Chapter 4 – Johnny: Mate

“Alpha I have some paperwork I need you to just look over and sign”

“Ok come straight in” I mind l**k back. Rae is curator at the museum I own. She is also my sister. I own many businesses but the museum us my favourite. We both have a keen interest in history, so do our parents and most of our pack. By running the museum we are preserving our history making it accessible for future generations. We don’t show the world our werewolf heritage we show our Native American history, though some werewolf history clearly comes in to that but nothing a regular human would be able to piece together or realise. Native Americans are said to be the originators of werewolves, and we are descended from some of the first original werewolves. Further down the family tree to our family and it has become more diluted. Our Native American side originates from my mother’s side about 4 generations back. We all have dark features and hair but mine and sibling’s eyes are blue like my father. All have the typical werewolf stature being strong and muscular. Most werewolves tend to be good looking compared to the average humans. We have no idea why this is but most believe it is because we descend from the moon goddess herself. Werewolves that aren’t good looking tend to be humans that have been bitten and turned. As times progressed this form of becoming a werewolf happens rarely as werewolf society has become more civilised.

My sister Rae is an incredible asset to our pack and the museum. Her knowledge on our history and pack heritage is out of this world. Only the pack elders know as much as she does. It makes me proud that we can share our history and know that my sister especially, is at the forefront. We have been able to teach all our new generations even more than what we could ever have imagined. Her husband and mate is my Beta Will. Will is second in command. If I need anything taking care of or things looking after while I’m unable to, he is the person I call upon. Not only is he my Beta but he is my best friend, I confide in him and trust him completely.

 I have 2 other siblings, brothers both are younger and my parents are now elders of the pack. By now I should have my mate. At 18 we can sense them and usually by 25 at the latest we will have found them. Our mates are the other piece to our soul. At 35 I have yet to find my mate, my Luna. It is indeed a worry for everyone. My pack however don’t push me to take just anyone as Luna. We believe everyone has a fated soul mate that the moon goddess blesses us with, and that she has a plan for each and every one of us. At first I thought she may have died this is why I haven’t met her yet, but the pack elders assured me that this isn’t the case. If she had died I would have felt it. It is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately it is taking all the time in the world. It angers me sometimes to think everyone has their mate and mine is still nowhere - practically Non-existent, has the moon goddess cursed me?? My wolf Azell believes she is still out there waiting for us to find her. I have been tempted to just take any she-wolf or human just to have a Luna but my pack and my wolf forbids it. So I see a couple of women on and off but nothing serious. They are told I am not serious about our relationships but that doesn’t stop some of them becoming too attached, it is a means to an end for me. Which is probably crappy of me. They don’t bring me pleasure but I crave company. I tried to hide the majority of my escapades but my parents found out about a couple of the women I was seeing and let’s just say they were less than pleased.  Most women want more from me, especially she-wolves and I refuse to give it. My parents always warned me it would come back to bite me in the ass. Being a werewolf, we are naturally large and muscular as males and easy on the eyes. So it is usually easy for us find men or women willing to be with us. I realise how shallow it sounds but like any being we have urges and needs. I could have my fill of women but I don’t. I am careful (usually)…..I just crave company mainly. All I want is my mate whoever, where ever she is.

Rae walks in with a huge pile of paperwork. She places it on my desk pushes up her glasses (which are just for show as every werewolf has excellent vision) and beams at me. “Hi bro, we have a few pieces donated to us arriving today from Russia! There is also a couple of human schools wanting to organise class visits to coincide with their topic work. Oh! I also wanted to double check with you again that I am ok to show Ms Davis the amulet?”

“Yeah no problem I trust your judgement, and who knows we may actually learn something more about its history”

“Actually I found another here in this country, I’m still pulling together the details but I am contacting them to see what they found out and if we are able to view the pieces together to compare, especially since they are supposedly one of a kind.”

“Great work sis as usual,” she gives me a smile thanking me.

“How long are you staying in the city for?” she asks?

“Just a couple of days, I have some pack business and a few alphas to negotiate new members and catch up on pack issues and then I’ll head back to the pack.” The pack house and members were only a 20 minute drive out the city so I was always close, but business always bought me here so I made sure I had a building full of apartments for times when I needed to be here longer.

“Ok will you visit the museum while you’re in the city?”

“I was hoping to, I wanted to check out those items from Russia and I have a few other errands to run, quite possibly tomorrow and maybe the day after depending on how quickly I get sorted”

“Shall I Tell Will you will meet him at your apartment?

“Actually tell him to meet me at the park, I could do with a run since I will be missing training”

She smiles “ok sure thing, I’ll see you both later then, let me know if you want me to grab lunch for you both”

“Thanks Rae”

*humpf hurry up already I need to let off some steam* my wolf grumbles, as each month passes he gets more grumpy and hormonal. “Honestly Azell you are like a moody teenager at the moment what’s the matter?” he huffs and again moaning about the lack of mate and stomps off to the back of my mind. I grab my bag and pop my clothes in, changing into my running gear. Nothing fancy loose baggy shorts, sneakers, a vest and my ipod and head phones. A knock at the door sounds, “Come in!” I grumble. A huge waft of perfume fills the room and I immediately know its Kady. I slept with the woman on and off for less than a month and she keeps trying to weasel her way back in. I quickly realised she was one of those women that didn’t like to be told no, she had to be in control all the time. Materialistic and cruel, qualities that I loathe. She made the biggest mistake of trying to come between me and my sister. Only Will knows what this woman is like. As soon as I saw through her bullshit I cut all ties with her. We only slept together nothing else and she knew nothing would ever become of us. I told her every time I spoke to her and she would say that she knew and the feeling was mutual. Yet here we are again with her in my office trying to seduce me yet again.

“What do you want?” I ask in a harsh tone.

“I was just thinking Alpha instead of going for a run you could work out with me…..” and she unzips her dress and it drops to the floor and she’s stood there in nothing but a tiny g string. What the fuck. Azell rolls his eyes.

“Not a chance!” I shout and I grab my bag and run from the room leaving her standing there in all her glory.

I meet Will at the park. We are early enough to miss the mad rush, being quite competitive we have a wager on who gets the best time today. I take a deep breath in, smelling fresh cut grass. A perfect spring day. We jog for a good 20 minutes when I notice a sweet calming smell mixed with lavender and something else. Azell stirs a little *what’s that smell?* he asks… I’m not sure Azell, it could be the fountain flowers. I look around sniffing, a group of women joggers pass by side eyeing me and Will, but they don’t own the smell, just cheap perfume, cigarettes and coffee coming from them. *Close your eyes Johnny see if you can follow the smell* Azell growls huskily at me. I quickly scan my surroundings to make sure I don’t run into anyone. I see Will steadily keeping pace next to me and close my eyes gently sniffing and tasting the air. I slowly jog following the smell when I slam hard into something.

*MATE MATE MATE!! That’s our mate Johnny we found her!! Take her now. Pick her up. Grab her before she runs away. Lift her over your shoulder quickly now do it!*

“God damn it Azell will you calm your possessive self right now.” I block him out so I can try and focus. Will glances over and smiles just carrying on but making sure he isn’t far. I realise now that I am literally staring wide eyed at the woman. She’s mumbling sorry with her mouth full and I continue to gawk at her wide eyed. “SAY SOMETHING!” Azell growls. The woman is still babbling while I still stand there gawking

“Oh my goodness… I really am so so sorry! Even my son says I need to pay attention and watch where I’m going! I didn’t hurt you did I? Oh good I didn’t get food on you, oh no I really am truly sorry” She has an accent you know what that means Azell?! We couldn’t find our mate because she lives in a different country! And wow! She is mesmerising her cute nose and look at her eyes they are the most incredible colour! I stand there transfixed.

*Johnny she has a son … did you not hear?? She’s taken…we can’t have our mate……* Azell sulks to the back of my mind, his heart breaking.

I raise my eyebrow she surely can’t have a family, mid thought I snap myself out of my dazed state. Listening to her ask if I’m hurt. I shrug telling the woman “I’m good but you should be more careful” as I turn to jog away. I immediately mind l**k Will.

“Will I found my mate!!!” get here and follow her quickly. I already know she has a son but I need to know as much information as you can, as soon as you can. And report back to me”

“Yes Alpha! But what do we do if she has a family and husband already?”

I sigh…. “Honestly I don’t know, let’s just see what we can find out for now. You can’t miss her she has light purple hair.”

“I see her Alpha I’ll find out everything I can”

I jog one more lap then head straight back to my apartment, I need a shower to cool off. I can’t stop thinking about the woman. I should have spoken more to her, asked questions, said more, done more! Azell grumbles, ‘I know Azell, this is on me, but the whole situation took me by surprise I wasn’t expecting to be jogging and slam into someone, for that someone to be our mate… for her to possibly have a family….shit.’

After my cool shower I put my clothes on and check my phone for any messages, just a couple of messages one from mom and dad and one from Rae saying the Russian Shipment arrived. Needing a distraction before my meeting later, I head over to the museum. I spend the rest of the morning there cataloguing all the new artefacts that arrived from Russia with Rae, until I leave for my meeting with the other alphas. I message Will to meet me after with an update on my mate which he agrees to.

Afternoon soon comes and I head over to my apartment for the meeting. The meeting with the other pack alphas goes well, knowing newly mated couples will be well looked after in all packs is a blessing. I knew they would be, the 3 packs have long held alliances for the past 2 decades. We arrange the next mate ball to be held in my pack lands. It’s a chance for all unmated wolves to find their mate. All packs hold them. Some have different traditions on how to meet mates. Our 3 packs alliance means our people all have a better chance of finding their soul mates. These meetings beforehand are usually just a formality we have to keep, but it also allows us to all keep up to date on pack politics. Our three packs span 3 cities all close together. Our cities aren’t huge but it’s a lot to manage completely alone. Hence our alliances together. Any troubles we can help each other out. Alpha Zane is a huge stern and indifferent guy, only speaking when he deems necessary, he can be a pretty funny guy but only when he allows you to know that about him. But we get on well.  Alpha Blake is a tall dark brooding man, he has only been alpha for a few years, I knew his dad well and again we got on well. He tends to worry more about things than Zane. I would say that’s because he is young and wants to do well by his pack. Today he brings up a worrying issue he has in his city. “I’m concerned gentlemen.” He breathes a heavy sigh and I can see him trying to figure out the best way to voice his concerns.

“More and more people are going missing. But its people you don’t miss. Like the Homeless, drunks and drug addicts. The only reason we noticed is because my mate’s sister volunteers at a couple homeless shelters, and some regulars have gone missing. But that’s not the concerning thing, they only seem to be targeting the humans. In all the rogue shelters everyone is accountable. When we looked into it we noticed the same across the city. It’s not just one shelter it’s happened to nearly all of them”

Our 3 packs are one of the few packs to set up rogue shelters. We believe making a wolf a rogue should be a very last resort and under extreme circumstances. Most other packs have their own rules and many wolves are thrown out of packs for minor grievances. Some wolves are far too young to fend for themselves, so we set up our own charities. Wolves were welcome to join our packs but those that weren’t ready or didn’t feel able to, or even just passing through were able to use our shelters. This did not make our packs weak or soft it made our packs loyal to the core. We even extended our own shelters for humans.

“Ok Blake I will look in to it, this is worrying we need to find out the cause for the disappearances, if it is only humans and why, also if they are only in your city or if it’s a common occurrence in all territories” I rub my chin thinking…… “I wonder if the vamps are up to no good. They have been more quiet than usual the past few months. We may have to send out a few men night patrolling the cities to see if they spot anything out of the ordinary”

“Yes I think your right.” Blake said. Both Alpha’s agreed to order patrols over their cities and reconvene in a couple of days. I shook hands with both Alphas and they left. I went to the kitchen and made a couple of coffees and I sat thinking of the possible reasons for these disappearances whilst waiting for Will to finish his mission.

By the time Will gets back it’s around 5pm. He takes a seat and I can immediately tell he is stalling on purpose. Sitting down all smug. “Are you deliberately trying to irritate me, am I going to have to beat it out of you or are you going to tell me about my mate?!?!” he begins to laugh which only makes me more impatient.

“Ok Ok lover boy, I followed her around all day, she’s staying at the hotel just round the corner from the west entrance to the park. She sure likes to shop, but not in the way you would think. I didn’t see her step in to a single modern chain store. It was all vintage shops, small businesses and thrift stores. But she spent quite a bit so I don’t think she’s short on money, it’s more a style choice. I overheard several video calls mainly to her son and father. There is definitely no man on the scene from what I can tell. The boy’s father isn’t too highly thought of either. The way they talk about him I’d say he is a useless piece of shit” he chuckled. I breathe a small sigh of relief, things didn’t seem so bad after all.

“You will like the boy he has spirit, from what I could tell through the calls. There is one other thing though, I’m not sure how to explain it”

“What do you mean?” I ask

“Well she kinda smells different, like there is definitely human in there but there is something else I don’t know what is though I’ve never smelt anything like it. She smells amazing” I couldn’t help my possessive growl, Azell hated anyone thinking about our mate she was ours.

“Sorry Alpha I didn’t mean it in that way. Just it’s a nice smell” I nodded I know how he meant it. Werewolves are naturally possessive it can’t be helped. I knew she smelt good to me, that’s the mate bond at work, I never thought the possibility someone other than myself might think she smells good to. She intrigues me even more now. “How do I go about actually seeing her or spending time with her? She’s clearly a tourist and may not be here for long” a long howl in my head lets me know Azell feels the same, we might lose our mate as quick as we found her.

“Well… I overheard her saying she was going to be in the park first thing tomorrow for some errr…. Light exercise” he said with amusement. Ok that was weird I wonder what that’s all about. *Who cares we get to see our mate again* Azell purrs I roll my eyes at him.

“Tell no one about her Will not even Rae, until I know what to do about the whole situation”

“Yes alpha, you should also tie up any loose ends with the women you were seeing. I know at least one of those ladies isn’t going to be happy about this at all.”

“What do you mean they know it’s never going to lead to anything!?”

“If you say so, but let me be frank with you Johnny, if you aren’t careful those women will come back to bite you in the ass so don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I heed your warning,” I bow “you may go”

“As you wish alpha, and don’t over sleep she said early morning”

“Oh I won’t” I can’t help but smile.

I wake up early next morning. I couldn’t sleep. The anticipation of seeing my mate again was too intense. I make myself a quick breakfast, oatmeal with berries and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. I check my emails and phone messages making sure I won’t be interrupted for the whole morning. Finishing my breakfast I shower brush my teeth and get myself ready. Making sure I wear my good jogging gear, my favourite tank top so my tattooed arm is fully on display and my favourite loose basketball shorts. I at least want to make a good impression. I run a small amount of gel through my hair. It was always in a kind of neat but messy style. Shaved neatly on the sides and longer on top. I leave my face slightly stubbly. Everything easy to maintain. I check myself in the mirror *I would fuck you Johnny* Azell smirks, ‘one of these days Azell you’re gonna get me into trouble’ I grab my keys and phone and head out to the park.

When I arrive at the park I head over towards the side her hotel is. Which means I’ll jog towards the middle. I take a steady pace towards that way. The sun was already starting to take the chill out of the air. Birds were dancing about on the grass picking at whatever they could find. Kids can be heard in the distance playing tag. I could sense Will behind me but at a distance. Will was going to be in the park in case something happened and I lost sight of her. He will keep back out of sight. After all we already knew she didn’t smell like a normal human. Who knows what could happen. I have no idea what I was going to say or how I was going to start the conversation. I am never speechless around anyone especially women, but today I feel nervous and anxious about making a good impression. I’ve been waiting so long for this moment to come. The moment I finally meet my mate. I start playing out conversations in my head to Azell much to his amusement. *You can’t say that! Mate will think you’re an idiot* I sigh ‘you’re right, what do you suggest?’  Before Azell could mutter a word we both smelled her. Brimming with excitement I look around for her ……

I see her in the distance I pick up my pace so I can get closer to her. And there she was on roller skates of all things?! I can’t help a huge smile spread across my face, that’s what Will’s hidden meaning was. My mate was fun and playful, and god she was fucking perfect. She has this floaty dress on that keeps creeping up a little when she spins or lifts her arms in the air. She has this trendy rock chic biker jacket on, an old fashioned pair of headphones which I know were old fashioned because I had the same ones as a kid. Her hair flowing down her back in beautiful purple waves. I smile to myself as I watch her weave in and out spinning and dancing like nobody was watching… but I was watching. I was in awe, this woman was captivating in every way. I can’t take my eyes off her.

“Alpha do you feel that?” Will mind links me.

“hmmm? Feel what?”

“Look around you at everyone, they are all happy and smiling, there isn’t a negative person around. There’s a feeling in the air it feels like pure joy” surveying my surrounding I noticed he was right. People were watching her but they were all in a blissful state, like this moment was the best moment of their lives. I could feel it myself when I relaxed and stopped trying to sense it. Like feeling the sun beam down on you after an everlasting darkness. Now things got truly interesting, she started singing at the top of her lungs and I couldn’t help but chuckle. It wasn’t terrible singing it was nice. Her voice pulled me in, I hadn’t noticed that I was literally right behind her now, almost within touching distance, as she spun around to skate backwards she locked eyes with me and realised I had been watching her.

Her cheeks gave a slight blush and she started laughing.

Taking off her headphones “I guess I just got in the moment and I was singing pretty loud hey?!”

I grinned “well I know exactly what you were singing put it that way”

“Tell me honestly was it like hearing a cat being strangled?!

“Hahaha” I couldn’t help laugh “Nah you’re good, and it doesn’t matter if anyone heard you I think they all just enjoyed watching you, especially the two on the bench over there” she looks over to where I was pointing all the time keeping a steady pace with me.

“Oh aren’t they sweet, I can’t help but smile when I see old couples in love. It’s such a precious thing.” As she is talking I can’t help my eyes roam her body. She isn’t like any other women I’ve ever dated. She’s curvy but sexy as hell, not in a throw it in your face way. My eyes go back to her face as she turns back to look at me.

“I can’t say I’ve ever thought of the older generation in that way but all love is a beautiful thing" I say, and she smiles and it almost takes my breath away.

“Yes your right. So do you live here in the city?” she asks me whilst skating backwards next to me but just slightly infront.

“Well I work here and I live just outside the city, I own a small apartment for when work gets busy. But I prefer my place outside the city it’s a hell of a lot quieter that’s for sure.”

“Yes city life does take some getting used to, the sirens and car horns being the most difficult. I’ve stayed all over the world and this has to be by far the nosiest place I have ever stayed. I live in the country side back home so it’s a slight culture shock staying in any city. So I know what you mean about the quiet.”

“Have you ever travelled here before?!

“Yes actually several years ago, I came here with my son he was quite a lot smaller then, and like any city it has changed quite a bit since I was last here.” Seizing the moment I ask about her son, not in a jealous possessive way I just need to know the whole situation here, whether I have a huge baggage of trouble heading my way.

“Oh you have a son? Did you not bring him with you this time with your husband?” I say hoping to sound kinda casual and nonchalant.

“Yes he is 16 soon to be 17, he has college at the moment so I didn’t really want him to miss that. But it’s just me and him, he is staying with his granddad” and she immediately blushes which makes me snigger.

I watch her pull out her vintage Walkman and stop the tape playing, raising an eyebrow I say to her “I haven’t seen one of those since I was a kid!”

“It’s cool isn’t it?! I’ve had it since I was a kid, I’ve tried listening to music through my phone or mp3 player but it just doesn’t sound the same. It’s probably more nostalgia for me but I just love the sound”

“Oh I totally get that, It’s like listening to a vinyl record there’s no other sound that like it” I can see her face light up which makes me grin even more *you’re like a love sick pup already* Azell taunts.

“Now vinyl’s are the best, I just have a passion for vintage and pretty much most things with a history. I love to know the stories and history behind things.”

“Well then the museums are definitely a must see here” I give myself a mental high 5 for managing to slot that in, with any luck I’ll easily see her again if this conversation doesn’t go well. “There’s a couple of great art places in the arts and crafts quarter to that have some great vintage shops”

“Oh yes I was looking at those o****e” before she could finish her sentence I grabbed her round her waist a dived on the grass landing on top of her. Narrowly missing a guy speeding on an uber power bike. He didn’t even shout sorry the asshole. Azell starts cooing in my head and I immediately feel sparks on my hand as I realise its touching her bare thigh. The other hand still wrapping around her. My face is so close our noses almost touching. She stares wide eyed into my eyes. It’s like she can see into my soul. I don’t know how long we stared at each other but I could feel the sparks caressing everywhere our bodies touched. I can feel my face getting closer she didn’t move an inch. She was still and calm just gazing into my eyes. I move my hand slowly up her body brushing it gently as I reach her face. I brush away the hair gentle away from her eyes. “Are you ok?” I ask her… I get up slowly lifting her back up with ease, keeping my arm around her waist all the time our eyes still locked. Making sure her skates land safely on to the grass. She reaches just under my nose with her skates on, and her scent is swirling around intoxicating me.

“Yes thank you,” she almost whispered. “That was incredible, you are incredible you snatched me out of the way like some kind of super hero” she smiles, Azell smirks in my head hearing her call us superheroes. *She ain’t seen nothin’ yet* he mutters. Resisting the urge to kiss her, I take her hand and sparks immediately return and tingle, I try and ignore them but I can see she feels something too, as she stares with wonder at our hands. I lead her carefully back to the path and when she gets her balance I let go of her hand immediately regretting it. Missing the feel of her small hand in mine. It was like a missing jigsaw piece finally fitting into place. Feeling bold I decide it’s now or never “hey are you busy today? Or later wanna hang out?” I try and sound as casual as possible *well done doctor smooth….* Shush wolf.

“umm as much as I’d like to I actually have plans today. But how about we meet here the same time tomorrow?”

“Perfect it’s a date” I grin. We start moving again and easily pick up conversation. It’s hard to explain, it is like I have known her my whole life. Before I know it she is telling me this is where she needs to leave me. I stay talking to her while she changes from her roller skates to her sneakers. We shake hands and I kiss her cheek good bye, and I breathe in deeply remembering her scent. As she walks away I wave.

“Oh wait I don’t even know your name” she calls to me

“It’s Johnny, and you?”

“I’m Iris! I’ll see you tomorrow!” she waves and walks away. “Iris” I say to myself. Will walks up behind me grinning from ear to ear.

“Sooo how’d it go? “

“I feel like I’m on cloud 9 right now”

“It went that good huh?! So do we have a name for her yet?”  He asks

“Yeah it’s Iris. We are meeting here the same time tomorrow”

“Does she know what we are? Can she feel the bond?”

“hmmmmm… I don’t know if she knows what we are but she definitely can sense the pull from the bond. She even relaxed, she didn’t resist and pull away at all. Come, let’s finish our run before we head over to the museum to see your wife”