Chapter 12
Georgie/ Evie
It took a few days to exit the forest. I walked east, stopping only to relieve myself and sleep. I had decided to walk in my human form, which I learned was faster than before I had shifted.
I could smell the town before I breached the trees. From what I could sense, I was definitely in human territory, for which I was glad. I staked out a row of houses before jumping a fence and going to the street. It was daytime, and the owners of the houses had gone to work, which was what I had waited for. I surveyed the area as I walked the street, looking for street signs. The street I was on was called Daniel Street. That’s interesting. Kind of narcissistic. I smirked when I saw the name of the next street, Anne Street.
I followed my nose towards the centre of town, which took me a good two hours to walk at human speed.
I peer into the shops, curious about what is happening inside them. Life went on while I was living rogue in the forest. I’m happy to see that things haven’t changed that much. People still went to the hairdressers to get their hair cut and shopped for shoes. I walk past a white goods shop, and a salesman catches my eye, smiling at me. I quickly walk away, hoping nothing will come from that look.
Between a nail salon and a small fruit and vegetable shop, I see a café with a work-available sign in the window. I stop and watch the shop and the people visiting the premises before I take a deep breath and walk inside.
The café is open and has an Asian theme inside. The walls are painted cream with pictures of Asian women in traditional dress. One has a woman in a red dress with a black split on the side, standing with a bike next to a geometric picture. Another is of a woman carrying a long stick across her shoulders, orange almond-shaped food in baskets carried at each end. It was interesting. It was not what I’d expect from a café, but these were humans.
Across the room, I notice customers sitting, drinking from what I can smell is a range of different teas. There was a mixture of Asian and Caucasian patrons sitting here, and I smirked when some of the white females appeared to be drinking coffee and European tea instead of the cups with fresh leaves on offer.
“You want a seat?” An older-looking Asian woman asks, coming up to me.
“Oh… um. No. I’m here for the job?”
The Asian woman looks at me, scanning me from head to toe.
“You look hungry. Sit, sit,” the woman orders, forcing me into the room and making me sit at a table. She raises her head and says something in her native tongue, getting a just as loud response. Suddenly, a young Asian girl walks out with a plate of white-looking rolls on it.
“Rice paper rolls,” the girl states as I look at her.
“Uh, um…”
“Here,” the Asian woman says to me, smiling. She dips one of the rolls into a smaller plate with liquid and hands it to me.
“Eat,” she instructs. I look at the young girl, who nods, and I tentatively take a bite. The texture is unusual, with the softness of the casing and the crispiness of the lettuce and alfalfa sprouts. But altogether, it’s delicious.
“You like?” the older Asian woman asks. I nod. The woman says something to the girl in her language, who nods and runs off.
Before I finish that plate, another one is presented before me. This time, it is a European dish: a toasted sandwich with what smells like cooked chicken, avocado, and melted cheese. My stomach rumbles.
“You eat,” the Asian woman instructs.
“Oh, I can’t afford all this,” I reply. I mean, I could… but I want to save the money for a motel or something. A place where I can have a real shower and a real bed.
“Yes, you can. It’ll be deducted from your wages,” the young girl tells me.
“Thank you,” I sigh. I watch the two women smile before tucking into my second proper meal in months.
“Do you have a place to stay?” Chen, the young Asian girl, asks me as I help her wipe tables.
“No. I was going to look for a motel or something,” I admit. Or go back into the forest if I can’t find anything.
“There’s a caravan park about a twenty-minute walk north; they’ll have room,” Chen says. I nod.
“Chen… why is Jia helping me?” I finally ask. I had learnt both their names as they continued to feed me a range of interesting and unusual dishes. Chen is Jia’s grandaugher, whoe was around my age, and Jia owned the café, which was called ‘Jia’s Tea House.’
Jia didn’t ask for any references at all, only sitting me down and feeding me, and I was confused. Chen shrugs.
“I don’t know. She’s not normally one to help others. It’s not her thing. There must be something about you she likes,” Chen explains.
“Oh.”
“Plus, you’re a pretty white girl. We’ll get more customers through you,” Chen states, walking away. I stare at her back, half shocked and half happy. Chen turns around and gives me a wink before laughing. Okay. I’m not sure what to make of Chen. I’ll have to watch her.
I found the caravan park that evening after Jia made me go home at five. I wanted to stay and help her clean up, but she wouldn’t let me, insisting I needed to rest. Chen practically shoved me out the door and told me to get some rest, stating that I looked like I’d rolled through a forest and that I’d scare the patrons. I’m not sure how to take that, but I eventually nodded and left.
As I walk up the road, I contemplate my future in this town. I learned that Jia’s Tea House isn’t actually a café. Jia and her husband decided to sell Asian teas with Asian desserts alongside coffee and sandwiches. There is a small population of Asian humans living here, as well as ‘white people’ as Chen had so graciously put it. I learned that there are more white people here than Asians living in this town, but overall, the two cultures seemed to mix happily with each other, kind of like the packs, clans, hubs and covens that live close to my old pack.
I reach the caravan park in no time at all. It’s on the outskirts of the suburbs, near some trees and farmland. There are about twenty caravans on site and spaces available for pitching a tent. I’ve never seen a setup like this before. Human living is so… different. I walk to the admin building and meet an older man who greets me by name. Apparently, Chen had called him in advance to tell him I was coming. I booked a caravan for two weeks, using the money I had kept safely.
It is quiet season in Sierra, with people only staying one or two days before passing through, so I got a decent caravan. My caravan didn’t have a toilet or shower, but I could use the communal building for that. It did have a small kitchen and a small partitioned room with a double bed. A small living area had been built, with a couch and a small flat-screen television. The place really could only fit one or two people, but I could see myself living here happily.
I walked to the tea house the next day at nine, not knowing when it opened officially. I was greeted by Chen and her sister Hana, who taught me the ropes and how to make specialist teas and coffee.
“Do not have this after four, or you won’t sleep,” Chen advises, showing me how to make green tea with real leaves.
“Or if you want to go partying, have it before you go out,” Hana laughs.
“And where would I do that here?” I ask.
“There’s a pub on the south side of town we can take you,” Chen tells me.
“I’m in!” Taylor yells from the kitchen. I can’t help but smile.
“Okay then,” I reply.
Months go by while I live at the caravan park while working at Jia’s Tea House. Every Saturday night, I go to the Surveyor, the local pub in Sierra, with Chen, Hana, and Taylor. I work Monday through Saturday, with half days on Wednesday. I don’t mind. I like the Saturday crowd, as it’s busier and more townsfolk come to visit.
I learn that Sierra is an old mining town named after the first man to find gold here’s daughter, Sierra. After finding gold, Daniel Laurier settled with his wife Anne and daughter Sierra. They ended up having seven children, which was a thing humans did eons ago. Large families. When I asked why, Chen and Hana shrugged their shoulders and responded with ‘Some crazy white person thing.’ Each child, bar Sierra, has streets or parks in Sierra named after them. The main street in town is called Laurier Street. Go figure.
It’s funny. My old pack, Swan Moon, named the town they laid their foundation on Swan Valley. Interestingly enough, a large pond in Swan Valley is full of black and white swans. I guess packs aren’t the only narcissistic race out there.
“Busy today?” I ask Taylor as I walk into the kitchen and grab my apron, tying it around my waist.
“Yup. School holidays and kids, right?” Taylor grins. I nod. This was the first school holiday I had experienced working. And it was busy with flustered mothers and bored teenagers visiting the tea house to fill their day.
I enter the dining room, and a familiar smell hits me. Werewolves. I don’t need to scan the room to know where they are, and I notice immediately when they look up after scenting me.
“Turned it off,” Pan assures me, making me nod in approval. I don’t need werewolves to know there’s already one in town. When I left my pack, I left my life as a werewolf, and I know these werewolves will want to know what my status as a werewolf in this town is.
I see Chen collecting used plates from a table. She indicates with her head the werewolves who have sat themselves down in a booth. I nod and grab some menus to give them.
“Hi. This is our menu; we also have specials on the board above you,” I say, flicking my hand towards the board above their heads, “Would you like some water for now?” I ask.
“Yes, thank you,” the man sitting on my right says, smiling at me.
“I’ll be right back,” I say. They nod, and I leave. I see Mrs Barlow sitting in the booth next to them, her laptop at her table as she taps away.
“Another coffee?” I ask her.
“Yes, please! You are such a dear!” she grins. Mrs Barlow is an aspiring author. I’ve snuck looks at her work once or twice while I work, and her stories are definitely… saucy. Mrs Barlow comes in three times a week on her days off. She works part-time at the local infirmary (Sierra is too small for a hospital) as a nurse, and her husband is the Principal at the local primary school. Mrs Barlow is in her fifties, and I wonder from her writing if she has any restrained sexual desire she’s trying to release in her novels. I smile at that thought because what do I know? I’m a nineteen-year-old virgin who was rejected by her mate.
I make Mrs Barlow another coffee before heading to the werewolves to take their order.
“Ready to order?” I ask, getting out my pen and paper.
“Yes,” the first guy says, telling me what he wants. I take each of their orders when the first guy grabs my hand to stop me.
“Can I help you?” I ask, raising my eyebrows at him. He’s a wolf, and I really want to tell him to eff off, but I’m proud that I’ve restrained myself from saying that. I see the curiosity in his eyes as I respond to him sharply. This wolf has power, maybe a strong Delta or perhaps a Gamma. But I’m supposed to be human, so he shouldn’t be surprised when I pretend to be supposedly unaware of his power.
“Uh, sorry,” he says, letting my wrist go. I made a show of rubbing my wrist where he grabbed me.
“I was wondering if this place was a good place to live,” he stutters.
“Why? You thinking of moving here?” I ask.
“Well, we’ve bought property here and are moving our families in,” the curly-haired guy tells me.
“Your families?” I ask.
“Pack. They’re moving their pack here,” Pandora tells me in my head.
“I realise that,” I tell her, pushing her back down.
“Yeah, so we were wondering what this place was like. If there was any trouble around here…” the first one stutters.
“All four of you are moving into the same property?” I enquire. They look at each other.
“Well, we plan on building… maybe purchasing some houses in town,” the second guy says. The guy in the corner grunts, and I look over at him. No, this guy is definitely the one with the power. From what I can tell, he’s the Beta. He looks familiar; I’ve probably met him.
“So you’re the scouting party, huh?” I ask, scanning the table.
“Something like that,” the second one admits.
“This town has a small population of about three thousand people. So pretty boring. If you move your family here, you better keep your noses clean. Don’t want to stand out, if you know what I mean. Now, if you let me, I’ll just take your orders to the kitchen,” I tell them.
“She knows something,” I hear the fourth one whisper as I walk away.
“No, she doesn’t,” the Beta replies.
“Sure?” the first one asks.
“Can’t be too sure. Mel, keep an eye on her, though,” the Beta says.
“Sure thing, Jules. Gladly,” the second one, Mel, replies.
Fuck. Not only is a pack moving into the area, but I’ve somehow gotten myself on their radar.
“Are you okay, Evie?” Taylor asks when I walk into the back kitchen.
“Yup. Dandy,” I tell him, placing the order in a clip.
“What’s got you all riled up then?” he asks. I look in the direction of the dining room. There’s an open window so you can see the kitchen from the dining room, and I look at the table with the werewolves.
“Nothing,” I state. I know they can hear me from where they sit, and I must be careful with my words.
“Nothing,” I repeat again.
I tried to lay low during the next few weeks, but there is more road and foot traffic since the table of werewolves visited. It’s made me wary enough that I put in my two weeks’ notice at Jia’s Tea House. I’ve kept my upcoming departure quiet, only allowing Jia to tell her granddaughters and Taylor, as I’ve noticed increased surveillance of me from the wolf pack. They’re not very good at hiding their scents. It’s not until Wednesday that I really get worried.
I’m standing at the counter refreshing the honeycomb cake, which is quite popular when Jules approaches me.
“Hi Evie,” he greets. He knows my name because he’s heard the regular customers call me by it.
“Hi. How can I help you today?” I ask.
“Can I have a slice of Pandan cake and green tea?” Jules asks.
“Sure. Going for the colour green today?” I tease. Pandan cake is also very popular, but as it is a fluffy sponge cake with a green colour, I’ve never tried it.
“Yeah, it tastes good. By the way, thanks for the heads-up on the green tea.”
I smile. Once, he came in and said he wasn’t sleeping well and asked if green tea would help him. It’s a misconception that it will help you fall asleep, though, as it’s full of caffeine. Yeah, it helps relax you, but I suggested chamomile, which may be more effective.
“No worries. Take a seat, and I’ll bring it out to you,” I tell him.
“Evie, do I know you from somewhere? You look familiar,” Jules asks, hesitating. I try to keep my face straight at his question.
“I don’t think so. Although I didn’t grow up here. Maybe?” I ask.
“Are you from the East?” Jules asks. Shit. I shake my head.
“No. Sorry.”
“Hmm. Maybe you look like someone I know,” Jules muses.
“Maybe. When I was younger, people told me they’d seen my big sister around. It was funny, cause I’m an only child,” I laugh. My ‘big’ sister is my mum. I look like her more than Dad.
“Yeah. I had a friend like that. Our friends would argue about which sibling he looked like most. Only he was adopted,” Jules tells me. I nod. Thank goddess, he believed that. I watch as he finds a table and begin preparing his cake and tea.
Chen comes in at twelve, and I help her with the lunch shift before signing out.
“Evie!” Jia calls out from her office.
“Pay,” she tells me, handing me an envelope.
“A day early,” I remark. It also feels heavier than usual. Jia pays me in cash because when I gave her my name, Evie Daniels, I had no identification to accompany it. She just shrugged her shoulders and began paying me in cash.
“I guess you’ll be leaving us, huh?” Jia states.
“Yeah…”
“Well, when you come back, I’ll always have a job here for you,” Jia says, hugging me.
“Am I missing out on some hug, love?” Taylor cries out, coming over and wrapping us in his big, oil-smelling arms. We hold each other for what feels not long enough when Jia breaks free and swats at Taylor’s hand.
“Oy, you. Get to work. The foods not going to make itself! Iyiyi!” Jia chastises. I laugh. Before I leave, I say goodbye to Chen and Hana and then walk back to the caravan park. I’ve paid for another week’s rent but don’t care about getting a refund. Instead, I hand in the keys and thank Oliver for taking me in. Turning south, I head out of Sierra.
