Chapter 3. Adonis.

I should not be here.

I don't know what I was thinking, seating down in a such a run down and overpopulated pub at the edge of town, drinking a glass of diluted beer. Surveying the crowd with displeasure, I let out a sigh and continued with my drink, my mood darkening as seconds ticked by. I had been heading straight to my hotel after a long day of business deals to go and get some rest when I had this overwhelming urge to come to this pub.

I barely went to crowded places, so it was strange that I had such a need to be here. It felt so out of place. Regardless, I had walked in and as expected, nothing caught my interest. Still, I couldn't leave. The beast that resided within me, wouldn't let me leave. Unable to contend with it, I had gotten a seat at the obscure center of the pub and was quietly drinking, seemingly waiting for nothing.

More people trooped in and out and the noise grew louder. This irritated my wolf, who absolutely loved quiet places but still I couldn't leave. Finally, someone walked in and I felt the atmosphere change. My wolf who had been dormant and quietly growling in my head at the noise suddenly went quiet, his ears perched and his nose sniffing.

It was odd. Never in my life have has my wolf been interested in someone. The last time it was this restless when we found our mate, and that ended when she died. Since then, it's been just us. I tried to ignore it's need to find out whoever was making us so restless but soon found out it would be practically impossible. Eventually, I felt a peculiar gaze on me and turned in it's direction. My eyes locked with the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Even from where I sat, I could see her high cheekbones, her gorgeous almond eyes, and long dark hair that framed her oval face. Her eyes widened as well, her lips slowly parting. My wolf howled inside me, every of my senses attuned to her. This has to be the person I had been waiting for all along. Standing to my feet, I slowly yet purposely made my way towards her. She didn't even try to break eye contact and for some reason, it made me pleased that she was this fixated to me.

I finally got in front her and she blinked slowly, her cheeks staining with color. She hurriedly cleared her throat and looked away from me, her gaze turned to the empty shot glass in front of her. Glaring menacingly at the stranger seating next to her, I watched him scurry away and took the seat he just vacated. I felt the lady stiffen but she didn't make to speak, just kept her gaze trained ahead.

"You look like you could do with a drink." I began slowly, observing her reactions. She slowly turned to me and I noted with a frown that her eyes were slightly puffed with dried tears running down her cheeks. Has she been crying!?

"Um... No thank you. I think I've had enough." She muttered and hurriedly averted her gaze. I pursed my lips, not liking the response.

"Really? I don't think one more glass would hurt." I coaxed her gently. She stiffened at first but slowly relaxed, her lips curling into a coy smile.

"You're right. I don't think one more glass would hurt." She repeated, her gaze fixed on me. I nodded, turned to the bartender and the requested for another drink. It soon got passed to us and I took my glass, watching as the beautiful stranger took a sip from hers. Up close, she was even more beautiful. She had the most beautiful hazel eyes I had ever seen, short nose that framed her face perfectly and cupid lips. My gaze traveled lower to her dress. It was just a regular dress but it flaunted her shape so perfectly. It suddenly made me wonder what she would look like naked. I distinctly noted my groin stiffening and immediately tried to banish such thoughts from my mind.

When my gaze went back to her face, she was staring at me as well, a corner of her lip turned up but not quite forming a smile. And her eyes... Her eyes were filled with a mischief that had my heart pounding. "Like what you see?" She asked in a sultry voice, leaning closer to me and whatever thought I tried to banish from my mind came back with incredible force.

"Indeed I do. I have been in this pub for quite a while but I must say, you have captivated me ever since you walked in." I murmured, and she chuckled, sparks dancing in her eyes.

"You're in luck. I was in need of someone to pull me out of the dreadful pain I was feeling." She said and I watched for a moment as her eyes clouded over with sadness and anger. She blinked and it was gone.

"Pain?" I questioned but she just shrugged, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't want to talk about it." She murmured non-commitantly, taking a sip from a drink again. Whatever it was, it must have been so severe for her to come here with tear stains still on her cheeks and needing her to drown her sorrows with alcohol. All of a sudden, dark rage filled me. Whoeever it was, I wanted to delete them from existence.

That reaction surprised me. Why was I feeling so possessive over someone I just met? I pushed down the uncomfortable feeling and focused on the beautiful lady before me. "What is your name, beautiful?"

"Do we have to use our real names here?" She asked, titling her head to the side as she stared at me and I chuckled. That also another first. It's been an awfully long time since someone ever brought me to laughter.

"Do you think it would be much preferable if we didn't use our real names?" I asked and she smiled. Sighing, I straightened up on my seat. "Well, fake names it is then."

"The name is Suzie." She said, stretching her hands for a shake.

"Nicholas." I replied easily, taking her hand. A jolt of electricity passed through my hands at the contact and when I looked at her, her cheek had grown red. She must have felt it too. She quickly removed her hands from mine but the sensation still lingered. I placed my hands back on the table, resisting the urge to curl it into a fist.

"Good to meet you Suzie. The evening was looking very tedious. But now... " I trailed off but the deepening off color on her cheeks signified she has gotten what I meant. My wolf purred deeply inside me and the fierce need to claim the woman in front persisted. And I wasn't about to deny myself it tonight.

"Would you like to get out of here, Suzie?" I asked, staring at her intently. I watched as she hesitated, before gingerly placing my hands in mine. My wolf moved inside of me, and I felt excited crawl up my spine.

"Yes, please."