9

Jude

As if Rosie sensed eyes on her, she glanced up and our eyes met. It was like the world stopped moving. Our eyes clashed and electricity sparked between us. The mate bond snapped into place, stronger now that we were this close. Blood thrummed under my skin as I could feel my eyes changing color. My wolf wanted to be known.

My wolf roared mate! So loudly that I nearly lost control on the spot.

Recognition flashed in her eyes and a small smile pulled on her lip.

"You?" Rosie blurted out and her eyes twinkled, which made my breathing hitch. I tried to look composed but I was shaking with restraint. Every instinct screamed at me to close the distance, to touch her, to never let her out of my sight again.

Rosie walked from behind the counter as I awkwardly approached, my mind racing with a thousand questions. What brought you here? Are you okay? Why did you leave? Can I touch you? When we reached the middle of the café, I breathed in deeply like a starved man. The scent I've been deprived of for weeks was finally here. My mate was here in front of me.

"How are you, Rosie?" I asked, fumbling the conversation. My usual confidence had evaporated. I didn't know what to say as I tried hard not to stare at her lips, her eyes, her neck-the neck that would bear my claiming mark someday. Every instinct demanded I should claim her now, pull her close, mark her as mine. But I forced myself to be civilized.

She's human! She's human! I reminded my wolf desperately. She doesn't know what you are. She doesn't understand the mate bond.

"I'm fine," she said softly. "And you?"

Before I could answer, Maya hollered from the counter with a knowing smile. "You guys can take a table."

A blush crept up Rosie's cheeks and a primal instinct to lick it.

That's your mate, Maya's voice came through the mental link, teasing.

I glared at her across the café and slammed the mental link shut before she could say anything else.

We moved to a corner table and sat across from each other. The proximity was torture and relief all at once. Close enough to smell her, to see the brown freckles on her nose, but not close enough to touch.

"I saw your note," I said carefully, "At the hotel." when I woke up and saw she had left, my wolf nearly went insane with roaring and searching for the scent. My mom had to calm me down and gave me hope that she'd be back to me.

"Oh," she fiddled with her hands, looking down. "I needed to settle something..." She trailed off and looked away, not before I caught the pained expression on her face.

My wolf whined. Mate is hurting.

"Are you okay?" I asked before I could stop myself. "You look... tired."

She laughed, but it was empty.

"I didn't mean-"

"No, it's fine. I am tired." She rubbed her face. "It's been a rough few weeks."

I wanted to ask what happened but I held back. What about you? Do you live here?"

"Yeah. Born and raised. I go to college about twenty minutes away, but Highland Creek is home." I gestured vaguely. "Maya's my sister, so I'm here a lot."

"Oh!" Recognition dawned on her face. "That makes sense. She's been really kind to me."

"She's good at that." I paused, trying to figure out how to ask without seeming like a stalker. "So you're... staying? In Highland Creek?"

"For now, yeah. Maya gave me a job here and helped me find a place to stay." She smiled a little. "Everyone here has been really nice. It's different from..." She stopped herself.

"From where you were before?"

"Yeah." She looked down at her hands. "Very different."

A silence fell between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I could sit here forever, just breathing in her scent, watching the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way her fingers traced patterns on the table.

My wolf was finally calm. Not silent-he was still there, still aware, still chanting mate, mate, mate-but peaceful. Like a part of me that had been missing had finally clicked back into place.

"So," I said, forcing myself to sound casual. "Do you mind giving me your number? In case you, uh, need anything. Since you're new in town."

Smooth, Jude. Real smooth.

But Rosie smiled-a real smile this time-and held out her hand. "Sure."

I placed my phone in her hand and our fingers brushed. The spark was immediate and electric. Her breath caught and her eyes widened slightly. She felt it too. She had to.

She quickly typed in her number and handed the phone back, this time careful not to let our hands touch again. Like the spark had scared her.

I wanted to grab her hand. I wanted to show her that the electricity between us was real, was right, was meant to be. But I couldn't. Not yet.

At that moment, my phone rang-loud and jarring in the quiet moment between us.

"Pick your call," Rosie said, standing up quickly. "I should get back to work anyway. I'll see you later?"

I nearly grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving. Nearly pulled her back down and refused to let her go. But I forced myself to nod. "Yeah. Later."

She waved and walked back behind the counter, immediately busying herself with cleaning.

I glared at my phone-Rivers calling-and answered. "You better tell me this call is super important or else your limbs will be removed," I growled.

"Dude, chill. Coach wants to know if you're coming to the team meeting tonight-"

"I'll be there." I stood up, keeping my eyes on Rosie as I headed to the door. She looked up and our eyes met one more time. I smiled. She smiled back.

"-and also what the hell was wrong with you at practice? You were playing like-"

I hung up and stepped outside. The second the cold air hit me, my wolf settled. Actually settled. For the first time in weeks, he wasn't pacing, wasn't snarling, wasn't demanding I go find our mate.

Because she was here. In my territory. Safe. Close.

I breathed in deeply, the cold air still tinged with her scent.

Now she's here again.

And I'd never let her leave again.

1Rosie

I was growing accustomed to my new home. The cottage Maya rented to me-even though I hadn't completed the payment yet. But it was still mine.

Mine.

After Maya, God bless her soul, drove me to my little abode that first night, I didn't even change my clothes before I collapsed limply on the bed. My body was heavy, highly exhausted from what life had thrown at me. I slept until mid-afternoon with a groan.

The past days had been a blur. I barely knew how they passed-arranging the cottage to my taste, changing my mobile SIM to start afresh, and trying to get familiar with the new environment.

The town was small and peaceful because practically everyone knew everyone. Sometimes people watched and stared at me as if I were a new entity. Well, I was in this town. When they watched, I wanted to run back to my bed and wrap the duvet over my head and hide, with that nagging feeling in my head-maybe they've seen the video. But I sighed in relief when their gaze held no animosity, no disgust... just curiosity. The kind of looks you'd give a stranger in a place where strangers were rare. Some even smiled. An older woman had nodded at me yesterday morning. A man walking his dog had said, "Morning."

I'd started full-time work at the café, all thanks to Maya who offered me a job without even knowing me. My day had a good routine: wake up, eat breakfast-usually toast and coffee-and walk to the café for the day. Then by 9 PM, I walked home. There wasn't even time for me to think much, which was exactly what I needed.

The café quickly became my little sanctuary. The smell of baked bread, the soft chatter of customers, and the kindness of the coworkers who didn't even treat me like I was new made me emotional sometimes.

On my first day, Maya had introduced me to everyone as her new friend. I had an awkward smile on my face while fiddling with my hands. I was nervous with the new introduction, but they met me with warm smiles.

Maya put me through everything-how to make coffee, gave me simple tasks, and showed me how to handle the register. She was patient when I messed up an order, laughed when I accidentally gave someone decaf instead of regular, and taught me how to handle the one rude customer who complained about everything.

Maya was a miracle disguised as a human.

I was wiping down a table-the same table where Jude and I had sat yesterday-and I felt my cheeks flame as my mind trailed to Jude. He was tall, really tall. The first time I didn't think about it, but he had to be at least 6′4" compared to my 5′4". He had broad shoulders that were taunting under the black Jersey he wore yesterday. And his face... his face made Josh look plain by comparison. His long eyelashes fanned gently over his amber eyes. His face was carefully crafted-sharp jawline, high cheekbones, a mouth that looked both soft and firm at the same time. My heart skipped and I shook my head.

I shouldn't be thinking of Jude like that!

I didn't even think I'd see him again. A face like Jude's belonged in a suit somewhere, taking expensive coffee and talking to clients, not in a small café on the outskirts of town. My breath had nearly been taken away by his gaze. There was something intense in his gaze that felt like he was stripping me bare, and he was fighting something deep within himself-like he couldn't look away even if he wanted to. His gaze was scorching, made me tremble, not from fear but from something I wasn't ready to explore yet.

And when our hands brushed earlier, my body jolted up and it felt like a new breath of air, like I'd been missing something important in my life. I couldn't process it. I barely knew Jude, but being near him made me feel strangely grounded, like I could breathe easier, like the weight on my chest lifted just a little.

Since I gave him my number, I'd been checking my phone for any message from him, but nothing showed. Every time the phone buzzed-which wasn't often-my heart would leap, only to sink when it was just a notification or spam. Maybe he just asked out of courtesy. Why did he ask for my number if he wasn't going to message? I rubbed my forehead, feeling it throb as thoughts of him lingered in my mind even when I continued with my work. People moved on. He would probably forget about a fat girl he met on Christmas Eve and coincidentally ran into at a café.

My heart stung at the thought, but I brushed it off as stress. I didn't even know why I was thinking about it, why it was still on my mind. And I wasn't even ready for anything yet.

But still. I kept checking my phone.

Leaving the café as I waved at Maya, I grabbed the dinner she'd packed for me in a bag and walked through the familiar path home. The night was chilly, making me want to run home and bury myself in the cocoon of my bed. Snow crunched under my boots. My breath fogged in the cold air. Street lights cast yellow pools on the white ground. It was peaceful.

Upon getting home, I dropped my coat on the floor and ran to get warm water when my phone chimed with a new message. Who could it be? I thought. No one knew this new number except Maya and Jude. As my brain registered Jude's name, I dropped the thermos and grabbed my bag.

I rummaged through it and brought my phone out, my chest beating in anticipation while my hands shook slightly. I unlocked my phone and saw a message from an unknown number. Immediately, my breathing hitched.

It was him!

Jude messaged me? My chest nearly burst out of my ribcage. He didn't forget me. He didn't ask for my number just out of courtesy.

I quickly sat on the couch, wetting my lips as I opened the message. My heart hammered so loud I could hear it in my ears.

"Hello Rosie, this is Jude. How are you? And I hope you are settling well in Highland Creek?"

Just that message made my heart stutter and a smile found its way to my lips without meaning to.