You had to be kidding me. I was already in hot water with my mom, and now I’d gone and acted like an idiot to her new employee. Why hadn’t she told me she had found someone to fill the opening that had been sitting vacant for years? My mom never did anything without a good reason, and figuring out what that reason was suddenly took on paramount importance.

Maybe showing the girl the way to town would smooth things over with her. She’d realize I wasn’t as much of a jerk as I seemed at first. But who could blame me? We all had to be careful about what humans entered Willow Harbor, even if they’d never remember a thing when they left.

A librarian? Really? Weren’t librarians supposed to be—well, librarian looking? Not that I could see much of her under that oversized hoodie, although the back view of her jeans had been nice. And those eyes. Man, the girl had warm brown eyes and a set of lips I couldn’t stop thinking about. Enough. She was coming to town to work for my mom. That was enough of a reason to keep my thoughts clean. Things were such a mess with my family already, what with my mom begging me to focus on finding “the one.” As if a riddle in an ancient book could possibly reveal the identity of my soul mate. Soul mate. It was ridiculous. Who cared if I was the last true shapeshifter in our family? It wasn’t such a great thing to be anyway.

I drove extra slow so she wouldn’t fall behind. I could tell from my rearview mirror she was gripping the wheel like her life depended on it. She must have been driving for hours, and I felt even guiltier for questioning her like I did. I couldn’t help the mood I was in. It was only a month before my 25^th birthday. My mom was on my back, and a few of the wolves in town were trying to kill me. In other words, it was an average day in my life.

She was still following when the gates came into view. At least I hadn’t lost her. I hadn’t asked her where she was staying, so I drove toward the downtown and stopped in front of the library. The building was closed for the night already, but I could direct her where she needed to go from there. I turned off my truck, hopped out, and waited for her.

What I didn’t expect for her to do was pop her trunk and start pulling out bags.

“Where are you staying?” I asked before she could empty everything out.

“The library director—err, your mom, said an apartment came with the job.” She glanced at the imposing four story building. Aside from the church steeple, the library was the tallest building in town. Made of sandstone and adorned with large columns, the library looked like it belonged in the downtown of a big city, not our dinky town.

“An apartment…” and then it dawned on me. “Did she say where this apartment was?”

“In the library. I told her I would be coming in really late, and she assured me someone would be here to open up for me.”

“My mother wouldn’t make a promise she can’t keep.” I grabbed the heavier of her bags and carried them up the wide front steps. There was another entrance around back, but this was the most direct route in. I heard the girl following a few steps behind me.

I set the bags down ready to pull out my key when the door flung open.

My mom stepped out with a huge grin on her face. A grin I knew wasn’t for me. “You must be Matilda.”

“Matilda?” I sputtered out. A librarian named Matilda. That couldn’t be real.

“Oh Pierce, I see you met our newest librarian.” This time she was smiling at me.

“Named Matilda?” I eyed the librarian, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh.

She glared at me. “My parents were into Roald Dahl. Enough said. Call me Mattie. That’s what everyone else does.”

I nodded. “Got it. Sorry for laughing.” So much for smoothing things over with her.

She sighed. “You aren’t the first one.”

“Since you are here, Pierce, please carry her bags up.” My mom stepped back inside into the dimly lit main entry way of the library. With its cathedral height ceilings and wood beams, it came as no surprise that Mattie was gaping all around her. There was a lot to look at.

“She’s staying in the old apartment?” I picked up two of Mattie’s bags in each hand.

“Old?” Mattie picked up the small remaining bag, finally pulling her eyes from the architecture.

“Oh, he’s just being silly. Come with me.” Mom gave me a warning look I knew all too well before heading toward the stairs at the rear of the library.

Considering the free housing she’d been promised, I’d say the chances of Mattie staying just went from low to nill. I couldn’t quite believe my mom would do that to someone. Even I wouldn’t ask a girl to stay in an old place like that, especially not this girl. Not that there was anything special about her—or not too much. It took more than a pretty face and a nice smile to turn my head. If it weren’t for that strange air about her, I wouldn’t have given her a second thought. Or not a third one at least.

Mom led the way up three flights of stairs until we reached the old library custodian apartment. No one had lived there in my lifetime, and the one time I’d snuck inside as a kid I understood why. Piles of dust covered all surfaces, and the old wooden floor was missing planks all over. I wasn’t sure if the lights even worked.

Mom pulled out a key, unlocked the old-fashioned lock, and pushed open the door. She handed the key to Mattie who walked in very slowly.

“Oh. This is—”

Horrible? Awful? I waited to see what adjective she’d use.

“Perfect. Thanks.”

“Perfect?” I followed her in, wondering if Mattie was crazy or just super polite.

It turned out to be neither. She was spot on. Well, maybe perfect wasn’t exactly the right word, but nice was.

The kitchen had all new granite counter tops, the living area was filled with fresh furniture and a warm wood floor that carried throughout the whole area I could see. I wasn’t sure how my mom had arranged the updates without me knowing, but it wasn’t all that surprising. My mother was capable of nearly anything when properly motivated.

“All right then. I took the liberty of stocking the kitchen so you should find something to nibble on if you are hungry.” Mom gestured to the brand-new fridge in the kitchen.

“Wow, thank you, Vicky.” Mattie ran her hand over the counter. “This is much nicer than I could have hoped for.”

“Of course. Now get some rest so you are ready to start tomorrow.” Mom headed toward the door. She nudged me, letting me know it was my turn to leave too. I nodded in Mattie’s direction.

“Thanks again.” Mattie smiled before she closed the door behind us. I couldn’t help but wish I was on the other side of the door.

Mom stayed silent until we reached the ground floor, then she let me have it. “How did you manage to meet Matilda before she got here?”

“Mattie. She says she prefers to go by Mattie.”

“Yes, I know, but her full name is Matilda.” Mom pursed her lips.

“Fine. Call her what you want, but I’m not calling her by the name of a children’s book character.”

“And why not?” Mom frowned.

“I’m not answering that question.”

“You will be answering my first question.” Her frown deepened.

“I met her at Bert’s restaurant off the highway. She needed directions, so I offered to lead her here.”

“Is that all that happened?” Mom pushed a strand of her black hair behind her ear. “Remember I know when you are lying.”

“I was nice once I found out why she was coming to town.”

“Why not before?” She rested her chin in her hand, and I had the distinct impression that she wanted to know even though the answer was obvious.

“You know why not.”

“Not all humans are out to get us, Pierce. I know many in our town seem to think they are, but you have to make your own decisions, not listen to what others say.”

“Why did you hire her?” That was a far more important question than how warm my greeting was.

“Because she’s highly qualified.”

“No highly qualified human librarian would take a job in Willow Harbor.”

“This one did.” Mom straightened a row of books that didn’t need to be straightened.

“Which means she’s desperate.”

“We all have our reasons for going new places.” She moved on to another perfectly arranged shelf.

“What was hers?”

“It is not for me to share.”

“But you know. You always know.”

Mom stopped organizing. “Do me a favor and be nice to her. I’d like to keep her around.”

“I’ll be nice.” And not only to make my mom happy. That realization made me uncomfortable.

“Great.” Mom walked toward the door, her heels clicking on the wood floor. “Now go home and get some sleep.”

“I don’t sleep anymore.” I had told her that a million times already, but she always lectured me anyway.

“You could if you tried harder.”

“I try perfectly hard.” I wasn’t sure why I bothered arguing anymore.

“You can always try harder. Good night, Pierce.” She stood unmoving, and I knew she was waiting for me to leave so she could lock up. What a night. Even if I couldn’t sleep, I would enjoy my thoughts—I already knew exactly who they would be about tonight.