The soulmate hunt

New friends

I decided to take a seat in the kitchen and make myself a steaming cup of coffee. Olivia had an incredible barista machine, so I knew it would be beyond amazing. I watched as the beans slowly ground, releasing an intoxicating aroma that filled the entire room. The freshly-brewed coffee was heavenly, smooth and full-bodied with just a subtle hint of sweetness. Every sip was pure bliss, so much better than anything from the café down near home. I felt an immediate connection with this place the moment I arrived. As time went on, my love for it only became stronger and stronger. After just one day, I knew that this was a place I wanted to come back to again and again.

As I walked towards the kitchen sink, I was about to rinse out the cup when I spotted a man outside the window about to throw a rock. What was he doing and why was he outside Olivia's house? That, I didn't understand. So, I decided to go out the back door and attempt to talk to this strange man. He had looked quite tall from what I could observe from inside but as soon as I reached the back door, he seemed much shorter than expected - approximately 6 or just a bit under.

"Hey, can I help you? Who are you?" I said from the doorway, not yet ready to approach him. I didn't know who he was or what he wanted with Olivia."I was going to ask you the same question," he said as he approached closer, trying to get into the house. "Even though it's none of your business, I'm Olivia's ex-boyfriend and I want to talk with her."

"I'm not letting you come inside," I said, apologetically. "I don't know what happened between the two of you guys, but I just found her drunk and brought her home. I really don't think this conversation with her drunk would be such a great idea." He stopped moving and looked concerned at the fact his ex-girlfriend was intoxicated - more than a bit, in fact. I knew how embarrassing it was to have your ex witness you at your lowest point after a breakup.

"Do you want to wait until she wakes up and feels better?" I asked, trying to convince him to stay just a bit longer. I was enjoying the conversation and wanted it to continue, but thought maybe it would be best if we waited until his ex-wife was feeling better. "Yes that would be lovely, thank you," he said with a smirk. His name was Tyson, and surprisingly enough he looked less intimidating now.

I headed back into the kitchen and shut the back door, getting to work on making the coffee. Did he take sugar? I couldn't remember. No matter, I could just find some for him if he preferred it that way. The cappuccino was made perfectly with lots of extra foam and two sugar cubes sitting on the side; it was clear that he liked his coffee with plenty of topping! As I approached the back door, Tyson opened it for me and I stepped out with the coffee in my hands, carrying it to the nearby swings. I placed it on the table near them, satisfied with a job well done.

"This is amazing coffee," Tyson said, giving me a strange look. Right, I had forgotten to introduce myself. "I'm Harper," I said. "I met Olivia at the steps of a bar." Tyson was shocked, though it seemed like he wasn't too surprised by the news.

"Olivia was telling me you guys got in a fight tonight?" I asked, wanting to understand why Olivia had been drinking so heavily. Tyson sighed, his eyes downcast as he replied, "Long story short we broke up last night. It was mutual and I still want to be her friend but when I didn't hear from her I got worried." His words revealed a lot about him - even though things didn't work out between them, he was still a gentleman.

"So what are you doing in a town like this? I haven't seen you around here before. Sorry, it's none of my business, you don't need to tell me," Tyson said. But for some reason, I wanted to tell him. "It's okay, I'm fine with sharing. I just arrived in town tonight. My parents passed away when i was sixteen, and my new parents who had helped raise me were kidnapped after that. So I've been on the run with their son Hudson, but decided to part ways and figure things out for myself a few days ago." Trying to swallow back my tears, I could see he was speechless - and it was understandable.

I have been through so much, and when he apologised for the loss of my parents, I nearly burst into tears. His offer of his house as a haven was so thoughtful and I couldn't help but grin at his kindness. "Thank you so much," I murmured gratefully, feeling overwhelmed by the understanding shown by everyone around me. His sympathy meant more to me than words could ever express, and his generous gesture just made it all the more real.

"Thank you, Tyson that really means a lot," I say, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over me. My bones creak and moan as if they're ready to give out on me. "Tyson, do you know what time it is?" I ask, as if already knowing the answer yet desperately hoping I'm wrong. "It's about 1am," he replies with a hint of worry in his voice. "Why'd you ask?" "Thank you for your company but I really need to head off now. Please take care of Olivia." I said, hoping he would agree to look after her even as we split up for the time being. I was sure that they would be together again eventually.

I got off the swing and made my way towards the guest bathroom. It was a short walk, just two doors down from where Olivia was sitting on the couch. I needed to splash some water on my face, to make sure I wasn't going crazy or coming down with a cold.

I carefully pushed my way into the restroom and closed the door, moving purposefully towards the sink. I had to suppress a smile when I noticed that this particular bathroom was equipped with a mirror right in front of it - not all bathrooms are as fortunate as this one. In fact, most of them don't have mirrors nearby for convenience. Taking a moment to appreciate my luck, I switched on the lights and surveyed myself in the reflection. It had been days since I'd taken care of my appearance and hygiene.

I turn on the tap and form a scoop with my hands to catch some of the water. My hands then splash the refreshing liquid over my face as I look into a mirror in front of me. When my eyes meet my reflection, they immediately widen in shock; its golden hue was unmistakable. It's happening - today is the day I transform. Panic fills me and I remember where I am; Olivia's house! There's no way they can find out that I'm a wolf.

I quickly turn off the tap and fling open the door. Without a second thought, I dash for the back door and slip out into the evening air. Tyson yells after me but I don't stop running until I've leapt over the backyard fence. It's time to make my way back to the forest - it's always been my safe haven, especially on days like today when transformation is imminent. I don't know what will happen or what it will feel like - it's better if no one is around when it happens.

I ran faster than ever before, as if I had wings on my feet. The town was a distant memory in the wind as I ventured into the depths of the forest. Glancing back, I was uncertain of what kind of life waited for me here, but it felt right - a new start with this newfound wolf-shifting ability. My heart raced with anticipation and excitement; something new awaited me among these wild woods. I hadn't yet transformed, but I could feel my bones shifting, my energy mounting. I glanced back towards the town that could've been something much more than it was, and in the distance I spotted a figure shrouded in darkness. Could it be Tyson? How had he managed to catch up with me after I'd run around 10 miles?