The cool night air chilled him to the bone. It was just a regular night as he went about his routine. Jack was in a stuck. A rut of working third shift. He mindlessly went about his routine slowly walking back to his home, but soon he would arrive at the usual café. Every night, 6 days a week, he stopped by the shop; it was the best coffee he could afford. Plus it was the only one within walking distance open late.

He didn’t work a naturally third shift job. He worked in a warehouse that usually kept him over till he stuffed the last truck full with as many pallets as possible. Sometimes it was tough. There was never a day that he got off on time. He wasn’t going to complain about the overtime; every little bit helps. Besides, this was one of the only jobs he could get with his current afflictions that wouldn’t conflict with his previous engagements.

He walked into the café and almost instantly was greeted by the one other patron here. The only worker was sitting there with him. His arrival interrupted their conversation. The shop was nice, and the people there at this time of night were wonderful. He gave a cheerful greeting to them both as the worker stood up and walked back behind the counter. Something felt off about this. It wasn’t usual for them to be talking together. It was none of his business anyway, just strange.

“The usual?” the female attendant asked. She had already begun making his usual.

“Of course! How are the both of your nights going?” Jack answered turning sideways so he could see both of them at once.

“Doing pretty good for a full moon, all considering. We’re thinking of locking the place up tonight,” she said.

“She was just telling me that I shouldn’t go home, and that I should stay here instead. Maybe you should do the same? Would be a shame if something would happen to ya,” the other patron suggested.

“W-when is the moon coming out?”

His mind went on full alert. Suddenly he was fully awake, realizing that he forgot what day of the month it was. He couldn’t be rude and not pay for the coffee , but he needed to get out of this shop as soon as possible. He needed to get home and get the chains up. The town had a werewolf problem before and went through severe measures to protect everyone. He might not make it home in time for curfew at this rate.

“Are you doing okay? You’re kinda spacing.”

“I’m so sorry, I just realized I need to get going. Sorry.” Jack started heading to the door.

“Wait, it’s too late, curfew is about to-” the other patron interrupted.

“No, you don’t understand. I really should be on my way.”

“Jack, it’s okay, I brought a lot of blankets and stuff. No big deal right?” The barista walked out from behind the counter, handing Jack his coffee. “Besides, you look rugged. When was the last time you shaved? The coffee is on the house this time.”

Jack rubbed his face and realized that his facial hair was sprouting, giving him an unshaven look. Which was strange considering he just shaved this morning. Jack looked at the door only for the other guy to throw down a metal bar in front of it, locking the door in place. He scratched his face feeling his nails get pointier. There was no exit for him through the front.

“T-this is so important, is there a back door? I really should get out.” Jack started to go behind the counter.

“What’s wrong?”

Jack didn’t answer as he started to feel the changes. Desperation took hold as he opened the stock door looking for some place he could go. If he couldn’t escape perhaps he could lock himself up. What would they do afterwards to him? Would he be executed just for existing? Why did work keep him so late? Their cries didn’t stop him as he looked for some way out. His ass felt the weird sensation that meant he was sprouting a tail. When he reentered the room he saw them confused and worried.

“What’s that behind you?” the patron asked.

He walked towards the only other area he had yet to go; perhaps this door would lead him to the escape he desired.

“Holy cow is that a tail?” the barista gasped.

“Uh, no it’s just um… I’m sorry, excuse me.”

His heart sank. They knew Jack’s biggest secret. His life was now over. The door led to another room, an office this time. The office had yet another door on the other side of it. Jack tried to open it but every time he tried to turn the handle his claws dug into the wood. He didn’t want to cause them any damage, but there was no way to avoid it. With a twist of the handle he scratched a half moon into the door with his fingernails. He ran into the hallway, only to be greeted with another door.

Jack sniffed the air. The outside was so close. He scratched his head, pondering how to get out. He found a prime spot on his ear that felt really nice to scratch. He stopped when he realized he was doing that wolf thing again. There was no escape now. He was going to transform right here and he was going to cause such a scene. He just wanted to have a nice coffee and would cost him his life. The barista might have said it was on the house but he’d pay for it dearly.

“Um… Jack… want me to unlock that for you?”

She turned on the light just as Jack reared back, shredding his clothes in what could only be described as a roar. Really it was just an uncontrolled outburst brought about because of his changing body; but to the poor woman it was a howl. She visibly flinched. Jack saw this and lunged forward, trying to apologize only for her to scream at the hulking beast towering over her. Jack tried to apologize but realized that everything he was doing couldn’t be understood by this human. He fell back down to his tail.

He couldn’t do anything. He was trapped here. His life as he knew it was over. He let his own carelessness ruin this safe life he had made. He slumped up against the wall. If he could cry he would. He put his head between his knees; there was nothing to do but wait for the inevitable to happen. He let out a low howl of distress as he slumped there in his own mess of muscle and fluff. Before he could let out any more accidental growls the woman awkwardly climbed up on him.

Surprised, Jack lifted his head to see the woman climbing between his legs to get to the door. Her caring touch melted his heart. She overcame her fears to help this hulking beast that threatened her. He sat there in disbelief as she ran over to the door and unlocked it. The wolf man stood up, hunched over with his new stature; he was now too big for the hallway. His tail wagged behind as he took a few steps toward his freedom.

“It’s okay, we knew about this for some time. Just be careful out there. There are still patrols out to catch any feral werewolves okay? Come back tomorrow night for coffee. Now go!”

She held the door open as he carefully approached the door. He didn’t want to scare her; he didn’t want to scare anyone or cause any problems. His trepidation towards her only broadcasted the peaceful tact of the wolf. At any second he could instantly destroy her. Jack was big and strong enough for it. But all she could see was a scared man, slowly making sure not to cause problems. He was always so polite, and in this case even more so. He got out of the cramped hallways and stood up. The top of the door opening only came up to his chest.

“Remember, coffee tomorrow! My treat!”

He gave the only response he could and nodded. After she reclosed the door he bolted. Without need to hunch his body now he prowled the roads, looking for a proper place to hide for the night. All four of his paws thumped on the ground. This turned out to be a good night after all. Given the circumstances, he was beyond relieved. He gave the deepest, loudest howl into the air as he could. Some others answered his calls. It sounded as if they were also in a good mood! Maybe he didn’t have to fear for his existence after all. He found his friends and his support. Things could only get better from now on.