be in her early twenties, with long hair she wore in two braids. “That is, at least until this one is due.”
Tenderly, she curved her hand over her belly. Now that Liana gave her a closer look, the curve beneath her loose shirt was more noticeable.
“Fifty-fifty for bunny versus fox,” the woman said, then bounced excitedly. “I bet it’s gonna be a bunny, the way it kicks!”
“Congratulations,” Liana said, smiling at the woman’s infectious cheerfulness. “I’m Liana—sorry, I only just learned about shifters. So the dad is a fox shifter?”
“Cara,” the bunny shifter said, excitedly shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you! And yes, he is—I ran away with the bad boy fox. At least that’s what my family would want you to believe. Our kind’s not very fond of foxes. The true story is a bit more boring, though. It was just online dating at first. And once we met, we knew we were mates. We decided to move out here to get away from both of our families—we still visit, of course, for Christmas and Thanksgiving and so on. But here on Wing Island, no one cares if you’re a fox and a bunny.”
“They call it the dragon’s peace,” Timothy added. “It’s happened this way for centuries. Shifters of all kinds like to settle in dragon towns. With a dragon overlooking the town, no one’s eager to start a fight, so even werewolves and weresheep can live happily together.”
“And foxes and bunnies,” Cara added, then grinned. “Not that it takes a dragon to keep us from fighting. Still, I was glad to have a dragon around when I first heard that werewolves had settled here. Of course, now that I actually know them, I’m quite happy we have John and James around. Just last week, James brought me the most amazing flounder. I think I’m going to set him up with a nice new suit for his birthday in return.” She raised a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell him, it’s a secret.”
“I won’t,” Liana promised, laughing.
Just then, an older woman exited a small shop on the other side of the street, carrying a basket. She clutched her chest when she saw them standing in front of Cara’s boutique, then immediately came towards them.
“Timothy! And a guest, too! You must be hungry. If I’d known you were coming, I would have brought fresh bread and milk and—”
“We were just about to go for some donuts, actually,” Timothy said. “And the pantry was fully stocked. Please, don’t worry. We’ll pick up whatever we need on the way home.”
The woman gave Timothy a suspicious look, then wagged her finger at him. “You better feed your girl well—I know what it’s like in the city. I see it on TV all the time. Young women picking at their salad and nothing else all day. Out here, with the wind and the ocean, you need some real food to keep up your strength.”
“Timothy made blueberry pancakes for me,” Liana said, smiling widely. “I’m Liana, by the way. And he’s a much better cook than I am. I doubt I’m going to starve out here.”
“This is Mrs. Grimes; she looks after the house when I’m gone,” Timothy explained. “And I was hoping to beg some of today’s catch from our werewolves and have a little fire on the beach in the evening.”
Mrs. Grimes looked mollified. “Nothing like some fried fish by the beach while watching the sunset.” She winked at Liana. “That’s how my Mike won me over fifty years ago.”
Apparently she and her husband had always lived by the ocean. They were both sea lion shifters and had lived in what used to be a lighthouse. Just when they had grown too old for the work and the many stairs, Timothy came searching for a place to build a home by the sea. And with him, a small community of shifters had sprung up.
“Now our grandson and his wife take care of the lighthouse,” she explained proudly. “Our kids all moved back here, now that Timothy has turned this into a real community. And I get to have my family nearby and see the ocean every day.”
“I like to think that it’s worked out well for everyone,” Timothy said modestly, although he looked around at the houses surrounding them with obvious pride.
And why shouldn’t he be proud? What she’d seen of the town so far looked lovely. Even the smaller houses were well-cared for, with gardens that sported a multitude of flowers, neat hedges, and here and there strange contraptions that she assum
ed were meant for the owners’ animal forms.
In one garden, she could see a huge rock with a flat top—and on top of that rock, a lioness was dozing in the sun.
Another house had a little fountain where a large falcon was taking a bath.
“It’s nothing like I expected,” Liana said and smiled at Timothy. “It’s so much better.”
“Wait until you’ve tasted the donuts I’ve promised you.” Timothy nodded towards where the street took a turn. “It’s just around the corner from here.”
“It was good to see you,” Cara said cheerfully as they said goodbye. Then she winked at Liana. “And we’re all hoping you’ll stick around.”
A little overwhelmed, but still smiling widely, Liana let Timothy lead her onward.
“Everyone here’s really invested in seeing you settle down, huh?” she teased him. “Have they been trying to set you up with all their single daughters?”
Timothy grimaced. “They did. Fortunately, we always knew right away that we weren’t mates, so usually we just hung out at the beach together if someone set us up for a date. I love this town, and I love my people, and I really didn’t want romance to complicate things, you know?”
“That sounds so much easier,” Liana sighed. “I’d never have dated Benny back in college if something had told me right away that he wasn’t the one. Though I guess I always knew he wasn’t perfect—but I thought it was my fault, you know? That I just had to try harder, that I wanted too much...”
“It’s not wanting too much to want someone who appreciates you. Who loves you, no ifs or buts.”
Timothy’s voice was serious, and when she turned towards him, she wondered what it was like to go through life knowing that you had a soulmate somewhere—and fearing that you’d never meet her. That you’d die alone, while everyone around you was blissfully happy. No wonder he’d preferred to put on a mask to hide behind.
She slid her hand into his again, smiling up at him.
“So I’m starting to learn,” she said softly.
His fingers squeezed hers. Warmth flooded her body. Her body throbbed with sudden need—but despite her desire for him, she still felt calm and relaxed. As if having him by her side meant that she was completely safe.
There was nothing to fear, as long as she had him. Maybe they really could make this work—together.
“Here it is,” he said a moment later, breaking the silence.
When she looked up, she found that they had stopped in front of the cutest coffee shop she’d ever seen.
Before them, a square had opened up. It was surrounded by more houses and shops. Next to the coffee shop, there was a small library—and across the street, a shop promising computer repairs, which had cute gaming merchandise in a window that made her heart beat higher.
Good to know I won’t be the only geek around here...
She didn’t even know where the thought had come from. Was she seriously considering moving in with Timothy? She’d always been a city girl...
“Chameleon Coffee,” she said to distract herself, reading the sign someone had hung over the shop’s door. It showed a large chameleon with an even longer tongue, which was dipped into a steaming cup of coffee.
“Try the Chameleon Macchiato,” a voice from inside suggested.
When they stepped in, they found themselves in a surprisingly roomy shop. There were several tables—and lots of outlets for power cords, Liana expertly spied.
I could bring my laptop and work here for a few hours if I get too lonely in his beach mansion...
There was also a high table running along the window. Two giggling teenagers sat in the far corner, drinking some concoction that seemed to consist mainly of whipped cream and glittery sugar powder, hunched over their phones.
In another corner, two women Liana’s age were sitting, both with laptops open as they intensely discussed something on their screens.
Liana’s smile widened. Now this really felt like home.
“What’s in the Chameleon Macchiato?” she asked curiously.
The barista grinned at her. She looked like she was only twenty, with shortish, artfully tousled hair dyed a bright aquamarine with streaks of turquoise green. She had a nose piercing, too, and beneath her blue-green-pink apron, Liana could make out the telltale shape of the Star Wars logo on her shirt.
Now this was definitely familiar grounds.
“Two shots of espresso, cream, Chameleon sprinkles and layers of vanilla, strawberry, coconut, chocolate and salted caramel syrup,” the barista declared cheerfully. “I know, sounds gross, but it tastes divine. If you don’t stir it, you get to experience the real chameleon magic as you drink it layer by layer and it magically changes color.”
“Ooh,” Liana said, intrigued. “That sounds like I need to try it.”
“And the usual for you?” the girl asked, turning towards Timothy.
He shook his head. “A Chameleon Macchiato for me as well, please. It’s been a while. And one each of the donuts.”
“Good choice,” the barista said approvingly.
As she turned to the right to start preparing their coffee, Liana noted her name badge. It said “Aimee”.
Was she the coyote shifter Timothy had told her about? She didn’t seem that different to the baristas in her favorite coffee shop close to work.
But then, how would I know? Maybe my favorite barista back home is secretly a werewolf. Or maybe my neighbors are...
It was strange to realize that there was so much more than she’d ever known. The world was so different to what she’d always believed.
Dragons were real. Werewolves were real.
And so were blue-haired twenty-something baristas who could apparently shift into a coyote.
“You should stop by more often,” the girl said when she handed them their whipped-cream-topped concoctions.
It glittered all over, sprinkled with a sparkly powder that seemed to shift color even as she looked at it.
“We don’t get a lot of strangers. And I’m always happy to chat before it gets busy. Cool shirt, by the way! He’s my favorite character.”
“Mine too! And I definitely will. Have you read the rumors about the next movie?” Liana asked, beaming at the girl before she realized that now she hadn’t just promised to stick around in town without thinking about it, but also almost forgotten all about Timothy. “Oops! That is, I’ll come back for a chat some other time.”
“Yeah, don’t want to keep the dragon waiting.” Aimee gave Timothy a smirk. “It was about time you brought back some fun company for us. No one wants to listen to all that slick banker talk of yours.”
“Hey now,” Timothy protested, “she’s my guest and I didn’t just bring her here to entertain you. But also—you two should definitely talk, because I’m way behind on my superhero movies.”
The barista snickered. “Like I said. That’s what comes of all that boring banker stuff you do.”
Then she waved them off, and Timothy led Liana to a small table in a corner by the window. Several comfy, somewhat worn armchairs stood there, next to a bookshelf that looked as if the coffee shop’s customers had left well-loved paperbacks for others to enjoy.
“This space is amazing.” Liana took a first, cautious sip of her Chameleon Macchiato through the sparkly blue straw. “As is this!”
She moaned in pleasure as the rich cream melted on her tongue. She could taste a slight hint of the bitterness of the espresso, mingled with the just-right sweetness of vanilla.
Timothy took a deep swallow of his own coffee. As she watched, the color of the glass really seemed to change—at first, it had been a creamy, pale yellow, like vanilla. But as soon as he reached the next layer, it turned into a pale rose.
That had to be the strawberry syrup.
She took hold of her own straw again. A few more gulps of the delicious, creamy, vanilla-flavored coffee—and there it was. Even the straw seemed to subtly change color. Now it gleamed in a sparkly purple as somethin
g that distinctively tasted like strawberry filled her mouth with more creamy coffee goodness.
“Wow,” she breathed when she let go of the straw. “Is it really just the layers of syrup? Or is it chameleon magic?”
Timothy grinned at her. “Who knows? I never got a real answer out of them, so I’ve decided to let them keep their magic and just enjoy. Next time you’re in here, ask for their hazelnut chocolate latte. It’s like drinking delicious cake.”
“I think I know your secret,” Liana teased, playfully narrowing her eyes at him. “That’s how you built this town. You got the best barista you could find on board, and then you just seduced everyone you knew to settle down here by the ocean by tempting them with the best coffee they’ve ever tasted.”
“Don’t know about the rest of them,” a cheerful voice informed them from the neighboring table, “but that sure is how he got me.”
When Liana looked up, she found that a man in his fifties had settled down nearby, a simple, small cup of espresso in front of him, paired with a donut covered all over in chocolate powder.
“It’s the banana pudding chocolate donut—the best, if you ask me,” he said with a broad grin. “Noah next door bakes them. He only does two sorts of donuts every day, but they’re all handmade. And he rotates flavors, so it pays to come back tomorrow. Tomorrow is raspberry day.”
He gave Liana a little wink, who now realized that there was in fact a small chalkboard on the wall by the door. It listed the flavors of the day for the week.
Timothy pushed the plate with the donuts towards her. They had been cut in half by the barista, and Liana decided to start with the chocolate covered donut. A generous filling of banana pudding was oozing out of it, and the first bite was so good that Liana found herself closing her eyes and moaning.
“This is delicious,” she said when she could speak again. “Oh my God. I want to come here every day just so that I can test all of the flavors.”
“It’s what I do,” the sheriff said with a grin. “If you have one every day of the week, you get the seventh for free.”
