Brian Andrews pulled his leather jacket tighter around him as he stepped out of the large office building. It was only October, but the weather was already colder than it normally was this time of year. A sudden gust of wind brought a scent along with it that made him stop in his tracks, lifting his nose slightly to figure out which direction it came from. He turned abruptly to follow it, ignoring the car that had been pulled around to the front of the office for him.
"Brian? Is everything ok? You're going to be late!"
Brian turned and growled at him. "I don't care! You can tell the whole lot of them to fuck off! I'm going to go meet my mate!"
Justin, the man who had driven the car around for him, widened his eyes. His Alpha had scented his mate! He scrambled out of the car and chased after Brian. Catching up to him, he asked, "So, do you even know who you're looking for? Did you see her? Or just smell her?'
Brian glared at him, "Can you just shut up for once? I've only scented her, but I have to follow that scent until I find her. Period. You can go ahead to the meeting if you'd like."
"Oh no, I'm not going anywhere! This is too exciting. I mean we might actually get a break from you now and then if you have a mate. You know how difficult you get!" Justin grinned at his long time friend and Alpha. He loved teasing him and always told him when he started acting like a jackass.
Brian started to reply, but stopped in his tracks. Her scent was stronger now, which meant his mate was close. He moved slowly through the crowded street, so as not to take a chance walking past the mystery woman.
When he caught sight of the woman he was searching for, he nearly shifted. She was so beautiful. Long red curls hung down her back, her skin was smooth and soft looking, and her bright blue eyes were staring back at his. His wolf started pacing back and forth, demanding he claim her . Not here in the middle of the street. We have to wait. She doesn't even know what we are, yet. Patience, my friend." That didn't placate his wolf, but Brian pushed him back. He would deal with him later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Annabelle Stevenson made her way down the sidewalk, stopping now and then to look in the shop windows when something caught her eye. She couldn't afford anything on this street, but liked to look anyways. Stopping to look at a beautiful red dress in a window, she noticed a handsome man in the reflection. Her heart stopped. He was breathtakingly gorgeous, the kind of man a woman fantasized about. And he was looking right at her.
Annabelle watched through the glass as the man's eyes went from green to a swirling gold color. Just as she'd expected. A werewolf. This might be easier than she'd thought. Turning, she smiled sweetly as she walked up to him and pulled out a card. "This is my number. Call me." She said and she started to walk away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wait! What's your name?" Brian couldn't believe she'd done that. She'd actually come to him, given him her number!
"Annabelle."
"Annabelle," he muttered to himself. It suited her, he decided. He turned to find Justin staring with his mouth hanging open. He gave him a huge grin, then started for the car. "Hurry up, or you're gonna make us late."
"Alright, alright." Justin grumbled, climbing into the driver's seat.
Brian let out a sigh of relief. He could finally go home and call Annabelle. The meeting with the Alpha Directorate had lasted two and a half hours, and they still hadn't gotten any closer to getting answers or finding solutions. All any of the pack leaders had been able to find out was that someone had been using magic in the area. And not just any magic, but Cimmerian magic.
While there had been some feuds between wizards and werewolves in past centuries, everyone pretty much stayed in their own territories now. If there was ever a need to enter another's domain, you always called ahead and got permission. In the last couple months, someone had been using Cimmerian magic to lure humans, and even some werewolves to their deaths. No one seemed to be able to find out anything, as most operatives either never returned, or if they did, their brain had been so warped they couldn't even tell you their own name. Now the Directorate had been assembling once every two weeks to swap any new information they might have received. So far, it seemed that whoever was behind the attacks was covering their tracks pretty well.
Brian made his way out of the abandoned warehouse that was used to house the Directorate meetings. Now all he wanted to do was head back to the compound, call Annabelle, and get some sleep. Although he wasn't sure how much sleep his wolf would let him get. The wolf in him was restless and uneasy because he couldn't be near his mate right now. Soon. We'll be with her soon, boy. Brian tried to reassure his wolf but there was no denying him his mate. His wolf huffed at him, but retreated slightly.
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Annabelle couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as she answered the phone and heard the voice of the handsome man she had given her card to. "You don't waste much time, do you?"
"Not when it comes to someone as gorgeous as you, doll," Brian replied, trying to keep his voice light. It was all he could do to not jump in his car, find out where she was, and claim her right then. The soft lilt in her voice when she had answered made his breath catch in his throat. He could listen to her talk all day.
"Well, you sure do know how to flatter a girl, mister."
